In a dot print head of an impact type moved in a direction of spacing movement relative to a printing medium, and having a plurality of printing elements each having a printing wire arranged substantially in an elongated circle centered at a line parallel with the direction in which the printing elements are driven, and which is provided with a wire guide having guide elements for the respective printing wires for guiding tips of the printing wires to predetermined positions on said printing medium, the guide elements are divided into at least four rows each extending in the direction orthogonal to said direction of the spacing movement and orthogonal to the direction in which the printing wires extend, and distances between said rows are multiples of 1/240 inches. Each of the printing elements is driven for printing either at a reference timing which occurs once a standard printing cycle having a standard period, at a timing 1/4 of the standard period past said reference timing, at a timing half the standard period past said reference timing, or at a timing 3/4 of the standard period past said reference timing.