The work aims to study influence of incidence angle of shot on residual stress field and strengthening effect by establishing finite element model. Three-dimensional symmetric model of single-shot peening was established by using ABAQUS software. Numerical simulation was performed to peening of single shot. Both residual compressive stress field on target body generated by vertical incidence of shot at 50 m/s, 75 m/s and 100 m/s, and that on target body at three different incidence angles of 30°, 60° and 90° were simulated. The maximum residual compressive stress and depth of compressive stress layer of secondary surface of the target increased as the shot velocity increased. Depth and magnitude of the residual stress field generated at different incidence angles on the target body changed differently. The residual compressive stress was the maximum at the incidence angle was 90° (vertical incidence); higher at the incidence angle of 60°; and the minimum at the incidence angle of 30°. Variation trend of the maximum residual compressive stress and curve obtained from simulation results and experimental results are consistent, and degree of coincidence is high, indicating that the finite element model is reliable. At the identical speed, the maximum residual compressive stress increases gradually and reaches the maximum during vertical incidence as the incidence angle increases.