Best and worst game at the same time!

[jbeck]

It was also my best series so far with no game under a 140 since I've owned my first ball in the last 2 months. Well my last game I told myself (as I do before every game now) I'm going to bowl a 300. I know that's a tall order, but I have to think it first before I actually do it right? Anyway I bowl my first frame...X! (1 down 11 to go). Next frame X! (2 down 10 to go) Third frame X! (3 down 9 to go) Okay I got a Turkey...no big deal...I got a Turkey in my first game too and have had a handful in the past months. Fourth frame X! Never done that before, and I think the guys in the next lane heard me say that too. Well I started to get a little nervous cause not only have I never bowled 4 strikes in a row, I never bowled 5 either. I was about to start my approach, but paused because I had to calm down and think clear. I started on my approach and it felt good right up until the release! I knew it when it left my hand it would hook early and it did...only hitting the 7 pin! I've done that too many times to count, but I bet I couldn't hook it to a 7 pin like that if it were the only one standing. Gotta figure that one out. Well I only picked up 9 in that frame, 8 in the 6th, and 9 in the 7th, 8th, and 9th! I was so sure I would at least get 200 game after the 5th, but I believe I was over thinking my shots. 10th frame came and by now I only have a 144 score. Well I found my groove in the 10th and shot another Turkey! So now my highest game is a 174 which is only 1 point higher than my previous high score. It was my best game, cause I've never thrown 4 strikes in a row in a single game, nor have I ever thrown 7 strikes in a single game! Those other 5 frames just hurt my pride after I looked at it. I will say though that I have thrown at least 3 10th frame Turkeys in the last 2 months, maybe because I feel I'm trying to save my game at the last minute, so I'm more focused. I've thrown more 1st frame and 10th frame strikes than in any other frame. I gotta work on my mental as well as my physical. I will give some credit to reading "The Game Changer" over the last few days...there's good information in there and an article Bill posted about my balance arm.
704

Still looking for my first 500 series too

[75lockwood]

Congrat's on the great accomplishment!

those open frames kindof killed you. you seem to be getting the hang of the strike shot, now work on being able to place the ball anywhere on the lane consistently. spares are the key to bowling, if you make every spare every game your average will at minimum be in the 175+ range!

Keep up the great work and remember; Relax and have fun!

[Davec13]

congrats on getting a new high score and strike count.

Next time you are bowling though try not to think of how many strikes you have had and just throw every ball like it's your first. Once you start thinking about that was my 4th or 5th strike then you'll get those nerves worked up. Thats when bad things usually happen.

[billf]

You're right about your mental game. There is nothing wrong with thinking 300 yet you also posted that in the fifth frame you thought you would at least score a 200. Why? Nothing went wrong to lower your expectations yet you did. Is a 300 possible? Yes. Is it probable? Not likely, not yet. But possible can turn to probable.
What has helped me is stop scoreboard watching, a tell myself before each roll on my way to the approach, "quality shot". That's all I can do, make a quality shot. A stone 8, 9 or 10 is beyond my control. Leave a split? That's just an opportunity to impress others with the conversion.
If you think you can, you can. If you think you can't, you're right.

[75lockwood]

You're right about your mental game. There is nothing wrong with thinking 300 yet you also posted that in the fifth frame you thought you would at least score a 200. Why? Nothing went wrong to lower your expectations yet you did. Is a 300 possible? Yes. Is it probable? Not likely, not yet. But possible can turn to probable.
What has helped me is stop scoreboard watching, a tell myself before each roll on my way to the approach, "quality shot". That's all I can do, make a quality shot. A stone 8, 9 or 10 is beyond my control. Leave a split? That's just an opportunity to impress others with the conversion.
If you think you can, you can. If you think you can't, you're right.

Allow me to paraphrase:

Do or do not, there is no try.

:D

[jbeck]

You're right about your mental game. There is nothing wrong with thinking 300 yet you also posted that in the fifth frame you thought you would at least score a 200. Why? Nothing went wrong to lower your expectations yet you did. Is a 300 possible? Yes. Is it probable? Not likely, not yet. But possible can turn to probable.
What has helped me is stop scoreboard watching, a tell myself before each roll on my way to the approach, "quality shot". That's all I can do, make a quality shot. A stone 8, 9 or 10 is beyond my control. Leave a split? That's just an opportunity to impress others with the conversion.
If you think you can, you can. If you think you can't, you're right.

I only thought 200 after I threw my first ball in the 5th and hit the 7 pin. A 300 was out the door at that point so I was thinking of a score in the 200s. I do have to control my thoughts in the game, but I rarely look at the scoreboard. I couldn't help counting the strikes though :)

[AZBowla]

You can have opens and still hit 200+, I've done it a few times. So if you leave an open frame, don't let it bother you. You can still turn that into a good scoring game.

What you really want to aim for is consistency. That's the key to stringing your strikes together which is what will get you those higher scores. That and being able to convert your spares (consistency here helps too, it's much easier to pick up a single pin spare than some ugly split). I know it's hard, but ignore the score and just focus on trying to get as many strikes and spares as you can. Before you know it, you'll be breaking 200 at least once each time you go out. Then, it'll be two times, and so on. Eventually, it'll be a rare game when you don't score above 200 - that's what I'm looking forward to achieving in my own game. At that point, you're ready to go for (and get) that elusive 300.

Keep at it, and above all, have fun! If it isn't fun, there's no point in doing it.

[noeymc]

dont feel bad i still cant get past 5 strikes i shot a 280 and since then never been able to get past 5 again and ill mess up my release to cuz i want it so bad i try to hard but i been trying to take it slow and just think its a start of new game every frame that has been helping me for the most part =D

[AKbash]

Lol...something like this happens to me too... I'll shoot 3 then be comfy on the 4th...then comes the 5th is when certain thoughts come to my mind.."how did i do that? how did i release it? how was my approach?" then BAM. miss the pocket....