Sometimes it is all mental

[JDHamm85]

My father in law and I go to a bowling center that offers a great special on Sunday mornings: 1.50 a game. We've been doing this for the last 4 or 5 years on occasion, but recently we've started going every Sunday morning. I'm using this time to get better before I start looking to join a league in the fall.

We usually get in 12-15 games, since it is just the 2 of us. Yesterday, I bowled 8 out of 15 200s, averaging a 204. 90 strikes, 19 splits with 2 conversions 4 conversions I think. Not too bad on a THS.

The worst part about it is, for me, for the last 4-5 weeks, at least once and sometimes twice, I'll open with the front 6 or 7, only to blow it the next frame. Three weeks ago, I opened a game with the front 6 only to hold the ball too long on the next frame, pull it to the left, and leave the big 4. Yesterday, I open with the front 7 to start the third game, only to have the ball take off a little bit more than I anticipated in the back end, go high, and leave the 6. Frustrated, I miss converting the spare too.

I struck out the last 4 shots to finish with a 267. But now I've gotten to the point that when I start out with the front 5 or 6, the first thing that pops into my mind is "is this it? am i going to get a 300 finally?" Then I have to talk myself into thinking "just break your high score. If you don't get a 300 it is ok. Just make a good next shot."

I know it will come eventually, and the key to bowling is concentrating on your next shot, but dang it can be frustrating when you blow it :mad:

[Judy clemons]

mentally speaking focus on 700 plus series instead of individual 300 game--I have seen bowlers bowling for that 300 only to
come out with 297--299 it HURTS! YOU FEEL THEIR ANGUISH but once it is done it can not be changed, however if your
going to hit that 300 would you rather be doing it in league play so you have a trophy to show for it? Remember to just
RELAX & BREATHE and tell your self it is just me my ball and target & be sure to follow thru... have patience you will get it!
you can do anything you want to do if you want to do it bad enough and I can tell you do!!!

[vdubtx]

Yea, one thing you will need to work on is not getting caught up on scores and just making good shots. I have fallen to this too many times to count and I can tell you the 4 times I have rolled a 300, I was just trying to keep loose each and every time and not over think it. Will come to you, just keep working at it. :)

[billf]

I'll be honest, in the twelve I've rolled eight were in a non-sanctioned league or tournament. Two in practice games with friends and two the day my mother passed. Other than the last two, I knew where I stood. To get there I had to start watching the pins closer on the previous shots. I learned how to read the lane better and judge my own adrenaline. I was amazed to learn how some was a by-product of the lanes breaking down and that I should have moved a frame or two beforehand.
After that it was just learning to tell if I was too amped. If so, the ball will hook less so move a few right. Calm, adjust normally.

[Tampabaybob]

My father in law and I go to a bowling center that offers a great special on Sunday mornings: 1.50 a game. We've been doing this for the last 4 or 5 years on occasion, but recently we've started going every Sunday morning. I'm using this time to get better before I start looking to join a league in the fall.

We usually get in 12-15 games, since it is just the 2 of us. Yesterday, I bowled 8 out of 15 200s, averaging a 204. 90 strikes, 19 splits with 2 conversions 4 conversions I think. Not too bad on a THS.

The worst part about it is, for me, for the last 4-5 weeks, at least once and sometimes twice, I'll open with the front 6 or 7, only to blow it the next frame. Three weeks ago, I opened a game with the front 6 only to hold the ball too long on the next frame, pull it to the left, and leave the big 4. Yesterday, I open with the front 7 to start the third game, only to have the ball take off a little bit more than I anticipated in the back end, go high, and leave the 6. Frustrated, I miss converting the spare too.

I struck out the last 4 shots to finish with a 267. But now I've gotten to the point that when I start out with the front 5 or 6, the first thing that pops into my mind is "is this it? am i going to get a 300 finally?" Then I have to talk myself into thinking "just break your high score. If you don't get a 300 it is ok. Just make a good next shot."

I know it will come eventually, and the key to bowling is concentrating on your next shot, but dang it can be frustrating when you blow it :mad:

JD.....You sort of answered your own question here, probably without even realizing it. The key words here would be you're "THINKING" too much. RELAX, let your muscle memory drive you, without thinking. All of your thinking should be done in the on-deck circle, (area right next to the ball return) and then nothing once you get that ball in your hand. This is an extreme mental game once you get to the level that you're at. It becomes mind over matter and you have to learn how to overcome, over thinking shots. I might make it sound easy but it's not. The one thing you said that I agree with, is to say to yourself, just before you step off, "Just make a good shot !" That's important. Keep going; that elusive 300 is just around the corner, and I'm sure sooner, rather than later you'll be able to proudly display a 300 ring. Get into that league, and get one of those rings. You'll never forget that first one. Good luck, let us know how you're doing.

[Greenday]

My mental attitude is the biggest influence on how I shoot on any given day. I can be physically throwing a great ball, but if I'm not mentally confident and relaxed, it won't matter.

Last Tuesday - Great physical form, bad mental game. Averaged 175. I lacked confidence and you could see it in my ball's reaction.

Last Wednesday - Great physical form, great mental game. 619 series.

The difference was just being relaxed and not overthinking crap.

[JDHamm85]

That's probably my biggest problem Greenday, is overthinking crap. When I was still throwing my cell, I would move up, down, left, right, all in a game. I would overadjust way too much. Now that Ive gone to the paranormal, I've stuck to one general spot that I like. I can miss a little right, and still have it roar back, and miss left and still have somewhat of a chance to go brooklyn.

Bob - I agree. Overcoming our own mental voice is the hardest part about improving your game. I'm constantly talking to myself to do something, whether it is speed it up, move a little left, something. Sometimes you just have to get up there and just throw the darn thing. Once you've thrown a few shots, more than likely, most of us will know what to do from there.

Bill - I definitely have the juices flowing after a front 6 or 7. I noticed this past weekend that I was somewhat calmer, at least until I saw the ball almost nose dive through the head lol.

Vdub and Judy - Thanks for the advice and support :)

[Tampabaybob]

That's probably my biggest problem Greenday, is overthinking crap. When I was still throwing my cell, I would move up, down, left, right, all in a game. I would overadjust way too much. Now that Ive gone to the paranormal, I've stuck to one general spot that I like. I can miss a little right, and still have it roar back, and miss left and still have somewhat of a chance to go brooklyn.

Bob - I agree. Overcoming our own mental voice is the hardest part about improving your game. I'm constantly talking to myself to do something, whether it is speed it up, move a little left, something. Sometimes you just have to get up there and just throw the darn thing. Once you've thrown a few shots, more than likely, most of us will know what to do from there.

Bill - I definitely have the juices flowing after a front 6 or 7. I noticed this past weekend that I was somewhat calmer, at least until I saw the ball almost nose dive through the head lol.

Vdub and Judy - Thanks for the advice and support :)

You have reached what I call a plateau in bowling. We all reach these plateaus (of a certain average) and to get past them and get to that next level, something, maybe very minor, in our game has to change. You have clearly identified what you believe to be your shortcomings and quite possibly this is what you need to adjust to get to that 205 -210 average area. You definitely have the physical skills required, so it's tweaking some of the other (mental being one of them) skills to get you there. Persistence and practice will win out. There is a ton of good articles on the mental game. I'll check my library and see if I can come up with a few for you.

[JDHamm85]

Awesome, Thanks Bob!

[Tampabaybob]

Did you get the PM I sent ??

[JDHamm85]

Yes thank you Bob. Had a busy day yesterday and haven't had a chance to read it yet!

[Tampabaybob]

ok just wanted to make sure you received it.

[Aslan]

I noticed last night...and I kinda saw this other times...my game is at least 20% confidence.

Last night I threw a clean game 210. Now, I knew a clean game was on the line since about the 4th frame...but it didn't rattle me. And one of the main reasons I was doing so well??....CONFIDENCE. My team, the other team...they were all watching me and it felt like I was "impressing" them or "putting on a show". And when I went up to the approach...I wasn't afraid. I wasn't thinking, "Please don't go in the gutter...please...please...please don't pull this shot into the 4-pin..." Instead I was thinking, "Okay...you're probably gonna strike...but if ya don't...no bigee...just pick up the spare and we're all good." It was like I was "expecting to do well"...not fearing that I wouldn't.

Then...to show the other side of confidence; i.e. not having it...
I then threw an open frame in the 1st. Then an open frame in the 2nd. And for the rest of that game...and the 3rd game of the series...I was completely afraid every time I walked up to the approach. I'd think, "okay...if we strike out...we'll still be okay." Then, no strike, not even close, and I'm even more rattled missing the spare. Finished with a 127 and 121 in games 2 and 3. :mad: My first game was my highest ever on a synthetic heavier oil lane...my 2nd ever clean game...yet I couldn't even get a 525-550 series. Hell, I didn't even crack 449 (my high series in that league).

So...then I go practice a few...because i HATE leaving an alley on a bad note...the two kids next to me had seen me bowl at another alley and were somewhat impressed watching me. Suddenly...my confidence was returning!! Knowing that they were watching me and they thought I was a good bowler...it was like, "I had to be a good bowler...I mean, if they think I am...then I must be!" Finished the night with a 137-138-168 type of series. Not great...but on those lanes I average 136...so it was above my average.

So thats gonna be my major "mental hurdle" I have to find away around. I have to be able to "snap out of it" when I get off to a rough start. I have to be able to bowl well against bowlers that aren't "easily impressed". And that may sound funny...but looking back on my better league nights...they tended to be against teams with lesser talent. If I bowl against guys scoring 180-190...I struggle...because not only do I feel out of place and feel like I'm not good enough to bowl against them...but I feel like they're watching me and instead of thinking, "damn...this kid has a good shot." I feel like they're thinking, "Oh my god....this dude is horrible....next time he goes to the bar we should all laugh at him behind his back." :mad:

I actually am usually quite consistent. Consistently good...or consistently bad. Because if I'm riding high...I'm confident and keep it going. If I struggle....I literally can't snap out of it. Last night was rare that I started off so well and lost it...usually a good 1st game means it's gonna be a dang good night.

[scruffwhor]

Positive self talk is soooo important when making shots. It also helps that my teammates are very positive and supportive.

Before I pick-up my ball, I'll think things like, "hit your mark", "you can get this strike", "crush those pins", and so on.

Once my thumb is in the whole and I look at my mark, I try my best to shut my brain off. Not as often as I should, but there's yet another aspect of my game I need to work on.

All in all, when I'm relaxed, happy, and DON'T beat my self up after a open frame or what not, I bowl pretty good.

[J Anderson]

About half of what I say Saturday morning is "you know you can make this spare". Unfortunately the other half is "Hey! Stop! Didn't you see that so and so was about throw on the lane next to you?"

[Hampe]

Yep....confidence is huge in bowling. A lot of what you are talking about will come with more experience. It's easy for a bad game to snowball once you have a few bad frames. The best thing you can do is just try and forget what happened, and concentrate on what you have to do to make the next shot better (NOT on getting a strike). The worst thing you can do is sit there and go "Ok, now I need to strike out". You have to take it one shot at a time.

But like I said, experience is a big factor....once you've bounced back a few times from a bad stretch, the easier it gets to do it in the future.

[Aslan]

The worst thing you can do is sit there and go "Ok, now I need to strike out".

Yeah...I can't remember telling myself I "need" to strike out and then actually striking out. It's pretty much the kiss of death.