Aslan
01-05-2015, 05:03 PM
The worst thing in bowling is that too few bowlers have "goals". They show up for 1-3 leagues a week...and they just hope to have fun and maybe catch lightening in a bottle and maybe luck into a 300-game. So it's no surprise to me...that so many bowlers will bowl and then quit...because they bowl "okay"...but....ya know...it costs money and they don't feel like they're getting too much better and sometimes they do good but sometimes not...and they never win $$$ in sweeps or trophys so "whats the point?"
Fun? Sure. But remember, one big reason bowling is struggling is...there are LOTS of places to find FUN these days.
To me, this is where GOALS come in. If you have GOALS...then you are always striving for something. You always have an accomplishment within reach. If your team doesn't win or you don't take home money at the end of the season or you don't win at poker...it's OKAY....because you have other goals.
Two things of importance:
1) Goals should be specific to what you want to accomplish. They should be difficult to acheive...but not out of reach. And they should be incremental.
GOOD Goals: > 90% single-pin spare shooter, 195 average, get my first lesson, % increase over last season's average, etc...
BAD Goals: 300 game, 800 series, win the league, win the US Open, 900 series, picking up a 7-10, etc...
Of those "bad' goals...the problem with them is that A) everyone wants those things so they're not very specific to your game and B) those all involve a great deal of luck and things "going your way" that you can't control. The US Open goal "might" be a "good" goal IF you're a 225 average bowler that participates in the Open every year and have come close to winning it. But if you average 133...thats aiming a bit high.
2) The REASON goals are so important in bowling is that MOST leagues only award 1st place and LAST place. I've finished 3rd and 4th...you get NOTHING. Most sports award success better than that and award a few places at least...bowling does not. That makes it very hard to stay motivated when you're in 17th place out of 22 teams with a month left in the season.
GOALS help me because my expectations tend to grow faster than my skill acquisition. So even if I've improved more than I've ever dreamed I would in such a short amount of time...my expectations have grown even faster. I have the goal of a >524 series and a clean series EVERY time I bowl. But to be honest....if I roll under 550...I'm pissed. My average in this league is only 162...but if I bowl 163-164-163...I'll be ready to throw my bowling equipment in the dumpster. I've even finsihed with 200+ games where I'm mad because I missed two single-pin spares.
But GOALS keep me on track. I can bowl a 211-177-154 and say to myself "hey...ya met your 525+ goal...and had only 5 open frames the whole series...4 of them were splits. You struck at >35%...and your single-pin spare shooting was > 80%...so you're on the right track."
Not all stats are worth tracking. Not all stats are worthwhile to all bowlers at all levels. But if you look at your game, and where you can improve it...and set some real goals...you'll want to get out there and bowl no matter what position your team is in, no matter how close you are to bowling a 300-game or 800-series.
And while you're at it...set some LONG term goals to REALLY keep you motivated!! For example;
"If I average X, I'm going to start bowling in a scratch league or start bowling tournaments or bowl the USBC Open or get my PBA card"
Sure...those aren't good short term goals...rather meaningless in the short term...but it keeps your eyes on an eventual prize. And just like you learn in motorcycling...your body/bike goes wherever you're looking. You stare at the curb...you'll eventually run into the curb. You focus on the direction you're turning...the bike will make the turn. Same is true in bowling. You want to get better...keep your eyes focused on those goals.
Fun? Sure. But remember, one big reason bowling is struggling is...there are LOTS of places to find FUN these days.
To me, this is where GOALS come in. If you have GOALS...then you are always striving for something. You always have an accomplishment within reach. If your team doesn't win or you don't take home money at the end of the season or you don't win at poker...it's OKAY....because you have other goals.
Two things of importance:
1) Goals should be specific to what you want to accomplish. They should be difficult to acheive...but not out of reach. And they should be incremental.
GOOD Goals: > 90% single-pin spare shooter, 195 average, get my first lesson, % increase over last season's average, etc...
BAD Goals: 300 game, 800 series, win the league, win the US Open, 900 series, picking up a 7-10, etc...
Of those "bad' goals...the problem with them is that A) everyone wants those things so they're not very specific to your game and B) those all involve a great deal of luck and things "going your way" that you can't control. The US Open goal "might" be a "good" goal IF you're a 225 average bowler that participates in the Open every year and have come close to winning it. But if you average 133...thats aiming a bit high.
2) The REASON goals are so important in bowling is that MOST leagues only award 1st place and LAST place. I've finished 3rd and 4th...you get NOTHING. Most sports award success better than that and award a few places at least...bowling does not. That makes it very hard to stay motivated when you're in 17th place out of 22 teams with a month left in the season.
GOALS help me because my expectations tend to grow faster than my skill acquisition. So even if I've improved more than I've ever dreamed I would in such a short amount of time...my expectations have grown even faster. I have the goal of a >524 series and a clean series EVERY time I bowl. But to be honest....if I roll under 550...I'm pissed. My average in this league is only 162...but if I bowl 163-164-163...I'll be ready to throw my bowling equipment in the dumpster. I've even finsihed with 200+ games where I'm mad because I missed two single-pin spares.
But GOALS keep me on track. I can bowl a 211-177-154 and say to myself "hey...ya met your 525+ goal...and had only 5 open frames the whole series...4 of them were splits. You struck at >35%...and your single-pin spare shooting was > 80%...so you're on the right track."
Not all stats are worth tracking. Not all stats are worthwhile to all bowlers at all levels. But if you look at your game, and where you can improve it...and set some real goals...you'll want to get out there and bowl no matter what position your team is in, no matter how close you are to bowling a 300-game or 800-series.
And while you're at it...set some LONG term goals to REALLY keep you motivated!! For example;
"If I average X, I'm going to start bowling in a scratch league or start bowling tournaments or bowl the USBC Open or get my PBA card"
Sure...those aren't good short term goals...rather meaningless in the short term...but it keeps your eyes on an eventual prize. And just like you learn in motorcycling...your body/bike goes wherever you're looking. You stare at the curb...you'll eventually run into the curb. You focus on the direction you're turning...the bike will make the turn. Same is true in bowling. You want to get better...keep your eyes focused on those goals.