The Pressure

[Drano]

How do you deal with the pressure? Whether it's in the 10th frame of a perfect-o, or trying to bust out a few good games to take a tourney.

About a month ago, in my Sunday league, I started out with the front 9, and managed to pull the ball enough to go through the nose, ended with a 267. Two weeks ago, again in sunday league, front 9, missed target at the arrows by two boards and left the 2-8-10 for a 265. Just last Saturday for my sat league, front 6 and I managed to grab it at the bottom of the swing of the 7th frame to go through the nose for a 4-count(wtf lol). Left a 3-4-6-7-9-10, only got 4 more of them, then struck out the rest of the way for a 260.

I know I can do it, the pressure is getting to me though, so what do you do to handle/ignore the pressure? I'm tired of choking :(

[mrbill]

You seem to be doing better then I am with the weekly high scores.
Saying that I like to not look at the score and plan each shot like its your first..
If you make it a big thing it will be more added pressure..
Think of each ball as " I do this all day" STRIKE!
Good Luck Michael

[Jord_84]

When I feel my nerves acting up, I try to focus on how my teammates are doing instead of myself. I also stretch and take some deep breaths at the ball return. Once on the approach, I briefly visualize a perfect approach, release and a strike....take one more deep breath, and give the pins the death stare.

[Strike Domination]

I just recently had the front 9 for the first time in about a year or a little longer, so I know how you feel. After 6 frames I started to feel it and I expressed to my friend that I couldn't handle it(for a few reasons). You seem to be getting to that point on a fairly regular basis, so you have that going for you. My biggest suggestion is to breathe. Many of the pros do it right before their shot, at least on TV. The only other thing is find something to focus on, particularly that would or has helped you execute your shot. Maybe something you do well or that you want to improve(whichever would help you throw a better shot), or something as simple as focusing on your target even more.

The possible 300 is always in the back of our mind, and for those of us that actually get nervous, the adrenaline will always be there. We just need to keep the conscious mind off the score itself. That's all I've got.

[DanielMareina]

Congratulations on a few really good runs with front 9. The nerves are hard to deal with! The key is to do something to distract yourself inbetween shots. The hard part of this is that you have to do it before you get to 5 or 6 in a row so it seems normal when the pressure is really on. I like to buy a scratch-it or something that will take my mind off of bowling and make me concentrate on something else. This gives the nerves the least amount of time to make you miss. Although, some people don't handle pressure well, and they may need a better method. For awhile I took to sitting with my eyes closed and an Ipod blaring music in my ear inbetween shots. This is a great method, and also helped me to have very little knowledge of what was going on. Unfortunately, it made me miss the social side of bowling, so I gave it up. It was effective while I used it though. Good luck getting 12 in a row next time ;)

[Graaille]

In my opinion - routine, routine, routine. Think about your next shot well before you step up to the ball return. That way when it's time for you to step up - you've already got your plan in mind, and you do your normal preshot routine just like you did in frame 1.

[Drano]

Yeah, it wouldn't be so much pressure on me, but when I first started bowling a year and a half ago, I made a deal with someone that if I ever managed to bowl a sanctioned 300, he'd give me $10,000. That was when I averaged 115-120, I don't think he ever actually thought I'd be able to do it. So I think that's where the majority of the pressure comes from.

@Daniel, another 6 months, and I'll be able to buy scratchers to distract myself legally :)

@Graaille, yeah I have a routine that I go through. But on the 10th shot, my legs were noticably(at least to me) shaking under me, haha.

Hopefully I'll be able to soon get the front 9 again, then throw 3 brooklyn/nose strikes and get it over with, haha.

[threeripmin]

i cant wait for this kind of pressure! i would say about 90% of life time bowlers never see the front 9 so that is damn good by its self. 300 doesnt seem to be what it used to be but i dont care how easy the lanes are 300 is awesome and not just anyone can do it. i told my wife i was going to bowl a 300 in the next 2000 games, practice or league. HAHAH!!!

[DanielMareina]

When I shot my first 300, it was 2 weeks before I started league. I was sure that I wasted my chance at getting a ring. I was happy that I got it, but wished that it was sanctioned. I shot the sanctioned one 2 months later, and it was awesome! I shot two others in the next 14 months after that. I am a much better bowler now then I was then and I haven't shot a 300 in over 2 years. I have shot countless (40-50) 279 and a handful of 290's since then and can't put it together. The point I am trying to make is, to shoot a 300 you need everything to fall in place. I know a lot of great bowlers that don't have a 300. My brother averaged 221 this year in league, and has been in the 210-220 range for 3 years and just shot his first 300 this year. Just keep working at it, and know that it can happen. Hopefully it happens before you average over 200 so you get the 100 over watch with the ring :)

[threeripmin]

yeah, its not going to be easy. when i was 14 i threw 15-18 strikes in a row between games and shot a 289, ringing ten in the tenth, that was just in practice though. i feel i can become a way better bowler than i was. my main goal is to average over 200 after that its just bonus.

the OP of this thread has a great shot at 300 and a nice reward if he does it.

[Drano]

@Daniel, my average actually just dropped to 199 in my sunday league after throwing a disappointing 530 series. The rest of the season it's been over 200. Maybe this is my chance to get that 100 over, haha.

and thanks threeripmin

[10pinking]

I have been bowling since 15 years of age and have never bowled a 300 due to the pressure issue.. I admit it, I choke at the end! At this point (I'm 42) I figure I just don't have it in me (although I hope that I surprise myself one day)

I tend to be really consistent and can bowl strikes (when I am on) right up til the 8th or 9th and then smoething takes over my brain and up comes a 9... I just shouldn't look at the score. That used to be easy on paper, but now there is a billboard announcing to me and everyone what the situation is!

[mdmjdm]

Getting there as often as you seem to be helps...keep it up!

1) I feel that the 10th frame in itself messes up lots of people for a simpler reason than pressure. It is the only frame that your goal is MORE than one strike. Lose that mentality...its the 10th, 11th, and 12th for me.
2) Since the 10th is different, many people seem to get the first one and then choke. Why? Some of them lose track of their pre-shot routine. Leave the ball return area (by a few feet), take your towel with you (if you normally do), and walk the few feet back to it and start your 11th frame with a COMPLETE pre shot routine.
3) Pressure can make you change your routine...DON'T LET IT!! Always set the ball back down if distracted and start over. If that voice in your head tells you to stop...STOP...and start over.
4) Adrenaline created by the pressure can make your muscles tense up, causing poor releases and (usually) pulls inside of target. To fight that, as soon as you feel the heart rate increase, start squeezing your towel or grip sack like one of those stress balls. It will get the adrenaline out of your muscles and allow for the relaxed release you need to succeed.
5) Pay closer attention to your target, it will get some of the other distractions out of your mind.
6) Don't let everyone ignore you and "give you space". Keep chatting with them like you usually do, make jokes, whatever your normal deal is.

Lastly, dont feel bad...I choked after the first 9 strikes 11 TIMES before I got my first 300...since that monkey got off my back, I'm about 50/50. You will notice that it takes more to get you nervous when you aren't in awe of the situation you have gotten yourself into...IE, you have been there before.

Keep bowling good! Look forward to doing so well you make yourself nervous! The more you get there, the more it will take to shake you.