How to zone out before a game

[SPS]

Before a match I usually need to get focused and in the "zone." If I am not concentrated I know I will have a bad game, which is why I prepare before hand. I find Yoga to be the perfect fit to relaxing all your muscles and relieving all of your stress, but what do you guys do to prepare for a game?

[Duke Harding]

Yoga and meditation.
Now and then, a beer helps. :rolleyes:

http://www.yogabasics.com/

http://www.meditationiseasy.com/

[onefrombills]

When I do not have my Ipod with me I think of a song like Enter Sandman and that gets me pumped up

[Baroncad]

For me it's:
1. Be at the Lanes 15 minutes before practice starts.
2. Get ready (shoes on, balls out of the bag)
3. Get refreshments and food (if not able to eat beforehand)
4. Stare at a point down the lane without the pins and forget everything that happen before coming to the lanes.

After all that Bowl like crud.

[The KingPin]

Yoga and meditation.
Now and then, a beer helps. :rolleyes:

http://www.yogabasics.com/

http://www.meditationiseasy.com/


Does beer really help? I guess it would help to not think about the stress of getting that strike or spare

[Duke Harding]

Does beer really help? I guess it would help to not think about the stress of getting that strike or spare

As long as you don't have to many.

Years ago, taverns would have a couple of lanes...Of course, the bowlers would get thirsty, and what better to drink than a lager or two.

Shame the breweries disassociated themselves from professional bowling, (or did the PBA disassociate themselves from the breweries?).

[The KingPin]

As long as you don't have to many.

Years ago, taverns would have a couple of lanes...Of course, the bowlers would get thirsty, and what better to drink than a lager or two.

Shame the breweries disassociated themselves from professional bowling, (or did the PBA disassociate themselves from the breweries?).


I could see that the PBA would want to be away from bad publicity from beer companies, yet Miller has been a big advertiser, so I am not sure.

[Baroncad]

I could see that the PBA would want to be away from bad publicity from beer companies, yet Miller has been a big advertiser, so I am not sure.

I think the PBA is trying to appeal to families and beer ad's and/or sponsors don't fit into that.
Then again maybe the breweries are going to where the fans are.
Look at NASCAR-Bud, Miller, etc. then again they have big shiny areas to paste their names.

[Iceman]

That's the key - forget everything that happened prior to walking in to the house - relax and let your muscles do what they should.

Everyone has routines - some to notice it. Stick with it, don't get off the gameplan, and last but surely not least - stay away from the negative bowlers or the ones we call whiners that evaluate every shot they make. You don't want to hear any bad things about the game - you just want to bowl your game - not your opponent.

When I face head to head, I don't look at whom I'm bowling or how much crap they carry or I don't. I just bowl my game and more than not it's enough to win. Focus on your game more than your opponents - that's being relaxed and focused. When you get to this point -it's the zone we all strive for - where everything works.

[NoTapNorm]

Enroute to the lanes I listen to Jimmy Buffett, Carlos Santana or Jake Shimabukuru to cleanse the mind. Arriving at least 15 minutes early and some stretching.

[kev3inp]

Hmm, I'm of the opinion that the PBA and/or the USBC wanted too much coin for sponsorship, and that's why we don't have "the official beer of the PBA", or "of bowling." Miller used to be a sponsor, as was Bud in the "olden" days.

But back to the topic: how does one zone in? By being ready to bowl, whatever it takes for that person. Amy Stolz listens to "No Handlebars" by the Flobots. I check my equipment, the lanes, and my beverages. (The wife and I usually get a bucket.) I'm always early, I really hate being late and rushed to get ready. I ready my body and brain as best I can and away we go.

[ArtVandelay]

For me it's:
1. Be at the Lanes 15 minutes before practice starts.
2. Get ready (shoes on, balls out of the bag)
3. Get beer
4. Smoke a cig

After all that Bowl like crud.

had to fix two of your points, but you have the exact same ritual that I do! hahahaha. Especially the bowl like crud part. I seem to have mastered that part. But, to me, it's not about how well I bowl. My league is on a wednesday, and it's just a wonderful break from work and everything else, to laugh with friends and do a little bowling.

I'm kind of getting concerned, because I've been bowling a league for 3 years now, and now I've joined a bowling forum. I think I'm getting diseased. And then there's the issue of SBAS (Sudden Ball Acquisition Syndrome).... That's a disease for which there is no cure.... When I start getting TOO concerned about scoring high, and not having fun, I think I need to quit. hahaha.

[Baroncad]

I'm kind of getting concerned, because I've been bowling a league for 3 years now, and now I've joined a bowling forum. I think I'm getting diseased. And then there's the issue of SBAS (Sudden Ball Acquisition Syndrome).... That's a disease for which there is no cure.... When I start getting TOO concerned about scoring high, and not having fun, I think I need to quit. hahaha.

I've been bowling for a little over a year (Leagues) and have become very concerned about getting better and I have a serious SBAS 6 balls in one year (psst...the better half, thinks it 4 so that's keep that to ourselves shall we) :rolleyes:

Your right once you stop having fun, it might be time to put yourself into timeout. :p

[onefrombills]

Arriving at least 15 minutes early...seen this posted a few times now and some stretching will relax ya !!!!

[kev3inp]

Um, I'm Mr. Bad Example with cigs. I smoked for 29 years. Two aneurisms and a heart valve later I think that everyone who can quit should. It's your choice, but you don't want to go through what I did.

[ArtVandelay]

Arriving at least 15 minutes early...seen this posted a few times now and some stretching will relax ya !!!!

The lanes where I bowl, showing up 30 minutes early will SOMETIMES mean you get a halfway decent table. I don't know what some people do in life, but on rare occasions, traffic will part, and I'll get to the lanes 30 minutes, or more, early, and all the tables are gone.... Good grief!


Um, I'm Mr. Bad Example with cigs. I smoked for 29 years. Two aneurisms and a heart valve later I think that everyone who can quit should. It's your choice, but you don't want to go through what I did.

Good advice for anyone. I've been proud of myself. For the most part, I'm down to maybe 3 cancer sticks a day, but bowling nights seem to bring out the worst in me. I'll probably smoke 10 on bowling nights, and 3 any other day. I'm hoping to get that number down to 0, but cold turkey seems to be too hard.

[BubbaRay]

The lanes where I bowl, showing up 30 minutes early will SOMETIMES mean you get a halfway decent table. I don't know what some people do in life, but on rare occasions, traffic will part, and I'll get to the lanes 30 minutes, or more, early, and all the tables are gone.... Good grief!



Good advice for anyone. I've been proud of myself. For the most part, I'm down to maybe 3 cancer sticks a day, but bowling nights seem to bring out the worst in me. I'll probably smoke 10 on bowling nights, and 3 any other day. I'm hoping to get that number down to 0, but cold turkey seems to be too hard.

You could do it Art. I quit cold turkey at age 51 ( Now 55 ) after smoking since I was 16 . I had a heart attack and that made my mind up. But being in the hospital for a week without being able to get out of bed and have one did it for me. When I finally got home from the hospital I didn't crave or have the urge to have one. You copuld do it .

[kev3inp]

Hell of a way to quit, though, isn't it, sir? You decide if you want to keep smoking or keep living. Well, hopefully, this last episode was the last of the smoking damage that will need to be fixed. It's a bear without that wakeup call, but it can be done. I stopped after the first aneurism repair. I still had the urge for a long time, but just resolved each day to not smoke that day. It's a huge cliche, but it's one day at a time.

[djbigsmooth]

there seems to be a common thread that we all agree on and that is : to arive early. this is probably the single most important element in having a good set. early arrival allows you to relax, chit chat, and take your time suiting up.

the mental game is the x-factor in bowling, but very important. chris barnes can tell you about that. i too have worked extensively on my mental game, to the point that NOTHING DISTRACTS ME. i learned early on in life that if you can't focus, you cannot achieve. this topic was discussed on the lane #1 bowling forum, and this is what i shared with my fellow sawheads: there is an old saying in wrestling, " control the head and you control the whole body". this saying is oh so true. we apply this to bowling: where the mind goes, the body follows. if you control your emotions and center your thoughts then you notice physiological improvements. when you center your thoughts, your eyes tend to settle so you can lock in on your target.

your breathing should be even and relaxed, your movements are relaxed and natural, thus making your efforts deliberate and purposeful. you have a period of clarity, if you will.

please let me contribute 2 sayings that go together: where the mind goes, the body follows, then the other similar, wheather you think you can or if you think you can't............you're right.

good bowling,

[Baroncad]

We all agree on and that is : to arrive early.

Your breathing should be even and relaxed, your movements are relaxed and natural, thus making your efforts deliberate and purposeful. you have a period of clarity, if you will.

Please let me contribute 2 sayings that go together:
Where the mind goes, the body follows.
Whether you think you can or if you think you can't............you're right.

I couldn't agree more with this, now if I could zip up the two loud mouths who constantly scream just at the wrong time I would be golden (bronze at least).

[JAnderson]

Positive visualization of well-executed shots. I close my eyes and recreate the visual, motions, and feel of a "pure" shot and put that on "repeat".

"Where the mind goes, the body follows"

That's the goal.

[Seamistlark]

I get to the lanes at least 20 minutes before practice. Get a club soda with lime and just repeat my routine in my head while looking down at the pit.
I have also learned, by practicing during open bowling on lanes with children beside me, to ignore the noise. The only sound that will break into my zone is my wife's voice when we bowl League on Saturday nights. This week she and the other girl on our team started calling to the waitress and I lost where I was. Missed my mark by 10 boards and took out the seven pin hard.:(