I want to quit.

[HunterRunsIt]

I started bowling this summer Im a Junior In highschool, I picked up bowling around august and joined my high school team. During Practice I bowl like a champion 200+ Avg, At the meets Idk whats wrong im throwing a 150 average and It's really starting to grind my gears :(

[trickysocialwkr]

I feel your pain on this one. I'm running a 174 average in my league, but performance is almost always worse than it should be. I could head out on my own time and hit 220+, but end up with 118 on league days. It really comes down to your mental game and attitude here. Learn to enjoy the game aside from the competition and look it not as wins and losses, but as self improvement. It takes some of the pressure off. That way even if its not such a great week, at least you learned something.

[JerseyJim]

There's a lot of articles about practice vs competition. Most say the same thing, practice is just practice. You try new things, you work on your spare game, you work on your "A" and "B" games. You should rarely keep score. Once competition begins, you can apply what you learn in practice. It makes a huge difference.

[vgw]

You've only been bowling a short amount of time so this is obviously just one of those growing pains. Bowling consistently is probably a huge part of your game, plus throw in varrying lane conditions and surroundings, you are bound to have some setbacks. Practice tends to be more laid back and relaxed of an atmosphere and it is possible that you are over thinking things during competiition. Like JerseyJim says above, during practice, try practicing certain shots rather than just trying to shoot a high game. Take full advantage of throwing 2 balls each frame, with at least the first ball going for a spare. Just keep at it and try to have fun while you are bowling.

[got_a_300]

When you are practicing that is what it should be just practicing don't worry about what scores
you shoot. Okay say you shoot 200+ every game you bowl during practice then when you go to
bowl for score on your bowling team you are thinking of the scores you had in practice. Then you
start putting pressure on yourself to try and bowl the same scores as you had during practice and
start getting upset with yourself because maybe you aren't bowling as good as you did in practice.

I used to be the same way years ago I would practice and then not do as good when I bowled league
then I would get all upset with myself and say I did so good the other day and now I can not bowl the
same scores as I did then and just fall all to pieces score wise.

When I go out to practice now days I do not even think about the score I usually just shoot 1 game
at the 10 pin then on the second ball the 7 pin. The second game I just shoot at other spares like
the diner bucket,4 and 7 pin spare the 6 and 10 pin spare etc.,etc then on the 3rd game I will try to
see if I can get some strikes and practice different hand positions and different releases.

I was told by an old man years ago that if you were ever going to be a good/decent bowler then you
had learn to make your spares first and then the strikes will come and take care of themselves. ;)

[HunterRunsIt]

Thanks, Im fairly consistent with my spares. I'm just now realizing that I need to adjust to different lane conditions and stuff of that nature, as well as letting the ball do the work. I before was just trying to crank it down to the pocket.

[Motiv Girl]

Try these two threads from this site.

Are You A Practice King? http://www.bowlingboards.com/threads/6690-Are-You-A-Practice-King

Trying to be perfect got you down? http://www.bowlingboards.com/threads/6688-Trying-to-be-perfect-got-you-down

[HunterRunsIt]

@Motiv Girl Thanks for posting the threads! I really appreciate all the help and motivation I can get.

[got_a_300]

@ Motiv Girl those are some great articles that gives a lot of in site to why some do so good practicing
and then when the scores actually start to count they start choking up and doing badly like I used to do
myself years ago. :o

[HunterRunsIt]

Things have been looking a little brighter lately! I threw a 214,233,195,199,211 at practice today and my tournaments tomorrow I have high hopes!

[BallBuster]

Those scores are great. Remember, any slump can be overcome with practice, outside opinions, and coaching. Never give up.

[HunterRunsIt]

Those scores are great. Remember, any slump can be overcome with practice, outside opinions, and coaching. Never give up. Thanks BallBuster! I've been throwing anywhere from 80-150 games a week the past few months and im improving a lot!