I don't recommend it. I'd rather see you let your muscle memory take over the approach. There are too many other aspects, that you could say/remind yourself to do, PRIOR, to taking that first step. Reminding yourself of your steps, would be like me reminding myself how to walk to the refrigerator! LOL I need to forget how to do that one !Originally Posted by classygranny
Again, you already have the muscle memory to do this. Every time "we" try to inject something like this into our routine, it's going to get in the way of something else more important that you should be reminding yourself to do,I don't necessarily count, but I take a few practice steps up to the line before I begin bowling to set my cadence and rhythm. So I guess it's kind of like counting without the numbers
I think with the approach change last night, I need to put a big smacking piece of tape on my shoe that reads "THIS FOOT FIRST" ... old habits die hard!
such as, "nice and smooth, WATCH THE BALL ROLL OVER THE SPOT". THAT is more important. The only time I'd suggest keeping track of your feet, is if you're landing on your keister, or falling off balance. Then is a foot speed issue and you need to slow down or speed up.
Woody.... It sounds like you have a pretty good pre-shot routine going for you, but what I hear you saying is that somewhere along the line , within your 3 games, you go off track and start to lose the concentration that you started with. Right? So how do you fix it ? Consistency, in your self talk (routine), telling yourself, things such as,Been working on the mental part myself, Always knew it was a huge part of the game but I've never really done anything about it until now. I start out relaxed having a good time and then fade into saying to my self. I have to get this next strike, I need this one for the team, We have to win this one, Don't miss it.... blah blah blah... I get warmer, tense up, throw harder, miss to the left.
What I've done is start a routine from standing up to release. simple basic things to do. But like you mentioned earlier not over thinking it all. and paying attention and reacting to the results. Easy to say, hard to do.. But if it was easy we all would be nailing 300's every game.
nice and easy" or "just make a good shot" or a one word comment that I use is, "smoooooth". Stop beating up your thought process by saying "I have to have this one for the team" or "have to have this turkey to win". TRUST your muscle memory. Just say the more easy and more complimentary things and not the pressure ideas. And I agree with you, that it's easier to say than to do, but practice makes perfect (sometimes!! LOL) and you'll eventually get it. The big thing is to get those pressure ideas out of your head. That only will make matters worse. Also try taking a deep breath (unnoticeable to the bowlers behind you) when standing at the ball return, and before you pick up the ball, hold if for a couple of seconds and then release it. That will help to relieve most of any tension you might have. Good luck, let me know if you have any questions.
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