can you be to hard on your self?

[Zothen]

13 yrs ago I used to be hard on myself,i'd throw tantrums to no end and just whip the ball down the lane in anger. 1 day I found myself without a team and one of my league mates asks if I knew why I was'nt on a team and I said everyone told me their teams are filled and I know at least 3 that need a bowler,he tells me no one wants to bowl with me cause of my attitude and i'm like you serious and he says yes. He then tells me he'll let me on his team,but,if I get mad i'm off the team and out of the league. Long story short I started to meditate before bowling and whatever happens,happens. Now i'm a much better bowler!

Moral of the story-A spare is just as important as a strike!

Zothen

[JaMau24]

I had an awful attitude as a youth bowler years ago, and I've got a lot better now. I do have an awful temper and I really try to not let it get the best of me, however there are times I might clap my hands on a bad shot, or curse under my breath (probably not as quiet as I'd like to be). That being said, I'm proud of how far I've come, and hopefully will continue getting better.

This season, I've really tried to keep it in better. Sometimes I even wonder if my opponent thinks I'm having fun when I'm bowling because I show absolutely no emotion now. Get a strike, turn around and come back. Leave a 10 pin on a perfect shot, don't even bat an eye, turn around, come back and shoot the spare. Bowl a 250-290, no emotion. Miss a spare, turn around, come back. No emotion. This helps me remain focused. ESPECIALLY on the 10 pin. I used to get so frustrated when I'd leave one on a perfect shot, that I wouldn't be focused on picking it up, and I'd miss it. Sure, there are times when I miss a spare that I'm screaming INSIDE my head, but I really do my best not to show any emotion.

I've never really been much for celebrating a strike either, or good games. Throw this in the "You've been there before" category, so I never really fist pump or anything. I have no issues with anyone that wants to show emotion (positive emotion). People yelling, cursing loudly, hitting equipment etc., I don't like that, and they are only hurting their game.

[noeymc]

idk the girl on my team strikes and does some funny dance we where all bowling so bad last sat i added it to my game for the last one and my team won that one by 150? or 200? some where in the pins to give us a 3/4 for this week thats after we gave up 89 for handicap and ten cuz one of our bowlers didnt show up

[The German Shepherd]

It pisses me off when I miss any spare. Just drop it mentally before you take your seat. Never let your opponent know that you are susceptible to letting them get in your head. Like poker, keep them from knowing it bothered you that you missed anything. Now when I make a big split I do celebrate real quick. The flip side is this also keeps you from showing up your opponent.
I made the comment to an opponent three weeks ago when he struck out in the tenth (I still creamed him), "Not bad for an old man". I though we were the same age but he is 12 years older. I woke a sleeping giant and he took me to school and whipped my butt in front of the whole class games two and three. The comment didn't bother him but did give him a reason to drink less and focus more, motivation to do well.

I know how that works. MY mouth is a perfect size 11D....

Jay

[The German Shepherd]

i think i expect way to much out of my self is that possible i feel like if i dont break at least 180 i let my whole team down my avg is about 179 or real close to it after yesterdays horrendous performance and once i start doing bad my emotions just start getting the better of me but i feel like i have to be the best

One of my problems is that I tend to beat myself up pretty badly. Having a short memory when it comes to mistakes is a very good thing...

jay

[75lockwood]

One of my problems is that I tend to beat myself up pretty badly. Having a short memory when it comes to mistakes is a very good thing...

jay

Learn to laugh at yourself! LOl, i do it all the time, i completely miss an easy shot and i can't help but laugh at my own stupidity. now the shots where i make slight mistakes that cost a lot (missing a 10 but hitting the 6) those i get annoyed with lol

[Hammer]

Getting mad at yourself when you don't get that spare or strike is a waste of energy. If I miss something I just cuss under my breath and think I will try to do better the next frame. I have had times where I open the first two frames and then string 3 or 4 strikes in a row and then spare and strike the rest of the way. That is the way bowling is. Don't crucify yourself when you have a bad frame because you don't know what you will do the next frame or the next few frames. If you don't spend any time practicing you don't have a right to be mad at yourself. You can't think that you are automatically going to be a good bowler without practice. If you want to be better take at least one i hour lesson to get things right in your game. Then practice what you learned in your lesson about the approach, hand positions to make the ball hook or go straight, targeting etc. Plus you have to remember that you are not a pro and you are not doing this for a living. You are doing this for fun and to be with friends. If you luck out and have a great night enjoy what you just did. If you have a bad night just say to yourself oh well, that's bowling for ya. When you think about it bowling is like life, you have to take the good with the bad. When you get stressed you waste your energy so by the time you are in the third game you are exhausted and have nothing left. Accept the fact that some of your games will be good and some will be nasty. Don't let it get your goat. As long as you are trying to do your best that is all you can ask of yourself. Sometimes you just don't have it. SO WHAT! LET IT GO.