The trick to getting that first 600 series........

[RoccoRock]

I have a friend, and this week he was looking for his first ever 600 series after 4 years of bowling. He needed a 188 last game, and he knew it. I was done with my night (ugly 530 series) and came over to root him on in the 6th frame. Before every ball, he was calculating. He can't help it, he's a math teacher. He needed a double, 9th, first ball of the tenth. He got the 9th, but the first ball in the 10th was nearly a 7-10 split, the 7 fell late. In the end, he missed the spare, and only went 570. That's not even his best series of the year.

Last week I was in a similar spot. I needed a 197 to get my first 600 of the season. I didn't care about the number, I just wanted to bowl well. I missed a spare in the second, but I didn't start calculating numbers, and didn't let it get to me. I settled down, then I ran 6 in a row, damn near 9 in a row, and went 230. When I threw number 4 I knew I had it already, and that was the first time in that game I had even thought about numbers. From there it was easy, pressure was off, and I was throwing bombs. Just make one good shot at a time, and your golden.

[75lockwood]

Bowling a milestone is awesome, when you miss it by mere pins it sucks, this is something i am an expert at, i have 1 600 so far, but at least a half dozen 580-599's lol, just remember your there to have fun, don't focus so much on getting those honor scores as much as bowling consistently, focus on your mark not the Scores!

[Hammer]

Instead of thinking about my score I only think about keeping my wrist straight or a little cupped and my hand behind the ball until my release. I have to do this because sometimes later in league night I will have a tendency to turn my hand a little early. Not too bad but bad enough. And I can feel it as soon as I let the ball go. When that happens I say to myself OH NO! To be honest I cleaned that up a bit. LOL.

[SouthpawTRK]

I bowled my first ever 600 series on my Wednesday night league; I had the biggest grin on my face with driving home

I attribute being hyper focused on hitting my mark, making adjustments, knowing when to make an adjustment, picking up spares and having some loud good music. I was watching the scoreboard way too much and probably put a little too much pressure on myself after the finish of the second game (I bowled a 203; followed by a 196).

I think that the music really helped me stay relaxed and kept my mind from thinking too much about shooting a 200+ third game to get my first 600 series. After all the dust cleared, I ended up shooting a 202, which put me at 601

[RoccoRock]

I have a friend, and this week he was looking for his first ever 600 series after 4 years of bowling. He needed a 188 last game, and he knew it. I was done with my night (ugly 530 series) and came over to root him on in the 6th frame. Before every ball, he was calculating. He can't help it, he's a math teacher. He needed a double, 9th, first ball of the tenth. He got the 9th, but the first ball in the 10th was nearly a 7-10 split, the 7 fell late. In the end, he missed the spare, and only went 570. That's not even his best series of the year.

Last week I was in a similar spot. I needed a 197 to get my first 600 of the season. I didn't care about the number, I just wanted to bowl well. I missed a spare in the second, but I didn't start calculating numbers, and didn't let it get to me. I settled down, then I ran 6 in a row, damn near 9 in a row, and went 230. When I threw number 4 I knew I had it already, and that was the first time in that game I had even thought about numbers. From there it was easy, pressure was off, and I was throwing bombs. Just make one good shot at a time, and your golden.

I can't help but feel bad for my friend after thinking more about it. I do relish the fact that this is the one thing I am better at than he is. We both race RC cars, and he is better. We both play video games, and he is better. He has a better job, makes more money, and has a nicer house. Still, even with all that said, I wanted him to get that 600. I wish I could have helped him more. I tried, but there's only so much I can tell him. He's been bowling for 4 years, and plays it off like he doesn't care, and he only bowls cause his girlfriend liked to bowl, but I know better. He is competitive, and if he's doing anything he wants to win. He enjoys bowling more than he lets on. He, and my 3 teammates share something. If any of them ever listened to me, they would be so much better.

[Greenday]

My first 600 series, I was upset because I kept thinking I should have bowled a 700 series. I had bowled a 149, 241, and 265. If I didn't bowl like total crap that first game, I could have definitely bowled a 700 series.

[vikingbowler88]

Great Advice!! My goals for this year is to bring the average up to 200+ and bowl my first 600 series.

[75lockwood]

My first 600 series, I was upset because I kept thinking I should have bowled a 700 series. I had bowled a 149, 241, and 265. If I didn't bowl like total crap that first game, I could have definitely bowled a 700 series.

When that happens you bowl a 4th game and pretend the first didn't happen LOL

[scottymoney]

My biggest issue is scoreboard watching. I can't help it, I get so anxious for my turn that I watch like a hawk. Figures my best game ever I was bowling with my family and chasing my son around. People were telling me when it was my turn as my 20 month old roamed the alley looking to get into trouble. I will work on keeping myself distracted tonight at league to see if it helps.

[Greenday]

My biggest issue is scoreboard watching. I can't help it, I get so anxious for my turn that I watch like a hawk. Figures my best game ever I was bowling with my family and chasing my son around. People were telling me when it was my turn as my 20 month old roamed the alley looking to get into trouble. I will work on keeping myself distracted tonight at league to see if it helps.

I look at the scoreboard too, but I usually don't do it just to check my score. I do it to check my team's score because I'm the anchor and the games a lot of the time come down to what I need to do.