What's your strategy when you just can't find your game?

[Bendial]

Lol great replies, thank you all! Here are my takeaways:

1) Smiling, whistling to yourself to cheer yourself up
2) Shot of whiskey, probably definitely better than slamming beer after beer. Beer makes me tired and lazy lol.
3) Just start throwing it hard and straight and stop trying to hook so much.

[Kobra167]

If the A game isnt working. Pull out the B game and move right. If that doesn't work, go to C game. Get soft and move left. C game doesn't work, go go D game and get deep inside. All four strategies not working. Drink Rum, pick up plastic ball throw up the pike. Try again next week.

[SmilingBowler]

Start drinking heavier!

This is that one thing I wasn't doing Monday Night... and it showed, as I shot a 431. LOL!

Maybe if I had just one beer I would've made my average one stinking game.

We'll never know.

One thing I could've done, but never did, was just throw the damn ball at the head pin as fast as I could and hope for the best. But I usually only do that if I don't have 100 pins by the 9th frame.

[ArtVandelay]

The late great Leslie Nielsen would say the key isnt to make your game BETTER, but to make your opponents game worse! Before every game, I like to point out how awesome a 300 would be. I might ask someone, "is it me, or does that left lane feel extra slick in the plant area tonight? Be careful!"

When all else fails, make your opponent question their equipment. "Oh, I see you went pin high with that ball. I hear they designed it for more a mid lane read, but Im sure your driller knows more than me..."

Oh wait... He was talking about golf! Nevermind.....

[Tampabaybob]

Lol great replies, thank you all! Here are my takeaways:

1) Smiling, whistling to yourself to cheer yourself up
2) Shot of whiskey, probably definitely better than slamming beer after beer. Beer makes me tired and lazy lol.
3) Just start throwing it hard and straight and stop trying to hook so much.

Although some of these are pretty good ideas, Bowl1820 hit the nail on the head. ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS, go back to your basic game. Try to clear your head of any negative thoughts (this is part of the mental game) and try to do what your body wants to do that's natural. (and that doesn't mean walking out of the bowling center..LOL)

Additionally, 98% of the time, if you having a crappy nite you are probably missing your target, whether its an arrow or a spot on the lane. WHY you ask????? Because 98% of bowlers will lift there eyes off of their target "A MICRO SECOND" before they release their ball. As I've said in many threads before, "YOU CANT HIT WHAT YOU DONT SEE !!" You MUST be watching your target as the ball rolls over it to be accurate. It would be like bowling blindfolded if you look up from that spot. Get it ?? Accuracy is the three most important things in this game. If you can't hit your spot you're gonna be in trouble.

Beyond that, read the passage below my signature and that may calm you down. Good luck and hang in there.

[hoppy1605]

Totally classic!! I use this approach all the time. I guess thats why my pro shop guy loves me, lol!

[ecub]

I don't know. If I drink heavy enough, I see 20-30 pins. I only have to hit 10 of them

[aussiedave]

And every shot doesn't go right. Had a night like that at league a few weeks ago, and then today. I couldn't even break 100. Ugh.

Try rolling the ball on the center part of the lane. I come at it from the left hand side of center and let it drift out to the right a bit. This keeps it on the middle of the lane as much as possible for me. I find it doesn't hook as much and as long as you don't hit right on the nose you're good.
If you're having a bad night, then you really need the spares - this is where the most versatile players still get close to their average even in a "bad" session - which is really just the conditions not suiting their style.
Happens to most every now and then.
ad.

[SmilingBowler]

Try rolling the ball on the center part of the lane. I come at it from the left hand side of center and let it drift out to the right a bit. This keeps it on the middle of the lane as much as possible for me. I find it doesn't hook as much and as long as you don't hit right on the nose you're good.
If you're having a bad night, then you really need the spares - this is where the most versatile players still get close to their average even in a "bad" session - which is really just the conditions not suiting their style.
Happens to most every now and then.
ad.

Like AD said in the post below, spares are a huge part of the game. I wasn't terrible tonight. I just needed to pick up my spares. If I had made my single pin spares and two-pin spares (splits excluded) I likely could have made my average both of the first two games. To see my scoresheet, look in the most popular thread, titled: POST YOUR SCORES HERE! (: .)

[ecub]

In all seriousness, if I can't find my game, I change my line. I normally like to do an Out & In shot, if it's not carrying or not working, I change to a Down & In. I usually find this work. From this point on, I move a board left or right for minor adjustments to hit strikes. Usually after a few frames or maybe by the next game, I can change to an Out & In shot.