Playing Mind Games

[got_a_300]

If you can't mentally block out what people say you have more problems than not being able to bowl.

There's one good thing about my game and that is I've always
been able to block out anyone trying to get into my head when
it comes to bowling as I have never let anyone get to me when
I'm on the lanes.

I've also never had any fear of bowling anyone no matter who
or how good they are as everyone can be beat.

I love to mess with other people's minds though when I can
if they really do deserve it by trying to trash talk me or one
of my team mates.

If they just come in to bowl and not try to talk down to me or
my team mates then I'll just bowl and not try to get into their
heads.

[classygranny]

I've never really had a problem with "trash talking" as I tend to use it to make myself focus more and bowl better. The problem I seem to have the last few years is bowling with my husband. He is one of these that gets easily frustrated and makes remarks, albeit to himself-outloud, and sometimes jerks chair, hits table, or storms off. When this happens, my game just seems to fall off. I can't seem to keep my head in my own game as this happens. I have tried and tried to talk to him, but he's right-usually after a small outburst he bowls a bit better. I just don't recover as quickly. Anyone experience this type of "mind game"? Suggestions? - and not earplugs or music, both destroy my bowling.

[JPbowl]

Doesn't really bother me, joke around with a few people anyway.
One person gets into another bowlers head by complimenting them. " Wow, you are unstoppable today. You don't miss do you. you are awesome!"
Next thing you know hes throwing splits, lol.

[GoodGravy]

I always thought the physiological aspect of any sporting event to be very interesting. The best players (college/pro) deal with pressure and, for the lack of a better phrase, 'outside stimulation' (read trash talking) in a far better way then most other players. They use it as a motivation to push their game up another level.

Another way to look at it: When you let somebody 'get under your skin' you have just given them authority over you and handed them control of you.....why would you do that??? Let your score do the talking and crush them with your pin count!

[billf]

Hell, I trash talk my teammates more than my opponents. It's a team thing. Let's us trash talk without motivating the other team.

[J Anderson]

Hell, I trash talk my teammates more than my opponents. It's a team thing. Let's us trash talk without motivating the other team.

My wife always thought that my dad and I were more concerned about beating each other than we were about winning the game

[billf]

John, three of my teammates from Monday also bowl other leagues together. We are fairly close and were all brothers-in-laws by marriage once upon a time. I've been bowling with Derrick since the beginning. He use to get so mad so easily. He was a better bowler until his temper kicked in. It started as fun trash talking him until his game fell apart. Now his mental game is on par with his physical game.
Derrick now wants to bowl on another team in our men's scratch league so we can bowl against each other for once. That came about after we finished fourth in the City tournament in doubles this year while I also finished in first with Chris. Chris is a large guy with horrible form. Some how he still scores well. This year my trash talking him turned into his new nickname: Kool-aid It was going to be that or felony because showing that much crack bowling is definitely more than a misdemeanor!

Needless to say, all the talking we do to each other usually has the place in stitches and has helped all of us in tournaments where our opponents didn't know us and would waste their time and energy trying to get in our heads.

One thing I have noticed I do that does irritate the opposing team and I do it without realizing it: as the ball goes down the lane and I know it's a great shot I call the strikes out, "there's number four", "that's a five bagger", etc. Turns out my thoughts aren't always just in my head lol

[Greenday]

My teammate on my Wednesday night league last week took a frame off in the 10th of our first game since we were up 80 pins. It really pissed off the other team and motivated them to do better. They had great second and third games. I thought we were set because they looked really dejected after I bowled my 211 (177 average) and they were down bad. But my teammate just pissed them off and gave them fuel to improve.