Sometimes it is all mental

[JDHamm85]

Yes thank you Bob. Had a busy day yesterday and haven't had a chance to read it yet!

[Tampabaybob]

ok just wanted to make sure you received it.

[Aslan]

I noticed last night...and I kinda saw this other times...my game is at least 20% confidence.

Last night I threw a clean game 210. Now, I knew a clean game was on the line since about the 4th frame...but it didn't rattle me. And one of the main reasons I was doing so well??....CONFIDENCE. My team, the other team...they were all watching me and it felt like I was "impressing" them or "putting on a show". And when I went up to the approach...I wasn't afraid. I wasn't thinking, "Please don't go in the gutter...please...please...please don't pull this shot into the 4-pin..." Instead I was thinking, "Okay...you're probably gonna strike...but if ya don't...no bigee...just pick up the spare and we're all good." It was like I was "expecting to do well"...not fearing that I wouldn't.

Then...to show the other side of confidence; i.e. not having it...
I then threw an open frame in the 1st. Then an open frame in the 2nd. And for the rest of that game...and the 3rd game of the series...I was completely afraid every time I walked up to the approach. I'd think, "okay...if we strike out...we'll still be okay." Then, no strike, not even close, and I'm even more rattled missing the spare. Finished with a 127 and 121 in games 2 and 3. My first game was my highest ever on a synthetic heavier oil lane...my 2nd ever clean game...yet I couldn't even get a 525-550 series. Hell, I didn't even crack 449 (my high series in that league).

So...then I go practice a few...because i HATE leaving an alley on a bad note...the two kids next to me had seen me bowl at another alley and were somewhat impressed watching me. Suddenly...my confidence was returning!! Knowing that they were watching me and they thought I was a good bowler...it was like, "I had to be a good bowler...I mean, if they think I am...then I must be!" Finished the night with a 137-138-168 type of series. Not great...but on those lanes I average 136...so it was above my average.

So thats gonna be my major "mental hurdle" I have to find away around. I have to be able to "snap out of it" when I get off to a rough start. I have to be able to bowl well against bowlers that aren't "easily impressed". And that may sound funny...but looking back on my better league nights...they tended to be against teams with lesser talent. If I bowl against guys scoring 180-190...I struggle...because not only do I feel out of place and feel like I'm not good enough to bowl against them...but I feel like they're watching me and instead of thinking, "damn...this kid has a good shot." I feel like they're thinking, "Oh my god....this dude is horrible....next time he goes to the bar we should all laugh at him behind his back."

I actually am usually quite consistent. Consistently good...or consistently bad. Because if I'm riding high...I'm confident and keep it going. If I struggle....I literally can't snap out of it. Last night was rare that I started off so well and lost it...usually a good 1st game means it's gonna be a dang good night.

[scruffwhor]

Positive self talk is soooo important when making shots. It also helps that my teammates are very positive and supportive.

Before I pick-up my ball, I'll think things like, "hit your mark", "you can get this strike", "crush those pins", and so on.

Once my thumb is in the whole and I look at my mark, I try my best to shut my brain off. Not as often as I should, but there's yet another aspect of my game I need to work on.

All in all, when I'm relaxed, happy, and DON'T beat my self up after a open frame or what not, I bowl pretty good.

[J Anderson]

About half of what I say Saturday morning is "you know you can make this spare". Unfortunately the other half is "Hey! Stop! Didn't you see that so and so was about throw on the lane next to you?"

[Hampe]

Yep....confidence is huge in bowling. A lot of what you are talking about will come with more experience. It's easy for a bad game to snowball once you have a few bad frames. The best thing you can do is just try and forget what happened, and concentrate on what you have to do to make the next shot better (NOT on getting a strike). The worst thing you can do is sit there and go "Ok, now I need to strike out". You have to take it one shot at a time.

But like I said, experience is a big factor....once you've bounced back a few times from a bad stretch, the easier it gets to do it in the future.

[Aslan]

The worst thing you can do is sit there and go "Ok, now I need to strike out".

Yeah...I can't remember telling myself I "need" to strike out and then actually striking out. It's pretty much the kiss of death.