Help! Tunnel Vision, Ouch!

[rastamaoli]

I have returned to bowling and I recently joined a league. While away from the game for several years, I began playing golf weekly and began to appreciate the silence of the game and its respects to those courtesy. Because of that appreciation, I recently realized that I am unable to bowl as consistent as I did as a competitive bowler for 15 years. During my league, I am spotting other bowlers bowling off of the corners of my pheripheral vision (while bowling) and it distracts my focus and I usually do not pick up the needed spares my team needs. These "shadows/sillouettes" are hurting my game. FYI, one lane courtesy is automatically given. Please help; THXS!

How do I unblock this mental parody?

[J Anderson]

I have returned to bowling and I recently joined a league. While away from the game for several years, I began playing golf weekly and began to appreciate the silence of the game and its respects to those courtesy. Because of that appreciation, I recently realized that I am unable to bowl as consistent as I did as a competitive bowler for 15 years. During my league, I am spotting other bowlers bowling off of the corners of my pheripheral vision (while bowling) and it distracts my focus and I usually do not pick up the needed spares my team needs. These "shadows/sillouettes" are hurting my game. FYI, one lane courtesy is automatically given. Please help; THXS!

How do I unblock this mental parody?

I would try practicing on school holidays when there are a lot of little kids who have not yet learned lane courtesy on the lanes. Sorry that's probably not a good idea, one might wonder over into your approach and get hurt. Maybe you could have a friend help you by walking on the approach next to yours during your practice sessions. In other words have your friend violate even the one lane courtesy until you learn to block it out. be sure to let the manager know what you're doing so they don't throw yopur friend out.

[PSBA10]

My one son had the same problem at one point. We cured him by essentially putting blinders on him. I had an old pair of safety glasses with dark side shields. Since his pheripheral vision was restricted this helped train him to focus on what he was looking at. After several weeks he didn't need them any longer.