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Author Topic: Mental game outside of competition  (Read 4039 times)

lilpossum1

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Mental game outside of competition
« on: August 04, 2018, 05:37:28 PM »
I have a problem with my mental game. I have a really hard time focusing on shot making outside of really close games in league or direct head to head matches. Put money or, I hate to say it, my ego on the line, and I become a lot different shot maker. Or a group of pretty girls on the set next to me ;) How do you all get yourself to focus on making every shot? Lately I have been content hitting a break point of 10 boards when bowling recreationally

 

spmcgivern

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Re: Mental game outside of competition
« Reply #1 on: August 06, 2018, 07:24:30 AM »
To be a little different, I think you need to approach this from two sides.  I would try to reduce the imposed stresses from the higher pressure situations while also trying to impose some stress on the lower pressure situations.  The ultimate goal is to treat each shot the same regardless of the situation.  That is near impossible to do so trying to bring each side closer to each other can provide some consistency. 

I would be wary of trying to bring all situations up to the higher pressure type mainly because being at high stress for extended periods of times becomes tiring.  You will find trouble trying to be at that level for an entire block. 

Hope that came across understandably.

Pinbuster

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Re: Mental game outside of competition
« Reply #2 on: August 06, 2018, 11:23:08 AM »
First I'll say you can't be as intense on every shot as if it was for your life. You'll burn yourself out.

You need to get a routine so that every shot seems the same as the last.

For me it is pick up your ball, wipe it off, find your spot on the approach, find your target and align your body to the target, take a deep breath and then go.

I do this in practice or in competition regardless of situation.

If you vary your routine it will add stress to the shot. Many when put in a pressure situation will alter their routine and often it will not produce the result they were looking for.

Your mind and body likes a routine.


MI 2 AZ

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Re: Mental game outside of competition
« Reply #3 on: August 06, 2018, 09:37:59 PM »


I agree you need to develop a pre-shot routine.  Having one keys the
subconscience that it is time to bowl and what your body has to do.

We use the conscience mind to train the subconscience mind to operate
automatically complex bodily functions with only a few key triggers.
Think about how you had to learn something really complex like typing
or operating an automobile. You had to think about it at the time with your
conscience mind and train your subconscience so that now, you don't have to do any real thinking to perform those complex operations.  Your body can do them
with only minimum conscience effort.

Same thing with bowling.  You want to get to the point where with
only a few key triggers, your body will operate automatically.  A
pre-shot bowling routine is one key trigger.  The less you can think
and get in the way of your subconscience mind, the better.  Your
pre-shot routine is a way of clearing the mind of unimportant or
distracting thoughts.

Someone else mentioned this and it is important.  Only use positive
triggers.  The subconscience does not recognize the word 'not'.  So
if you think "do not pull this shot", it keys on "do pull this shot",
which is why many bowlers who try not to do something will end up
doing it anyways.  :)   Better to use something like "loose armswing"
or "roll the ball".

A pre-shot routine that also involves taking a deep breath or two and
slowly exhaling as you start seems to help too in helping to keep the
muscles loose.  If you can do the same things all the time and keep
the mind clear except for your keys, then pressure shots will be
treated as just a normal shot.

Edited to add:
The conscience mind is more deliberate and slower.  You use it to train your
muscles to perform actions.  Once you have trained those muscles, they operate automatically and faster by way of the subconscience mind.  When you first learn something and use the conscience mind, your actions are slower and clumsy.  With
the subconscience mind those actions are faster and smoother.
« Last Edit: August 06, 2018, 09:49:30 PM by MI 2 AZ »
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Freddy

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Re: Mental game outside of competition
« Reply #4 on: August 08, 2018, 07:25:19 AM »
There are two good books about the mental game.  One is by Dr Dean Hinitz, Bowling Psychology and the book by Josh Blanchard, Energy In Motion.  Both are excellent books! 

spmcgivern

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Re: Mental game outside of competition
« Reply #5 on: August 08, 2018, 07:51:30 AM »
There are two good books about the mental game.  One is by Dr Dean Hinitz, Bowling Psychology and the book by Josh Blanchard, Energy In Motion.  Both are excellent books! 
Another book I recommend to people is "The Inner Game of Tennis" by W. Timothy Gallwey.

https://www.amazon.com/Inner-Game-Tennis-Classic-Performance/dp/0679778314

To me this book is the best resource for sports performance. Bowling specific books have their place, but several sports use the Inner Game of Tennis as a valuable resource.


jelt2359

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Re: Mental game outside of competition
« Reply #6 on: August 31, 2018, 05:21:02 AM »
I personally like 'with winning in mind' by Lanny Bassham. Shooting is more a mental sport than a physical one, imo.

bergman

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Re: Mental game outside of competition
« Reply #7 on: August 31, 2018, 10:55:49 AM »
I am a firm believer that a bowler's mental game has to be tailored to the individual bowler. Seek out a plan that best fits you.  When I was competing on a regular basis, I had to constantly adjust my mental game to fit the situation at hand. If the condition
was difficult, I would switch into the mode of " each shot is for ALL the marbles". This would cause me to bear down on every shot, more so than normal. In this situation, I would often have to abandon my "A" game (free swing, soft hand). I would concentrate on doing all I could to throw good shots, even if it meant having to muscle and steer the ball or at worst, kicking the ball down the lane with my foot (just kidding). 

If on the other hand, I was competing on a condition where I had plenty of room and carry, then I would focus on freeing up my armswing and going with my natural flow and tempo. Regardless of which approach works for you, in the end, the best mental approach ever written simply cannot beat raw talent. If you are one of these very fortunate few, then you have already pretty much written your own book on the subject.

lilpossum1

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Re: Mental game outside of competition
« Reply #8 on: September 01, 2018, 08:55:06 PM »
I thought I replied to this lol. I try to treat every shot the same, but i have the mental block making it impossible. And it isn’t a gambling addiction type of situation because I don’t gamble... per se. just paying money to get in pots and tournaments. The focus under pressure thing also extends to outside bowling. If I am in a stressful or high pressure situation elsewhere, I have a mental clarity that doesn’t exist outside of that situation.

MotivAYo

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Re: Mental game outside of competition
« Reply #9 on: September 06, 2018, 11:09:41 AM »
Something that helps me is I write something on a piece of tape and put it on my shoe so when I line up, I see it. It could be anything that makes you feel relaxed. Once you see it, it takes your mind off worrying about making a good shot.
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4pleez

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Re: Mental game outside of competition
« Reply #10 on: September 09, 2018, 10:42:25 PM »
To be a little different, I think you need to approach this from two sides.  I would try to reduce the imposed stresses from the higher pressure situations while also trying to impose some stress on the lower pressure situations.  The ultimate goal is to treat each shot the same regardless of the situation.  That is near impossible to do so trying to bring each side closer to each other can provide some consistency. 

I would be wary of trying to bring all situations up to the higher pressure type mainly because being at high stress for extended periods of times becomes tiring.  You will find trouble trying to be at that level for an entire block. 

Hope that came across understandably.

I agree with this. I'm new to bowling. I picked it up (almost) 3 months ago. I'm at 5 bowling balls, and can't wait to get another. I read a lot of what better bowlers have to say, and in general I prefer to listen to those who know what they are talking about. My average is almost breaking the 200 barrier and just rolled my 1st 270+ game. With all that said: I came from a different sport that is WAY more taxing on your mind, over a longer duration, requiring a lot more practice. That sport is golf.

I played junior events, high school, college, and tried professionally on and off for a decade(it's expensive). I've had more instruction than I care to think about, and can't remember half of the instructors I went through. The most beneficial instruction I ever had was going to a sports psychologist. The just of what they taught me that I will try really hard to put into bowling terms:

We are creatures of habit- pre shot routine is usually something that is very consistent. You do your waggle, pick up your ball a certain way, etc.
This is "Pre-shot"- this is where your conscience mind is completely in play. You're adjusting to where you stand, where your target is, how you want to position your wrist, etc.
This is the where your brain gets in gear. Your muscle memory knows exactly what  your brain wants it to do. This is a repetitive motion that your body knows.

It's time: this is the hard part, and more specifically the part that is your concern. It's time to pull the trigger- this is where the conscious mind has to take a back seat, and your subconscious mind takes over. If I've lost you here, take this example. Wodding up some piece of paper, leaning back in your chair, you throw it at the trash can, and it's perfect goes straight in. Then. You sit there and word up another piece of paper sitting up straight treating it like a freethrow. Make sure your elbow is in and you dont even come close= get your pre shot, adjustments, and everything else together- from there you dont worry about your form, how much cleavage is on the other lane, or what your buddies or teammates think about if you screw this up. All you are focusing on is the simplest thing you can do. You are stroking it to your your target. Not guiding it, steering it., forcing it, just rolling it there. You'll be amazed what your mind will do when you free it up from all the stuff you have no control over! Kind of like how you made the first word of toilet paper. 


DP3

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Re: Mental game outside of competition
« Reply #11 on: September 11, 2018, 12:49:47 PM »
The more dead on the inside I become as a person, the easier the game seems. Apathy & Depression may not work for everyone though. Try at your own risk.