Bo-Fish Bowling News the Positive Source for Bowling Worldwide

Tips from Tom by Tom Blasco

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Article Archive #2

• Into The Season
  
• Mental Game - Tuning In
  
• Hot Tips For Senior Bowlers
  
• Check Your Grip
  
• 12 Keys To Personal Bowling Success
• Improving Your Scores - The How To
  
• The Competitive Athlete
  
• Heart Attacks
  
• Playing To Your Potential
  
• Ball Impact Education

Into The Season

A few months have gone by since I’ve sent in a contributing article to the different websites I write for. Why you might ask? Well there are a number of reasons, all of which I’ll keep for another time. One of the reasons is I’ve been looking and listening to the bowlers in my local area and a number of bowlers around the country to what their take is on the status of their bowling, this season, and what they think is going on in and around the bowling industry.

One of the first things I see is that bowlers, in general, just continue to bowl and be bowlers. In a majority of cases, they just want to bowl and don’t really care about:

-- the merger of ABC/WIBC, which is now the USBC.
-- the proposed rule changes affecting the manufacturing of bowling balls, which is now somewhat tabled as a result of some 20 representatives being forthright with the USBC Board.
-- the distribution of oil within the oil patterns, the PBA patterns, the sport leagues or oil patterns, because it only affects a small number of our bowling populace. In fact, some of the discussion was directed at house patterns, just so they don’t take away the dry right.
-- the fact or at least the possibility, that somewhere down the road the game as we know it today is going to be separated (split) - to recreational and classic league bowling. This action may lead to a different awards program, different types of tournaments, different oil patterns for your competition and maybe different bowling balls for that competition.
-- that only a small number of bowler’s care about becoming better bowlers. Even though they all talk about wanting to be better bowlers they don’t want or don’t have the time to put into the game to be the better bowler they dream about. Resting on their laurels is their greatest achievement.
-- the education that is necessary to become a good scratch bowler or tournament player. They, also, don’t care about what it takes to become a proficient bowler, in fact, many believed any one can do it proficiently, regardless of being male or female.
-- the fact the so-called bowlers still don’t understand the need to care for and maintain their equipment. It’s amazing how few realize why their particle bowling equipment lost it’s hitting and hooking power because the particles have broken down or become shattered.
-- new young students of the game. While the industry as a whole likes the fact that young people are becoming involved in the game/sport, it’s a shame that this support is not overwhelming across the board, because these self proclaimed super bowlers use these young players as a means of feeding their egos that is only beneficial to themselves.
-- the tour. Many are still unhappy with the fact the tour show has to be put up against football and NASCAR. Those that do watch the tour don’t like the Skills Challenge (but my wife does) and others would much rather see the old format of the tour. Those that commented are still unhappy with the fact that bowling still hasn’t been able to sell itself on the difficulties of being a professional or highly skilled tournament player. -- thers find it difficult to believe when we have over 100 million bowlers in more than 100 countries.
-- the rumblings throughout the bowling grapevine to alter sport patterns by changing the ratios to make them easier.
-- that some of the bowling centers and proprietors have an attitude about you bowling in their center. In fact, I’ve heard that some feel you (the bowler) are indebted to them and they are doing you a favor by letting you bowl in their center and participate in their leagues and programs.
-- about the leadership of our game/sport not being on the same page because there is so much hierarchy in the game that they can’t get out of each others way to be more positive or direction giving to where our game is going. The proprietors think and know they own the game, USBC runs the game, but there still continues to be the war of words. Some still believe we should be more like golf, someone owns the golf courses, USGA governs the game.
-- whether or not they have the same oil pattern from week to week. They just want to play the game and strike and have fun with the friends and neighbors.
-- the number of variables in today’s game that actually make the game more difficult to play proficiently for long periods of time. The number of players on a pair, the number of games being bowled are part of those variables but only applies to a small percentage of bowlers, they can’t or don’t want to understand that when they bowl on Monday, Wednesday or Thursday night, 10 players on a pair break the lanes down quickly and in most cases unevenly.
-- the USBC making changes in the System of Bowling with regards to balls, pins, lanes, oils and cleaners.
-- the scratches or wear of the playing surface because most don’t care or believe, when identified, it does affect how they play. Also, was informed how little our bowlers actually relate to the surface they play on and generally only relate to it as how much their ball hooks in different centers.
-- the fact, that their new high powered bowling balls and lane friction contributes to their high scoring , in fact a number want more to include more dry right surface so they can hook it more.
-- the ups and downs of league bowling or the trials and tribulations of proprietors. Those that are dedicated league bowlers (classic league or others) are going to continue bowling and those that are recreational bowlers will bowl when they feel like it.
-- that bowlers, in general, don’t care about the amount of friction created by the lane surface and their ball and really don’t want to take the time to understand the physics of their equipment as it relates to rolling out or hitting flat. Most will just blame the lanes and the proprietor.
-- that today’s technology applies to less than 1% of the bowling populace - all they want to do is bowl.
-- that the youth of our game/sport are not provided avenues of high quality coaching which would encourage and promote our sport and maintain them as life long participants.
-- about high school bowling or collegiate bowling. A majority don’t even know the programs exist throughout the country and there is even a program in Florida.
-- the selling of bowling and it’s integrity. In fact, with most of the players I’ve talked with that are from the old school seem to be the only ones talking about integrity of our sport, while the newer players don’t care and really have no sense of history of what it took to get where we are today. They have a hard time grasping the integrity of our sport when ESPN Classic shows old shows with our players averaging 225 or 230 to make the show and very few believe in the relativity factor of the older and newer players. Some believe that the business of bowling is not in touch with the bowlers. A majority don’t care that an honor score doesn’t mean anything or that we can’t have credibility when we don’t even give credit to an honor score. I was told “we don’t even honor an honor score.”
-- about what is concentration. Most think because they think about concentration, they are concentrating on bowling, Very few really know what concentration on the highly skilled level is all about. Even fewer are aware of the mental, physical and emotional parts of our elite players and the sport.
-- our youth and junior programs with the exception of using them as a form of baby sitting service.
-- that our game/sport has lost its capability of creating FUN.

A few things I have noticed from the bowlers is that they still care about:

-- clean lanes (no dirt on clothes from the balls).
-- having the same oil pattern from week to week, whatever it is. Bowler’s (recreational or classic league) still want that element of consistency with relationship to lane conditions.
-- a fair price for their bowling and bowling equipment.
-- having an enjoyable time when they participate. Keeping the rules and all that stuff to a minimum is fine with most.

To this writer it seems that our bowlers really don’t care about a whole lot and we continue in the same spiral we’ve been listening too for years. Lack of education is still a problem, but I would guess it’s standard if no one cares about the state of our game/sport. Fortunately, I still see organizations and groups still striving for education, integrity, fair play and hopes of keeping our game/sport alive for the next hundred years.

How attune are you to your mental game? How attune are you to yourself? Yes, we as bowlers periodically need self examination. We need to know if the faculties we operate by are functional or need altering, because we as athletes are affected by numerous factors, conscious and unconscious, internal and external, under the pressure of competition, we always break at our weakest links. This occurs at every level, mechanically, mentally, emotionally and physically. In addition, these factors also affect and determine your mental toughness.

Look at the list of factors below and rate yourself accordingly with the scale provided: 1 (Extremely Negative); 2 (Mildly Negative); 3 Neutral; 4 (Mildly Positive); and 5 (Extremely Posititve). Look at and examine the list honestly.

Upon examination and your ratings, any factors designated a 2 or below should be viewed by you as an area of concern that can have a direct or indirect affect on your performance. This is true psycholoogically and physiologically. Faulty patterns of thinking and acting under stress, unhealthy emotional habits, poor physical endurance or strength, and similar weakest links lead to breakdown. Yes, breakdown, when you least expect it and when you want the most Ideal Performance.

Your pattern of weakness eventually disrupts the flow between your mind and body and your talent and skill. Confidence, fun, positive energy and focus suddenly become fear, doubt, disappointment, and discouragement. Thus without the flow and chemistry underlying it, you lose the battle fast and performance goes the other direction - downhill.

Adversity
Aggressivenesss
Aloneness
Anger
Approach
Arousal
Attitude
Body Language
Breathing
Competitor
Concentration
Confidence
Consistency
Courage
Dedication
Excuses
Fear of Failure
Habit
Intelligence
Justice
Kinetic Memory
Losing
Mental Discipline
Negativism/Positivism
Outcome
Perspective
Playing with Pain
Poise
Preparation
Pressure
Quitting
Relentlessness
Response
Self-Coaching
Self-Esteem
Task at Hand
Urgency
Visualization
Will
X-Factor
Yes-But Athletes
Zeal

Once you identify your weakest link(s) you should immediately attack it or them. Begin by mapping out new and practical strategies for overcoming your weakness. Focus the weakness on a daily basis, spend about 10-15 seconds each morning and evening viewing the positive aspect of your weakness so you can begin to earn the dividends of mental toughness

Tom Blasco
http://hometown.aol.com/tabbowl2/NewLocationBowlersCornerindex.html
http://hometown.aol.com/tabbowl2/myhomepage/
http://bowlerscorner.blogspot.com

Been out of the sport of bowling for awhile? Considering participation with friends you haven't seen in a long time, or a group once or twice a week? That's Great!!! You're never too old to bowl and "winning never gets old." Age is not a detriment to being able to bowl, particularly if you can adjust your game to what's happening or what has happened to your body. Like everything that exists in life, the older we get the more difficult some things are to achieve. Bowling can be taken up and enjoyed even at 65 or 70 years of age, and remember, our oldest active league bowler passed away at 106 years young.

So you are back in the sport, which more than 100 years ago held the distinction of being the sport of everyone. Yes, Bowling. The sport of individual achievement and competitiveness, used by some for recreation, gambling, socializing, exercise and a method of stress relief.

You are participating with many other senior citizens throughout the country and are part of the growing influx discovering our sport. For some, bowling will not be viewed as an ideal pastime. Nosiree!! They will participate in the sport with enthusiasm and determination because they have specific goals and enjoy competition. Many of you will realize the therapeutic, physical and psychological benefits. Most will realize the socialize interaction and the CAMARADERIE of our sport.

Seniors as well as younger bowlers are goal-oriented. Realistically we all bowl for the competition - whether it be outward or hidden deep in our minds. Look at yourself on the lanes and don't kid yourself. Out society dictates competitiveness everyday. Recall, if you can, when you were happy with yourself for missing a single pin spare, or fouling, or not being able to throw the big strike for a win? That's your competitiveness. Don't underestimate your desire to bowl well. High average performers reaching senior status may continue to be proficient and are probably still competing in good leagues and tournaments with higher average bowlers. Nonetheless, you are probably no match for the professionals in the scoring column and that's nothing to be ashamed of, settling for an occasional game of 190 or even seeing the 200 barrier. Normally, being able to bowl regularly provides the major source of enjoyment for seniors, not the pursuit of high scores.

We have a tremendous sport, especially if we have or can learn it properly. There's a strong correlation between proficiency and continuing in the game. We know, if we're good at something we want to display our skill. But for most, age can be a bitter pill because of individual pride. If you can accept the situation and realize the everyone tends to loose a little no matter what we are attempting - bowling can be a good part of your life.

The mental aspect of the game could keep a one-time top performer from enjoying bowling with fellow seniors or in a senior's league. Here is where a problem arises. The conventional methods we learned many years ago often don't work for us now with more age. Therefore, these tips are provided for the needs of our senior bowlers, and many apply to other participants of the sport.

1. CHOOSE THE PROPER BALL WEIGHT: Most times senior bowl with a ball that is too heavy, usually because they own a ball drilled for them 25 years ago. Young in mind, but physiologically changes have occurred and you must realize, you may have added a pound or two, which changes the size of your fingers, thumb and grip; (Uncle-Arthur) arthritis may be getting in, rheumatism; or injuries incurred over the years are beginning to nag you. Why suffer?
On the other hand, seniors who possess the physiological factors under-estimate their physical strength and go for a ball that is too light. Feels good. Yes, but correct? Not necessarily. A ball which is too light usually causes the swing to be flat uncontrollably, thus creating poor direction, loss of roll and hitting power.
Extreme care should be taken when selecting the proper weight ball. A rule of thumb is, select a ball you can swing comfortably and for three games - a pound could make a big difference and cause you to tire in the third game. Keep track of your scores, if you scores consistently go down in the last game, the ball is controlling you instead of you controlling the ball. Selecting a proper weight ball can achieve wonders and allow you to participate while enjoying your game with friends and neighbors. In addition, if a pound lighter ball picks up your overall ball speed by 1/2 mile per hours, you could in effect still have as much hitting power as the heavier ball.

2. PROPER BALL FIT: This is one of the best tools of higher scores and enjoyable bowling. Usually seniors will bowl with house equipment or with balls that were drilled many years ago. In either case, it probably is an improperly fitting ball. Since proper grip is essential and especially important to senior bowlers, make a point to have your grip checked. It's important, because you probably haven't used your equipment in five or ten years or had it checked. Take 10 minutes, visit your local pro shop and check it out, especially since most seniors often lack grip strength.
The most recommended grip for seniors is the conventional grip, as opposed to the semi and finger tip. Another method of improving the strength of your grips is by simply drilling an extra hole or two. It's not unusual and it helps. If all else fails or things aren't working out the best for you, purchase your own ball (new or used) and have it properly fitted.

3. USE WRIST SUPPORTS: Again, you're attempting to strengthen your grip. Seniors will quickly discover that they don't have the wrist strength to hold the ball in the proper position through the swing. This usually occurs when first taking up the game, or coming back to bowling after a long layoff. A wrist support can be very effective, too. Try it, you might like it. Also, as an added note, make sure when you have your ball fitted you are wearing your wrist support during the measuring process.

4. APPROACHES: Look at your approach. Are you starting on the last row of dots? Are you over striding? Years ago the method probably worked, but now age may not allow you the flexibility you once had. Remember, with the start of every approach over 145 muscles being to move in a coordinated effort to deliver the ball at the pins. It might not be quite as easy to stretch out the way you use to.

a. The Five Step Approach: Although it is the extra step approach, it blends very well with most seniors because they are flat swingers (that is, they don't let the back swing get up over the bowling shoulder). This normally causes your swing speed and follow through to be overdeveloped. Changing a three or four step approach to a five step can dramatically improve your game. The extra steps, may also, lend itself to increased swing speed and release impetus.

b. The Three Step Approach: If you feel you are a little uncoordinated or have difficulty blending the arm swing and approach, the three step may be useful. Attempt it by taking your stance about 9 or 10 feet from the foul line, hold the ball below the waist. You will start your approach with the left foot, but before you do you MUST initiate a slight upswing (the ball moves forward and up), before the step is taken. This approach reduces the need for coordination and helps the senior with better control.

c. One or Two Step Approach: For seniors who have not bowled before, a simple one or two step approach is best for teaching the pendulum swing and release. Coordination for beginning seniors' is normally difficult.

5. OVERSWING: As previously addressed, you may not be the spring chicken/rooster you once were. We have a tendency to remember the days of yesteryear on the lanes, not realizing that what worked years ago will not work, today. Why? Because of age, primarily, but also because of new technology in equipment, lanes, teaching theories, etc. This does not mean you can't bowl well. On the contrary. What you must do now is adopt a methodology that does not put a strain on your current physical capabilities. Why try to over swing the ball? Why do you need a back swing over 180 degrees or above your shoulder - especially when it requires more strength and coordination to keep it under control. A senior's physical make-up usually does not meet this requirement. Why not just let the ball swing naturally and let it roll?

6. ARCHED BALL PLACEMENT ABOVE THE WAIST: Normally, the act of getting the ball down too soon when placing the ball in motion is a problem that hinders all of us. It not only robs you of coordination but increases your strength requirements. Therefore, you must hold the ball tighter which creates muscle tension and causes poor ball roll, poor releases and early tiring. It robs you of the relaxation you should be enjoying. To ensure you maintain relaxed ball placement, it is advisable to start holding the ball a little above the waistline while placing it into the slight upward arc. Try it, you may find it a tremendous aid and enjoy your bowling, again.

7. USE OF BACK OR KNEE SUPPORTS: Physical ailments or handicaps can be faced and overcome. The inability to bend normally at the foul line during the release is common. Don't be overly concerned. You will probably require a little more concentration to overcome the lack of a knee bend. You may even try a little more bend from the waist, when in your stance, but stance only, not during your entire approach. Just remember to keep your arm swing straight and swing toward the target. Your natural tendency will probably be to pull the ball and turn your body when your knees are bent. By all means try to keep your body straight when you arrive at the foul line. You can still enjoy the sport. While basic fundamentals such as deep keep bend and back bend may be difficult, there are adjustments which can help you.

8. USE OF OPEN HAND/SPREAD FOREFINGER AND/OR PINKIE FINGER: For many years, a majority of now senior bowlers, were introduced to bowling grips like the closed "shaking hands" or "suit case." This was and is unfortunate, but who's to blame, we didn't know any better.

Since the hand has but four grips, only two are major. The strongest is the buttress grip, often used to open a stubborn jar lid, the other is the hook grip, it is often called the suit case grip. Not only is it a minor grip, it is also a weaker grip. The "shaking hands" grip and release is utilizing the weaker hook grip. It also contributes to pinching the ball; excessive muscle tension in the forearm, and a broken wrist.

However, opening the hand somewhat by spreading the forefinger and sometimes the pinkie finger is, in fact, changing the grip to compromise between the hook and the much stronger buttress grip. You would appreciably strengthen your grip and release by adopting this compromise.

9. EXERCISE: Being prepared physically to bowl is as important as rolling the bowling ball. A few stretching exercises will aid you in loosening the joints, muscles, and the stretching of tendons and ligaments. Although you may not become a muscle builder or a great sports figure, it will have an impact on your overall performance, and may even prevent an unwanted injury.

10. TARGETING: Learn to roll the ball toward the 1-3 pocket (1-2 for left handers). If your eye sight has not gone bad, see if you can develop a method of target (spot) bowling. It's much easier to hit a target 7 or 15 feet away than the pins, 60 feet away (head pin). Also, using your eyes to adjust the hook of your ball can also be an option. Looking closer could help with making the ball react sooner, just as looking farther down the lane could help with controlling the hook on the back end of the lane.

11. LANE ADJUSTMENTS: Adjustments to lane conditions are important to all bowlers. To seniors they are especially essential because most bowlers (seniors) roll the ball more slowly. This slowness causes the ball to hook away from the strike pocket. The standard adjustment is to follow the ball; if it hooks left -- you move left; if it stays right -- you move right and deliver the ball over the same target. If the ball continues to hook left, it is literally telling you to move left and move your target left so you can find enough conditioner (oil) to hold the ball going into the pocket. Another method of making an adjustment for the ball hooking is to rotate (or open) your bowling shoulder and walk back towards your target no matter where you are standing.

If you take your normal stance, walk a straight line and swing straight the ball goes too far left, the next time you bowl, turn your bowling shoulder more to the right. This is somewhat easier than trying to zero in on a specific target (arrow or board), and use the conventional targeting methods for shooting spares. Your objective should be to keep the ball in the general area around the head pin and maximize your first ball pin count. Since your rhythm and coordination aren't what they used to be, staying in the head pin area will give you the best results leaving you with easier spare shots. Spare shots that you will begin to see more frequently, which will become easier to make, resulting in a higher score. By pointing the bowling shoulder more to the right or left, depending on the previous strike shot. The important thing is to think about your adjustments as a simple movement and not worry about hitting specific spots on the lane. You should attempt to start your approach somewhere in the center of the lane and roll your ball around the second arrow. Now make your shoulder adjustments until you are pretty well zeroed in on the head pin or pocket.

Now that you've found your starting point and can walk fairly straight and release the ball fairly straight, spare shooting will become much easier.

However, many seniors are still learning how to become proficient spare shooters by using the proven scientific spare system, i.e., 3-6-9 or 4-8-11 depending upon how much ball they throw and how much hook is available from the lanes.

12. GOOD BOWLER, OUTSTANDING ABILITY, BUT GETTING OLDER: The older you become, past a certain point, you should consider the lightening of the ball. Consider a pound, for sure, and maybe two if previous physical ailments are hindering your performance, but keep the same type of grip, if you can still handle it. You might sacrifice a little hitting power when in the pocket, but if your accuracy improves and you maintain control of the ball, that should make up the difference. Look at your last game scores, if they tend to drop you may be tiring and need less weight.

Remember, on thing. All the basics you previously learned about bowling won't always be successful and won't apply to today's environment. With age comes reduced stamina and strength, change in skin texture and many other factors, not to the point where you can't still enjoy bowling. You should be seeking enjoyment and companionship for the game. Don't let physical ailments deter your enthusiasm. Go out and bowl the way it is most fun for YOU.

This article is written by Tom Blasco, Owner/Operator of Bowlers Corner, USA Bowling Silver/Bronze Certified Coach; Honor Graduate of the Institute of Professional Bowling Instructors; Member of the United States Bowling Instructors Association and Faculty; Member of the United States Bowling Academy and Professional Bowler Association. Credit is also given to Tom Kouros, writer of "Par Bowling," "Par Bowling: The Challenge" and ABC/WIBC (now USBC) Public Relations Department.

Tom Blasco
http://hometown.aol.com/tabbowl2/NewLocationBowlersCornerindex.html
http://hometown.aol.com/tabbowl2/myhomepage/
http://bowlerscorner.blogspot.com

Been off for the summer? Have you put on or lost weight during the off season? In fact, were you put on medication or your medication changed in the last few months? Than you are one of many bowlers that should check the grip of their ball, especially the thumb size, before you start your next season. All these factors will have an affect on the overall size of your thumb, and a loose or tight fitting thumb will have a definite affect on your swing and bowling.

In a properly fit ball you want to be able to maintain a certain amount of grip pressure throughout your entire swing all the way to your release, where the thumb exists and the fingers take control of the ball.

If your thumb is extremely loose it will cause you to grip the ball with additional grip pressure. This additional grip pressure will interrupt the free swing of the ball during your approach and will interrupt the release process as well as the direction of the ball and follow through.

If your thumb is extremely tight it will cause you to cheat and not put your thumb all the way to its base. This procedure will have basically the same affect as the extremely loose thumb fit.

A good fitting thumb should be big enough to have a slight amount of pressure on the sides of your thumb knuckle. Some bowlers may even prefer to have their thumb hole ovaled since the thumb's overall shape represents an oval. A good fit will help you keep the thumb relaxed and allow it to clear the ball at the bottom of swing and transfer the weight over to your fingers. The importance of this fit cannot be over emphasized because it helps you the bowler to establish a consistent grip pressure, and a good free swing throughout the approach and release position and develops a sense of consistency.

Tom Blasco
http://hometown.aol.com/tabbowl2
http://hometown.aol.com/tabbowl2/NewLocationBowlersCornerindex.html

Achievement Keys--------Consistency and Excellence---------Sport and Life.

1. Models of Excellence: Use positive role models. Quality Achievers-living blueprints, inspiration, I like you - sharing; association; positive sensory observation; what we think about, see, hear, draw strength from past successes for confidence and fuels your fire for desire, dedication and determination.

2. Positive Sensory Observations: What you see or hear is what you get.

3. Sensory Goal Vision: Emotion provoking - trophies, hearing, names, TV, best of all players.

4. Commitment to Excellence. Mastery of skills. Commitment to the shot you are making. Being in the NOW.

5. Mastery of Fundaments: Adapt to change and conditions builds confidence; advantage over competition. Don't think about how to do a performance - only do performances.

6. Develop and Use Successful Performance Strategies: Adapt to conditions; select the proper equipment; look for one break; review strategy - get the intelligent and strategic edge.

7. Use of Mental Rehearsal: Before, during and after competition. Map out. See, hear and feel yourself in competition; minimize distractions to NO distractions. Sense motion; target and feel motion to reach goals. Defuse all negatives.

8. Positive Use of Adrenaline. Nervousness is Anxiety. Relaxed to Perform Well; used to training athletes; Positive Adrenaline high; body mimics anxiety. Brain sharpens senses; quickens body response and lubricates joints for smooth flowing motion. Not knowing causes fear of failure. Learn to relax and use adrenaline. Listlessness and flat, get ready for peak performance.

9. The AWE Factor: Never look up to or at competition. The legend, the star, the champion - he is you, no different.

10. The Burning Desire to Win: Practice, play or competition, perform better each time out. Winning is a by-product. Winning reinforces winning, more improvement.

11. Translate Failure to Success and Mistakes to Opportunities: No thing such as failure, why performed poorly and channel to correcting failure. Don't repeat.

12. Love of Your Sport. Competition is a game; not life; maintain the desire to learn, improve, excel, win and have fun.

Tom Blasco
http://hometown.aol.com/tabbowl2
http://hometown.aol.com/tabbowl2/NewLocationBowlersCornerindex.html

Improving Your Scores - The How To

As a coach and bowler I’m frequently asked by league bowlers, “What do I need to improve my scores?” Well the answer is obvious - PRACTICE. Yes, practice. Practice your ability to repeat movements; to repeat the execution of your approach and delivery; to repeat the same walking patterns, to repeat the same release and follow-through. Gee, that’s a lot for a beginning league bowler, not really, they are just some of the essential elements necessary to becoming a productive league bowler and progress to the next level of league play. Surprisingly, that’ not the answer they want to hear. They want the magic bullet, the formula to improving their scores. They want to be Walter Ray with an hour lesson or the tip of the week.

So without hesitation and with a purpose of getting more information about their bowling endeavor, I naturally ask, “How did you bowl tonight?” Naturally, it becomes the onslaught of every reason why a bowler can’t bowl better. Here’s just a few:

o Shot 408 with a 190 game.
o The lanes where too slick and my ball wouldn’t hook.
o I couldn’t make the 10 pin, or a spare with my new hooking ball.
o The guy on my lanes was trying to coach me while we were bowling.
o I couldn’t hit the headpin.
o The lanes where hooking too much.
o The lanes where dirty, and the list goes on, and on, and on, and on, and on.........

Not once did I hear how the individual bowled. There was no talk about consistency, targeting, execution, alignment, etc., no talk about the tools necessary to creating or improving scores. So I’ve set forth with this small checklist for helping the average league bowler to improving his/her scores.

1. Know Thyself. Realize you don’t do this for a living. You do it to maintain your competitive spirit, a little sociability, and in most cases a night out with the spouse and friends. Know that your skills in the sport of bowling are somewhat limited, at best, if you have not been actively involved in the sport on a daily basis for the past 10-15 years. Also, realize and understand that today’s environment is considerably different than what you probably learned to bowl on and today’s ball technology was just someone’s dream a number of years ago. Knowing yourself might be the single most important thing to remember when you feel that old fire rise in your belly. Also, I remind most league bowlers that constantly remind me about how good they use to be, that they haven’t forgotten how to bowl, they just have to come back to the game slowly. They need to give their bodies a chance to reactive old memory cells and give their muscles a few sessions to get reacquainted to old movements. Than their mind and body will begin to operate the way it did a number of years ago baring any injuries they may have incurred. Another area I try to get league bowlers to remember is that they are not the same bowler they were a few years back. They may have added extra weight, their equipment even though old, probably doesn’t fit any longer and the weight of the ball doesn’t match up to their current age or structure.

2. Consistency. Develop a sense of consistency, especially since you are just coming back to the game. Keep your expectations low at best, until you see what a difference you and your equipment have created. Since you already have images of yourself performing a number of years ago and have images of what your ball looked like going down the lane, don’t get too excited if they are not quite the same. Just remember the basic rule of bowling, “Follow the ball - if it hooks left, move left; if it stays right, move right.” Continue to re-develop your sense of consistency.

3. Headpin. Whether you are a target bowler or bowl at the pins, don’t give the headpin away on any shot. One of your initial goals should be to hit the headpin on each and every shot, maximizing your pinfall. Maximizing your pin fall and than making your spares will automatically increase your scores. Yes, making your spares. Realize that a single pin has a margin for error of almost 14 inches, meaning the center of the ball could be anywhere between those 14 inches and still convert the spare. Also, this is no reason to become careless, complacent or lax. Instead, to better the odds of probability, bowler should be thinking of hitting the key pin (the pin closest to you) squarely.

Let’s look at a 140/150 average league bowler 2.5 strikes per game; 3.1 spares per game; 7.2 pins on the first ball and 5.1 times the headpin is hit on the first ball. Now look at the 170/180 player, 3.9 strikes per game; 4.2 spares per game; 8.1 pins on the first ball and 7.9 times hits the headpin on the first ball.

Even with all the consciousness of strike, strike and more strikes, I’m still a firm believer of staying near the headpin for lower average bowlers and staying in the pocket for the higher level players. The overall result is the same, more pins knocked down on the first ball delivery, the same spare leave being seen more often and the minimizing of multiple pin spare leaves.

e. Comparisons. To minimize the heat of bowling the way you use too, don’t get caught up in comparing your skills to the pro bowlers of today. Today’s pro bowlers have a lot of revolutions on the ball and maintain big hooking balls - because they’ve learn the game in a different environment. Keeping your game simple, for at least a while, will allow you to develop and maintain your sense of consistency, keep the headpin in sight and allow you to see the same spares on a repetitive basis, therefore, making them easier to convert and increasing your scores.

Summary: Maximizing first ball pinfall + making spares = improved scores.

Competitive athletes will tell you that what separates the great hopefuls from the great achievers is the knowledge and application of mental skills.

A computer with all the gigabytes in the world is useless without the software to make it run. And so it is with the world class player or Olympic athlete, whose mind is the software controlling that collection of hardware known as flesh and bone and muscle. Aside from their astounding physical prowess, it’s the world class players’ mental muscles - and how they flex them - that really sets them apart from everyday athletes. In bowling, especially the PBA Tour, you would probably have to add experience to this formula. The difference between you and the other guy next to you is almost completely mental.

Sport psychologist’s from numerous universities and the Sport Science and Technology Division of the U.S. Olympic Committee, have seen how “mental management” contributes to an athlete’s performance. Some of the players/athletes even say it account for 90% of their success. While it’s difficult to quantify percentages, we do know from years of research and hundreds of studies just how important psychological preparation is to optimum athletic performance. So much so, it can even conquer the worst of distractions.

Studies over the years confirm that successful players are better able than the rest of us to deal with distractions. Athletes in particular find ways to remain focused on the event, the task at hand to the exclusion of negative influences such as fans, opponents, environment (to include building atmosphere and lane conditions) and even family problems. In 1986 a comparative study in personality and social learning theory, showed that while the vast majority of us spend lots of time worrying about things we can’t control, successful players’/athletes’ attend primarily to those cues or stimuli that are relevant, or within their control. And where mental ability counts most is in preparation. The intense concentration or focus “mental management” involves a number of techniques including imaging, comparing performances, positive self-talk, mental relaxation and achieving what players call “flow.” And you don’t have to be world class player material to benefit from them. While many of us may lack the dream or the gift to compete on the tour, we can still use our minds to improve our sports performance.

MENTAL REHEARSAL, is when players not only picture their movements but imagine feeling them as well. In 1988, Canadian sport psychologists Terry Orlick, Ph.D., found that 99% of the 235 athletes they surveyed rely on this technique to prepare themselves for competition. Studies by the U.S. Olympic Training Center showed that 94% of coaches use mental rehearsal for training and competition. Players use many devices to see themselves in the act of delivering the ball, maintaining their focus between shots and managing their time while waiting to bowl again. Some my even talk to themselves while preparing by saying, “I want to win this tournament.” Then make a detailed plan with contingencies, strategies and coping methods. They take that plan, visualize the whole thing and then enter the tournament with it so that it’s running through their head over and over.” Some will begin their visualization techniques two days before the tournament, were they see themselves in the settee area, than up on the approach in their stance and beginning the act of the delivery, through the swing motion and posting at the foul line with a good follow through straight at their target. This is all done in preparation that once you are there you don’t have to worry about it again. Players have done it for so long that it they even do it subconsciously.

Imagery training, which is part of each players Psychological Skills Training package, effectively performed imagery involves the ability to:

o Focus on the most desirable aspects of the performance.
o Emphasize the feeling of the activity by including all senses that come into play;
o Conjure the image several times.
o Envision the whole environment, including the bowling center or arena setting;
o Incorporate competition strategies into the images.

Each successful imagery trail should be followed by covert positive reinforcement, the combination of trials and reinforcement is critical for the mental skill to work.

COMPARING PERFORMANCES with competitors of the same caliber helps players build confidence. Each time out, practice or competition, you should try to match your mental abilities with the best in the world.

POSITIVE SELF-TALK is another self-esteem builder. This internal dialogue helps athletes assess their performance; they use it to monitor, instruct and encourage. Negative self-talk, on the other hand, is worse than no talk at all. It was founded that irrational beliefs that can interfere with athletes reaching their potential. They include statements such as “If I don’t do well, I’m an incompetent person,” or “I must do well to gain the approval of others.” This can result in emotional distraction and decreased performance. “It’s a battle with yourself.”

RELAXATION is especially important when even the slightest deviation from the norm can throw the athlete/player off. The worst part about poor performance is the stress it creates. The players tends to turn that into muscular tension, which detracts from performance because it disrupts the natural flow or rhythm. Generally, players will use deep breathing to trigger relaxation throughout their entire body in preparation for the next shot.

FLOW sums up the feeling of bliss, euphoria and contentment that athletes feel when they’re on a roll, when the physical and mental aspects of performance are completely synchronized. In that state, nothing else, not even the fans/crowd in the stands, matters. For some is like an “out-of-body” experience. It’s as if you can’t feel your arms or legs or anything and you see nothing but the target, the path of the ball going into the pins, and your body just responds. The relationship between a player’s confidence and the challenge being faced is a main factor in determining whether or not the player experiences competitive flow. A study in 1992 interviewed 28 elite players/athletes across seven different sports and found that the key factors contributing to flow are confidence, focus, how the performance felt and progressed, optimal motivation and arousal levels. Also, it was found that players/athletes perceived the flow state to be within their control.

TAKING IT TO THE LANES You may not have the physical attributes or experiences to perform at the highest level of your sport, but you can get the most out of whatever you do to stay in shape by adapting the same mental techniques players/athletes use.

o SET REALISTIC GOALS. Be specific about what you want to accomplish, whether it’s striking in a clutch frame or game or making a tough spare to win a championship. Devise steps to achieve the goal and commit to a start-date.

o BUILD SELF CONFIDENCE by maintaining a clear and honest inventory of your skills. You’re obviously not going to shoot 300 if you haven’t been practicing for a long period of time. But you can build on what you have accomplished before and believe in the untapped potential that is yours.

o RELAX. There are lot of ways to do it. Think about things that put you at ease. Breathe easily and fully. Picture the muscles in your body as being loose and limber. Conjure up soothing images - scenes that make you feel genuinely good.

o IMAGINE YOUR PERFORMANCE. Rehearse in your mind what it will look like and how you will feel as your break that 200 barrier regularly, strike out in the tenth frame, being the tournament leader after qualifying and even shooting 300 in the tournament. See yourself doing it; then do it.

o POSITIVE SELF-TALK your way to success. First stop berating yourself for a less than stellar performance. Instead, tell yourself that you will accomplish your goal because you do have the skills to do it and more skills than most to help you achieve it. Keep coaxing yourself. And, above all, listen to your self-talk.

o CONTROL DISTRACTIONS by making a quick checklist of everything that might derail you from accomplishing your goal. Eliminate the things you can’t control, like the building atmosphere, and focus on those you can, like having the proper shoes or equipment for your sport. Then concentrate on the here and now, because what you do right now and how you do it are the one true parameters of performance.

Please provide your comments. I know you are not a technical type bowler but the above material are the different elements of the psychological skills of our sport. I have no doubt you do some of them in your own way, just don't forget there are many not as gifted as you when it comes to delivering a bowling ball.

What to do if you're alone when you have a heart attack: A prominent cardiologist says if everyone who gets this message sends it to 10 people you can bet that we'll save at least one life. Read this...It could save your life!!

Let's say it's 6.15 pm and you're driving home (alone of course), after an unusually hard day on the job. You're really tired, upset and frustrated. Suddenly you start experiencing severe pain in your chest that starts to radiate out into your arm and up into your jaw. You are only about five k's from the hospital nearest your home. Unfortunately you don't know if you'll be able to make it that far. You have been trained in CPR, but the guy that taught the course did not tell you how to perform it on yourself. HOW TO SURVIVE A HEART ATTACK WHEN ALONE. Since many people are alone when they suffer a heart attack, without help, the person whose heart is beating improperly and who begins to feel faint, has only about 10 seconds left before losing consciousness. However, these victims can help themselves by coughing repeatedly and very vigorously. A deep breath should be taken before each cough, and the cough must be deep and prolonged, as when producing sputum from deep inside the chest. A breath and a cough must be repeated about every two seconds without let-up until help arrives, or until the heart is felt to be beating normally again. Deep breaths get oxygen into the lungs and coughing movements squeeze the heart and keep the blood circulating. The squeezing pressure on the heart also helps it regain normal rhythm. In this way, heart attack victims can get to a hospital. Tell as many other people as possible about this. It could save their lives!!

BE A FRIEND AND PLEASE SEND THIS ARTICLE TO AS MANY FRIENDS AS POSSIBLE.

Most bowlers, young and old, professional and amateur are always looking for ways to enhance the mental processes of their game to correspond with higher performances and higher scores.

Bowling is a sport of individuals and everyone has their own ideology and approach to the game, eventhough physical and mental skills have been taught over the years. There is no doubt that sound physical skills only enhance individual performances during competition. And, there is no doubt that repetition of those physical skills, also contributes. But what allows those physical skills to become fluid and productive for long periods of time - nothing but “trust”. And what is trust, nothing but one of the many mental processes necessary to become a world class player.

“Trust” having faith. Having faith in what, you ask? How about ones-self. The countless hours of training to obtain the physical skills of the game must now be set free. And how do we do that, you ask? By “Trust”. It’s the common ingredient of great players. It’s the final realization that you must stop obsessing about the mechanical elements of the game; the set-up, the ball position, the approach, the position of your shoulders, the swing, the release, the finishing position, the follow through, etc., etc. It’s today’s player realizing the importance of “playing by feel,” since the conscious mind has already been developed the physical skills and the subconscious knows how to play the game, mentally. Trusting ones ability to maintain their focus, concentration, rhythm and tempo through the turmoil’s of the game (anger, fear, frustration, disappointment, whining and cheating) allows players to additionally maintain a air of relaxation that aids them in playing to their potential by these four factors:

RECOGNITION - The player uses their powers of observation to feel or see what is going on within themselves and how their emotions, thoughts and reactions are affecting the decisions they make to play the game; see how the lane surface is interacting with their style of play and their bowling ball.

ANALYZATION - The player using their mental capabilities/capacities to consciously and subconsciously provide themselves with the appropriate data for adjustments, or the correction necessary to make the next shot, whether it be change in style, hand positions, bowling balls, etc. Players will also determine what is necessary to keep their mind's quite - minimizing emotional reactions and staying in their optimal performance window. Keeping their mind open and use of their imagination or power of creativity, if necessary.

PROCESSING - Again, using their mental capacities/capabilities to accept the analyzed date and put it into their next shot.

MATERIALIZING the output once they set up on the approach. Letting it happen. Just doing it. Allowing themselves to do. Concentration, focus and execute - they trained it, now trust it.

Players today are finally realizing they can’t deliver a perfect shot each and every time and are learning to accept that one single fact. Those that have employed this acceptance are now taking and accepting the heat of poor shots off themselves and are able to maintain their focus and relaxed concentration to the next shot at hand. Thus, bowling on a tough lane condition and keeping the ball in play now becomes part of the routine of successful play and maintaining a tournament mind. Knowing they can’t use their favorite ball, they develop and accept a strategy and lane general ship, hence not making absolutely perfect shots has a lot to do with their overall success.

When players begin cutting off their follow through or start thinking and analyzing every shot they deliver, they stop performing proficient and winning tournaments and remove themselves from their optimal performance category.

Players that become purely mental generally are different from their peers. They are steel minded and refuse to be distracted by the lanes, their peers or environment, and develop an inner strength to pursue their dreams through many years of failure and disappointment. The great players re-emphasize the importance of the right mental approach to the game. They are great strategist and thinkers on the lanes. They understand and use the principles of visualization/mental rehearsal or imagery of the shot they desire before they step up on the approach. They insist on waiting until their mind was relaxed and focused before they delivered the shot.

Bowling psychology has continued to progress, and the teachers say that a player has to pass through three stages: unconsciously incompetent, consciously competent, and unconsciously competent. Today’s best players strive to stay on the third level. They only want to see the target and let it go. They realize how much better their swings are and the more sharply they focus on their target. They try to have no thoughts about mechanics at all. The new breed of bowling winners has to have a tougher approach to the game than their predecessors did. Nowadays, winning scores are high and players have to be free and confident from the first frame, through the first game and the entire block.

1st Exercise:

Get lined up to hit the pocket using your "A" game package. Watch the ball roll over your target and follow it's path all the way down the lane and through the pin deck. Ask yourself the following:

a. Where did the ball leave the pin deck? b. What was the path through the pins? c. What pins did you see the ball hit?

What you should see is the ball leave the pin deck just left of the 9 pin after hitting the 1, 3 and 5 pins. Exercise is used for training your eyes to believe what you see.

2nd Exercise:

This is the ONLY time in your bowling life that you have permission not to watch the ball's path down the lane. Watch your ball roll over your target area (preferably around the arrows) and than look at the head pin. Watch what happens to it after the ball hits it. Doing this enough times you are really confident you see and understand the movement of the head pin. Purposely miss it a hair to the right, be a little farther right, be a little heavy, be flush. See all the different ways the head pin moves.

a. Then change hand positions and do the same thing. Does it (the headpin) move in a different way when your release axis is 90 degrees, than it does when it is 45 degrees or 20 degrees. This information and exercise will really give you the information you need to begin to manipulate carry.

3rd Exercise:

Now for the next few frames, repeat the above physical execution while watching the 3 pin. This is the pin that will help right-handers understand the 10 pin leave. Since it is true the 6 pin hits the 10 pin, it usually happens too fast for us to really comprehend. Watching the 3 pin you can see what part of it the ball hit, where it went after the ball hit it, how it impacted and therefore how the 6 pin hit or missed the 10. If and when you study, you will being to see a difference in all 10 pin leaves -- the weak or half 10 leave is a different adjustment than that "ringing" 10 shot.

4th Exercise:

Please just observe. It's all about learning. Watch the 2 pin, learn how it is affected by the angle the head pin hits it which is affected by the way the ball hits the head pin which is affected by YOU!! Watch the 5 pin. Does it hit the 8, does it take out the 7 and still others not quite get to the seven. Does it go straight back and miss the 8 to the right. What would have to happen for it to miss the 8 pin to the left or go over the top of the 8? Does it occasionally stand and then fall to the right as the head pin or the 2 pin rebound from the side and hit it? When leaving the bucket, which way did the pins fall that caused it to happen?

NOTE: Through these small exercises you have been training your eyes and brain to correlate to roll and pin reaction. More importantly, with these exercises you will better relate to good and bad releases; execution and how you control your emotions as you play. You should be able to see everything that happens to every pin is a result of how the ball was rolling, how fast it was going, where it hit what pin, where the ball went, where the pin it hit went, whether the pin was upright or laying down or almost laying down or spinning as a result of the ball's impact. And all of that is a result of how you threw it, what your timing was on the shot, your hand position, a high board, an oil spill, the temperature, and where the moon was. My, it is all so inter-related isn't it? No pin or ball has an independent thought. Maybe there really is no such thing as a tap.

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