Getting over pumped.

[carneyj]

I think you have the same problem alot of us humans have. I know I am one of them. Every time I shoot an honor score I have went into a massive slump. I mean it was as bad as tripping over my own feet on the approach. I once shot 28 strikes in a row for two 300 games. The next week I was falling all over the place. What was the problem? I was over analyzing the game. I wanted so badly to find the zone that I was in when I performed so well. When I finally released my analytical thoughts and stared bowling naturally again my scores improved considerably. This same routine has now happened to me 3 times, each time the slump was shorter. Don't overthink "Just Do It"

Joe

Lately when I get ready to bowl league on Wednesday night, I feel like I chugged a pot of coffee. Not in a jittery sort of way but adrenilin rushed and performing at 100 miles an hour. It started after I threw a 290 game (my personal best on league). The harder I try to relax the worse I get. I've even thought about a couple of beers, but I haven't found it necessary to drink since May 13, 1989, so I would like to avoid that route.

Any suggestions, comments, criticisms?

By the way this year my average has been constantly increasing, until this little setback.

[Guest]

carneyj,

Great scoring (28 in a row) and welcome to the site. After reading your response it reminded me of the first 2 paragraphs of my post about walking..........Sometimes we simply have to think less to score more. I know I had to learn that trick.

[Leonten]

OOPS! Forgot to log in.

[Shooter]

During practice, the last few shots, I have started really getting myself pumped, even overdoing it, so that when league starts I'll be emotionally ready. In the past, I have had trouble with the first few frames and the transition from practice to competition. It seems to help.

[Jamie Bell]

I allways feel its important to have nerves epecially for touraments.

How to handle getting over pumped.

Everyone has different ritual of dealing with it.

Example if you bowl on sunday find something to do on saturday, like go watch a sport, go for swim local swimming pool. As it won't help if you sit about as it will greep into your mind what if this or that.

Sometimes if im to excited lead up to a tourament i like to face it head on i sit on a bus takes hour to bowling a day befor toury, i think then why am i nervous. Im not so nervous if ive done well in previous touraments. I think positives and negatives of my game.

I myself personally if im bowling well i feel good i listen upbeat music, then calm down take my dog walk back to house of to the tourament.

[nwstrider]

i can recommend a book that was read by some pba bowlers that felt it really helped the mental aspect of their games.

THE INNER GAME OF TENNIS by W. Timothy Gallwey

it helped my game, but not enough........

[rdfinn@gmclaw.com]

I want to reiterate a point. Do not limit your readings to bowling per se when it comes to maximizing your bowling.
Various martial arts, meditation are some other areas that are centered on focus.
Len Mal, a very well regarded coach once told me that "The best book on bowling was Heise's "Bowl Better Using Self Hypnosis". The point is there are mental disciplines to help you use the correct part of your brain to bowl.
Len continues to coach Pro's and amateurs alike and is a nationally respected coach.

Always note the sources in the Bibliography for additional references to build your knowledge base.

There was a very good set of articles available on the PBS website, some of them have expired. There were programs on the mental side of sports performance. Don't let the analytical brain do your bowling, it's job is to plan, it is not designed to facilitate smooth athletic moves.
Read what thread remain at -
http://www.pbs.org/saf/1206/resources/resources-2.htm
This should spur your imagination.

I would bet the ranch that any baseball infielder that is having trouble throwing the ball to first base is thinking about it. You do not think it, you do it. The brain is computer #1, it has segments designed to do certain tasks, e.g. solve a mystery, breath, etc . When a quarterback throws a pass he does not think about the proper wrist motion or leading the receiver, those processes are honed in practice until they become automatic.

If you can truly focus on the execution and not the result, that is a huge plus. The best feeling is the feeling of no feeling, those will be your very best shots. The old saying "trust is a must or your game is a bust" say's it all.

Take care.


Take care -