Dean Hinitz

About Dean Hinitz

Dr. Dean Hinitz is a clinical sports psychologist in Reno, Nevada, a bowler, a former competitive gymnast, and a black belt in Japanese-style Karate.

The Seven Laws of Coaching

The keys to effectively helping athletes improve

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Too many of us came up through our teaching, coaching, or mental game ranks believing that it was enough to learn skills and technical information in order to effect change in athletes. We thought that learning the game, working hard... [Read More]

Grinding

Why true mental toughness means choosing not to grind

Grinding

See if any of this rings a bell around competition scenarios you have experienced. No matter what you do, no matter what ball, what angle, what strategy, you cannot carry the back row—or worse, you can't get to the pocket... [Read More]

The Way to Win

Four levels of mental game strength

The Way to Win

Athletes and coaches often say that the one who wants to win the most, wins. We know that is not true, because if wanting it bad enough brought a title home, virtually all of you would have more trophies, more... [Read More]

Superstar Goals

The formula for success

Superstar Goals

You are literally always one decision away from a better life. So, we ask, what is a better athletic life for you? Is it winning titles, making spares, increasing revolutions on your ball, having people respect you? It takes a... [Read More]

Focused for Flow

The right combination for peak performance

Focused for Flow Header

You understand what it is like to stand with a ball in your hand and just know that the shot is made. The circumstances don’t matter. It could be crazy and loud, but it is quiet inside. You could “need”... [Read More]

Taking Your Best Shot

taking your best shot header

The eternal dilemma of athletes who are great in practice and then change under the lights is to understand what happened to the confident, free executor of strike and spare shots. The conventional wisdom is that if you just practice... [Read More]

Closing Out the Game

Preparations in championship play

Last December, at the National Bowling Stadium in Reno, hundreds of bowlers competed, both for a regional title and for seven exemption positions on the PBA Tour. In addition, the winner of this competition would be privileged to bowl in... [Read More]

Steps to the Learning and Coaching Process

Learning how to learn

Steps to the Learning and Coaching Process

“A lesson well learned becomes your teacher for life.” -Pia Nilsson & Lynn Marriott, Coaches Bowlers are like predators, always looking for that edge that is going to help them play and compete better. The search for improved form, leverage,... [Read More]

The Decision to Change Your Game

Should you? Could you? Would you?

The Decision to Change Your Game

A famous coach once said that everyone wants their game to get better, but no one really wants to change what they are doing. Most of the readers of this magazine would most certainly say that they are consistently looking... [Read More]

Your Competition Personality

Which one are you bringing to play?

Your-Competition-Personality

Everyone can draw up a mental picture of what a champion bowler looks like when he/she is on their game. However, if you ask what this picture looks like, the answer is that it varies from player to player. For... [Read More]