BubbaRay
11-05-2007, 09:20 PM
The biggest difference between the pros and the amateurs isn't the level of their bowling skills, but the strength of their concentration and confidence.
Just what is the Mental Game? Each of us has that little voice in the back of our mind that either offers encouragement or negative thoughts. Generating a positive mental attitude takes conscious thought and effort, & a good way to do this is to talk positively to yourself. Often negative talk is demonstrated by the way a bowler reacts. If a bowler has hands clenched, teeth together in a tight grimace, eyes downcast, it is reasonable to assume negative thoughts are going through the bowler's mind. It is said that a bowler's worst critic is himself! A bowler should be thinking of a clear mental picture of the path the bowling ball will take down the lane.
During actual competition, you should have your mind focused on the game itself. You do not need to be unsociable with your friends during competition. After all, one of the greatest motivations to bowl is the resulting fellowship with other bowlers. Some bowlers need to "get into themselves" in order to compete successfully; any distractions will inhibit their performance. Others only realize their optimum potential when they are relaxing & having fun with their friends at the same time. Keep your mind focused, but you do not have to block out the world, if that is not what you need to bowl your best competition game.
Confidence = Competence. If bowlers possess the knowledge, & have practiced & trained their bodies to translate this knowledge into proper actions, they will possess confidence in their abilities. Yet self confidence is also a direct result of the other 4 facets of a successful mental game we just covered. If you:
Effectively Manage Stress Before & During Practice;
Reinforce a Positive Mental Attitude by Positive Inner Thoughts;
Develop Positive Mental Thought Pictures Geared Toward Success;
Concentrate on the Game at Hand Without Being Distracted; you will be confident in your abilities.
Relax and focus . Think positive. remember the post I made about thinking good and bad?
here's a reminder........
Negative Thought........I need a 200 game
Positive Thought.......Take it one frame at a time, stay in the present
------------------------------------------------
Negative Thought ...Oh no, I hate that corner pin spare!
Replace with Positive Thought...... I've practised this, it's a simple spare: pick my mark, hit the target and let the ball do the work .
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Negative Thjought...........That's the second time I missed the same spare.
Positive Thought..............Ok, the miss is over and I can't change it, but I know how much to adjust to make it the next time.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Negative Thought.........This lane is terrible.
Positive Thought.........The conditions are the same for my opponent
I can play any lane in the world
The harder the better, let my opponent worry about it
Quitters never win, winners never quit!
----------------------------------------------------------
Get the idea? So always remember these two phrases,,,,,,
1.........Winners see what they want to happen, losers see what they want to avoid
2.........A winner goes through a problem, a loser goes round and never past it.
Just what is the Mental Game? Each of us has that little voice in the back of our mind that either offers encouragement or negative thoughts. Generating a positive mental attitude takes conscious thought and effort, & a good way to do this is to talk positively to yourself. Often negative talk is demonstrated by the way a bowler reacts. If a bowler has hands clenched, teeth together in a tight grimace, eyes downcast, it is reasonable to assume negative thoughts are going through the bowler's mind. It is said that a bowler's worst critic is himself! A bowler should be thinking of a clear mental picture of the path the bowling ball will take down the lane.
During actual competition, you should have your mind focused on the game itself. You do not need to be unsociable with your friends during competition. After all, one of the greatest motivations to bowl is the resulting fellowship with other bowlers. Some bowlers need to "get into themselves" in order to compete successfully; any distractions will inhibit their performance. Others only realize their optimum potential when they are relaxing & having fun with their friends at the same time. Keep your mind focused, but you do not have to block out the world, if that is not what you need to bowl your best competition game.
Confidence = Competence. If bowlers possess the knowledge, & have practiced & trained their bodies to translate this knowledge into proper actions, they will possess confidence in their abilities. Yet self confidence is also a direct result of the other 4 facets of a successful mental game we just covered. If you:
Effectively Manage Stress Before & During Practice;
Reinforce a Positive Mental Attitude by Positive Inner Thoughts;
Develop Positive Mental Thought Pictures Geared Toward Success;
Concentrate on the Game at Hand Without Being Distracted; you will be confident in your abilities.
Relax and focus . Think positive. remember the post I made about thinking good and bad?
here's a reminder........
Negative Thought........I need a 200 game
Positive Thought.......Take it one frame at a time, stay in the present
------------------------------------------------
Negative Thought ...Oh no, I hate that corner pin spare!
Replace with Positive Thought...... I've practised this, it's a simple spare: pick my mark, hit the target and let the ball do the work .
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Negative Thjought...........That's the second time I missed the same spare.
Positive Thought..............Ok, the miss is over and I can't change it, but I know how much to adjust to make it the next time.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Negative Thought.........This lane is terrible.
Positive Thought.........The conditions are the same for my opponent
I can play any lane in the world
The harder the better, let my opponent worry about it
Quitters never win, winners never quit!
----------------------------------------------------------
Get the idea? So always remember these two phrases,,,,,,
1.........Winners see what they want to happen, losers see what they want to avoid
2.........A winner goes through a problem, a loser goes round and never past it.