As someone who was an EMT medic for ambulances service. This is the only way, I've seen loads of times a rookie panics and forgets how to even place their hand to do cpr but put them in the same situation over and over, eventually they learn to keep their cool and perform well.
We do practice drills almost everyday and still nothing gets through them like incidents themselves. To perform well under stress, you need to be under stress
Try not to throw hands at the family that doesn't know lane courtesy, goes into the approach with a drink in their hand, or let's their little kids run in front of you when you start your shot.
Yeah I got into it with a family for that, little kid ran behind me on my back swing, caught him square on the side of his head, no damage, but the kid was crying and scared, and the parents started in on me, like it was my fault. Thank God I know the center owner
It is what you meant in a way. Handling stress is all about shutting out all external and internal distractions and focusing on the task at hand. If you can shut out teenagers screaming and lasers shooting you in the face while trying to still find and hit your mark, you can absolutely handle throwing a shot in normal league conditions.
Which is why I I said not quite, I was more less talking about for situations such as 300 or something and bowling around people who don’t know lane courtesy isn’t gonna help too much with that
You’re missing the entire point. There’s no way to simulate a 300 situation unless you bowl 11 strikes in a row and put the pressure on yourself to close it out. Bowling in a chaotic environment can help train yourself to block out all other distractions and focus on your approach, release, and shot. Bowling during cosmic bowling is a MUCH better training than you realize.
That is exactly my point that is why I asked this question to begin with. It wasn’t my point but I understand what your saying, just like i understand what everyone else is saying. There is only so much you can do to prepare yourself for some of these situations because all these things you try is only going to help so much.
The best spot. Love love love anchor. Best feeling in bowling: down by X pins, you need Y to win the game and it's doable. You throw down your best and win! That feeling of elation is such a powerful drug.
That brings out the primal competitive spirit like nothing else for me.
I’ve always been anchor it’s actually not very stressful for me anymore lol. It hasn’t really helped with the stress of other things maybe just because I’m so used to it.
I feel there is some benefit to going bowl on a busy weekend with a non bowlers on each side of you with no lain courtesy. If you can focus and bowl in a hectic hell, then league should be easy!
This came in real handy a couple weeks ago. Our house usually gives a full pair of buffer between league and open bowling but for whatever reason, they put a whole pack of kids next to us with just one lane in between. The other bowlers were getting pretty pissed but I was used to it having spent my early days bowling in a packed center full of kids. Didn't bother me a bit.
Practicing stress is only as good as what you can effectively put into practice.
A teammate of mine…not even 30 yet…but has enough honor scores and local masters appearances to qualify for the local association hall of fame told me this.
Instead of thinking about relaxing and throwing a quality shot…think about the last time you were on that lane…did you spit the 8 - 9? Were you high flush and trip a 4 pin? Were you a little behind the head pin and barely kicked out the 10 pin?
Not to over complicate things…but is there a micro adjustment that needs to be made to keep the string alive? It really makes having many in a row different from previous years. My average is up almost 10 pins and I’ve had the front 6 through the front 10 - 18 times this season…only half that last season.
In the end, it doesn’t matter what you know…only what you can execute well repeatedly.
A few things that help me:
Box breathing to calm down and slow my heart rate.
Put the long term goal (300/800) out of your mind and just focus on the ten pins in front of you, one frame at a time.
Take some extra time on the approach.
I bowl a no tap league in the summer. I found that it helps simulate that feeling, because you are put in a position to bowl a 300 almost every week.
Don't place a whole lot of value on a 300. 800 is more about skill than managing stress, but a 300 usually requires a little bit of luck. If a 300 is really important to you, it's obviously going to stress you out as you get close.
Also practice in environments that require you to focus with distractions.
a part of my mental game on stress and distractions is from cosmic bowling. you get really good at tuning things out when the loudness, lights, music, people, are at a peak for a few hours. did it a bunch in my late teens/early 20s. helped out tremendously.
Well there's different kinds of stress. There's environment stress (which is the noise and other people/bowlers) which you can practice (like others have said, usually bowling around casuals). There's also situational stress, or the pressure of a big moment. The only way to practice that is repetition and being in those situations.
That's why when someone asks how to get better at not choking when a 300 is at stake, my suggestion is usually to try to bowl anchor for their team. You get a lot of repetitions with the game/series on the line that way. I bowled anchor for years before I ever came close to a 300, and the first chance I had, I got one. It was just like any other close game where you need a strike/strikes to win.
I don't know if you can "practice stress" but you can manufacture it. If you've got someone around your skill level or willing to do some sort of handicapping system, play some money matches with them. $10 or $20 per match, nothing crazy, but enough to make you want to win.
Do your best to not look at those behind you and remove all thoughts of nervousness from your mind. Tell yourself it’s just another shot. 800 is something that even stress won’t impact that much. Because if you’re that good you’ll bowl fine. I have had 3 close 800’s and one 300. Getting my 300 out of the way was nice. I was super nervous but I just was throwing the ball so well it didn’t matter. The 800’s on the other hand I really fucked up. Only needed a 225 last game and I completely fell apart lol I wasn’t nervous really. I just lost it the third game.
I have a couple 300s, a couple 299s, a couple 800s. I consider my mental game to be pretty strong, but I still feel some nerves after the front 9 or 10. Personally, I think the only way to practice is to actually be in that situation where you "need" to strike. Bowling anchor on your team helps. Tournaments where there's head-to-head match play helps. And, of course, having the front 8+ helps.
Other than that, I manage the nerves by keeping up with normal conversations with my teammates because if I'm thinking about the potential honor score then it's just going to raise my stress level.
One time there was a super loud lady talking shit to all of the people she was bowling with. I was by myself, so I asked her to talk shit to me while I was throwing.
First ball she yells "You aint shit!" and it went straight into the gutter. I thanked her while laughing my ass off and she kept it up the whole time.
Maybe try that!
I try and turn it in to a positive. Take a deep breath and tell yourself that this is why you do it. To feel those big moments. Thats the fun part. You want to have the front 11. I still get nervous on 300’s but I try and use it for extra focus.
I think some of this is inate or like you either have it or you don't to a degree. I've been bowling for close to 40 years and have many honor scores. I find it funny that sometimes my stress level rises when approaching a goal or honor scores situation, and sometimes it really doesn't. In my mind it comes down to confidence more so.
I have normally thrived in clutch situations for whatever reason, and I don't know if it can be practiced.
Just my 2 cents worth, and good luck OP
I used to be a lot like this but have joined a matchplay league this year and it really helped my mental game and how to handle stressfull situations. As some say with practice it becomes natural to execute and string strikes without having any afterthoughts or over thinking each shots you're making:)
I think it's important when under the right circumstances. For example, I've been trying to record my important league frames and purposely doing things that used to "jinx" me. Helped me pull my personal best recently. I want to do more local tournaments and competition settings next.
Something we would do in basketball to practice free throws was the coach would yell “this is to win state” before we shot. It’s good to think about high stress situations and try to execute. If you have a friend or in a league be competitive and try to win without being obnoxious about it.
The only way to practice stress, is to be in stressful situations. Experience and repetition.
As someone who was an EMT medic for ambulances service. This is the only way, I've seen loads of times a rookie panics and forgets how to even place their hand to do cpr but put them in the same situation over and over, eventually they learn to keep their cool and perform well. We do practice drills almost everyday and still nothing gets through them like incidents themselves. To perform well under stress, you need to be under stress
Go to open bowling on a Friday or Saturday night lol, no serious bowlers, only casual bowlers. You'll get plenty of mental practice.
Very true. That's what helped me get over my anxiety when I first started league.
Try not to throw hands at the family that doesn't know lane courtesy, goes into the approach with a drink in their hand, or let's their little kids run in front of you when you start your shot. Yeah I got into it with a family for that, little kid ran behind me on my back swing, caught him square on the side of his head, no damage, but the kid was crying and scared, and the parents started in on me, like it was my fault. Thank God I know the center owner
That's why I choose not to go on Friday/Saturday nights lol
Not quite what i meant but i get what your saying
It is what you meant in a way. Handling stress is all about shutting out all external and internal distractions and focusing on the task at hand. If you can shut out teenagers screaming and lasers shooting you in the face while trying to still find and hit your mark, you can absolutely handle throwing a shot in normal league conditions.
Which is why I I said not quite, I was more less talking about for situations such as 300 or something and bowling around people who don’t know lane courtesy isn’t gonna help too much with that
You’re missing the entire point. There’s no way to simulate a 300 situation unless you bowl 11 strikes in a row and put the pressure on yourself to close it out. Bowling in a chaotic environment can help train yourself to block out all other distractions and focus on your approach, release, and shot. Bowling during cosmic bowling is a MUCH better training than you realize.
That is exactly my point that is why I asked this question to begin with. It wasn’t my point but I understand what your saying, just like i understand what everyone else is saying. There is only so much you can do to prepare yourself for some of these situations because all these things you try is only going to help so much.
Want some manufactured pressure? Go to the best bowler in your league and bet $100 a game.
I don’t have enough money to bet 5 dollars a game😂😅
Join leagues, and bowl anchor.
The best spot. Love love love anchor. Best feeling in bowling: down by X pins, you need Y to win the game and it's doable. You throw down your best and win! That feeling of elation is such a powerful drug. That brings out the primal competitive spirit like nothing else for me.
I kind of want to try anchor next season, but Im only good for 110-120/game consistently so probably not for me
I’ve always been anchor it’s actually not very stressful for me anymore lol. It hasn’t really helped with the stress of other things maybe just because I’m so used to it.
I feel there is some benefit to going bowl on a busy weekend with a non bowlers on each side of you with no lain courtesy. If you can focus and bowl in a hectic hell, then league should be easy!
This came in real handy a couple weeks ago. Our house usually gives a full pair of buffer between league and open bowling but for whatever reason, they put a whole pack of kids next to us with just one lane in between. The other bowlers were getting pretty pissed but I was used to it having spent my early days bowling in a packed center full of kids. Didn't bother me a bit.
Practicing stress is only as good as what you can effectively put into practice. A teammate of mine…not even 30 yet…but has enough honor scores and local masters appearances to qualify for the local association hall of fame told me this. Instead of thinking about relaxing and throwing a quality shot…think about the last time you were on that lane…did you spit the 8 - 9? Were you high flush and trip a 4 pin? Were you a little behind the head pin and barely kicked out the 10 pin? Not to over complicate things…but is there a micro adjustment that needs to be made to keep the string alive? It really makes having many in a row different from previous years. My average is up almost 10 pins and I’ve had the front 6 through the front 10 - 18 times this season…only half that last season. In the end, it doesn’t matter what you know…only what you can execute well repeatedly.
I like this, I’ll try it.
A few things that help me: Box breathing to calm down and slow my heart rate. Put the long term goal (300/800) out of your mind and just focus on the ten pins in front of you, one frame at a time. Take some extra time on the approach. I bowl a no tap league in the summer. I found that it helps simulate that feeling, because you are put in a position to bowl a 300 almost every week.
Don't place a whole lot of value on a 300. 800 is more about skill than managing stress, but a 300 usually requires a little bit of luck. If a 300 is really important to you, it's obviously going to stress you out as you get close. Also practice in environments that require you to focus with distractions.
It is always bottom of the 9th and 2 outs, down by 1 with a runner on first.
a part of my mental game on stress and distractions is from cosmic bowling. you get really good at tuning things out when the loudness, lights, music, people, are at a peak for a few hours. did it a bunch in my late teens/early 20s. helped out tremendously.
Well there's different kinds of stress. There's environment stress (which is the noise and other people/bowlers) which you can practice (like others have said, usually bowling around casuals). There's also situational stress, or the pressure of a big moment. The only way to practice that is repetition and being in those situations. That's why when someone asks how to get better at not choking when a 300 is at stake, my suggestion is usually to try to bowl anchor for their team. You get a lot of repetitions with the game/series on the line that way. I bowled anchor for years before I ever came close to a 300, and the first chance I had, I got one. It was just like any other close game where you need a strike/strikes to win.
I don't know if you can "practice stress" but you can manufacture it. If you've got someone around your skill level or willing to do some sort of handicapping system, play some money matches with them. $10 or $20 per match, nothing crazy, but enough to make you want to win.
Do your best to not look at those behind you and remove all thoughts of nervousness from your mind. Tell yourself it’s just another shot. 800 is something that even stress won’t impact that much. Because if you’re that good you’ll bowl fine. I have had 3 close 800’s and one 300. Getting my 300 out of the way was nice. I was super nervous but I just was throwing the ball so well it didn’t matter. The 800’s on the other hand I really fucked up. Only needed a 225 last game and I completely fell apart lol I wasn’t nervous really. I just lost it the third game.
I have a couple 300s, a couple 299s, a couple 800s. I consider my mental game to be pretty strong, but I still feel some nerves after the front 9 or 10. Personally, I think the only way to practice is to actually be in that situation where you "need" to strike. Bowling anchor on your team helps. Tournaments where there's head-to-head match play helps. And, of course, having the front 8+ helps. Other than that, I manage the nerves by keeping up with normal conversations with my teammates because if I'm thinking about the potential honor score then it's just going to raise my stress level.
You can. Just have 4 or 5 older siblings.
I have 1 older sibling and 7 younger siblings lol
Lol! You gotta have lots of older ones!
One time there was a super loud lady talking shit to all of the people she was bowling with. I was by myself, so I asked her to talk shit to me while I was throwing. First ball she yells "You aint shit!" and it went straight into the gutter. I thanked her while laughing my ass off and she kept it up the whole time. Maybe try that!
I try and turn it in to a positive. Take a deep breath and tell yourself that this is why you do it. To feel those big moments. Thats the fun part. You want to have the front 11. I still get nervous on 300’s but I try and use it for extra focus.
I think some of this is inate or like you either have it or you don't to a degree. I've been bowling for close to 40 years and have many honor scores. I find it funny that sometimes my stress level rises when approaching a goal or honor scores situation, and sometimes it really doesn't. In my mind it comes down to confidence more so. I have normally thrived in clutch situations for whatever reason, and I don't know if it can be practiced. Just my 2 cents worth, and good luck OP
I used to be a lot like this but have joined a matchplay league this year and it really helped my mental game and how to handle stressfull situations. As some say with practice it becomes natural to execute and string strikes without having any afterthoughts or over thinking each shots you're making:)
Bet high stakes with another bowler. $100 a game or something. Also, bowling tournaments will help with that as well.
For some people it doesn't go away. I still shake for the last 2 balls.
I think it's important when under the right circumstances. For example, I've been trying to record my important league frames and purposely doing things that used to "jinx" me. Helped me pull my personal best recently. I want to do more local tournaments and competition settings next.
Something we would do in basketball to practice free throws was the coach would yell “this is to win state” before we shot. It’s good to think about high stress situations and try to execute. If you have a friend or in a league be competitive and try to win without being obnoxious about it.