Keys to a Great Mental Game
New tournament bowlers quickly discover the importance of a good mental game. The stress of a different center, different (and usually tougher) lane conditions, and the importance of performing NOW create a lot of stress. You can be very successful if you learn to master your mental game. The mental game is just like the physical game – it requires practicing the right things and dedicating yourself to repetition – doing the right things over and over and over again. I’d like to share some of the keys to building a strong mental game. I have included phrases and thoughts from someone I greatly admire, Dr. Dean Hinitz. The first of these bits of wisdom is: “Everything you do in life is practice for the next thing you do.”
Think in Positives
First and foremost, always speak, act, and think in positives! I can’t over-emphasize this enough! You listen to your thoughts and respond to them, whether or not you are aware of them. You must always practice with a goal in mind – work on developing a picture in your mind of how you want to swing the ball, and work toward that picture. Develop an image of the type of bowler you wish to be mentally, and work toward that image. Yes, you will stumble and not be perfect, but who is? We learn by making mistakes. Remember, Thomas Edison didn’t have 2,000 failures before inventing the light bulb, he just found 2,000 ways not to make a light bulb!
You will find what works for you and what doesn’t, but you must always strive toward the positive goal! You must always believe in yourself and be true to yourself. You can be your own best friend or your own worst enemy. I choose being my own best friend – how about you? This means that you understand and learn from your mistakes, and always see the best in your performances. It also means that, in the words of Dr. Hinitz, you must always be true to your personality. If you are an outgoing, friendly person, it will not work for you to become an introvert on the lanes in an effort to stay focused. However, you can still focus in and make great shots when the time comes, just not every minute of the 3-4 hour block of competition! Similarly, if you are more introverted and like the quiet and the focus (like I am) you will not perform at your best if you try to become the life of the party between shots. Channel your emotions in positive ways – it’s no fun to be a robot, and we are in this sport to enjoy ourselves!
Stay in the Moment
When in competition, always stay in the moment. What’s past is past and the frames, games, and situations ahead of you are things over which you have no control. Even if you have multiple opens in a row, all you can do in the moment is deal with the frame in front of you. Yes, you can learn from those past frames, make adjustments and make a better decision about what to do on the next shot, but you can’t take the shot over again – so get over it already! When the lane conditions are tough and/or you are in a key situation, you will need to summon all of your focus and attention into making the next shot, so that you can be successful. This is something you must practice all the time – make it a life habit! They say that life is something that happens while you are making other plans – live what is right in front of you! Practice what is here and now – bowl with passion, courage and conviction in the moment!
Bowl Fearless!
Another wise phrase from Dr. Hinitz is to bowl like a samurai! If you are courageous, not afraid to make a mistake, do what is necessary, and be totally committed to what you are doing, you will give yourself every chance to succeed. If you take a chance and you are not successful, pat yourself on the back for having the courage to try what so many do not, and commit to trying again next time. Yes, you can get hurt a little by the setbacks along the way, but isn’t trying more fun than sitting on the sidelines? You can’t win a tournament until you enter, and you will have limited success until you take the shackles off and take a chance once in a while.
Breathe!
You must always breathe! Another tip from Dr. Dean is the technique of double-diaphragmatic breathing. Simply, put, it goes like this. Breathe in deeply and then breathe in a little more. Hold it for just a bit and then breathe out. At the end of the exhale, start your swing. This technique sends a signal to your body that it’s all right, that the lions are not about to attack you, that you will be ok. When in a pressure situation either use this technique or simply take a deep breath, exhale and start your shot at the end of the exhale.
Be Consistent, Not Perfect
When in competition, always go with what you have! Many bowlers make the mistake of trying to make perfect shots in competition. You are always better off to not force your body to some state of perfection that you can not repeat! If you’re pulling every shot 2 boards today, then just move in a little, instead of waiting for that magical moment when you will stop pulling the ball – that fix is for your next practice session! Think of the great, young baseball pitcher that eventually learns to win without his best stuff – this is something that we all need to learn to do!
In Competition, Assume It’s the Lane
This thought goes with the last one – always assume it’s the lane! If you are in competition, you will find yourself second-guessing a lot if you assume that every errant shot is a direct result of a mistake you made. Guess what folks – the lanes change every time a ball is rolled down the lane, and if you don’t stay of top of the changes in the lane condition during a game and from pair to pair, you will not be successful, no matter how well you swing the ball! Sometimes you can figure out how much of an errant shot was you and how much was the lane, but always take the changes in lane condition into account. You CAN move off a bad shot – you just have to recognize the changes in the lane condition! There is a common theme here – that you must know and believe in yourself. Also, you must practice your mental game – put yourself mentally into situations as you practice and monitor your reaction. Then, follow these guidelines, get better at them, and practice them. In time, just like your physical game, you will improve. When you do (not if, when) please share your stories with me – these are insights into the soul of a person that help me and other coaches help others. Thanks Dean, for giving me the courage to be true to myself in the mental game, and for the knowledge that I can pass on to others.