Scott, I feel ya. I did the same thing Wednesday. Even though I'm learning left-handed and nowheres near my right-handed self in terms of scoring potential, I was a little "doubtful" myself Wednesday night. I had just shot my first 500 lefty Tuesday night, and Wednesday I started with a 137 (only 12 pins under average, but a bit of a letdown after a 500 the previous night) which, I felt, crushed my hopes for a repeat 500. "Oh well" I thought to myself. Can't have them every night, not yet at least. My problem was I wasn't fluid. I was trying to guide the ball instead of letting it roll. All those things I've been telling myself NOT to do. I let my mind get in the way. I had to put an end to it.

I regrouped after 2 bad frames to start the second (gave myself a good verbal kick in the behind) and just concentrated on one thing - staying firm through the ball. If I do that, I roll the ball well I've found out. Well, I did. I finished the second game with a 188 (starting with 18 in the second) only missing the 7 pin in the 10th to potentially keep me from a 200. Third game, I started with a "dump strike" (ball fell off my hand and just tumbled to the pocket) and made my spares - lots of them. In fact, from the 2nd frame to the 8th frame, I had one strike, the rest were spares.

Getting to the 9th frame, I was still focusing on my hand because I didn't want the thoughts of a first 200, another 500 or a clean game creep into my head and blow all of them at once. The result? A brooklyn strike. Ok, not what I was looking for, but I don't look a gift horse in the mouth. Now, only one mark for a clean game. I struck out for a 212 (all 3 in the 10th in the 1-2). First 200, first clean game, second 500 and a new high of 537 all in one night. I amazed even myself. I let my body take control while only trying to realize one thing and it didn't fail me, and, in fact, beat the living snot out of my expectations. The next time I might have to focus on something entirely different, but I'm just going to let my body take control of the ball and enjoy the results; good or bad.

Brian,

First of all let me congratualte you on how far you have come in such a short amount of time bowling left-handed. What you have accomplished is really amazing.

I fully understand the problem you had the first game because it is the same exact problem I have struggled with for weeks. This week was different because I knew what the problem was but was still doing it. Like you, I had to put an end to it.

When I was sitting at 106 in the 9th frame of that first game it was the closest I have ever been to losing my temper. I wanted to kick or hit something but then I just sat down and thought I cannot do any worse by just throwing the ball and trusting it so give it a shot. Bingo, 3 solid pocket hits for a double a 9.

Like you I concentrated on just rolling the ball and following through all the way on the shot. What a difference in accuracy and ball reaction. It was still a learning experience the rest of the way and several times the rest of the way I didn't get off the shot I should have but I rather easily improved 50 to 60 pins over that first game.

Funny I still do not know what got me to steering the ball in the first place. I am assuming when I hit a rough patch I tried to overcompensate by steering for accuracy and just picked it up that way. At least now I know I need to not fall back into that habit.

Thanks, Scott. I know not every week will be a 30+ pin over night, all I'm looking for is shot consistency. I'm still learning my body, but it's getting more in step with my shot visualizations. The scores will be proof of any improvement.

On to the meat of my post:

If you've ever played baseball, and specifically, have ever pitched, there is a strong similarity between baseball and bowling in the sense of delivery. I used to pitch, so that's why I relate the two at times.

In baseball, you either "throw" the ball, or you "aim" or "fit" the ball. Throwing the ball is good, aiming or fitting the ball isn't. When I used to pitch, I'd catch myself trying to "fit" my fastballs, curve ball or slider by hitters. When I did that, I was all over the place, and the more I missed, the madder I got, and the more I tried to fit the ball (and thus a continuous cycle). When I "threw" those pitches, I was able to hit my spots (I lived on the corners a la Tom Glavine). When I took my brain and extra muscle out of the pitch, my speed was better and my accuracy was better. I let my body, specifically my hips, legs, and normal arm muscles make the pitch instead of forcing the pitch.

Same with bowling. Once you start "fitting/aiming" the ball, you're going to be all over the place. If you ignore the ball path, and focus on a part of your delivery that's a small part of that delivery, everything works and your ball path will work itself out. It's 99% mental. You don't all of the sudden forget how to bowl, you just forget how to forget.

I think a great deal of what causes these problems is the fact that there's so much small stuff going on that, when everything is going well, we're not paying attention to all of those "little things" and we focus on the results because we're not thinking about the process to get those results. Then, when suddenly those results aren't there, we focus harder on the results thinking that'll snap us out of it instead of focusing on those parts that get us the results. We force the ball, we guide the ball, we think it's this or that instead of allowing our bodies to "play the game" and let our minds "manage the game".

You cannot "manage the game" and "play the game" at the same time. There's too much going on for that to be a great working solution. You have to trust that your body will make the right movements (play the game) and you have to trust your mind to make adjustments for what your body is doing (manage the game). Our minds can't throw the ball, but when they try to, the results are less than desirable.

Wow! That hits the nail on the head! Good thoughts Brian.

Mike

Well I think I'm finally turning the corner as well. the first game last night I started out making the same kinds of bad shots again and I really felt fed up. Especially since I thought I had aleady turned the corner. Towards the end of the first game, I got things smoothed out a little and finished with a 167. This is on a condition that's a little easier than the PBA patterns. PBA is 3:1, this is 4:1. Anyway, the next game I shot 254 with an open and finished off with a 218.

I also have to thank the people here for asking the questions that they do because a few questions that I've answered got me to thinking about what I've been doing and have helped me to work through this.

The people here are great and it is so good to have a forum board like this. It is great to be able to get good advice, get words of encouragement when things are going bad and share your accomplishments with other bowlers.

I agree, Lefty. Sometimes when you're answering questions, you think, "gee, maybe that's what I'm doing" or "maybe I need to try what I told so-and-so to try". It brings on a whole new meaning to "listen to your own advice". Part of what helped me become a better bowler was to become a coach. I mention something to someone and then I think to myself, "hey, that's what I might be doing wrong, too". Just like when I talk about my "nightly trials" bowling left-handed in the other thread - it helps me think about and potentially recognize some weak points so I can work on them later.

The support is so helpful too. When I was getting down last night I thought about all the advice that had been given and all the people who told me to hang in there. That helped me get through.

That's what we're all here for. From both sides of the fence, encouraging and receiving encouragement.

I do the same thing that Brian talks about above. As I write and reread my posts, I think, "Wow, maybe I should try taking my own advice!"... LOL

What has helped me when I'm in a slump is to work on my spare game. Once I get that down I lose the fear of shooting/leaving certain spares and don't push as hard to get strikes which frees up the arm swing and the brain. Hope this helps