One thing with this sport I have noticed is slumps and hot streaks end as quick as they start. How long they last in between is another thing lol So that's a good or bad thing depending on the streak.

The last 6 outings were sub par for me. I had a few 560-570 series and a bunch of mistakes on my part to keep the scoring down. At the approach I felt lost, no where to target and if I did I couldn't hit it. Good shots still left single pins, bad shots were full price splits. Weds bowling was cancelled due to snow and it gave me time to rest physically and mentally with work and bowling taking up too much time. I went back to basics, threw equipment I knew and played a line that works for me. When I play a straighter down and in shot I feel I don't have a lot of room for error due to the channel. So my adjustments are limited to adding speed or making small moves left. Well it all worked like a charm. I was in or around the pocket all night minus 2 shots. I rolled a 719 series and more importantly got my swing back. This doesn't mean I'll roll 700s all the time now but it will give me a fighting chance as my confidence increases. It takes patience, time and practice with the understanding you will go into slumps but you will also get hot and bowl lights out. It's all part of that average thing, higher average people find ways to make those slumps shorter.

After just making my way out of a 3 week slump (over 3 leagues a week) the one thing that helped me the most was going back to basics. I know it sounds cliche, but i took some good advice, slowed down and strightened out my line. Its amazing what you realize you were doing wrong when you simplify and slow everything down. Once you fell comfortable that you've got it back then you can start adding revs, wider lines, speed. Food for thought.

I am confident it will all work out. That first game has just been awful lately. For the last 10 weeks my average in the first game is 149.5. Second game for same span 162.6. Last game an incredible 190.6.

I used to be really consistent but that has gone out the window. Now if I can figure out how to bowl the 1st and 2nd game like the last game, I will have it made.

Scott, are you taking into account a human's natural tendancy to speed up? Once you start practising, try this.....throw the first ball at 1/2 speed. Take the entire 3 to 5 shots in practise to get about up to 80% speed. Nice and easy. And then when the league starts make sure you are not rushing.

Keep in mind that you bowl here every week. You know about where the shot is, plus or minus a couple boards. You are going to get to the pocket, so don't worry about that. Don't worry about striking, just get to the pocket. Take your time warming up, take a couple of those shots at corner pins and try not to speed up when league starts.

Most times when the first game fails, its because of pressing and the drive to perform right out of the starting gate. If you notice that when you start league that you are leaving buckets (2,4,5,8) then automatically move a board right with your feet.

If you find you are leaving a variety of leaves, both high and low then you are probably rushing not focused and concentrating enough.

Erin

Thanks Erin. I am really pressing because all I am thinking of the first game is how to overcome stumbling out of the gate. Also your suggestions will help me use practice better.

I will take your advice to slow down, concentrate on just the shot ahead of me and try my best not to press and worry about getting off to a bad start.

There is some really good advice here. I agree with all of it. The one thing that I can add, despite being competitive, as someone else mentioned, is have fun. Take stock in the things done well. Any of us can have it all taken away at any second.

A little story. I started bowling at four, stopped at 30, because it wasn't fun. Took three years off, came back, everything is different. The shot, the equipment. The first month was awful, trying to get back in form. I ended up the year third high average in the house @ 199.6 (only one guy over 200 - really tough, inconsistent shot). Came back last year, things going well. On January 16, I fell down a flight of cement stairs in the snow and ice and broke my back.

When the Doctor told me, I cringed. Fortunately, if you're going to break your back, mine was the way. Since that time, I've just been thankful that I can still do it, with any success. My first post here was about breaking the plateau and the answers that I got, put me back in that mindset that time had allowed to creep back in.

We are only on this rock for a good time, not a long time... Anything and everything can change in a blink of an eye. From starting with an open and going off the sheet for 279 to unwittingly falling down stairs. Take solace in little victories and pride in little defeats, not just yours, but the others around you. Help another bowler succeed and you may help yourself... kind like here. Keep the chin up.

I think the key to overcomming jitters or whatever you want to call it has to include staying fluid and relaxed. Do whatever you need to to mentally to make good shots, but physically you have to stay relaxed and be fluid.

1/2 speed, and I mean it. Do not throw your practise balls at full force.

It may sound stupid, irrational and not worth a dang, but I can tell you that this advise comes not from me first hand, but from many PBA guys and PBA regional players that have these tricks for warming up during practise.

Don't be worried about the pocket. You'll hit the pocket. You want to be smooth and calm enough to shoot your spares until you get the strike line down pat.

Erin

OK Bluesman.......so you tricked us all.

You left out vital information when you put our your post on your desire to get over a plateau. You left off the fact that you had broken yout back!!

But my advise stands and I hope you're doing better.

Erin

Erin, all apologies. The trick was most certainly unintentional. Thank you very much for the well wishes.

It's been over a year, and my recovery is complete. That was part of my frustration with the plateau because my physical game is better now. I am more focused. It forced me to stretch before I bowl, cool down after I'm done. It forced me to work on balance, smoothness and shot repetition. It actually made me a better bowler physically (though I wouldn't recommend it) and mentally because I don't take it for granted.

But after all of the posts, I realized that it was my mindset. I had strayed from being thankful. I forgot to enjoy it. I was so focused on the why can't I now that my game is so much more complete. That was what I was trying to convey to Scott.

My reason for bringing it up was that your bowling life can change in a matter of seconds, without warning or apology. The good scores will come for all of us. We'll meet our goals, no matter what they are. Just be thankful that you can compete at a sport you love.

Scott mentioned something earlier that I wanted to comment on. He said "all I am thinking of the first game is how to overcome stumbling out of the gate" - I would suggest, don't worry. Bowling is a game of averages. I seen, as I'm sure all you have, many a good night start horribly, as much as you seen some start with 300 and not shoot 700.

-- Peace