I am hoping that it is true that sometimes you will need to take a step back before you can get better.

In reflecting on my comeback the first full winter league (2006-2007) I posted a 169 average, then a 161 in the summer (2007), and a 163 for this Winter (2007-2008). It is frustrating that my average is 6 pins less than last year but I guess that happens sometimes.

I am trying not to be too discouraged especially since I know my problems are because I have fallen into some really bad habits. Those bad habits are not adjusting to the lanes breaking down, losing concentration, not following through, and just general sloppiness. I also have a tendency to play down to the competition for whatever reason. The last 2 weeks going up against anchors with higher averages I have been bowling 20 pins over my average.

I think this summer I will bowl on my regular league and sub sometimes on another league. I eventually would like to bowl in 2 leagues but think I will do this first to see how I like it.

All in all I am pretty satisfied because my average is pretty much in the zone between the low and high averages for the league and I only bowl once a week. I am going to set some goals for the summer soon and hopefully I can improve and get back into the 170’s real soon.

Scott, what new skills have you learned?

Bowling up or down to your competition shows you a lot about your inner self. If you are averaging 20 pins higher against better competition then that is how good you could be if you kept your focus and concentration at that level when ever you have a ball in your hand. Do you concentrate on your spares or just when you are bowling against someone with a higher average? Do you hit your target on your strike shot or just when you are bowling against higher competition?

How do you see yourself? Do you see yourself as someone who should be competitive or just another face in the crowd?

If you see yourself as someone who should be competitive then you are going to have to learn new skills and develop strong fundamentals even if it is boring you will have to discipline yourself to learn new things and be honest with yourself when you don't do those things properly.

I have had a couple coaching sessions where I have tweaked several things about my game which include slowing and shortening my approach, keeping my pinky tucked in tight in my hand position, following through on my shots, throwing not aiming the ball, and a little on dealing with lane conditions.

I would consider myself a highly competitive person. It is almost as if something I am unaware of what kicks in when I am competing against better bowlers and I really get focused and my concentration improves. When I am bowling against average bowlers it almost feels as though I am really trying to focus but I find myself making stupid mistakes. It is really strange.

I want to be competitive but I realize that with only bowling once a week, only occasionally getting practice in (once every couple months), and not having a lot of equipment at my disposal (I have one bowling ball that I use) it is going to be hard to compete with the top bowlers. I guess I really want to be the best I can be under the circumstances and I feel I have not done that because of concentration lapses. If I am being completely honest I would say a lot of it is because I grew up and spent most of my adult life bowling with one ball and having to make that ball adjust to whatever the lane conditions were and I guess I am stubborn and resisting the reality that I need several balls and more coaching sessions for the different conditions that you face in today’s game.

Scott,
I think you probally could get away with one ball and if you want add a spare ball since you bowl one house and one league. I think what you may need to do: Is practice - old saying practice makes perfect. Practice and even some coaching session. Use practice to work on what you have trouble in league and also to tone your skills.

I agree with Brandon, you need to practice much more if you want to get better, at least twice a week. You don't need a ton of bowling balls you just need to learn to throw the one ball you have. You might need a new one if the one you have is worn out, but that is another story.

It doesn't matter what ball you have if you aren't going to concentrate, the ball is not going to go where you want it unless the lanes are dirt easy.

This summer you need to take the time and put in some practice and take some lessons if you want to get better. Don't worry about bowling in leagues over the summer if you want to improve. Practice what your coach teaches you, when you take a lesson, post what you learned here I will help you build a practice plan. This will help you learn.

There is no magic ball that will make you bowl better and not miss spares and maintain your concentration and eliminate the need for practice.

So tonight I bowl my highest game and series since my comeback against basically no competetion (2 bowlers missing on team we were playing and highest average of other 2 bowlers there was 142). Go figure???

I have a fairly new ball (4 months old) and since I do not bowl much so it has a lot of life in it.

This is the 3rd week I have had my head on striaght and at least it is a start. I am going to take your advice Brandon and Jim and get some more practice in this summer and get a few coaching sessions in. I hope I can keep it going for sweeps.

Scott,
I had a similar thing happen to me this year regarding focus, and playing up to the competition.

I bowl in two mens leagues. In one league I bowl in the third spot on a 5 man team, on the other 5 man team I am the anchor man. The team I anchor, my average is 10 pins higher. This got me to realize that my focus is not what it should when I bowl third. I am more focused when I anchor. I don't know how it happens...but it does. I am aware of it now and I have to work on correcting that.

I would also echo what Brandon, and CoachJim say regarding coaching and practice. Take some lessons and practice, practice, practice what they tell you. If the coach tweeks your mechanics it will feel weird at first, but the more you practice it the more comfortable you will feel,..and the results will start to show.
Good Luck!!