I've been bowling for almost 8 yrs. now, with my game getting progressively better until this past season. I had upped my average from a 175 my first year to a 212 in 2006-2007. But I took off the summer last year and missed the beginning of the winter league. When I returned I struggled mightily...couldn't break 200 for the first 8 wks, 600 was unheard of. I started pulling it back together toward the latter part of the season and eventually 'settled' for a 189, 23 pins less than my previous book average.

Now I'm bowling a summer league (which I felt I had to do) just to try to get on Track for next winter. I don't desire to practice like I used to, can't throw more than 3 balls decently before losing my focus and doing something brain damaged, hitting 200 and being ecstatic about it when 200 used to constitute an off game for me...I truly feel like I don't want to bowl, but I'm worried that if I put down my balls I won't pick them up for a long time.

I love the game, I've been bowling tournaments (donating), and still desire to get better, but I don't know how to recommit myself...any suggestions, please? I never thought I'd feel this way about bowling as much as I've loved it, even before I actually started bowling myself.

Show 300, when you come back and your average drops considerable it is depressing. Have you tried getting on a mixed league or taking some one under your wing and teaching them. When you bowl as good as you were, you know the ropes. When you are starting some one new out, your going over all the ropes with them. This will be going over some of your problems and freshening you up. I did this a few times and it pulled me outta the slump more than once. I bowl low on league but I only bowl scratch tourneys. I bowl good in the tourneys, I just don't get with it on league unless I am working with some one. It's strictly phsycological. The VA says my problem is phsychiatric! Ha! They're probably right. Don't get depressed, just get some one depending on you and see what that does. I'll try to see you guy's at the High- roller before long. Have a good day. Eddie

Show,
Maybe fun or social league will get you out of this rut. No pressure to perform just a league to have fun.Like No tap or pizza beer league something a long those lines.

I felt that way end of high school i love the sport but needed a brake. It was suppose to be just the summer but somehow ended up being 10 years anc ame back in August of 2006.

I would bring on a coach. A good elevated coach can not only refine your physical game but stimulate your mental approach as well. You're gunna have to dig deep, because this is going to cost money. And if you want to get back to where you were, you're going to need to invest time and money.

I know how you feel. I went through a 3 year slump. Getting down to the center to practice was like trying to get a 13 year old to do their homework. But I did it. I did it even when I didn't want to do it. I treated it almost like a job, something I HAD to do. I scheduled lessons about every month or so with a very high level coach (Kim Terrell) and knew her time was precious so I could not stand her up or be cancelling here and there. It took a lot of determination to fight back.

It sounds like you got a bit lackadazical, and took a summer off. I don't take summers off, due to exactly what you are going through. I know that if I take a summer off, its going to be H ell getting back to the level I was at at the end of winter. And that struggle is just too frustrating for me. So I don't risk it. I bowl at least one summer league. This summer its a Rock and Roll to Reno handicap mixed league. They play music, lots of side pots, card games and other side contests. Its been a struggle for me, since its on Sunday evening and getting there means leaving my nice comfy home and dinner when I don't necessarily want to. But we're doing it. The lane conditions on Sunday night (even though they oil) are also totally different from week nights. So I'm maybe 190 average now after 3 weeks. But I'm going to plug away at it, learn the condition get more comfortable with it and have some fun.

Once winter comes around again, I'll be ready and not rusty. I am however, looking for a new coach. :-( Since Kim is now in Delaware.

Erin

Show,

I thought I remember you telling us last summer that you had family commitments or something which was why you decided not to bowl.

Evaluating your commitment to the game...what a scary feeling and I'm nowhere near 30 yet. I'm afraid I may get to that point sometime in life.

Sounds to me like you are putting undue pressure on yourself. You say you are only bowling this summer so you can score well next season. Its gotta be more than that, or its just a grind and I am sure you get enough grind in your life, so don't let it creep into your leisure time.

I know a lot of people that have taken the summer off and find themselves in a struggle the next winter season. It just a fact. So this past winter would be 'normal' from anyone that took a summer off. The whys of the summer break don't matter. You have to make a decision and if you cannot bowl then you cannot bowl. Everyone has priorities and yours are certainly as good as anyone elses. So don't beat yourself up over taking the summer off and having to fight back all winter. You had to make a decision and deal with it. After all, bowling scores in most of our lives is pretty low on the priority list of life. You just have to accept that. What you gave up in your bowling, you contributed to other aspects of your life that needed it at that time. You have to have reasonable expectations.

Now if your mental game doesn't mind fighting back from the layoff then fine. And most bowlers do not bowl in the summer. Whether they are competative bowlers or not. The fact is that most bowlers do not bowl the summer season. HOWEVER,....most competative high level bowlers do bowl the summer. They bowl something, might not be the high level scratch league in the winter, but they bowl something.

Your reached a goal before, you can do it again. But its going to take work, just like it did before.

Erin

Show, I struggle if I miss practice that week. I have no talent for bowling, I do nothing natural, I have to work hard to get my game in shape and bowl at a high level. If I miss even one week I struggle for a few weeks after.

You have to decide why you are there, if you are there just for scores, you are there for the wrong reasons. If you are there to have a good time, then it doesn't matter what your scores are as long as you are having fun. If you are not bowling well you shouldn't let that affect why you are there, it is just a bad shot or a bad game it doesn't reflect who you are as a person, so don't take it personally, figure out what you are doing wrong and correct it, or just focus on hitting your target and don't worry about how you are getting there as you may start over thinking things.

If you are struggling with your physical game then do as Erin suggested and seek out a top level coach to help punch up your game and rejuvenate your excitement for bowling. Everyone gets tired of bowling bad or not being challenged it is not just you, you need to learn to self motivate and pull yourself up out of these low mental spots and just have fun.

I read this last week, but with some things going on at the time I wasn't active on the boards.

Show, I know the feeling. I'm been recently thinking of giving up the game. I've been bowling for the better part of 8 years as well. Some of it is based on my performance on the lanes during the last half of the season which is due to some serious mechanical issues that started sometime during the season. I don't have the drive to go to the center to practice or even open bowl for fun like I once did. Again part of this is the hopelessness of trying to improve but not seeing any progress and actually going backwards. Seeing a coach I know would change this but it's not economically viable right now. I think that's maybe the biggest problem this summer, being able to afford to go to the lanes to try to work on something. Between gas, lineage and having to fix my truck that cost a good bit just for the parts, since I did the work myself bowling just doesn't seem important. Add in other factors such as not working every day and other things in life, and trying to bowl and struggling just doesn't seem worth it. At one point bowling was my outlet to just get away from it all but now it seems harder than work. I believe some of the stuff outside of bowling is more of my issue than the bowling itself, even though bowling bad on a regular basis doesn't help my desire.

Wow yall are really scaring me right now in terms of time and commitments in the future of life.