Dennis, what helps is getting a song stuck in your head that helps keep the pace of your approach. It sounds like you are slowing down until you get back up to speed or going to fast until you get warmed up again, either way a consistent beat in your head will help keep the same pace as before when you were striking.

Like I said its a mental thing. I try to visualize what I want to do in that break, but most of the time the breaks in my leagues are barely longer than the time to finish the tenth frame, meaning maybe a minute or two between the last ball of the tenth and the first of the next game, unless smokers are involved and then that is a totally different beast.

Cal, now that you mention it. It has become common here that leagues have a 5 minute break between games for the smokers, drinkers, or general commode users. This is usually in the league rules.

This helps regulate losing people between frames. So, or break may be a little longer than the norm.

Well I find that those that disappear in the middle of the game are either at the bar or snack bar or they are walking around socializing and not watching for their turn. Since the smoking ban less people are lighting up in the middle of the game, when before the ban if someone was close to the smokers room they would pop in light up and then come back when it was their turn, then go back to finish the cigarette. None of the leagues I have bowled in have a rule about breaks between games, but the complete indoor smoking ban didn't start until February so I'll see how it goes this coming season.

You will probably notice if you watch my videos that I do not keep the ball still when I set up for the shot. What I am doing is actually getting my rhythm together before I start the approach. This is what works for me and I don't really think you ought to try it, but there may be something mentally you can do that accomplishes the same thing. The only problems I run into when there is a break is stiffness sometimes, but that can also be combated with some stretching or simply walking around instead of sitting.

Dennis I would suggest you try to do what Coach Jim said and get a song stuck in your head. Also the pre-appraoch routine is a good thing to do as well. And if something isn't right then stop and step off the approach, let your opponent go and then begin again. I think I've said it once on here before (on a different thread), but I'll say it again, be as braindead as possible. You need to play without thinking about it. You could try like going into a focus trace like thing, as weird as that sounds. When I do it, it's kind of like in the Matrix when they are in one of the still-shot scences, something like that.

Thanks, Demoman. I probably should research a slow waltz to match my style. In the meantime, I will practice the braindead thing. I think that would be harder.

The braindead thing is tough. It's like you have stop thinking without falling asleep.

Have you ever heard of "tunnel vision?"