Well I cannot believe Summer is over and fall league starts in two weeks. Tonight I have position night then a week from Saturday sweeps.

I figure it is time to post some goals for the upcoming season. I refuse to make the mistake of trying to set value goals like a certain average or high game or series. Instead I am going to post goals that will help me improve my overall game and a list of things that are important to me as I have had problems with them. I hope others will share their goals and that will be helpful as different problems and situations come up for all of us. I will keep this in my bag so I can read them before each league night as a reminder of what my goals are:

1. BE WILLING TO CHANGE SPOTS AND SPEEDS TO FIND THE PROPER LINE. Too many times I get too comfortable with the outside line playing to the right with a lot of speed. Some nights it works but other nights I am far better suited to move left and slow down. I need to work on getting this sorted out in practice and during game situations when my line breaks down or a certain line is not working.

2. STAY FOCUSED AT THE LINE AND BLOCK OTHER THINGS OUT. There is a ton of stuff going on (different conversation, socializing, etc.) but when I get up to bowl I need to solely focus on executing my shot and not letting my mind wander with other thoughts.

3. NEVER GIVE UP. I may have a lousy game and feel like nothing is working but keep plugging away because many times you can turn it around. Too many times I have seen frustrated bowlers kill their team by getting mad and just chucking the ball. Give every shot the same effort and do not let frustration get the best of you.

4. FOLLOW THROUGH ON EVERY SHOT. Too many times when I pull back on a shot bad things happen. Remember to follow all the way through with your arm swing on each and every shot.

5. STAY LOW AT THE LINE. I have a tendency to pull up and when I do bad things happen. Keeping my center of gravity low helps with accuracy a lot.

6. KEEP IT SIMPLE STUPID- When I get set I have my arm and hand position set. I have practiced my approach enough that is natural so once I get in motion there are just 3 things, stay low, throw shot over target, and follow through on shot.

Hey Scott,
I don't need to make a list just copy yours.We have the same outlook. What I would like to do is get better at getting my ball out to the right break point with right rotation, speed and direction. Ron C has a good article on this. Follow through is also something that needs work, not just anywhere but in front of my face. Saw a big improvement in this yesterday.I guess working on my goals and finding sucess now and then is more rewarding than just playing same old game. If my average drops it doesn't really matter. This is a different attitude for me. I was not figuring things out yesterday,but felt I was throwing the ball pretty good, and learned some things. Dianne

I think that your goals are more like do's/don't on a nightly basis. I think that almost everyone needs to try to follow those.

Here are my goals for the season.

Ave: 215
HG: 300
HS: 800+

I haven't shot a 300 in a long time. I have had 12+ in a row a few times over 2 games and 11 in a row in 1 game 4 times in the last 4 years. Since I shot my 800, my high series has been 750. I need to change that.

Scott,
Good Goals and Good Luck on the upcomming season, here a list of Mine:

1)PLAY MULTIPLE LINES: Too many time i have played a line that i wanted to play and not what the lanes were telling me too. I tried to force a line that wasnt there instead of moving to get a better line to the pocket.

2)STOP STARING AT SCORE AND COUNTING: I have tendency to constantly look up at score and start to tell my self i need this and this to get my average or i need this to get this series.

3)DONT RUSH: Sometimes i complete just rush. I dont do my pre shot routine and just rush a shot. I need to step back take a deep breathe and visualise the shot and then go.

4)ITS OKEY TO WASTE A FRAME: A lot of time i dont try something that i may seen pervious frame because im afraid i might open or what. If i see the lane changing i need to make that move and tell myself its okey to waste a frame if it doesnt work.

5)DONT OVER THINK: I have tendency to over think shot and doubt myself. When i do that i usually miss a spare or target. I need to trust my self on my decision.

6)HAVE FUN: Well i always do this but good to remind ourself why we bowl. Because its FUN!

My goals:

800 series
300 game/s or any other recognized scores.
220+ average. (not your typical cake house shot, 215 is more realistic)

I need to remember what I do in my version of practice. Keep my feet slow, head steady, find balance and not be tentative at the line. I lack that little bit of killer instinct I need to take the next step. I'm expecting good things this year, it starts Tuesday.

I agree with General about the list being things that need to be done or not done all the time. Plus, I've always been a mathematical person, so I always seem to set my goal with numbers.

Basically, this season I have no real average goals other than just keeping it around where it's been for the last 2 years. A 300 would be nice, it's been over a year now since my last one. What I really want to do is to finally shoot the 800 series that I've wanted for quite a while now.

Mark

The reason I am not listing averages, scores, or series as goals is because I seem to have a problem with getting a little too uptight when they get within sight. Too many nights I have pressed because I think I can beat that high game or series so my approach this season is to concentrate on the things I need to do to score higher on a general basis rather than target scores, averages, series.

Great thread!!

Since I am making a return to bowling after several years away from league play, my goals are more modest:

1.) Purchase a new ball. The ten-year-old urethane ball I'm using is not going to do me any favors if I want to take my game to a higher level than it is now (or was before). Hopefully I'll be able to get myself my first reactive ball by mid October. I plan to keep my urethane as a spare ball.

2.) Concentrate. I have a tendency to rush myself and lose focus when I bowl. I need to set a pre-shot routine, and stick to it.

3.) Pay more attention to positioning. I need to take heed of where I put my feet before I throw the ball. I tend to rush and not do this, which makes adjustments impossible.

4.) Improve my release and follow through. I tend to either release the ball and pull my arm back, or swing my arm across my body, ruining any chance at a pocket hit.

5.) Implement the things I learn. As I continue to browse and read this site, I'm learning more and more about this game...but all that reading is for naught if I don't apply it to my game.

Hopefully, all of these will help me achieve the one numerical goal I am setting for myself...

6.) Bowl my first 200 game. I know that doesn't seem like much for most of you, But I have never bowled a 200 before. I've come close a number of times, but for some reason could never quite get there. Hopefully now that I'll be bowling on a consistent basis again, I'll be able to do it.

Mine are lofty, but I like a challenge.

I want atleast (2) 300 games
(1) 800 series
I want to win 3 King of the Hill tournaments, and atleast cash even if it is the final spot in 80% of them
I want to avg 225 which is 9 pins higher than last year. I may be able to do this if I can keep complete focus for a whole season. I always seem to have something come up mid-season when I'm in peak form and I lose my momentum.

My goal right now is simply to do the best I can, and after I am working on a regular basis again, get some coaching and then get back into serious competition.

Mine sound simple but they are going to be tough.

1)Achieve and consistently throw with a free swing.

2)Throw as many clean games as possible in a row

3)Have 200+ average

4)Beat my teammate's average so that he can lead off like he likes to in my one league

5)Rediscover my spare game. It seems to have disappeared and I think a plastic spare ball might help.

6)Get good throwing a plastic spare ball.

7) Lastly have a series higher than 655. I've had that one twice already in the same year.

Like I said tough but not undoable.

620, then 630, then 650, then 675, then 700, and so on...

280, then 285, then 290, and so on...

Don't care about average right now, just want to get better.

Well, I've got the 200+ average thing down. For myself. I'd say consistency and learning how to make adjustments when theirs carry down and when the lanes are drying up. My PBA Experience league showed me how inconsistent with hitting my marks I am.

My goals for this season are:

Average 200+
High Series 750+
Increase my spare percentage

But in order for that to happen I need to work on a few things,
like the following:

Have a loose armswing
DO NOT OVERTHINK,..( This is my biggest problem )
Do not beat myself up after a bad shot or game (I'm my own worst enemy)
Did I mention have a loose arm swing? NO muscling

Oh, and lose a little weight,... Win the lottery...LOL..

My goals are to:

- improve Execution
- improve decision making
- 210+ avg
- kick some [censored]!

EDIT: I think it's time for me to roll a 300 as well.

EDIT #2: I want pro-level single pin conversion rates. 90% would be good, 95% would be better.

My goals are...

improve my approach/Execution & accuracy
improve reading lanes
improve my spare percentage
180+ average
700 series and another improvement in my high game column.

I have simple goals, but ones I feel are appropriate for my level of experience.

1) Cash out from a tourney
2) Five 600 series in league
3) Meet 'n' greet new bowlers
4) Work hard on my spare game (MUST improve)

And as always, be supportive of my teammates and continually exciting them about the game of bowling while offering advice.

Well my goals are (should be) simple really.

Get my basics down pat!

If I can get three things this season I'll be happy:-

1) A free armswing
2) be steady at the foul line
3) A good follow through

The rest should be OK!

My goals are as follows:

1) most importantly don't embarrass myself in my PBAX league.
2) Bring my Average up to at least 175 in my fun league.
3) Get my ball fitment right.. I'm tired of having to grip the ball
4) Roll a high game of 250
5) Roll a 600 series

My goal is pretty simple; have fun. That's it, really. I doubt I'll duplicate last year but I'll have fun trying. If I "only" average 215 or so bowling once a week, I can't get upset at that. If the shot's close to the same as last year, I should be able to average in the 220 range again, but if not, that's not a big deal. I'd like to throw another 300 and 800 (I came close to the 300 once and the 800 twice last year), but if I don't get them, then that's ok. I have one of each so anything more than that is a bonus.


Well, Scott, when you start doing that, remember your own #6: KEEP IT SIMPLE STUPID. Relax, have fun, and lower your expectations at that point.


If you improve Execution, your EDIT #2 will get better in two ways. First, improving Execution on your first ball will leave you "better" spare opportunities (single pin spares instead of "Oh my God" spares or multi-pin spares) and give you more practice at the single pin spares. Second, improving Execution will improve the way you go after those single pin spares.

My single pin spare conversation rate last year was probably 97-98% and my 10 pin percentage was probably 92% which is bad by my standards. After I adjusted my approach for my first ball my 10 pin approach felt odd, and I was uncomfortable a lot. As the season progressed I made adjustments and felt better, but still not 100% comfortable. I'm always a work in progress, though.

I have no standard goals but I feel the two years with a coach will be the key difference in my outlook for this year.

Last year, I had a pleasure to bowl 6 weeks in a sport league shot and it change my outlook on what is easy and tough. Going into my 10 years of bowling. This is the year for me to prevail and defeat all odds.

I am doing a bunch of tournaments this year and I know I will do well even if I bowl score low or high because my mental focus will be there and two, I will have fun this time around.

So I can't think of set goals in my head but I will reach for the top such as achieving a perfect game, go high as I can get in a series and just bowl comfortable. For tournaments, I will do my best as I can and bowl with all hearts and determination.

Good luck everybody.

1) 10 clean sets. I can count on ONE FINGER the number of clean sets I had last year.

2) Over 200 average in the cake house shot league and over 180 in the PBAX league. Last year I was over deuce for the majority of the year but a rash of bad sets late left me at 198. The summer PBAX league I averaged 152 with ill fitting equipment. That problem has been addressed...we will see what effect it has.

3) my first 300 game. 45 years on house shots is too long to go without it.

4) when the thought crosses my mind to change balls or lines or speed or release I will DO IT and use that shot as information for future corrections. I have a tendency to keep doing what I was doing even if it is not working.

I actually did this yesterday. As I was heading up for my 4th frame shot in the 2nd game, the thought crossed my mind to change balls...complete with which ball and where to stand. I USED to just ignore that until way too late. Those days are over. I pulled the trigger on the change and was satisfied with the results.

I will print out the list (without the commentary. Just the goals) and attach it to my accessories box to remind me.