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.