Where my game is at I still worry the wheels will come off at some point because IT WILL! How long it lasts is another story, this is where doubt and negative thoughts turn a bad series or two into extended slumps.

There may be some bowlers here that can come out of the gates swinging and keep it up for an entire Winter season. That takes focus and a strong mental game to go along with the physical one. The way I cope with it is have a short memory after a bad outing. How does what you just did on a bad night reflect on what you will do tomorrow night let alone next week? It doesn't unless you let it. When things are going good for you like they are now, have confidence in what you are doing without being cocky. Trust in what you do. If you join a 2nd league it should make you a better bowler and up that confidence level. More time on the lanes, more looks at transition, more muscle memory(providing it's good), more experience, etc. Things are going good for you, don't over think about what ifs just bowl!

I ran across this topic in my desperation I suppose you can say. I am having my own set of negative thoughts to combat. Lately I have been doing everything you can think of to negatively mentally and emotionally affect my game. For instance, I stay up too late, get up too early, not eating enough meals with classes and all, and worst of all I've been dealing with emotional issues that literally haunt my dreams. My very serious, or it seemed so then, girlfriend of almost 4 years broke up with me for very little reason. I see her on campus now too and she has changed entirely from who she used to be. She seems to have moved on rather easily too. Then the girl I really liked and have been hoping she would get to know me better and like me as well basically told me she doesn't feel the same and that isn't changing. She was very nice about it but it still ruined my day today. She's known how I've felt for a while now and we've flirted a lot and gone dancing together but she just doesn't want anything more to do with me than friends. Long story short, my mental game is totally hammered lately. Last night I bowled very inconsistently and couldn't even think straight to figure out too much of why. I'm afraid the same thing will happen again tonight. I know its inevitable that emotions and such will affect my game but considering how I have been feeling lately, so depressed and emotionally frustrated, I don't see how I'm going to pull out of this slump. The easy answer would be to solve my girl issues by finding a new girl, eating more, and sleeping more but at least one of those things can't be solved over night and in the mean time its going to be extremely detrimental to my game if my emotions and such distract me from my game this much. At this rate I'm going to undo all I've learned and gotten to thus far, or at least get very bad habits formed in the mean time

Rack, I'm really sorry to hear about the different problems you are having off the lanes. Those things can and will distract you on the lanes, almost to the point of being ready to quit the sport all together. I'm speaking form experience here as I was having some issues at the end of last season and it showed in my scores. Bowling should be an escape from such things, but there is only so much the body and mind can take before it no longer is an escape. There was actually a pretty good discussion on the subject that someone else started.

As far as fixes go, it's up to you to decide what is in your own best interest. Getting a new girl might not be the answer to that issue, but then again it might be. Eating, well that's something everyone needs to do, and what you could do is pack some healthy treats or sandwiches to eat between classes instead of having to find time for whole meals. Eating regular meals in the morning and evening would be a good idea. The sleep thing is self-explanatory though Some people can function on a little less sleep. My body is so used to only about 6 hours, any more than that and I start to get restless.

infernocal, thanks for the advice! I agree that the fixes are mostly evident in some senses at least. I don't really know why but I have always been the type of guy who wants to be in a happy loving relationship. I can't really explain how much that seems to make my days go better.

I appreciate the concern, I really do. I honestly wish that my mind could separate bowling from my relationship issues but it doesn't seem to be working well. The times I seem to do my best were when I was thinking the girl and I had a chance, but as the days went on, including yesterday, I began to see that I don't and that my ex and I are totally finished, not that I really want to go back with her but you can't really get past a long relationship like that even after 5 months. That feeling of being alone is really not fun and since I am the type of guy who often gets consumed with wanting to be in a caring, affectionate relationship, it really distracts me from my game even when all I want to do is use it to escape my problems as you said

We've all been there a time or two and it takes time and the mind is going to go in it's own direction. This isn't just for relationships but anything. Even if you don't think you are thinking about it, somewhere in the back of your mind its there.