Strengthen Your Bowling Mental Game

I am sure everyone out there has heard cliche comments in all aspects of life, not just sports. But there is a reason this is heard so often, and that is because it is a universal truth. If you want to succeed at anything in life, you must have a good head on your shoulders. Bowling is no exception to this rule. However, how do you keep a strong head game when you are struggling? This question may not be easy to answer, but here are a few tips.

One of the biggest mistakes I see other bowlers make (myself included) is that they do not have a good game plan. Your head needs to be clear of clutter and if you are overthinking every shot, that does not leave much room for confidence and concentration. There will be times when the lanes will transition and you will have to think about your adjustments, but if you are changing balls, lines, etc every shot, most likely you will lose concentration and will not execute as well. Try and put together a good game plan of how you want to play the lanes during practice so you can reserve all that precious brain power on the fundamentals and throwing a good shot.

Another way to keep your head on straight is to smile. I know it is easy to get fired up over that ringing 10 pin, or especially that solid 8 that you just left, but it only makes matters worse to throw your spare as hard as you can and miss it. Remember, no one on the planet averages 300. You are not going to strike everytime you hit the pocket. Just pick up your spare, and make your minor adjustments to get your bowling ball to carry.

The final way is to try and have fun. Many of us out there take bowling very seriously, some may even bowl for a living. But most of us just enjoy the sport. I have always found that my best games and best series have come when I was in a great mood and talking and interacting with other bowlers. If you walk into the bowling alley with any doubt f whether or not you want to be there, chances are you may not bowl as well as you could. Head in there with a smile on your face and confidence on your mind, and if you bowl bad, there is always next week.