If your neck hurts, I’ll bet it’s from looking back instead of looking forward!
We seem to get all caught up in what has happened (which we can’t control)
instead of paying attention to what is about to happen (which we can control).
If you left a stone 7, should you think about how unfair that is or how to
convert it? So let’s face it, the fact that it is standing there is unjust and
unfair and you think so. That’s okay. You probably can’t stop that thought
(unless you’re in the zone), so maybe what matters is how LONG you think so.
Being angry about it won’t make it fall. Your second ball knocking it over will.
That’s what you can control. You can never, ever get that shot back. It is a
part of history that can never be changed. You can’t make up for it by
converting the spare or striking on your next million shots. It’s not the first
time it has happened to you and it won’t be the last.
The object of our sport is to get as many pins with as few balls as you can.
How many you knocked down with the last ball you rolled is what you get.
The next ball is the one that matters. It’s the only one that matters because
it’s the one you control. You’ve often heard that a double covers up an open
frame. It doesn’t. Nothing can ever make up for that lost opportunity.
You’ll never have that moment in time back. Stay in the moment, focusing
on your next opportunity.
You can’t control lucky pinfall and lane conditions. You’ve seen slop strikes.
A ball with three revs thrown down 20 hits the head pin dead center and strikes.
You struggle to find a line, feel like your splitting boards, jam the pocket,
and can’t carry. It’s a fact of your bowling life that lucky pinfall is going to beat
you occasionally. It may even last the whole league night.
You know over the long haul, this type of bowler cannot stay with you.
It’s just that on this league night, it seems like a very long haul indeed.
Be patient, and compare averages, wins, total pins, etc. at the end of the league.
Your superior ability will prevail. Whether you are in a tournament or a one game
match.You know that luck has a place in all sports. Keep in mind that the more
skill you have, the luckier you are! It has happened TO you and it will happen FOR you.
Getting up set over it and allowing it to affect your performance is the best way
to assure it continues to happen. Anger takes a lot of energy. You lose your
focus and therefore your confidence. All that energy is better directed toward
making a good shot next time. Being preoccupied with lucky pinfall (yours or theirs)
means the other guy doesn’t have to beat you. You did it all on your own.
Everyone has a mental game. Regardless of average, it can never be discounted
as a strength, a profound weakness, and/or a formidable weapon. Let’s get to it.