Author Topic: anxiety during leagues/tournaments (Read 4236 times)

Uncle Meat PT 2 · « **on:** November 25, 2014, 09:03:56 PM »

Hey all, a little problem I have been experiencing lately.While in practice,no problem but when the scoring starts,I lately have been getting nervous or anxious to where I am not following through with my timing and swing. Anyone experience this,how did you deal with it? LMK.
Ciao!

northface28 · « **Reply #1 on:** November 25, 2014, 09:30:50 PM »

Yes, this happens to me from time to time. Few things I can suggest, 1) Breathe, really that easy. 2) Visualize making shots, and 3) do something to take your mind off bowling be it talking to teammates or looking at stuff on your phone.

DP3 · « **Reply #2 on:** November 25, 2014, 09:36:29 PM »

I used to bowl with a guy who will remain nameless that had to hire a escort for a particular service the morning before every tournament he bowled because it helped him relax and shake off the anxiety. But that may have been his own personal problem, and I'm sure it'd be a quite pricey fix.

northface28 · « **Reply #3 on:** November 25, 2014, 09:39:41 PM »

Quote from: DP3 on November 25, 2014, 09:36:29 PM

I used to bowl with a guy who will remain nameless that had to hire a escort for a particular service the morning before every tournament he bowled because it helped him relax and shake off the anxiety. But that may have been his own personal problem, and I'm sure it'd be a quite pricey fix.

You're not paying for the service, you're paying for her to leave.

DP3 · « **Reply #4 on:** November 25, 2014, 09:40:58 PM »

Well said.

BallReviews-Removed0385 · « **Reply #5 on:** November 26, 2014, 01:05:42 AM »

Focusing too much on scores/results can cause the anxiety felt by all of us periodically. My suggestion would be to focus on making shots, one at a time, and finding contentment in the process. "Fear based" bowling will never produce consistent results, and your self esteem should never be attached to your bowling scores for the night.

Find something positive from every shot and dwell "there" instead of the pin/pins that didn't go down and how robbed you were... You can train your mind to relax and think positively. I, for example, have told myself "okay that shot was HORRIBLE, but at least I'm left with an easy spare", and so on.

Once you become "the captain of your own ship" and control the emotions the scores will inevitably follow. Good luck to you.

hjk246 · « **Reply #6 on:** November 26, 2014, 03:33:10 AM »

I have found that having my daughter with me helps me to relax and not concentrate so much on my scoring. Unlike most parents who bring their children to the bowling alley and just let them run loose and be a menace to other patrons and bowlers....we bring games and coloring books so we both can share time with each other and she isn't sitting there bored....and she is 12. I may be 48 but I love to color with her and it's relaxing on the mind. When she doesn't come with me...I notice I focus to much on my game and my adjustments and find I don't bowl as well.

Joker-1 · « **Reply #7 on:** November 26, 2014, 09:22:38 AM »

theres a lot of pressure for these situations. You want to make a score thats respectable or if its a team event you don't want to let the team down, but if you let these ideas creep into your head you're not going to bowl the way you usually do which is probably pretty good. Just have fun and if you're missing your target or whatnot ask your teammate for their opinion of what happened, talking about it helps to ease that anxiety

Gizmo823 · « **Reply #8 on:** November 26, 2014, 09:39:30 AM »

I would try to also do things that build your confidence. Definitely finding ways to even out your stress or reduce it to a manageable level is a must, but sometimes I find myself getting so absorbed in everything that I'm using to distract myself that I lose a little too much focus. Sometimes I've taken the stress head on and just told myself in a pressure spot that I'm just going to get up there and obliterate the pins and walk back like nothing happened, and it actually worked for me at least. I have to get a little pissed. I get up there and just decide I'm going to throw a good shot and that the pins will go down. May not work for everyone depending on their personality, but it seems to me that more thoughtful people tend to be the ones to have the occasional nerves.

Polish_Hammer · « **Reply #9 on:** November 26, 2014, 10:09:11 AM »

Pre-shot routines do wonders for setting muscle memory in motion. I do the same routine before every shot practice, league, tournament. If you're thinking you're stinking. As stated before deep breaths are magic.

leftybowler70 · « **Reply #10 on:** November 26, 2014, 11:11:57 AM »

Quote from: notclay on November 26, 2014, 01:05:42 AM

Focusing too much on scores/results can cause the anxiety felt by all of us periodically. My suggestion would be to focus on making shots, one at a time, and finding contentment in the process. "Fear based" bowling will never produce consistent results, and your self esteem should never be attached to your bowling scores for the night.

Find something positive from every shot and dwell "there" instead of the pin/pins that didn't go down and how robbed you were... You can train your mind to relax and think positively. I, for example, have told myself "okay that shot was HORRIBLE, but at least I'm left with an easy spare", and so on.

Once you become "the captain of your own ship" and control the emotions the scores will inevitably follow. Good luck to you.

You could not have said any better, this is the problem I've struggled with for over 20 yrs of bowling, I've never lived up to my potential, because of having a mental /psychological block which always have me very tight until recently....

I tried everything, beer, coaching, my wife/daughter/family/friends, taking a break with no success. Very frustrating to say the least. I just think with some of us, you just can't control how the inside acts, no matter what you try to do different.

Cyril The Syrup · « **Reply #11 on:** November 26, 2014, 05:50:36 PM »

Gum. I know it sounds kinda ridiculous but chewing gum always settles my nerves

BallReviews-Removed0385 · « **Reply #12 on:** November 26, 2014, 06:21:22 PM »

Putting it simply from my former post, try not to let outside influences control your inner workings. There are suggestions from bowlers here that help them, but it all comes down to you learning what fits you and your personality.

Only you can decide whether or not something bothers/affects you...

leftybowler70 · « **Reply #13 on:** November 26, 2014, 07:58:36 PM »

Norclay, I'm trying sir, i really am, thanks for your intelligent, and helpful input.

BallReviews-Removed0385 · « **Reply #14 on:** November 26, 2014, 08:27:54 PM »

You are welcome. I hope it helps.

Author Topic: anxiety during leagues/tournaments (Read 4236 times)

Uncle Meat PT 2

anxiety during leagues/tournaments

northface28

Re: anxiety during leagues/tournaments

DP3

Re: anxiety during leagues/tournaments

northface28

Re: anxiety during leagues/tournaments

DP3

Re: anxiety during leagues/tournaments

BallReviews-Removed0385

Re: anxiety during leagues/tournaments

hjk246

Re: anxiety during leagues/tournaments

Joker-1

Re: anxiety during leagues/tournaments

Gizmo823

Re: anxiety during leagues/tournaments

Polish_Hammer

Re: anxiety during leagues/tournaments

leftybowler70

Re: anxiety during leagues/tournaments

Cyril The Syrup

Re: anxiety during leagues/tournaments

BallReviews-Removed0385

Re: anxiety during leagues/tournaments

leftybowler70

Re: anxiety during leagues/tournaments

BallReviews-Removed0385

Re: anxiety during leagues/tournaments