Currently my average is down a ton over last year.  I'm talking 20 pins.  I believe this is coming from a combination of my inability to concentrate at times and perhaps some over thinking as well.  Physically I feel fine.  I'm hitting my marks fairly consistently, hitting the pocket the majority of the time, and making I'd say 85-90% of my spares (not counting splits). It seems more than anything my carry has become CRAP!

What I'm wondering is what I can do to help my mental game.  Make myself concetrate more and get back to where I was last year.  When I try to read the reaction on the lanes during their transition I seem to be failing miserably.  I dont adjust quick enough or adjust too much. Mentally I try to take everything one shot at a time and brush off the bad shots or bad breaks.  For the last couple years I've become infamous for leaving pocket 7-10s.  While to begin with I thought it was limited to my local house, it has since been happening wherever I go.  I know usually it's a ball that's not finishing well and i understand those.  I'm talking solid, wrapping the 4 around the 7 and the 6 around the 10.

Another thing is what I can do to help accuracy even more.  I'm a fairly accurate person but what can i do to make myself more accurate.  I havent' had a coach in 5 years now and there arent really any within a close distance of where I live so I'm on my own pretty much till august when I go to school.  I need some stuff I can try on my own that will actually help me physically and mentally.

I know this post doesnt make much sense but I'm really in a pickle here.  I'm down on my confidence at the moment because of how things go.  In travel league for the 1st time all season when I needed to strike in the 10th to win, I didnt.  That bothers me because on this team I need to a decent amount.

Nick


--------------------
In a terrible slump now.  Average is down 20 pins over last year because I can't carry anything.  Not even Dyno-Thane can help.

I don't care how far you have to go to get coaching....you need some.  I travel over an hour to get to my coach and its not always in the same house.  I have to go where ever she is at that day if I want to get the lesson in on my time schedule.  So the amount of effort you are willing to put into getting lessons is up to you.

A coach will really aliviate your burdens by giving you some definately things to work on and things you don't need to worry about.  On top of that, professional coaches are really good at building up confidence.  

You can keep on going as you are.  But if you are in a major slump, you will not get out of it by yourself.  There are not magical pills, not even Dr. Dean Hinitz's fantastic book; Focused For Bowling, will give you an instant cure.  But it will give you some good looks at how your brain is focusing and using the information you are giving it.

Wulfpackbwlr, I'm an overthinker at times and the best thing to do when in that mode, is to force yourself to "laser your target" as Susie Minshew says.  Burn a hole into it.  Really commit yourself to seeing your target as you're releasing the ball at it!  Trust is a must...!

If you can limit your conscious thought to just seeing your target, you'll allow your subconscious to do the bowling.  It's amazing how much better you'll release the ball if you just stay out of your subconsious's way!  Allow your subconscious to bowl and keep your conscious thoughts to target focus, ball reaction and adjustments.

Dave

Thanks for the help once again.  Just finished league up and did manage a 630 tonight.  Had I gotten a little more carry it would have been better and made moves quick enough as well.  Went 176, 211, 243.  3 opens, all splits and 2 of them in the 1st game.  It's a start.  Definately rolled the ball better.  just concentrated on my mark a little better and things seemed to go much better.

Thanks,
Nick
--------------------
In a terrible slump now.  Average is down 20 pins over last year because I can't carry anything.  Not even Dyno-Thane can help.