BallReviews

General Category => Miscellaneous => Topic started by: star on October 02, 2003, 07:19:20 PM

Title: Negative self talk.
Post by: star on October 02, 2003, 07:19:20 PM

carltonsportsassoc's topic has set me thinking.

I am physically bowling better at the moment than I could ever have dreamed I could. However Im causing myself untold problems due to negative thoughts that are popping into my head as I stand on the approach.

Things like "youre going to miss this aren't you" or "bet I leave a 10 pin with this one this time" you know what I mean.
Now it doesnt matter what I do. I can put the ball down and begin again or I can just go ahead and throw the shot. Almost always what Ive though happens.

How do you stop listening to these negatives. I can stand there thinking " make the shot" or "believe" etc but these thoughts just pop in.

As Ive said my physical game is so good at the moment that my coach says hes expecting 600+ every time I step up to the plate, but Im shooting low 500s most of the time due to these thoughts.

Hes not putting pressure on me its just that hes got my physical game down to tee and theres no reason physically why I cant shoot these scores.

The mind is a funny thing, tell it to do something and you can almost gurantee it'll do it. Only problem is you have to watch what you tell it to do.
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Happy go lucky bowler from the UK.
   Did someone say tough luck

Title: Re: Negative self talk.
Post by: Greatness on October 03, 2003, 10:33:23 AM

My team name is focus hope.  So we all have a positive energy at the team table and we encourage each other.  As for me, as stated in another post, i coach my self as i bowl.  If i come up light on the pocket i will say to myself "you turned your elbow off plane a little inside and you didnt lift well with the fingers"  Or, "you threw the ball a little hard and it pushed past the break point, let the ball work and it will get there"  I also play the song "majic stick" in my head.

Greatness

Title: Re: Negative self talk.
Post by: 9andaWiggle on October 03, 2003, 01:27:31 PM

Funny how that works... If I get up there and tell myself, "I'm gonna throw a big ol' strike here!"  It won't happen...  But if I say "there's a chance I could miss this spare."  Open every time.  It will only work to LOWER your score.


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9-

Why, WHY won't the last one just fall??  It's WIGGLING for cryin' out loud!!

Title: Re: Negative self talk.
Post by: AnotherRinger on October 03, 2003, 05:51:56 PM

I have the exact same problem. I hate it the most though when you can forcast you're next shot 5 minutes prior, lol

Like sometimes in league when i've got a small string going, my friends'll ask "How many more ya gonna throw?". Usually i'll just laugh and say, "Stone 9 this next shot, I gurantee it.". 9 outta ten times next shot is a high flush 9 pin... Grrr, stupid mind...
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The THING!