| Mental Game | ||
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Mental Q&A [21-40] [41-60] [61-80] [81-100] [101-120]
 Pat March 19, 2002 Canton MI Hello Walter, I have a major problem with my mental game. During the fall season in my youth league in travel, I'm averaging a 207. I'm 19 years old with (3) 300 games to my credit with a series of 790. I would like to continue to increase my average by at least 10 more pins. I've be thinking a lot of my game becuase I want to bowl great almost everytime. I've also have been having these big goal that I'm trying to reach, but it's like I can't do it because I've lost all of my confidence in me. I've been taking my game to the next level on staying more focused on myself on the lanes. When I come off the lanes, it's like I'm still focused no matter what. I'm zoomed in and always thinking about the next shot after each frame. So therefore, I've been putting a lot of pressure on myself. Also in my travel league, in the Masters division, bowlers have been giving me dirty looks for no reason at all. Do you think it's based on jealousy? I'm not showing off to them or bragging to them in their there face. I'm just bowling my own game. Do you think I'm doing all that stuff just to make them look bad or something? I'm stuck and I don't know what to do. Please help me. Hi Pat, A 207 average is very good. It is commendable that you want to improve. It sounds like you are doing what you need to be doing. Maybe your goals are bit lofty, but sometimes that will inspire you. In bowling I don't think that I have been terribly goal oriented. I try and do the best that I can at every tournament. I don't always do as well as I like, but sometimes I do or I get lots of good breaks. Sometimes other players are a bit jealous of those who are successful. That could be the case in your situation, but I don't know since I am not there as an observer. I believe that a little bit of humility is not a bad thing. I am not a big fan of the 'in your face' attitude which TV sports commercials seem to love. If you feel that you need something else to get your game going, try bowling at a really tough house. That ought to shake you up a bit if not get you throwing the ball better. Good luck. Raymond March 20, 2002 Honey Brook PA Dear Walter Ray Williams I'm your biggest fan i know about you since the first time you faced Earl Anthony in a tourament. But anyways i love bowling and i love the fact that you can play more then one sport. I know that your busy with tourtaments and all but the next time your in The Philadelphia area i was wonder if you can stop by the Bowling Palace in Downingtown Pa and help the people on the Junior Leage. For the past 3 months i've been doing pretty bad. i use to avg. during the summer a 194 but know i'm avg. 165 i dont know if its me or the lane conditions. I'm bowling in Disticts Sunday March 24 and i'm scared because it's my first time at distircts. the only reason why my team is going to districts is beacause of my little sister because bowled over 180 pins of her avg. with 3 games combined and i'm really scared. i don't know what to do. if you don't mined i would like to become pen pals and maybe you can give me advise to help me bowl better. Thank You, Raymond E Huffman Jr. please please email me back thank you your Friend Ray Hi Ray, I don't get to Philadelphia very often and I am normally very busy. I can't say why your average is so much lower than it was during the summer. It might partially be because of the lane conditions, but the main thing I try to remember is that scores are relative. If you bowl against the same players and their averages are also 25 pins lower, then maybe it isn't you. But if you are the only one with a much lower average then maybe you aren't playing the lanes correctly for you or you are not throwing the ball as well. I would try and have fun at your District tournament even if you are scared. Remember, you are supposed to be having fun. I realize that it is easier to have fun when you bowl well, but sometimes that big challenge is fun also. Good luck! Joe February 21, 2002 Windsor Ontario Canada I was wondering how do you keep your concentration when your mind and attitude is not with it. You know when you are bowling and the start your fine, feeling great then in the middle of the second game your just gone. Its not that your bowling bad either its just very hard to hit your spot and lacking on the spares. Its very annoying when this happens and i was wondering if you had any tips. Thanks for your time. Keep up the bowling, I love watching you. Hi Joe, Concentration is a very personal thing. Everybody is different and if you lose your concentration easily, you need to somehow make that special effort to pay attention. One of the things that I do is concentrate on my target and think about following through. If you can think about one or maybe two items, that might help you. Good luck. Tony January 21, 2002 Lackawanna NY Walter Ray, now that my average has improved by at least 16 pins since i last e-mailed you and you e mailed me back.(about 10-7 pin pick ups).ive won the (local king of the hill 3 straight times . won almost every jackpot on my league .. and if i started bowling my league after your advise ..id be averaging 234! (at least 9 weeks) ive shot 7 hi 700 sets! and came close to 300 4 times !(a lot of 299's) i know i have the knowledge but my question is how do i keep it fresh in my body!?? lol my minds there, but every once in a while my body goes into guppie mode! short slimy and unpredictable! (no offence to mr troop)my mind locks and loads but my arm is at the nearest tavern sucken down jack and cokes and wont argue with me! ps(im from buffalo ..my arm loves wings) i chicken wing the ball out of the blue! cheese and i lose money from that (celery) ok thanks walt! ps horse shoe palace is waiting for you!!..lots of real good shooters now! and there not scared of you! ..umm ! after i seen you shoot shoes here im not either! he hee ~thanks! Tony leisureland lanes! hamburg ny Hi Tony, I am a little confused about your question, but it sounds like you want to know how to keep your concentration. That is a tough one. Some people are more naturally better at concentrating than others. If your mind seems to wander then you need to make a concerted effort to pay attention to what you are doing. Maybe some mind exercises like yoga or a martial art might help you to focus better. Good luck and pay attention! Jason January 25, 2002 Whittier CA Hi Walter Ray, My name is Jason Hoppe and I have been a member of the pba for 1 year now. I am 23 years old, and I have cashed in three regionals But it always seems that i cash when money is not an issue in my current life. Every time i have bowled an event and did not bowled well, its when i am desparate for money. I have had alot of people tell me, just don't sweat the money, yet i continue to do so. What advice can you give to deal with this mental issue? To keep myself more focused on the game, and not the money. Thanks, Jason Hoppe Hi Jason, If bowling in events when money is an issue is making you bowl poorly you might not want to bowl without a sponsor. I think that a player can learn to bowl under pressure (which you are doing). But many good players learn(ed) to do their best when they are(were) bowling with very little money in their pockets. You definitely need to learn how to get over this little hurdle you have made for yourself. Some people may not believe it, but when you are bowling for a title, the money is secondary. The money you can win is an added bonus for your efforts. You could put pressure on yourself in every practice and event you put yourself into so that you get used to pressure. Good luck. Jeff January 24, 2002 Redcliffe, Australia QLD Hi, just found your site today and it looks great. I was wondering what your thoughts are on sports patterns condition? We here in Australia are just starting to bowl on sports patterns and we have a small series starting this year which I have organized. Is there any chance of seeing you bowl in Australia? Hi Jeff, I think that the sport patterns are a good thing for bowling. I like to strike as much as the next person, but when the oil patterns guide bad shots to the pocket, then there is something wrong. I personally think that practicing on a tough condition will do much more good for a bowler than bowling on an easy condition. I don't know when I will get to Australia. It is one of the few places that my wife really wants to go to. Since the PBA is working on tournaments outside of the US, you never know, but we might get to bowl down under. Patrick January 20, 2002 Griffin GA My name is Patrick Pressly, i have been bowling since i could walk. I have just recently gotten one step closer to my dream of making bowling my career, by applying for my card. there have been a few fellow bowlers who tell me this was a mistake, but i feel deep down that given the time to adjust to tour living and settling in to the environment that surrounds it i believe i can take it to the next level. I would appreciate if you would just give me one tid bit of wisdom that you believe helped you more than any other so that i maybe could use it to help me. I believe you are a truly remarkble professional. and i am sure that if anyone could give me advice on being succesful it would be you. Thank you, Pat Pressly Hi Pat, I would say that experience it the best tool you can give yourself. Learning how to play on lots of different lane conditions and having lots of different ways to release the ball will help immensely. Coming out on tour is a dream that many bowlers (including myself when I was younger) have. But I wouldn't recommend coming out on tour way before you are ready. I would bowl in lots of PBA regional and other tournaments for experience. When you are doing well in lots of these events then consider the tour. If you come out on tour and you aren't quite ready it is possible that you may affect your confidence adversely. Keep practicing and good luck. Daniel Corsicana TX Comments: Dear Walter First of all I'm one of your best fans. I love watching you bowl. I also (if you don't mind) have a few questions. How do you prepare for you first shot of a frame? What do you do you stay focused? Thanks Daniel Golmon P.S. Also what is your favorite coverstock and oil pattern? I really don't do anything special to prepare for my first shot. I concentrate on my target while going through my approach. I guess I have pretty good concentration, but it doesn't seem to be as good as it used to be. It depends on the oil pattern as to what coverstock I like. For lots of oil I like the particle balls, if I need a little bit more skid and flip a reactive ball is good and if there isn't much oil I have urethane balls to help me out. Plus I can slow down and hook it a little bit and speed up and throw it pretty straight if I think I need to. Kimmy Beaverton MI Comments: I was just wondering if you counted something in your head as you made the approach to the line or does any song come to mind when you're bowling? Thanks I hope the tour comes back to Mi. Hi Kimmy, I don't really count or have a song in my head when I bowl. I try to concentrate on my target and hitting it. I have heard that we are bowling in MI this fall (maybe September). But it is not finalized to my knowledge yet. Jim April, 2001 Birmingham MI I just Started bowling 3 years ago and have fallen in love with the game. I have recently raised my average to 205 comp, and am bowling in 3 leagues in 3 different houses. I love the competition and am constantly motivating myself by bowling in better leagues and with better bowlers. I was wondering what motivates you. I personally hate losing and that is enough motivation for me. Do you strive to be the best or do you simplify it into trying to exicute one shot at a time. Also, are records important to you? would you like to beat earl's PBA career victories mark? I wish you and your family health and happiness. Good luck with your new hammer equipment and lets hope it works better for you than it does for me. good luck and good scores, Jim Hi Jim, Congrats on your rapid improvement. I was very similar. Always looking for good competition and the PBA was a natural progression for me. I think most people don't like to lose. But you also have to learn to deal with it when it happens (most of the time). I try to do the best I can at each tournament. I know that I am good enough to win most tournaments, but I realize that I am not going to win very many of them. Records are kind of important, but certain records are a matter of luck (doing well in certain conditions). Even if I were to get more titles than Earl Anthony it wouldn't be the same as he did it in 14 years on tour while I am in my 19th year! Thanks. Michael Bartlett TN Comments: Mr. Williams I am a junior bowler. I have been bowling now for 2 and 1/2 yrs. I am 14 and avg around high 190 and 200. I love the game. I have watched since my first year of bowling. I think you are "great". I have big plans for my future of bowling. My one real big dream is to have my name in the Hall of Fame next to yours. I currently have 4 titles and 2 2nd place finishes. I am at the bowling alley 5 out of 7 days a week. My dream is to bowl a game with you. I think you have a great attitude and try to do the same when I am bowling. Have you ever had trouble in the category of turning the ball or speed and rotation? This past year I went to Youth Masters Tournament in Akron , OH. I didn't score well ,but that was my first real tournament. Some of my future goals are to be on Junior Olympic Gold Team, Team USA, I would like to bowl for a college, and then the pro tour. My mom helps me a lot and she keeps me going in the right direction. I plan to come to the tournament in Chattanoga, TN and watch you bowl. I watch bowling every time it comes on TV. I usually record it. I watch bowling ever night. I have met DanaMiller-Mackie, and Dave Soutar. Walter did you ever have an idol or someone you look to in the bowling world? Well I think I am going to go bowl I am looking forward to your response. Thanks , Michael Hi Michael, It is great that you enjoy bowling. I think it is great to have goals, but I think it is also good to have a back-up plan which you appear to have by going to go college. When I was younger I enjoyed (and still enjoy) watching the pro bowlers on TV. I don't remember having one single bowler who I really wanted to watch as I really enjoyed watching all of them (as I do today). I hope you have a chance to watch the pros live in person. I do believe that bowling fans and bowlers would get so much more out of watching a tournament live as opposed to the TV shows. I don't know if the men are going to be bowling in Chattanooga soon, but I do know that the Southern Region tour travels all throughout the south. Good luck on your bowling. David March, 2001 Portland MI Comments: Dear Mr. Walter Ray Williams, How are you. My name is David Berry. First off I would like to say that you are my most favorite bowler in the world. I enjoy watching the pro tour and I enjoy watch you. You are an awesome bowler. I would like to say that your website is good and very informative. I have been wanting to become a pro bowler for a long time. I only average 200. I can pick up my spares real well. But my mental game and fundamentals are weak. I plan on attending Saginaw Valley State University next year, in which they contend with bowling colleges like Nebraska and Wichita. I hope that I can make that bowling team. Is their anything that you could tell me to help me or inspire me in anyway if so please email me back. I chose bowling because, pro bowlers care about the spectators and the fans at least I think and hope they do. Dave Hi Dave, Thanks for your kind words. The mental game is one of the toughest things. I should know. My mental game in horseshoe pitching the last 15 years has been very poor, but I do very well with the bowling. I would say that you need to have confidence. I would also recommend practicing on challenging lane conditions playing all parts of the lane. Learn to throw the ball fairly straight for strikes and also with a fair amount of hook. Hopefully the coach at the school can give you some great hands on coaching which I can't do here on the website. Good luck. Dominic April, 2001 AURORA IL Comments: This is my first time on your website. I found it through the PBA.COM site. From what I see, it looks cool. My son is 8 yrs old and LOVES bowling. He is in 2 leagues and really enjoys it. Just recently he bowled a 203 game (his average is 114). He has finished one league and is just about wrapped up in the other. He wants to keep bowling in the summer. My wife and I have talked about getting into a family summer league with our daughter (who also bowls in a league). My question is, how do I keep him from getting "burned out" but still let him enjoy his passion? Thank You, Dom Hi Dom, It sounds like your family is having fun bowling together. And that is one of the great things about bowling. Burnout can happen. Even the pros such as myself like to take a little time away from bowling so that the desire is still there to compete. I would let your children bowl as much as you can accommodate and not push them to bowl. If they want some instruction, offer some or get the local pro/instructor to help out but don't push them. Have fun which it sounds like you already are doing. Kevin Paris IL Comments: I would just like to say that you are awesome at any sport that requires you to throw underhand. I just have a quick question: Not two weeks ago my dad shot his first 300. Of course I thought that was awesome. Well not a week later I found myself in the hot seat with 11 strikes in a row. Now can you tell me how to get the feeling back in your arms and legs so that you can throw the final ball? I mean I was numb from the neck down. I tried everything to relax and not think about it too much. I just couldn't do it. I finished with a 298. I guess that is good, but a 300 would be better. Is there a trick you use that can help me? Another thing is there any award you can get with bowling a 298. I am 18 and in YABA. I also don't want to lose amateur status. Please help me if you can. Thanks for your time, Kevin Shewey Hi Kevin, Congratulations to you and your dad. Part of the thing about pressure, is that it affects everybody. Some people 'thrive' on it, others don't do very well. The easiest way to overcome it is to get yourself in as many pressure situations as possible so that you will become familiar with it. Try to think positive and concentrate on one thing if possible. If you got the first 11 strikes you should be able to get the last one. But if you don't, don't worry about it and try not to put yourself down. I am not positive, but I thought that the YABA had an awards program of which a 298 should qualify. Good luck. Vic March, 2001 Indianapolis Indiana Comments: Hello, Good to meet you, I've been a fan for several years. I'm 45, bowled on and off since I was 6. I'm bowling once or twice a week now, I'm avarage by todays standards, around 204. I've been reading your comments to e-mails, I think you're doing great with advise. I also have a question for you. I'm one of those bowlers that has had many 280 - 290 games. I just had a 300 last week and made it to the 11 frame last night, only to leave that ten pin. I got that weak feeling again. What mental pratice do you use when in the tenth frame. Or how does one better stay in that hot zone in the late frames. I think you know what I mean. Thanks for the tip. PS: I'll send you one of the 300 rings if it works, LOL.Good Luck, good job on the web-sight Hi Vic, You have asked a very tough question. How do you or I keep from getting nervous so that we can keep throwing shots when we need them? This is obviously the biggest mental stress we put ourselves through. Part of the answer is to get yourself in those positions as much as possible so that you are more comfortable in those situations. If you get in those situations enough you might be able to figure out what works for you in those situations. Maybe you throw the ball harder, softer, tug it left, swing it right (if right handed). So you might be able to make adjustments for your tendencies. You also need to believe in yourself. Confidence sounds like it should be easy, but if you think that you are going to fail, you most certainly are. It also would help to key in on one or two items like a good follow through and your target. Hope this helps and I'll let you keep any of your future rings! Roger March, 2001 Marshfield Vermont WalterRay. Nice to meet you at the Villages tournament as well as your mother in Law.I had one lousy game but pitched above my average in 3 others,good enough for second,oh well! Any suggestions on relaxing ,concentration techniques? Good luck in your future bowling and shoe tourneys. Have Billie Sue give you a taste of the VT maple syrup I gave her. Roger Hi Roger, On relaxing, I was once told that if you take a deep breath and then let it out right before you do anything, that will help release some tension. Concentration is a different thing. Everybody is different in this respect. When I pitch horseshoes or bowl I look at my target and try to concentrate on it. It might be best to not take too much time unless you have great concentration. While pitching horseshoes I look at the bottom of the stake. Good luck. Geoff Feb, 2001 Gahanna Ohio Comments: dear walter and paige; I just wanted to say I think your website is neat. My name is Geoff and Walter I want to ask you, when you make a tv show do you get nervous? Iam sure there is alot of pressure out there but it just seems that some players you included look comfortable out there. If you are nervous it doesnt show much. I watched the show today of the villages and Pete Weber poor guy couldnt buy a strike i dont think he gets nervous your thoughts on this. But keep hangen in there i am a big fan of yours and wish you and Paige the best of everything. Paige you look great on tv. Hi Geoff, Yes I do get a little bit nervous when I am on the TV show, but normally it isn't a bad thing. I would say that Pete does get nervous. But he like myself is fairly comfortable bowling on TV. But if you watch Pete closely his hand actually shakes a fair amount, but he still manages to throw great shots. In FL, Pete bowled very well, but those pins can be very stubborn sometimes. Thanks for your wishes. JoJo Feb, 2001 Fostoria OH Hey WRW you have been one of my favorite bowlers of all times. I always tape you when your on tv. But one thing I need help on when I am bowling at scratch tournaments, I sometimes tend to doubt myself, and my dad says that I still need to work on my mental game. I am only 17. Is there anything that I can do to help my mental game. Cause I know that you have one of if not the best mental game out on tour. Please help me out. Thanks a lot and keep the titles coming to beat Earl Anthony. Hi JoJo, The mental game is one of the toughest things to work on. If you don't think positively, then you almost certainly won't succeed. Learning confidence comes from practice and doing well. Concentrate on one or two things. I would suggest your target and a good follow through. Good luck. Shamus Denver Colorado Hi, I am a huge fan ! I would like to know some more (if willing)about how the best bowler ever lives day to day life. We often here about "Tiger" and how he lives. I would compare "Tiger" to "Walter" anytime. I think it would be neat to have a promotional exibition for a Tiger vs. Walter showdown on the lynx and the lanes. Anyway on a serious note how does Walter stay so focused mentaly going in to each week knowing he is the best without getting too over confident. He seems so humble every time on camera and on the lanes. Thanks for your time ! Hi Shamus, Most people would probably find I don't lead an excessively exciting life. When I am on tour I spend about 40 hours a week in a bowling center (sounds like a job). My wife usually travels with me and we do most everything together, we normally get along very well. I have a computer which I use a fair amount. I watch way too much TV. If the weather is good I'll try to squeeze in some golf. At home (off tour), it is golf, computers, pitch horseshoes, watch TV and few odd jobs my wife finds for me. Not real exciting at times. As far as not getting too over confident. For some reason my personality doesn't let me get too overconfident, because when I do I usually start to bowl badly. I try to not let that happen so that I still have the intensity and drive to make good shots and be as competitive as possible. Steve January 5, 2001 url: www.thebowlerszone.com San Diego CA comments: Hello there Walter, its nice to have a way to send you a message... I, like you, am an intellectually minded young man... That is my problem... I tend to over think everything and over analyze my shots... my friend and coach Alvin Lou (who has been my coach for 8 years, since I was 14) always tells me I just need to lighten up... I was wondering how do you get around not thinking about all the mechanical physics of bowling and just concentrate on the next shot.. I constantly think I can throw a better shot. Basically I do best when I can concentrate on one or two things. Mainly my target (trying to hit it) and a good follow through (that helps my accuracy. Good luck and please say, 'Hi' to Alvin for me. Mental Q&A [21-40] [41-60] [61-80] [81-100] [101-120] | ||