| Mental Game | ||
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Mental Q&A [1-20] [21-40] [61-80] [81-100] [101-120]
 Ray September 24, 2003 Honey Brook PA Hey Walter Ray, I e-mailed you before i was avg. 189-198 bt its been one year and im avg. 238 bg differents i just got my career high with a 778 with a 276-236-268 i had the first nine in the hole the first then pitched it out cause i was nevous cause i never got a 300 then the second i just couldn't string them then the last game had the first 7 then a 4 pin then a 7 pin then to the wall i was wondering how do i over come the nerousness cause i last week i had the first 8 and 3 days ago the first 7 again but i always after the first 7 i get nerous and then mess up alot of people more then 30 people asked me and told me its all in my head but when you want it so bad and you can feel it when you bowl alot of people say i throw one of the greatest balls then seen, and say that i have it in me to bowl in the pba, i am talking about people that avg. and been avg. 240-230 for the past 4 to 5 years i came a long way since a year ago but i want my 300 and 800 so bad but i get to nerous when i get close and i hate it how do i over come it. i been avg. 238 for 10 weeks now can u help me please thank you. Hi Ray, Getting nervous is natural. The thing is to figure out how to make good shots when you get nervous. I feel one of the best ways is to try to "get used to" being nervous. You do that by putting yourself in as many situations as you can that make you nervous. When you are able to make a good shot under those conditions, you will gain confidence and the next time your chances of making a good shot will be even better. The other thing is to be confident that you can perform well under pressure. If you think that being nervous will hinder your performance then it will. You need to have a positive attitude without being over confident. It is possible to perform well and not get the great results. Realize that it isn't the end of the world if you perform poorly and just try to learn something to help you next time. Good luck and congratulations on your great bowling. Sounds like you should try a PBA regional! Tim September 11, 2003 Seattle WA Walter Ray, I am sure your busy, but if you have the time I have a question for you. I have been bowling for about 2 yrs now and I shoot about 190 -200 avg. I am not compaining about myself, because a lot of people would like to have this avg, but it seems like I cannot get to the next level. At times I will go on spurts that suggest I can move up to the 200-210 range or higher but after a few weeks I come back to earth. I guess what I am asking is, How Can I make it to the next level? I feel stuck at the same place for about a year now. I practice or bowl league about 2 or 3 times a week. I wish I could go more, but with work and the price of bowling always going up it makes it tough sometimes. I just thought in your experience you might have some mental tips, suggestions, or strategies. thanks your help tim Hi Tim, Practice and hard work is how you get better. It may also be that you have a flaw in your form. Maybe you should go and see a local teaching pro. Expanding your game might help also. I would recommend bowling some local scratch and even handicap tournaments, preferably ones with 'tough' lane conditions. That would be another suggestion, practice on tough lane conditions so that you can see your mistakes. Practicing somewhere that less than perfect shots still go to the pocket isn't really helping to improve your game. Keep working on it and you will have the best chance to break through that next barrier. Good luck. Kevin August 25, 2003 College Station TX How do i get out of a slump i am haveing a bad summer.i finished the fall season with a 215 avg.718 high series.i stared the summer shooting 230-279 all the time but my mental game has gone south i am preparing myself for this fall league and for the army bowling team which is very hard to get on i have great physical game i can play anywhere from the 3 board down and in. to the deep shot from 28th to the 5 board and back to the 1-3 pocket i can do anything physical but my mental game is my biggest split. if you can help me that would be so awesome for me thank you for your time. Kevin Hi Kevin, It sounds like you have a lot of confidence in yourself which is a big part of the mental game. If you think you can play anywhere on the lane, then you shouldn't have much of a problem bowling on any lane condition. If you start to doubt yourself, that is the biggest contributor to loss of confidence and a bad mental game. Try to remember that you are a versatile player with a great physical game and those doubts will go away…leading to positive results! Good luck and have fun!. Darren July 20, 2003 Rocky Point NY Dear Mr.Williams JR, I been bowling since I've been two and I'm now 12 I loved watching you on television I have a special gift you gave me at the 1998 Long Isalnd Open and I thank you.I've been frustrated with my metal attitude because I have a tendency to get really negative on the lanes and give up.I am starting to get better last year because of my attitude I only averaged 163 now with my new game and attitude my average is 171.I was just wondering if you have further advice about the mental part of my game I have a great physical game but my mental game holds me back.Thank You for your time and goodluck in the upcoming 2003-2004 season I look foward to it.Your loyal fan Darren Andrettal. Hi Darren, It is hard to imagine that at 12 and averaging 170 you would have a negative attitude. You are doing very well! As a youngster you might be a little bit more emotional, but as you get older you should be able to control your emotions a little bit better. As a competitor, you need to have a little bit of fire in you, but you also need to be able to control it. I still have trouble with my temper and mental attitude after all of these years and success that I have had. Try and be as positive as you can be and try to have fun. Good luck and keep up the great bowling. Will June 25, 2003 Hollywood FL comments: When on tour and on T.V shows, and you REALLY need a big strike like in the 9th or the 1st hit in the tenth, what do you think of to relax, i have thought it as practice and i have just not put enough in the ball and left 7 pin for a 299 but i either have my knees knock or i just dont put enough in the ball. Also, what do you do about people who complain non stop?? Thanks Much, ~William Welch Hi William, I don't really do anything special to relax, but on any shot that I make I concentrate on my target. Try to concentrate on one thing when you have an important shot. If you always concentrate on one key thing then it will be easier to concentrate on that same key when you get to a "pressure" situation and that will help you relax. There are many people who complain non stop. I think it would be wise to only listen to part of what the complainers say and try not to become one yourself. Scott May 22, 2003 Seattle WA How do you stay motivated without burning out on bowling? Hi Scott, I love to compete. I don't practice much as long as I am bowling well. So the time off helps my desire to bowl. Billy April 28, 2003 Kansas City MO Hi Mr. Williams, I have watched you many many times on the tour and television. I am a huge fan. And I would just like to say you are an inspiration to me bowling. I am a 210 avg. bowler, but when it comes to the clutch shots i usually choke and leave either 4 or 10 pins. Any suggestions on overcoming the mental trips that I am having. Any help in this matter would be greatly appreciated. Thanks. B.J. O'Dell Hi Billy, If you are hitting the pocket, but leaving taps, I sure wouldn't consider that choking. Bowling is a game which isn't always precise. Only about 70% of the shots which hit the pocket strike, so it isn't always your fault. My main goal in those situations is to make a good shot and hope that the pins cooperate. Sometimes they do and sometimes they don't. Also if you don't happen to make a quality shot under the pressure you need to be 'easy' on yourself. No one always makes a quality shot in pressure situations. Not even the pros! Give yourself a break and just try to do the best you can each time the situation comes up. I believe that a good positive approach can do a lot more good than a pessimistic thought. Good luck. Stephen April 17, 2003 Calgary AB Canada Do you have a different mental attitude during match play as compared to that during qualifying rounds? Hi Stephen, There is a difference when playing the elimination matches as compared to the qualifying matches, but since I am always trying to do my best - it doesn't really change my attitude. There are some subtle differences in match play as there are only 2 players on the pair so the oil pattern doesn't break down as much. Which format might also determine when/how I might try something different and how large that adjustment is. Fisherman April 9, 2003 Wixom Lake Hi, just wondering how you keep up with your intended schedules. They seem a bit demanding at best! How do you keep from your right arm from going to jello? Thanks, Fisherman Hi Fisherman, During the tour season we get about 1 to 3 days in between tournaments. And during the 'off' season I get about 4 to 5 days off between tournaments, so I do have some time to relax. Of course I am also doing many other things which includes being on the computer helping to keep the information current on our website. I can't complain about my lifestyle, I am fortunate to be able to do the things that I love. And so far I haven't had any real problems with my right arm DORIS March 24, 2003 HELLO AND CONGRATULATINS ON YOUR 37th VICTORY. I JUST WANT TO KNOW HOW DO YOU STAY SO PUMPED UP FROM ONE TOURNAMENT TO THE NEXT? AND ONE OTHER QUESTION WILL YOU BE COMING TO MY HOMETOWN THIS YEAR? I AM REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AND YOUR NEW TRAVEL HOME I MIGHT EVEN HELP YOU CLEAN IT UP IF YOU DRIVE IT. I KNOW PAIGE WOULD NOT MIND THE HELP|. AS ALWAYS IN PARTING GOOD LUCK AND GOD FOREVER BLESS YOU LOVE YOU DORIS Hi Doris, I think it is fairly easy to keep your desire to win, but you don't want to become to comfortable with what you have attained. It doesn't look like I will be bowling in Rocky Mount this year. I am scheduled to pitch horseshoes in New Melle, MO this year on that weekend. I am sure that we will have a chance to say hi down the road. Ronnie March 23, 2003 Pleasant Garden NC Hi, Would you please tell me how you stay so consistant with your release point and ball speed. Also do you throw at a break point down the lanes or just at the arrows. Thanks You are the GREATEST Ronnie Hi Ronnie, I would say that my follow through helps me with having a consistent release and speed. I target at the arrows or a little bit short of that and don't really notice exactly where my break point is. Thanks for taking the time to write. Jorge March 17, 2003 Lake Station IN Hey Walter Ray, Congrats on such a great year. I root for you each time you bowl. My question is, Did you really think there was an oil or water spot on the right lane in the six frame, or just making light of it, because it seems like it sure stumped Brian, since he left the 7-10 after that? Have a great vacation with Paige. Look forward to seeing you bowl next season. God Bless. Hi Jorge, After the commercial break in the 4th frame of the final game, someone from ESPN left a special spot light on approach of the right lane. Brian didn't seem to notice as he struck in the 4th and 5th frames. I noticed the light, but thought it wouldn't bother me. I ended up going very light in the 5th frame leaving a 2 pin. I told the PBA officials about the light and they turned it off. After I bowled the 6th frame, Brian asked me about what happened I told him. He said he didn't notice and I made a joke about it. I don't think it made an influence on his shot. He had several strikes when he hit the pocket light in his earlier match, but got a bad break with the rip 7-10. Scott March 14, 2003 Seattle WA When crossing from pair to pair on tour conditions how much of your decision making is instinct? Hi Scott, I don't think instinct is the correct term. A pro makes his decisions based on their years of experience on the lanes. Gerry March 11, 2003 Media IL Hey Walter Ray, you are my favorite bowler to watch because your mental game is great along with your physical game. I am 15 and recently I bowled a 253. I struck all the way trhough the 6th frame but in the seventh frame I missed a strike beacause I was so nervous. After that I was fine and struck out until the last frame in the tenth. My question is how do you keep from becoming so nervous when you have so many in a row? Hi Gerry, Part of not being nervous, is getting used to being in those types of situations. The other is to think positive about what you are doing. I do get nervous, but I am fairly comfortable with what I am doing and normally have a good attitude about what I am doing. Michael March 11, 2003 Clover SC Dear Mr. Williams, First I would like to congratulate you for your PBA championship. But here's the real question: How do prepare for a big tournament or match? Michael Sweet Hi Michael, I don't really do anything special to prepare for a big tournament or match, however last week I did watch the other bowlers in competition and practiced a few times during the week. Steve March 10, 2003 South Bend IN Walter Ray, How mentally tough is it bowling on tour and how do you overcome this toughness? also congrats on the world championships thank you steve hartz Hi Steve, I went out on tour because I love to bowl, love competition and thought I could make some money. The 'toughness' is from the competition and the travel. I don't mind the travel and I enjoy battling against the other bowlers. It helps that I do better than most, but it wasn't always that way. It took a few years for my game to develop enough so that I was one of the better players, but that is normally the case with any top player. Geoff March 9, 2003 Gahanna OH Walter Ray, just wanted to say I really enjoyed watching you bowl so great this season. You and Paige have to be very happy about your success. I wish you much continued success to come and I know that you will break Mr. Anthonys record.I was really rooting for you, when you won the tournament I can just see all the photographers and news people wanting to ask all kind of questions and autographs galore. But you really deserve it you are so good for the PBA my wife does not normally tune in to watch bowling on tv but she did today to watch you win. Congrats on title # 37. Awesome bowling.Just one question I have for you, you seem so cool and relaxed on tv this was a very big tourney were you just a little nervous today or were you going to let it happen and what ever happens happen? Thanks Hi Geoff, I do get a little nervous when I bowl, especially on TV. But I also had the comfort of knowing that I have had a great season. Even though I really wanted to win, I wasn't really that nervous which helps when you are competing. Nick March 9, 2003 Freehold NJ I was watching the ESPN telecast of a recent PBA Tour stop on Sunday March 9th when something occured that completly astonished me. I am not a bowling fan but have been watching as of late because of it's growing popularity. During the match you turned around and hushed a couple of audience members because their chatter was distracting. Your sport requires a great deal of talent, this I understand, but it you must admit that at the very least it is just as hard to hit a round ball with a round bat as it is to roll a ball towards pins standing still. Like golf and tennis it annoys me when I see professionals lose concentration by crowd movement or noise while performing. In my eyes there's nothing harder then hitting a baseball, and when it's coming at you at 95 mph you have less then a half a second to react to 12 different things. Baseball players do this with 50,000 people screaming at them. How is it that a bowler needs absolute silence to do his job? It's little things like this that hinder these " quiet sports" from becoming more popular. Dont you feel more audience participation would expand your sport and in turn help it grow? Thank you for your time and I look forward to your response. Hi Nick, Baseball players play in a completely different atmosphere. The fans do make a lot of noise, but it is constant. It is a completely different situation when it is quiet and a sudden noise happens, I think that is more distracting. At the start of the show, I was making a comment to someone who was yelling in the back of the arena. It turned out to be someone who is almost deaf talking. I probably could bowl through some of the distractions, but I don't see why I should if I have time to stop. You might be able to do what ever through any distractions, but I would bet that you would rather not have distractions if you were participating in a concentration sport such as golf or bowling. Dave March 2, 2003 Chula Vista CA Hey WRW, thanks for answering my last question, it's made a differnce in my game. I need advice on big shots. In the past four weeks I've had about 6 chances to get 200 or better, something I have never done. The thing is when I need to make big shots, I get nerves and choke. Is there a way to get rid of this problem? Hi Dave, Everybody gets nervous. But it helps to have confidence in what you are doing. The more you do something the more confidence you should have doing it. Try to remember the good shots you have made and focus on those positives. Remember it isn't the end of the world if you don't strike or spare. Right before throwing your shot it can help to exhale. Concentrate on your target or follow through you will have. Good luck. Gene February 11, 2003 Melbourne FL I was bowling pretty good in my senior league this after noon.I have a 154 average.I was heading for my second consecutive 190 plus game when I got up in the 8th frame last game.I had been coming up pretty high so I moved feet about 3 boards left I am right handed.I was aiming at the same target but I dumped it in the right gutter.I threw a 10 pin spare. I got up in the 9th frame I was very upset with my self I guess I put a death grip on the ball and pulled it in the left gutter.I made another 10 pin spare.I marked in the 10th.Walter can you suggest any mental thoughts I can exercize so this dilemma does not happen again. Gene Hi Gene, Every once in a while we are going to throw really bad shots. We all have to learn to accept them and go on. The fact that you made your spares says a lot. The 3 board adjustment might have been a bit much, but I don't know for sure as I wasn't there. Dealing with anger can be very tough as when I lose my temper I don't think straight and am liable to do stupid things. What we all need to realize is that getting mad and losing our tempers doesn't really help the situation. Sometimes it is good to let off a little steam, but doing it at the right time or place is also important. Good luck on this situation. Try to have a positive attitude as that can help immensely. Mental Q&A [1-20] [21-40] [61-80] [81-100] [101-120] | ||