06/03/2026
Advanced Lane Play Week 3
Today’s topic, Mental Game.
The mental game is what separates the good bowlers from the elite bowlers. If anyone knows me, during my high school career, I wasn’t the most calm person. Going into this classroom session I can proudly say that my mental game had gotten so much better and it’s stronger than ever. We learned about the ways to handle ourselves and to better ourselves through techniques. Bowling on the pattern we are, it looks difficult from the low ratio, but playing it, it wasn’t too bad. I kept up with spares and minimized open frames. The two words that have helped me be a better bowler in the past year are “Be goldfish.”
First 2 Games
This pattern challenges speed heavily. Going with Mo’s Theory, my break point is around 3. Babying my Roto Grip Gem up the gutter gave it all the time it needed to come slam pocket. If I got fast, it skids, if I got left, it went high. I went 203, 236 for the first two games.
Discussion
Our discussion was more about ball speed and playing the correct part of the lane. I was in the right place and had the right speed that the shot demanded, keeping it slow and letting the ball go up the gutter and letting it rip into the pocket. The mental part, knowing what to do with the conditions brought to you. If something changes how are you going to react to it.
Last 2 Games
First game was solid shooting 229 with a 2-2 move left. Going onto the next pair for game four, something weird comes up. One lanes hooks and the other doesn’t. I opened in the second frame on the more blown up lane but one open doesn’t affect the rest of the game. I proceded to have trouble on that lane for the rest of the game. Although I did not open again, I wasn’t hitting pocket the right way. For the last frame I changed my approach. I moved a 1-1 left and slowed everything down, I struck out the tenth for 208. 876 for four games.
What I Have Learned
Being mentally strong is one of the biggest keys to overcoming a tough pattern and tough opponents. Handling adversity when things don’t go your way is very difficult. Being able to look at the challenge in front of you and attack it with confidence every shot is not for the weak. The last game when I couldn’t strike on one lane was tough. Looking at that lane going into the tenth I knew I had to strike twice to go plus. Calmly finding a different way to approach the lane and executing the shot, striking out the tenth frame. If you can’t find a way to stay in the game mentally to give yourself the best shot, then why are you there in the first place.
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