Technique 4
5
TIPS AND TRICKS TO MAKE YOU A BETTER BOWLER
DEVELOP A ROUTINE, AND ABSOLUTELY STICK TO IT
“Your body and mind know when things change,” says O’Neill. “If you keep every- thing the same, it’s easier to keep your heart rate down in important situations.” On every shot (including spares) O’Neill takes the ball and wipes it. He uses the towel on his shoes, wiping first the left sole and then the right. He takes his posi- tion, sights in the target line and takes a deep breath. “And then I go,” he says.
PREPARE. THEN FIRMLY COMMIT Two-time PBA Tour champion,
Brad Angelo, who now works with uber- coach Rick Benoit, teaches the mental cycle. Know what you are going to do, go through your routine, “then when you get to the ball return, get committed.” No second-guessing. “If you’re stepping up [and there’s some doubt], put the ball down. And then prepare and commit,” he says. Then execute the shot.
6 BUILD
A COMFORT ZONE In psychology, this is sometimes
considered a negative (called agoraphobia in extreme cases). But almost all of us perform best when emotionally comfortable. That’s why a set routine and knowledge of one’s physical and mental game is so important. Late in a 300, many bowlers hunker down, isolating themselves from teammates
and competitors. It could be a bad move, unless you relish being a hermit. What did you do before and after each of the first six or seven strikes? Do the same in the tenth. Stay as comfortable as possible. Duke confesses to being nervous in the hours before a TV finals. “I even have trouble eating,” he says. But when the lights come on, he feels right at home. “I love being on television.”
7
PUT ON YOUR GAME FACE: Two-time PBA Tour titlist Brad Angelo credits his “game face” for having the mental fortitude to win on tour. One sports psychologist calls it “the persona of a warrior.”
VISUALIZE Numerous studies have shown that repeatedly “going through
the motions” in your mind can boost per- formance. Vanderbilt’s Annie Plessinger says techniques vary by individual, but that since small differences “separate the champions from the mediocre athletes, an extra edge can be extremely crucial.” Monitor your experience closely, be- cause some studies indicate that visual- ization can increase adrenaline levels.
8
PUT ON A GAME FACE Angelo and Benoit call it the “athletic aura.” For sports psycholo-
gist Chris Dorris, it involves adopting the persona of a warrior; an expert; and Bud- dha (for being at peace with his situation). In any event, it is maintaining the aura of a winner. One guy who won a lot of week- end events always dressed like he was in a PBA tournament, even when the rest of the field was in tank tops and shorts. It just made him feel like a pro. Even An- gelo, considered one of the sport’s most serious players, admits he probably “got to the tour because of my athletic aura.”
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