Do you ever wonder what goes through the minds of some of the greatest athletes in the world? I can promise you it is going to be perfection going through their brains. How perfect the next shot will be or making sure everything feels perfect before execution. If you cannot picture perfection, more than likely perfection will hardly happen. You may have all the talent in the world, but if you can't back that talent with a strong mental game, your success may be limited. Here are some things to think about when making your next bowling shot.

1) Prior to your shot, be sure to do the same pre-shot routine, exactly each time, prior to every shot. Pat your hand with rosin, grab a puff ball, wipe the oil from the ball, dry your hand with the air drier, etc. In addition, in this phase, think about the exact technical mechanics you will use such as foot placement, hand position, target, etc. After you recall these technical requirements, go to the approach.

2) As you transition from the pre-shot to the approach recall a favorite song, close your eyes and inhale deeply. These steps will help your mind release alpha waves and prepare the subconscious for a quality execution.

3) As you set your feet, on the approach, visualize a successful shot in your mind. Take another breath, exhale and go.

4) In addition at home visualize yourself bowling successfully for 10-20 minutes daily. To begin, close your eyes and think about the specific bowling center. During this visualization, try to draw on all of your senses. Hear the sounds and imagine the smells and visual scenes that would be present in achieving your goal, from bowling your first 200 to winning the USBC Masters. What does this process look like? What does it feel like? Sound like? Smell like? Think about achieving your goals. Imagine the crowd. The more integrated all of your senses are in visualization, the more effective it will be when you actually are in the situation. The next time you visit a bowling center be sure to collect concrete sensory data for use in your visualization exercises. Commit to at least one month of visual exercise to reap a benefit. And, don’t be skeptical. Without a strong commitment, you will be wasting your time.

All viewers who watched this match witnessed an event that is familiar in sport. Year after year, we see a small percentage of elite athletes fall prey to a faulty situational mental game. Many recall the monumental collapse of golfer Greg Norman in the 1996 Masters. Norman went from certain victory with a six stroke lead at 54 holes to handing the title to Nick Faldo and losing by 5 strokes. This can all happen with in hours/minutes/seconds of a mental relapse.

To sum this up you have to think, breathe, and execute bowling as much as possible to get the edge over the next person. This will apply in any sport whether you are bowling, golfing, baseball, etc. Work on being mentally strong and the outcomes will be much greater! Remember to always Practice Practice Practice.