Tackling Your Weaknesses – Part 2

Last month, I dealt with improving the mental game to help Active Volcanoes. This month, it’s time to deal with the Blind Squirrels. Blind Squirrels are bowlers whose physical and mental games are reasonably sound, while their tactical approach to the game is somewhat lacking.

While several books have been written about the mental side of sports and many others about the physical techniques related to bowling, there is less available literature on the tactics of the game. For many, this magazine is a primary source for information on lane breakdown, transition, and oil patterns.

This month, in hopes of improving the lives of Blind Squirrels everywhere, I want to discuss not only ways to help, but the reasons behind commonly made tactical mistakes. You may remember in my series about staying lined up (January to May 2011) that tactical errors basically stem from two causes:

• Incorrect or irrelevant information or a shortage of information
• Illogical or mistaken conclusions based on correct information

“If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.”
—Wayne Dyer

Gathering information for successful decision-making

In bowling, it is impossible to gather 100 percent of the relevant information. The best decision-makers are ones who cannot only analyze the information they have but work intuitively to make the best decision possible.

For example, after throwing only one ball on a new lane that hooks less, you can’t necessarily distinguish between more oil on the lane or a different topography, but if you’re looking for the right things, you can improve your chances of making the right move. The first thing to figure out is where to look. We’ll start working backward.

The pin deck

Many bowlers who aren’t as acquainted with ball motion will throw the ball, watch it pass over (or near) the target, and then wait for the ball to hit the pins to see the result. If all you’re looking for is the result, ...