Where is Your Next Level?

I’m often approached by bowlers who tell me they want to get to the next level. What is the next level, anyway? It can be many things to many bowlers, but since BTM focuses on higher average bowlers, I’m going to direct this article to bowlers who average at least 180. While the advice will benefit bowlers in this average range, much of it will also help bowlers with lower averages.

To reach the next level, whatever that may be for you, you need to ask yourself three questions:

• Where am I now?
• Where do I want to be?
• What am I willing to do to get there?

All three questions require honest responses. Bowlers often lie to themselves regarding their own abilities. These bowlers always find something to blame when things don’t go the way they want them to. When they get beaten by a bowler with a lower average on a particularly uneven pair, it’s the lane’s fault. When they can’t play their usual line, it’s the center’s fault. When they miss a single pin corner spare, they look down at the approach as if it’s the approach’s fault.

Before you can advance to your next level, you have to be honest with yourself. Are you happy averaging 230 as long as you only bowl on the easy pairs on a house shot? Are you happy congratulating yourself on your 220 average, but avoid bowling in any event that is to be contested on a tough pattern? Are you happy having the league high average of 210 in a handicapped league where most bowlers average under 180? If you can answer yes to any of these questions, read no further. If, however, you can honestly answer that you are not satisfied with where you are, then you need to define where you want ...