Expert: Chip Aki - 3/5/2006

Question
I have a 15yr old son who gets very close at times bowling a 300 game. When he rolls 7-8 in a row he then gets nervous knowing that he is close. Any suggestions to help keep him calm during the excitment?
Thanks

Answer
I still get nervous when I have a chance to shoot 300, but with experience, you will start to recognize your tendancies when you get nervous.  I know I tend to get fast, so I concentrate on staying slow.  Having said that, I had 3 297s before I ever shot 300.

It is hard to not look at the game as a whole, but taking each strike as its own event will help.  I would imagine there have been time he has thrown 12 in a row, just not in the same game.

Just take a deep breath or two and do the same pre-shot routine on every ball.  That way, it wont matter if it is for a double or 20 in a row, each shot will start the same.

Good luck,
Chip