One of the things I advise people to do is to imagine everything that could go wrong when they are bowling in competition and write them down on a list. Then, over the course of several practice sessions, pretend that each of those “things-that-could-go-wrong,” actually do.
Could you continue to bowl and finish or would you give up in disgust because your equipment let you down? I hope you said that you would (and could) finish the competition because you had already practiced under each and every scenario that could go wrong with your equipment. Not only would that show people that you are a true competitor; but, it would gain many people’s respect because you did not whine or complain – you just shrugged it off and quietly did the sporting thing. Maturity and professionalism will gain anyone’s admiration for how you handled the situation.
Let’s take a look at my equipment, for example, and make a list of things I do once-in-a-while thinking of the worst-case scenarios:
1) Suppose something happens to one of my bowling balls? I often will bowl games using each one of my reactive balls and also my plastic spare ball regardless of the lane condition (oily or dry).
2) Suppose none of my arsenal works and I can’t bowl unless I use a house ball? I have bowled practice games using only various “house balls” I’ve taken off the racks just in case I don’t have of my bowling balls.
3) Suppose something happens to my bowling shoes? I’ve gotten some rented bowling shoes and practiced with them occasionally. Sometimes both shoes and oftentimes using one of my own with the other being house shoes.
3) Suppose I get on a pair of lanes where I absolutely cannot slide? I sometimes practice taking my approach without sliding.
4) Suppose the air conditioning doesn’t work. or the hand dryer is broken? I’ve bowled without using a towel, the air hand dryer, and have asked the desk clerk (when there was no one else practicing) if he could turn the air conditioner up a little higher and/or turn the ceiling fan near my lanes off. (NOTE: I bowled a tournament in Tucson, AZ, in the month of August where the air conditioner broke the night before.)
5) Suppose the best alternative I have is to change my steps? I have bowled games using a 1-step, 2-step, 3-step, 4-step, or 5-step approaches. (NOTE: When I returned from my foot injury 6 years ago, I incrementally used these steps to work my way back. Also, did you ever watch when the pros on TV had to change their approach?))
6) Suppose the pair of lanes you’re bowling are radically different? I practice using one ball on one lane and another ball on the other lane. (NOTE: This has happened more than just a few times for me in competition.)
7) Suppose you sprain or injure one of your arms and can’t use it? I’ve imagined that I can’t use my left hand to prop up my bowling ball so I am bowling one-handed (you “old-timers” remember Wayne Webb and Carmen Salvino).
8) Suppose the lane(s) break down while in competition? I’ve changed pairs of lanes in the middle of a game while practicing.
Are you getting the picture? Start making your list of things that could go wrong and adding to it as you think them up. It is not a list that will go away because you have to keep rotating the situations and continually practice them.
I often take a pair of lanes and “challenge myself” in match play. I pretend that each is a unique individual such as using different bowling balls, different approaches (4-srep and 5-step, generally), and different lines (1st arrow for one, then 2nd arrow for the other). I might even throw one as a 3/4 roller and the other breaking the wrist.
Once you start doing different things for your practice sessions, your confidence level will increase as you begin to get comfortable with the things that could go wrong. You’ll find that your tolerance level for machine and/or equipment breakdowns will be getting much higher since you are prepared for just about anything that comes up.