On the Lanes: Make no excuses; take responsibility for your game
A few months back, I read a pretty sensible article written by Thomas Madrecki for the Bowler’s Journal regarding the fact that we need to have responsibility for actions at the bowling alley just as we do for the other parts of our lives. It is just too easy for us to blame someone or something every time we miss a spare or play the game badly. A lot of what Madrecki said is just too solid to ignore. Here is what sticks out in my mind. See what you think. Madrecki started by asking that if a college student needs to write
an important term paper but, distracted by friends, spends the night carousing amidst a sea of partygoers – and subsequently fails the paper – wouldn’t it appear obvious that he is responsible for his failure. Why is it so different in bowling? How much would bowlers benefit from taking responsibility for what happens on the lanes?
Examine the case of Randy Pedersen, who, while attempting to win the PBA Tournament of Champions several years ago, apparently was distracted by a spectator during a key shot. Failing to carry a 7-pin needed to send the match to a rolloff, Pedersen promptly yelled and pointed at the onlooker, blaming someone else for his lack of success.
Or, take the many league bowlers who, after failing to carry a corner pin or suffering through a low-scoring set, offer up the suggestion, “The lanes weren’t scoreable.” Or, how many times have you or a fellow competitor said, “I didn’t bring the right ball”?
Taking the above examples together, it seems that in bowling, lack of success is continuingly and routinely blamed on external factors. Personal accountability and responsibility for decisions seems not to be a factor.
The reason for this is that modern lane conditions, a bevy of equipment choices and a different cultural attitude all are to blame. It’s harder to perceive responsibility for an action if the circumstances surrounding that action are mired in coverstock options and the fact that bowling pins often appear to stand or fall by pure chance.
The reality, of course, is that every action in sport and life is directly attributed to the individual. “Luck” or “fate” play no factor whatsoever in either, because there is no such thing as “luck” or “fate.” At a physical level, bowling is incredibly complicated, involving rotating spheres and oddly shaped objects crashing into each other, but that doesn’t mean supernatural forces have a hand in anything. It is difficult to predict how pins fall – but they certainly don’t fall by chance.
But, taking responsibility might at first seem a tremendous burden. No longer can you hide behind the actions of someone else or “not matching up.” Instead, you are required to say, “Something I did left that 10-pin.” Or, “Something I didn’t do made it difficult to score well.”
If a bowler accepts responsibility for his disappointments, rather than blaming them on external factors, he is tied to the freedom either to succeed or fail. This freedom is an incredible weight, but it also is an incredible gift, offering you the unique ability to react and adjust to situations on your own terms. Although you may lose a match or leave a solid 9-pin now, you will have another shot on the lanes and you can welcome the challenge.
Taking responsibility for everything that happens in bowling, no doubt, is not within the power of every person. But it is something to which you should aspire. For in accepting that your failures are the product of your being and doing, you will come to see that your successes are, too. And with that understanding comes confidence – the true aim of all mental game instruction – and then anything and everything becomes within your power should you put your mind to it.
Want to become a champion? Take responsibility. Want to raise your average? Take responsibility. Want to become a better person? It is entirely on you, and you only, to succeed or fail, win or lose, rise or fall.
You make the choices. Choose wisely.
Bowling News
Uniontown resident Gary George writes a weekly bowling column for the Herald-Standard. If you have any bowling news, contact George, a member of the Professional Bowlers Association since 1997, via email at probowler48@aol.com or fax at 724-438-7290. Information is welcome from all area bowling establishments