How Do I Overcome The Pressure Of Bowling For Money?

bowlingball.com, Originally Posted: 5/6/2015; Updated: 6/6/2022

If you ask how do I overcome the pressure of bowling for money, you merely need to do it often enough using the best mind-set to prepare.

If you wish to succeed as a competitive bowler, then learn to deal with the associated pressure that goes with bowling for money.

When you bowl in leagues, adult leagues, there is normally prize monies involved. If the money is not dangling in front of you each week, you generally do not think about it so handling pressure seems fairly easy.

If you bowl in a tournament, however, the payoff is normally immediately after conclusion of the tournament and the thought of winning or losing is forthcoming.

Finally, heads-up action bowling involves bowling against one bowler for all the money - winner take all. This type of competition is the most pressure packed of them all.

Bowling well for money is a preparation process; you must prepare your physical game and mental discipline so you allow yourself to perform to your capabilities with money on the line.

Bowling gets down to making one good shot at a time regardless of the pressure at hand. If you develop an ability to think only of what you are about to do each shot, each frame, then you give yourself the best chance to succeed.

You cannot control what your opponent does under pressure.

You can only control what you will do under pressure.

Develop the attitude that regardless how nervous you feel inside, you can perform well, make good shots, and can overcome your anxiety.

Any bowling champion at any competitive level, leagues, tournaments, or head’s-up action bowling, has learned the art of staying in the moment and executing the best shots possible.

This must be your mission as well.

One good shot at a time and avoid distractions or gamesmanship.

Winning is contagious and it is also cyclic. Some days you will outperform what you do on other days as will your opponents.



Before you bowl know that you will experience strikes, spares, and likely open frames but you will not know which order they will come.

Because of this, focus intently on making a good shot no matter what the outcome nor how much your stomach churns or how shaky you feel.

Remember, your opponent or opponents feel the same pressures.

There are those bowlers who endure the pressures of competition and win championships and there are those who do not.

The real secret is to make one shot at a time and avoid thinking too far ahead.