Mental Game

Concentration and Routine

Use a simple repeatable routine to settle attention before every bowl.

Commitment

Once you choose the shot, commit fully to the decision and delivery.

Recovering After Poor Bowls

Reset quickly. Learn from the result without carrying frustration into the next shot.

Pressure

Pressure often changes pace and clarity. Keep process stable when score tension rises.

Staying in the Present End

Avoid replaying previous mistakes or jumping ahead to outcomes. Focus on the next useful action.

A useful pre-shot routine

A routine is a tool, not a compulsory script. It can help a player READ the situation, confirm PURPOSE, settle attention, visualise the intended outcome, align to the chosen line and COMMIT before delivery. Some players step off the mat briefly to reflect and compose, then step back on already aligned with the decision.

Confidence is not certainty

Confidence does not mean knowing the bowl will succeed. It means trusting the decision, routine, chosen line, chosen weight and ability to respond whatever happens. A player can be confident in the process while accepting that bowls are uncertain.

Recover after a poor bowl

A practical reset is brief: acknowledge the result, REVIEW what is useful, leave the previous bowl behind, READ the new situation and make a fresh decision. Prolonged self-criticism or changing several technical features after one miss usually adds noise.

Pressure changes attention

Pressure may speed up the routine, alter breathing, narrow attention, change weight or make a player unwilling to COMMIT. Notice the change instead of trying to force confidence. A simple cue such as “purpose, line, commit” can return attention to the present.

A realistic pressure example

In the final end with scores level, one bowl remaining and the opponent holding shot, the player cannot guarantee the outcome. They can READ the head, STATE the score and last-bowl context, choose PURPOSE, select a proportionate shot, COMMIT, and accept that the result is separate from the quality of the process.

What to notice and try

Did the routine speed up after a mistake? Was PURPOSE clear before stepping onto the mat? Did the player change their mind during delivery? Are they judging confidence from the result rather than the process? Can they REVIEW briefly and return attention to the next bowl?

Takeaway: separate the next bowl from the previous one and keep the process usable under pressure.