One Is the Loneliest Number By Jason Belmonte
06/08/12
I have not really had a proper coach my entire bowling career. I had lost faith in coaches growing up because of how they wanted me to bowl, rather than helping by develop and hone my unique style and skill. I basically learned everything I know from listening to bowlers, asking questions and through my own experiences.
By the time I was 24 I had traveled the world twice over, and I was killing at every event I bowled in. I felt things were easy for me during this part of my career. The lanes seemed were working for me, I had Storm's best bowling balls in the world in my hands, and a strong mental game.
So what do you do as an amateur after you conquer the international bowling scene? Well, you take on the biggest, baddest tour of them all, the PBA. My early success on the tour only inflated my ego and the belief that I was possibly one of the top ten bowlers in the world. I was a kid then, young and let's face it, dumb.
After my winning 2008/09 season, I spent the next two seasons in a slump. I made TV a few times, but no wins. What was wrong with me? Looking back, the isolationist tactics that had made me so strong in the past came back to haunt me. I was my own coach and had taught myself everything I knew but at some point that just wasn't enough.
My Own Island
There was a range of things I told myself to reaffirm the concept that I didn't need anyone.
"No one knows as much about me and my game as I do. Afterall, they are not inside my head!"
"This style is unique and no one is really going to understand how to coach it."
"The skills and issues I need to work on are obvious, if I can't see them they how important can they be?"
The list of excuses when on and on on and on. The reality was that I stuck inside myself and needed help. Even before anything technical, my main stumbling block at that point was mental – I had some major trust issues.
Opening Up
Being vulnerable isn't easy, but when I started letting others into my game it marked the beginning of my journey as a real competitor. It was truly friendship that helped me make the transition.
Diandra Asbaty was the first one to point out that I seemed to struggle with opening up. It was one of those moments where as she was saying the words, I instinctively knew she was right. It was time for a change. (editor's note: Asbaty is a long-time Team USA member, who has won numerous titles at World and American Zone championships as well as the World Ranking Masters and the Bowling World Cup.)
During the next six months, I worked closely with Diandra and Ron Hoppe (Australia's national head coach).
Because of our geographical differences, we worked remotely sending Frame by Frame videos back and forth, emailing suggestions and texting ideas. Ron was responsible for changing my pitches which enabled me to release ball so much smoother off my hand. I had never changed them before and he made the suggestion and immediately it felt amazing. Diandra changed my feet, balance, position at the line and many parts to my mental game.
During this time, I still had an incredibly difficult time asking for help, and I still had some fears (irrational I know) like what if their input made me worse? Of course, the flip side and more likely result of letting go is that it actually transforms not only your game but also your emotional life. At least, that's what happened to me.
This season on the PBA tour, I won 3 PBA titles, a live 300 game and made three out of the four major TV shows this season. I have personally experienced the difficulty of going it alone and the brilliance of sharing your journey with others. That being said, I encourage you to do what is sometimes the hardest things of all in this game – let someone in.
Do you have a coach you'd like to thank?
Do you have a story like this? Share it here
Do you want my coaches to help you – Look here
Jason Belmonte
Australian two-handed bowling sensation Jason Belmonte, 28, has won four Professional Bowlers Association National titles and has been named the 2008-09 PBA Harry Golden Rookie of the Year and was first runner-up in the 2011-12 PBA Player of the Year race.
Belmo is a two-time World Bowler of the Year and the 2011 Bowling ESPY award winner. He has won numerous titles on the world stage including his most recent title in the 2011 QubicaAMF Bowling World Cup.
Friends and fans around the world will be able to follow Belmo's career on Facebook and Twitter.
Belmo's Art of Bowling
Belmo's Art of Bowling
I have not really had a proper coach my entire bowling career. I had lost faith in coaches growing up because of how they wanted me to bowl, rather than helping by develop and hone my unique style and skill. I basically learned everything I know from listening to bowlers, asking questions and through my own experiences.By the time I was 24 I had traveled the world twice over, and I was killing at every event I bowled in. I felt things were easy for me during this part of my career. The lanes seemed were working for me, I had Storm's best bowling balls in the world in my hands, and a strong mental game.
So what do you do as an amateur after you conquer the international bowling scene? Well, you take on the biggest, baddest tour of them all, the PBA. My early success on the tour only inflated my ego and the belief that I was possibly one of the top ten bowlers in the world. I was a kid then, young and let's face it, dumb.
After my winning 2008/09 season, I spent the next two seasons in a slump. I made TV a few times, but no wins. What was wrong with me? Looking back, the isolationist tactics that had made me so strong in the past came back to haunt me. I was my own coach and had taught myself everything I knew but at some point that just wasn't enough.
My Own Island
There was a range of things I told myself to reaffirm the concept that I didn't need anyone.
"No one knows as much about me and my game as I do. Afterall, they are not inside my head!"
"This style is unique and no one is really going to understand how to coach it."
"The skills and issues I need to work on are obvious, if I can't see them they how important can they be?"
The list of excuses when on and on on and on. The reality was that I stuck inside myself and needed help. Even before anything technical, my main stumbling block at that point was mental – I had some major trust issues.
Opening Up
Being vulnerable isn't easy, but when I started letting others into my game it marked the beginning of my journey as a real competitor. It was truly friendship that helped me make the transition.
Diandra Asbaty was the first one to point out that I seemed to struggle with opening up. It was one of those moments where as she was saying the words, I instinctively knew she was right. It was time for a change. (editor's note: Asbaty is a long-time Team USA member, who has won numerous titles at World and American Zone championships as well as the World Ranking Masters and the Bowling World Cup.)
During the next six months, I worked closely with Diandra and Ron Hoppe (Australia's national head coach).
Because of our geographical differences, we worked remotely sending Frame by Frame videos back and forth, emailing suggestions and texting ideas. Ron was responsible for changing my pitches which enabled me to release ball so much smoother off my hand. I had never changed them before and he made the suggestion and immediately it felt amazing. Diandra changed my feet, balance, position at the line and many parts to my mental game.
During this time, I still had an incredibly difficult time asking for help, and I still had some fears (irrational I know) like what if their input made me worse? Of course, the flip side and more likely result of letting go is that it actually transforms not only your game but also your emotional life. At least, that's what happened to me.
This season on the PBA tour, I won 3 PBA titles, a live 300 game and made three out of the four major TV shows this season. I have personally experienced the difficulty of going it alone and the brilliance of sharing your journey with others. That being said, I encourage you to do what is sometimes the hardest things of all in this game – let someone in.
Do you have a coach you'd like to thank?
Do you have a story like this? Share it here
Do you want my coaches to help you – Look here
Jason Belmonte
Australian two-handed bowling sensation Jason Belmonte, 28, has won four Professional Bowlers Association National titles and has been named the 2008-09 PBA Harry Golden Rookie of the Year and was first runner-up in the 2011-12 PBA Player of the Year race.Belmo is a two-time World Bowler of the Year and the 2011 Bowling ESPY award winner. He has won numerous titles on the world stage including his most recent title in the 2011 QubicaAMF Bowling World Cup.
Friends and fans around the world will be able to follow Belmo's career on Facebook and Twitter.
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Belmo's Art of Bowling
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