Feeling confident in yourself usually translates to a free swing and positive results on the bowling lanes. That is how AJ Chapman is feeling right now as he strives for his first PBA Title.

In March, he earned a fourth-place finish at the PBA Odessa Southwest Spring Open. Two months later, at the 10th annual PBA FireLake/Grand Casino Resort Southwest Open, he won his fourth PBA regional title. And he just teamed up with Breanna Clemmer for a ninth-place finish at the PBA/PWBA Striking Against Breast Cancer Mixed Doubles.  

Before his recent success, it was what he saw after watching himself on TV while finishing fifth at the 2021 PBA Players Championship Southwest Region finals in January that led him to want to make some changes.

“I watched it and I was pretty upset with how I looked,” the 27-year-old admitted.

AJ Chapman at the 2021 PBA Players Championship Southwest Region finals

He knew his diet wouldn’t be a permanent fix, but he felt it would get him to a point where he would start eating better and exercising to get his body to where he wanted it to be.

“I try to hold myself accountable and to stay disciplined,” he said about his efforts to stay healthy. “I have used my social media quite a bit when I am working out to hopefully inspire others to make a change and to better themselves, too.”

Chapman, who now calls Double Oak, Texas, home, has even been approached by people who have read his posts and tell him that encouraged them to start exercising, which he said is pretty cool.

Since committing to his healthier lifestyle, he feels lighter on his feet, and he gets loose in the morning easier than ever before. He has already lost over 40 pounds and, as a result, he has also had to tweak a few aspects of his game.

He noticed he was taking his first two steps a lot quicker after he began shedding the extra weight, so he had to be more conscientious of that to make sure he was keeping those steps slow and smooth.

“My body was changing so I had to adapt a little bit,” he said. “Just let my swing be free and make sure I continue to use my legs.”

Those small changes have been paying off.

“I really do think that I am physically throwing the ball as sharp as I ever have,” the fifth-year PBA Tour player said. “I feel really good. I’m comfortable, and I’m confident.”

His confidence along with the other PBA players confidence will be tested beginning on Saturday at the third stop on the PBA Summer Tour, the PBA Jonesboro Open.

“Patience is the big thing because Jonesboro is one of those bowling centers that has a really tough lane surface,” Chapman said. “The scores have been historically low there so knowing that it is going to be a grind, I think my mental state is probably at its best going into this building.”

To keep his mental game strong, the three-time member of Team USA continues to re-read books that he first read while attending and bowling at Wichita State University. His two favorites, “The Inner Game of Tennis: The Classic Guide to the Mental Side of Peak Performance” by W. Timothy Gallwey and “Way of the Peaceful Warrior” by Dan Millman.

“If I am going to better myself physically then I should better myself in all aspects of my game,” he said. “If your mental game is sharp all it is going to do is make your physical game better.”

Mentally, Chapman knows the Jonesboro Open is going to require him to have a sharp spare shooting game and to take it one shot at a time. He hasn’t had much success at the Hijinx Family Entertainment Center in his first two attempts, but last year, he had his best results. He missed out on a paycheck by just 11 pins, finishing in 24^th place.  

With this tournament featuring the Marshall Holman 41-foot oil pattern on an already tough lane surface, Chapman expects urethane balls to be in play. He is positive that he is headed in the right direction.

“I just want to get to a point where I am happy with the way I look and feel,” he said. “People should aspire to get to a spot where they are happy. That is the most important thing.”