By a guy that I used to give the seven. This frustrated me to no end. I guess it is to be expected after a significant layoff. I am trying to tell myself that eventually I'll be back to speed but, I have my doubts. Todays beating is truly depressing. I just could not finish my outs.
I think losing like this can give you some motivation to hit the practice table.. play some players that you will make you 'bear' down and play.. NEXT time this guy will be the one posting here..
Hi Tom,
I think it's more of a mental thing with competing. In practice my stroke and fundamentals are sound. The hit is pure and I am confident of the OB's destination. When I match up I think I am not finishing my stroke, like I am afraid of hitting the ball or something. I am also aware of it and I keep telling myself to stroke like it's practice.
I know its got to do with getting my head screwed on right more than anything. After my beating I went back to practicing and the confident, pure stroke, and pocketing skills were again apparrent.
I agree, if you see me ferociously doing drills on Friday that usually means I lost my Thursday night match. Losing gives me more motivation than anything. As far as "the shot"'s mental state that's another thread and something I really can't address.
Wally
Scott E,
Sounds like you need to develope a Pre-Shot Routine that will keep all of your distractions in some other area of your mind.
When you start thinking about stroke follow through while you are down on the cue ball.. this is the wrong time to be thing about anything except execution.
Do all your thinking standing up.. all of it.. cue ball position, english, speed, op into pocket.. all done standing up.. The only thing you should do when down on the cue ball is your stroking and shot execution.
Tom in Cincy,
If I ever get a tattoo it will be what you just said in your reply to Scott E only reduced to some catchly short phrase like; Think up; shot down and have that tattood on the palm of my hand for quick reference [img]/ccboard/images/icons/blush.gif[/img]
Try this:
When you approach the table, always hold your cue in a manner that you don't immediately get down and shoot. Two suggestions: <ul type="square">[*]Hold both hands together on the cue, in front of you, and face the table/shot squarely.--This one makes you completely move back from the table, in order to assume your stance and lay your cue down.[/list]<ul type="square">[*]Hold the cue horizontally, arms extended downward.--Not necessarily better that the other, but I like this one, mostly because it's easier to hold, if I decide to move around the table to look at shots.[/list]
The idea is to make a clean separation, between the thinking phase, and the execution phase of the shot routine. Assigning a particular stance to helps.
Avoid walking up to the table, laying the cue on the rail, and thinking while bending down to shoot. Don't think about the shot (change your mind) while doing the warmup strokes. This is rushing the execution.
You are what you do when it counts.--The Masao
heater<span style="color: red">451</span>
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I got drilled today...By a guy that I used to give the seven. This frustrated me to no end. I guess it is to be expected after a significant layoff. I am trying to tell myself that eventually I'll be back to speed but, I have my doubts. Today’s beating is truly depressing. I just could not finish my outs.
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I saw this post when it was first made, and purposely didn't reply, because I figured I'd let someone else say it; but I think everything said so far misses the mark. You mostly answered your own question. You were out of practice. You got beat. Why so surprised?
In addition to being out of practice, you might have had a bad outing, your opponent may have been playing a lot during your layoff, and he might have had a particularly good day. Why don't you turn your loss into a motivation to practice and study books and tapes and/or take some lessons to improve your game.
It is an interesting phenomenon that many people expect to win just because they are pretty good at something. I find it quite amusing to see the shock and disbelief that some people adopt when I beat them. Usually, they have unjustified expectations of themselves, and have trouble comprehending how I could best them. Typically, they are not putting in the time and effort that would be required to beat me. 95% of players fall somewhere in between the extremes of the worst and the best players. There are tons of players out there better than you and I. You and I are going to lose plenty of times. If you don't, then your initials are ES or EF or your ducking the hard competition.
It's normal to be disappointed to lose. We all play to win. But it's not a rational cause for depression. A cause for depression would be if you could never play pool again for some reason, heavens forbid.
One of my current motivations for playing is to beat my younger out-of-state brother who whopped me after I pretty much laid off for years while he apparently was playing quite a bit. He got cocky. I got embarrassed. Now I'm pissed. I feel it every time I think about it. Next I'll get revenge. Then I'll be cocky. But I'm prepared and plan to pay for the pleasure with lots of practice and study. I'm taking no prisoners. Luckily, it's fun along the way.
I don't like getting chalk dust on my bridge hand so I switch the cue to my other hand after shooting in order to pick up and apply the chalk. In other words, in between shots I hold the chalk in my grip hand and hold the cue in my bridge hand. Then I keep it there while looking the shot over. This diminishes the temptation to jump up from a completed shot and jump into the next one without thought and planning.
Regards, JimS
JimS
"no non-chalantin at the pool table" Frank "Sailor" Stellman
heater451,
<blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr>
Avoid walking up to the table, laying the cue on the rail, and thinking while bending down to shoot. Don't think about the shot (change your mind) while doing the warmup strokes. This is rushing the execution.
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Could you elaborate on this please. My mind isn't getting the picture for sure. I think I know what you mean but......
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