For a little update......I spent some time practicing this week (not as much as I would have liked, but it always seems that way) and tried to work on blocking everything out and focusing on developing confidence. Run some drills until I get them right and KNOW that when I see that kind of shot during an actual game to tell myself,""...this is just like the drill". Make the shot and move on to the next.
So, I didn't worry about mechanics. I didn't worry about whether my feet were in the right place, if my grip was perfect (although I've definitely lightened up on my grip compared to the past), etc. etc.
My practice time went well and I played in a tournament last night. Now, this a bar box 8-ball tourney with half of the players being bangers and the other half being actually not too bad. I'd say the top few are C+ to B- types. Unbeknownst to me, the best player in the place didn't even enter the tournament, but I'll talk about that in a minute.
I was playing well in the warm-up games and my confidence was up. I made everything I was supposed to, played good safeties when I didn't have a shot....and actually made some really nice shots that I knew would have a positive 2-way affect to them. I tried to make every shot mean something.
When it came time for the tournament this confidence carried over. I never once thought of the mechanics. I thought about strategy and the drills I had ran earlier in the week. There had to be a dozen times where I thought, "....hey, this is just like the drill....". Those shots just kept presenting themselves. Again, I tried to make every shot mean something and played nice safeties.
It was double elimination and I blew thru to the finals of the winner's bracket. The only stumble I really had prior to that was that I ran the table, and missed the 8-ball against one of the top players there, in the semi's. It jawed out on a moderately, rough cut and I was lucky enough to leave him without a great shot and put him out on my next turn.
I lost in the winner's bracket finals to a really good player (for our area). He ended up winning the tournament without a loss. I eventually placed 3rd and recouped my entry fee after missing the 8-ball on a similar cut shot from before (however, this one cost me the game and I'll DEFINITELY be practicing that shot a lot this week).
I stayed after the tournament and played the winner a few times and finally gave him his first loss....just for fun. But, for me it was a nice confidence boost. Once I beat a player and get it in my head that they ARE beatable.......they lose that aura to them for the most part.
So.......back to the best player in the house.....when the place closed, the bartender/tournament director came out and shot me 2 games. If he's not a shortstop, I'm not sure what one is. He's easily the best player I've seen in this area. Has a great stroke, tons of confidence and the kind of player that you do NOT want to miss, because he's going to run out or play a great safety. I LOVE playing people like that. It forces to me step my game up.
As is, I did beat him once, but only because he scratched on the 8. But, now that I know his skill level, I'm going to be buggin' him to play as much as I can to see how good he can force me to be.
I realize that this isn't usually the kind of post you see in this forum, but I do think that a large portion of my troubles have been confidence. I do my best to study the game, but a lack of confidence has always been a factor for me.
I'd be interested to hear some opinions about the mental aspect of the game. I ordered "Pleasures of Small Motions: Mastering the Mental Game of Pocket Billiards". I hope it's a nice read.
Anyway, I LOVE this forum, guys! It's the best I've found on the net.
So, I didn't worry about mechanics. I didn't worry about whether my feet were in the right place, if my grip was perfect (although I've definitely lightened up on my grip compared to the past), etc. etc.
My practice time went well and I played in a tournament last night. Now, this a bar box 8-ball tourney with half of the players being bangers and the other half being actually not too bad. I'd say the top few are C+ to B- types. Unbeknownst to me, the best player in the place didn't even enter the tournament, but I'll talk about that in a minute.
I was playing well in the warm-up games and my confidence was up. I made everything I was supposed to, played good safeties when I didn't have a shot....and actually made some really nice shots that I knew would have a positive 2-way affect to them. I tried to make every shot mean something.
When it came time for the tournament this confidence carried over. I never once thought of the mechanics. I thought about strategy and the drills I had ran earlier in the week. There had to be a dozen times where I thought, "....hey, this is just like the drill....". Those shots just kept presenting themselves. Again, I tried to make every shot mean something and played nice safeties.
It was double elimination and I blew thru to the finals of the winner's bracket. The only stumble I really had prior to that was that I ran the table, and missed the 8-ball against one of the top players there, in the semi's. It jawed out on a moderately, rough cut and I was lucky enough to leave him without a great shot and put him out on my next turn.
I lost in the winner's bracket finals to a really good player (for our area). He ended up winning the tournament without a loss. I eventually placed 3rd and recouped my entry fee after missing the 8-ball on a similar cut shot from before (however, this one cost me the game and I'll DEFINITELY be practicing that shot a lot this week).
I stayed after the tournament and played the winner a few times and finally gave him his first loss....just for fun. But, for me it was a nice confidence boost. Once I beat a player and get it in my head that they ARE beatable.......they lose that aura to them for the most part.
So.......back to the best player in the house.....when the place closed, the bartender/tournament director came out and shot me 2 games. If he's not a shortstop, I'm not sure what one is. He's easily the best player I've seen in this area. Has a great stroke, tons of confidence and the kind of player that you do NOT want to miss, because he's going to run out or play a great safety. I LOVE playing people like that. It forces to me step my game up.
As is, I did beat him once, but only because he scratched on the 8. But, now that I know his skill level, I'm going to be buggin' him to play as much as I can to see how good he can force me to be.
I realize that this isn't usually the kind of post you see in this forum, but I do think that a large portion of my troubles have been confidence. I do my best to study the game, but a lack of confidence has always been a factor for me.
I'd be interested to hear some opinions about the mental aspect of the game. I ordered "Pleasures of Small Motions: Mastering the Mental Game of Pocket Billiards". I hope it's a nice read.
Anyway, I LOVE this forum, guys! It's the best I've found on the net.
