Why do I still commence with shots while I know there is a distraction?

Gogafem

Gogafem

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Happened yesterday at a local tournament.
The tournament is more for fun, but that's not the point...

I got to the quarter final and played against someone who was in monster form and kept running out.
I got to the 10 ball and 2 guys started talking while I was down on the shot. I realise there was a distraction and bent my aim to the right. I also realised that I had bent my aim and I knew I was gonna miss, but I still commenced with the shot...

Really sucks and it is not the first time it's happened.
Anyone know a good cure for this not-getting-up-to-retake-a-shot-when-under-distractions-itis?

Also, haven't been on the forums for a while, so hi to everyone!
 
We all have struggled with this at times for one reason or another. It comes down to concentration. You know, when your in the zone, a hooters reunion could be standing around your table and you would not know it. I practice a lot of the old allen Hopkins game of "bowlliards" as I have not only my personal average to maintain, but, always going for another 300 score. During this time, I also try to practice with tv noise, helps of course that you have a table at home. But, put on a favorite show or dvd that you know and practice while it's on. When the really good parts come on, your mind can wonder, I stand up and watch it as I know if I continue to shoot, I will hurt my score, then when that is over, I regroup, walk around the table, stand up at the shot, get my thoughts together on just this shot, make sure I step into the shot, have a solid bridge hand, and stroke it through. Can't say it's a cure, but, creating your own distractions and playing through it, may lesson the rictor scale effect a bit. Just an opinion. The first thing I can say, is, practice a routine when my mind wanders and I believe it's a walk around the table and performing the very easy basics on your next shot.
 
You have to have a routine and stick with it. The mental side of the routine should contain rules IMO, for example:

You can't address the ball and line up until you have the ONE SHOT picked out.

You can't drop into the shot until you can clearly see what you are going to execute.

You can't pull the trigger on your final stroke until you feel your alignment cueing and speed is a go. If you don't feel it, or you are still consciously contemplating an aspect of the shot, or YOU ARE BEING SHARKED, get up and start over.



Practice your routine and rythem in different situations, under a veriety of pressures and make it automatic.
 
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Gogafem said:
Happened yesterday at a local tournament.
The tournament is more for fun, but that's not the point...

I got to the quarter final and played against someone who was in monster form and kept running out.
I got to the 10 ball and 2 guys started talking while I was down on the shot. I realise there was a distraction and bent my aim to the right. I also realised that I had bent my aim and I knew I was gonna miss, but I still commenced with the shot...

Really sucks and it is not the first time it's happened.
Anyone know a good cure for this not-getting-up-to-retake-a-shot-when-under-distractions-itis?

Also, haven't been on the forums for a while, so hi to everyone!
Click to expand...


This is something you have to train yourself to do. And the best way is to *always* do it, even when practicing -- someone walks in front of your shot, stand up. After time it will become automatic.

Lou Figueroa
 
I agree with Satori.

However I will add my part. Since I am very much a feel player & have shot nearly every shot with some form of english for 46 years, I don't always have the shot fine tuned before I get down. So...once I am down on the basic shot line I at times will be tweaking it for the exact english that I want to use. Sometimes my feel says that a shot is not quite right & then when I tweak it it's a go. I really only get up & start over if I am totally uncomfortabe with the shot or... if I HAVE ALLOWED something to distract me. Not every time, but almost every time when my concentration has been broken by a distraction, I will get up & start over, but not always. If fact rather often, because I know I am on the shot 'good' I will just refocus on executing the shot that I have selected without getting up.

It's a mental thing. The bottom line is to never shoot a shot until you are mentally or subconsciously committed to the shot & are convinced that you WILL make it & never shoot a shot that you know you will mis.

Sometimes there are shots that one just can't get the level of certainty that one would like for some reason & we have to shoot eventually. On those I will get up & try to find whatever it is that is causing the doubt & even try to find another shot to shoot. Usually when I do that, I get back down with a new level of determination & focus & usually make the shot.

As I said, I am very much a feel player & actually do not have a regimented pre-shot routine. I see the shot. I feel the shot. I shoot the shot. If it does not feel right I don't shoot the shot, at least not until it does feel right, which is sometimes due to a slight tweak.

I hope something in here helps or gives you an idea for your situation. But please know as others have suggested that you are not alone. You just have to find your way of dealing with it so that you don't mis at that turn at the table even if it is to shoot another shot game permitting.

Regards & best Wishes,
Rick
 
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sheffield6 said:
yes, its easier to just miss, but the only cure if youre not 100% sure, is to stand and start again
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Without a doubt! Even when you are 100% sure, if you adjusted your aim by 'bending' as he put it, you should really stand up.
 
Gogafem said:
Happened yesterday at a local tournament.
The tournament is more for fun, but that's not the point...

I got to the quarter final and played against someone who was in monster form and kept running out.
I got to the 10 ball and 2 guys started talking while I was down on the shot. I realise there was a distraction and bent my aim to the right. I also realised that I had bent my aim and I knew I was gonna miss, but I still commenced with the shot...

Really sucks and it is not the first time it's happened.
Anyone know a good cure for this not-getting-up-to-retake-a-shot-when-under-distractions-itis?

Also, haven't been on the forums for a while, so hi to everyone!
Click to expand...

I do the same thing and then complain about it. I think I should find a way to train with people trying to distract me and then I will learn how to fade it.

I admire the Filipinos who play under all kinds of crazy conditions.
 
For game balls especially, I tell myself "I worked too hard on all the shots before this, to throw it away now".

Also, do you ever worry people will think "he's nervous!" or "he's playing so slow" when you get up?
If so, stop worrying, they're not the one at the table... who cares what they think.
 
losing did it for me. i played in many extreme places; loud music. crazy people, crazy drunks, alluring hot women, alluring ugly women, and the list could go on forever. besides the fact that i hate losing I also hate being ribbed by my friends and the players that i would lose to when i let distractions control the outcome instead of my ability. I eventually got to the point where u could yell in my ear, grab my ass, with loud music, and a fight braking out 5 seconds before i shot, and it wouldn't mess with my shot making. i would encourage sharking so my opponet would't quit. whatever method or methods u utilize to fix the problem u better get to work fixing it or the sharks will start to use it against u. good luck.
 
CreeDo said:
For game balls especially, I tell myself "I worked too hard on all the shots before this, to throw it away now".

Also, do you ever worry people will think "he's nervous!" or "he's playing so slow" when you get up?
If so, stop worrying, they're not the one at the table... who cares what they think.
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that was one of the things that used to go to my head, like if i pull up im acknowledging that the shark move got to me. Best thing ive found for me to do, whether its someone intentiontally doing something or its unintentional.....pull up and grab the chalk and chalk your cue while you look at the table and just wait for whatever it is to pass. I dont throw glances at whoever is causing the distraction, so nobody really knows why i pulled up.
 
This observation may help you to come up with some creative ideas to simulate what I'm about to describe with regard to the distractions/sharking: Over the years watched a cash/ring game at our local pool room involving up to eight Filipino players with half of them having girl friends there as well. The fascinating part was that each player would take up a fixed position at the table and would literally lean on the table as the shooter would have to move around them and squeeze in between for his next shot. No distractions for these guys despite movement, cash in hand and conversations going on constantly around the table's circumference. They missed because they missed. Most of us who learned to play in pristine conditions wouldn't be able to pocket a ball.

If you can somehow duplicate this scenario it's guaranteed to help your problem.
 
scottycoyote said:
that was one of the things that used to go to my head, like if i pull up im acknowledging that the shark move got to me. Best thing ive found for me to do, whether its someone intentiontally doing something or its unintentional.....pull up and grab the chalk and chalk your cue while you look at the table and just wait for whatever it is to pass. I dont throw glances at whoever is causing the distraction, so nobody really knows why i pulled up.
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A greenie for this geat advice. Reminds me of when my dad would say "Don't let 'em know they got your goat."
 
Gogafem said:
Happened yesterday at a local tournament.
The tournament is more for fun, but that's not the point...

I got to the quarter final and played against someone who was in monster form and kept running out.
I got to the 10 ball and 2 guys started talking while I was down on the shot. I realise there was a distraction and bent my aim to the right. I also realised that I had bent my aim and I knew I was gonna miss, but I still commenced with the shot...

Really sucks and it is not the first time it's happened.
Anyone know a good cure for this not-getting-up-to-retake-a-shot-when-under-distractions-itis?

Also, haven't been on the forums for a while, so hi to everyone!
Click to expand...


you havent bet enough money yet so it hurts, then you'll learn to get up off the shot. If it really matters, you WILL not pull the trigger. seasoning is what you need.

best of luck
 
Fatboy said:
you havent bet enough money yet so it hurts, then you'll learn to get up off the shot. If it really matters, you WILL not pull the trigger. seasoning is what you need.
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Wait, so you can only perform for money? Wouldn't that make you a, "lady of the night?"

Either you want to win or you don't. ;)

I like garlic, but it's not a social type of seasoning. Kinda stinky. Celery salt is more friendly but lacks the kick.
 
Ghosst said:
Wait, so you can only perform for money? Wouldn't that make you a, "lady of the night?"

Either you want to win or you don't. ;)

I like garlic, but it's not a social type of seasoning. Kinda stinky. Celery salt is more friendly but lacks the kick.
Click to expand...

its hard to play for nothing after a couple hours.

i like tabasco better than garlic. ;)
 
Fatboy said:
its hard to play for nothing after a couple hours.

i like tabasco better than garlic. ;)
Click to expand...

Oh I love spicy, but crop dusting is against gambling etiquette. My pride in winning does not have a bedtime.

Can I call you, "Ho! Ho! Ho!" now? :D
 
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