Slump Where You Actually are Playing Good?

[tashworth19191]

Before 3 weeks ago I was on a winning streak in league, I won 9 straight nine ball matches and 6 straight eight ball matches in NAPA league. Well it came to an end and I have not won a match since.

I have played stronger and weaker players and my problem has been they get a lucky roll on something, I run out and miss the cheese or the end up in nine with a easy combo because the 9 is setting in front of pocket.

Last night the other guy (better player) broke and did not make anything on the break or only made a couple of the balls after break in eight ball. He had to beat me 7 games to 5 games. I ran every rack I lost down to eight ball after break I would miss easy shot on eight every time. Then I played a weaker player in nine ball and I had to beat her 7 games to 3. I quickly ran 4 racks of 9 ball, then she made a combo on a duck 9 ball in the corner. Then she broke and made a ball and then had a 9 ball hanging in front of pocket and she made a combo. Then I ran out again and made a tough shot on the 8 ball in which I had to turn the cue ball loose to make it. I scratched giving her ball in hand on the 9 ball with it sitting in the hole.

Each scenerio for the last 3 weeks, I am just saying I am the unluckiest pool player, but wondering if something else might be wrong. For the last 3 weeks, I have made twice as many balls as my opponents, but still loose the games. Anyone else ever this snake bitten?

 

[336Robin]

Before 3 weeks ago I was on a winning streak in league, I won 9 straight nine ball matches and 6 straight eight ball matches in NAPA league. Well it came to an end and I have not won a match since.

I have played stronger and weaker players and my problem has been they get a lucky roll on something, I run out and miss the cheese or the end up in nine with a easy combo because the 9 is setting in front of pocket.

Last night the other guy (better player) broke and did not make anything on the break or only made a couple of the balls after break in eight ball. He had to beat me 7 games to 5 games. I ran every rack I lost down to eight ball after break I would miss easy shot on eight every time. Then I played a weaker player in nine ball and I had to beat her 7 games to 3. I quickly ran 4 racks of 9 ball, then she made a combo on a duck 9 ball in the corner. Then she broke and made a ball and then had a 9 ball hanging in front of pocket and she made a combo. Then I ran out again and made a tough shot on the 8 ball in which I had to turn the cue ball loose to make it. I scratched giving her ball in hand on the 9 ball with it sitting in the hole.

Each scenerio for the last 3 weeks, I am just saying I am the unluckiest pool player, but wondering if something else might be wrong. For the last 3 weeks, I have made twice as many balls as my opponents, but still loose the games. Anyone else ever this snake bitten?

I read well what you said and here is my take on it.

When you understand technically what you need to do, your feel adjustments are still there but they are only smaller.

When you are playing your game and going on feel sometimes you can roll tide roll and then the minute you need to think about what you are doing you seize up.

If at that point you had a protocol that would keep you in line you could shake it off go through your protocol, sight your shot in and when adjusted correctly shoot straight down the shaft line to try and maintain your consistency.

The minute you do that and it works for you, you will have gone that step up.

Feel can get scared away, you have to figure out how to get it back

 

[(((Satori)))]

What you need to do is make a post saying something good about Diamond products, CSI, BCAPL, or Cyclop balls. You see it done here all the time. What they are doing is getting in the good graces of Mark Griffin who, some may not know, is not really human but instead is one of the actual pool gods. The pool gods are in charge of the rolls and getting in their favor will increase your win percentage tremendously.

 

[Poolmanis]

If you play strong success will come eventually.
It's just happens sometimes that you play strong and still lose. That's pool.
I remember only time I played Nordic Countries Championships somewhere back in time. I lose both matches 8-9. I was up 8-1 first game without any mistakes. Then I made foul and my opponent ran out whole match. Second game I was up 8-0 then I made dry break and opponent ran 3 racks then play killer safety. After I miss kick he clear table and run out next and next rack play again super safety. After that he ran out whole match.. I never felt so ill than that day. Played perfect pool and got 2 and out.

 

[336Robin]

I have been corrected!

What you need to do is make a post saying something good about Diamond products, CSI, BCAPL, or Cyclop balls. You see it done here all the time. What they are doing is getting in the good graces of Mark Griffin who, some may not know, is an actual pool god. The pool gods are in charge of the rolls and getting in their favor will increase your win percentage tremendously.

I have been corrected.....yeah there is the "Roll God!"....lmao

 

[336Robin]

If you play strong success will come eventually.
It's just happens sometimes that you play strong and still lose. That's pool.
I remember only time I played Nordic Countries Championships somewhere back in time. I lose both matches 8-9. I was up 8-1 first game without any mistakes. Then I made foul and my opponent ran out whole match. Second game I was up 8-0 then I made dry break and opponent ran 3 racks then play killer safety. After I miss kick he clear table and run out next and next rack play again super safety. After that he ran out whole match.. I never felt so ill than that day. Played perfect pool and got 2 and out.

It does happen for sure.

Once I played a guy I won the lag, I broke and ran 2 balls and missed the 3rd shot. It was a race to 5, 4 racks later I regained a decent shot. I was down 4 to 0. I decided he would never see another good shot so I made the ones I knew I could safely and shot safe everytime I had a doubt by just leaving him very long and no good angle.

I won by using my head, you have to make the right decisions. This was a turning point in my game.

 

[Sealegs50]

Anyone else ever this snake bitten?

I've been in that rut lately. Playing up to my expectations but not winning against weaker players. I think I am remaining patient. But some frustration after the sets are over is inevitable. I wish I could help you (and me at the same time).

 

[philly]

Just a guess. I would say that if you are running tables and miss the money ball then some doubt is creeping in while you are over that ball. When there is doubt don't pull the trigger. Step away. Easier said than done. It's like stopping a backswing in golf. Not easy at all. Just step away, deep breath and re do your PSR. Really tough when it's between the ears.

 

[Tramp Steamer]

Before 3 weeks ago I was on a winning streak in league, I won 9 straight nine ball matches and 6 straight eight ball matches in NAPA league. Well it came to an end and I have not won a match since.
I have played stronger and weaker players and my problem has been they get a lucky roll on something, I run out and miss the cheese or the end up in nine with a easy combo because the 9 is setting in front of pocket.
Last night the other guy (better player) broke and did not make anything on the break or only made a couple of the balls after break in eight ball. He had to beat me 7 games to 5 games. I ran every rack I lost down to eight ball after break I would miss easy shot on eight every time. Then I played a weaker player in nine ball and I had to beat her 7 games to 3. I quickly ran 4 racks of 9 ball, then she made a combo on a duck 9 ball in the corner. Then she broke and made a ball and then had a 9 ball hanging in front of pocket and she made a combo. Then I ran out again and made a tough shot on the 8 ball in which I had to turn the cue ball loose to make it. I scratched giving her ball in hand on the 9 ball with it sitting in the hole.
Each scenerio for the last 3 weeks, I am just saying I am the unluckiest pool player, but wondering if something else might be wrong. For the last 3 weeks, I have made twice as many balls as my opponents, but still loose the games. Anyone else ever this snake bitten?

You got beat by a girl? What the hell is this world coming to?
Try practicing, then practice some more, and don't go around telling people you got beat by a girl.
By-the-way. What size table do you play on?

 

[Sealegs50]

Just a guess. I would say that if you are running tables and miss the money ball then some doubt is creeping in while you are over that ball. When there is doubt don't pull the trigger. Step away. Easier said than done. It's like stopping a backswing in golf. Not easy at all. Just step away, deep breath and re do your PSR. Really tough when it's between the ears.

I know that is the expected answer and it is what all the books on mental game discuss. But in my case, I am not having any problems with sinking money balls. If I can get there, I am in.

 

[ktrepal85]

Rolls are a big part of nine ball. They are a big part of nine ball that you can't control. And they are a big part of nine ball that despite what you think, go both ways over time.

Never get caught up dwelling on bad rolls. You just need to play when you have control of the table. From what you've said, you missed quite a few money balls and that has nothing to do with bad rolls. You just need to work on closing out. Had you closed out the previous rack you would have never given your opponent the opportunity to get a good roll or give you a bad roll. Keep control of the table and execute!

A good friend of mine is constantly complaining about bad rolls and how lucky I am. He completely overlooks the good rolls that he gets and always looks at the glass half empty. The last thing you want to be thinking about when it's your turn at the table is how unlucky you are.

Another way to think about bad rolls is this: Let's say your opponent misses and leaves you hooked behind a ball so you're kicking. You can easily get upset and kick wildly and sit down or you can realize that your glad that you have the opportunity to approach the table and possibly make the kick shot. If you do happen to make the kick or bank or whatever the hard shot may have been...did you really get a bad roll? After all, you approached the table, made the shot, and got out. IT'S NOT A BAD ROLL UNITL AFTER YOU PROVE THAT YOU CANNOT MAKE THE SHOT!

Stay optimistic and execute when you can. You'll be fine!

 

[Grantstew]

I know these slumps, they are not fun. In the past they could lead to a loss of form due to loss of confidence, now I just put them out of my mind and keep positive. easier said than done of course

 

[3RAILKICK]

This is a test

When you play pool, eventually this test of our resolve to keep playing despite unfathomable results, is administered.

Rather than consider it a slump..I prefer to think of it as a prolonged undeserved punishment for some unknown or misconstrued karma violation in the judgement of the pool gods..

It too will pass.

Watch for that first roll that stymies the opponent's easy out....the sun may be about to pop out from behind those dark clouds....or not. Might be the first of several 'teases' that are in store for us.

I think we can all relate to the unexplainable....maybe they're shooting some pool related 'twilight zone' episodes without our permission? Pool gods need a chuckle at our expense every once in a while.

 

[tashworth19191]

You know these are all good points, but after you have lost 6 straight matches and made the vast majority of the balls it gets frustrating. The match I played with the better player it seemed he would go three rails and the cue ball would end up just giving him enough room to see the shot, but for me the ball would have just enough speed to barely roll behind a blocking ball. Believe me, I have been playing long enough to know the difference in lucky roll and good shot. My opponents never seem to get a bad roll and I would get hooked every time on the same shot.

For instance, have you ever had that shot where a cue ball comes off the end rail to scratch in the side and you say to yourself, "I could not have shot the cue ball in at that angle"... I had two of those in the same night....

Oh well, I will keep shooting and hopefully next week win a match...

 

[2strong4u]

Slumps

Sometimes a "slump" is just a statistical anomaly. If you know you are playing well it's as simple as , sometimes you just lose. Other player gets better opportunities and sometimes the table just hates you.

At SBE I play 21 sets. I win 6 sets. 7 of the sets I lose when they were hill hill. It's like flipping a coin and getting heads 7 times. The odds are long, in fact to lose 7 straight in a 50/50 proposition it happens on;y 0.78% of the time! So for one to lose 7 out of 7 hill hill matches, it happens only 1 out of 128 times.

If I had won 4 of the 7 hill hill matches id have won 10 sets and lose 11, been down only one barrel. It's a brutal games, particularly on a 7 foot table.

Ever remember a night winning easy when you weren't playing 100%? Just as easy to lose when playing well.

Try not to worry about the rolls because the even out over time. Sucks to be down money when things don't go your way. If it was easy, everybody would hustle.

 

[ssbn610g]

You know these are all good points, but after you have lost 6 straight matches and made the vast majority of the balls it gets frustrating. The match I played with the better player it seemed he would go three rails and the cue ball would end up just giving him enough room to see the shot, but for me the ball would have just enough speed to barely roll behind a blocking ball. Believe me, I have been playing long enough to know the difference in lucky roll and good shot. My opponents never seem to get a bad roll and I would get hooked every time on the same shot.

For instance, have you ever had that shot where a cue ball comes off the end rail to scratch in the side and you say to yourself, "I could not have shot the cue ball in at that angle"... I had two of those in the same night....

Oh well, I will keep shooting and hopefully next week win a match...

You need to find someone who has exactly the same complaint/frustration and play a challenge match. Whoever wins will have the monkey off their back. At least one player will be happy. :wink:

Al

 

[Black-Balled]

You got beat by a girl? What the hell is this world coming to?
Try practicing, then practice some more, and don't go around telling people you got beat by a girl.
By-the-way. What size table do you play on?

Seriously.

Pool is obviously not the right game for him.

Peewee football should be next. I bet he tears that game up.

 

[arnaldo]

Each scenario for the last 3 weeks. I am just saying I am the unluckiest pool player, but wondering if something else might be wrong. For the last 3 weeks, I have made twice as many balls as my opponents, but still lose the games. Anyone else ever this snake bitten?

You’ve been playing for 30 years and have in recent years likely been playing as good or better than ever, overall.

That’s a VERY good thing and something to be happy about; few players in a general population of middle-age non-pro players can say this.

Keep this fact in the forefront of your mind and drill it in solidly to offset the present (and very situationally-understandable) erosion of self-confidence you’re unproductively putting yourself thru.

Forget about whether you should allow yourself the luxury of attributing the losses to being in a statistical period of being snake-bitten, or have bad rolls, or whatever causes of losses (which doesn’t get you anywhere, and definitely and increasingly will cause you to uncharacteristically miss easy shots and miss golden opportunities.)

Here’s a cure for you to try: It seems from your profile that you have 2 playing sticks. Switch to playing with the other one for a while and even have one of any of the new tips you’ve – like all us – probably been reading about), installed on it. Work out with it for a few short practice sessions. Odds are, many of the present confidence-erosion factors will mysteriously disappear from your upcoming league matches.

I've been there, and this often works like a charm. Don’t think of it as hoping to change bad luck. Consider it a competition-dependable re-invigoration of confidence in an essentially very high-level game.

Arnaldo