Playing sober, can’t do it

cbi1000

cbi1000

It is what it is...
Silver Member
Once again I gave it a go playing sober. See I have APA singles nationals coming up and figured it would do me some good to play without drinking. Long days of playing don’t go very with long days of drinking.
Well it’s been 6 weeks and I have never played so bad. I’m a skill level 9 and the last six weeks I’m playing at a SL 5 at best.
My body just wants to fight itself the entire match. Need to hit the ball hard, nope, both will freeze up halfway through the stroke and I’ll do something stupid like miss cue.
F this, going back to drinking. This is the most frustrated pool time period I’ve ever experienced.
 
Question...we're any of the times you've tried playing sober a whole day tourney? Or on a league night, particularly after having worked all day then going to play after?

I only ask because I've been thru similar scenarios. (Not at your level of play, tho) Not to make excuses, but sometimes life gets complicated and then trying to play competitively after a long day...having a drink is...helpful to unwind.

I have played in a tournament setting, where that's all I was doing that day, and didn't drink, and didn't notice it as much.

I don't pretend to have an answer. I don't know that I play better while drinking. But I do know that I play worse when I have higher than usual stress levels, when life happens.
 
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justadub said:
Question...we're any of the times you've tried playing sober a whole day tourney? Or on a league night, particularly after having worked all day then going to play after?

I only ask because I've been thru similar scenarios. (Not at your level of play, tho) Not to make excuses, but sometimes life gets complicated and then trying to play competitively after a long day...having a drink is...helpful to unwind.

I have played in a tournament setting, where that's all I was doing that day, and didn't drink, and didn't notice it as much.
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Yep, I play league 2 night a week and it’s been a total poop show.

I need 2-3 drinks in me to get into stroke. Other than that I play stupid bad. Tonight was pitiful.
 
cbi1000 said:
Yep, I play league 2 night a week and it’s been a total poop show.

I need 2-3 drinks in me to get into stroke. Other than that I play stupid bad. Tonight was pitiful.
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I'm not surprised. I'm betting that when you do get to Vegas, you won't "need" to drink to play, or as much. You'll be focused on the pool, not the real world that happened all day before playing.
 
justadub said:
I'm not surprised. I'm betting that when you do get to Vegas, you won't "need" to drink to play, or as much. You'll be focused on the pool, not the real world that happened all day before playing.
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I’m not sure. When I have a few drinks the mind goes quiet and I just play. Playing with no drinks leads to brain chatter and body just fighting. I can’t strike the ball. Like for real. Object ball 3 diamonds away from cue ball, I can’t draw that ball back 3 diamonds or follow 3 diamonds. Soft shots I can do, medium power on up goes to total crap. It’s just not worth it. I’d rather win and deal with trying to have the correct level of buzz for hours.
 
cbi1000 said:
I’m not sure. When I have a few drinks the mind goes quiet and I just play. Playing with no drinks leads to brain chatter and body just fighting. I can’t strike the ball. Like for real. Object ball 3 diamonds away from cue ball, I can’t draw that ball back 3 diamonds or follow 3 diamonds. Soft shots I can do, medium power on up goes to total crap. It’s just not worth it. I’d rather win and deal with trying to have the correct level of buzz for hours.
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I`m with you on this. A few drinks while I`m shooting is stress release for me. I don`t think, I don`t hear anything (even if the junk box is blaring) its like being in a zone for me. If it makes you comfortable, go for it. Hope this helps in some way. Best of luck nationals
 
The first six months was pretty shaky, quite literally for me when I quit drinking. The ol pool game suffered for sure. Kind of had to relearn in a sense. Recondition things I suppose.

I really dislike drinking. But it is a good time to shoot some pool with a buzz rolling for sure. I like to eat a fistful of edibles. Let the good times roll and no hangovers for this guy.
 
C'mon, people.

It is 5am. You can't be tempting me already, I got shit to do!
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I started playing pool around 8 years old. Played everyday and became extremely good. Around 17 I started drinking and found the more I drank the better I played. This became the norm and I even made money doing it as I would start off playing nervous and my opponents would think they had the upper hand. The bets would increase and so would my booze. But I had a high tolerance and would end up beating them badly. I was a hustler without even having to try. Unfortunately, around 21 I stopped playing but kept on drinking for the next 25 years. 4 years ago I was hospitalized 4 times due to severe withdrawl. The last one was the final straw as I could've died. Been sober since and also started playing again 2 years ago. My skill level is quite high now as I can put in about 15-20 hours per week (I have a GC1 in the basement) but my biggest battle has been my nerves when competing. Booze was always my comfort. The good news is that I've finally realized booze isn't necessary to battle the nerves. Focus and proper breathing among other things really help. Honestly, nothing feels better than destroying a strong player with something on the line and doing it dead sober.
 
I think you people that say they can't play "Sober" are giving a piss poor excuse. I hear the same damn excuse every time "I can't deal with my nerves". Suck it up and learn to deal with nerves like the rest of us. We all have to deal with nerves, that's how we know we are alive.
 
I am the opposite. When I play league or a tournament, I don't drink until I'm done. My concentration, reflexes, and eyesight/targeting are just not the same for me. As mentioned by a few above, I have learned how to deal with my nerves while sober.

To all of this I say, to each his own!
 
Zerksies said:
I think you people that say they can't play "Sober" are giving a piss poor excuse. I hear the same damn excuse every time "I can't deal with my nerves". Suck it up and learn to deal with nerves like the rest of us. We all have to deal with nerves, that's how we know we are alive.
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Maybe you don't have a high stress job like some other people do. I have a hard time winding down after work too. On weekends it's no problem.
 
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