Playing sober, can’t do it

muskyed said:
Serious question for some of you.
For those that have a table at home to practice on, do you feel the need to have a drink to practice there? I almost never have a drink at home while practicing, sometimes I am a little shaky the first few balls, but most always goes away after a few shots. At times it doesn't, and I just quit and come back later to practice and all is fine.
I do occasionally have a beer while practicing when a nascar race is on, or the wife's packer game is on, but that's it.
Reason I ask is I most always have a couple beers when out shooting. Is it a crutch, a need , or just a want? Who knows, I do enjoy having a couple when out, but most always limit it to two or three. There have been a few times though on this new bar league that the wife and I started shooting this year. They are some heavy drinkers there, and I have to be carefull to not let it get out of hand.
Not sure what I'm going to do as we've made some good friends there. Will have to make a decision about that when league is over.
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I have a table in my living room. Hit balls every day but I don't drink at home.
 
Woodshaft said:
Cute, you'd be in over your head if I gave you the 6.
Get clean my friend, or don't.
Either way, substances are for the weak. I hope someday you and many like you can overcome your weakness.
I truly wish you the best!
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If you don’t have positive things to add just keep scrolling.
 
Woodshaft said:
Cute, you'd be in over your head if I gave you the 6.
Get clean my friend, or don't.
Either way, substances are for the weak. I hope someday you and many like you can overcome your weakness.
I truly wish you the best!
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Actually, it's the weak that can't handle their substances. Better stay away from from them or you might get hurt, bubbleboy.
 
Been something like 5-6 weeks now.
I’m an apa 7 in 8 ball. Last three matches:
Played a 7: lost, won 2 games.
Played a 5: lost, won 1 game
Played a 5: lost, won 1 game

This is going so awesome. I’m going to nationals in 2 weeks as and apa 9. Can’t wait to see how I do. Lol. 2 and out is my guess.

I either start drinking during pool or give the game up.
 
if you need to drink to do anything you are an alcoholic. and it will bite you in the as* someday.
get that fixed first.
and for weed, its great, funny thing is all the old guys i know that smoked their lives away seem to be zombies now.

thats your future. when you are younger you think you are invincible. then you get older and find out what you have to live with now.
 
cbi1000 said:
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.
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The most compelling story about dealing with anxiety during competition to me is the Rick Ankiel story. Addiction and substance abuse had more to do with the story than most people know, the cause of the issue and a crutch used to help fight the battle.

I may be bias because I live in St. Louis and saw this story unfold.
tubitv.com

MLB on FOX Films Truth Be Told: Rick Ankiel

“Truth Be Told: Rick Ankiel” gives insight into Ankiel’s personal journey of redemption – overcoming a troubled youth, high expectations, and psychological struggles.
tubitv.com tubitv.com
Check out the link if you have 45 minutes. The story has a happy ending and is revelent to this thread imo.
 
I like to slam a beer and a shot of whisky. Then I just maintain that level The rest of the session... Any more and you will get careless at the table or just stop giving a fuck. Specially after a long hard days work. But then who cares it's just league. So let lose if u want. Tournament same way but I'll just have the one or two and settle in to my environment then I stop for the rest of the Tournament . I can play sober in high pressure situations just fine. But sometimes a couple drinks does help a person settle in if there is alot going on around and your having focus problems for whatever reason.
 
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I started serious drinking when I was 17, drank for 24 years and it caused me a lot of problems. Although I gave it little thought, I suspect I felt I played better on the sauce but little did I know that wasn't the case. I recently celebrated my 25th year sober on 12-26-22. It took some time to adjust but I know I play better sober, no question. I had a helluva lot of fun back in the blackout booze days but am glad they're over.
 
cbi1000 said:
Been something like 5-6 weeks now.
I’m an apa 7 in 8 ball. Last three matches:
Played a 7: lost, won 2 games.
Played a 5: lost, won 1 game
Played a 5: lost, won 1 game

This is going so awesome. I’m going to nationals in 2 weeks as and apa 9. Can’t wait to see how I do. Lol. 2 and out is my guess.

I either start drinking during pool or give the game up.
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If I had to guess, your approach to playing now is to see if you'll play as well as you did before. You might be starting with a question, "how crap will I play today?"

When you play, try to watch yourself. It wouldn't surprise me if, when you miss a shot, you're already standing up, shrugging indignantly at your teammates and spectators. Playing like that is no fun. You're constantly measuring the delta between old expectations and results. Anticipating and pre-apologizing.

I also bet, after a couple drinks you have no problem getting your head in the box and just playing, without expectations and with sheer enjoyment of the game.

You might try being really careful about staying in the box. Try to keep quiet and not talk too much for a half hour before you play. When warming up, just watch what happens without expectation or judgement. Just let your body/mind see what it needs to see and fix what it needs to fix until you come into stroke. Try keeping soft eyes on the table when you are playing, and try to keep words out of your mind. If you find yourself talking to yourself or others, don't get mad, just slowly move your focus back to the table. The hardest part of this game is getting your thinking/talking mind out of the way. A couple of beers helps, but there are lots of ways to get there.

Best of luck to you. Your game is still in there. A Tito's rocks doesn't know how to play pool.
 
Here's an old man talking. Get used to who you are. Be yourself without a having a few. You certainly can play pool with a straight head. Plus...getting juiced up and driving home does not always work out.
 
GoldCrown said:
Here's an old man talking. Get used to who you are. Be yourself without a having a few. You certainly can play pool with a straight head. Plus...getting juiced up and driving home does not always work out.
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Yeah, plus it is a pretty major change?

Takes time to get used to something like that and you just do it over the long run.
 
RDeca said:
I like to slam a beer and a shot of whisky. Then I just maintain that level The rest of the session... Any more and you will get careless at the table or just stop giving a fuck. Specially after a long hard days work. But then who cares it's just league. So let lose if u want. Tournament same way but I'll just have the one or two and settle in to my environment then I stop for the rest of the Tournament . I can play sober in high pressure situations just fine. But sometimes a couple drinks does help a person settle in if there is alot going on around and your having focus problems for whatever reason.
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Screenshot_20220218-161407.jpg
 
Ghost of OBC said:
If I had to guess, your approach to playing now is to see if you'll play as well as you did before. You might be starting with a question, "how crap will I play today?"

When you play, try to watch yourself. It wouldn't surprise me if, when you miss a shot, you're already standing up, shrugging indignantly at your teammates and spectators. Playing like that is no fun. You're constantly measuring the delta between old expectations and results. Anticipating and pre-apologizing.

I also bet, after a couple drinks you have no problem getting your head in the box and just playing, without expectations and with sheer enjoyment of the game.

You might try being really careful about staying in the box. Try to keep quiet and not talk too much for a half hour before you play. When warming up, just watch what happens without expectation or judgement. Just let your body/mind see what it needs to see and fix what it needs to fix until you come into stroke. Try keeping soft eyes on the table when you are playing, and try to keep words out of your mind. If you find yourself talking to yourself or others, don't get mad, just slowly move your focus back to the table. The hardest part of this game is getting your thinking/talking mind out of the way. A couple of beers helps, but there are lots of ways to get there.

Best of luck to you. Your game is still in there. A Tito's rocks doesn't know how to play pool.
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Sorry for hopefully only a small deflection of the thread but I see the term "soft eyes". I think I know what you mean, on the other hand I may be totally in left field. Please explain soft eyes as used here to me or tell me where to read about them. Figured I needed a pointer or even when I get to the right place I won't know it.

Thanks in Advance!

Hu
 
ShootingArts said:
Sorry for hopefully only a small deflection of the thread but I see the term "soft eyes". I think I know what you mean, on the other hand I may be totally in left field. Please explain soft eyes as used here to me or tell me where to read about them. Figured I needed a pointer or even when I get to the right place I won't know it.

Thanks in Advance!

Hu
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Sorry. It is a kind of technical term in trap and skeet shooting. It just means a sort of general, wide focus. Sharp eyes would be once you've acquired a specific target and you are intently aiming. Soft eyes are when you are lightly focusing on a relatively large area waiting for a target pass through. Basically, soft eyes means taking in the whole table without narrowing into any particular spot or target. When you get to the table, and find a point of aim or other target, then you narrow your focus down.
 
Ghost of OBC said:
If I had to guess, your approach to playing now is to see if you'll play as well as you did before. You might be starting with a question, "how crap will I play today?"

When you play, try to watch yourself. It wouldn't surprise me if, when you miss a shot, you're already standing up, shrugging indignantly at your teammates and spectators. Playing like that is no fun. You're constantly measuring the delta between old expectations and results. Anticipating and pre-apologizing.

I also bet, after a couple drinks you have no problem getting your head in the box and just playing, without expectations and with sheer enjoyment of the game.

You might try being really careful about staying in the box. Try to keep quiet and not talk too much for a half hour before you play. When warming up, just watch what happens without expectation or judgement. Just let your body/mind see what it needs to see and fix what it needs to fix until you come into stroke. Try keeping soft eyes on the table when you are playing, and try to keep words out of your mind. If you find yourself talking to yourself or others, don't get mad, just slowly move your focus back to the table. The hardest part of this game is getting your thinking/talking mind out of the way. A couple of beers helps, but there are lots of ways to get there.

Best of luck to you. Your game is still in there. A Tito's rocks doesn't know how to play pool.
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Perfect suggestions. Thanks.
 
cbi1000 said:
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.
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Well, you're in good company. Take the booze and drugs away and the list of BCA Hall of Famers would probably be cut in half. It's your life (and death) and your choice --- as long as you're not breaking the rules. I actually prefer exercise and working out as a stress reliever, but hey, to each his own.
 
cbi1000 said:
Perfect suggestions. Thanks.
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You might also try playing at different times. Try playing at the beginning of your work day. For me, I'm used to being sharp and sober at 9:00am. I play fine sober in the morning. But 7pm is relaxing time. It's like trying to play at 1pm without lunch.
 
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