A quandry with my game

justadub

justadub

Rattling corners nightly
Silver Member
I've had something happen twice in the last few weeks, and while it is interesting, I want to see if I can come up with an alternative, and get the same results.

Drinking. A little. I've had two matches recently, where I've had a little bit to drink before hand. Not in the realm if being drunk, but on the low end of beginning a little buzz. And I played great.

After the first time, I told myself that folks can catch a gear under all kinds of conditions, and that was a fortunate turn for me. Then last night, I had a little more than I would usually, as I didn't expect to be playing. Still, just a slight buzz, nothing stupid or sloppy. And I played as well as I have in a long time. Also, once the match started, I went back to just nursing one beer while I played, and had some left when it was done. I didn't keep adding to the buzz...it played itself out.

Here's the quandary. I don't believe for a minute that the drinking is making me play better, and that it will cause more problems over all. I usually nurse one beer till the match is over, then I can have more if the situation warrants.

So I'm trying to sort it out. My theory is that I was loose and relaxed, and most importantly, NOT over thinking things. I was still focused, and wasn't noticing outside distractions as much. All good stuff.

How do I achieve this without drinking before playing? Wow, its perplexing. I wanted to keep playing once the match was over, I was doing so well (for me). I sure cant set myself up to play that way all the time, and an all day tourney would be a disaster. League night every once in a while is all well and good, but its no way to play all the time.

Suggestions?
 
Being loose helps in a lot of ways.

You could sustain a little glow all day. You knock down two drinks for a blood alcohol level of .04. You will drop ~.02 every hour, so if you nurse one beverage every hour you will maintain that level.

Just stay away from shots! :thumbup:
 
I typically don't drink at all, and I'm never as good as when I practice. When I practice I do things that surprise myself. Now, typically I don't drink, but every now and then I will knock one back on a league night, low end buzz, like you. I think it makes me a little fearless. Without the cocktail I don't think I have the confidence to do what I can at the practice table. The liquid courage seems to help sometimes. I react more from reflex than from clear thought. If you're like me at all you over think alot of things at the table, but when I just play, I'm pretty good. Try to just play, no pressure, no fear. I know that can be a tall order but see if you can just react without thinking to much
 
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DoubleD said:
I don't think drinking makes a person worse, and it may make a person better.

You are basing your data on a little extra alcohol in two matches. Not really a good sample.

When I quit drinking a year ago, my game went downhill for a while.
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I'm the same way. I play a lot better when I drink. Well, I shoot a lot better, but if I get too wasted I start getting brave when I should play safe and my overall game goes down.

Drinking not only relaxes me, I think it also calms my eyes so I can stay focused on the shot easier. Worst thing is getting all caffeined up because my eyes get all jittery feeling. I'm a pretty beefy guy, so I need at least 3-4 shots to get there. After that, I'll maintain my edge by sipping beer.
 
justadub said:
a little buzz. And I played great.
My theory is that I was loose and relaxed, and NOT over thinking things.
Suggestions?
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its well known a light buzz can help many people relax, & stop over-thinking, which can lead to noticeable improvement.

I would add that the light buzz could be more than just "mental", it may be relaxing some of your muscles that are negatively affecting your stroke....

In the long run, you want to figure out how the buzz is "helping" you, and learn to get the same results without the buzz. In other words the buzz is not really improving your game, its letting your game come out. Something you do while NOT buzzed is holding you back. I hope your experiment unlocks the secret for you.

Best of luck
 
michael4 said:
its well known a light buzz can help many people relax, & stop over-thinking, which can lead to noticeable improvement.

I would add that the light buzz could be more than just "mental", it may be relaxing some of your muscles that are negatively affecting your stroke....

In the long run, you want to figure out how the buzz is "helping" you, and learn to get the same results without the buzz. In other words the buzz is not really improving your game, its letting your game come out. Something you do while NOT buzzed is holding you back. I hope your experiment unlocks the secret for you.

Best of luck
Click to expand...

That makes a lot of sense.

I just would like to get to that point without needing the drink to get those results. Although my brief meetings with Mr. Daniels are rather enjoyable :-)
 
Try finding music that puts you in relaxed mood put it on just be for playing closing your eyes and focusing on your breathing a brief light meditation if you will. I know that even just closing my eyes and taking a few good breaths before a match helps me to focus on my game.
 
May be just the act of drinking gives you that positive feeling about your game, like in a subconscious level. Try switching to soda for your "first" drink before the game, may be you will get the same results.
 
I heard that after a few drinks there is a left or right brain shift, which ever it is. Then you are operating with your more subconcious or free flow side of the brain and not your talky, logical side. But after several drinks more, all bets are off. Thats what a DUI school taught a friend of mine anyway. I've shot well both ways sometimes.
 
I agree with the relaxation aspect. A few drinks used to help me with the girls.
One night, however, I learned that alcohol can turn a person into a toad just as easily as it can a Prince Charming.
I was at the pool hall, and at least one toke over the line (if you get my drift), when I told a young lady that her eyes were like limped pools of blue water, her skin had the soft glow of a rose petal, and her tits were like giant freakin' watermelons.
She immediately punched out my headlamps, and that was the end of that.
Don't be a toad. :)
 
Tramp Steamer said:
I agree with the relaxation aspect. A few drinks used to help me with the girls.
One night, however, I learned that alcohol can turn a person into a toad just as easily as it can a Prince Charming.
I was at the pool hall, and at least one toke over the line (if you get my drift), when I told a young lady that her eyes were like limped pools of blue water, her skin had the soft glow of a rose petal, and her tits were like giant freakin' <------ leave this word out & try,try,again....watermelons.
She immediately punched out my headlamps, and that was the end of that.
Don't be a toad. :)
Click to expand...

Tramper,..... maybe she tinkin' her" watermelons" aren't freaky.

:wink:
 
justadub said:
I've had something happen twice in the last few weeks, and while it is interesting, I want to see if I can come up with an alternative, and get the same results.

Drinking. A little. I've had two matches recently, where I've had a little bit to drink before hand. Not in the realm if being drunk, but on the low end of beginning a little buzz. And I played great.

After the first time, I told myself that folks can catch a gear under all kinds of conditions, and that was a fortunate turn for me. Then last night, I had a little more than I would usually, as I didn't expect to be playing. Still, just a slight buzz, nothing stupid or sloppy. And I played as well as I have in a long time. Also, once the match started, I went back to just nursing one beer while I played, and had some left when it was done. I didn't keep adding to the buzz...it played itself out.

Here's the quandary. I don't believe for a minute that the drinking is making me play better, and that it will cause more problems over all. I usually nurse one beer till the match is over, then I can have more if the situation warrants.

So I'm trying to sort it out. My theory is that I was loose and relaxed, and most importantly, NOT over thinking things. I was still focused, and wasn't noticing outside distractions as much. All good stuff.

How do I achieve this without drinking before playing? Wow, its perplexing. I wanted to keep playing once the match was over, I was doing so well (for me). I sure cant set myself up to play that way all the time, and an all day tourney would be a disaster. League night every once in a while is all well and good, but its no way to play all the time.

Suggestions?
Click to expand...

dub, believe it or not i have been mulling over your quandry for 2 years now.

i quit drinking 2 years ago and my game has not been like it used to be since then. i have stated on here a few times i honestly think drinking helps your game .... to a point. not only do i think that,every one that has known me for a while thinks that. oh believe me i did not want to believe that quitting drinking made my game go down, i tried to put the blame on every thing but that, but the botton line is i had to face that drinking did help my game.

case in point... i mentioned this a while back in a thread about our tri cups a few weks ago..

i faced a 7 and i am a 5 in 9 ball. i was nervous as a long tailed cat in a room full of rockers and it showed. after 2 racks i was down 18-2.

while i was racking the 3rd rack i heard my name called. i looked up and saw one of my teamates walking up to our table with a beer and said its for you. i started laughing and went up and grabbed it and took a long swig. my teamates said down it you got a lot of catching up to do. well i finished that beer by the end of the rack and said get me another. by the time i started my 3rd beer i won the match 38-41. it aint the 1st time that has happened.

i used to play bcapl league 8 years ago 3 times a week and went partying every fri and sat night. drank more than i should have every night shooting pool or partying. it made my blood pressure shoot sky high so i just quit drinking and my game fell off drastically. i just imbibe occasionaly now.

now as for you being open to suggestions on how to obtain that level without drinking..... i know the answer but dont know how to achieve it on demand.

remember that thread wherei just about had a meltdown after coming back from the southern classic ? i was pissed off and was going to quit apa. i stayed home from league the next night because i was still pissed. my gf called and begged me to come because they were short handed. the only reason i went was to make her happy, if mama aint happy, aint nobody happy.

i went not caring whether i won or lost. just got up there and potted balls not thinking about what to shoot or when to play safe, not thinking about anything. beat a 7 in 8 ball and beat an 8 in 9 ball, i mean really mopped the floor with him.

there is a saying when you start drinking , you stop thinking. i honestly believe that. when you get to a certain level in your frame of mind you just play on instinct. you are not thinking , am i aiming right?, am i shooting at the proper speed ? should i make this shot or should i play safe, you are not thinking, if i miss this shot he is gonna run out. in this frame of mind your mind aint saying , this is a hard shot, your mind is saying, just pot the damn ball like you have a thousand times before.

now if and when we ever meet up you owe me a beer for this long winded advice.:grin-square:

yea i know... easier said than done. that is why my s/l keeps fluctuating up and down.:mad:
 
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bruce;

as I'm sure you are aware, players have been working with their 'mixtures' for a very long time. Sadly, we've even lost a few as a result.

There has certainly been some world class players both in snooker and pool who were never far from their buzz while playing but these days, I think there has been a shift at the elite level of play. Not universally, though.

It stands to reason that having a drink or two can put us in a more relaxed state and that can translate to playing better pool but you have to stop short of letting it cloud you.

Meanwhile, it's league night and you're supposed to have a little fun and so if you want to get a little heat behind the old eyeballs, go for it. :cool: And if it can settle you down to play a bit better, then bonus!

Just don't put yourself in a position where Johnny Law can ruin your night, or, possibly, worse yet, and as Tramp alluded to, your watermelon/toad quotient goes askew. :p

Cheers,
brian kc
 
Scaramouche said:
The secret is moderate, regular consumption.
You have to pace yourself.
For example:
Eight pints of lager followed by a pint for every frame :D

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/ot...ill-Werbeniuk-a-true-snooker-heavyweight.html

To help translating the foregoing:
1 stone = 14 lb.

Bill was the reason tournaments stopped providing players with an open bar. :D

It helps if your booze bill is tax deductible .
Click to expand...

I seem to remember hearing he had two pints between each frame. Thirsty work, snooker.
 
I'm in the same boat. When I warm up without drinking, I can barely make a stroke, let alone a smooth one!:( I swing like an old rusty gate!
I have to have a couple of beers to get a stroke.
The problem is , I like alcohol. :o Sometimes I don't know when to quit!
 
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