Beating the Slump from Hel..

Ruthless

Ruthless

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After as many years as I've played competitive pocket billiards I know slumps come and go. They are just a part of the game.

The one that has hit me now has me going nuts. After being in the hospital a few times over the last year from diabetes problems the slump has a deadlock on me.

My eyes have cleared up fine. I can put 3 - 4 racks together consistantly in practice. But right now I have a hard time even playing friends that I can usually give the last 4 to. My attitude is fine and drive to win seems normal.

I have tried about everything I have learned from past slumps and yet it continues. I have even thought seriously about a hypnotist or some psyc. treatment (it's that bad).

Has anyone else experienced a seemingly "never ending slump"? If so, How did you beat it?

Thanks!
 
BTDT!
Are you just going through the motions cause it's what you always done?
Take a long hard look and ask yourself if you really want to play and really want to win, is there fire in your belly!
If not, quit. (or take a break :) )
 
i keep a pool log..........i dont write in it every day.........but probably once a week on average, or when im shooting really great or really terribly.....ill write in it what im doing. I cant tell you how many times ive gone back and re-read my log to find im doing the same things i was doing wrong, or ill have forgotten some of the things i was doing that were working so well for me. Ive literally gone from shooting in a terrible slump one day........to reading my log that night, coming in the next day and having a quick 5 minute practice session working on the issue and be right back at the top of my game that night.
 
I went into a slump last year, after nearly cutting my grip hand's fore finger off. I did work through it in time. I sold my Pool Table, because of an impending move & after 5 months, I have sank into the "pit of slumps".

My stroke is always in question & my position has gone awry, to the point that I feel I may have to quit until I get moved & get a Pool Table to work out my mechanics on the Practice Table, instead of the Field of Competition.
 
Thanks to all for the replies and good answers :)

Dhakala - Even Dr's wear goalie masks before they try to give me a shot. I'm not real needle friendly (not good for a diabetic). ;)

Slasher - I've been practicing 3-5 hours a day hard. Something I have never done before and feel good about it. Then things seem to go to hell all at one moment.......I make all of the hard shots and start missing the easy stupid ones......????

scottycoyote - Maybe I'll try that. I have never kept any log or notes (never needed too). Thanks for the idea.

ceebee - I did break my index finger on my bridge hand a week before a big event in Jan....I was allready on the downward spiral by then :( My mechanics haven't been a problem that I've noticed. May be time to bust out the video camera again while playing someone else.... Thanks

ScottW - Running 3 -4 is in practice (No cheating or playing the ghost) which is where I have been for years ....... it's when I'm playing someone else that the problems begin.

Like Slasher implied...it's about like I don't care to win sometimes. The people I've been playing don't even know what's going on and accuse me of dumping on purpose...but I'm not.

I do think I'm going to take a little break from the table :confused:
 
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Maybe you need to just take a break, cold turkey, for a couple of weeks. Walk away from the table. Come back after a bit.

After all, a slump is largely just a mental thing going on in your noggin. If you don't play for a couple of weeks, then (hopefully) your mind goes on to other things for a while, and maybe it'll subconsciously let go of whatever it is is rattling around in there that's keeping your game down.

Just a suggestion from some schmo who can't run two racks in a row, practice or not. :D
 
the best thing to do is take a break.. i was in a slump all this last session of 9 ball league and this weekend we had money cup and i played 9 ball for the 1st time in a while and i ran everyone that i played over and my skill level went up. just take some time away youll start to feel like u HAVE to play and after that feeling comes watch good people play for about a week.. then pick up the cue and you should be kickin ass.. that always works for me
 
Ruthless said:
Slasher - I've been practicing 3-5 hours a day hard. Something I have never done before and feel good about it. Then things seem to go to hell all at one moment.......I make all of the hard shots and start missing the easy stupid ones......????
Click to expand...

Now, that sounds like hypoglycemia kicking in.

it's when I'm playing someone else that the problems begin.
Click to expand...

Uh-huh. Stress bad for blood sugar.

it's about like I don't care to win sometimes. The people I've been playing don't even know what's going on and accuse me of dumping on purpose...but I'm not.
Click to expand...

http://www.ncpamd.com/dmdepression.htm

"Depression is not generally listed as a complication of diabetes. However, it can be one of the most common and dangerous complications. The rate of depression in diabetics is much higher than in the general population."

I do think I'm going to take a little break from the table :confused:
Click to expand...

I wouldn't. You need to stay active and involved with people. What else will you do with 3-5 hours per day?
 
Ruthless said:
After as many years as I've played competitive pocket billiards I know slumps come and go. They are just a part of the game.

The one that has hit me now has me going nuts. After being in the hospital a few times over the last year from diabetes problems the slump has a deadlock on me.

My eyes have cleared up fine. I can put 3 - 4 racks together consistantly in practice. But right now I have a hard time even playing friends that I can usually give the last 4 to. My attitude is fine and drive to win seems normal.

I have tried about everything I have learned from past slumps and yet it continues. I have even thought seriously about a hypnotist or some psyc. treatment (it's that bad).

Has anyone else experienced a seemingly "never ending slump"? If so, How did you beat it?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

The harder I try the worse I seem to play. Let the joy of playing well motivate you and not the desire to win.

The more I bear down on those darn half a$$ critical shots the greater my chances of missing/dogging it.Just strolling into a shot and pulling the trigger yields a greater % of success (for me).

As silly as it sounds I used to try to play up to other people's expectation's. I couldn't get there-----it helped a lot when I quit trying.

If you think your mind is right then I'd get the video recorder cranked up.

I don't think a hiatus helps.

Hit m straight:)
 
ribdoner said:
The harder I try the worse I seem to play. Let the joy of playing well motivate you and not the desire to win.

The more I bear down on those darn half a$$ critical shots the greater my chances of missing/dogging it.Just strolling into a shot and pulling the trigger yields a greater % of success (for me).

As silly as it sounds I used to try to play up to other people's expectation's. I couldn't get there-----it helped a lot when I quit trying.

If you think your mind is right then I'd get the video recorder cranked up.

I don't think a hiatus helps.

Hit m straight:)
Click to expand...

You've got the right idea. But I think it is not so much not trying, as it is just not letting anything bother you. I try not to concern myself with missing and if I do miss I don't let it bother me. Usually;).

This way of thinking doesn't entirely guard against bad days, but it does keep things from getting worse.
 
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