begining to think i dont have it anymore

[Mkindsv]

Take a month off...if you are aching to get back then great, if not, maybe cut it down to just fulfilling your obligations for a little while. Doing the same thing for long periods of time we tend to get complacent. You know you are a fairly decent shooter, that is why these first matches are able to sneak up on you, you expect to win, but you are not expecting to dominate...go in EXPECTING to dominate, then if you win by just a little, maybe there will still be enough sting to make you want to do better the next outing.. Either walk in thinking you just lost a set that you shouldn't have and have something to prove, or go in cold with no practice time, one or the other will tell you where your head is.

 

[lorider]

Hey lo, I'm sorry to hear that. You're one of the more involved people that I've ever come across so I wouldn't be surprised to hear
that you might be just a little burned out, I think it happens to pretty much everyone. You could take up a new game, get a new cue,
try something like that to light a fire, you never know what might work. Take the summer off from leagues, only play when you want
to and if you don't feel like it, then don't play.

As for the new games, for some people one pocket or straight pool work out great. They get a few rounds under their belt and they're hooked,
can't get enough, for me it just seemed like one pocket and straight pool, even 10 ball just moved so slow, watching or playing I couldn't gain
the proper appreciation for it. I think that you and I play mainly on bar tables so anything but 8 ball or 9 ball is a tough transition to the 7 foot surface.

I would bet you probably sacrifice a lot for your teams, probably an excellent team mate. That can be a cause for burnout. Try being a little more selfish,
it may be that it's just time for you to take the next step, the next jump in level of skill. Maybe play a little more for yourself instead of the team, and if
you can't make it sometimes, or if you just feel like you can't make it then don't go.

I have however noticed something else about you and your time line is remarkably similar to mine. I try to find topics here in the main forum to get involved
in just about every day, it doesn't happen. The main forum has changed quite a bit. I joined I think right at the end of the hay day, and not that there aren't
some great posters now, but things have changed since then. The Lock Society has all but died, JB and Lou aren't planning their next cage match to the death.
We rarely, if ever see any of those guys around here. So, seeking out more forum interaction many of us venture over to NPR. Some of you might thrive there,
for me - huge mistake, but it's like a car accident. You can't just drive by, you have to look, or heroin or meth, and can be just as bad for you. You're compelled
to be involved somehow or can easily become addicted, and lo, I have noticed you frequenting lately NPR.

This is a little of a different take on your "burnout" but maybe, just maybe that might have something to do with it. The rule for participation in NPR is not to take
anything personally and remember it's an internet forum, it means absolutely nothing. A hard thing to remember if you feel like your personal beliefs are being attacked.

Anyways, the difficult thing for me was it was hard to believe that we all, with things in common, it was hard to believe that we could be that hateful to each other,
still is hard to believe and accept that's how we talk to each other.

In many ways I'm a hyper sensitive, I over analyze and I know I should avoid NPR like it was a plague, but like I said - it's compelling. After visiting NPR for a little
while I was so, I dunno.... moved(?) discouraged (?) by the whole NPR, the angry people, the way we treat each other in there, by our contemporaries that also
play pool, that I just wanted to quit. Not the website, but playing pool.

I'm not saying that you're anything like me, or over sensitive, or anything like that, but I think that to certain people NPR can have a really adverse effect. If it was NPR
on the Denver Bronco webpage I don't think it would have bothered me, but pool is part of my identity, it's a really personal thing to me, maybe to you too. I think that's
why it bothered me so much. Anyway, just a thought.

I appreciate the comments and advice celo. I bought a revo shaft for a predator cue I have had for a while. I lime it bit its taking some getting used too...mainly cue ball control. I also ordered a meucci carbon pro shaft to match my gambler...should be here in a few weeks. Hope they keep me motivated.

Npr is something alright. Spend a lil time in there occasionally. Only participated in there for a couple months so far and already had one of my threads deleted when I went off on some one that got too personal lol. So I have cut back posts in there as a result.

Being one of the best on the team...which aint saying much....i feel like o am letting them down. When I do not play my best. Sometimes I perform unbelievable when my team needs me
..such as in playoffs when my 3 lost 18-2 to a 2 and I won 18-2 vs an 8 to get us the win. I think they expect that from me all the time which makes me put too much pressure on myself and play like crap and let them down.

I have great wins but also terrible losses when I just cant get it together.

 

[lorider]

I get it. Happens to me, too. Doing anything a lot for a long time will cause some burnout. And you were playing a ton, for quite a while.

Cut back even more for a while, maybe only play one night. I'm betting that after a session or so off, you'll be looking to add more nights again. That, or you'll have your answer, and the desire just isn't there any more.

I'm betting on the former, not the latter.

I appreciate the advice dub. I did cut back from 4 to 2 nights a week. Sometimes I show up and just be a captain and not play. Have even too a few nights off and stayed home here and there.

You would not believe how many have asked me to join their teams on other nights she they found out I cut back to 2 but so far I have managed to say no thanks lol.

 

[lorider]

For pool, I've never really had the "fire in my belly". I started playing pool semi-seriously at age 53, and now that I'm on the cusp of 66 I just want to play the game for fun. Tired of the league night opponents with their game faces and attitudes. Tired of hearing about some dream trip to Vegas. Never, ever do I want or need another trophy. Just give me a good friend that plays as good or better than me and if he (or she) will come over to play or meet me at the pool hall that's all I'll ever need. I'm just not a very competitive person by nature when it concerns pool.

That said, It does make me feel better to win than it does to lose, but not by much. My goal when I play pool is to shoot up to my capabilities. If I shoot well and win it feels nice. If I shoot well and lose, I'm okay with it. If I shoot bad and win or lose, I'm not happy with myself.

Here's the strange thing. If you're fishing in my boat with me I will try my best to catch more and bigger fish than you. If you are sitting on the bench on the firing line at the shooting range I will try to shoot smaller groups than you. But...catching less fish or shooting smaller groups won't make me feel bad or cause me to lose any sleep at night because I simply enjoy doing these things regardless.

So, the short answer to your quoted question is yes...but the fire was really never there to start with.

Have fun and enjoy it while you can, lorider. We're in the 4th quarter of our lives and who needs the stress?

Maniac

I joined apa when I was 54. I played one session and them when the girl who got me to join asked if I was staying the next session I declined. After some prodding I fimally told her I did not like their captain and the way he ram the team. She admitted she did mot like him either and said her and 2 others would quit also and form a new team of I would be captain.

At first I wanted no part of being captain but they all wanted me to rum the team and I said ok. Been a captain ever since.

Made it to Vegas after 6 years and really enjoyed the experience bit don't care if I ever go again.

Our former lo was talking anout starting a singles division which I was inyerested in. But it never materialized. Wouldn't have the pressure of performing for a team but probably wouldn't have the incentive to perform my best either.

 

[Calzican]

The best way to keep your focus if you're losing is raise the bet..::smile:

I've had those days you're talking about for me sometimes it happens when playing lesser players in tournaments. I don't evaluate the table well instead of playing safe here or there I try shots I shouldn't etc. I'm 46 but I don't think I adjust to the table speed the way I did when I was younger. Going from 9' to a 7' different cloth and shape table is in. Seems like I use to be able to shoot a practice rack and I was ready now I'm fighting position after my third or forth made ball after a few racks.