Confidence

[Bum]

Have you ever had your confidence shaken so bad that you went into a slump and couldn't even make a basic straight in shot and no matter how much you practice no matter how hard you try it just seemed to make things worse.

As you walked around the table dreading that next shot in front of a room full of onlookers you felt embarrassed to even be standing at the table.

What did you do to get through it?

What steps did you take to allow yourself to lose and get past the disappointment?

How did stay positive?

I have the ability to make shots and to run racks, that is why it is so frustrating to be in this place. My mental game needs work!

 

[Chopdoc]

Have you ever had your confidence shaken so bad that you......

Yup.

The first time I faced USMLE....the United States Medical License Exam......cried like a little girl.......


At pool? Hell no. Go plenty of confidence......not much skill anymore but plenty of confidence.....LOL!


.

 

[brophog]

The key is to be process oriented, not results oriented. Don't think of winning or playing position or even making a ball.

Think of the processes you have set up to do those things. Your PSR, your alignment, your aiming system. Just think about executing these processes like you've done time and time again and allow them to drive success, and therefore confidence, to yourself.

The other solution: Take a break. Do something else for a while. It is amazing how rejuvenated you'll be when you finally return to the table. Things will seem new again, and the joy often comes back out of that. Enjoyment of a task will often help breed confidence. That break could be a few months or weeks or even just getting up and taking 5 minutes between matches. Let your mind do something else for a while and then re-focus on those processes.

 

[decent dennis]

jumped out in front of a moving bus.

 

[MitchAlsup]

Have you ever had your confidence shaken so bad that you went into a slump and couldn't even make a basic straight in shot and no matter how much you practice no matter how hard you try it just seemed to make things worse.

Until last week, I had been in a slump for about 2 months.

As you walked around the table dreading that next shot in front of a room full of onlookers you felt embarrassed to even be standing at the table.

No, never--I don't really care about what others think of me or my game.

What did you do to get through it?

Not sure, but last week I seem to have snapped out of it and I am back in form. Prior to, durring, and after the slump I practiced 2-3 hours per day, using the same drills and shooting scenarios. For me, I think it was all in my head.

What steps did you take to allow yourself to lose and get past the disappointment?

Alcohol seems to work well, after a loss.

How did stay positive?

I can honestly state that I did not stay positive. To me, being positive is something that comes from within, not something that I can manufacture on the spot.

I have the ability to make shots and to run racks, that is why it is so frustrating to be in this place. My mental game needs work!

It was the mental side of my game that was so frustrating durring the slump, too.

 

[Ghosst]

Worst thing I heard was, "Wow, you're one Hell of a shot!" I couldn't play BiH shots for two weeks after that. Then I read, "The Inner Game of Tennis". It helped a lot. I still have so-so days, but at least now I have a chance of turning them around and on those so-so days I don't miss the pot by 1.5 diamonds.

 

[measureman]

I have never lost confidence in my ability.
But I have gone thru slumps. You just have to play thru them.

 

[thintowin]

I was always told by the old timers: nothing gets you out of a slump like beating someone. There are no shortcuts. Sorry.

 

[Shaky1]

Have you ever had your confidence shaken so bad that you went into a slump and couldn't even make a basic straight in shot and no matter how much you practice no matter how hard you try it just seemed to make things worse.

As you walked around the table dreading that next shot in front of a room full of onlookers you felt embarrassed to even be standing at the table.

What did you do to get through it?

What steps did you take to allow yourself to lose and get past the disappointment?

How did stay positive?

I have the ability to make shots and to run racks, that is why it is so frustrating to be in this place. My mental game needs work!

I had to look twice to be sure that I didn't start this one!

I feel your pain. :shrug:

 

[classicjay17]

Worst thing I heard was, "Wow, you're one Hell of a shot!" I couldn't play BiH shots for two weeks after that. Then I read, "The Inner Game of Tennis". It helped a lot. I still have so-so days, but at least now I have a chance of turning them around and on those so-so days I don't miss the pot by 1.5 diamonds.

^ This. Read "The Inner Game of Tennis". I was coming off a 2 1/2 year layoff from the game, and after 6 months of playing, was becoming frustrated with my inability to regain my old form. I picked the book up, and feel that it was a big contributing factor to not only achieving my old level of play, but surpassing it.

 

[Jodacus]

Feel it!

AS part of the whole shot process keep in mind what your body feels like when you shoot the shot successfully. Don't think, feel! Only pull the trigger when everything "feels" correct. Stop trying to think your way back. Relax and remember what your body feels like when you do this shot correctly.

Good Luck