Consistency How to get it and keep it
- Thread starter elvicash
- Start date
In a nutshell, analyze your results.
Are you stroking straight? Take a minute and check your stroke over the foot spot. Spot a ball and shoot it into one of the far corners. Does your cue stay over the center of the spot and is it pointly directly at the center of the pocket throat... and have you completely followed through?
Are you missing consistently to one side? If so, perhaps it's your stance. Or perhaps you're not hitting the cue ball on its vertical centerline. Maybe you're sloppy in your aim... you may be uncertain of the results and you're pulling the trigger before you know that you're going to make the ball. It could be a variety of reasons.
Analyze, imo, that what you need to do. Good luck. We've all been there sometime or another.
Are you stroking straight? Take a minute and check your stroke over the foot spot. Spot a ball and shoot it into one of the far corners. Does your cue stay over the center of the spot and is it pointly directly at the center of the pocket throat... and have you completely followed through?
Are you missing consistently to one side? If so, perhaps it's your stance. Or perhaps you're not hitting the cue ball on its vertical centerline. Maybe you're sloppy in your aim... you may be uncertain of the results and you're pulling the trigger before you know that you're going to make the ball. It could be a variety of reasons.
Analyze, imo, that what you need to do. Good luck. We've all been there sometime or another.
First off, just by you asking this, you obviously are not one of the pool savants. So, the following is what I would recommend-
1. Make sure your head is into what you are doing.
2. Make sure you have a pre-shot routine. Consistency means doing something the same over and over. So, the pre-shot routine is a great place to start.
It takes some getting used to. After a few shots, you can easily catch yourself just plopping down on the tble when it's your turn. Especially if you are down and upset. That is where the pre-shot routine pays off the most.
With a pre-shot routine, you can then make adjustments as needed in your stroke or aiming to make that consistent. Know what you are actually doing on each and every shot. Pretty soon it will become rote, and you don''t have to think about it anymore. It will just be routine. Just like walking.
1. Make sure your head is into what you are doing.
2. Make sure you have a pre-shot routine. Consistency means doing something the same over and over. So, the pre-shot routine is a great place to start.
It takes some getting used to. After a few shots, you can easily catch yourself just plopping down on the tble when it's your turn. Especially if you are down and upset. That is where the pre-shot routine pays off the most.
With a pre-shot routine, you can then make adjustments as needed in your stroke or aiming to make that consistent. Know what you are actually doing on each and every shot. Pretty soon it will become rote, and you don''t have to think about it anymore. It will just be routine. Just like walking.
Pre shot routine - picking lint off the table is a great one!!
Take Randy G's class if you can. You probably have a flaw somewhere in your stroke (even if you think it is perfect). How is your shape? If you get out of shape you are going to miss balls and then get upset and miss even more. Make sure you know where you want the cue ball to end up even if you can't get it there. If you aim at nothing you will hit everytime.
elvicash said:
Always know where you are aiming your tip. Learn to distinguish between bad aim and wrong speed. Speed errors that cause you to miss balls can often be eliminated by a better choice of speed and spin.
A little change in conditions can require a big change in stroke speed and shot choices.
Everyone's problem...
I don't know of any pool player that doesn't have his or her UPs and Downs... Consistancy is nothing more than making the UPs last a little longer and also shorten the Downs.
Unless you play 8 hours a day and practice, practice, practice and have a great Coach and TEST your skills often by either using a practice partner (who is on a similar strict routine) and/or gamble and play in as many tournaments you can.... you will never be consistant.
I don't know of any pool player that doesn't have his or her UPs and Downs... Consistancy is nothing more than making the UPs last a little longer and also shorten the Downs.
Unless you play 8 hours a day and practice, practice, practice and have a great Coach and TEST your skills often by either using a practice partner (who is on a similar strict routine) and/or gamble and play in as many tournaments you can.... you will never be consistant.
I don't know how you play now, but you used to play really well. I would sweat your Bruce's and Sticks and Stones action and you put a lot of ppl in action also.
As far as consistency, didn't you take a long break from pool on a couple of occasions? I know that I have for all intensive purposes been on a break from pool since the 2000 VNEA State Champs at the Adams Mark.
Sorry to get long winded. You have been at a very very high level at pool IMHO and it may just be a mental thing. The Overcoming Contenderosis series of hypnosis tapes is a good series for at least squaring off the mental part, and I would think another factor in having consistency is level of competition to play. Is there someone from around Indy you practice with who plays your speed or better? I have always had a lot of respect for your game.
I think videotaping you both practicing all out and playing serious against someone will help you see differences in your stroke, thought process, etc.
I was able to videotape a friend named Ryan (from the Billiard Cafe and Skeet days) and I playing a few games here at the house on the bar table and It was helpful to me to see when I ran out a rack of 8 ball as opposed to times I should have run out and didn't. Dropped arm, raised up, no follow through, etc.
Anyway, good luck Dana, if anyone can get back to their true speed, it's you.
As far as consistency, didn't you take a long break from pool on a couple of occasions? I know that I have for all intensive purposes been on a break from pool since the 2000 VNEA State Champs at the Adams Mark.
Sorry to get long winded. You have been at a very very high level at pool IMHO and it may just be a mental thing. The Overcoming Contenderosis series of hypnosis tapes is a good series for at least squaring off the mental part, and I would think another factor in having consistency is level of competition to play. Is there someone from around Indy you practice with who plays your speed or better? I have always had a lot of respect for your game.
I think videotaping you both practicing all out and playing serious against someone will help you see differences in your stroke, thought process, etc.
I was able to videotape a friend named Ryan (from the Billiard Cafe and Skeet days) and I playing a few games here at the house on the bar table and It was helpful to me to see when I ran out a rack of 8 ball as opposed to times I should have run out and didn't. Dropped arm, raised up, no follow through, etc.
Anyway, good luck Dana, if anyone can get back to their true speed, it's you.
A good shooting routine and good mechanics provide consistency. The hard part is knowing what to include and what not to include in both of these. I'd recommend that you take a class from a BCA instructor who teaches the SPF methodology. There is no other way that is faster in developing consistency.
If the issue is mental, then hypnosis may be the ticket. A deep self examination to really get to know yourself can also be beneficial.
If the issue is mental, then hypnosis may be the ticket. A deep self examination to really get to know yourself can also be beneficial.
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elvicash said:
These all sound like good advice. I'd add this: practice techniques for getting back into focus. When my game slips it's almost always because of loss of focus, and I've figured out a few "triggers" to help get it back.
1. Slow down. Often just being more deliberate in general is all that's needed for me.
2. Pay closer attention to my pre-shot routine; the problem is often that I've just gotten lazy and started "flopping down" into my stance.
3. Find something to fix my attention on - narrowing my attention to one small aspect of my game can quickly bring my focus back. I like to focus intently on where my tip will hit the CB - this is almost an instant "focus finder" for me. You might find something more suited to your game.
4. Take a few seconds after I get into my stance but before beginning practice strokes to be aware of how my body feels (especially my shooting arm, shoulders, head and torso). Is my shooting forearm hanging loosely and straight down when I'm "at address" on the cue ball? Is my grip loose and oriented correctly? Are my elbow, shoulder and head in the same plane as my stick and the shot line? Am I balanced solidly over my feet so I won't sway when stroking? Paying attention to the feel of gravity's pull helps with a lot of this.
5. (Similar to or even a part of #4) Take a little extra time before practice stroking to be sure my stance is perfectly aligned with my shot. Something that's helpful for this is "one stroke" practice, where (in practice only) I don't allow myself any practice strokes before shooting - forcing myself to take time to be sure my stance is perfectly aligned for the shot so that my first stroke is right on the money. Then when I'm in a game situation I can "pretend" that I'm one-stroking for a second or two before practice stroking, just to remind myself to be very precise in aligning my stance with the shot.
I use one or more (sometimes all) of these techniques in just about every session. So why can Efren still give me a ball on his break
?Good luck.
pj
chgo
Mark...Dana has spent time with me, and is endeared to the SPF concept. He has also spent time with Stan Shuffet, who also endorses our style of setup and delivery. I think Dana is just in a little downcycle in his play, and can't understand why. As has been said by many here, accurately, everyone has ups and downs. It is the NATURE of playing pool. NOBODY plays great all the time. The top pros are more consistent playing well (and look how much time they spend at it...losing out on other parts of their lives), but even Efren has his 'bad days'...albeit few that they have been, over the past 30 yrs. Dana will come through this, and continue to improve. I believe this, and if I can help him, in any way, I certainly will!
Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
Mark Avlon said:
Pre-shot routine.
Blackjack said:
Right on Blackjack! Fewer words could not have better expressed the best way to achieve consistency.
I personally quit the game for nearly 14yrs. never picking up a stick. It took that long for some bad tastes to fade. Anyway, now that I've rekindled my interest in playing, it has been on a once or twice a week basis. I am now struggling with "confidence in my stroke" like I never did before, and it certainly manifests itself with a lack of consistency.
Our minds work fluidly when it comes to having them tell our muscles how to carry out any particular shot that we clearly envision.
The problem develops when we have to consciously determine how to carry out the shot while we are shooting it. Our minds can't process the request and send the info to our muscles faster than we can shank the shot by a diamond.
The greater part of this game that we can defer to the unconscious, the more shots we make IMO.
These are all great replys. I do not see much here that I disagree with and I do need to play more alot more. I have had some training and worked on some items I have seen here.
Back when I played at a fairly high level (at least for me) I was more of a feel player, I was into the Tim Gallaway inner game of tennis approach, I did work on some things and had an idea of what I was doing but it was mostly feel.
Now I am trying to be more technical, I am trying to burn in good technique, really groove it and elevate my game to a high plateau and then go back to the flow thing and let it happen.
I just go through a practice regimin shooting some basic shots, stuff I think I should be 100% on and I find it is hard to get past the 92%-95% I will shoot a bunch making 100% and think I got this going well or what ever and then I just dog off the next shot and sometimes the next two, I know my problem in practice is mental.
Part of my issue is figuring out how to let it happen when I am trying to control my actions/technique.
Mental is always big in this sport so I guess I need to just keep peeling the onion.
Back when I played at a fairly high level (at least for me) I was more of a feel player, I was into the Tim Gallaway inner game of tennis approach, I did work on some things and had an idea of what I was doing but it was mostly feel.
Now I am trying to be more technical, I am trying to burn in good technique, really groove it and elevate my game to a high plateau and then go back to the flow thing and let it happen.
I just go through a practice regimin shooting some basic shots, stuff I think I should be 100% on and I find it is hard to get past the 92%-95% I will shoot a bunch making 100% and think I got this going well or what ever and then I just dog off the next shot and sometimes the next two, I know my problem in practice is mental.
Part of my issue is figuring out how to let it happen when I am trying to control my actions/technique.
Mental is always big in this sport so I guess I need to just keep peeling the onion.
elvicash said:
I'm at a point that I'm asking myself, how badly do you really want to get back playing this game, or are you content with the speed you are shooting at now?
Desire is another factor. I'm not convinced I have it anymore. I mean really have it, to focus and get back in stroke.
I have a 9' table at home, and my weekend pool buddies always ask me, why don't you practice during the week? I'm retired, home all day, nothing really to do, but I'd rather pick up a book than move the clothes off the pool table.
When I do, go down and hit the balls, it seems only minutes go by before I'm smacking them around trying ridiculous caroms or something, and then I just stop.
I think pool is like a fine tuned motor that needs to be hitting all cylinders perfectly. Too many candles out on my motor.
Someone said reach inside, a self exam so to speak. I think Mark Avlon was the poster. There is a lot in that statement to consider.
Pool is such an intense intricate game. Maybe finding our game has more to do with losing our outside distractions too!
elvicash said:
Dana,
I have some videos posted on youtube and at AZBTV with parts of one of my clinics entitled Mental Game Mastery. Part of this clinic deals with this subject - I'll try to dig up the footage I have that deals with this specific topic and get it posted up somewhere.
What not How
I know exactly what you mean.
I have been trying a root & branch overhaul of my technique, and for a while I found that my game was going down the pan in the process
It took me some time to realize the root problem was that I was unable to concentrate on WHAT I was doing because I was concentrating so much on HOW I was doing it.
It is a little bit like trying to walk across the room concentrating hard on the detailed processes involved, ie picking one foot up, shifting the balance forward, raising one knee....etc. It hardly makes for easy saunter across the floor.
There are two things that I have found very helpful in combating this.
One is to behave in a different way when you are practicing a particular shot than when you are playing a game. When doing a practice drill sure, think about your stroke (your stance, PSR, follow through or whatever). But when playing a game, only think about what you want the balls to do, not about how you need to move to make that happen. In 'game mode' the only time you should let any thoughts enter your head while you are on the shot is when you get that gut feeling that something is wrong and you are about to foul up. When that happens, of course you have to take notice (get up and start over). But otherwise, focus only what you want the balls to do.
The second thing is to try as far as possible to be acutely aware of what you are doing technically rather than to consciously control it. That way you can learn, and improve, without staggering across the room a drunk who has just been shot.
Siz
PS (no offense intended to drunk or shot people)
elvicash said:
I know exactly what you mean.
I have been trying a root & branch overhaul of my technique, and for a while I found that my game was going down the pan in the process
It took me some time to realize the root problem was that I was unable to concentrate on WHAT I was doing because I was concentrating so much on HOW I was doing it.It is a little bit like trying to walk across the room concentrating hard on the detailed processes involved, ie picking one foot up, shifting the balance forward, raising one knee....etc. It hardly makes for easy saunter across the floor.
There are two things that I have found very helpful in combating this.
One is to behave in a different way when you are practicing a particular shot than when you are playing a game. When doing a practice drill sure, think about your stroke (your stance, PSR, follow through or whatever). But when playing a game, only think about what you want the balls to do, not about how you need to move to make that happen. In 'game mode' the only time you should let any thoughts enter your head while you are on the shot is when you get that gut feeling that something is wrong and you are about to foul up. When that happens, of course you have to take notice (get up and start over). But otherwise, focus only what you want the balls to do.
The second thing is to try as far as possible to be acutely aware of what you are doing technically rather than to consciously control it. That way you can learn, and improve, without staggering across the room a drunk who has just been shot.
Siz
PS (no offense intended to drunk or shot people)
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