consistency issues, anyone else experience this?

[ddadams]

I've only been playing about a year but I feel as if I've gotten way ahead of most who have similar experience but I'm getting frustrated.

My buddy who got me into it after hearing me always say how much I loved it before I turned 21 is an OK player. The captain of his team is way, way better and is the man who taught me most of everything I can do. But lately I'm getting frustrated.


I feel like subconsciously I scale MY skill to the people I play. When I play my captain I either run the whole rack or at least 6 balls when I go to shoot. That's at least 80-85% of the time unless he plays a good safety. But when I play people like his brother who aren't better than some people who haven't ever played before I miss every other shot it seems.


I guess I just get way too lazy and figure there isn't a need to try?



Anyone else have a similar issue in their day?

 

[weakfingers]

It's natural, that happens. It's natural to acknowledge who your opponent is and scale your PLAY accordingly. Of course, this is different than scaling your PERFORMANCE. Your performance should be consistent.

You have to get into the game and play the balls on the table. You need to be aware of your body motions; what are you doing differently than when you play more skilled opponents? Keep that in mind when you play and you'll find yourself being less "lazy" with less skilled opponents. It works for me.

 

[vincentwu817]

I've only been playing about a year but I feel as if I've gotten way ahead of most who have similar experience but I'm getting frustrated.

My buddy who got me into it after hearing me always say how much I loved it before I turned 21 is an OK player. The captain of his team is way, way better and is the man who taught me most of everything I can do. But lately I'm getting frustrated.


I feel like subconsciously I scale MY skill to the people I play. When I play my captain I either run the whole rack or at least 6 balls when I go to shoot. That's at least 80-85% of the time unless he plays a good safety. But when I play people like his brother who aren't better than some people who haven't ever played before I miss every other shot it seems.


I guess I just get way too lazy and figure there isn't a need to try?



Anyone else have a similar issue in their day?

I completely know how you feel. I'm a B player, and capable of running most open racks. But I'm also a college student who spend a lot of time playing at school (it's free) with D players and occasionally a low C player. My game is definitely not the same, although usually if I am focused, I can still run out. I think it is all mental, but it could be different for different people.

When I play with worse players, I notice that I play a lot quicker and really don't care as much. In another sense I also feel a little more pressure to play good, just to establish that I am at a much stronger speed than them although they already know it. Also, at times I get annoyed at the fact that they are banging at balls or have no clue or what they are doing, and that gets on my nerves a little and I tend to start one or two stroke at shots.

Another way to view this is that when you play stronger players, when they miss, you usually have a better shot compared to playing with banger who will probably leave the cue ball at random spots and change the whole rack after one or two shots. Also, when you play with stronger players you are usually subconsciously focused knowing that if you miss you are probably going to be racking, so in a way you play your best game.

I play a variety of players from D to A players on a weekly basis and it is interesting to see how my game fluctuates depending on my opponents. So in summary, if I were you I would check out my focus and attitude towards the game when playing weaker players. Another thing is to really establish a good preshot routine and also make sure your fundamentals are good. I've always believed that if you have solid fundamentals and a solid pre-shot routine, you should be able to play consistent.

 

[dr9ball]

I've only been playing about a year but I feel as if I've gotten way ahead of most who have similar experience but I'm getting frustrated.

My buddy who got me into it after hearing me always say how much I loved it before I turned 21 is an OK player. The captain of his team is way, way better and is the man who taught me most of everything I can do. But lately I'm getting frustrated.


I feel like subconsciously I scale MY skill to the people I play. When I play my captain I either run the whole rack or at least 6 balls when I go to shoot. That's at least 80-85% of the time unless he plays a good safety. But when I play people like his brother who aren't better than some people who haven't ever played before I miss every other shot it seems.


I guess I just get way too lazy and figure there isn't a need to try?



Anyone else have a similar issue in their day?

Maybe you shouldn't try running the whole rack. The pros don't run out 80% of the time so maybe you shouldn't try to. If you're running off 6 balls in either 8 or 9 ball you're giving your opponent an easy time of getting out and beating you.

You have to play the table and find something inside you that makes you want to fight to win on every shot no matter the skill level of your opponent.

 

[ddadams]

Maybe you shouldn't try running the whole rack. The pros don't run out 80% of the time so maybe you shouldn't try to. If you're running off 6 balls in either 8 or 9 ball you're giving your opponent an easy time of getting out and beating you.

You have to play the table and find something inside you that makes you want to fight to win on every shot no matter the skill level of your opponent.

You know... thank you. I'm a damn idiot for not realizing this.

I never really thought about it honestly. I only play safeties when I have little chance of making the shot or having any lead on the next ball.

I always feel like getting the most balls in that I can and that isn't pool...

Now I feel stupid. But thank you.

 

[vincentwu817]

You know... thank you. I'm a damn idiot for not realizing this.

I never really thought about it honestly. I only play safeties when I have little chance of making the shot or having any lead on the next ball.

I always feel like getting the most balls in that I can and that isn't pool...

Now I feel stupid. But thank you.

I think the way you are approaching it is fine. When you get stuck play safe. But the thing is, for most of us recreational players, it is still a learning experience for us, unless a lot is on the line. I would feel like it is good practice to try some lower percentage shots that you have been working on, or want to get better with.

 

[Luther Blissett]

I feel like subconsciously I scale MY skill to the people I play
--
when I play people like his brother who aren't better than some people who haven't ever played before I miss every other shot it seems.

This happens to me as well as to every (decent) player I've talked to about the issue. For this reason the only time I agree to play bad players is when I'm on a date and the girl wants to play pool. Other than that, I simply refuse to play very low skilled opponents.

In practice this makes my regular pool partner very important to me (hi Chris), as it can be hard to find good pool players in my city when it's not a tournament day.

Of course, you may find that you can still play well against bad players if there's money on the table (because then you're playing against yourself rather than against your weaker opponent ...you're playing to focus because you know it will cost you money if you fall asleep on your shot), but personally I never approach bad players and ask them if they'd like to play for money because I consider that unethical. OK one time some overconfident rich fool challenged me for money and I accepted, but it was his idea to play for money not mine, and I was very sure that he had plenty of cash to throw around so I didn't feel bad about beating him. That really was a single exception though.

 

[worktheknight]

First, realize that I am not a pro or for that matter a elite top amatuer, but, am a lower master player to a high aa player. I am also old school, meaning before the vids and instructionals that are available, I like hundreds of players learned getting our butts kicked and the lessons were on the table. Practice sessions can alter your thinking process in my opinion. I do the old bowlliards thing. Rack 10 balls, break is free, then run rack, mark a strike on an actual bowling sheet, make five or whatever, miss, then finish, mark a spare and so forth. This keeps a good developed pace, some position play, some cluster work, but, most important, each finsh is just that, you finish. As your scores get higher, you develop a little pressure to finish. I only shoot eight ball racks on the day I play league or the day before a tournament, I pretty much just play eight ball, so, I am sure maybe other routines might be better for other formats. But, this is a good practice as you have a standard to keep trying to reach and if you do this practice back to back, shooting all ten frames on your bowling sheet, you can develop and longer performance mind set without the drop level. Just a thought on how I have practiced for years with this routine. I try to monitor my effort in each trip to the table.

 

[thefonz]

Doesn't matter who you play.
If you think you can get out, shoot.
If you don't think you can get out, pattern your play accordingly to give yourself the opportunity to do so. If this means grinding a game out until the balls look better, or your opponent gets frustrated, than so be it.

Never mind the "pro's only run out 80%" of the time "statistic". That has nothing to do with winning.

Play within your abilities and maintain control of the table as best you can. And enjoy the game for what it is.

 

[Sealegs50]

Anyone else have a similar issue in their day?

Yes. That is why pool is a hobby for me and I make my living doing something else.

There is a difference between loving the game and having the desire to win. Practice is important. But it will only get you so far.

 

[snuuker]

It's been stated many times that the game is 85-90% mental. It is that but at the same time emotions can come into play as well. After reading your post it looks like that is part of what you are dealing with.

There are ways to let go of the frustration and to get rid of the mindset you are bringing into matches against weaker opponents.

PM me and will send over some info that should help.

:grin:

 

[Donny Lutz]

No, never.

I've only been playing about a year but I feel as if I've gotten way ahead of most who have similar experience but I'm getting frustrated.

My buddy who got me into it after hearing me always say how much I loved it before I turned 21 is an OK player. The captain of his team is way, way better and is the man who taught me most of everything I can do. But lately I'm getting frustrated.


I feel like subconsciously I scale MY skill to the people I play. When I play my captain I either run the whole rack or at least 6 balls when I go to shoot. That's at least 80-85% of the time unless he plays a good safety. But when I play people like his brother who aren't better than some people who haven't ever played before I miss every other shot it seems.


I guess I just get way too lazy and figure there isn't a need to try?



Anyone else have a similar issue in their day?

No, I've never had that problem. I always play my best.

Seriously, you're just experiencing what pool (sports) is all about.

Next time you're off your game, try reminding yourself how well you CAN play, and you have no reason not to play that well, now. It always works for me, sometimes...

 

[ENGLISH!]

I do it subconsciously. I never play down on purpose but I mis shots that I would not normally mis. The bottom line is to win. It does not matter how(play the table). If I'm playing on a bar table & know the level of players putting up quarters I can adjust even if I do not know the player. I know how to play (causiously) until I get a feel for how he or she plays.

I believe it is all about focus. Not so good of an opponent = lack of focus. Good playing opponent = more focus. Really good or Great Playing opponent = Total Focus.

I'm not talking about effort. The effort is the same except the focus level varies. For me focus does not seem to be a two(2) way street. It goes down subconsciously for weaker opponents, but I can consciously turn it up for better players.

You sound like a fairly good player considering you've only been playing a year. To me the level of play is directly related to focus. When I need or want to 'focus'... my eyes & ears never leave the table til the game is over & depending on the situation sometimes it still does not leave the table.

Sorry for the long winded rant, but the point to me is focus.

Best Wishes,

 

[naji]

I've only been playing about a year but I feel as if I've gotten way ahead of most who have similar experience but I'm getting frustrated.

My buddy who got me into it after hearing me always say how much I loved it before I turned 21 is an OK player. The captain of his team is way, way better and is the man who taught me most of everything I can do. But lately I'm getting frustrated.


I feel like subconsciously I scale MY skill to the people I play. When I play my captain I either run the whole rack or at least 6 balls when I go to shoot. That's at least 80-85% of the time unless he plays a good safety. But when I play people like his brother who aren't better than some people who haven't ever played before I miss every other shot it seems.


I guess I just get way too lazy and figure there isn't a need to try?



Anyone else have a similar issue in their day?

It is called lack of knowledge of pool, once you reach a supremacy level your potting skill will be almost 99.9% , and positioning options increase
then there in no way on earth stuff like what you mentioning bother you.
Since you mentioned consistency issues at your title, watch SVB's US open final he defined what consistency is.

 

[Tramp Steamer]

I suffer from incontinency from time to time, and it is especially annoying when playing One Pocket. When you have to run to the crapper every other time you're up at the table, your shot making can become very inconsistant. Or, was that the other way around? :smile:

 

[naji]

I suffer from incontinency from time to time, and it is especially annoying when playing One Pocket. When you have to run to the crapper every other time you're up at the table, your shot making can become very inconsistant. Or, was that the other way around? :smile:

I posted earlier on other thread, that a pool player must be able to pocket any ball on the table with all kind of speed, english, and stun especially longer shots. Possibilities are about 4000 shots, (considering the table is divided by 6" squares) once potting is mastered then comes positioning, then you start practice racks of 9 balls, if you do this at wrong order your pocketing skills and consistency will never improve.

 

[Hector3cushion]

...
Since you mentioned consistency issues at your title, watch SVB's US open final he defined what consistency is.

Consistency is more than one match and for that matter more than one tournament. If SVB played like this for a year that would be consistency.

 

[Tramp Steamer]

I posted earlier on other thread, that a pool player must be able to pocket any ball on the table with all kind of speed, english, and stun especially longer shots. Possibilities are about 4000 shots, (considering the table is divided by 6" squares) once potting is mastered then comes positioning, then you start practice racks of 9 balls, if you do this at wrong order your pocketing skills and consistency will never improve.

naji, perhaps you missed my point here, or you may have read too fast. If you'll but look at the fourth word of my opening sentence, you will see it. :smile:

 

[naji]

naji, perhaps you missed my point here, or you may have read too fast. If you'll but look at the fourth word of my opening sentence, you will see it. :smile:

I did not, but the reply was intended for the original poster, i quoted you so you are in the loop, you are funny though.

 

[8onthebreak]

THe answer is a lot more basic that you are making it out to be. I'm assuming you are playing 8 ball league...my answer is only relevant assuming you play 8-ball.

Here's the short of it...good players remove balls by pocketing them. Leaving you a tasty table without obstruction. Have you ever heard that bar hustle trick...let's play for $$, I break, and after the break I'll let you take all your balls off the table but I get the first shot. ???

It's more difficult to play low level players, because the game moves more slowly. You can't get into a rhythm, it naturally makes you get frustrated, and you'll never play as good as u think you play, so it erodes confidence.

You're never as good as you think you are, and you're never as bad as you think you are!!!

You only feel like you play great because he's playing at a high level and your unconscious wants to keep up...that and he's removing balls for you. You have the confidence that you know youve beat him before. I wouldn't assume that just because you keep up with him that you are actually as good as him. Remember that he is playing down and you are playing up.

I would also tell you that you need to recognize that the lower level player is slow, and balls in the way. You need to be able to get short side position, and be able to bank to beat them with the same speed...that or get good at safeties, let them move the balls around into the positions you want them in..make them break out your clusters...take a lot of ball in hand, and get your breakouts early. Don't remove most your balls and leave clusters.

Be patient, it's a different game when you are playing someone low skill. Respect that games diversity and take it on as a personal challenge.

Sounds like you've been bitten by the pool bug, good to see new talent, I wish I had picked up pool as fast...I still really sucked after 1 yr !!!