Consistency

The Piper

The Piper

Get Ugly...
Silver Member
I play in a small league out in WOOSTAH MA. I notice that my game tends to fluctuate way to much. There are some nights that I average 6 - 7 ball runs in 8 balls, other nights that 2 -3 are a challenge. I have tried running some drills during some practice time, but notice that I can't consistenly play up to my ability. I was just wondering if anyone else experiences this, and how did you manage to overcome it. more practice? if so what drills? focus? Music
 
practice, practice, practice...drills, drills, drills, until you're so bored you wanna harpoon the waitress that keeps asking if you want something. Then you go out for a cig, and get back to it. Don't worry, the fun comes when you beat the sh*t outta someone by making them your rack b*tch for the night.
 
The Piper said:
I play in a small league out in WOOSTAH MA. I notice that my game tends to fluctuate way to much. There are some nights that I average 6 - 7 ball runs in 8 balls, other nights that 2 -3 are a challenge. I have tried running some drills during some practice time, but notice that I can't consistenly play up to my ability. I was just wondering if anyone else experiences this, and how did you manage to overcome it. more practice? if so what drills? focus? Music
Click to expand...

You could always take lessons. Nick Varner is coming to the area this weekend (2/18/06 and 2/19/06) to give semi-private lessons.

The flyer can be seen here

Bentley Billiards (Westfield, MA) Saturday Feb.18th 11:00am - 2:00pm
Albertis Bar (Greenfield, MA) Saturday Feb.18th 4:00pm - 7:00pm
Baystate Billiards (Salem, MA) Sunday Feb 19th 11:00am - 2:00pm

For consistency, I also like to recommend the BCA Instructors and other instructors.

Fred
 
The Piper said:
I play in a small league out in WOOSTAH MA. I notice that my game tends to fluctuate way to much. There are some nights that I average 6 - 7 ball runs in 8 balls, other nights that 2 -3 are a challenge. I have tried running some drills during some practice time, but notice that I can't consistenly play up to my ability. I was just wondering if anyone else experiences this, and how did you manage to overcome it. more practice? if so what drills? focus? Music
Click to expand...

Are you missing shot's ? or are you messing up shape? or are you just not getting the run out? If you are on a league you may be playing on bar Boxes. Those cluster's can screw anyone up?
How is your safety play?
 
the lack of consistency comes from missing the shots. I can see the run, I can trace the run, but it is the execution of it. I am assuming that i would have to practice some drills on the basics or something. i can see the shot see what i need to do with the shot. Some nights no hesitation just stroke it and move on. Other nights it's a battle to get the ball in the pocket.
 
I played league play for many years and started to notice that little things made me perform differently... here are a couple of examples:

1. If I had a great, productive day at work... I shot lights-out. If I did not have a nice day at work... I sucked.
2. If I ate too close to league time, I sucked.
3. If I drank OJ while playing, I shot better. It just wakes your mind up.
4. If I did not warm-up enough, I usually sucked.
5. If I tried too hard and did not have fun, I usually sucked.
6. If I had not played in that particular bar before and did not have time to get comfortable there, I usually sucked.
7. And <drumroll here> If I had just cut my fingernails... I sucked.
8. Also... I had two modes of shooting... my friend told me that (when we were playing each other) he knew he was in trouble if I really stayed down on my shots. The other mode was one where I was getting up early and was not so accurate.

Weird, huh?
 
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BillYards said:
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3. If I drank OJ while playing, I shot better. It just wakes your mind up.
7. And <drumroll here> If I had just cut my fingernails... I sucked.
8. Also... I had two modes of shooting... my friend told me that (when we were playing each other) he knew he was in trouble if I really stayed down on my shots. The other mode was one where I was getting up early and was not so accurate.

Weird, huh?
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I have never tried the OJ...I am going to try that tonight.

7 & 8 are right on the money for me...

I have never mentioned #7 to anyone...I did not want them to think I was a mental case...(I am glad you brought it up!!) :p
 
your lack of consistency probably comes from your stroke. Once you have a repeatable, smooth stroke, your misses usually come down to just temporary lapses or aiming misjudgement which are both easily corrected as you learn, my advice is get some lessons and get your stroke nailed down ( i highly recommend cue-tech and randy g)
 
The Piper said:
I play in a small league out in WOOSTAH MA. I notice that my game tends to fluctuate way to much. There are some nights that I average 6 - 7 ball runs in 8 balls, other nights that 2 -3 are a challenge. I have tried running some drills during some practice time, but notice that I can't consistenly play up to my ability. I was just wondering if anyone else experiences this, and how did you manage to overcome it. more practice? if so what drills? focus? Music
Click to expand...

What kind of shots are you missing? Sometimes as we get to become better shot makers we think we should be making everything. If this is the case don't be so hard on yourself.

Without actually seeing you play I can't give you too much advice. But here it goes:

First take a look at your fundamentals, are you balanced? Your alignment might be a problem, make sure that the right side (if your right handed) is aligned with the shot. Do you snatch at shots? Make sure to follow through and keep your cue still (provided there isn't a danger of a ball hitting it).

Another problem might be your mental state. Alot of people have a tendency to get down on themselves after a few misses (I suck, I suck, I suck), don't do that. Alot of us have had days where we shot so incredibly. We tend to expect that should be every day.

Take it easy on yourself, have fun. Don't get down on yourself if you miss, everyone misses. Play some 14.1, get used to running lots of balls.
 
I had a terrible practice session last night. I played 14.1 and couldn't run more than 4 or 5 shots; and those were the good times. All of my drills went pear-shaped, my potting ability was atrocious. The only bright sparks were my break-outs and clusters. I put it down to a bad night, more beer than I should have had, and generally being in a bad mood. At those times, it's better to walk away.

...The five year lapse in playing might have something to with it too.
 
BRKNRUN said:
I have never tried the OJ...I am going to try that tonight.

7 & 8 are right on the money for me...

I have never mentioned #7 to anyone...I did not want them to think I was a mental case...(I am glad you brought it up!!) :p
Click to expand...

The O.J. is the only thing i drink when playing. A old local Hustler taught me this a long time ago. It look's like a mixed drink.:)
 
Stroke. I do better if I do not move my upper arm, follow through, then leave the tip of my cue pointing at where I was aiming after hitting the ball, and stay down after the shot "forever". Stay down after the shot until the cows come home!

I know a guy who uses his upper arm when stroking, will follow through up into the air to the left or right of where he was aiming, and does not stay down on his shot. He is very inconsistent.

I know these are difficult habits to break. As a matter of fact, one of the few shots I missed last night, a teammate told me I did not stay down on that shot (cue up in air), but said I did fine with all of my other shots. So I have been working on breaking this bad habit for a few years and still don't do what I should sometimes.

May want to practice stroking in front of a mirror or videotape yourself.
 
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