Consistency...
- Thread starter wild west
- Start date
Ill take a wild guess and say practice. 
If you have the game to play lights out, then it sounds like a focus issue. Find the pace that suits your game and try to stay in that speed. Don't press, and allow the game to come to you. best of luck
Consistancy
The two things that have helped me greatly are a pre-shot routine and working on my rhythm. Spend time to develop a pre-shot routine and PRACTICE it. Slowly at first.. being very specific so it can become commited to memory and feel for your body. Secondly, rhythm. Find a tempo that works good for you. Like dancing to a song... 1, 2, 3. 1, 2, 3. 1, 2, 3. Find a tempo that is comfortable for you. Not too slow where you're being deliberate and your mind wanders off. And not too fast where you rush and don't lock into the shot. Find this tempo and do it on every shot.
Souquet shoots with about a 4 second tempo in his setup. He sets, then adjusts his grip distance then begins his warm up strokes. 4 seconds from when he starts his warm up strokes.... EVERY TIME.
Hope this helps.
The two things that have helped me greatly are a pre-shot routine and working on my rhythm. Spend time to develop a pre-shot routine and PRACTICE it. Slowly at first.. being very specific so it can become commited to memory and feel for your body. Secondly, rhythm. Find a tempo that works good for you. Like dancing to a song... 1, 2, 3. 1, 2, 3. 1, 2, 3. Find a tempo that is comfortable for you. Not too slow where you're being deliberate and your mind wanders off. And not too fast where you rush and don't lock into the shot. Find this tempo and do it on every shot.
Souquet shoots with about a 4 second tempo in his setup. He sets, then adjusts his grip distance then begins his warm up strokes. 4 seconds from when he starts his warm up strokes.... EVERY TIME.
Hope this helps.
one thing would be a preshot routine like southpaw said......always shoot every shot the same, address the table the same, etc etc. Even if its a rail shot, or a stretch shot. What happens alot of time is you get to shooting good and your routine goes out the window, you feel like you cant miss and you just plop down on the table for the next shot.
secondly is keep a pool diary. At the end of the night, write down whats working for you and what isnt, things you notice, shots you need to work on. A diary is one of the things that helped me take my game up a couple notches. You start shooting bad, go back and read thru your diary....it helps you get back to your best game fast.
secondly is keep a pool diary. At the end of the night, write down whats working for you and what isnt, things you notice, shots you need to work on. A diary is one of the things that helped me take my game up a couple notches. You start shooting bad, go back and read thru your diary....it helps you get back to your best game fast.
wild west said:
This is easy, the next you are playing lights out analyze Very Very closely what you are doing. I mean pay attention to everything you are doing down to chalking the tip, and lock it in your memory.
Then when you game go's in the toilet analyze what is happening, and lock it in your memory.
After awhile you will Identify what is wrong some nights, and you can correct it.
If you have to write down what you think is wrong or right, and review your notes, even when you are playing good.
There is no easy answer, but there is a very common mistake, and that is when you blame, the table, your tip, the lights, the balls and on and on. The only way to find the correct answer that will work for you, is by practice and building confidants which amounts to knowing your ability and being able to identify bad habits that we all allow to come to the surface at times.
Also never forget, when you game is going to the next level, many people go through an adjustment period were their ability decreases until all the new information is adapted for use.
Hope this helps!!
I have been that way for a while. The problem for me was that I did not know what to look for. I even taped myself once when I could not miss. I was able to pick out some good stuff, but it was still difficult to say what was going wrong when I shot bad. I suppose I could have taped that also and done a comparison to look for the difference.
I am going to sound like I am beating dead horse here soon, but I just took a lesson from Scott Lee. He analyzed my stroke with video and showed me what was what, giving me a knowledge of exactly what I should be doing. He then showed me a way to be able to immediately analyze my stroke after each shot so I know right away if I did anything wrong and what that would be. Now if I am "off", I know right away what to correct.
I definately agree with the idea of a consistent shot routine helping. I also believe that focus is a huge part. Most of the time when I get to play it is late at night. Focus can be an issue at times because I am often pretty tired when I get to play. If I do not take the time to do a proper pre-shot routine, and focus correctly on the shot, then my play is significantly worse.
To answer you question, the shortest way to consistency in my opinion is to take a lesson with a good instructor who will show you what you should be doin, and how to tell whether or not you are doing it with each stroke. I can recommend Scott, as my experience was very positive. Shorten the learning curve and take a lesson as soon as you can afford it. I beat my head against the wall for long enough. Had I been able to do it a long time ago, I am sure I would be much better now.
I am going to sound like I am beating dead horse here soon, but I just took a lesson from Scott Lee. He analyzed my stroke with video and showed me what was what, giving me a knowledge of exactly what I should be doing. He then showed me a way to be able to immediately analyze my stroke after each shot so I know right away if I did anything wrong and what that would be. Now if I am "off", I know right away what to correct.
I definately agree with the idea of a consistent shot routine helping. I also believe that focus is a huge part. Most of the time when I get to play it is late at night. Focus can be an issue at times because I am often pretty tired when I get to play. If I do not take the time to do a proper pre-shot routine, and focus correctly on the shot, then my play is significantly worse.
To answer you question, the shortest way to consistency in my opinion is to take a lesson with a good instructor who will show you what you should be doin, and how to tell whether or not you are doing it with each stroke. I can recommend Scott, as my experience was very positive. Shorten the learning curve and take a lesson as soon as you can afford it. I beat my head against the wall for long enough. Had I been able to do it a long time ago, I am sure I would be much better now.
It all starts
with 'Discipline'. First, you discipline yourself, then you discipline your game.
A perfect game, under all conditions, is held to the highest discipline. How can you perform at the highest levels if you, yourself, are not disciplined to do so. So many players want to perform above what they are prepared for.
with 'Discipline'. First, you discipline yourself, then you discipline your game.
A perfect game, under all conditions, is held to the highest discipline. How can you perform at the highest levels if you, yourself, are not disciplined to do so. So many players want to perform above what they are prepared for.
gpeezy
for sale!
cyrex said:
I like this answer. Practicing a pre shot routine will have you with a realiable/repeatable table presence that will or at least should become second nature. Tempo is neccessary for that reason, second nature. Playing within you pace will allow more for shot decisions rather than aiming,stance,allignment,ect. These are things you need to think about in practice and not when you are in competetive play. Dead stroke comes more offen from just free random thought than say a constant analysis of of you from. As far as missing straight in balls everyone will do that from time to time. Those that play more in action tend to do this less. The more you pay for your mistakes, the more you work on tuning them out of your game. Regardless of any of the great answers givin pool is tough due to the pressure it puts on you mentally. A qoute was "shot every shot like it means nothing when it means everything". If you can get to where you play within that mind set, givin you have talent and knowledge to play this game. You'll be a monster.
What helped me to be more consistent was to try to keep consistent anything I could involving the game.
For example draw shots and how far back the ball will draw. I was having trouble being consistent with this and found that if I *always* used the same brand tip, hardness, tip, tip shape, scuffing of tip, and amount of chalk applied to my tip, then my draw shots would be more consistent.
So that is something I can control. Either play with different tips or always play with the same exact tip.
Same thing with weight of cue. Always playing with the same exact weight of cue goes a long way toward being consistent at speed control. I bought an accurate scale to be sure my cues were an exact weight. I found the marked weights on cues were frequently off.
Always same stroke, practice shots before hitting ball, pause before final stroke on backswing, follow through after shooting, leave tip pointing at where I was aiming, stay down on shot, etc. (get good instructor lessons on this).
Then I developed a warm-up (which is also a test for how I am shooting prior to playing) which is quick - maybe 15 minutes, and is composed of common and different shots. So a few progressive cut shots, a few progressive straight shots, draw shots (draw back cue ball increasing distances), follow shots (cue ball follows increasing distances), common cut shots into corner and side pockets, then finish with a fast force follow shot.
What is interesting is that I can do my warm-up at home and do everything perfectly, then drive 30 minutes to a tournament, do my warm-up again and miss a bunch of shots at first! Maybe driving stresses me out sometimes?
Or some days I make all my straight shots, but miss a lot of cut shots. Or the opposite.
Anyway because I do this warm-up before playing, I can see if I am having trouble with a particular type of shot, then spend more time practicing that type of shot. So say I do my warm-up and am having trouble with straight shots, then I can spend a little more time practicing those specific shots.
I call it "calibrating" myself! Just getting "settled down", relaxing, getting my sight/stroke working properly, etc....
Helps to get to tournaments early, warm-up, then sit and relax for awhile.
Drink water and lightly snack, no big meals just before a match.
For example draw shots and how far back the ball will draw. I was having trouble being consistent with this and found that if I *always* used the same brand tip, hardness, tip, tip shape, scuffing of tip, and amount of chalk applied to my tip, then my draw shots would be more consistent.
So that is something I can control. Either play with different tips or always play with the same exact tip.
Same thing with weight of cue. Always playing with the same exact weight of cue goes a long way toward being consistent at speed control. I bought an accurate scale to be sure my cues were an exact weight. I found the marked weights on cues were frequently off.
Always same stroke, practice shots before hitting ball, pause before final stroke on backswing, follow through after shooting, leave tip pointing at where I was aiming, stay down on shot, etc. (get good instructor lessons on this).
Then I developed a warm-up (which is also a test for how I am shooting prior to playing) which is quick - maybe 15 minutes, and is composed of common and different shots. So a few progressive cut shots, a few progressive straight shots, draw shots (draw back cue ball increasing distances), follow shots (cue ball follows increasing distances), common cut shots into corner and side pockets, then finish with a fast force follow shot.
What is interesting is that I can do my warm-up at home and do everything perfectly, then drive 30 minutes to a tournament, do my warm-up again and miss a bunch of shots at first! Maybe driving stresses me out sometimes?
Or some days I make all my straight shots, but miss a lot of cut shots. Or the opposite.
Anyway because I do this warm-up before playing, I can see if I am having trouble with a particular type of shot, then spend more time practicing that type of shot. So say I do my warm-up and am having trouble with straight shots, then I can spend a little more time practicing those specific shots.
I call it "calibrating" myself! Just getting "settled down", relaxing, getting my sight/stroke working properly, etc....
Helps to get to tournaments early, warm-up, then sit and relax for awhile.
Drink water and lightly snack, no big meals just before a match.
wild west said:
I going to read between the lines here a bit....."Sometimes" you play real good...."Sometimes" you play real bad....
That means that "Normally" you play your average game......that is how it goes for everyone... including Efren.....Efren's normal game just happens to be much better....
Your normal game is always going to be your most consistent game.....Nobody ever consistently plays thier "lights out" game....that is your "in the zone" game. The problem with the in the zone game is that as soon as you realize you are playing in the zone.....you are no longer in the zone....you just have to let that game happen and enjoy it when it does...
Insted of trying to beat your head in trying to figure out a way to "always" play your lights out game (which will never happen) Instead try and figure out how to win with your "normal" game........Since that is always gonig to be your most consistent game.