Do I Need to Take a Break?

C

ChrisinNC

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Just curious if some players here have experienced a tournament performance like I had last night in which I uncharacteristically missed numerous easy 9-ball shots in two consecutive matches? As a result I went 2-and-out, losing both matches to players I normally have no problems with. I felt like once I started missing on the 9-ball, I couldn't possibly leave myself easy enough positioning to not feel the pressure on subsequent 9-ball shots, which I also proceeded to miss. I felt like my opponents actually felt sorry for me, as they've never seen me choke like that before and they didn't even feel like they deserved to win.

I know this is a very mental game. Perhaps this is a sign to me that I need to take a break from the game, and maybe from this forum as well, for a week or so? I generally play/practice about 3 nights a week, but it's probably been well over a year since I've taken off more than 3-4 days in a row. After last night, I'm feeling like I just need to take a break for a while to clear my mind.

Have others experienced an unusually disappointing performance like this, and did you find any successful ways to deal with it and overcome it? Thanks
 
ChrisinNC said:
Just curious if some players here have experienced a tournament performance like I had last night in which I uncharacteristically missed numerous easy 9-ball shots in two consecutive matches? As a result I went 2-and-out, losing both matches to players I normally have no problems with. I felt like once I started missing on the 9-ball, I couldn't possibly leave myself easy enough positioning to not feel the pressure on subsequent 9-ball shots, which I also proceeded to miss. I felt like my opponents actually felt sorry for me, as they've never seen me choke like that before and they didn't even feel like they deserved to win.

I know this is a very mental game. Perhaps this is a sign to me that I need to take a break from the game, and maybe from this forum as well, for a week or so? I generally play/practice about 3 nights a week, but it's probably been well over a year since I've taken off more than 3-4 days in a row. After last night, I'm feeling like I just need to take a break for a while to clear my mind.

Have others experienced an unusually disappointing performance like this, and did you find any successful ways to deal with it and overcome it? Thanks
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I played a match once where my opponent broke dry 5 times. I ran to the 9 every game and rattled it each game. I didn't make him shoot any of them. So he does not make a ball the entire match and wins 5-0.

You just have to laugh it off. Stuff happens. No reason to dwell on it. I played well just did not close.

If you feel like you need a break though, then just take one. Good luck.

Focus on your routine and the process instead of the results. Some people play shape for an imaginary ball when shooting the money ball to maintain intensity.
 
If you played great every time you would be on TV. Shake it off. Get back to the table.
 
I dunno, chris... I had a break and played my first tourney in about a year.

I missed so many 8s and 9s, I thought it have to smash some shit up. Then, to top it off? A forum member's kid knocked me out! He had me like 6-3 or 4, I tightened up and we get hill-hill. I am running out and get a little (LITTLE) funny on the 8. Decide to take what i got and get exactly the shot i expected on the 9...which i hang in the hole. :banghead

So your complaints about missing 9s? It can get worse!
 
A young kid on my team was a little over worked. He took a few days off and got some rest. Did him wonders.
 
Black-Balled said:
I dunno, chris... I had a break and played my first tourney in about a year.

I missed so many 8s and 9s, I thought it have to smash some shit up. Then, to top it off? A forum member's kid knocked me out! He had me like 6-3 or 4, I tightened up and we get hill-hill. I am running out and get a little (LITTLE) funny on the 8. Decide to take what i got and get exactly the shot i expected on the 9...which i hang in the hole. :banghead

So your complaints about missing 9s? It can get worse!
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To make a number of nice runs to get to the 9-ball, and then figure out a way to miss fairly easy 9-ball shots (a total of 5 times over 2 matches) just has to be mental - particularly when historically I've never had a problem doing this. I've struggled before where I felt like I couldn't make a ball, but to run out numerous balls numerous times only to get myself a relatively easy shot on the 9-ball 5 different times and miss it, is just something I haven't had to deal with in a long long time. As to your nearly 1 year break, at age 61 I certainly can't afford to take that long a break - I was thinking more in terms of a week or two.
 
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I have had days like that in golf when I would be absolutely striping it and never make one birdie, lipping out putt after putt from inside 15 feet. That can wear on you. It just happens. I hit good putts and they didn't go in. With your pool story, I could see how it could just be bad luck but also lack of concentration once you kept your concentration to run the 1 - 8 and then relax too soon. So, fatigue, burn-out could be a question. A week or so off could def help.
 
Practice your fundamentals and keep practicing, it will work out . Will you never miss another 9 ball? None of us can attain that outcome, but you will over come problems with determination. Practice, and don't think about the past problems, build for the future.
2 Cents issued
 
livemusic said:
I have had days like that in golf when I would be absolutely striping it and never make one birdie, lipping out putt after putt from inside 15 feet. That can wear on you. It just happens. I hit good putts and they didn't go in. With your pool story, I could see how it could just be bad luck but also lack of concentration once you kept your concentration to run the 1 - 8 and then relax too soon. So, fatigue, burn-out could be a question. A week or so off could def help.
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I played golf as well, and if you can imagine, I would equate the golf equivalent of what I did last night in terms of frustration with having hit every green in regulation, with 18 birdie attempts from 5-30 feet, making no birdies and 3-putting 6 of 18 holes to shoot 78 when I easily could have shot 66-68.
 
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ChrisinNC said:
Just curious if some players here have experienced a tournament performance like I had last night in which I uncharacteristically missed numerous easy 9-ball shots in two consecutive matches? As a result I went 2-and-out, losing both matches to players I normally have no problems with. I felt like once I started missing on the 9-ball, I couldn't possibly leave myself easy enough positioning to not feel the pressure on subsequent 9-ball shots, which I also proceeded to miss. I felt like my opponents actually felt sorry for me, as they've never seen me choke like that before and they didn't even feel like they deserved to win.

I know this is a very mental game. Perhaps this is a sign to me that I need to take a break from the game, and maybe from this forum as well, for a week or so? I generally play/practice about 3 nights a week, but it's probably been well over a year since I've taken off more than 3-4 days in a row. After last night, I'm feeling like I just need to take a break for a while to clear my mind.

Have others experienced an unusually disappointing performance like this, and did you find any successful ways to deal with it and overcome it? Thanks
Click to expand...


Of course, everyone has experienced this.

BUT this isn't the time to quit, it's the time to head straight back to the pool hall and play bad. (Stick with me.)

Go back and purposely allow yourself to replicate the misses. Try to resist the temptation to do whatever to make the shots. The idea is to miss the shot, just like you did, and then do a bit of introspection and reverse engineer what happen to throw you off. You have to look at it as a golden opportunity.

Lou Figueroa
 
I agree with Lou about not taking a break. The answer is in your head, and the only thing that will fix that is working through it IMO.

2 matches come to mind where I did similar stuff, both in State Championships.

First one was a year I was working out of town and did not plan on playing. I ended up being in town and giving a buddy a lift to the tourney. On the way he convinced me to play. Played off the wall with no pressure and was going deep. Ran into Aileen Pippin and had her down 6-0 or 6-1 in a race to 7. Could not finish her off despite having 4-5 more shots at a 9 ball.

A few years later, I was trying too hard to win a State tournament before I left AK. Ran into a teammate/buddy deep in the tourney. Same thing, up 6-1 in a race to 7, but could not finish him.

I was pissed off for about 15-20 minutes each time, then said fook it. It happens, you can act like it shouldn’t but at the end of the day we are human. In my case I was focused on the wrong things. Instead of doing what I needed to do to actually win, my focus was on the win and not dotting I’s and crossing T’s.
 
Go practice and pretend you've never played before. Grip, stance, aim, etc. should be your only concerns. Sounds simplistic but i do this in both golf and pool when things go south. Its often something stupidly simple that's causing you problems.
 
ChrisinNC said:
Just curious if some players here have experienced a tournament performance like I had last night in which I uncharacteristically missed numerous easy 9-ball shots in two consecutive matches? As a result I went 2-and-out, losing both matches to players I normally have no problems with. I felt like once I started missing on the 9-ball, I couldn't possibly leave myself easy enough positioning to not feel the pressure on subsequent 9-ball shots, which I also proceeded to miss. I felt like my opponents actually felt sorry for me, as they've never seen me choke like that before and they didn't even feel like they deserved to win.

I know this is a very mental game. Perhaps this is a sign to me that I need to take a break from the game, and maybe from this forum as well, for a week or so? I generally play/practice about 3 nights a week, but it's probably been well over a year since I've taken off more than 3-4 days in a row. After last night, I'm feeling like I just need to take a break for a while to clear my mind.

Have others experienced an unusually disappointing performance like this, and did you find any successful ways to deal with it and overcome it? Thanks
Click to expand...


I would do whatever you feel comfortable with, Chris, be it grind it out or take a break. That said, IMO, I'm guessing you're human. As such, you're wired to be anything from a stone cold genius to a complete idiot on any given day, at any given time. Don't be so hard on yourself... :yeah:
 
Michael Andros said:
I would do whatever you feel comfortable with, Chris, be it grind it out or take a break. That said, IMO, I'm guessing you're human. As such, you're wired to be anything from a stone cold genius to a complete idiot on any given day, at any given time. Don't be so hard on yourself... :yeah:
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Yeah, I know, it's just a silly game. One of my closest friends told me tonight he just received confirmation from his doctor that he has cancer. Kind of puts everything in perspective and makes me regret starting such a self centered thread.
 
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ChrisinNC said:
Yeah, I know, it's just a silly game. One of my closest friends told me tonight he just received confirmation from his doctor that he has cancer. Kind of puts everything in perspective and makes me regret starting such a self centered thread.
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It’s a good thread. Life is kick in the ass. It’s joy and pain. Pool is not a silly game. Whatever we enjoy is important. It’s the little things that brighten our day. Good fun is hard to find. Most of us found it in pool as frustrating as it can be. I quit playing 100 times. And I’m looking forward to the next 100. Life is too serious to take seriously....
 
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ChrisinNC said:
Yeah, I know, it's just a silly game. One of my closest friends told me tonight he just received confirmation from his doctor that he has cancer. Kind of puts everything in perspective and makes me regret starting such a self centered thread.
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I'm very sorry to hear that, Chris. However, as a cancer survivor, I can tell you, depending of course on some variables, cancer is no longer a "death sentence" or really anything close. I know you're absolutely the type friend he will need moving forward; supportive, strong, positive... I'll keep my fingers crossed for him.

"makes me regret starting such a self centered thread."

Again... go easy on yourself.
 
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I am glad you started this thread.

Reading the replies from those I have come to respect, it is comforting to know of shared experience.

Sorry to hear about your good friend.
 
ChrisinNC said:
Yeah, I know, it's just a silly game. One of my closest friends told me tonight he just received confirmation from his doctor that he has cancer. Kind of puts everything in perspective and makes me regret starting such a self centered thread.
Click to expand...

I don't think it's self centered.. this is a pool forum and we're talking pool, but yeah
there is more important s**t to worry about.
FWIW, been there done that... one time playing One Pocket, I got to 7 a number of
times and just couldn't get out... in golf they call it the YIPS.

Get back on the horse that threw ya.. don't let any negative thought cross your mind when you're down on the nine:thumbup:
 
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