I go in to every session (practice or a match) with a positive outlook, anticipating I’ll play at a skill / execution / consistency level like I know I’m capable of playing at and have played at before.
Virtually every session, I find I fall short of those expectations. I may play at that level in short spurts, possibly even for a complete race to 5 or race to 7 set against an opponent or against the ghost, but never for an entire session. Just curious if most others here experience the same - almost always failing to play at the level you know you are capable of playing at for an extended session?
Working harder and playing / practicing more is not an option with the amount of time I’m able to play. I know my fundamentals are sound, but I’m sure sometimes better than others. Yes, I realize my age, 64, may be the main reason, but I honestly feel my vision, health and/or lack of focus are not what is holding me back. Should I consider adjusting my expectations? That just seems like such a pessimistic and depressing outlook, even if it is realistic.
I guess it would just make me feel better to hear that most others, particularly those in my general age group, have a similar experience with their pool game?
https://www.researchgate.net/public...tification_of_Individual_Athletic_Performance
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6157919/
http://www.sportpsychologytoday.com...ons-can-lead-pressure-and-effect-performance/
There are resources out there for players to access, if they want the answer bad enough.
It starts with your definition of expectations. That requires context. Context relies on who, when and where to set the stage. Logically this creates a different environment for expectations every time. The “when” variable includes history. Previous encounters, results and changes in resources color expectations. Of course, who and where make up the other components completing the scenario. Additionally, expectations change as the results of each shot/game/match add to history.
Perhaps a better measure for play is the idea of certainty. Certainty feeds into beliefs, confidence, expectations and prediction. Prediction is the key involved in each individual shot. Prediction varies based on the level of certainty. It ranges, on a scale, from zero to 100%. So how do we measure the level?
Certainty is a cognitive construct. Think about what it feels like to pocket a sitter. Hold onto that feeling while you measure the shot. Find the elements in the shot that move the needle towards the sitter feel for the current shot. Education researchers, studying good spellers, discovered that their level of certainty was felt along the centre line of the body. A cocked head is a sign of uncertainty. In veterinary medicine, that cocked head usually indicates balance issues. Patients with vestibular disruption experience uncertainty, as a symptom. It translates into our language around decisions. Knowing in your heart of hearts or the gut feelings. Those centre line descriptions reveal that we listen to our body. The takeaway for players concerning certainty is that this is part of what we need to consider. It appears in many parts of the game.
Initial evaluation of the table creates decision points. Choice of strategy, tactics, patterned play and current shot pick. Once a shot is in play, choosing the aim line, type of cue action needed in the current table situation, will generate a level of certainty. This should feed back into the whole decision process making it possible to change any decision in the chain. Without commitment to a plan or a shot, uncertainty lives and with it hesitancy. Assuming that hurdle is cleared, certainty switches to the predictability of success.
Your body has a built in balance meter that acts to tell us when things are off. Learning to tap into your level of certainty can work as a tipping point letting you get up instead of proceeding. Baseball research examined what was the biggest difference between better and lesser batters, they found it was the ability to lay off pitches. Not swinging, when it was right, was the difference that made a difference. Tapping into our level of certainty should allow us to get up and let us commit fully and realistically.
It’s up to the individual player to set realistic expectations, that allows for personal growth.
Hope this helps.
