Faith in yourself or Faith in your tools??

[sweatinNbettin]

As a pool player, what's more important? I know for me there are days when I teeter back and forth. Some days house cue or million dollar cue I feel like I can do whatever I want. Then there are days when I don't have that within myself, I have to pull out old Betsy(my Capone) and she helps get me through. And sometimes that helps me get some faith back in me. Other times, not so much.

So what are your thoughts?

 

[Johnnyt]

A lot of the negative part of the mental game goes away when you can just, "trust you stroke". Johnnyt

 

[Spantiznik]

Yup and on nights that I am just not feeling it. I normally just crack the stick and go home and sleep.

 

[Tramp Steamer]

I'd say both, but then billions and billions of years ago the sun shined and single celled animals grew, reproduced, died, then deposited unceremoniously into crooks, crannies, and dry sea beds all around the world where they lay covered by tons and tons of rock and earth, under incredible amounts of heat and pressure, until each one of their tiny little bodys were converted to oil molecules.
Then along came man who built the automobile, and rather than have it sit in his driveway, unable to move, he built oil wells, refinerys, and gas stations, to provide himself with expensive gasoline. Man could at last venture out beyond his own garage.
Now that man could travel he found himself in need of recreation so he built poolhalls in most major and medium sized cities and commuted back and forth in the automobile powered by the single celled animals, heretofore mentioned. Life was good for man, but not so for women. They had to stay home and keep man's tip shaped.
Now what's this got to do with faith? Simple. Just continue to believe the sun is going to shine tomorrow.

 

[Bamacues]

I think that you have to trust and believe in yourself.

In order to do that, you have to trust your equipment. The psyche is a fragile thing. If you get down on a shot and miscue, then repeat that a couple of times, you tend to start blaming the cue...it can't possibly be that you are lifting out, not focusing, etc.

If you have your own equipment, and you take care of it, you will have more faith in it, and you will believe that you can play better with it, so you will.

When someone is really playing well, they can grab a barbroom off the wall and run out with it. When someone is struggling, thay can't make a 1' straight-in with a Gus.

Joe

 

[Mitchxout]

Wasn't it Bugs Rucker who never owned a cue.

 

[RobustBrad]

I honestly can play 98% as good with a house stick in compared to playing with my shon.

Although it feels 1000 times better playing with the stl-11.

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk

 

[phread59]

Since I got my Josie I feel that equipment worries have gone away. I never fret about it anymore. I know the cue will do the job. When it goes wrong now I know it's me.

I'll say that good equipment does help in the mental game. It has for me. I have several other competent cues. But I just never got the feeling of confidence this Josie has for me.

Mark Shuman

 

[vincentwu817]

I honestly believe that as long as a cue is straight and has a leather tip on it, it becomes mostly your own mental game. I play just as well using a 20 dollar house cue in taiwan (has joints and leather tip, not the american ones) and compared to my 600 dollar black creek cue. I think its all in the head, however, when the pool room is comfortable (AC and good table condition) I play a lot better

 

[jalapus logan]

I honestly believe that as long as a cue is straight and has a leather tip on it, it becomes mostly your own mental game. I play just as well using a 20 dollar house cue in taiwan (has joints and leather tip, not the american ones) and compared to my 600 dollar black creek cue. I think its all in the head, however, when the pool room is comfortable (AC and good table condition) I play a lot better

I hear you. I am playing the best pool of my life with a cue with a mismatched shaft. When I'm super lazy, which is often, I just pick up a cue off of the wall and run out with that. Pool is all about the state of your noodle...

 

[vincentwu817]

I hear you. I am playing the best pool of my life with a cue with a mismatched shaft. When I'm super lazy, which is often, I just pick up a cue off of the wall and run out with that. Pool is all about the state of your noodle...

However, little things like cues, tips, pool room can easily make a huge difference in your game! But I think in the long run, it is how you stroke the cue, not which cue you are using. I did feel "better" when I get a new cue or install a new tip, but I'm sure that's all in the head And those improvements are gone after I stop being excited about my new equipment lol.

 

[Lp20]

Who is playing today.

It's all in my head.
When you’re on your on and when you’re not, man it can for a long night.
I have a confidents problem, so I go back and for. I also for some reason, without knowing start playing like my opponent, or whoever I practice with. ** What’s up with that? **
I'm old and took a 40 year break from pool and have only been back into it for a couple of years. Play apa and just joined the BCA. BCA has helped a lot.
I had a apa game where I trashed the first game and I'm telling myself, oh what a long night this will be. Then I got in the BCA mode mentally and did one shot at a time. I took the next 5 racks.
I also find that being tired is the worst, and won't play when I am. Unless I have to. I also found that weather condition play a big part on everything. Just have to adapt quickly and that’s not easy. I get real sticky on those humid day and tip and tables change a lot.
I love the BCA, gets my mind in the game.
I can't say I know anything, just my experience.
From a real Psycho. LOL
Jeff
PS Sometime I don't even know who is coming out to play. Me or someone else in my head, but I have a great time.

 

[ironman]

A lot of the negative part of the mental game goes away when you can just, "trust you stroke". Johnnyt

that's the bottom line alright, but why not do everything you can to insure that doesn't change even a little bit. Whether it be a Capone, Schon, Mcdermott, or what ever, it that is what you have chosen or believe in, why ever pick up anything else. After all, pool is really about one single little ingredient,,,consistency!! The consistent are playing and the rest are watching and talking!

 

[C.Milian]

I'd say both, but then billions and billions of years ago the sun shined and single celled animals grew, reproduced, died, then deposited unceremoniously into crooks, crannies, and dry sea beds all around the world where they lay covered by tons and tons of rock and earth, under incredible amounts of heat and pressure, until each one of their tiny little bodys were converted to oil molecules.
Then along came man who built the automobile, and rather than have it sit in his driveway, unable to move, he built oil wells, refinerys, and gas stations, to provide himself with expensive gasoline. Man could at last venture out beyond his own garage.
Now that man could travel he found himself in need of recreation so he built poolhalls in most major and medium sized cities and commuted back and forth in the automobile powered by the single celled animals, heretofore mentioned. Life was good for man, but not so for women. They had to stay home and keep man's tip shaped.
Now what's this got to do with faith? Simple. Just continue to believe the sun is going to shine tomorrow.

Welcome Back

 

[Cdryden]

I think that if you believe that your equipment is the reason for your success or failure than you need to work on your mental strength. All you need is within you.

The cue is just a stick of wood, the balls are just plastic balls and the table is just furniture, they have no innate ability.

* granted, better equipment leads to more reliable, consistent play. But it doesn't decide the outcome of your game......you do.