Ten or so years ago, I was an everyday player. Id play about 3 or 4 hours a night at different bars/pool halls/friends houses.
I was an above average league player, probably winning 75% of my matches, winning a few and cashing in quite a few of the small (10-30) shooter tournaments that were held around my area.
..Then I met the woman I now call my wife, moved in with her and her 2 kids, and pretty much gave up pool cold turkey. I probably have played less than 10 hours of pool total in the past 10 years.
That was until about two months ago. I found a great deal on a nice Olhausen 7foot table. I set it up in my garage, and began to get back into pool. Ive probably spent 2 or so hours on the table each night. I never did much drill or practice work 10 years ago, and I knew that If i wanted to improve my game, Id have to start doing drills.
So I went online, found a pile of drills, and starting practicing. I noticed an improvement in my game almost immediately, and was brimming with confidence. I thought I was shooting as well as I did 10 years ago, just like riding a bike, right?
So I decided to enter a tournament at a small local pool hall. We played on 7 foot Diamonds. While I was warming up, another guy came over and we played 6 games. I beat him 5-1. And no, he wasn't playing slow. I clocked him before he came over, and watched him playing in the tourney, and he was shooting the same as when I Played him, and he won his first 2 matches
Then the tournament started. I ran down to the 8, flubbed the shot and it was all downhill from there.
Ended up losing my first match 4-0, and my losers bracket match 3-0. I completely fell apart, I don't even remember if I made 10 more balls the rest of the night.
Now I am left wondering, did my game really get that much worse than it was 10 years ago? Was it the long layoff playing actually shooters? Was it strictly nerves?
Any tips from people who have given up the game for a long time, then return, how did YOU get back into competing form. Because I need some serious help!
I was an above average league player, probably winning 75% of my matches, winning a few and cashing in quite a few of the small (10-30) shooter tournaments that were held around my area.
..Then I met the woman I now call my wife, moved in with her and her 2 kids, and pretty much gave up pool cold turkey. I probably have played less than 10 hours of pool total in the past 10 years.
That was until about two months ago. I found a great deal on a nice Olhausen 7foot table. I set it up in my garage, and began to get back into pool. Ive probably spent 2 or so hours on the table each night. I never did much drill or practice work 10 years ago, and I knew that If i wanted to improve my game, Id have to start doing drills.
So I went online, found a pile of drills, and starting practicing. I noticed an improvement in my game almost immediately, and was brimming with confidence. I thought I was shooting as well as I did 10 years ago, just like riding a bike, right?
So I decided to enter a tournament at a small local pool hall. We played on 7 foot Diamonds. While I was warming up, another guy came over and we played 6 games. I beat him 5-1. And no, he wasn't playing slow. I clocked him before he came over, and watched him playing in the tourney, and he was shooting the same as when I Played him, and he won his first 2 matches
Then the tournament started. I ran down to the 8, flubbed the shot and it was all downhill from there.
Ended up losing my first match 4-0, and my losers bracket match 3-0. I completely fell apart, I don't even remember if I made 10 more balls the rest of the night.
Now I am left wondering, did my game really get that much worse than it was 10 years ago? Was it the long layoff playing actually shooters? Was it strictly nerves?
Any tips from people who have given up the game for a long time, then return, how did YOU get back into competing form. Because I need some serious help!
