Handling a slump

C

chicagomike

Play with an Ed Young cue
Silver Member
It seems that players always seem to know when they are in stroke, but what are some thoughts on the types of things that take us out of stroke...and what's the quickest way to get back "in stroke".

Just curious as I seem to have been in a minor slump lately...I'm just not seeing the shot nor executing with the success I normally have. Is it just something that has to pass naturally or are there any ideas on accelerating the down time??

I have been playing for many years and know plenty about fundamentals, playing the game, and mindset, but it always seems to baffle me when these pitfalls occasionally show their ugly faces. :eek:
 
I tend to slow down and pay attention to they way my body feels. When I figure that, I try to fix it. Right after that I go to bed and let my mind rest but picture what I need to do right.
 
Last edited:
Look at what is going on in your life an around you. I'm sure you have great mechanics an ability sometimes its more. :smile:
 
chicagomike said:
It seems that players always seem to know when they are in stroke, but what are some thoughts on the types of things that take us out of stroke...and what's the quickest way to get back "in stroke".

Just curious as I seem to have been in a minor slump lately...I'm just not seeing the shot nor executing with the success I normally have. Is it just something that has to pass naturally or are there any ideas on accelerating the down time??

I have been playing for many years and know plenty about fundamentals, playing the game, and mindset, but it always seems to baffle me when these pitfalls occasionally show their ugly faces. :eek:
Click to expand...

The quickest way to get out of a slump - Take time off, you should return playing no better or worse than ever.

The most effective way to deal with a slump - Power through it, find out what's causing the problem and fix it. This can sometimes drag it out for a long time but you'll be a much improved player for it.
 
Like others have said, if I get into a bad slump, I take a bit of time off.

You can just try to play through the slump (which I have done multiple time), but I found that taking time off is the usually the quickest way.

If you are not in a match/ tournament at the time, I say take at least a week off. If you are in a match/ tournament, try your hardest to play through the slump and focus on being aware of everything that you are doing.
 
If you think it is mechanics, then focus more on your practice drills rather than competing.

If you think it is nerves (execution's off during competition), just belly up to the competition and play more.

If you think it is because you aren't taking time to see more options on each shot and think more clearly about the results, then again, more time on the practice table. Play the ghost more often.

If you stop playing, IMO, only two things will happen, either you will forget whatever it is that is bothering you, or it will be there when you return and nothing has happened to fix it.

IMO, practice and play more. Drills, Drills and Practice and Play. MORE. You know you can get back to OLD level of play, and if you keep this up, maybe a NEW and Improved LEVEL of play.

Good Luck and please let us know how you resolved your issue(s).
 
One other thing that can cause me to fall into a slump is if I have some serious personal problem lingering over my head. Things that are unavoidable. If that's not the case I seek help from my one of my mentors. It usually turns out to be mechanics.

I'm curious what amount of time do your slumps last. If they are in fact minor as you say what is minor to you. Minor to me could be a few shots to a few games. Playing my best game and losing to a better player is not something I consider a slump. I usualy leave having learned something new.
 
Fenwick said:
One other thing that can cause me to fall into a slump is if I have some serious personal problem lingering over my head. Things that are unavoidable. If that's not the case I seek help from my one of my mentors. It usually turns out to be mechanics.

I'm curious what amount of time do your slumps last. If they are in fact minor as you say what is minor to you. Minor to me could be a few shots to a few games. Playing my best game and losing to a better player is not something I consider a slump. I usualy leave having learned something new.
Click to expand...

Usually my slumps seem to last about 10 playing sessions...by then it seems to work itself out. Often times I feel as if I am playing better, more focused pool than I did prior to the slump.
 
chicagomike said:
Usually my slumps seem to last about 10 playing sessions...by then it seems to work itself out. Often times I feel as if I am playing better, more focused pool than I did prior to the slump.
Click to expand...

That's a bit long but I've had a few of those in the past. For me it almost always seems to be fundamentals. Is there anyone available who can you help? Just a 15 minute lesson sometimes goes a long way. I'm lucky to have friends who are my practice partners. We help each other even during a match!
 
If you really KNOW your process, a slump only has to last one shot...because you have the diagnostic tools to find out what part of your process failed you, and then focus on that specific thing, the next time you go to the table. To be able to do this, you have to first define your process, train it, and then practice it until it becomes a habit.

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
 
Fenwick said:
That's a bit long but I've had a few of those in the past. For me it almost always seems to be fundamentals. Is there anyone available who can you help? Just a 15 minute lesson sometimes goes a long way. I'm lucky to have friends who are my practice partners. We help each other even during a match!
Click to expand...

Happy to say I believe the slump is over, I was hitting balls really sweet tonight. ..It lasted about a week (4 sessions/outings), and seems my alignment to my shot line was off. I also focused on follow thru and keeping my bridgehand planted on the table. Thanks for the help!!!
 
Sometimes a slump can be physical. Poor eating/sleeping habits, lack of exercise, inflamed/sore muscles/joints, etc. These can all bring your game way down.
 
Some good advice here.



I will add that taking your game back to basics and getting back to focusing on one shot at a time has helped me.

Make sure your in a positive frame of mind. Get to the table and try a few shots and see what happens. If you're having trouble, stay positive and do a few simpler shots or practice drills and pay close attention to your mechanics.

No matter what, stay calm and positive. Your state of mind is critical to playing your best. If you try and try but can't seem to get your best from yourself, by all means, step away and come back later. Pool isn't going anywhere.



Did I mention to stay positive? :wink:
 
It's definately your cue. You need to sell your cue and buy another one as soon as your in a slump. :)
 
Glad you're out of it. In the future, the trick is to not acknowledge it. Don't treat slumps as if they exist because they don't.

You ever see one of those guys who never calls out of work? Is it that he never gets sick? Not exactly. He just works whether his nose is running or not. He doesn't call out because it's a nice day or because he went on a bender the night before. He just shows up and does his work and doesn't let excuses get in the way of doing it. At the end of the week his paycheck is exactly as good as last week's. It's consistent. At the same time if he has to miss a day because he got unlucky and a piano fell on him, he doesn't worry about it. He's realistic. He just waits til he can get back to work.

Same deal with pool. Show up and do the work. Don't give yourself an excuse to be lazy on your leave or to give shots a halfassed effort. Don't convince yourself you're not feeling it tonight or you're tired. And if the opponent gets good rolls all night and you're forced to suffer 3 rail kicks and extended visits to the chair... just wait til you can get back to work.

It's literally impossible to go 2 or 3 weeks playing poorly if you're actually TRYING to play good serious pool. It's hard to even have an especially bad night.
 
Salamander...Now I know your response is "tongue-in-cheek", but it is amazing to me how many people think their cue is what needs to be "changed", to improve their game! LOL

Again...the real truth is that a slump only has to last ONE SHOT, if you know what you did wrong, and know how to fix it (the next time you go to the table).

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

Salamander said:
It's definately your cue. You need to sell your cue and buy another one as soon as your in a slump. :)
Click to expand...
 
CreeDo...I'd have to respectfully disagree with you here. Of course we'd have to expressly define what "playing poorly" is. Most pro players rarely play poorly...usually the losing player just doesn't play as perfectly as the the winner. Oftentimes, with the elite player it comes down to a last shot, as to who wins. When you have a process that you created (and practiced correctly until it is an established habit), and it works perfectly as a subconscious routine, players rarely play poorly. They still miss shots (even Efren misses), but they know how to FIX it immediately, because they have learned the diagnostic tools that allow them to do that quickly and accurately, bringing them right back to their prior level of consistent play before the miss. Players without those tools struggle with making mistakes, and have trouble 'fixing' things, because they don't know what they did "wrong". Learning these tools is a valuable asset, and a definitely part of taking lessons from an SPF instructor! :grin-square:

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

CreeDo said:
It's literally impossible to go 2 or 3 weeks playing poorly if you're actually TRYING to play good serious pool. It's hard to even have an especially bad night.
Click to expand...
 
Scott - We don't necessarily disagree.

Those who don't know how to fix their bad habits might not ever climb out of C-player status, but if they start playing like a D... and they put forward an honest effort to play good pool... they should at least climb back up to C right away, no particular diagnostic tool needed. They already have certain things they do well enough to play at C-level... they will find those things automatically through care and effort at the table. It's not like some external force stole that knowledge they already have. It's there in their brain. They just need make use of it.

Tell me first if you disagree on that basic point: slumps are the result of a lack of care at the pool table. It can be a lack of attention to one key thing, or just a general halfassed attitude where you shoot on autopilot. There could be perfectly legit things that are CAUSING the lack of care... your dog died, you just got a new girlfriend, your job leaves you exhausted... but this is the root of any slump. It's psychological.
 
CreeDo...You last paragraph says it all, for the most part...but even expert players have some physical inconsistencies that cause them to miss. Even Efren, Allison and Earl miss...and they all have well-established, consistent 'routines', although all are different from one another. However, that said, we see students in pool school all the time, who are A or even AA players, who don't know how fix PHYSICAL things that may cause them to miss. Learning that knowledge (which we call diagnostic tools) is a tremendous asset, even to the highly skilled player. Remember, the ultimate truth is...we don't know what we don't know!

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

CreeDo said:
Scott - We don't necessarily disagree.

Those who don't know how to fix their bad habits might not ever climb out of C-player status, but if they start playing like a D... and they put forward an honest effort to play good pool... they should at least climb back up to C right away, no particular diagnostic tool needed. They already have certain things they do well enough to play at C-level... they will find those things automatically through care and effort at the table. It's not like some external force stole that knowledge they already have. It's there in their brain. They just need make use of it.

Tell me first if you disagree on that basic point: slumps are the result of a lack of care at the pool table. It can be a lack of attention to one key thing, or just a general halfassed attitude where you shoot on autopilot. There could be perfectly legit things that are CAUSING the lack of care... your dog died, you just got a new girlfriend, your job leaves you exhausted... but this is the root of any slump. It's psychological.
Click to expand...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top