Help staying focused later in the match?

Gotboost95

Gotboost95

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I don't post on her much but am on here and read threads every day. A quick long winded run down of where I'm at first and then the question.

I began playing pool as a kid but never took it seriously. At 34 I started in an APA 8 ball league last fall. After a few matches I found myself as an SL2. Finding nerves getting the best of me. So I started to practice almost every day and play in a couple of the local tournaments each week. In the spring time I won in the local APA singles tournament and earned a trip to Las Vegas as a SL5. When I came back from Las Vegas I was a SL6 and have been all summer and into winter. In the summer I joined ACS 10 ball league and am still playing APA 8 ball and now ACS 8 ball.

As a current SL6 I find it harder to stay focused in the longer races. I'm to the point now where I can play run out 8 ball but don't seem to continue to have the ability later in the match. For instance I'll run the first game or two I'm at the table and the can't seem to string 3 balls together for game 5,6, and 7.

What would you guys recommend to help keep focused for longer?

Thanks in advance for you help and advice!
 
Gotboost95 said:
I don't post on her much but am on here and read threads every day. A quick long winded run down of where I'm at first and then the question.

I began playing pool as a kid but never took it seriously. At 34 I started in an APA 8 ball league last fall. After a few matches I found myself as an SL2. Finding nerves getting the best of me. So I started to practice almost every day and play in a couple of the local tournaments each week. In the spring time I won in the local APA singles tournament and earned a trip to Las Vegas as a SL5. When I came back from Las Vegas I was a SL6 and have been all summer and into winter. In the summer I joined ACS 10 ball league and am still playing APA 8 ball and now ACS 8 ball.

As a current SL6 I find it harder to stay focused in the longer races. I'm to the point now where I can play run out 8 ball but don't seem to continue to have the ability later in the match. For instance I'll run the first game or two I'm at the table and the can't seem to string 3 balls together for game 5,6, and 7.

What would you guys recommend to help keep focused for longer?

Thanks in advance for you help and advice!
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How long do you actually practice and how long do you usually play? A lot of league players only play on league night. If that's just one or two nights a week, you will never learn to play for longer. You have to get on the table and actually start putting in some time on it. In time, your focus will start getting longer and longer. All that, assuming you don't have ADHD, or something like that.
 
I would say I practice 2 to 4 hours a day 5 days a week outside of league or tournaments. Thats what i always tell my lower players is you can't get better only play/practicing on league night. My practice routine is everytime I start practice. I run 2 racks of straightIish shots. Then 2 racks of cuts. And then 2 racks of banks. Followed by rack after rack of 8 ball. Somedays I'll switch and run 9 ball ghost and or 10 ball ghost. Lately I've been able to beat the ghost close to 40 percent of the time Race to 5.
 
Gotboost95 said:
I would say I practice 2 to 4 hours a day 5 days a week outside of league or tournaments. Thats what i always tell my lower players is you can't get better only play/practicing on league night. My practice routine is everytime I start practice. I run 2 racks of straightIish shots. Then 2 racks of cuts. And then 2 racks of banks. Followed by rack after rack of 8 ball. Somedays I'll switch and run 9 ball ghost and or 10 ball ghost. Lately I've been able to beat the ghost close to 40 percent of the time Race to 5.
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That might just be your problem. Playing the ghost races to 5. Once you get to 5, mentally you might be thinking it's over and let up some without realizing it. That is what you are training yourself to do. Start playing longer races to the ghost. Odds are, your problem will go away. Always remember, we play like we train.
 
Thank Neil for your input. I like the idea. Over the next few weeks I'll make my races go to 10 or even 20 and see if that helps out.

Any other ideas to incorporate into my practice schedule would be greatly appreciated guys.
 
DGilb147 said:
Fitness?

Seems to help players, Earl Strickland runs most days. ROS is a ranked runner.
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Maybe, not really a fitness nut but not too terribly out of shape either. I think my problem is more mental fatigue or let down like Neil said then anything.
 
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Did you try slapping yourself and reminding you why you came to play?
Crush, kill, destroy.
 
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Some are born with the killer trait, but most are not today. It can't be taught, but you can lose it later in life. Johnnyt
 
Anyone else think losing focus after 5 racks seems a little fast?
I don't mean this in a sarcastic way but maybe you have a touch of ADD?
Do you find most things stop being interesting to you after an hour, even if it's stuff you enjoy?

Another thought is some people get front-runner syndrome where they get comfortable up 2-0 or 4-1
and then there's no burning urge or pressure to play runout pool, because the other guy is just
not threatening in any way.

I don't know the cure for that except to forget the other guy and the score and just play to run racks.
Especially in 8 ball, that's your mentality. Maybe you can get 2 runouts in a row to close the night,
how strong would that be? Stuff like that keeps me interested and bearing down even after I think
the league match is in the bag.
 
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