How Common Is This?

lfigueroa

lfigueroa

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
As some (many) know, I'm writing a book and something happen to me this past weekend that I would want to address in said book.

It is something that has happened to me in the past but was particularly dramatic/traumatic this past weekend. I've been playing pretty good, consistent, high level for me, and then this past weekend -- for one session -- my game fell completely and totally off the cliff. Could not see the angles, could not judge CB speed accurately, and my banks went into the toilet, (sigh). My game was a wreck.

So my question is, though I know we all have our ups and down: do you occasionally walk into the PR, get into a game, and without prior warning, have your skills evaporate? Yes, I know they eventually come back. But do you occassionally suffer a fugue state in which it appears you've never played pool before?

Lou Figueroa
 
It happened to me about three months ago. I started getting nervous when playing guys a tick or two below me.
I still play strong on the practice table but when competing, something has got into my head.
I believe I am working my way out of it slowly but not sure. I have never suffered nerves when playing.

Angles, speed and spin seem lost.
 
lfigueroa said:
As some (many) know, I'm writing a book and something happen to me this past weekend that I would want to address in said book.

It is something that has happened to me in the past but was particularly dramatic/traumatic this past weekend. I've been playing pretty good, consistent, high level for me, and then this past weekend -- for one session -- my game fell completely and totally off the cliff. Could not see the angles, could not judge CB speed accurately, and my banks went into the toilet, (sigh). My game was a wreck.

So my question is, though I know we all have our ups and down: do you occasionally walk into the PR, get into a game, and without prior warning, have your skills evaporate? Yes, I know they eventually come back. But do you occassionally suffer a fugue state in which it appears you've never played pool before?

Lou Figueroa
Click to expand...
Whatever you do, don’t dwell upon it because if you do, it can take forever for your game to come back.
 
It's happened once or twice, that it was bad enough I basically played one rack and packed my stuff and went home.

In my experience, it's usually outside forces affecting my game or focus on the game. Bad day at work? I shot the worst match of my life after the worst day of work in my life.

It's never stuck around for consecutive days, so I've never liked calling it a slump.
 
lfigueroa said:
As some (many) know, I'm writing a book and something happen to me this past weekend that I would want to address in said book.

It is something that has happened to me in the past but was particularly dramatic/traumatic this past weekend. I've been playing pretty good, consistent, high level for me, and then this past weekend -- for one session -- my game fell completely and totally off the cliff. Could not see the angles, could not judge CB speed accurately, and my banks went into the toilet, (sigh). My game was a wreck.

So my question is, though I know we all have our ups and down: do you occasionally walk into the PR, get into a game, and without prior warning, have your skills evaporate? Yes, I know they eventually come back. But do you occassionally suffer a fugue state in which it appears you've never played pool before?

Lou Figueroa
Click to expand...
Yep
 
who knows. but to get your brain back in shape for pool just hit hundreds of easy stop shots over and over so you get wired back in.
no hard or long ones just shorter easy ones that you cannot miss.
 
It's a common nightmare.
I just awoke from a nightmare. First I lost my cue then my 9 mm then my wallet. Not sure of the meaning but sure hope it never happens again. I am still in a cold sweat. 😉
 
lfigueroa said:
As some (many) know, I'm writing a book and something happen to me this past weekend that I would want to address in said book.

It is something that has happened to me in the past but was particularly dramatic/traumatic this past weekend. I've been playing pretty good, consistent, high level for me, and then this past weekend -- for one session -- my game fell completely and totally off the cliff. Could not see the angles, could not judge CB speed accurately, and my banks went into the toilet, (sigh). My game was a wreck.

So my question is, though I know we all have our ups and down: do you occasionally walk into the PR, get into a game, and without prior warning, have your skills evaporate? Yes, I know they eventually come back. But do you occassionally suffer a fugue state in which it appears you've never played pool before?

Lou Figueroa
Click to expand...

Happens to everyone once in a while.
Every once in a while your evil twin shows up instead of you.
 
maha said:
who knows. but to get your brain back in shape for pool just hit hundreds of easy stop shots over and over so you get wired back in.
no hard or long ones just shorter easy ones that you cannot miss.
Click to expand...
This works. A couple years ago, I just felt like shooting gimme one rail short banks. I probably hit hundreds over a few hours. For some reason, it just puts your mind in a place of extreme confidence that tends to carry over to your entire game.
 
Something is off either mentally or physcially. I have PSA so when i get a flare up either some pain or being tired is going to effect my game.
 
When you consider every factor that affects a pool stroke from initial PSR right through the final release of the cue- it is easy to imagine one or more of the components possibly coming off the rails unconsciously.

I like constant video feedback ( simple I phone and tripod )that can be done almost anywhere. This will really help to isolate the problem if it is a physical issue causing your poor play.
 
lfigueroa said:
As some (many) know, I'm writing a book and something happen to me this past weekend that I would want to address in said book.

It is something that has happened to me in the past but was particularly dramatic/traumatic this past weekend. I've been playing pretty good, consistent, high level for me, and then this past weekend -- for one session -- my game fell completely and totally off the cliff. Could not see the angles, could not judge CB speed accurately, and my banks went into the toilet, (sigh). My game was a wreck.

So my question is, though I know we all have our ups and down: do you occasionally walk into the PR, get into a game, and without prior warning, have your skills evaporate? Yes, I know they eventually come back. But do you occassionally suffer a fugue state in which it appears you've never played pool before?

Lou Figueroa
Click to expand...


It's call Old Age Lou, you not kid any more. Age gracefully, enjoy that you get to Play Pool, realize as you age you don't heal as fast as you did at 20, body don't woke like when 20, CHILL.
 
Happened to me in April. I'm just a lowly 526 (albeit earned with almost 4k games in db) suffering through another 2 and out in the local monthly 550 and under event. I have a friend I play in Masters singles league who sits around 620 and gives lessons to some of the local players and out of the blue that day I messaged him after the brutal loss requesting a session.

For 50 bucks he watched me hit balls for 2 hours and mostly told me things I've heard a million times for the last 30 years but I was able to pick out a few key tips that have helped turn things back around a bit this summer. It was just nice to have someone objectively watch my stroke and offer suggestions that I may not have reached in my own pursuit.
 
lfigueroa said:
As some (many) know, I'm writing a book and something happen to me this past weekend that I would want to address in said book.

It is something that has happened to me in the past but was particularly dramatic/traumatic this past weekend. I've been playing pretty good, consistent, high level for me, and then this past weekend -- for one session -- my game fell completely and totally off the cliff. Could not see the angles, could not judge CB speed accurately, and my banks went into the toilet, (sigh). My game was a wreck.

So my question is, though I know we all have our ups and down: do you occasionally walk into the PR, get into a game, and without prior warning, have your skills evaporate? Yes, I know they eventually come back. But do you occassionally suffer a fugue state in which it appears you've never played pool before?

Lou Figueroa
Click to expand...
Never happened to me that way, though obviously I've had terrible days/weeks even.

I have had my skill diminish dramatically when I had to take long breaks (months/years). Usually though, the knowledge is all there but some part(s) of the body are misalligned. If you're not seeing angles, head position is the chief suspect. Stroke mechanics are difficult to diagnose, so speed control and stuff like that cannot easily be fixed on the spot. Things like this is why it is vitally important to have a rock solid pre-shot routine, because that will usually fix alignment issues at least. Most players don't have pre-shot routines that are good- or consistent enough, sadly.

If you are completely messing everything up, take a bathroom break, splash some water in your face and try to relax and reset. If time permits, watch a game played by someone great on another table and just try to enjoy it to take your mind off your own game. Sometimes that can snap you out of the spiral of negative thoughts.

Edit to add: If you completely collapse mentally and physically, blood sugar fluctuations could be the cause. If your blood sugar is crashing it wrecks havoc on your vision and mental clarity. Try to eat healthy foods in the days before tournaments and avoid high-sugar or heavy meals before play. Try eating a little bit if you feel confused mentally. I think I perform best when I'm a little bit hungry, so I tend to eat smaller and lighter meals on the day of the tournament also that helps avoid crashing after the meal.
 
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