How do you settle into a match and play your best????

2 thoughts on this one

1st If you let one bad shot influence the next one, your are allowing a mental flaw influence your performance. You have to let these go, no matter what.

2nd If you display no confidence in your own game then you are giving confidence to your opponent. Remeber how easy it can be to beat players who are on tilt.

Okay 1 more. In amateur play and even pros, it's the level of player's worst game that wins more than their best.
 
Just for the record:
Never meant to imply all this is easy or works all the time. It doesn't.
I just wanted to point out that pool psychology is not about complicated magic methods but a matter to achieve the necessary concentration in the game.
Each has to find his own way after a point, but methodical practice really works.
We all have to learn how to win, it's a long process.
Thanks,
Petros
 
Petros Andrikop said:
Just for the record:
Never meant to imply all this is easy or works all the time. It doesn't.
I just wanted to point out that pool psychology is not about complicated magic methods but a matter to achieve the necessary concentration in the game.
Each has to find his own way after a point, but methodical practice really works.
We all have to learn how to win, it's a long process.
Thanks,
Petros
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I want my money back!:grin::wink:
 
Yes, so do the rest of us..
Most of us who never made it pro playing have spent a lot to learn.. Not refundable..
Anyway:
No book or other instructional material can ever replace an instructor.
No instructor can ever replace personal practice.
No personal practice can ever replace competitive experience.
Thanks again,
Petros
 
Ky Boy said:
You all know what I mean.....arrive at a tourney early to get some time in on the tables to only play like crap when the tourney starts...or maybe its gambling for some you others.....


How do you shake the butterflies off and settle in to a match so you can actually play your game instead of dogging shot after shot???

I have always been a slow starter whether it be for cash or tourney play but yesterday was literaly embarassing for me. I made beginner mistakes, missed straight-ins, and flawed easy position play. I was scared to shoot after I made a few mistakes because I didn't know what was going to happen.....yep, it was that bad!!

The guy I drew first was no stranger to me either....he and I have played several times before in tourneys and a gambling match that lasted for probably 14-15 hours we broke even on.....so it wasn't that.

My next match was with a guy who lives in the same small town as me that I know real well. He happened to drive 2 hours to this tourney the same as me.....actually we both were kinda surprised to see each other there. So I know it wasn't the players that shook me.....the only thing I can think of is that it had been about 7-8 months since I had played any real players.......but there is really no excuse to account for the level of my horrible play!!!



Any suggestions????????????




Gary
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1 word.adderall!!!!!!!!!!!
 
poolplayer2093 said:
1 word.adderall!!!!!!!!!!!
Click to expand...

yea if you want your eyes to burn out.......and if your not used to that crap your gonna be lost like a chicken with his head cut off.


In '02/03 I had just come back from a little trip and went to bayou billiards in BR and matched up with Fishhook......

I was super wore out and my best friend offered me one as he had a script. Said it'll wake you up a bit but won't jarr you.

Yea it sure didn't jar me, it left me incapable of thinking even a ball ahead I did'nt feel shakey but my brain was on lock down

I lose the first set like 9-3 or some crap and tried my best to pull it together and focus somehow and think in the second set.

I still don't know how the hell I ended up winning the second set but once I got even I quit right there......

Its the only time i've ever experienced wondering WTF how did the CB get way over there? I was very lost and just couldnt pay attention to any details. On almost every shot.....was really freaky



I'm similar to fatboy.....I've always played better for the cash than tournamnets in general......unless it was one i was robbing ya know.

But for whatever reason some couple hundred dollar racks of one pocket get my blood flowing like a SOB. Maybe its b/c my minds too busy designing the moves in flight, setting traps etc......

Beer or a little liquor ain't bad at all, it can smooth you out....BUT theres a fine line b/t being smoothed out and being drunk. Alot of guys take it too far and end up being smashed.

not to knock anyone but a good example of this is Gary Abood

Great player......gets way too f'd up on the booze.

Watched him play Jeremy Jones in a race to 15 for a good sum and Jeremy torched him by ten miles.

Gary was so lit my sister could have whooped him.

He may as well have just given up a bunch of weight to Jeremy, b/c thats what I saw go down.
 
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When I practice/warm up before a tournament, I don't focus at all. To me it's just about finding a stroke that feels good.
Once the tournament starts it's like a switch flips in my head and I become more focused (at the table). When I'm not at the table, or especially when I'm shooting poorly, I tend to watch the games around me and only pay attention when my opponent gets down to shoot. It seems to help me forget the last shot/mistake I just made and then I start fresh when I get back to the table. I guess the point is to focus, but not focus so much that you get in your own head.
 
I do 2 things. First, I order a favorite drink. Then I get some stroke shots out. I build up kind of emphasizing success and building confidence. I leave the really hard shots for the game. I am motly trying to make sure my stroke is straight and my preshot routine is working.

I don't shoot much because normally, I enter very mentally prepared without doing much. I'm a quick starter, so I take advantage of that.
 
I know how you feel and have felt the same recently.

Some advice that I got was to breathe and loosen my grip on the cue. I was surprised at how tight I actually was and how much loosening the grip loosened up the rest of me.

Possibly the best advice I have ever received was, "don't shoot it until it goes." Before you shoot, literally ask yourself if the shot goes while you are down over it (not out loud though... we don't want you to look crazy or anything). Posing the question to yourself will force you to double check alignment, english, speed, etc... one last time before executing the shot. If you can answer yourself with a resounding "Yes... this shot goes," it gives you a bit of extra confidence before shooting. If you answer yourself with a "No," odds are you weren't totally focused when you set up for the shot and asking the question will allow you to catch that so you can regroup and set up for the correct shot instead of missing something easy and figuring it out later.

Hope that helps... I know it helped me.


Cheers,
 
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