How long does POOR play keep you down?

[BasementDweller]

I haven't been playing at all, which includes hitting balls at home, but I had a free day so I went and played a bar table tourney. It was on Diamonds and I played poorly. Squeaked out a few matches but even those involved more luck than skill.

I'm almost a week removed from this and I can't shake it. I've loved pool for a long time, but maybe I'm nearing the end. I really don't know. I hate playing like crap so much but competing so rarely makes it more frustrating than enjoyable. I used to be able to do it because I had the drive to practice so much more than I do now. So I could show up pretty much ready to go in the past.

I have taken up some new hobbies in the past couple of years so maybe I'll move on. What's sad is if I'm not playing, I lose almost all interest in the game. I think a lot of my interest in professional pool revolves around being able to maybe not compete on a level playing field, but at least compare my game with what the big boys are doing. As the chasm grows, my interest wanes.

Anyway -- how long does poor play keep you down? How do you snap out of it?

 

[garczar]

Take three days off then quit.

 

[couldnthinkof01]

Keep in mind the effort you have put in. If I haven't been playing or practicing. Practicing effectively. I give my self a break. If I know I don't have time to put in the work, I don't compete until I can do what is necessary.

Take a break completely. Find out when you will have time to practice for a few weeks and enter competition then.

Give yourself some grace.

 

[nataddrho]

Have you thought about other cue sports? My drive to become a highly competitive local player in pool was replaced by the peacefulness and endless learning of three cushion. It is refreshing.

Now I find pockets to be annoying.

 

[BlueRaider]

Playing poorly is more motivational than upsetting to me, although I have occasionally gotten really down on myself after a bad night (usually after losing to someone I really want to beat).

But mostly, it's just part of the cycle for me.

I play poorly -> I get upset with myself -> I start thinking about why I played poorly -> I come up with possible solutions -> I implement the solutions the next time I practice -> I keep practicing until I see results -> I feel good about my game for about a week, then another flaw becomes apparent or I play poorly in a match -> I get upset with myself -> I start thinking about why I played poorly -> I come up with possible solutions

Rinse and repeat forever until I die or quit pool.

Thankfully, this cycle has resulted in tangible improvement for me. And I suspect most people in competitive endeavors can relate. It's hard to ever feel truly good about your skill level when playing a game that's impossible to master.

 

[bbb]

Poor play motivates me to try and improve the weaknesses

 

[9BallKY]

I haven't been playing at all, which includes hitting balls at home, but I had a free day so I went and played a bar table tourney. It was on Diamonds and I played poorly. Squeaked out a few matches but even those involved more luck than skill.

I'm almost a week removed from this and I can't shake it. I've loved pool for a long time, but maybe I'm nearing the end. I really don't know. I hate playing like crap so much but competing so rarely makes it more frustrating than enjoyable. I used to be able to do it because I had the drive to practice so much more than I do now. So I could show up pretty much ready to go in the past.

I have taken up some new hobbies in the past couple of years so maybe I'll move on. What's sad is if I'm not playing, I lose almost all interest in the game. I think a lot of my interest in professional pool revolves around being able to maybe not compete on a level playing field, but at least compare my game with what the big boys are doing. As the chasm grows, my interest wanes.

Anyway -- how long does poor play keep you down? How do you snap out of it?

Well I’ve never been a good tournament player (just look at my Fargo). About a month ago I played in a 64 player tournament where I went 2 and out. It was the first time I had went 2 and out in a very long time. The thing was I didn’t really play that bad I just didn’t get opportunities due to a couple bad rolls and sometimes just the way the balls rolled out after the break.

I lost the first set to a 680 player the 2nd set I lost to a guy with about the same Fargo as me. I was ahead in the set but never shot to pocket a ball the last 4 games.
I was kinda down for 2-3 days but things like that are going to happen if you play.

I don’t play a lot of tournaments either but the next tournament I went to I lost my first set but came through the losers side to win the tournament. You have played enough and play well enough that you know it’s going to happen and when you don’t practice it’s not that you forget how to play it’s just that you don’t execute like you normally would and you don’t adjust as well

Also if you don’t practice you can’t expect good results. The older you get the less the desire is to practice.

 

[WobblyStroke]

It amuses me to no end to see guys who run a rack a month throwing fits at the tbl and getting mad at their (standard) poor play. I don't get it.

To me, u have to be pretty damn good at this game and have invested significant hours of practice to attatch enough expectation to ur results to be emotionally affected by poor play for any amount of time measured in days. I know a few snooker players like this and it kinda makes sense as they make centuries in practice on their off days. But anyone who isn't a ghost killer and practices hard at improving their game really should look into developing their mental game and setting appropriate expectations if playing bad depresses them. Fire u up to practice more? Sure. But make u sad and unmotivated despite not practicing to stay sharp to begin with? Grow up. And congrats on living a life where these tippy top first world problems even make a blip on ur emotional radar.

 

[Cornerman]

I haven't been playing at all, which includes hitting balls at home, but I had a free day so I went and played a bar table tourney. It was on Diamonds and I played poorly. Squeaked out a few matches but even those involved more luck than skill.

I'm almost a week removed from this and I can't shake it. I've loved pool for a long time, but maybe I'm nearing the end. I really don't know. I hate playing like crap so much but competing so rarely makes it more frustrating than enjoyable. I used to be able to do it because I had the drive to practice so much more than I do now. So I could show up pretty much ready to go in the past.

I have taken up some new hobbies in the past couple of years so maybe I'll move on. What's sad is if I'm not playing, I lose almost all interest in the game. I think a lot of my interest in professional pool revolves around being able to maybe not compete on a level playing field, but at least compare my game with what the big boys are doing. As the chasm grows, my interest wanes.

Anyway -- how long does poor play keep you down? How do you snap out of it?

18 years and counting

 

[Fatboy]

I haven't been playing at all, which includes hitting balls at home, but I had a free day so I went and played a bar table tourney. It was on Diamonds and I played poorly. Squeaked out a few matches but even those involved more luck than skill.

I'm almost a week removed from this and I can't shake it. I've loved pool for a long time, but maybe I'm nearing the end. I really don't know. I hate playing like crap so much but competing so rarely makes it more frustrating than enjoyable. I used to be able to do it because I had the drive to practice so much more than I do now. So I could show up pretty much ready to go in the past.

I have taken up some new hobbies in the past couple of years so maybe I'll move on. What's sad is if I'm not playing, I lose almost all interest in the game. I think a lot of my interest in professional pool revolves around being able to maybe not compete on a level playing field, but at least compare my game with what the big boys are doing. As the chasm grows, my interest wanes.

Anyway -- how long does poor play keep you down? How do you snap out of it?

I don’t play anymore.

I knocked the balls around with Omega Mike for a couple hours on the barbox. I couldn’t run 4 balls until the very end of the night.

If I worked at it, yes I could play ok again. But I don’t have the motivation to play. Where do I find that? And for what reason?

That’s a problem.

I love watching and betting on pool, I’m at Derby having fun. Seeing friends. Action. Cues yay! But playing is a zero for me now.

I’m sure the bug will bite again, it always does.

Fatboy<——ain’t leaving pool

 

[Fore Rail]

Be very honest with yourself & with your playing ability. Perhaps try to be happy with where you are, especially with the time being put forth in practice/play.

Or get pissed off enough to get on the pool table and go kick some ass!!

 

[jason]

I haven't been playing at all, which includes hitting balls at home, but I had a free day so I went and played a bar table tourney. It was on Diamonds and I played poorly. Squeaked out a few matches but even those involved more luck than skill.

I'm almost a week removed from this and I can't shake it. I've loved pool for a long time, but maybe I'm nearing the end. I really don't know. I hate playing like crap so much but competing so rarely makes it more frustrating than enjoyable. I used to be able to do it because I had the drive to practice so much more than I do now. So I could show up pretty much ready to go in the past.

I have taken up some new hobbies in the past couple of years so maybe I'll move on. What's sad is if I'm not playing, I lose almost all interest in the game. I think a lot of my interest in professional pool revolves around being able to maybe not compete on a level playing field, but at least compare my game with what the big boys are doing. As the chasm grows, my interest wanes.

Anyway -- how long does poor play keep you down? How do you snap out of it?

This is quite similar to my current game. I managed to overcome my initial struggles and play slightly better, but the enthusiasm has diminished. The game has a way of sucking you in. Pool can be an extremely time-consuming activity with few rewards really. Eyesight is not what it was either, so it is frustrating.

 

[jason]

I don’t play anymore.

I knocked the balls around with Omega Mike for a couple hours on the barbox. I couldn’t run 4 balls until the very end of the night.

If I worked at it, yes I could play ok again. But I don’t have the motivation to play. Where do I find that? And for what reason?

That’s a problem.

I love watching and betting on pool, I’m at Derby having fun. Seeing friends. Action. Cues yay! But playing is a zero for me now.

I’m sure the bug will bite again, it always does.

Fatboy<——ain’t leaving pool

I feel ya. It's a young mans game.

 

[j2pac]

I haven't been playing at all, which includes hitting balls at home, but I had a free day so I went and played a bar table tourney. It was on Diamonds and I played poorly. Squeaked out a few matches but even those involved more luck than skill.

I'm almost a week removed from this and I can't shake it. I've loved pool for a long time, but maybe I'm nearing the end. I really don't know. I hate playing like crap so much but competing so rarely makes it more frustrating than enjoyable. I used to be able to do it because I had the drive to practice so much more than I do now. So I could show up pretty much ready to go in the past.

I have taken up some new hobbies in the past couple of years so maybe I'll move on. What's sad is if I'm not playing, I lose almost all interest in the game. I think a lot of my interest in professional pool revolves around being able to maybe not compete on a level playing field, but at least compare my game with what the big boys are doing. As the chasm grows, my interest wanes.

Anyway -- how long does poor play keep you down? How do you snap out of it?

Q: "Anyway -- how long does poor play keep you down?"

A: About 40 years now...

 

[MitchAlsup]

You have 2 choices::

a) quit

b) start practicing every day for as long as you can stand it*
b.1) you improve--great
b.2) you don't--quit

(*) keep your focus and try to make every shot, and keep frustration at bay.

 

[sciarco]

Not to long i (1 aim 2 swear 3 repeat) if that don't work have another beer.

 

[David in FL]

Until it becomes "good" play...


It's also worth noting that both "good" and "poor" are relative for each individual.

Plenty of people consider play that I believe to be "good" to be "poor"...

 

[9BallKY]

It amuses me to no end to see guys who run a rack a month throwing fits at the tbl and getting mad at their (standard) poor play. I don't get it.

This guy is a very good player. Better than most people even think about achieving.

 

[boogieman]

I haven't been playing at all, which includes hitting balls at home, but I had a free day so I went and played a bar table tourney. It was on Diamonds and I played poorly. Squeaked out a few matches but even those involved more luck than skill.

I'm almost a week removed from this and I can't shake it. I've loved pool for a long time, but maybe I'm nearing the end. I really don't know. I hate playing like crap so much but competing so rarely makes it more frustrating than enjoyable. I used to be able to do it because I had the drive to practice so much more than I do now. So I could show up pretty much ready to go in the past.

I have taken up some new hobbies in the past couple of years so maybe I'll move on. What's sad is if I'm not playing, I lose almost all interest in the game. I think a lot of my interest in professional pool revolves around being able to maybe not compete on a level playing field, but at least compare my game with what the big boys are doing. As the chasm grows, my interest wanes.

Anyway -- how long does poor play keep you down? How do you snap out of it?

Pool is largely mental. Poor play can be used to fuel the desire to improve.

“Every strike brings me closer to the next home run.”
― Babe Ruth

Oh yeah, also maybe try straight pool. I find something way more calming about it than competing in other cue sports. I mean, it can still be frustrating but you get tuned in quickly, it requires a good amount of finesse shots and near perfect CB position.

 

[boogieman]

If I worked at it, yes I could play ok again. But I don’t have the motivation to play. Where do I find that? And for what reason?

The beauty of the game. The feel of hitting a shot just perfect. Goosebumps.

The pleasure of small motions is a pretty good book on the topic to be honest. Even if you never pick up a cue again it's still a good read.