HUGE Slump?

[DrCue'sProtege]

ok, what do you guys/gals do when you are in a huge, huge slump? its almost to the point where i cant even make a tap in at times. and compounding the problem is the balls are not cooperating at all. seems like i cant make a ball on the break, or else get snookered by about 1/8" of an inch.

i have no confidence now. i KNOW i am going to miss. i KNOW even if i make a shot i will miss somewhere in the rack. everything just feels so uncomfortable, including the mental state.

what do you posters recommend?
ever have these things happen to you?

DCP

 

[Hunntyr]

ok, what do you guys/gals do when you are in a huge, huge slump? its almost to the point where i cant even make a tap in at times. and compounding the problem is the balls are not cooperating at all. seems like i cant make a ball on the break, or else get snookered by about 1/8" of an inch.

i have no confidence now. i KNOW i am going to miss. i KNOW even if i make a shot i will miss somewhere in the rack. everything just feels so uncomfortable, including the mental state.

what do you posters recommend?
ever have these things happen to you?

DCP

I am going through the same exact thing....Maybe its the astrological alignment or something but a few people I know are having bad rolls consistantly also. Please guys anyone with any advice to get out of these slumps let us know

 

[SSach]

Whenever I am in a slump similar to what you mentioned, I do the following things:

Just make balls... I throw all the balls on the table and just start to hit them in. Concentrate more on making the shot than the setup.

After I have done this for a bit, I will start to take long shots and try to get the cueball to move around the table. First with the top half of the cue ball and than with the bottom.

Afterwards play some three ball. This will get you thinking about your setup and the previous drills will have hopefully given you some confidence in your stroke.

Another key thing I do from time to time is take scotch tape and mark the cue ball and object ball on difficult shots. This way I am shooting the exact same shot over and over and can figure out what I am doing wrong. If you have obsticles/other balls in the way, you might want to mark them.

Most of the time my slump is because I am trying to get too perfect on my shots.

 

[Rickw]

SSach,

Exactly! Good post! You have to build your confidence back up by setting up win win situations. Cut out all the english and fancy stuff and just use center ball and pocket balls for a while. You'll come out of the slump eventually.

 

[Razor_Blade]

what do you posters recommend?
DCP

Take some time off. Put the cue down and don`t hit a ball for at least a week. You will come back refreshed, and eager to play.

 

[DrCue'sProtege]

i've actually thought about not playing.
but for a whole week??????
i'd have withdrawal, go nuts, be certifiable, i dunno. perhaps if St. Louis gets to the World Series i might take a night off to watch the entire game. believe me, as i type this, i am eager to get to the table tonight. amazing how i am addicted to this game. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

 

[Hunntyr]

Are there any other specific drills that you guys/gals do???

 

[Williebetmore]

DCP,
I guess my view on the subject is a little different. If I was in such a slump, where ball pocketing became uncertain at all; I would see a good instructor and CHANGE MY STROKE. With a standard "Jerry Briesath/Mark Wilson stroke", I can't see any reason why there should ever be a slump. If you simplify your mechanics and stroke, you should have a stroke that will ALWAYS be there. Minimum moving parts, tension-free, pressure-resistant, easy to reproduce. Pro's with this type of stroke don't miss much, and their "slumps" are at a level we would probably kill to be at.

My life was filled with such slumps, once I changed my stroke I've never even had a hint of a slump. In addition, such a stroke helps prevent the mental aspect of a slump developing - by relying on your mechanics and technique, you can eliminate (well, almost) the negative effects of pressure and poor mental attitude.

Now if someone could just find me this sort of automatic golf stroke, I could die happy (??Bruce Lietzke??).

 

[sjm]

With a standard "Jerry Briesath/Mark Wilson stroke", I can't see any reason why there should ever be a slump.

Well, Willie, Jerry Briesath and Mark Wilson are undisputed legends of the teaching profession, but even they haven't devised a slump-proof set of stroke mechanics. I would have to say that a slump is something that every player has to deal with. Whether your pocketing is off, your position play is hurting, or your game is well off the usual standard, you are in a slump, no matter what your level of play. For example, Francisco Bustamante has been in a slump for quite a while. Yes, his worst day is better than my best, but a slump is defined in terms of one's results relative to one's own standards.

Though a very serious player should certainly have someone in their life that continuousy oversees their mechanics, I don't think stroke mechanics is neccessarily the only place to look when one is in a slump. For players with decent fundamentals, I believe that a slump will just as often be tied to a decline in one's shot conceptualiztion, a decline in one's mental game or a decline in one's competitive intensity as it will be to a decline in fundamentals.

Over the years, I've seen far too many who set out to overhaul their mechanics every time they got in a slump, often to their detriment.

To all who are in a slump, before you change your fundamentals, make a full assessment of what's wrong. Sometimes, the solution is in your speed control, or in your shot conceptualization, or in your mental game, or in your competitive intensity level, or some combination of these.

Of course, in the end, Willie, you are quite right. The three key things to work on to be relatively consistent as a pool player are a) fundamentals, b) fundamentals and c) fundamentals, and guys like Jerry and Mark can help you have fewer slumps to deal with than the next guy.

 

[Rod]

Of course, in the end, Willie, you are quite right. The three key things to work on to be relatively consistent as a pool player are a) fundamentals, b) fundamentals and c) fundamentals, and guys like Jerry and Mark can help you have fewer slumps to deal with than the next guy.

Very true and an instructor can certainly help bring you out of one. My thinking is, if you think your in a slump, you're for sure in deep. It's time to change your mental attitude. Tell yourself your playing fine, even if it's a lie. LOL

As suggested practice your fundamentals. By all means shoot easy shots and drills. As you progress make them a little more difficult etc.

It's really mostly mental. Somewhere you made a mistake and started to dwell on the outcome. It's the snowball effect, you can't be thinking consious thoughts when you pull the trigger. Since your mind won't shut off from previous misses it interferes with most every shot.

When you get your mind calm your game will improve. In essence your just dogging most shots. When you lack confidence it happens.

Rod

 

[JDB]

Very true and an instructor can certainly help bring you out of one. My thinking is, if you think your in a slump, you're for sure in deep. It's time to change your mental attitude. Tell yourself your playing fine, even if it's a lie. LOL

As suggested practice your fundamentals. By all means shoot easy shots and drills. As you progress make them a little more difficult etc.

It's really mostly mental. Somewhere you made a mistake and started to dwell on the outcome. It's the snowball effect, you can't be thinking consious thoughts when you pull the trigger. Since your mind won't shut off from previous misses it interferes with most every shot.

When you get your mind calm your game will improve. In essence your just dogging most shots. When you lack confidence it happens.Rod

Rod,

I don't think I have ever disagreed with you and didn't think I ever would...lol. But isn't it possible that a slight change in wrist position or head position could cause a slump that an instructor could correct right away? Sometimes we get into a habit that changes our natural stance, which causes the slump versus it just being mental.

I could be wrong, I am certainly not an expert and I definitely value your advice and opinions over the years. However, I will always be an advocate that mechanics is much more of a problem than just mental issues. I think mental issues can cause mechanical breakdowns, which is the real problem. However, if you continue with the mechanical problems, after the "mental" issue is resolved, you will still have problems.

Just my opinion. (Understands that Rod is a much player than me).

 

[JDB]

Well, Willie, Jerry Briesath and Mark Wilson are undisputed legends of the teaching profession, but even they haven't devised a slump-proof set of stroke mechanics. I would have to say that a slump is something that every player has to deal with. Whether your pocketing is off, your position play is hurting, or your game is well off the usual standard, you are in a slump, no matter what your level of play. For example, Francisco Bustamante has been in a slump for quite a while. Yes, his worst day is better than my best, but a slump is defined in terms of one's results relative to one's own standards.

Though a very serious player should certainly have someone in their life that continuousy oversees their mechanics, I don't think stroke mechanics is neccessarily the only place to look when one is in a slump. For players with decent fundamentals, I believe that a slump will just as often be tied to a decline in one's shot conceptualiztion, a decline in one's mental game or a decline in one's competitive intensity as it will be to a decline in fundamentals.

Over the years, I've seen far too many who set out to overhaul their mechanics every time they got in a slump, often to their detriment.

To all who are in a slump, before you change your fundamentals, make a full assessment of what's wrong. Sometimes, the solution is in your speed control, or in your shot conceptualization, or in your mental game, or in your competitive intensity level, or some combination of these.

Of course, in the end, Willie, you are quite right. The three key things to work on to be relatively consistent as a pool player are a) fundamentals, b) fundamentals and c) fundamentals, and guys like Jerry and Mark can help you have fewer slumps to deal with than the next guy.

Great post... Mechanics is the key, which a good instructor can identify right away, even if you are not comfortable with the change. It will make you a better player.

I am going to get into the Aiming thread here...lol, since you mention Mark Wilson, whose articles I always read. He mentioned in an article in Billiards Digest that if someone has a problem pocketing balls, it is usually the stroke, not the aim. He said that aiming problems are easy to correct; however, stroke problem can be very difficult to correct. Based on my limited knowledge I endorse this thought 100%. Usually when I miss I can feel my arm all over the place and I know why I missed, it is not because my aim was off, I couldn't deliver the cue ball to the place I intended. I should have probably put this in the other thread, but you mentioned Mark Wilson who advocates this as well.

 

[Nineball-98]

Without knowing your level of consistency as far as ball pocketing it is hard to say if the slump is mainly caused from an inconsistent stroke or a lack of confidence in your ability. If I thought my slump was caused by a flaw in stroke mechanics I would definately see an instructor and try to get the problem corrected. Missing easy or fairly easy shots for any extended period of time and thinking it might be related to a problem with mechanics would be very frustrating.

As far as the mental state you describe (no-confidence, knowing your going to miss..etc) what works for me is if I have a day where I know I didn't really play up to my ability I just try to flush it from my mind. You can remember what you did wrong and work to correct it just don't carry any negative thoughts with you the next time you come to the table. Don't want the negativities to multiply.

 

[Rod]

Rod,
However, I will always be an advocate that mechanics is much more of a problem than just mental issues. I think mental issues can cause mechanical breakdowns, which is the real problem. However, if you continue with the mechanical problems, after the "mental" issue is resolved, you will still have problems.

JDB,

Is it one of those, which come first the chicken on the egg? I didn't take the time for an indepth explanation and really didn't care to either. I was just trying to pump the fella up.

Sure a mechanical problem can lead to mental issues and it may have done so. That's not always the case however, a mental issue be it pressure or whatever can and will stiffen up the body, tension. If it short circuts who knows what might happen in the stroke. Usually it's a movement of some sort and the stroke isn't completed as intended.

Did the stroke really cause the problem. Well - sort of since it delivers the cue. But the cause was mental which created muscle tension, the effect is less than a good stroke.

One could argue if the stroke was trained well it wouldn't happen. That is simply not true because some of the best let their mind get in the way and deliver a poor stroke. They dog it, mental. LOL I'll be the first to say though it doesn't happen very often because there strokes are very consistant but there minds are very strong as well.

The average player is subject to more flaws in there stroke. There also subject to more mental short circuts. That leads to a complete lack of confidence. So which came first the chicken or the egg? LOL

BTW your right, if you still have mechanical problems after you fix mental it will surely lead to more problems. But who's to say if you fixed the mental?

Rod

 

[LastTwo]

I've been in a slump for 2 years. This may seem hard to understand to some people, but I'll describe it as best as I can. I've been playing pool for a little under 8 years now. For the first 4 years, all I did was play, every day all day long. At that time, I played decent. I could run out a rack of 9-ball maybe 1 out of every 3-4 racks if I had a decent shot on the 1. I joined the military, and didn't play for a year.

I came back from the military after a year, (back injury), and got a job at a poolhall and started playing again. I played terrible for a year after that, but little by little my game started coming back. I was playing every day all day again. One day I changed my grip hand so that it would open up on the backswing of my stroke, to keep my cue level. Once I discovered that, a few minutes later I was playing the best pool of my life. Suddenly I had a powerful stroke, and it was perfectly straight, I felt rock solid, and the way I could 'see' the shot felt perfect. This period of 'dead stroke' lasted about a year, and I got better and better every day. I would throw 15 balls out on the table, take ball in hand on the 1 ball and run them out quite often. I would run 15 balls in order about 3-5 times per day. It would take me about 30 minutes to get in stroke when I first came to the table, and when i started to get in stroke, I would get this feeling in the triceps of my stroking arm, it's a feeling that I can't describe, but it was a very stable and solid feeling when I would stroke the cue. During that time I don't think I had a slump at all. Every day I was in stroke.

Eventually I met a girl, quit my job at the poolhall, and cut back on my playing. For 2-3 months after I cut back on playing pool, I was still in stroke. One day I came in and played really bad, for about 4 hours straight, so I quit and came back the next day. That day I played even worse. So I didn't play for a week, and when I came back, I reserved the whole day to practice and get back in stroke, but I just couldn't. I developed a twist and a turn and a back flip in my stroke, you name it, any bad habit I had it. Every day that I played, I got worse and worse. When I would take a break and come back, I got worse and worse. Still to this day, I have not even had a glimpse of how well I was playing then.

Right now I am shooting decent, but I am far from consistent, and I've lost my powerful stroke. That girl left me, also. I've come to accept the way that I play now, although I do practice alot and my game is getting better ever so slightly, it is extremely frustrating and disheartening to not be able to do the things that I used to do. My alignment is always off, and I have to fix it or it just stays like that. My stance is often uncomfortable, and I have to adjust it. My stroke is rarely straight, and I have to work on it. One of the worst things is, my uper body seems like it's never aligned over the cue properly, and I am unable to find a way to do that without being very umcomfortable. Veeeeeery frustrating game, but I still love it as much as I did then.

 

[JDB]

JDB,

Is it one of those, which come first the chicken on the egg? I didn't take the time for an indepth explanation and really didn't care to either. I was just trying to pump the fella up.

Sure a mechanical problem can lead to mental issues and it may have done so. That's not always the case however, a mental issue be it pressure or whatever can and will stiffen up the body, tension. If it short circuts who knows what might happen in the stroke. Usually it's a movement of some sort and the stroke isn't completed as intended.

Did the stroke really cause the problem. Well - sort of since it delivers the cue. But the cause was mental which created muscle tension, the effect is less than a good stroke.

One could argue if the stroke was trained well it wouldn't happen. That is simply not true because some of the best let their mind get in the way and deliver a poor stroke. They dog it, mental. LOL I'll be the first to say though it doesn't happen very often because there strokes are very consistant but there minds are very strong as well.

The average player is subject to more flaws in there stroke. There also subject to more mental short circuts. That leads to a complete lack of confidence. So which came first the chicken or the egg? LOL

BTW your right, if you still have mechanical problems after you fix mental it will surely lead to more problems. But who's to say if you fixed the mental?

Rod

Rod,

It is exactly like the chicken and the egg...lol. Which one causes the problem? If you have a problem with your stroke, it will lead to mental problems, if you have mental problems it will lead to flaws in the stroke...lol.

I always enjoy your posts and valuable advice... and I know you are a hell of a player... Thanks.

 

[drivermaker]

Eventually I met a girl, quit my job at the poolhall, and cut back on my playing. For 2-3 months after I cut back on playing pool, I was still in stroke. That girl left me, also.

Dr. Driver has now diagnosed your problem...THEY are the problem....They is Them....Now, take two aspirin, drink plenty of fluids, and get some rest. Come back and see me in a week. See my nurse at the front desk for your bill and payment and don't go trying to put the hit on her.

P.S., If you ever get this urge to pop the question and get married, immediately go out and commit a minor crime in order to get jailed so you are no longer in harms way. Call me... I'll come to spring you out and start counseling sessions along with drug therapy to get you through your crisis.

Oooops...I think I see LS77 on the horizon coming toward me in her humvee.

 

[Rod]

I've been in a slump for 2 years. This may seem hard to understand to some people, but I'll describe it as best as I can. I've been playing pool for a little under 8 years now. For the first 4 years, all I did was play, every day all day long. At that time, I played decent. I could run out a rack of 9-ball maybe 1 out of every 3-4 racks if I had a decent shot on the 1. I joined the military, and didn't play for a year.

I came back from the military after a year, (back injury), and got a job at a poolhall and started playing again. I played terrible for a year after that, but little by little my game started coming back. I was playing every day all day again. One day I changed my grip hand so that it would open up on the backswing of my stroke, to keep my cue level. Once I discovered that, a few minutes later I was playing the best pool of my life. Suddenly I had a powerful stroke, and it was perfectly straight, I felt rock solid, and the way I could 'see' the shot felt perfect. This period of 'dead stroke' lasted about a year, and I got better and better every day. I would throw 15 balls out on the table, take ball in hand on the 1 ball and run them out quite often. I would run 15 balls in order about 3-5 times per day. It would take me about 30 minutes to get in stroke when I first came to the table, and when i started to get in stroke, I would get this feeling in the triceps of my stroking arm, it's a feeling that I can't describe, but it was a very stable and solid feeling when I would stroke the cue. During that time I don't think I had a slump at all. Every day I was in stroke.

Eventually I met a girl, quit my job at the poolhall, and cut back on my playing. For 2-3 months after I cut back on playing pool, I was still in stroke. One day I came in and played really bad, for about 4 hours straight, so I quit and came back the next day. That day I played even worse. So I didn't play for a week, and when I came back, I reserved the whole day to practice and get back in stroke, but I just couldn't. I developed a twist and a turn and a back flip in my stroke, you name it, any bad habit I had it. Every day that I played, I got worse and worse. When I would take a break and come back, I got worse and worse. Still to this day, I have not even had a glimpse of how well I was playing then.

Right now I am shooting decent, but I am far from consistent, and I've lost my powerful stroke. That girl left me, also. I've come to accept the way that I play now, although I do practice alot and my game is getting better ever so slightly, it is extremely frustrating and disheartening to not be able to do the things that I used to do. My alignment is always off, and I have to fix it or it just stays like that. My stance is often uncomfortable, and I have to adjust it. My stroke is rarely straight, and I have to work on it. One of the worst things is, my uper body seems like it's never aligned over the cue properly, and I am unable to find a way to do that without being very umcomfortable. Veeeeeery frustrating game, but I still love it as much as I did then.

LT,

You sound like me and my golf game. At one time I carried between a 7 to 9 handicap. Not great but I could play. My game was lacking in some aspects around the green but my putting was good.

At any rate one day I went out and struggled all day. I've had bad days but this was different. Next time the same thing, I couldn't figgure out what was going on. One thing for sure my long game was terrible. I just couldn't get off the tee and distance was well short of my norn.

I kept trying but it kept getting worst. The more I struggled the worst it got. Sound like a pattern? This went on for several years and I was to stubborn to quit. Finally I gave it up, it was just to mentally frustrating.

Later on I might go out and chip some balls but that was it. Without going into a long story I discovered some flaws fairly recent. One really was an eye opener. So here it's been 10 years and I think I could play a decent game again.

I'm not going to just yet because I sold my golf clubs 2 years ago. Well I did except for my old Ping putter and a 60 degree wedge. When I have more time I might just pick it back up again. I know I'll hit the ball better, how good I can't be sure. One thing for sure I was doing 1 major thing wrong.

Due to errors in mental and mechanics, not to mention severe frustration the game was a nightmare. BTW I even spent the better part of a summer taking lessons from a resident assistant head pro. Sometimes you just have to sit back and smell the flowers. How long who knows but I'd say until you get your mind cleared.

You may not want to do that. Possibly you handle the frustration much better than I. One thing for sure we all need a breath of fresh air when something gets us down. Good luck on your game, hope it turns out well and you find your answer.

I wiil say I had one short slump in my life playing pool. Only one and it turned out it wasn't me at all. I got a little frustrated because I was not getting the kind of c/b reaction as expected. It seemed like it was a dead slug. A week later I found the handle was comming loose from the forearm. That was the problem. I bought another cue, problem solved.

Rod

 

[Rod]

Rod,


I always enjoy your posts and valuable advice... and I know you are a hell of a player... Thanks.

Thanks, but lets use the term use to be. I just don't hit em like I use to. I'm not in a slump either. LOL I just don't play near as much.

Rod

 

[Razor_Blade]

Mental versus Mechanical

In the mental versus mechanical debate, I have to lean more toward the mental side being the root cause of a slump. This is assuming a player of decent caliber. I know people who falsely assume that their best game is how they should play all of the time. These people stay in a slump.

How many times have you saw a player fall into a slump after getting badly beaten? Getting drilled should have no effect on someones stroke or mechanics. It sure has an effect on their mental state though.

I saw a friend lose a race to five, after having been up four nothing on the guy. Just after breaking the fith rack he got a call from his wife, who was very unhappy with the fact that he was still at the poolhall. The poor guy couldn`t make a ball after taking the call. He certainly made some mechanical errors, but it was his loss of focus that started the downward spiral.

We have all saw players that have been in a slump, squeak out a win against someone they really shouldn`t beat. Many times after the big win, they will be at the top of their game for a few weeks. The win didn`t improve anyones mechanics, but it did give a boost to their ego and confidence.