I am the "perfect" player.....kinda

J

james51381

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I have noticed that I make excusses for myself on why I missed the 8 ball after a 7 ball run. I am very particular on my tip shap, shaft smoothness, my mood. I feel that I only play good when everything is "perfect".

How do I get over this, or how have some of you other players gotten over it? I find myself having a hard time bearing down and getting myself in the game after while.

Most of this is just a rant, on monday I was playing like a god, and tuesday (the day of my tourney) I played like a newbie, with a few spurts of greatness. I found myself missing the easy 2 foot cut, but dropping bank shots with a 3-4 rail position a peice of cake.

thanks ahead of time.
 
Play alot. Just play. Play when everything isn't perfect. Play on junk tables, with junk lights with your cue not hitting exactly how you like it. If you find yourself playing only when all the conditions are perfect, you will never improve or reach the next level because your skill is only found within a certain set of circumstances. Just play all the time.
 
I used to do the same thing to some extent. If I was sitting for instance, I would critique my tip and manicure it just so....... instead of watching the game and keeping my head in the game. Best thing to do, watch some games sometimes. Dont even take your cue to the pool hall. Go in, buy a coke and watch for a couple hours. Pick a table and just watch people play. Focus on the game, and what is happening on the cloth only. Think about how you would play the shots etc. Picture nothing but the game.
Then go out the next day to play. And again, focus on nothing but the game.
I had a best friend I played with for several years. When we would play, we wouldnt say a word to each other for hours about anything...... we just focused on what the balls were doing on the table.
Its just a matter of realigning your mind to the task at hand. ;)
Chuck
 
james51381 said:
I have noticed that I make excusses for myself on why I missed the 8 ball after a 7 ball run. I am very particular on my tip shap, shaft smoothness, my mood. I feel that I only play good when everything is "perfect".

How do I get over this, or how have some of you other players gotten over it? I find myself having a hard time bearing down and getting myself in the game after while.

Most of this is just a rant, on monday I was playing like a god, and tuesday (the day of my tourney) I played like a newbie, with a few spurts of greatness. I found myself missing the easy 2 foot cut, but dropping bank shots with a 3-4 rail position a peice of cake.

thanks ahead of time.
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You're thinking too much. Just make sure your shaft is clean, wiped down and your tip is roughed up, etc.


Everything else is in your head. The only reason I do anything during a match to improve my play (ie, get a drink, something to eat, cue maintenance etc.), is simply to distract myself.
 
great advice so far and I especially liked what river city had to say. I will add one other thing though. You kind of answered your own question. You say you wonder why you miss the 8 after a 7 ball run. but, then it sounds like you blame it on your tip, shaft or mood being "perfect". Well, you can definitely control your mood. So if your mood is not right then change your mindset and your mood will change.

Just one example is myself. I had been playing every day for a while and had been in quite a slump. But, then work got in the way and I started playing about once a week. I realized the reason I was in the slump was because my thoughts were too much on winning. After I started working I started playing much better because I went in with the mentality that I was just going to go have some fun.

As for the cue, stop using it as an excuse as to why you lost. You will NEVER get very far if you allow yourself to lose by making excuses.

I have a friend that played in a tourney one day. The pool hall it is in has tables in the front that are MUCH better than the ones in the back (they aren't perfect, but the ones in the back are really just horrible). After a couple matches he went from the winners to the losers side and had to switch to one of the back tables. He whined like a lil ---- and told me well I can't win now. So of course what did he do he lost and blamed it on the damn table. He "didn't care" because it wasn't his fault.
 
wow, thank you all for the great advise. I will try to just sit at the pool hall and just watch, although that will be like pulling teeth. Thanks for putting things in perspective.

James
 
james51381 said:
wow, thank you all for the great advise. I will try to just sit at the pool hall and just watch, although that will be like pulling teeth. Thanks for putting things in perspective.

James
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NP..If you find a really good player I don't think it will be like pulling teeth. I love watching the better players play, there is just that effortlessness in their game. You will also subconsciously if not consciously pick up new and different patterns to play.
 
I've found that trying not to be perfect has improved my game alot more.

I use to try to get that perfect shape everytime, even if it ment going 3 or 4 rails, or using some wild ass english. I've learned that you dont always need perfect position to run out or win the game, just pot your balls and leave yourself a position on the table that allows you to have a high percentage shot.

Since doing this I end up running out more and just playing the table as it is, instead of trying to make it open up, when that wasnt the smartest play on the table.

And I was the same with the tip on my cue, it always had to be done the way i wanted. Most of the time i just tip pik it and play. And call it good. If i am playing alot, i will scuff the tip up, and then tip pik it, but thats about it.

Your always going to run into those not so perfect conditions and thats what seperates the good players from the average players.

dave
 
erikido said:
As for the cue, stop using it as an excuse as to why you lost. You will NEVER get very far if you allow yourself to lose by making excuses.

I have a friend that played in a tourney one day. The pool hall it is in has tables in the front that are MUCH better than the ones in the back (they aren't perfect, but the ones in the back are really just horrible). After a couple matches he went from the winners to the losers side and had to switch to one of the back tables. He whined like a lil ---- and told me well I can't win now. So of course what did he do he lost and blamed it on the damn table. He "didn't care" because it wasn't his fault.
Click to expand...

Make sure your equipment is right and stop screwing around with it. You're taking yourself out of the game mentally and giving yourself justification for losing.

When you're shooting poorly it's probably not your cue. You lose focus because you're worried about it and your fundamentals break down.
Try leaving your cue tools at home and just play the cue as is all night. If you feel it requires attention do it when you get home.

McCue Banger McCue
 
I once played a tourney and overheard an experienced player commenting on the continual whinings from participants regarding tough table conditions.

He said that a great player is one who is adaptable, one who gets on with the job, adapting to the variables that he faces.

His message resonated well with me. Instead of finding excuses, face the challenge ahead and deal with it better than the foes at the table.

I went on the be runner up at that tourney, my best large event performance to that date, and that message I believe was part of the reason for my success there and later good performances in tournaments.

It's an attitude change, to expect imperfect situations and to look forward to the challenge of dealing with them.

Colin
 
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