I got way out of form?

Gogafem

Gogafem

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I am way out of my playing form recently :(...
I noticed this particular problem in my hit.
I have more trouble having a smooth and elegant hit now.

Any idea how to get back on track?


I absolutely hate blaming equipment, but both of my tips on my cues are in need of replacement.
Maybe it could be this?
 
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Clear your mind so that pool is the only thing that matters in the moment. If your concentration is 95% on the shot, but 5% on how you are going to get everyone to get along at Thanksgiving or how you're going to pay for Xmas or whatever else may be going on, it's a slippery slope to not even recognizing your game anymore. And that goes double if you just try to "play your way out of it".

Could it be your tips? Sure. But 99% of the time when I get out of stroke, it's mental.

Hate get philosophical, but that's usually what it is.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Tapatalk
 
When I feel like my stroke is not smooth anymore, it's because I'm scared, nervous, don't trust the cue, or I'm flat out not having fun.

Scared and nervous makes me jab/poke the ball because I don't trust my own stroke to go straight,
so I try to force it to be straight and my arm no longer swings smoothly.

If I don't trust the cue I avoid all extreme spins and get little action, and tend to hit softer too.

And if I'm not having fun I just don't put anything into it and don't bother with good stance etc,
which leads to everything being all wobbly and weak. Hard to hit the ball with any swagger,
when you're mad and half-giving up.

In your case it sounds like you're worried about the tips so you don't trust the equipment.
Just get it fixed. Even if the tip still works, thinking about it is making your back arm act funny.
 
Change your tips. Even if it's not mechanically the problem, you've already convinced yourself it's a factor, so it is. I always play better after a tip change, even though the tip hasn't "seasoned" yet. It's mental, but powerful, nonetheless.
 
Fundamentals

Gogafem said:
I am way out of my playing form recently :(...
I noticed this particular problem in my hit.
I have more trouble having a smooth and elegant hit now.

Any idea how to get back on track?


I absolutely hate blaming equipment, but both of my tips on my cues are in need of replacement.
Maybe it could be this?
Click to expand...

I've had this experience more times than I care to remember over the past 59 years.

I find that other than simply concentration, it's almost always something in my fundamentals...often as simple as being lazy with my foot placement.

So I suggest checking your fundamentals, which may require someone to watch you play...
 
CreeDo said:
When I feel like my stroke is not smooth anymore, it's because I'm scared, nervous, don't trust the cue, or I'm flat out not having fun.

Scared and nervous makes me jab/poke the ball because I don't trust my own stroke to go straight,
so I try to force it to be straight and my arm no longer swings smoothly.

If I don't trust the cue I avoid all extreme spins and get little action, and tend to hit softer too.

And if I'm not having fun I just don't put anything into it and don't bother with good stance etc,
which leads to everything being all wobbly and weak. Hard to hit the ball with any swagger,
when you're mad and half-giving up.

In your case it sounds like you're worried about the tips so you don't trust the equipment.
Just get it fixed. Even if the tip still works, thinking about it is making your back arm act funny.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I should put on a new tip, but not sure if I should do it now - as I have a tournament tomorrow...
 
Personal habits

When I notice my form is sloppier than most days, the confidence typically have when executing a shot is completely gone. I begin shooting balls softer and softer, absolutely dreading the fact that I may actually have to deliver a sound stroke. My play becomes very timid.

What I think I should do then is start at square one again. Make sure my equipment is at a satisfactory level, and then start reinforcing my fundamentals. You have to get your head right.

Either way, I've been in a similar situation and it's not enjoyable. Everything that used to be fun about this sport disappears.

I hope you're able to straighten things up and get back to your old self again. Make your luck!
 
90% of the game is mental

Andrewk1988 said:
Clear your mind so that pool is the only thing that matters in the moment. If your concentration is 95% on the shot, but 5% on how you are going to get everyone to get along at Thanksgiving or how you're going to pay for Xmas or whatever else may be going on, it's a slippery slope to not even recognizing your game anymore. And that goes double if you just try to "play your way out of it".

Could it be your tips? Sure. But 99% of the time when I get out of stroke, it's mental.

Hate get philosophical, but that's usually what it is.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

I agree with Andrew on this one , I was playing in Subic bay Philippines a couple weeks ago . I havent played seriously for a number of years now and my form and stroke is as sloppy as they have ever been . While playing some friends who are just bangers at best i couldnt make two balls in a row much less get shape . my mind was just not in it

A couple hours later one of the local expats i know , who is a player came in and put up for the next game . I of course was the one chosen to play him . he wanted a little action nothing serious but enough to make me nervous as i havent gambled in a couple of years. But i settled in to play. calmed my mind made sure i watched my fundementals , i was a little rusty the first couple of games but made it through , then my stroke seemed to get smoother with each shot and by the 5th rack i was ahead 3-2 , in all i ran six racks that night and ended up winning by 2 sets .

The thing i noticed is when i blanked my mind and didnt over think my shots my stroke is still there , the muscles and body still know exactly what to do , but its so easy to let your head over rule your skill and take away your confidence in your shots.
 
Do you have access to a video camera? Record yourself shooting and see if you can spot why you're out of form.
 
i agree with the rest of the thoughts,,,when i get this feeling it seems i am not focussing hard enough, and Playing scared and timid,confidence in your equipment is a must. I try and get out of this by setting up banks, they force you to hit an exact spot on the object ball and usually you are agressive with the cueball, particularly close to centerball banks. I then lose my timid stroke and hear that familiar sound when you are striking the ball crisp, and am able to move the cueball around with confidence.
 
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