It Got The Best Of Me Tonight

[Colin Colenso]

Sometimes bad luck is imagined. Sometimes it is real.

I believe what you are suffering from is fear. Like the fear that a cool draft or getting caught in the rain will make you catch a cold. If you fear it, it will happen, if not always, much more often.

This is why a confident player seems to get a good run of the balls more often than the guy who is woried about the 1 in 3 chance of hooking himself.

It won't be easy to get rid of your fear. If you believe you are an unlucky player you will be. You'll improve when you play the shot without prejudice or preference.

Good luck....I used to have the same fear years ago. Was always fearing I'd get one of those horrid unlucky runs. And man I'd get them. Once they started, and I got stressed about it, it got worse and worse.

It's a tendency that is hard to fight. I'm sure if I got it the wrong frame of mind now it could happen again.

Good luck....this is a real life / mystical lesson for you DCP!

 

[Jersey]

tap tap tap

Pool can't be mastered, only played. Find the joy that drew you to the game in the 1st place. 0.02

Bravo!

This is the only thing that keeps me from listening to that little voice in my head that says, 'why do you play this game?...what's the point?...your just wasting time and money!...now go home and throw this collection of wood, cloth and hide into the fireplace and be done with it!'


I LOVE THIS GAME!

it keeps me from playing golf...LOL...want some headaches?...go to the links!

 

[Matt_24]

28 breaks, and only one (1) chance to runout, and it was very difficult. had a stretch of about 7-8 racks where nothing went in. and of course, had the usual occur, that being having no chance at all several times, and a handful of spreads where i failed to get a shot by about 1/8" of an inch, which as always is very frustrating.

after about the 25th break, when the 4-Ball rolled up on the cue ball, thus giving me no shot by about 1/16 of an inch, i just flung the cue down on the table, and stood there and stared in disgust for a couple of minutes.

the next break, 2 balls went in, and had no shot. the next break nothing went down. the 28th, and last, break i made 3 balls, and i stood there and watched in disbelief as the 8-Ball rolled up at the last moment in between the cue ball and the 2-Ball.

at that point in time i just couldnt take it anymore. i actually knelt down and began to cry. yes, i cried. it finally got the best of me. i spend TONS and TONS and TONS of hours practicing, working on things, and these HORRIBLE spreads and rolls just continue to plague me.

after about 5 minutes of just sitting on the floor, asking The Lord why this always happens to me, i just put the cues away, shut the lights out, and gave up for the evening.

i'm not sure what my future in pool is now, or even if there is a future. maybe i should do like some recommend and take 2 weeks off, then quit. i just dont know what to do about getting these horrible rolls 98% of the time. i am at my wits end. giving up seems like its rapidly becoming the logical conclusion at this point in time.

DCP

p.s. no stupid, insulting replies, ok? i dont want to have to deal with them at this point in time either.

- Dude...get a grip. It is a game. Quit practicing so much by yourself and get out and play. Have fun. If pool is no longer fun, why play?

 

[Matt_24]

Protege,

I have always been in the same boat. Working on my 9ball break trying to find achieve the perfect break like the pro's.

And it wont happen, I have actually stopped breaking from the rail side on all tables cuz for some reason, it doesnt work for me.

So i break from the Box, And yes i get alot better break and can squat the rock close to the center of the table alot more often.

And yes i do get some bad rolls, from squatting the rock, from balls comming off the rail and kicking in the CB to a pocket or getting hooked, or whatever may happen.

i look at it this way, if your not making a ball on the break and hooking yourself, whats the big deal? expecially if its in a tournament your opponent isnt going to have a shot either.

In the 9ball league i played in, i had alot of problems trying to make balls on the break cuz i would break so hard, so alot of times i didnt make anything but i would also hook my opponent so he wouldnt have a shot either. So would i complain about my break then, nope, cuz its not hurting my chances of winning.

dave

I definitely have a non-traditional break. I break from the DEAD center. 8 out of 10 times the cue ball jumps back and dies in the middle of the table. That is all I can hope for. If I get a shot after the break that is good...but if I'm achieving the "hop" and "stop" I've met my goal. Most of the time with this break I'll also make a ball or two and get a shot to get out. Seems to me like the 9 ball has always had a better chance to move towards the hole on this break as well. You just have to find what you like best.

The reason for pros breaking off that side rail was to have a better chance to make that corner ball. You can still consistently make a ball from the box (or dead center) and I think control the cue ball much EASIER.

 

[OrigZaphod]

Just an expert opinon here but one none the less...

Luck, good or bad, true or imagained, is still there.

Pool to me is more a mental game then a physical one. I learned a long time ago (and am relearning today) that you can not explain everything everytime. The same shot on the same table, on two differnt days could and most of the time will yeild a different result.

Could be due to a change in room temp, moisture content on the felt, or any number of other variables.

But I would venture to guess in this case its you. There is a saying, "Whether you think you can or you think you cant, it doesnt matter, because either way you are going to be right."

If i get in the wrong mood, start cursing myself, I will not be able to Hit a single duck. My mental game is killing me then. Even though I "think" I am hitting the ball just perfect, there is a slight deviation to the stroke. And bam, missed shot. Was it I dont know what I am doing? Could be, but its most likely I talked my self out of it before even addressing the cue.

Days like you are having are no fun, but they can not be avoided, only dealt with. Walk away, dont think about it. Come back and try again. But dont be upset, its a game, and its for fun.

You will find, that once you get the mental block out of your head, you will start shooting better again.

jmo...

Dennis

 

[woody_968]

DCP, I didnt read all the reply's so this may have already been covered.

It sounds to me you break the balls and hope for a shot, then when you dont have one call it a bad roll. You need to try and play for a shot off the break. No it doesnt always work, but if you break with the intention of controling the cueball AND the one ball you have a much better chance of getting a makeable shot.

Even without trying to control the oneball if you keep the cueball near the center of the table you shouldnt go through 28 racks with no shot. Where are you stopping the cueball? I know it may get kicked around some, but if you can consistently park the cueball it will stay close to the center often enough.

If your losing the cueball on the break you may want to look into a breakrak. I think one of these would really help you as you would practice your break shot without concern of where the OB's are ending up and just concentrating on the CUEBALL.

I may be wrong on my assumption that your losing the cueball, but if you break that many racks with no shot afterwards I doubt it.

Woody

 

[lewdo26]

DCP,

I might just be reiterating what the other guys have said, but I think it worthwhile.

1) You need to go back to the basic questions:

Why do you play the game?

What role does it play in your life?

What are your ambitions in pool?

Write 'em down and pin it to the wall next to your table. Be honest with yourself, even if it sounds juvenile.

If you're solely trying to break and run out, it might be you want a taste of how pros experience the game, maybe? Remember, the VERY ELITE players in the world break and runout only about 30% of the time. We've all seen excellent matches that were won, not because of a great run, but due to a smart push out or great kick.

2) And that leads to the other point that I think should be emphasized: THERE ARE MANY OTHER FASCINATING, EXHILERATING, BREATH-TAKING ASPECTS TO BILLIARDS OTHER THAN BREAKING AND RUNNING OUT A RACK OF 9 BALL!

One very interesting aspect of the game of 9 ball (which is, by the way, the most frustrating game played with a cue), actually, is the pushout!

3) Finally, DCP, I'd look into how you handle failure more generally. I don't know you, and hope you don't think I'm being inappropriate. Are there other ways to handle failure other than pitying oneself? What are those? Have you ever experienced them? How did you feel, and what was different about those moments? Has anyone inspired you in the way they've faced moments of adversity? What did they do?

Life is not a part of pool; pool is a part of life.

 

[Guru]

Recommended viewing:

 

[azbluemach1]

haha

DCP:

1.) Wanna play some?
2.) Wanna sell me your cues cheap?
3.) Try pulling the 1 and the cue to the other end of the table (where you break from). Breaking from the right side rail, I try to send the one ball to the left rail and cue to the right rail with a touch of low right. Pulls both balls down table pretty consistantly. F%$* trying to put the cue in the middle of the table - I get a clean and predictable shot on the one ball 7 out of 10 times.
4.) Watch "what the bleep do we know anyway" with care. ITs a mind blower.

 

[bruin70]

28 break,,,,,,,,,,,,,reads where i failed to get a shot by about 1/8" of an inch, which as always is very frustrating.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,e and stared in disgust for a couple of minutes.
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
after about 5 minutes of just sitting on the floor, asking The Lord why this always happens to me, i just put the cues away, shut the lights out, and gave up for the evening.

i'm not sure what my future in pool is now,r.

well,,,first of all, you're being silly. but of course, you already know that or you wouldn't be posting.

second,,,,THAT'S 9BALL. live with the good, live with the bad.

thirdly....if this has made you reassess your future in pool, then thank your lucky friggin' stars.

 

[Williebetmore]

i'm not sure what my future in pool is now

DCP,
Future????? Let me take a stab at predicting the future. You have a tremendous love for the game; evidenced by your top-flight equipment, by your attendance at professional events, and by your significant amount of time spent contributing to our forum. There is NO WAY that such a person should be in such a state, there is NO WAY that such a person should be quitting the game. I predict that because of the attraction of the game, you will always be drawn back.

Though I have always felt that you were exaggerating the problem for the entertainment of the forum, the problem remains that 9-ball is a STUPID game; and NOT the best way to measure yourself (though it is entertaining to play, and easier to play alone than some other games). Your experience is just one more example of how 9-ball is holding our sport back.

When I was growing up with a great love for pool, but absolutely NO guidance on how to achieve proficiency (and I do strongly believe that the more proficient we become, the more we will enjoy the game); I found myself often in your position; frustrated with the lack of consistency, and inability to achieve what the pro's do in such a seemingly effortless fashion.

I believe that you are one who is striving for excellence, not content to just casually play the game; and in that vein I am offering suggestions not as a "pool expert" but as a student of the game and a true fan of the game. As one who just loves the learning process, and truly enjoys every minute at the table, here are my suggestions (worth of course exactly what you are paying for them):

#1 - Forget about luck; it doesn't exist (and if it does there's nothing you can do about it - except of course voodoo amulets and human sacrifice ) - play what you get; bad layouts are a gift from the pool gods that will allow you to show your ingenuity and creativity. If you want a better break - then STUDY the break (let me know and I will set you up lessons with one of the best breakers who ever lived). Sadly, there is no one that can not break better than you are describing with appropriate instruction and practice.

#2 - You need a stroke. Unless you have a truly precise, repeatable, professional level stroke you can forget about running racks of 9-ball from the break very often. I think you already know this; but it bears repeating: your chances of developing a professional stroke are miniscule doing it on your own; they improve to small with great instruction. Pool is a harder game than many think - requiring a level of precision that is difficult to attain on your own. If there was such a thing as a pool boot camp, you and I need it. Most of your practice time should be for developing a professional stroke. Once that is attained; then the drills and playing will be truly helpful, rewarding, and enjoyable.

#3 - You need a practice partner and a playing partner. If practice is a little boring then it becomes much more fun competing with a friend. Playing alone COMPLETELY bores me and I almost never do it. Find a friend; then in each session play short races in 9-ball, 8-ball, straight pool, Irish billiards, banks, and one-pocket.

#4 - It's not in books!!!!!!! Instructional books are GREAT and HELPFUL, but NOT SUFFICIENT to become a great player. Too much of pool knowledge is situational, only the true experts can show you when to follow and when to ignore the standard "pool principles" that we all learn. Following their advice will save you years of fruitless experimentation and tinkering. You don't have to blindly do what they tell you, but it will save you years of frustration if you do. Unfortunately isolated lessons probably will not suffice - you need to establish a relationship with someone who can get you where you want to go - it will take time.

#5 - The "mental game" will not make you play any better. The tricks of the "mental game" are only valuable at keeping you from dragging yourself down and playing worse. Don't think that the mental tricks are the road to success, they just help keep you from shooting yourself in the foot. Your stroke and knowledge of the game are what can get you to your goal (but only if your mind lets you).

And lastly:
#6 - Ignore all advice from anonymous internet posters (like me).

Good luck, but I've got to get back to work.

 

[pete lafond]

DCP,


And lastly:
#5 - Ignore all advice from anonymous internet posters (like me).

Good luck, but I've got to get back to work.

No reason to ignore you as you have written some very well thought out replies. Great points.

Good job, I'm temporarily proud of you.

 

[zeeder]

dude..........break 25 racks tomorrow and put every layout after the break on the wei table..........

i wanna see what layouts you are getting..........

even the worst breaker in the world would get more than 1 runable rack in 28 breaks.

VAP

On the bright side DCP, 27 out of 28 unrunnable racks is only 96.4% not your reported 98%! See, there's a silver lining to every cloud!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[BRKNRUN]

Just a thought...Have you tried varying the speed of your break, learning power techniques etc.

I am going on past information here, and have never seen you break, but I read that you had your break speed tested and it was something like 15 mph...You also say you don't get good spreads.

A slow break speed combined with hard breaking table make for bad spreads....

Have you ever tapped the balls in place??? That would cause the balls to not spread as well..

I would try this...Take a "damp" cloth and wipe down the rack area....Clean the balls if they are not new...This will help smooth out and change the rack area to give you a different rack.....

Racking over and over creates dimples that the balls settle into...(especially on a house table that only one person racks on)

The other thing is try the tips that you find on this board......I picked up on a tip that Rude Dog "accidentally" gave away on line here. I tried it and my break power and spreads due to hitting the CB fuller has gone up as a result.

One simple change may change your whole break...

 

[JLW]

DCP-

Dude, I really think you have got to stop looking at this as a matter of luck. Because, even if it's true, it won't help you. If you really want a way to solve this problem, forget about luck immediately. That way of thinking only serves to put you in a powerless position. Think about it this way. If it's all about luck, what are you gonna do about it?

Be honest. You know that when players have what they perceive as bad luck, there's usually a very good reason. And that is what I think you need to really seriously think about here. For example, which players think they have the worst luck? Beginners. Because they are constantly scratching, miscueing, hooking themselves, missing shots etc. Is it really "bad luck", or is it them?

Now I'm not saying you're a beginner or that you can't play. My point is, if you really want to improve your playing and breaking- Be brutally honest with yourself. I'm sure you've got enough knowledge about the game to decide for yourself why you are constantly getting these "bad rolls".

Good luck man.

 

[Williebetmore]

No reason to ignore you as you have written some very well thought out replies. Great points.

Good job, I'm temporarily proud of you.

PeteL,
Many thanks. But, as a Rochester resident, perhaps you could appreciate my overriding principle (that I neglected to mention to DCP) which is; when confronted with a pool game or etiquette situation, just ask yourself WWID (what would Irving do?). If more of us behaved like Irving, our sport would definitely be enriched.