I've lost it! What to do?

Roy Steffensen

Roy Steffensen

locksmith
Silver Member
For the last month I have really been struggling when playing. I can't get anything right, I have problems with seeing the patterns, and I creates more problems on the table instead of solving those who are there already. Right now I am probably one of the top 5 poolplayers in the world who hit the cushion most times during a game, at all levels... :(

I have now tried to go back to basic, and focused on my stands, do I follow through etc., and I can't find what I am doing wrong.

The last two weeks I have done basic, basic, basic exercises and written down all results. I can see some progress on the results but it is not satisfying, and it's getting really frustrated.

What do you people recommend? Should I take a break from playing? Practise alone and just wait till it gets over, play matches with better players, gamble, compete in local tournaments, or just start to play domino?

EDIT: There are probably a thread or two about this topic, sorry for not looking good enough after it, but hope you will give me some advice anyway ;)
 
Advice?

Roy Steffensen said:
For the last month I have really been struggling when playing. I can't get anything right, I have problems with seeing the patterns, and I creates more problems on the table instead of solving those who are there already. Right now I am probably one of the top 5 poolplayers in the world who hit the cushion most times during a game, at all levels... :(

I have now tried to go back to basic, and focused on my stands, do I follow through etc., and I can't find what I am doing wrong.

The last two weeks I have done basic, basic, basic exercises and written down all results. I can see some progress on the results but it is not satisfying, and it's getting really frustrated.

What do you people recommend? Should I take a break from playing? Practise alone and just wait till it gets over, play matches with better players, gamble, compete in local tournaments, or just start to play domino?

EDIT: There are probably a thread or two about this topic, sorry for not looking good enough after it, but hope you will give me some advice anyway ;)
Click to expand...

The only way to get out of hell is to keep going.
 
For the last month?. What affects focus and concentration more than anything else?. Stress. What's the most stressful time of year?. This past month.

Relax, get some sleep, eat right and get someone to diddle your wang a little. The worst thing you can do is act like the world is coming to an end. :)
 
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Take a break..... If I hit a rut, that I can't shot my way out of, similiar to yours, I stop playing the game for a week or so. Let my mind relax, catch up on another hobby or family and not worry about it.

That or...

I will not take the games so serious and try a hand at some bar pool for drinks and mere fun for a couple weekends. Play loose and free. When my mind tells me it's ready to get serious again, back to the big tables I go. No sense driving yourself crazy. Our bodies and mind's need breaks from everything once in awhile.

ez
 
Roy,

It sounds like you're playing tight and second guessing every shot. You can get yourself out of stroke by being doubtful.

When this happens to me, I like to shoot my way out of it. I recommend that you practice alone for a couple of sessions when you have at least 3 to 4 hours to invest.

For the first part, refrain from thinking about mechanical things and just focus on making balls. Let it flow, shoot random shots and put them in the hole. Toss balls out and keep stroking them in. Pocketing balls is the most wonderful thing in pool. It's contagious and builds confidence. Shoot away and relax.

Once you're loose again, play the ghost in races. After a couple of practice sessions like this, you should be back in stroke.

If you take a break from the game and come back, chances are you wil run into the same rut soon - so better to just shoot your way through it.

I also like to watch matches on tape or dvd. I like to watch the pros play and see their good rythym and poise. It helps me visualize what I should be like at the table.

Chris
 
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maybe you do need a break from the game.........NOT!!! a well running machine has to be oiled all the time. taking that analogy, give yourself the oil it needs and tell yourself things are still good and then put your nose to the grind stone and keep plugin' along. forget about the uncontrollable rolls in the game, the perfect position, the center pocket play, your stance ect...... and just make balls, hundreds of them. start with 5 ball runs the six and so on and so on......you'll be back to normal in no time. most strong games decline more so from a poor mental state then a mechanical one so stay positive, you know your supposed to make those balls so forget about the fact that your not making them now, keep your head up and you'll find that your stroke will return faster than you could imagine. good luck.
 
Roy you're just stressing too much about everything..
Just take some rest..
Pay me some more money so I'll take some of the work over and you can focus on your game again (after some rest!)

;)
 
6 hours of daylight?

Isn't there only around six hours of daylight right now in Oslo?


You definitely need to practice more...

on an outdoor table where it's warm and sunny! :D


Edit - Certainly not here!
 
Rut ...

If you knew the patterns to begin with, how could you forget them? You don't, you only fail to recognize what you are looking at. That tells me your 'mind is not right'? Sometimes, as hard as you might try, you just can not perform at a top level. Our minds, like our bodies, go through cycles. When our bodies are crying to us that they need something, it shows up somewhere. Our minds are not as obvious, and that is why stress can have devastating effects of us.

Going back to basics is good, but taking care of yourself is important too, like diet, exercise, and getting the sleep you need, and not overdoing alcohol or other habits. Look at the top pro performers in the sport. Most have a regimen they stick to, i.e., Mika, Hohmann, Souquet, Archer, Busta, Efren.
A professional is just that, professional in every sense of the word.
 
Snapshot9 said:
but taking care of yourself is important too, like diet, exercise, and getting the sleep you need, and not overdoing alcohol or other habits.
Click to expand...

So drinking some beers till 3 AM each night with pitstops at Burger King isn't the thing you recommend before work at 10 AM again?

I just need to change my personallity!!! ;)

Thank's for all your advices, I guess I'll have to combine some of them and see what happens.

Tournament tomorrow... :cool:
 
haha....

What kind of tournament?

Only 13 more days and then i'm on my way to Norway!!!
 
Take it easy

Just throw out the balls on the table and start shooting with an OPEN bridge ..."any ball"...DO NOT play a game. Just roll the balls around and get the feel for the activity again. Only for about and hour a day for a few days then gradually start hitting the balls slightly firmer. DO NOT play an opponent. In a couple of weeks >>>>> "You'll be BACK!"
 
I seem to recall that in his little red book Mosconi says that 85% of shots can be made with a centre ball hit. So ....

What I do when my stroke goes on a walkabout (a nomadic excursion, time of return unknown) is shoot straight shots, the simplest centre ball hit shot.

After I am able to pocket the ball consistently, I increase the distance between the cue ball and object ball, then I go on to stop shots, follow shots, and draw shots.

For me it is a chicken and egg thing. Do I miss because I can't shoot straight, or do I not shoot straight because I have lost confidence that I can make the shot?

I also have a Stroketrainer which helps smooth the mechanics of the stroke through slow consistent repetition.
 
Roy Steffensen said:
For the last month I have really been struggling when playing. I can't get anything right, I have problems with seeing the patterns, and I creates more problems on the table instead of solving those who are there already. Right now I am probably one of the top 5 poolplayers in the world who hit the cushion most times during a game, at all levels... :(

I have now tried to go back to basic, and focused on my stands, do I follow through etc., and I can't find what I am doing wrong.

The last two weeks I have done basic, basic, basic exercises and written down all results. I can see some progress on the results but it is not satisfying, and it's getting really frustrated.

What do you people recommend? Should I take a break from playing? Practise alone and just wait till it gets over, play matches with better players, gamble, compete in local tournaments, or just start to play domino?

EDIT: There are probably a thread or two about this topic, sorry for not looking good enough after it, but hope you will give me some advice anyway ;)
Click to expand...

Everyone who climbs the ladder of success in pool, hits walls of despair from time to time and fall from their pinnacle. It is those who refuse to stay down who perservere. You may consider getting some pool instruction from certified instructors or other sources. Go to a tournament and observe those having fun. You need to have your fire re-ignited.

All of this advice goes out the window if your personal life is a mess. If that is the case and you're fighting with your better half, work on the family business a little harder and you might see your pool game improve. I should take my own advice. :-)
JoeyA
 
you are losing your edge,take some time off,dont think about pool for a week .when i get into a rut,i just relax and dont play for week or two.
thank god we have 6 players on a 5 player team so when someone gets burnt they just sit out for that week.then they come next week they are high guy for the team.IT WORKS trust me.
 
KY BOY said:
The only way to get out of hell is to keep going.
Click to expand...

Exactly, everyone experiences the ups and downs. Keep your eye on the prize.

Set up a straight in shot and shoot it repeatedly. Pay attention to which side you are missing to, and make adjustments until you get it right. Then make the shot longer and longer...take baby steps. I know I am playing good when I can make those long straight in shots.
 
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