Just Curious...

Had a horrible summer and early Fall, no finishes in the money and quite a few 2 and outs. Then something just clicked in November and had a 3rd place, 2nd, and a 5th to close out the year. The 2nd was especially nice on a 9foot table tournament that I don't usually play on.

Of course the new year starts with a full 128 field 550-under tournament this coming Saturday and I just got pulled from the waitlist for a spot, so of course I'm expecting a 2 and out... Not sure why I'm so negative before the event?
 
Mine can be up and down throughout the course of a day. Just played in a tournament this weekend where I had a couple matches I played just great in and a couple that embarrassed me. Hoping I can get that worked out, but I've never been model of consistency.
 
lfigueroa said:
Does your game ever fluctuate?

I mean -- like for a while -- you are firing on all cylinders. No shot is missable. Any position play is doable. And then... you come back the next day, or maybe even mid-session the same day, become screamingly helpless?

Lou Figueroa
just wonderin'
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Absolibby.

I'm billiarding in the .700s one day and then in the .200s the next.

Frustrating and it makes me wonder who's driving this bus
 
I stink at the moment and it's all about my concentration level. I'm making some great shots,banking like crazy and kicking ok. It's the simple shots doing me in and I'm working on those. It's as if I think they're in and I half heartedly stroke the CB. I'm 5 wins and 6 losses in 3 events and it boggles my mind losing the way I do.
 
Being somewhat of an artist and hobby person I can tell you I can nail a painting , drawing , carving , playing pool etc ... One of my best examples of when I knew things have gone south when I did a portrait of Shania Twain and I managed to paint her shoulders in as big as a man 🤣 , That painting doesn't exist anymore .
 
Had it happen this past weekend.

Playing in an 8 ball tournament. First four matches, races to 5, I won 5-0, 5-1, 5-0, 5-0 with 11 out of the 21 games being EROs. (way above my average). Couldn't miss or play bad shape.

Then the next match (in the single elimination stage) I lost 5-3. Scratched twice, hooked myself twice, blew easy position badly once. And it didn't help that the other player was getting rolls like crazy. Maybe I got a little too confident? Oh well.
 
eastcoast_chris said:
Had it happen this past weekend.

Playing in an 8 ball tournament. First four matches, races to 5, I won 5-0, 5-1, 5-0, 5-0 with 11 out of the 21 games being EROs. (way above my average). Couldn't miss or play bad shape.

Then the next match (in the single elimination stage) I lost 5-3. Scratched twice, hooked myself twice, blew easy position badly once. And it didn't help that the other player was getting rolls like crazy. Maybe I got a little too confident? Oh well.
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It's amazing the winner (Wayne) went undefeated all the way thru with all the decent players there.
 
I'm on a pretty strong downturn at the moment. I blame the idea that playing with "rhythm" makes a positive difference. I switched back to 14.1 a month or two back and attempted to work in rhythm with a more fluid stroke. It's absolutely killed my consistency, and produced a slight inside out chicken wing.

Thankfully, when I looked for the problem I was able to spot it. I've unfortunately engrained it slightly, so I'm having a hard time reverting back.

Fortunately the problem is really only bad when I'm playing 14.1 solo. It hasn't effected my competitive game all that much, but it's there enough for me to tell. Everyone else thinks I'm just being lazy and not giving it 100%
 
Sounds like this is a pretty universal phenomena amongst us pool players. Anybody got any great tips on how to improve consistency? It's not a cure all, but I'd say the best two for me is to occasional take a practice and focus on mechanics (I usually shoot some long straight ins when I do this) and to try and keep a consistent shot tempo (time taken between shots, warm up strokes, etc.).
 
MTfish said:
Sounds like this is a pretty universal phenomena amongst us pool players. Anybody got any great tips on how to improve consistency? It's not a cure all, but I'd say the best two for me is to occasional take a practice and focus on mechanics (I usually shoot some long straight ins when I do this) and to try and keep a consistent shot tempo (time taken between shots, warm up strokes, etc.).
Click to expand...
I do 10 or so minutes of slow smooth strokes through the ball and holding while down for 3 or so seconds after the shot. I think this just mainly takes my mind off of whatever else was sneaking in there and gives me a reset. It helps a lot...most of the time.
 
MTfish said:
Sounds like this is a pretty universal phenomena amongst us pool players. Anybody got any great tips on how to improve consistency? It's not a cure all, but I'd say the best two for me is to occasional take a practice and focus on mechanics (I usually shoot some long straight ins when I do this) and to try and keep a consistent shot tempo (time taken between shots, warm up strokes, etc.).
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Take a few days off.
If in-between sets, do nothing. Stick to the psr and it comes back.
 
MTfish said:
Sounds like this is a pretty universal phenomena amongst us pool players.
Click to expand...

Not just pool players. This phenomena affects ALL performance activities (pool, golf, free-thow shooting, violin playing, etc. etc. etc.).

MTfish said:
Anybody got any great tips on how to improve consistency? It's not a cure all, but I'd say the best two for me is to occasional take a practice and focus on mechanics (I usually shoot some long straight ins when I do this) and to try and keep a consistent shot tempo (time taken between shots, warm up strokes, etc.).
Click to expand...

Lots of practice. Consistent routine. Thought/concentration management (I'm sure there are better descriptive phases).

Play Great Pool
Inner Game of Tennis
Pleasures of Small Motions
etc.

Remember pool is 90% mental and the rest is in your head.

Dave <-- with much thanks to Yogi
 
lfigueroa said:
Does your game ever fluctuate?

I mean -- like for a while -- you are firing on all cylinders. No shot is missable. Any position play is doable. And then... you come back the next day, or maybe even mid-session the same day, become screamingly helpless?
Click to expand...

All the time::

My game oscillates over a 2-3 month time frame, wandering from stiff and mechanical to loosey-goosey. I don't shoot great at either end but shoot great fairly close to either end, and poorly in the middle.
 
lfigueroa said:
Does your game ever fluctuate?

I mean -- like for a while -- you are firing on all cylinders. No shot is missable. Any position play is doable. And then... you come back the next day, or maybe even mid-session the same day, become screamingly helpless?

Lou Figueroa
just wonderin'
Click to expand...
Have you been talking to my wife??😂
My main problem now is speed control. Overrun my shape half the time. Good thing I have something that itches so I can scratch it.
 
Fatboy said:
Sadly damn near everything I do has huge fluctuations. I haven’t been able to cure it ever. Can be a game, business, driving a car.

I’d rather be the even keel type guy, however I’m not. And I can’t figure out how to fix it.

Fatboy<———consistently inconsistent😕
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Pool players are a lot like salesmen in this regard. Ask any salesman this question and see what they say.
 
Mensabum said:
Pool players are a lot like salesmen in this regard. Ask any salesman this question and see what they say.
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Funny you mention that. I almost mentioned that as well. When I was a telemarketer I’d hit cold steaks as well. Thing I noticed is because I had talent at that trade, the lows weren’t as low as other things.

But yes 100% I agree, ur right

Best
Fatboy 😃😃
 
dukblowz said:
Had a horrible summer and early Fall, no finishes in the money and quite a few 2 and outs. Then something just clicked in November and had a 3rd place, 2nd, and a 5th to close out the year. The 2nd was especially nice on a 9foot table tournament that I don't usually play on.

Of course the new year starts with a full 128 field 550-under tournament this coming Saturday and I just got pulled from the waitlist for a spot, so of course I'm expecting a 2 and out... Not sure why I'm so negative before the event?
Click to expand...
Bcuz you've got it in your head that that's what triggered the good finishes, so you're doing what everyone does. Trying to reinforce a negative, which usually doesn't work. Just keep hammering away. You'll find the nail again.
 
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