I figured I'd better warn anyone contemplating reading this one beforehand, I'm layed off from work and bored as hell but it might make a good read for a few of you guys/gals. 
(hopefully)
I'll start with my first game, I'm up against one of the worst players in league (has only won 8 out of 36 games) and I always find it hard to "get into it" when I know I'm playing such a poor player (no disrespect intended, they would agree with me I'm sure). The game just previous to mine was my 16 yr old son playing the best player from the other team and he (my son) had made just 2 balls and just barely missed his third shot and the other guy runs out on him. My son was upset but congratulated the other player, shook his hand and went back to sit down and I noticed him throwing the scoresheet and acting a little immmature which probably isn't that surprising, he's only 16 and gets his competitiveness from his old man honestly. I used to get more than just a little out of my head after some disappointing losses in the past, but not so much anymore. Anyway, I notice his behavior and let it get to me and go to the table for my first shot after the other player breaks and doesn't make anything and I can feel my hands shaking a little/etc because I'm upset with my son for acting that way and instead of backing away and taking a few deep breaths like I know I should do, I attempt my first shot anyway and miss it badly even though it was a relatively easy shot.
I backed away from the table thinking "you dumb-A$$, you KNEW you should get control of your emotions before settling in over a shot". Of course my opponent misses then too, I get my head back into it and win easily.
2nd game I play decent, have a shot on the 8 and could care less if I win/loss because it's not gonna make any difference in the round, we have it sewn up anyway so I chunk the 8 on an almost straight in shot, opponent makes a couple more balls then misses and I have another straight in shot on the 8 and make it easily of course, like I should have done the first time.
3rd game opponent breaks, doesn't make anything, I run down to my last ball which is copletely buried and I purposely foul just to get it out in the clear because I know this player is gonna miss in a shot or two and of course they miss the first ball-in-hand shot, I make the last ball and the 8 and win 10-0.
So here it is the day after league and I'm going over the things I did wrong last night. They are: Letting my emotions affect my play and taking the games for granted as I was about 95% sure I was going to win all 3 games even if I played poorly for my standards (which I did my first 2 games).
So here it is about 1/2 way through the league season and I'm in the top ten in all stats (points, +/- avg, win %) but I KNOW I could be in the top 3-5 easily if I could just do the small things that I know I need to do on a consistant basis. I'm desperate to get my game to the next level and I'm thinking about going and getting some professional lessons which I've never had to see if that will get me to that next level. I know it would be an investment of several hundred dollars but I'm to that point that I think that is what I NEED to do to get to the next level. My mental preparedness and pre-shot routine could use some shoring up as well.
Maybe there are a few players out there or professional instructors that will read this and easily relate to what I'm saying and help me decide what course of action to take next. Commit to some professional lessons? Make myself buckle down and take every game/shot seriously? Maybe I need some good reading material to help me with the mental toughness I need to get over the hump?
I'm sure I'm probably answering my own questions and just need to commit to the lessons. I think that's what I'll do. Cue-U here I come.
Sorry for the long read........I think I needed to take the time to do this for my own sanity.
Happy Holidays everyone and good luck on the tables.
(hopefully)I'll start with my first game, I'm up against one of the worst players in league (has only won 8 out of 36 games) and I always find it hard to "get into it" when I know I'm playing such a poor player (no disrespect intended, they would agree with me I'm sure). The game just previous to mine was my 16 yr old son playing the best player from the other team and he (my son) had made just 2 balls and just barely missed his third shot and the other guy runs out on him. My son was upset but congratulated the other player, shook his hand and went back to sit down and I noticed him throwing the scoresheet and acting a little immmature which probably isn't that surprising, he's only 16 and gets his competitiveness from his old man honestly. I used to get more than just a little out of my head after some disappointing losses in the past, but not so much anymore. Anyway, I notice his behavior and let it get to me and go to the table for my first shot after the other player breaks and doesn't make anything and I can feel my hands shaking a little/etc because I'm upset with my son for acting that way and instead of backing away and taking a few deep breaths like I know I should do, I attempt my first shot anyway and miss it badly even though it was a relatively easy shot.
I backed away from the table thinking "you dumb-A$$, you KNEW you should get control of your emotions before settling in over a shot". Of course my opponent misses then too, I get my head back into it and win easily.2nd game I play decent, have a shot on the 8 and could care less if I win/loss because it's not gonna make any difference in the round, we have it sewn up anyway so I chunk the 8 on an almost straight in shot, opponent makes a couple more balls then misses and I have another straight in shot on the 8 and make it easily of course, like I should have done the first time.
3rd game opponent breaks, doesn't make anything, I run down to my last ball which is copletely buried and I purposely foul just to get it out in the clear because I know this player is gonna miss in a shot or two and of course they miss the first ball-in-hand shot, I make the last ball and the 8 and win 10-0.
So here it is the day after league and I'm going over the things I did wrong last night. They are: Letting my emotions affect my play and taking the games for granted as I was about 95% sure I was going to win all 3 games even if I played poorly for my standards (which I did my first 2 games).
So here it is about 1/2 way through the league season and I'm in the top ten in all stats (points, +/- avg, win %) but I KNOW I could be in the top 3-5 easily if I could just do the small things that I know I need to do on a consistant basis. I'm desperate to get my game to the next level and I'm thinking about going and getting some professional lessons which I've never had to see if that will get me to that next level. I know it would be an investment of several hundred dollars but I'm to that point that I think that is what I NEED to do to get to the next level. My mental preparedness and pre-shot routine could use some shoring up as well.
Maybe there are a few players out there or professional instructors that will read this and easily relate to what I'm saying and help me decide what course of action to take next. Commit to some professional lessons? Make myself buckle down and take every game/shot seriously? Maybe I need some good reading material to help me with the mental toughness I need to get over the hump?
I'm sure I'm probably answering my own questions and just need to commit to the lessons. I think that's what I'll do. Cue-U here I come.
Sorry for the long read........I think I needed to take the time to do this for my own sanity.
Happy Holidays everyone and good luck on the tables.
