I feel like Tony Soprano at his Psych's office. But lately I have been really losing my passion for playing. You know when you wake up in the morning and cant wait to get the the pool hall and cant sleep at night thinking about how you could have done this or that on the table. I was playing 4 or 5 hours a day at least. Nine ball, Straight Pool, Banks, One Pocket, and some 3 rail. I was starting to run racks, had a 40 ball run, and had run 8 and out many times. But lately I just cant seem to get myself wanting to play. I get to the pool hall and see the same old faces and the same old stories. I start slamming balls and just lose interest. I been depressed thinking about all the lost time I spent trying to perfect my stroke and reading all those books by Phil Capelle and articles by Nick Varner. Its not like a slump. I been through that. Its not booze or drugs or women that interferes with the game. But I guess I just dont care. Has anyone gone through the same thing. Is there a way out? Or do I have to give up my collection of pool tapes that number well over 500? I want that old passion for playing back again.
losing that passion for pool
- Thread starter yobagua
- Start date
I think all of us have gone through the same thing at one time or another.I know when I had this issue, I took a two week break.It hurt like hell.lol But i felt better after that time.You may also try going to a different room.Change of scenery can do wonders sometimes.Or set a goal for yourself and start working towards that goal.Maybe give yourself a reward for achieving that goal.This gives yourself something to strive for, versus just hitting balls.Hops this helps,either way Im still charging ya.lol
Burned out.....
Take a break, come back..Kinda like not getting any for a while and when you finally do, your back onto of the world..
Terrible Comparison..but true
Take a break, come back..Kinda like not getting any for a while and when you finally do, your back onto of the world..
Terrible Comparison..but true
Start playing in different places, if that doesn't help then take a break.
Play through it. Don't ever take a break. There might be a chance that you'll never be able to come back to the level you once played.
JMO
JMO
Get a new cue.
Fall in love with it and you can't wait to run over your opponents with it.
Or take a good evaluation of your game by a good instructor.
Or just take a break like some players.
I know pros Jennifer Chen and Tang Hoa took long breaks and are playing again.
Fall in love with it and you can't wait to run over your opponents with it.
Or take a good evaluation of your game by a good instructor.
Or just take a break like some players.
I know pros Jennifer Chen and Tang Hoa took long breaks and are playing again.
I wouldn't suggest taking a break. You might not ever get back into the game. What you need to do is get out and go to some different poolhalls, where there are new faces and a different atmosphere. I spent my first 5 years playing in the same poolhall, every day, for hours on end. It wasn't until I reached a certain level that I started to slightly lose interest in the game. It felt very repetitive and unrewarding. I took about a two weeks away from the game, until a friend invited me to head out of town for a tournament. We stopped at different poolhalls along the way, I must say it was alot of fun and refreshing for the game.
A question I have to ask is, how good are the players at your poolroom? Are you the best there? When you are one of the top competitors at any room, the game can become dull. You've got to get out and find a poolroom where there are some champions playing.
A question I have to ask is, how good are the players at your poolroom? Are you the best there? When you are one of the top competitors at any room, the game can become dull. You've got to get out and find a poolroom where there are some champions playing.
Enter a competition where the standard is WAY high, like maybe a Joss tour event or something along those lines.
I find that playing people (men or women Gremlin!) who are much better than me always inspires me to hit the practice table harder than ever. Pool is a beautiful thing when played by the best, is it not?
Failing that, organise a lesson with pro teacher. That may rekindle your faith in the coloured balls.........
I find that playing people (men or women Gremlin!) who are much better than me always inspires me to hit the practice table harder than ever. Pool is a beautiful thing when played by the best, is it not?
Failing that, organise a lesson with pro teacher. That may rekindle your faith in the coloured balls.........
B
Billy Jungle
Guest
losing passion
endeavor to perservere......appreciate the time you have to spend playing......I reccomend 10 days or so in the Caribbean.....it's a very relaxing place....lets your mind rest. keep practicing yours truly
endeavor to perservere......appreciate the time you have to spend playing......I reccomend 10 days or so in the Caribbean.....it's a very relaxing place....lets your mind rest. keep practicing yours truly
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Well yobagua, I sure am glad to know that it is not just me feeling that way. I know I am getting real burned out. Have been shooting APA for what seems like forever. Next week is our last match for this session. Think I might just sit out next session and give my brain and body a rest.
Temporary Slump or burnout
Isn't it interesting how quick others are to advise our fellow man how to live their life. Upper echelon pool , like golf or Tennis is a mentally demanding, sometimes physically depleting exercise.I wouldn't dream to know what might be going on in your life today, but I can say that every champion I have played or instructed or known has been in charge of their "present", when it came to playing their sport. If asked they could tell you "What they wanted to acheive in the next two days two weeks , two months or years, as their focus was uncluttered with other real ife requirements. Grady Matthews used to say show me a guy who has a wife and mortgage and I'll give him the six ball and the breaks, and a friend of mine now departed used to say show me a guy with girl troubles and I got this months rent made. If you can't answer what you want your pool to do for you over the next few weeks then it may not be the best time for [playing pool but arranging other life priorities, as for me by the middle of next week Ill make my decision about Derby City "To go , or Not to Go?that is the question?????? But Don't make a permanent decision about temporary matters if you know how to savor the roll of the balls over the green threads of dreams. the game will be there when you retrun and with a lot of luck and preparation allow you and those who understand ,,a few moments of bliss. Take Care and Merry Christmas
Isn't it interesting how quick others are to advise our fellow man how to live their life. Upper echelon pool , like golf or Tennis is a mentally demanding, sometimes physically depleting exercise.I wouldn't dream to know what might be going on in your life today, but I can say that every champion I have played or instructed or known has been in charge of their "present", when it came to playing their sport. If asked they could tell you "What they wanted to acheive in the next two days two weeks , two months or years, as their focus was uncluttered with other real ife requirements. Grady Matthews used to say show me a guy who has a wife and mortgage and I'll give him the six ball and the breaks, and a friend of mine now departed used to say show me a guy with girl troubles and I got this months rent made. If you can't answer what you want your pool to do for you over the next few weeks then it may not be the best time for [playing pool but arranging other life priorities, as for me by the middle of next week Ill make my decision about Derby City "To go , or Not to Go?that is the question?????? But Don't make a permanent decision about temporary matters if you know how to savor the roll of the balls over the green threads of dreams. the game will be there when you retrun and with a lot of luck and preparation allow you and those who understand ,,a few moments of bliss. Take Care and Merry Christmas
Thanks every one for responding. It was inspiring to hear everyones opinion and made me want to play again feeling that I wasnt the Lone Ranger. Particular to the guys who said dont give up and work through it. I think that is best for me. Although I will take some time off during the holidays. But all your thoughts put me in a positive mind set. I went out and played some one hole with a tough opponent and broke even. But more than all felt really great ducking and kicking and plotting traps and running balls when I had the opportunity.
I am not the best in my room but at the top 10 %. Efren, Davenport, Mika, Cole, Ronnie, Jose, Delicious, etc have been here and played some of the locals. So you know there are some good shortstops here. Part of the frustration is that Ernesto Dominguez does the tables here and he has made the action tables REAL tight for the one pocket game. So a 25 ball run is a pretty good feat but frustration sets in for the middle level player.
I am not the best in my room but at the top 10 %. Efren, Davenport, Mika, Cole, Ronnie, Jose, Delicious, etc have been here and played some of the locals. So you know there are some good shortstops here. Part of the frustration is that Ernesto Dominguez does the tables here and he has made the action tables REAL tight for the one pocket game. So a 25 ball run is a pretty good feat but frustration sets in for the middle level player.
raise the bet and shorten the set,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,get through with it or go broke,,,,,,,,,,lol
stop playing for a while
I just got back into pool again after 10 years away. I am glad I stopped playing for awhile. If the whole thing seems kinda stale to you now, it wont get any better.
You will be back when you are ready. And surprisingly enough, your game will come back to speed quicker than you think. I feel like I will be a better player because of the time away. Just try not to make it as long a break as I took. Even some of the top pro players will take time away from the game.
I think this game takes too much of your time to give it your full attention at all times, you'll know when you are ready.
I just got back into pool again after 10 years away. I am glad I stopped playing for awhile. If the whole thing seems kinda stale to you now, it wont get any better.
You will be back when you are ready. And surprisingly enough, your game will come back to speed quicker than you think. I feel like I will be a better player because of the time away. Just try not to make it as long a break as I took. Even some of the top pro players will take time away from the game.
I think this game takes too much of your time to give it your full attention at all times, you'll know when you are ready.
fast larry
Banned
Re: stop playing for a while
Hi this is fast: The biggest mistake pool players make is the good ones play every day constantly. Then they wonder why they don't win or go stale or lose the edge.
Pro golfers have 52 tourneys a year they can enter. Few enter or play in half of them. They know if they play every week they will eventually wear out both mentally and physically, so they are always playing a week or two, then laying off for a week. Many have other sports they play during the layoffs like tenns so they keep in shape. When you feel stale, lose the urge and passion to want to play, lay off, go do something else.
The 2nd biggest mistake a lot of pool players do is not having a 2nd sport to enjoy. More and more fine pro's are finding out they can get in a round of 18 holes at golf during the day and still play pool at night. Mosconi loved golf. Earl plays it almost every chance he gets and is in wonderful shape physically. I played scratch golf my self all of my life and played an A game at tennis.
Variety is the spice of life.
May God bless and peace be with you. May the wind be always on your back and
all 9 balls fall. VENI VIDI VICI, OMNIA VINCIT AMOR. Latin for "I came, I saw, I conquered, love conquerors all.
"Fast Larry" Guninger
thebigdog said:
Hi this is fast: The biggest mistake pool players make is the good ones play every day constantly. Then they wonder why they don't win or go stale or lose the edge.
Pro golfers have 52 tourneys a year they can enter. Few enter or play in half of them. They know if they play every week they will eventually wear out both mentally and physically, so they are always playing a week or two, then laying off for a week. Many have other sports they play during the layoffs like tenns so they keep in shape. When you feel stale, lose the urge and passion to want to play, lay off, go do something else.
The 2nd biggest mistake a lot of pool players do is not having a 2nd sport to enjoy. More and more fine pro's are finding out they can get in a round of 18 holes at golf during the day and still play pool at night. Mosconi loved golf. Earl plays it almost every chance he gets and is in wonderful shape physically. I played scratch golf my self all of my life and played an A game at tennis.
Variety is the spice of life.
May God bless and peace be with you. May the wind be always on your back and
all 9 balls fall. VENI VIDI VICI, OMNIA VINCIT AMOR. Latin for "I came, I saw, I conquered, love conquerors all.
"Fast Larry" Guninger
Sounds like you are a pretty good player and have finally come to the realization that no amount of practice, instruction, will get you into the top level - the Pros - and you feel you are just spinning your wheels. You can't make money at the game because you lose to the top players and the weaker players all know you so they won't play you.
Leagues are out for you because you are much better than the majority of them and you feel league play is just a waste of time and money. And besides, you want to be rewarded for your play and not depend on the team's play.
You could take a break from the game and dedicate your time to your job and try and excel there.
You could just resign yourself to your situation and continue on the way you have and in 5 years you will still be in the same spot, or worse.
You could get away from the pool hall scene, find yourself a top instructor who will be honest with you, work with him for a couple of months (providing you have the money) and see if he thinks you have what it takes to play, and win with the big boys.
Jake
-25-
Leagues are out for you because you are much better than the majority of them and you feel league play is just a waste of time and money. And besides, you want to be rewarded for your play and not depend on the team's play.
You could take a break from the game and dedicate your time to your job and try and excel there.
You could just resign yourself to your situation and continue on the way you have and in 5 years you will still be in the same spot, or worse.
You could get away from the pool hall scene, find yourself a top instructor who will be honest with you, work with him for a couple of months (providing you have the money) and see if he thinks you have what it takes to play, and win with the big boys.
Jake
-25-
as much as pool has ben part of my recreational life for the past 14 years. i often walked away depressed about time wasted. time spent sitting doing nothing, if not playing.
pool hallls are great places to watch time slip by. when there was time on my hands, i went to the pool hall, where time was lost. other than the absolute diehard players, everyone has felt this way.
it's tough to back away from the pool hall, but once you do it, it suprisingly easy to stay away.
pool hallls are great places to watch time slip by. when there was time on my hands, i went to the pool hall, where time was lost. other than the absolute diehard players, everyone has felt this way.
it's tough to back away from the pool hall, but once you do it, it suprisingly easy to stay away.
