Losing Your Head

DirtyJersey

DirtyJersey

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
So I was in another one of these all day tourney's playing great all day. On point, relaxed, focused, in the zone. After about 8 hrs of playing I get to my last match and completely lose my head. It's like I'm a prizefighter that took too many head shots. Just a total fog and can't seem to get anything going. And no matter what can't seem to snap out of it. My question is how the hell do you get out of that? If anyone knows please share this knowledge I'm in desperate need of.:angry:
 
Practice for longer periods of time. Pull a 24hr session once and 8hrs will seem easy. also/or play periods of say 8-10 hours when u can. Done it countless times through the night, now 8hrs is a breeze
 
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4 hours of constant play is my limit of being able to focus....after that, well, wish I were younger..........:frown:
 
Love That Avatar !

DirtyJersey said:
So I was in another one of these all day tourney's playing great all day. On point, relaxed, focused, in the zone. After about 8 hrs of playing I get to my last match and completely lose my head. It's like I'm a prizefighter that took too many head shots. Just a total fog and can't seem to get anything going. And no matter what can't seem to snap out of it. My question is how the hell do you get out of that? If anyone knows please share this knowledge I'm in desperate need of.:angry:
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Honestly, I just come in to answer your question B/C I like your avatar. :cool::D

ok, seriuously,........... you need "Mickey" @ 3:22

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DITFOs3Dno
 
Dunnn51 said:
Honestly, I just come in to answer your question B/C I like your avatar. :cool::D

ok, seriuously,........... you need "Mickey" @ 3:22

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DITFOs3Dno
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Lmfao, very amusing thnx Dunnn51. Very true too it's just ppl know that snowball that keeps getting bigger once something goes wrong or doesn't start off right. It's the way to snap out of that I just can't seem to grasp.Maybe I'll change my avatar to Mickey.:shrug:
 
Practice for longer sessions to get used to it or take a "bathroom break" to "powder your nose" like many of the younger players do....
 
oldplayer said:
4 hours of constant play is my limit of being able to focus....after that, well, wish I were younger..........:frown:
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Thats about my limit also.
I've let people win so I could get knocked out of tournaments.
I would just get so tired I did not care anymore.
I don't play in them anymore,just not worth it.
 
DirtyJersey said:
Lmfao, very amusing thnx Dunnn51. Very true too it's just ppl know that snowball that keeps getting bigger once something goes wrong or doesn't start off right. It's the way to snap out of that I just can't seem to grasp.Maybe I'll change my avatar to Mickey.:shrug:
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Pool can be a very physical game. Those that don't think so have never put in an 8 hour session. But it can be mentally exhausting as well. One thing I do is avoid the practice tables. Not completely....have to play a game sometimes to keep in stroke. But I see so many that play continuously on practice tables between matches. At the end of the night, they are not playing so well. They are physically fit, but mentally, they are drained. Take a break between matches. Go outside if it nice out. Sometimes not hearing the table action in the room is relaxing (racks being broke, balls clanking together, cue sticks hitting the floor, etc). Sit down and meditate on all the things you did right the previous match. Of course if you have enough time before your next match. It works for me.
 
PaulieB said:
Practice for longer sessions to get used to it or take a "bathroom break" to "powder your nose" like many of the younger players do....
Click to expand...

I tried the break but to no avail, of course I have no inclination towards the pharmaceutical refreshments anymore in life.

buckshotshoey said:
Pool can be a very physical game. Those that don't think so have never put in an 8 hour session. But it can be mentally exhausting as well. One thing I do is avoid the practice tables. Not completely....have to play a game sometimes to keep in stroke. But I see so many that play continuously on practice tables between matches. At the end of the night, they are not playing so well. They are physically fit, but mentally, they are drained. Take a break between matches. Go outside if it nice out. Sometimes not hearing the table action in the room is relaxing (racks being broke, balls clanking together, cue sticks hitting the floor, etc). Sit down and meditate on all the things you did right the previous match. Of course if you have enough time before your next match. It works for me.
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^ This. Seems like very sound advice. I will definitely try the meditation avenue. It's very hard for me to get "quiet" but I will make a conscious effort to start doing that. Thnx for the suggestions. :thumbup:
 
DirtyJersey said:
I tried the break but to no avail, of course I have no inclination towards the pharmaceutical refreshments anymore in life.



^ This. Seems like very sound advice. I will definitely try the meditation avenue. It's very hard for me to get "quiet" but I will make a conscious effort to start doing that. Thnx for the suggestions. :thumbup:
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Industrial earplugs work good. Wont completely eliminate sound, but enough. Maybe an ipod or something to play soothing music. And as someone else mentioned at beginning of post....fundamentals. Mainly in your preshot routine. If you remember back, ill bet you two dollars to a dog turd that your preshot routine was different in some way. Bet it didn't feel natural. That's what happens when the mind starts to fail. Your mind needs a break every now and then. Constant pressure will fatigue the brain.
 
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Ask these guys, they'll tell you!

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No but seriously, I dunno. 8 hours is a long time to stay focused.
I think the trick is to find a way to enjoy it.
"Time flies when you're having fun" is not just a corny saying,
they've done [studies on it](http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/249410.php).

"Goal-oriented" fun allows those 8 hours to feel faster,
and you may find it easier to hold focus.

The question is, how can you have fun if you aren't already.
I don't have any great answers :)
But if any part of competing stresses you out, you gotta let that go
and just have the mindset "this will be a great opportunity to
show my stuff and see what I'm made of".
 
oldplayer said:
4 hours of constant play is my limit of being able to focus....after that, well, wish I were younger..........:frown:
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seems there is a few of us with 4 hour limits.
we could have an old guys tournament.
We play each other for 4 hours each day for a few days and the one with the most wins overall is the winner.
Instant disqualification for the following:
Excessive farting
Falling asleep
Excessive complaining about the Government
Excessive talk about medical problems
More then 2 bathroom breaks per hour
Did i cover most of it?
 
measureman said:
seems there is a few of us with 4 hour limits.
we could have an old guys tournament.
We play each other for 4 hours each day for a few days and the one with the most wins overall is the winner.
Instant disqualification for the following:
Excessive farting
Falling asleep
Excessive complaining about the Government
Excessive talk about medical problems
More then 2 bathroom breaks per hour
Did i cover most of it?
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I'm in if this is a "Over 60" tournament? Oh well, dumb question.
 
measureman said:
seems there is a few of us with 4 hour limits.
we could have an old guys tournament.
We play each other for 4 hours each day for a few days and the one with the most wins overall is the winner.
Instant disqualification for the following:
Excessive farting
Falling asleep
Excessive complaining about the Government
Excessive talk about medical problems
More then 2 bathroom breaks per hour
Did i cover most of it?
Click to expand...

How about disqualification for having to change shorts during match, or the 4 hour session for that matter:rotflmao1:
 
DirtyJersey said:
So I was in another one of these all day tourney's playing great all day. On point, relaxed, focused, in the zone. After about 8 hrs of playing I get to my last match and completely lose my head. It's like I'm a prizefighter that took too many head shots. Just a total fog and can't seem to get anything going. And no matter what can't seem to snap out of it. My question is how the hell do you get out of that? If anyone knows please share this knowledge I'm in desperate need of.:angry:
Click to expand...

I know this feeling well. The older I get the harder it gets to stay focused for long periods.

What I have found that affects my focus the most is my blood sugar. It's easy to go too long without eating. Since I suck in the first round so often, I'm used to playing back to back for hours scrapping it out on the loser side.. I make myself eat something every two hours. Not a lot of food but a small amount because eating big and heavy puts me to sleep.

Alcohol is the second demon. In a long tourney, I try to abstain or at least wait til later in the night to start.
 
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