Lost my interest and am bored when I play...anyone else feel like that?

Hi there Mike,

I've read many of the answers here and again I realize why I love this site so much. There are so many good people in this pool world that are willing to help us all the time. The replies and knowlege from your post are coming right from the heart from the AZ'ers all over the country.

When I was traveling around the country giving lessons I was pretty wore out when i strolled into Des Moines. Just like everyone is stepping up with great answers to help you get through your stalled enthusiasm you and the other players were there for me and picked myself up. Just by being good people and making me feel like one of the family.

We are all an important part of this pool world. Some contribute more than others but nobody is keeping score. But we all add our own little flavor to the pool scene and make things a little more colorful for everyone. We all create that atmosphere we call the pool world and it all starts on home base and spreads out from there.

Every poolhall I go to is like a whole new chapter in a great big book. There are alot of characters in each chapter and you seem to have one of the leading roles. It just happens.Then these books can spread out into movies. I for one was glad to see what you contribute to our pool world. And sometimes we can't see ourselves what we contribute but it 's just there.

Just keep doing what your doing because we all need you in this pool world as we do every player out there. From beginner, to league player, to pro. We are all important players in the total picture.

There's not much more I can say that hasn't already been said.

Sometimes when I am in a tournament and I get knocked out by someone that I don't think I should lose to I get motivated. Everyone you play out there is trying to win and if you give them a little opportunity to do so they will.

And I got to hand it to some players out there that step it up sometimes and beat goliath. That's what makes this game so great. It happens all the time.

Sometimes we're David and the next minute we're Goliath. What other game in the world is there where you can do this everyday, every week, and every month just by paying a little entry fee.

This is exciting for me and it just seems to keep getting better and better. It gives me the reason to keep playing and practicing. It gives me a reason to make them balls and practice.

Thanks for the GREAT post.
 
genomachino said:
Hi there Mike,

I've read many of the answers here and again I realize why I love this site so much. There are so many good people in this pool world that are willing to help us all the time. The replies and knowlege from your post are coming right from the heart from the AZ'ers all over the country.

When I was traveling around the country giving lessons I was pretty wore out when i strolled into Des Moines. Just like everyone is stepping up with great answers to help you get through your stalled enthusiasm you and the other players were there for me and picked myself up. Just by being good people and making me feel like one of the family.

We are all an important part of this pool world. Some contribute more than others but nobody is keeping score. But we all add our own little flavor to the pool scene and make things a little more colorful for everyone. We all create that atmosphere we call the pool world and it all starts on home base and spreads out from there.

Every poolhall I go to is like a whole new chapter in a great big book. There are alot of characters in each chapter and you seem to have one of the leading roles. It just happens.Then these books can spread out into movies. I for one was glad to see what you contribute to our pool world. And sometimes we can't see ourselves what we contribute but it 's just there.

Just keep doing what your doing because we all need you in this pool world as we do every player out there. From beginner, to league player, to pro. We are all important players in the total picture.

There's not much more I can say that hasn't already been said.

Sometimes when I am in a tournament and I get knocked out by someone that I don't think I should lose to I get motivated. Everyone you play out there is trying to win and if you give them a little opportunity to do so they will.

And I got to hand it to some players out there that step it up sometimes and beat goliath. That's what makes this game so great. It happens all the time.

Sometimes we're David and the next minute we're Goliath. What other game in the world is there where you can do this everyday, every week, and every month just by paying a little entry fee.

This is exciting for me and it just seems to keep getting better and better. It gives me the reason to keep playing and practicing. It gives me a reason to make them balls and practice.

Thanks for the GREAT post.
Click to expand...

Kind words Geno, I do know what you mean. I appreciate all the opinions and advice and relay that through rep, PM's, or replies in the thread. Hell there are 3 guys I didn't even know were on AZ billiards from my old stomping ground that have contacted me because all they remember is the past me.

I think for me what truly makes pool fun is the mixture of tourneys/action/and what's going on, on the slate. I'm just not feeling it, but in the process I am redefining a lot of different things and relationships. Sometimes you have to be brutally honest, even if it is with yourself. Upon some deep introspection and looking at my situation from a different perspective I know what needs to change.

Thanks again and see you soon! If you play Tom a decent session I'd like to drive in for it.
 
Stop/start

:poke::happydance:You are not alone. You just feel like it.

STOP reading the newspaper, watching the news/listening to talk-news radio, reading your i/net home page news stories, hanging out with negative whiners, or drinking too much.

START:If you have young children-play with them. If you don't have your own-borrow some-nieces/nephews (even better-you can give them back). Laugh out loud at what goes on in a small child's world. Let them tickle you until you can't take it any more. They will put your hair in rollers like Big Perm.

Sometimes it's hard to know what's really eating at us. Laugh every chance you get. No-not so much that the men in white coats come after you.

Help some old ladies across the street-whether they are going there or not.

Smile, buddy-it ain't just you. Lighten up-have some fun-make someone else happy-it rubs off.

or GET OVER IT!! IT AIN'T ALL ABOUT YOU. YOU'RE 27. YOU HAVE PLENTY OF TIME TO BE MISERABLE LATER.

Shake it off-you're fine. Be good to yourself so you can be of good to others.

Enjoy!

Take care buddy

3railkick

aka grumpy grampa

let me know if this works-I'll try it
 
mikeyfrost said:
Haha, I hear that man. Let me know when you get that shaft or decide to come on out, you know I'll hang out. Let you beat me up on that bar table and cry myself to bed.
Click to expand...


Shaft has been paid for, just waiting for it. Hope to get out again soon, it's been way too long!
 
3RAILKICK said:
:poke::happydance:You are not alone. You just feel like it.

STOP reading the newspaper, watching the news/listening to talk-news radio, reading your i/net home page news stories, hanging out with negative whiners, or drinking too much.

START:If you have young children-play with them. If you don't have your own-borrow some-nieces/nephews (even better-you can give them back). Laugh out loud at what goes on in a small child's world. Let them tickle you until you can't take it any more. They will put your hair in rollers like Big Perm.

Sometimes it's hard to know what's really eating at us. Laugh every chance you get. No-not so much that the men in white coats come after you.

Help some old ladies across the street-whether they are going there or not.

Smile, buddy-it ain't just you. Lighten up-have some fun-make someone else happy-it rubs off.

or GET OVER IT!! IT AIN'T ALL ABOUT YOU. YOU'RE 27. YOU HAVE PLENTY OF TIME TO BE MISERABLE LATER.

Shake it off-you're fine. Be good to yourself so you can be of good to others.

Enjoy!

Take care buddy

3railkick

aka grumpy grampa

let me know if this works-I'll try it
Click to expand...

That made me laugh. I was just at the food bank of iowa(got stuck unloading trucks in slacks(it's cold here) and the 2 other guys that do it with me from work laughed at me. They got stuck doing re-stock on the food which is easily the 2nd worst job IMO only to the one I was doing. Moral of the story if we all can laugh there while donating our time and money I can laugh anywhere....I think.

Having fun certainly is not over rated. Thanks for the post.
 
I had the exact same problem so I decided to take up a new hobby-- remote control jet airplanes.

When I first decided to get into this hobby, I went out and bought a pretty large F-18 Hornet with a 70mm ducted fan (pretty big). I also went out and bought a virtual reality helmet and a tiny color camera that sends an RF signal to a receiving box (where I plug my glasses into). I spent a TON of cash on this stuff. The concept was to fly around the neighborhood (basically 2500' range) at 130 mph from a first-person person perspective (like I was 2" tall in the cockpit).

The very first time I got everything ready--- I took it to a HUGE park. Elevators...check. Ailerons...check. Rutter...check. Throttle....check. V/R Goggles.....check. OK....I full-throttled the F-18 and WOWWWWW.....that thing took off like the REAL thing......REAAAALLY fast. UH OH...REAAAAAAAALLY FAST!!! OH SHIT!!!! TOO FAST!!! TURN LEFT ... NO, UH RIGHT!! DOWN!!! I MEAN UP!!!!

*CRASH*

I picked up the pieces like the dad picked up his Leg Lamp (Major Award) in the movie A Christmas Story and put it back in my car. When I got home, I tallied the receipts and spent nearly $100 / second on my entertainment for the day.

Before you know it, I was re-invigorated with pool.

Don't get me wrong, I'm gonna buy another one shortly.... but I no longer think the grass is greener on the other side (hobby-wise).

Dave

Here's what I was flying:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKRcoENctZg&feature=related
 
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I'm assuming that you are a very good player but are struggling a little. May I recommend that you pickup up a student and teach them how to play? You will soon realize (again) how much you know and can do by teaching (say a SL4 or SL5 in APA) how to play pool. You will also "revisit" your own skills and understanding of the game doing so. This will also challenge you again to play with the perfect stroke (as you teach the student). Teaching somebody else helps your own game alot by reviewing the basics of pool. You will also get alot of enjoyment seeing the student learn from you.
 
SpiderWebComm said:
I had the exact same problem so I decided to take up a new hobby-- remote control jet airplanes.

When I first decided to get into this hobby, I went out and bought a pretty large F-18 Hornet with a 70mm ducted fan (pretty big). I also went out and bought a virtual reality helmet and a tiny color camera that sends an RF signal to a receiving box (where I plug my glasses into). I spent a TON of cash on this stuff. The concept was to fly around the neighborhood (basically 2500' range) at 130 mph from a first-person person perspective (like I was 2" tall in the cockpit).

The very first time I got everything ready--- I took it to a HUGE park. Elevators...check. Ailerons...check. Rutter...check. Throttle....check. V/R Goggles.....check. OK....I full-throttled the F-18 and WOWWWWW.....that thing took off like the REAL thing......REAAAALLY fast. UH OH...REAAAAAAAALLY FAST!!! OH SHIT!!!! TOO FAST!!! TURN LEFT ... NO, UH RIGHT!! DOWN!!! I MEAN UP!!!!

*CRASH*

I picked up the pieces like the dad picked up his Leg Lamp (Major Award) in the movie A Christmas Story and put it back in my car. When I got home, I tallied the receipts and spent nearly $100 / second on my entertainment for the day.

Before you know it, I was re-invigorated with pool.

Don't get me wrong, I'm gonna buy another one shortly.... but I no longer think the grass is greener on the other side (hobby-wise).

Dave

Here's what I was flying:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKRcoENctZg&feature=related
Click to expand...

That's actually a cool hobby, now I feel even more lame. I'm not even a champion on XBOX360 anymore, but I'll save that for the NPR section.

I feel you though Dave. $100/second is expensive, don't care who you are.
 
mikeyfrost said:
Only serious pool rooms have a 3 cushion table. I haven't seen a good 3cush table since NC. Only few times I played I loved it, super fun game.
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Not sure where you are in IA, but this room search at USBA.net shows known tables for that state. John Jacobson (member jjacobson) is in Marshalltown with a heated table, and author Bob Byrne is in Dubuque. Contact info for both is listed on that search page.

Maybe they're too far for regular play, but I'd still give them a call and drive over sometime. They both enjoy sharing the game with new players, and like you said it's really fun!

Robert
 
TWOFORPOOL said:
I'm assuming that you are a very good player but are struggling a little. May I recommend that you pickup up a student and teach them how to play? You will soon realize (again) how much you know and can do by teaching (say a SL4 or SL5 in APA) how to play pool. You will also "revisit" your own skills and understanding of the game doing so. This will also challenge you again to play with the perfect stroke (as you teach the student). Teaching somebody else helps your own game alot by reviewing the basics of pool. You will also get alot of enjoyment seeing the student learn from you.
Click to expand...

I'm not really struggling with how I play, I just literally don't care. Normally when people say this, they do care. I'll give an example.

I had APA league last night, it starts at 7PM. It's always started at 7, I know this in advance. Here's what my internals do though. I leave work at 5 and go to the barber shop. I get out of the barber shop at 6:15(cues are in the car) and I go pick up some dinner. Instead of going to league I went home! So now it's about 7:15PM and I've eaten, then I decide screw it, first night on a new team, I'll go play. So I show up at 7:45PM because league is across town a ways and I don't want to crash on ice. Now when I get there, I think let me warm up and get this win...I shoot 2 games and give the practice table up. I figure since I am a SL7 I'll coach when needed and watch my team play, I actually just sat and talked with my woman and didn't pay much attention at all. So at about 9:30 I get called to play a SL5, so 5-3 race. I come out serious and win the 1st game pretty convincingly. My girl asks is he any good, I say he's decent and he was a decent player. So my focus lasted exactly 1 game in this instance. I missed 3 8 balls, scratched on all my breaks, banked in a lot of balls and lost hill-hill. Guy tells me good match and he's so happy how he played, I shake his hand and that was it. Literally that's all. I said sorry to my team because I know they wanted me to win and I know I wasn't playing hard at all. I was more worried about the basketball game score than the match I was in. Under normal circumstances a loss like that wouldve annoyed me and made me mad, instead I left so I could go watch my DVR'd TV before bed. No second thought of the match at all.

I might try playing with a guy on my team from time to time to see if that helps out with the boredom and at least get me thinking correctly again. Not really in a rut either I'm winning most of these matches handily, just don't care one way or the other.
 
TWOFORPOOL said:
I'm assuming that you are a very good player but are struggling a little. May I recommend that you pickup up a student and teach them how to play? You will soon realize (again) how much you know and can do by teaching (say a SL4 or SL5 in APA) how to play pool. You will also "revisit" your own skills and understanding of the game doing so. This will also challenge you again to play with the perfect stroke (as you teach the student). Teaching somebody else helps your own game alot by reviewing the basics of pool. You will also get alot of enjoyment seeing the student learn from you.
Click to expand...

Hey Frost I happen to be a SL5 that could use to learn a thing or two:grin-square:

Also if you're thinking about going to Marshalltown to play on that billiard table I'd like to tag along.
 
DMTY said:
Hey Frost I happen to be a SL5 that could use to learn a thing or two:grin-square:

Also if you're thinking about going to Marshalltown to play on that billiard table I'd like to tag along.
Click to expand...

Yeah that's not too bad of a drive. I'll get in touch with the guy and see if we can schedule something up. LOL I know your skill level, it was your team last night the story was about silly, but you knew that already. I'm glad Chelsea is on the team so my girl has someone to talk to that she likes. That does help things out a bit.

Oh and I am going to get you a signed cue ball by Earl and Schmidt on Friday even if I have to give you mine.
 
mikeyfrost said:
I'm not really struggling with how I play, I just literally don't care. Normally when people say this, they do care. I'll give an example.

I had APA league last night, it starts at 7PM. It's always started at 7, I know this in advance. Here's what my internals do though. I leave work at 5 and go to the barber shop. I get out of the barber shop at 6:15(cues are in the car) and I go pick up some dinner. Instead of going to league I went home! So now it's about 7:15PM and I've eaten, then I decide screw it, first night on a new team, I'll go play. So I show up at 7:45PM because league is across town a ways and I don't want to crash on ice. Now when I get there, I think let me warm up and get this win...I shoot 2 games and give the practice table up. I figure since I am a SL7 I'll coach when needed and watch my team play, I actually just sat and talked with my woman and didn't pay much attention at all. So at about 9:30 I get called to play a SL5, so 5-3 race. I come out serious and win the 1st game pretty convincingly. My girl asks is he any good, I say he's decent and he was a decent player. So my focus lasted exactly 1 game in this instance. I missed 3 8 balls, scratched on all my breaks, banked in a lot of balls and lost hill-hill. Guy tells me good match and he's so happy how he played, I shake his hand and that was it. Literally that's all. I said sorry to my team because I know they wanted me to win and I know I wasn't playing hard at all. I was more worried about the basketball game score than the match I was in. Under normal circumstances a loss like that wouldve annoyed me and made me mad, instead I left so I could go watch my DVR'd TV before bed. No second thought of the match at all.

I might try playing with a guy on my team from time to time to see if that helps out with the boredom and at least get me thinking correctly again. Not really in a rut either I'm winning most of these matches handily, just don't care one way or the other.
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Mike you just described my week last week. I didn't even bother to practice. I was watching the college football championship. Even though I had no dog in the fight or cash. In other words, no interest. I'm a 7 he's a 6. I was down 26 balls before I was able to get my game together. I ended up losing by 1 ball. I might not be the best player in the world, but in the old days (pre September) there is no way I lose after coming back like that.

It is like a contradiction in terms; I am frustrated, but I don't care. How does that work? I can't wait to play every week (might just be to get out of the house though...I'm only allowed 5 hours of unsupervised fun a week. I think my wife is worried that some hot young chick could be into fat, bald, old guys.....) but when I get there my mind drifts. I just know I can beat everyone in the room and no one knows as much about pool as I have forgotten. No one gambles. Like I said in another post...I am really feeling that APA is not pool. I'm so good I've probably lost half my matches this session.

Bob
 
Well it sounds about time for a break.I took off 25 years when i decided to buy my own table.now sometimes I shoot great and other times i can't make a ball.When that happens I put down my cue.watching the pros play always makes me want to go play.i also go bass fishing and run my business so unless pool is your whole life I wouldn't worry about being bored.It will be there whenever your ready.
 
mikeyfrost said:
Am I the only person that just is bored with playing right now? Maybe I have lost interest or something. I’m bored when I play good instead of normally feeling some semblance of accomplishment. I forfeit out of tournaments on a regular basis without losing just cause sometime between sign up and after winning a couple matches I decide I no longer care about the outcome and just quit. I gamble with people fairly regularly and instead of baring down and focusing, I just don’t care. Sometimes I win and sometimes I lose, either way by the time I pay or get paid I don’t care. I even picked up playing one pocket to try to get my interest back up and that only lasted a good couple weeks.

Bottom line is I’m bored when I play and don’t have much interest anymore. I think I play out of routine more than genuinely wanting to go get some good practice in or match up. I like to gamble and even that isn’t making it exciting for me. I’m just not feeling it right now. I have leagues I am in and I skip them as frequently as possible because I don’t even feel like shooting so no way am I going to sit and watch others shoot. I’m competitive and don’t care about winning or losing in pool. Nothing is revving the engine.

Anybody else get like that sometime? If so, how did you get out of the funk?
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Get in the box. Works for me when I get bored. If I lose because I am not focusing it usually angers me enough that I take it a little more serious next time. Sometimes I think just taking a few days off if not a week or so helps. Just forget about pool don't even come on the forums or watch pool anywhere. Do something different, you must have other hobbies.
 
Mikey, I read just your first post but here is my conclusion: You aren't getting any better in pool. You are in a level rut where you aren't really playing any better or any worse. You don't find yourself progressing.

With that said, I don't think you are striving to be better. Yeah, you seem like your playing alot but thats not really making you any better. You need to get out there and play some different people. Most of the knuckleheads around here leave a stale taste in your mouth.

What does it for me, is going to bigger(state) tournaments. Usually, getting hyped up for them, really drives me to a different state of mind.

Yeah, you can win a tournament at Big Dogs and beat out maybe 45 people. Or go 5-0 in league. So what?
Go to a State/Regional tournament where there are 500 people in each division and compete against the top people in the state. Its a total different rush.

And not to get all Dr.Phil on ya, but drinking excessively usually makes you lose focus on what your really trying to accomplish on the pool table.

FWIW YO!
 
One pocket!

I've been playing pool now for 40 years....that said, if the game of One Pocket didn't exist, I would be bored with pool and probably wouldn't play that much anymore...

But playing One Pocket, I am NEVER bored, and NEVER will be...imo, One Pocket has the most variables and is by far the most complex game/sport in the world, period...it will challenge your mental, strategic, and physical skills endlessly...but...you have to put the time in, and learn it.


- Ghost
 
ykndoit said:
Mikey, I read just your first post but here is my conclusion: You aren't getting any better in pool. You are in a level rut where you aren't really playing any better or any worse. You don't find yourself progressing.

With that said, I don't think you are striving to be better. Yeah, you seem like your playing alot but thats not really making you any better. You need to get out there and play some different people. Most of the knuckleheads around here leave a stale taste in your mouth.

What does it for me, is going to bigger(state) tournaments. Usually, getting hyped up for them, really drives me to a different state of mind.

Yeah, you can win a tournament at Big Dogs and beat out maybe 45 people. Or go 5-0 in league. So what?
Go to a State/Regional tournament where there are 500 people in each division and compete against the top people in the state. Its a total different rush.

And not to get all Dr.Phil on ya, but drinking excessively usually makes you lose focus on what your really trying to accomplish on the pool table.

FWIW YO!
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This is semi-true. I haven't been drinking for almost a month outside of NYE and my B-Day, other than that no sauce for the tank. Perhaps that's part of the problem though. I was used to traveling quite a bit more for pool, a common weekend did involve either driving an hour or two in the mornings or leaving Friday and coming back Sunday. Hell on a whim we would go to Grady's in South Carolina for action.

I don't know what it is exactly, but I feel a hiatus coming back on in the very near future. Starting to feel like I was spoiled rotten where I was and just can't make the adjustment no matter how much I want to. I practiced with Dean for a couple hours today and left. I wasn't really into it, but I played really well. As I was leaving I thought about dinner, normally I would have been thinking about how well I played. It's a mind state kind of deal. I need Xanax!
 
Well Mikey, you need to find a way to get that hunger back again. I think part of the reason you have lost interest is because of the people you have backed around here. They just made you lose interest because you thought they were better than what they are. That can be a let down too. If you need something to something to get you fired up about pool again, I recommend you go to Derby or some tourney where the competition is a few levels above you. Hell, go to Sioux Falls and play Shane for a couple days.

To get the fire back, you have to want to get it back! If you don't, go play poker with Paul Baker or something:)
 
I understand

I was the same way. I seemed to have hit a wall as far as skill level and how I was playing. Then I watched a couple of impromptu hustle matches. I'd seen plenty before. But when I watched a guy I have taken apart several times play an out of town pro and win a couple of sets, it rekindled everything I started playing for. I even took a couple lessons from an old school local pro and it really renewed my interest for the game. I can honestly say after being burned out, that I'm more interested in the game than ever. I even went from lurking on this board for several years to actually posting :smile:
 
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