Mental derailment

[fasted71465]

All this sounds VERY familiar.

First - you care WAY too much about missing - especially in practice.
So, you need a much more structured approach to practice

Why in the world would you think you should never miss?
Even top players miss.
I would just about bet you don't know how to tell the difference
between a shot you should make, and one you shouldn't expect to make.

Dale

I expect to make every shot that I have made atleast 100 times before. Why would someone shoot shots they don't expect to make unless in practice to make that shot? Shouldn't one duck if they aren't atleast 75% sure they will make it and get shape? Anyway I perform at only 40% of my ability 80% of the time.

 

[pdcue]

I expect to make every shot that I have made atleast 100 times before. Why would someone shoot shots they don't expect to make unless in practice to make that shot? Shouldn't one duck if they aren't atleast 75% sure they will make it and get shape? Anyway I perform at only 40% of my ability 80% of the time.

And finally, we come to the real problem.

Don't get your feelings hurt - that's not my intention - but it seems obvious
to me you have 2 very serious problems.

1. You don't understand that playing pool is not like running a 100 meter
dash. If your times avg 12 seconds - you should expect to run it
in 12 seconds unless there are 'unforseable issues'<muscle cramp, etc>

Pool is much more complex than running - performance varies - often
over a wide range.
Even in shotmaking, straightforward as it is, you have 'ups and downs'

"I expect to make every shot that I have made at least 100 times before".

And this is your first problem - even GREAT players miss shots they have
made THOUSANDS of times before. You should expect to make these
shots, but if you think you should make them every time, you are sadly
mistaken.

2. You think you play much better than you really do. Quite likely the most
common error in judgement among pool players.

It sounds to me like you make the same mistake so many lesser experienced players do,
you play really well for some period of time, and think that is your true speed -
well it isn't. If you think you are only performing at 40% of your ability, you are
overestimating your ability by 250%.

As I said before - unless you can change your attitude, don't expect
much in the way of improvement.

HTH
Dale<you should hear me when I'm not trying to avoid sounding harsh>

 

[JoeW]

Try humming when you are down on a shot. You can't hum and think at the same time.

The humming doesn't have to be loud enough for anyone else to hear and it will quiet your mind.

The second and probably better way is to intensely concentrate on seeing a line from the contact point through the center of the ball extending about six - nine inches to the pocket target. This too requires a great deal of concentration.

People say they can't visualize such things but it is a matter of symantics. When you were young you played cowboys and indians and you imagined that you were one or the other for a few hours. The cap gun helped you become the cowboy and experience all the things a hero experiences. That is what you need to do.

The cue stick is your spear and you are hunting a wild animal. You are wielding a javalin in some science fiction movie... whatever floats your boat but you must hit that exact spot or the monster will eat you.

As adults perhaps we don't need these fantasies but we can use the same tools we used as a kid. You can imagine that line throught the CB to the pocket if you let yourself and all other thoughts will leave your mind.

 

[fasted71465]

You are right. I am not a good player. You didn't hurt me in any way, this game has already done that. When you care too much for something it will bite you. I need some OCD meds. It really boils down to taking the game too hard. It is after all a game. I can't make myself be any better than god given talent no matter how much devotion I put into it. It is not like lifting weights as more you do the stronger you get. I bet that all top players are just that because of talent and not sheer desire. I don't play pool because I was/is good at it, I play because I want to be good at it. I think I will go play cowboys and indians with my son. I do appreciate everyone input.