My game is GONE!

Straightpool_99

Straightpool_99

I see dead balls
Silver Member
Almost a year and a half since I last played. Been playing a couple of times a week for 2 weeks. So 4 times but for long sessions, entire days. Enough to get a good feel for the table, normally. No touch, no shotmaking. Funny thing, can't make a long shot to save my life and keep overcutting shots. WTF is up with that. I've had some breaks in my pool game, this is the longest one, and I don't think my game is coming back this time. It took a long time when I had a 8 month break but this time it's just too far gone. Something has happened that didn't happen before. I'm realizing that my base level is SOO low, there can't be any talent there, what so ever. How I got up to where I was, I have no idea.

I'm realizing that I'm chasing my losses if I'm going after that level again, it may take years to get back up.

Giving it two months, I think. If I can't get to at least get to some sort of runout level, I think I'm quitting for good. No sense throwing good money after bad. I've allready given up on snooker. Tried playing line up, and it was frankly so embarrasing, that I had to quit. I think some of the regulars thought I had gone blind. It's hard to explain how one can drop in level in such a catastrophic fashion. Even with the break, others were at least potting balls. Some players, you couldn't tell had a break at all. Must be naturals, I guess. If I'm going back to snooker, I have to play where nobody knows me or wear some sort of disguise, I think:LOL:.

I still love the game, but maybe I'll be a railbird from now on. Learn to play better poker, or chess maybe? Thanks for bearing with my long whiny rant.
 
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Why not try to find the pleasure in small motions again rather than chase the white rabbit? Being pissed about falling down won't do anything. You gotta decide to get back up, even if you have to crawl for a while it beats just lying there feeling bad. I feel ya man, it's frustrating as hell, but pool is worth playing even if you're not shooting too hot. Good luck on your journey.
 
film yourself and lets see it. maybe you have health problems that should be treated by a professional.

i use pool for a baseline.
 
15 years off for me. Built a house and lost the desire to play. Started to get back in it, bought a new cue actually love it, but at 53 I just don't have the killer instinct anymore. The old me could give the new me the 7.
 
Give Anthony Beeler a call. I'm sure he can help you.

But you did hit on the reason why some people wont get into semi serious pool. It's the dedication required to become accomplished. In the digital age, everyone wants instant gratification. And when they dont get it, they quit.

You are expecting the same instant gratification. And you are not getting it. So now instead, you are already talking about quitting.

After that much time, your fundamentals have evaporated. You need the start there and work up. And I suppose your focus is dim too. Work on it.... it'll come back.
 
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Keep at it and it will come. I just went through the same thing. Check out your setup, and double check to make sure that a grip clench or twist hasn't crept into your stroke.

I would also advise you to re-study "Play Great Pool." Take this opportunity to address previous bad habits, and you can come out stronger on the other side.

And lastly...it's easy to forget how intensely we actually focus when we're playing well. Practice that too!

Good luck!
 
You still have all of the pool knowledge you ever had. You have an issue in stance or stroke that must be corrected, or stance may be destroying stroke.

I suggest shooting long straight in shots. Start slowly and build up speed. Often you can feel when the stroke goes away doing this. If you can't pocket these, close up the distance until you are pocketing balls. Increase distance before increasing speed.

When you get your fundamentals back then your pool game will progress rapidly since playing shape and such is already there, just useless until you get rid of something minor that has snuck in.

We have all been in your shoes for one reason or another if we have played long. Good luck and hang in there!

Hu
 
Straightpool_99 said:
Almost a year and a half since I last played. Been playing a couple of times a week for 2 weeks. So 4 times but for long sessions, entire days. Enough to get a good feel for the table, normally. No touch, no shotmaking. Funny thing, can't make a long shot to save my life and keep overcutting shots. WTF is up with that. I've had some breaks in my pool game, this is the longest one, and I don't think my game is coming back this time. It took a long time when I had a 8 month break but this time it's just too far gone. Something has happened that didn't happen before. I'm realizing that my base level is SOO low, there can't be any talent there, what so ever. How I got up to where I was, I have no idea.

I'm realizing that I'm chasing my losses if I'm going after that level again, it may take years to get back up.

Giving it two months, I think. If I can't get to at least get to some sort of runout level, I think I'm quitting for good. No sense throwing good money after bad. I've allready given up on snooker. Tried playing line up, and it was frankly so embarrasing, that I had to quit. I think some of the regulars thought I had gone blind. It's hard to explain how one can drop in level in such a catastrophic fashion. Even with the break, others were at least potting balls. Some players, you couldn't tell had a break at all. Must be naturals, I guess. If I'm going back to snooker, I have to play where nobody knows me or wear some sort of disguise, I think:LOL:.

I still love the game, but maybe I'll be a railbird from now on. Learn to play better poker, or chess maybe? Thanks for bearing with my long whiny rant.
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You didn’t mention your current age in your post. If you are in your 60s or more and comparing yourself to how you played 20+ years ago, yes, you may need to adjust your expectations. I’m speaking from experience.

However, if you’re younger than that, you can certainly get it back, maybe better than ever. It’s just going to take some work - it’s a matter of how bad do you want it?
 
Dave714 said:
15 years off for me. Built a house and lost the desire to play. Started to get back in it, bought a new cue actually love it, but at 53 I just don't have the killer instinct anymore. The old me could give the new me the 7.
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You can do it. I didn’t even get started until just after fifty. 56 now and I can’t play enough. I love the game and feel I’m getting better and better. You may not be a killer anymore so just enjoy the game
 
ShootingArts said:
You still have all of the pool knowledge you ever had. You have an issue in stance or stroke that must be corrected, or stance may be destroying stroke.

I suggest shooting long straight in shots. Start slowly and build up speed. Often you can feel when the stroke goes away doing this. If you can't pocket these, close up the distance until you are pocketing balls. Increase distance before increasing speed.

When you get your fundamentals back then your pool game will progress rapidly since playing shape and such is already there, just useless until you get rid of something minor that has snuck in.

We have all been in your shoes for one reason or another if we have played long. Good luck and hang in there!

Hu
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I think this is spot on information. A video of your sessions should help you find the flaw(s) that is affecting where the CB is contacting the OB. Going back to the basics of stance and stroke does it for me all the time.

BTW- I begin EVERY session with CB spot shots up and down the table to level out my stroke and then several long straight stop shots followed by long straight follow and draw shots. ONLY, when I am executing all of these shots consistently do I now feel ready to go after a rack of balls- it really works and only should take about 10 minutes each session.

I recall that one of the great snooker players did not even hit a ball for the first 15 minutes- just used the CB to make sure his stroke was straight- and he was a world champ! The great Allison Fisher, stated that anytime she started to falter in a match, the very first place she looked was - am I cueing correctly, what did I change from before and she was a champ for many years.
 
mikemosconi said:
I think this is spot on information. A video of your sessions should help you find the flaw(s) that is affecting where the CB is contacting the OB. Going back to the basics of stance and stroke does it for me all the time.

BTW- I begin EVERY session with CB spot shots up and down the table to level out my stroke and then several long straight stop shots followed by long straight follow and draw shots. ONLY, when I am executing all of these shots consistently do I now feel ready to go after a rack of balls- it really works and only should take about 10 minutes each session.

I recall that one of the great snooker players did not even hit a ball for the first 15 minutes- just used the CB to make sure his stroke was straight- and he was a world champ! The great Allison Fisher, stated that anytime she started to falter in a match, the very first place she looked was - am I cueing correctly, what did I change from before and she was a champ for many years.
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good stuff. I would also add that as a straight pool player, I'll bet there's LOTS of little spin shots and caroms and billiards and things you know
stuff that comes with really digging into the game, and time served on the table- I feel like a big part of what makes pool so pretty is the nuances of the game
now I'm not saying that those shots are automatic either, but there's a lot that if you don't see them and know them, you can't shoot them
the long straight-in shots are obviously great to practice and are essential, but how about some little touch shot drills, half-table/straight pool, etc.-type
could be a way to build a little confidence and put some knowledge to work, could also be a little demoralizing too, but hey that's the risk we take right ^_^
I myself had been playing at home and was playing ok, but got on a foreign table a few days ago and really had a hard time..you're not alone pal..
 
I find the most difficult transition these days in pool- for some of us that have no choice - is to go from something like an Olhausen with their slower rails and open mouth pockets to a Diamond pro- cut pocket table. I do this on occasion, not out of choice really, and the Diamond play is next to impossible- my game goes down by minimum 30% on table speed control and ball pocketing in the first hour of play, after that it gets better but always a struggle. The cue ball on a Diamond next to slow tables is like playing on a sheet of ice.
 
I think getting stressed about a slump can perpetuate the slump.
While you're focusing on how badly you're playing, or feeling upset, you're not in clear-headed place where you play well.

I say lower your expectations a while and allow it to come back slowly. It's a little harder if you feel embarrassed, but hopefully you can shrug it off.

A nice exercise is just to throw out some well-spaced balls and get used to making easy shots.
 
I would echo what a lot of others have said. Check your setup, stance, grip. I had a rather long break a few years ago and when I came back, I had similar problems. A friend pointed out that my stance had changed a bit since we had last played. It turns out I had changed my stance because of a back problem without realizing it. I had to re-learn some things with the new stance. It took a little time, but the game did come back.

Keep at it and good luck!
 
A sudden drop off in quality is likely due to one thing. Sure, everyone has a number of things that aren't consistent, but a sudden drop could be something as simple as not placing your back foot right, and you're twisted differently than you used to be, or not aligned properly. Or not dropping down on the shot, but dropping down a little to the side. Or your grip is too tight, or you're twisting your hand or wrist. Or you're not hitting the cue ball in the center but putting a little side on the ball. Try a few straight swings along the edge of the rail and focus on whether your cue is moving close to straight. Try shooting softer as you begin your practice, to focus on the quality of your stroke. Focus on moving the final stroke smoothly, with a gentle acceleration, and without moving your shoulder, and being dead still. Ensure your bridge hand is stable and not moving during the shot.

I mention all these because they all affected my play at one time or another. I'd be playing well, then go to the bathroom, come back, and couldn't sink a ball. I got lots of practice taking my stroke apart, and putting it back together.
 
Any system not used for that many months will become very weak.

ANY system.


Jeff Livingston
 
Make sure nothing physically has changed such as your eyesight. If all is well just stay close for the first week or so with draw stop follow, keep it simple, frustration is the killer. Stretch it out as your confidence grows. Good luck!
 
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