One pocket woes

[1pRoscoe]

I pride myself as being a great one pocket player. I have beat a lot of people in my area at this game, many being highly talented players. There are a handful as well that give me a serious run for my money. Point is, this is my game of choice. With that being said, here is my problem...

I played a guy last night that is a very good player as well. He asked if I wanted to play for anything, I said, "sure, how about $20 a game?" Deal accepted.

We played for about 3 hrs total. The first 4 games I beat him 8-1, 8-0, 8-3, 8-6. Of course, I was pretty mentally tired after this, as it was a pretty fierce game. On the next few games, I got REALLY sloppy. Not intentionally, but I just seemed to have a problem missing safes, simple banks, etc. I wouldn't say I completely sold out on every shot, but I left him more than I should have. The next 3 games he beat me 8-6, 8-7, 8-7. The last two, we were down to one ball.

How can you increase your stamina (mentally) for this game? It seems that once I get some great competition, I shoot PERFECT the first 5-6 games, then it all goes downhill. This never used to happen to me up until about a year ago. I have played 9 ball for 14 hours straight and no worries, but when it comes to the "chess game" it kills me after a few hours, only when playing very talented people.

Any advice?

 

[JustPlay]

Your question really isn't a pool question, rather it is a physical question.

Mental fatigue can be just as exhausting as physical fatigue. Now, I don't know your age or your physical condition, however, areobic exercise is great for mental fatigue and so is good food intake. Stay away from caffine and surgery foods, these foods only trick your body into thinking it has lots of energy when in reality all this is a temporary fix. If you do drink soda pop or coffey drink it sparringly.

To increase your stamina at the table, take a break for about 1/2 hour or so just to relax in between games or sets. One pocket is the most mentally taxing of all the games with straight pool second. Nine ball for the most part is the most thought-less game where there is little stragity to think about.

Also, read alot of books, crossword puzzles or anything that will challenge your mind. Just like a runner you have to build endurance...

 

[JustPlay]

I also wanted to add: When you are winning in one pocket the world is a great place to be. Your stomping, killing, beating your opponent, but when you are getting beat, everything seems to slow down, your desire to play is lessoned and you just get tired because of the slow pace of the game of one pocket. In 9-ball, it is easy and fast to win or lose or to come back from losing. You have to just live with both...

 

[!Smorgass Bored]

LETHARGY ?
1) Have the Dr. check your blood sugar
2) Raise the bet
3) On your break- bust 'em wide open like in 8-ball
4) Speed (not for the weak of heart)

 

[wayne]

We played for about 3 hrs total. The first 4 games I beat him 8-1, 8-0, 8-3, 8-6. Of course, I was pretty mentally tired after this, as it was a pretty fierce game. On the next few games, I got REALLY sloppy. Not intentionally, but I just seemed to have a problem missing safes, simple banks, etc. I wouldn't say I completely sold out on every shot, but I left him more than I should have. The next 3 games he beat me 8-6, 8-7, 8-7. The last two, we were down to one ball.


Any advice?

(Less waffles).

I have a few questions.

1. Did you decide you were mentally tired after destroying the guy for 4 games or did you come up with this as an excuse after he started winning?

2. How come the game ended with you 1 game up? He just won three in a row so it doesn't seem likely he quit while still a game down and hopefully you didn't find an excuse to bail.

3. Do you usually look for excuses when things aren't going your way?

Wayne

 

[1 Pocket Ghost]

I pride myself as being a great one pocket player. I have beat a lot of people in my area at this game, many being highly talented players. There are a handful as well that give me a serious run for my money. Point is, this is my game of choice. With that being said, here is my problem...

I played a guy last night that is a very good player as well. He asked if I wanted to play for anything, I said, "sure, how about $20 a game?" Deal accepted.

We played for about 3 hrs total. The first 4 games I beat him 8-1, 8-0, 8-3, 8-6. Of course, I was pretty mentally tired after this, as it was a pretty fierce game. On the next few games, I got REALLY sloppy. Not intentionally, but I just seemed to have a problem missing safes, simple banks, etc. I wouldn't say I completely sold out on every shot, but I left him more than I should have. The next 3 games he beat me 8-6, 8-7, 8-7. The last two, we were down to one ball.

How can you increase your stamina (mentally) for this game? It seems that once I get some great competition, I shoot PERFECT the first 5-6 games, then it all goes downhill. This never used to happen to me up until about a year ago. I have played 9 ball for 14 hours straight and no worries, but when it comes to the "chess game" it kills me after a few hours, only when playing very talented people.

Any advice?

I've been in the pool halls for a lot of years playing one pocket at a pretty strong speed and here is how I see it...Regarding the physical side of the game, at some point (a different length of time for different players), after many hours of play, if you're human, you're going to get fatigued and you're game will go down - that's just physical reality.....But as for mental focus, it's about wanting it more, or it's about $$$....An experienced, strong one pocket player plays at a very high level, where he understands and mentally calculates every possible option available to him every inning that he is at the table, and then he has to carefully and with great skill execute his choice perfectly, all of this requires total focus and concentration that can never stop/let up for a second - after playing for many hours against a strong opponent this can be extremely exhausting....That said, in my opinion there are two ways to achieve keeping this kind of focus and concentration....The first way is by having the kind of personality that has ultimate killer instinct, ultimate will to win, usually a huge ego, and can not accept losing - many champions in many sports have this - here's an example of what I mean : there's a guy in my pool room who totally has this - if he's ahead of you 7 games after five hours, and he's got you 7 balls to 1 ball in the current game, he'll concentrate totally on a 3 inch non-important safety like it was a hill-hill shot in a tournament final game - this guy is brutal --- The second way to keep your focus and concentration is to bet high enough to make winning the games very important to you from a financial standpoint - this amount will vary from person to person.....And as for me - Unfortunately, I don't have enough killer instinct, so to keep myself totally focused, I'll just have to keep on betting more $$$ than I can afford to bet ^_^

 

[Doug]

Personally, I don't think better conditioning, diet, etc. would contribute significantly to preventing the lapses you refer to after playing a lenghty period of time. It may postpone it and would otherwise be very beneficial but IMO the problem is psycological. If you do this often enough that it is predictable then you may have unwittingly "programmed" your brain that the point has arrived to let up in intensity. Change your expectations ie, I have been playing well and beating my opponent for 4-5 hrs and now I'm going to play even better and see how long my opponent can handle the pressure. Of course this is easier said than done but the point is you can't do the same thing each time and expect different results. Wish I could make myself get in condition, have a better diet and play less pool but too late to be sensible now!

 

[1pRoscoe]

1. Did you decide you were mentally tired after destroying the guy for 4 games or did you come up with this as an excuse after he started winning?

2. How come the game ended with you 1 game up? He just won three in a row so it doesn't seem likely he quit while still a game down and hopefully you didn't find an excuse to bail.

3. Do you usually look for excuses when things aren't going your way?

1. No, I just couldn't seem to make any of the shots that I had been dominating in the prior games, it is not an excuse.

2. There was no excuse, he was tired as hell and had been playing all day prior to me coming in there. Again, no "excuses"

3. Nope.

You seem to love using the word "excuse". None were given by me.

I've been in the pool halls for a lot of years ........ I'll just have to keep on betting more $$$ than I can afford to bet ^_^

Great post, really makes sense!




Thanks all for your feedback, however I don't think physical health has anything to do with it, I'm doing well in that dept.

Thanks again!

 

[JustPlay]

1. No, I just couldn't seem to make any of the shots that I had been dominating in the prior games, it is not an excuse.

2. There was no excuse, he was tired as hell and had been playing all day prior to me coming in there. Again, no "excuses"

3. Nope.

You seem to love using the word "excuse". None were given by me.


Great post, really makes sense!

Thanks all for your feedback, however I don't think physical health has anything to do with it, I'm doing well in that dept.

Thanks again!

If it isn't physical and it isn't mental...what it the answer you want? Just let us know and we will tell it to you?

 

[1pRoscoe]

If it isn't physical and it isn't mental...what it the answer you want? Just let us know and we will tell it to you?

I never said it wasn't mental, which it is.... I'm just trying to figure out a way to get past it, as I have gathered some very constructive information from the posts above, a bit of which was from yours. No need to get snippy.

 

[wayne]

A quote from your original post:
"The first 4 games I beat him 8-1, 8-0, 8-3, 8-6. Of course, I was pretty mentally tired after this, as it was a pretty fierce game."

I could probably give some useful advise on the mental side but I have a hard time understanding how someone could be "mentally tired" after just trouncing someone 4 games straight. I could understand your opponent feeling beat up at this point but it doesn't sound like he had done anything yet to wear you down, yet, this is the point where you say you were pretty mentally tired "of course". Maybe I just can't relate, maybe some people wear down mentally when they are destroying someone else, I have never experienced this, if I just beat someone 32 balls to 10 the first 4 games I would be on cruise control at that point and probably free stroking.

Wayne

 

[LastTwo]

A quote from your original post:
if I just beat someone 32 balls to 10 the first 4 games I would be on cruise control at that point and probably free stroking.

Wayne

I agree, I would probably be doing the same thing.

 

[sideshotscott]

similar problem

I pride myself as being a great one pocket player. I have beat a lot of people in my area at this game, many being highly talented players. There are a handful as well that give me a serious run for my money. Point is, this is my game of choice. With that being said, here is my problem...

I played a guy last night that is a very good player as well. He asked if I wanted to play for anything, I said, "sure, how about $20 a game?" Deal accepted.

We played for about 3 hrs total. The first 4 games I beat him 8-1, 8-0, 8-3, 8-6. Of course, I was pretty mentally tired after this, as it was a pretty fierce game. On the next few games, I got REALLY sloppy. Not intentionally, but I just seemed to have a problem missing safes, simple banks, etc. I wouldn't say I completely sold out on every shot, but I left him more than I should have. The next 3 games he beat me 8-6, 8-7, 8-7. The last two, we were down to one ball.

How can you increase your stamina (mentally) for this game? It seems that once I get some great competition, I shoot PERFECT the first 5-6 games, then it all goes downhill. This never used to happen to me up until about a year ago. I have played 9 ball for 14 hours straight and no worries, but when it comes to the "chess game" it kills me after a few hours, only when playing very talented people.

Any advice?

I have a similar problem, I dont think its stamina, when I start playing somebody, Im all focused and really there mentally, BUT after I have dismanteled my fellow player, I tend to let up, and not even notice till I have lost a game or two. It gets to a point were I have to be behind in the game or match before I can get back on track, it IS hard to keep focused when you are ahead{you are only as good as your compatition}

 

[sonia]

I pride myself as being a great one pocket player. I have beat a lot of people in my area at this game, many being highly talented players. There are a handful as well that give me a serious run for my money. Point is, this is my game of choice. With that being said, here is my problem...

I played a guy last night that is a very good player as well. He asked if I wanted to play for anything, I said, "sure, how about $20 a game?" Deal accepted.

We played for about 3 hrs total. The first 4 games I beat him 8-1, 8-0, 8-3, 8-6. Of course, I was pretty mentally tired after this, as it was a pretty fierce game. On the next few games, I got REALLY sloppy. Not intentionally, but I just seemed to have a problem missing safes, simple banks, etc. I wouldn't say I completely sold out on every shot, but I left him more than I should have. The next 3 games he beat me 8-6, 8-7, 8-7. The last two, we were down to one ball.

How can you increase your stamina (mentally) for this game? It seems that once I get some great competition, I shoot PERFECT the first 5-6 games, then it all goes downhill. This never used to happen to me up until about a year ago. I have played 9 ball for 14 hours straight and no worries, but when it comes to the "chess game" it kills me after a few hours, only when playing very talented people.

Any advice?

There is no mental stamina. The only concentration is a few seconds aligning the shot, shooting it, and then no concentration untill the next shot. You are trying to concentrate every second. Cannot be done. Each shot is a separate aiming set-up, then the next; there is no thinking inbetween. When you are trying to concentrate every blessed second and minute, it will drain you dry of your energy. Relax and go slow between each shot. What's the hurrry?

sonia

 

[sonia]

Intensity Vs Calm

Personally, I don't think better conditioning, diet, etc. would contribute significantly to preventing the lapses you refer to after playing a lenghty period of time. It may postpone it and would otherwise be very beneficial but IMO the problem is psycological. If you do this often enough that it is predictable then you may have unwittingly "programmed" your brain that the point has arrived to let up in intensity. Change your expectations ie, I have been playing well and beating my opponent for 4-5 hrs and now I'm going to play even better and see how long my opponent can handle the pressure. Of course this is easier said than done but the point is you can't do the same thing each time and expect different results. Wish I could make myself get in condition, have a better diet and play less pool but too late to be sensible now!

We do not need intensiy, we need to be relaxed and calm.

sonia

 

[LastTwo]

There is no mental stamina. The only concentration is a few seconds aligning the shot, shooting it, and then no concentration untill the next shot. You are trying to concentrate every second. Cannot be done. Each shot is a separate aiming set-up, then the next; there is no thinking inbetween. When you are trying to concentrate every blessed second and minute, it will drain you dry of your energy. Relax and go slow between each shot. What's the hurrry?

sonia

Yeah, don't even bother to think about position patterns. All the pros take a while to think about their runout pattern, but they suck. Why would you want to copy them? Listen to sonia because you don't need to play position, you just need an aiming system.

 

[sjm]

Although one's breathing pattern is more often thought of as a matter of physical stamina, it's also a critical determinant of mental stamina. A decline in performance can be attributable to a reduced ability to maintain a steady and proper breathing pattern. Meditation and the martial arts are very good for helping one maintain the kind of breathing that will keep you at your highest level. One of the reasons pre-shot routine is so important is that it helps you with this, giving you a steady rhythm.

 

[RSB-Refugee]

We played for about 3 hrs total. The first 4 games I beat him 8-1, 8-0, 8-3, 8-6. Of course, I was pretty mentally tired after this, as it was a pretty fierce game....

How can you increase your stamina (mentally) for this game? It seems that once I get some great competition, I shoot PERFECT the first 5-6 games, then it all goes downhill....

Roscoe,
Some have offered, that you may try upping the stakes, which was my first thought. Then after a while I was thinking, you were killing this guy, for the first 4 games. Maybe rather than upping the stakes, you could give him some weight, that may give you more motivation.

Tracy

 

[1pRoscoe]

Roscoe,
Some have offered, that you may try upping the stakes, which was my first thought. Then after a while I was thinking, you were killing this guy, for the first 4 games. Maybe rather than upping the stakes, you could give him some weight, that may give you more motivation.

Tracy

That post was ~6 months ago. Since then, I have found a "mentor" who has been playing 1p for 30ish years and has a wealth of knowledge.

In the time between that post and this one, my game has doubled and can play for hours on end without getting mentally exhausted.

 

[Shorty]

That post was ~6 months ago. Since then, I have found a "mentor" who has been playing 1p for 30ish years and has a wealth of knowledge.

In the time between that post and this one, my game has doubled and can play for hours on end without getting mentally exhausted.

Ohhhhh that means I get 10-6 and the break right Roscoe? LOL

Shorty