Should I just Quit Playing ?

[Johnnyt]

If I didn't know someone that could run 100 balls many times while practicing and couldn't run a rack when anything was on the line i'd think the OP was a B/S artist. There was a guy in the room I owned that had run 100 in 14.1 and 6 packs in 9-ball many times that would revert to a low "C" player when money was on the line, and it didn't matter if it was his money or a horses money. Some people are just cut out to play for fun-fun. Johnnyt

 

[flash5153]

Next time you get in a tournament. Right before your first match. Tighten your shoe laces up,,very tight!!!! You may laugh now,,,but try it!!

If you are feeling as if you are shooting "tight" and its early in tournament,,or a race. Put it in your mind to hammer some balls in,,,just let it fly. Do,,,try to make these shots,,but without fear of anything. Hopefully you will make a few balls or get another shot. Even if you lose 1 game. It does help settle you in,,,,then you can start stroking.

I think everyone has a degree of the problem you are having. But I don't think most are as extreme. From a A to a D is pretty awful, but I know what you mean.

 

[flash5153]

If I didn't know someone that could run 100 balls many times while practicing and couldn't run a rack when anything was on the line i'd think the OP was a B/S artist. There was a guy in the room I owned that had run 100 in 14.1 and 6 packs in 9-ball many times that would revert to a low "C" player when money was on the line, and it didn't matter if it was his money or a horses money. Some people are just cut out to play for fun-fun. Johnnyt

It's usually the complete opposite. But I do know people that play well but absolutely will not gamble. hmmmm?? Maybe that is why!!:grin:

 

[gpeezy]

I play pretty good I would say B+ or A . I have ran over 100 7 times so I can shoot.My problem is as soon as i get in any type of tournament I second guess myself so much I play like a D- .I know its all in my head . I dont know what I can do.
Any Advise Please Help

what kind of tournys are you playing? how well do you play rotation games? b+ or a players will never play down to a d. sounds like to me u need to learn how to win. start gambling. tournaments suck imo

 

[gpeezy]

Next time you get in a tournament. Right before your first match. Tighten your shoe laces up,,very tight!!!! You may laugh now,,,but try it!!

If you are feeling as if you are shooting "tight" and its early in tournament,,or a race. Put it in your mind to hammer some balls in,,,just let it fly. Do,,,try to make these shots,,but without fear of anything. Hopefully you will make a few balls or get another shot. Even if you lose 1 game. It does help settle you in,,,,then you can start stroking.

I think everyone has a degree of the problem you are having. But I don't think most are as extreme. From a A to a D is pretty awful, but I know what you mean.

lol you sound like this guy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOT_WygGoLw

 

[Tramp Steamer]

You will never get what you need from of a book, DVD, or a pep-talk from some sports psycologist passing himself off as a pool guru.
A professional pool player told me a long time ago that if you wish to be successful at tournament play you must become "tournament seasoned".
Play in as many tournaments as you can. You've got to pay your dues.

 

[Blue Hog ridr]

Never quit because you feel that you're not good at something.
That should give you more incentive to succeed.
No matter how good at something you are, there is always someone better, its a fact of life.
But still, don't allow yourself to beat yourself up.

I do the same in league play and tournaments. Losing focus and second guessing were the biggest for me. If I can play like when I'm playing for fun, then I have the worst part over with and I usually do well.

The thing that gets me the most is the second guessing. I would get up off a shot, realign and miss only to realize that if I had gone with my first instinct, it would have went in.

Because of my background, I can only second the advice on a little meditation before you start. Its not hard to find someplace relatively away from the crowd, close your eyes and practice breathing excersizes.
It only takes a few moments and you don't have to sit in a Lotus position on top of a pool table or anything conspicuous.

Breathing properly can lower your heart rate and have a calming affect.
During which time, a little self affirmation, topped off with positive intentions can work wonders. Once you practice breathing, it doesn't take long and you can even do it while you're at the table or waiting for your turn. It will eventually get to the point where you can turn it on and off like a light switch.

 

[justnum]

I quit pool on purpose. The fun part was relearning the game. After not playing so long I forgot how to stroke and aim.

Relearning it was fun because I got to see what I understood well and what I remembered how to do when I returned to the game.

 

[Ktown D]

lol you sound like this guy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOT_WygGoLw

That is exactly what I thought of.....LMMFAO.

 

[JoeW]

Just to show you all that solutions are not often as easy as they appear. I worked with a fellow from a fortune 100 company earning 250k a year in the third tier of the company. He was great at what he did; however, he could not speak in public. It seems that whenever he had to make a presentation he would throw up, get the shakes and in general get so nervous for days before that he was terrified of taking responsibility for a meeting and thus not being promoted to the second tier of his company. So he came to see me to find out why and to learn to handle public presentations and get the 500k a year job.

To make a long story very short, we solved his life long problem in less than three weeks and he did get promoted. About six months later he came back for some tweaking and has not had a problem since. One of the ways we solved the problem for him was having him go stand in a K-Mart store for ten minutes and then come back and talk about it with me.

Try to figure that out. Like many other professionals, psychologists do have tools for solving behavioral problems. The mind does not come with a user’s guide and sometimes you need the services a professional can provide. BTW most behavioral therapists would be able to explain why the K-Mart store was part of the solution.

For those who think that seeing a psych is for sissies you are wrong. I was a Recon Marines from 1961 – 65 and that is not for sissies. My buddy in psych graduate school was also a Recon Marine and he was awarded the Silver Star, Navy Cross, and two purple hearts.

 

[The Renfro]

1) Stop beating yourself up over it. You can develop a complex and define whats going to happen simply by thinking about it too much.

2) Start playing in tournaments but make an effort to pick regional events that will require an investment in your attending them aside from the entry. Overnight away from home lets you step outside of the role you have made for yourself to some degree.

3) Start actually preparing for a tournament differently than you have been doing. No playing your normal hours and games and just showing up and seeing how you do. Start a week before you know you are traveling to a tournament and practice drills, playing the ghost or high runs off the break shot. And do this every day for at least as long as you can focus. Hit more balls in that week than you do in a normal week by 3-4x

4) Show up and play. Don't watch. Don't socialize. Just Play... Like you are there to win..... If you have to stay in the venue between matches jump on any open table and hit balls while you are waiting, otherwise find somewhere close that you can hit balls and give the TD your cell number..

 

[brokenarrowjbe]

Don't stop playing pool, learn how to stop thinking. once you decide what you are going to do, do it. Pool is spatial, no amount of talk will help with the shot at your level. "The pleasures of small motions" may help. The "inner game of tennis" is also highly recommended. I placed third in a regular tournament here last week. I played for 5 hours. I won 25.00, that is not even minimum wage, especially if you factor in the entry fee and soda's. I am trying to just play to enjoy the game, so I am trying to learn to let go of winning as the be all end all. I can not even imagine a 100 ball run, much less repeating it. Stick with the game. If you live in Central Florida, PM me. I need all the practice I can get with better players. John

 

[johnqbs]

don't give up

Go out to play and do the best you can and keep it in mind to have fun.
I enjoy playing but will never be super great or a pro go at it for the fun.
take care, john

 

[3RAILKICK]

Just to show you all that solutions are not often as easy as they appear. I worked with a fellow from a fortune 100 company earning 250k a year in the third tier of the company. He was great at what he did; however, he could not speak in public. It seems that whenever he had to make a presentation he would throw up, get the shakes and in general get so nervous for days before that he was terrified of taking responsibility for a meeting and thus not being promoted to the second tier of his company. So he came to see me to find out why and to learn to handle public presentations and get the 500k a year job.

To make a long story very short, we solved his life long problem in less than three weeks and he did get promoted. About six months later he came back for some tweaking and has not had a problem since. One of the ways we solved the problem for him was having him go stand in a K-Mart store for ten minutes and then come back and talk about it with me.

Try to figure that out. Like many other professionals, psychologists do have tools for solving behavioral problems. The mind does not come with a user’s guide and sometimes you need the services a professional can provide. BTW most behavioral therapists would be able to explain why the K-Mart store was part of the solution.

For those who think that seeing a psych is for sissies you are wrong. I was a Recon Marines from 1961 – 65 and that is not for sissies. My buddy in psych graduate school was also a Recon Marine and he was awarded the Silver Star, Navy Cross, and two purple hearts.

Joe-

Is the K-Mart cure a corollary to the sense of well being and self-worth that can come from watching a couple episodes of Jerry Springer?

The 'I know I'm messed up, but I'm not that messed up' vibe?

PS: thanks for your service and that of your buddy. You guys deserve a few rolls to go your way.

Take care.

 

[ShootingArts]

the solution, my opinion of course

this is where i live so here go's........ try doing what pro pokerplayers do, watch you're oppenent he blinks,you blink.watch you're opponent and defer the pressure to him. first post

I have competed at many different things, successfully. The key for me is to have a bit of an ego and let everything and everybody else form around me. Your task is to play 90%-95% of your best game. Anybody that wants to win has to beat that benchmark. Since you are playing against yourself it really doesn't matter who you are playing or what they do. This isn't to say don't attack another player's weaknesses but don't care who others think is supposed to win. Play to your expectations and that should be good enough. If somebody else has a better day, so be it. They may beat you but don't beat yourself because you are concerned about what other people think.

Do focus on what you will do. Be careful how you mentally phrase what you are going to do while you are standing up too. "Seven in the side, hit the rail there, there, and there, to come back to the eight is far stronger than seven in the side, don't scratch, get shape on the eight. I often trace the path of the cue ball with my eyes all the way to the stopping point before shooting. Get in the habit of phrasing everything in positive terms all of the time too. Don't focus on what you don't want to do or you will do exactly what you are focusing on not doing.

To repeat the main point, focus on playing your game to your potential. Measure yourself only against the yardstick of the performance you should be able to deliver. Not winning or losing or where you should place in an event but just the level of skill you should demonstrate on the table. Play very close to your best game on demand and you put the pressure right where you want it, on the other player.

Hu

 

[JoeW]

Joe-

Is the K-Mart cure a corollary to the sense of well being and self-worth that can come from watching a couple episodes of Jerry Springer?

The 'I know I'm messed up, but I'm not that messed up' vibe?

PS: thanks for your service and that of your buddy. You guys deserve a few rolls to go your way.

Take care.

Well there is more to it but part of the K-Mart cure for some people in some situations is learning that you can live with uncontrolable chaos or at least what some people would perceive as chaos.

 

[Fatboy]

I play pretty good I would say B+ or A . I have ran over 100 7 times so I can shoot.My problem is as soon as i get in any type of tournament I second guess myself so much I play like a D- .I know its all in my head . I dont know what I can do.
Any Advise Please Help

I never ran 100 in my life, but i dont play 14.1. I'm a D---- player in tournaments, but I like to gamble and bet high. so I get in where I fit in. I never won a tournament in my life, I took 4th in a B tournemnt one time and was banned from it, I could play in the open tournament they said.

because I hate to be told when to get up and play, and when to wait, and then play again, etc it reminds me of one thing I never had-a job. It just dont work for me. So I ignore them. I did enter the 1P tournament in Vegas coming up, i might forfit who knows, I just wanted to support Mark Griffen -I have zero chance to win it. If I win a rack I'm happy. I mite not play another tournament in a year or 2-if ever. not my bag.

get in where you fit in.

good luck

fatboy

 

[genomachino]

You'ld be surprised..............

He has run a 100 balls 7 times. He does not need an aiming system. he knows how to pocket balls. he just needs to get his nerves under control.

Getting a little excited can really mess a player up on their aim. They dog the eyes, not the shot.

It sounds like he goes completely haywire sometimes. If he shoots that well and then goes that out of whack he might be drifting a little with the eyes and making the wrong eye work as the dominant eye.

I do it myself sometimes in a stressful situation but if you don't understand what I teach it is hard to understand what I'm trying to say.

I've seen this happen before when a player really goes completely haywire.

It just could be the eyes. Just trying to help.

 

[KRJ]

I have competed at many different things, successfully. The key for me is to have a bit of an ego and let everything and everybody else form around me. Your task is to play 90%-95% of your best game. Anybody that wants to win has to beat that benchmark. Since you are playing against yourself it really doesn't matter who you are playing or what they do. This isn't to say don't attack another player's weaknesses but don't care who others think is supposed to win. Play to your expectations and that should be good enough. If somebody else has a better day, so be it. They may beat you but don't beat yourself because you are concerned about what other people think.

Do focus on what you will do. Be careful how you mentally phrase what you are going to do while you are standing up too. "Seven in the side, hit the rail there, there, and there, to come back to the eight is far stronger than seven in the side, don't scratch, get shape on the eight. I often trace the path of the cue ball with my eyes all the way to the stopping point before shooting. Get in the habit of phrasing everything in positive terms all of the time too. Don't focus on what you don't want to do or you will do exactly what you are focusing on not doing.

To repeat the main point, focus on playing your game to your potential. Measure yourself only against the yardstick of the performance you should be able to deliver. Not winning or losing or where you should place in an event but just the level of skill you should demonstrate on the table. Play very close to your best game on demand and you put the pressure right where you want it, on the other player.

Hu

Great Advice Hu !!!

 

[oldzilla]

Next time you get in a tournament. Right before your first match. Tighten your shoe laces up,,very tight!!!! You may laugh now,,,but try it!!

If you are feeling as if you are shooting "tight" and its early in tournament,,or a race. Put it in your mind to hammer some balls in,,,just let it fly. Do,,,try to make these shots,,but without fear of anything. Hopefully you will make a few balls or get another shot. Even if you lose 1 game. It does help settle you in,,,,then you can start stroking.

I think everyone has a degree of the problem you are having. But I don't think most are as extreme. From a A to a D is pretty awful, but I know what you mean.

Great advice ! I think when on the stage of tourny competition one's head can lose connection with the foundation of all that needs to be solid.
Also spread the feet out an extra inch to make sure your down into the shots. Maybe just moving the back foot might be helpful too.
Don't quit if you have a good place to compete in. Where I live the game is really bad. I don't play anymore because there isn't enough to keep me interested. I'm not going to let myself be abused with over rated handicaps or lock artists not budging unless they are stealing. Not to mention awful payouts and events where they expect the good players to lose more money from pro rated entry's and rediculous weight ontop of it !
You Gerard ARE a great players, so be happy and just play your game as know it.