Show me the way, please...

[tom]

Hi Keith, I'm from Italy and I only had the pleasure to watch you playing on a screen. I appreciate you as a person from what i read every day here, you're always ready to share your experience with everybody. Now it's time for me to ask for an advice.
I've played for the last two years every tournament i could, regional, national and eurotour events, practising as much as i could (i'm finishing university, but i try to play a couple of hours a day). I feel good on the table, and i run 2-4 9ball racks almost every day. I improved my technique, practised with drills, and so on. Now that everything should be ok, and in practise it is, my concentration in tournament is falling down, i don't know why. The last 3-4 tournaments i played, after winning some easy matches, i always lost in the same way, being up like 6-2 in a race to 7, or 9, and then letting my opponents come back and win, losing composure and confidence.
It never happened to me before, do you think i need to stop for a while, or what? I'm sure i'm not the only one to have this problem, even a word from you would be precious.

Best regards
Tom

 

[Keith McCready]

The last 3-4 tournaments i played, after winning some easy matches, i always lost in the same way, being up like 6-2 in a race to 7, or 9, and then letting my opponents come back and win, losing composure and confidence. It never happened to me before, do you think i need to stop for a while, or what? I'm sure i'm not the only one to have this problem, even a word from you would be precious.

Tom, I used to have the same problem finishing up matches, and then I found myself always having to come from behind. I don't know what it is either, but one thing I can say, I think when it comes time to win, you take a little bit more time, bite down on your teeth a little harder, and don't make those careless mistakes.

I used to be known as the "bride's maid." I come in second a lot of times to the likes of Mike Sigel and Earl Strickland, and I know what it is to get beat on.

What may help is when you're practicing, master all the shots that you are missing and all the mistakes that have been happening and work with that for 3, 4, 5 hours a day. Before your match, try not to talk to too many people and stay focused on your game. When you get up there, don't even look at your opponent because he is trying to take something that belongs to you. Take no mercy and look those balls dead in the hole! Don't even let any negative thoughts creep in your head. Focus on the smoothness of your stroke, take time to address the ball, and believe in yourself. When your stroke is on automatic pilot, you will find yourself in the winner's circle.

 

[chief]

keith that is some great advise,I often only read the posts here but I had to say thanks for the excellent response.I have lived in LA/San diego area off and on for the last 18 years and have watched you play many many times and have always been impressed.

 

[tom]

Thanks a lot, Earthquake. Gonna print this page...
I'm planning to come to next year's US OPEN, after my degree, glad to pay you a beer... or two... or three...

 

[Keith McCready]

keith that is some great advise,I often only read the posts here but I had to say thanks for the excellent response.I have lived in LA/San diego area off and on for the last 18 years and have watched you play many many times and have always been impressed.

Thanks, Chief, for your kind words. I just try to call 'em like I see 'em. I miss L.A. and San Diego. Sort of miss seeing some of the old guys, but I'm sure I will be seeing them again, sooner or later. I'm looking forward to the Glass City Open in Toledo on November 10-14 and the Skins Billiards Championship in Atlantic City on November 19-20. Hope I can follow up on my own advice (ha-ha)!

Thanks a lot, Earthquake. Gonna print this page...
I'm planning to come to next year's US OPEN, after my degree, glad to pay you a beer... or two... or three...

Tom, the U.S. Open is one of my favorite tournaments. You won't be disappointed if you make it there next year. If you see Sandor, tell him the Earthquake sends his regards, and I hope to see him sometime in the near future! Maybe you, me, and Sandor can have a beer together! Keep up the good work on your studies!

 

[tom]

If you see Sandor, tell him the Earthquake sends his regards, and I hope to see him sometime in the near future! Maybe you, me, and Sandor can have a beer together!

I'm afraid i see him too often, he just kicked my @ss out of a tournament, the Dynamic Cup, yesterday... Btw, Sandor finished third, with Bustamante winner and me... the same ol' stupid 17th .
Thanx again, all the best
Tom

 

[mjantti]

I'm afraid i see him too often, he just kicked my @ss out of a tournament, the Dynamic Cup, yesterday... Btw, Sandor finished third, with Bustamante winner and me... the same ol' stupid 17th .
Thanx again, all the best
Tom

Hey, Tom ! Better luck next time with Sandor. He is in quite a form now, got his first Eurotour title lately.

Keith, you gave nice pieces of advice there. I would add something: Realizing the fact that you cannot play your best game all the time has helped me alot ! Most of your matches won are not played in dead stroke. You have to let yourself win the matches with mediocre play as well and if you play badly, that doesn't necessarily mean you should lose the match. If you're not playing well, try not to analyze your stroke and what might be wrong, but trust your instincts and try to find your true rhythm. With the right rhythm of play, your subconscious skills will come to play and you start playing much better. Trust your instincts ! And don't let the bad shots bother you.

And, if you're playing well, don't take it for granted. If you run 3-5 racks in a match, that doesn't automatically mean that you'll run another 3-5 racks in the next match. Keep your rhythm and enjoy your straight stroke and you will keep your standard of play through the whole tournament.

Last Saturday was at the Finnish top ranking tournament. First match I was leading 2-1 and I ran the set out with 5 racks, 7-1. Next match I won 7-1, with so-so play. First single elimination match I played terribly and at 5-5 my opponent hooked me with a very lucky shot and I let it bother me too much and I missed quite an easy 5-ball in the next rack trailing 5-6. He still was able to miss the 7-ball twice in that rack and left me nothing. I humbly played safe from both but he got lucky again and won the set. I was disgusted at first, but then I realized I played badly and those lucky shots were just part of a game called 9-ball. But I made the mistake of letting my opponents lucky shot to bother me...

Well, hoping to play in the US Open someday