Stress/Nerves/Concentration Practice Methods

[Vinnie]

Out of all of the practice methods I've tried so far, the following method gives me the most induced tension for practice...

Run 10 random 3 ball spreads without missing. If you miss, you start from the beginning. If you succeed, run 10 random 4 ball spreads without missing, etc...

Obviously, the tension comes from the fact that the more runs I make, the more nervous I get about missing. Playing the ghost is too frustrating for me because I don't think that I am good enough yet. Perhaps when I can accomplish the above method well at 6 or 7 balls, then playing the ghost will be easier.

 

[smoooothstroke]

I like it

Sounds like a good method,I will try it.

 

[SpiderWebComm]

If you're dating someone or if you're married....

The next time she asks you to do something, just ignore her and head to the basement to play some pool.

She'll eventually come downstairs to light you up.

If you can run out during the noise, you can play through anything.

Dave

 

[Surly]

If you're dating someone or if you're married....

The next time she asks you to do something, just ignore her and head to the basement to play some pool.

She'll eventually come downstairs to light you up.

If you can run out during the noise, you can play through anything.

Dave

LOL! How true, how true.

 

[Gerry]

If you're dating someone or if you're married....

The next time she asks you to do something, just ignore her and head to the basement to play some pool.

She'll eventually come downstairs to light you up.

If you can run out during the noise, you can play through anything.

Dave

Funny you mention that Spidey!.... I just caught a 92 on tape and at 68 my wife...who you met at the Million $$$ event.....comes down the steps chatting away about the cable guy coming to fix the TV any minute!!!....funny thing was...she knows pool...when she looked at me and the table she asked whats up?....I laughed and said....honey, I'm at 68....thats it...she walked up the steps and let me be. It's great to be married to someone who loves the games as much as I do!

 

[poolpro]

The ghost is a good one too. Try just doing the 6 ball ghost. You rack 6 balls ( any 6, 9 and under) in a small triangle. Break, and take ball in hand. Keep score. Give yourself a handicap if needed. Play a race to 10 and give yourself a headstart and adjust it to make sure you have a chance of winning. Then adjust it more to the ghost when you improve.


Another way to practice that I like is:

Rack all 15 balls in any order. Open break. Any balls made stay down and count. ( or you can vary it by spotting them if you want to make it harder). Shoot any ball in any pocket. Each ball is worth one point.

When there are only 5 balls left remaining, you must shoot them in numerical order. These are worth 2 points. A miss is the end of the game. You keep and score any points untill you miss. A perfect score is 20.

Make a score sheet/grid. put the date and score each attempt. Do ten attempts and give yourself an average. This is a great way to put some pressure on yourself and track improvement.

This game is useful for 8 and 9 ball skills. Make it a challenge between another player. Try to get the best average. It works for solo practice as well as with others.

 

[Vinnie]

If you're dating someone or if you're married....

The next time she asks you to do something, just ignore her and head to the basement to play some pool.

She'll eventually come downstairs to light you up.

If you can run out during the noise, you can play through anything.

Dave

Come to think of it, I do practice a lot with the wife talking to me or the kids running around. I never thought much of it as good training though. :smile:

 

[Vinnie]

The ghost is a good one too. Try just doing the 6 ball ghost. You rack 6 balls ( any 6, 9 and under) in a small triangle. Break, and take ball in hand. Keep score. Give yourself a handicap if needed. Play a race to 10 and give yourself a headstart and adjust it to make sure you have a chance of winning. Then adjust it more to the ghost when you improve.


Another way to practice that I like is:

Rack all 15 balls in any order. Open break. Any balls made stay down and count. ( or you can vary it by spotting them if you want to make it harder). Shoot any ball in any pocket. Each ball is worth one point.

When there are only 5 balls left remaining, you must shoot them in numerical order. These are worth 2 points. A miss is the end of the game. You keep and score any points untill you miss. A perfect score is 20.

Make a score sheet/grid. put the date and score each attempt. Do ten attempts and give yourself an average. This is a great way to put some pressure on yourself and track improvement.

This game is useful for 8 and 9 ball skills. Make it a challenge between another player. Try to get the best average. It works for solo practice as well as with others.

Thanks for the advice. I like the sound of this game. I'm going to try it.

 

[BigDogatLarge]

Another game that works for me is one called bowlillards. Take ten random balls, break, spot any that fall then take ball in hand and run out. When you miss write the number in the box (make ten squares) and shoot again if you run out you spare if you miss that is your score for that frame. If you run out from the start that is a strike.

Hope this helps,

Dwight

 

[JoeW]

Olympic 9-Ball

Olympic 9-Ball was originally described (to me) by Vickie Paski in Pool and Billiards Magazine. I rewrote and modified her description and published in our local pool news paper. Many people tried it and found it a good way to practice, increase tension, and have a good time. It includes a score sheet that will help you keep track of your improvement over time.

http://www.sunburstselect.com/PBReview/Olympic9Ball.htm

It is similar to what the OP describes. If you read through the article you will learn that a handicap is established and the player removes the number of balls equal to their handicap. Because the game is played against your usual best game it is fun, difficult, and creates tension to improve your scores. In addition you have a running handicap that allows you to see your improvement over time.

I have found that keeping track of the shots I missed (with diagrams) is the best way to determine what I need to practice. The game is fun, frustrating, and lets you know how well your are playing.

 

[Vinnie]

Another game that works for me is one called bowlillards. Take ten random balls, break, spot any that fall then take ball in hand and run out. When you miss write the number in the box (make ten squares) and shoot again if you run out you spare if you miss that is your score for that frame. If you run out from the start that is a strike.

Hope this helps,

Dwight

Bowlliards is a fun game, in fact I created a scoresheet to play it. However, it does not induce the stress like I need for concentration practice. Perhaps if I make it mandatory to finish with a "mark" (spare or strike) in every frame, that would bump up the stress.

 

[BigDogatLarge]

Bowlliards is a fun game, in fact I created a scoresheet to play it. However, it does not induce the stress like I need for concentration practice. Perhaps if I make it mandatory to finish with a "mark" (spare or strike) in every frame, that would bump up the stress.

I was going for making better runout choices to reduce stress. The more variable's you can remove from the game the better you can shoot. It has worked for me this way, when I am in a match and have broken and ran, I had no stress or even the knowledge that I was running out. I just played each ball as it came up. It seems like I am in this place of calm.

Dwight

 

[Vinnie]

Olympic 9-Ball was originally described (to me) by Vickie Paski in Pool and Billiards Magazine. I rewrote and modified her description and published in our local pool news paper. Many people tried it and found it a good way to practice, increase tension, and have a good time. It includes a score sheet that will help you keep track of your improvement over time.

http://www.sunburstselect.com/PBReview/Olympic9Ball.htm

It is similar to what the OP describes.

Sounds like playing the ghost but with a scoring system. So, if practicing alone, the tension comes from trying to out do your previous scores. Your article speaks exactly about the tension and anxiety I am trying to learn to overcome. :wink:

 

[the420trooper]

I was going for making better runout choices to reduce stress. The more variable's you can remove from the game the better you can shoot. It has worked for me this way, when I am in a match and have broken and ran, I had no stress or even the knowledge that I was running out. I just played each ball as it came up. It seems like I am in this place of calm.

Dwight

I agree. I think that by actually analyzing percentages, and trying to think "What is the easiest way to run this table?", that my game is OK even when I'm having an off night.

You don't have to be playing your best game to run out or to win, you just have to play your smartest game.

 

[Vinnie]

I was going for making better runout choices to reduce stress. The more variable's you can remove from the game the better you can shoot. It has worked for me this way, when I am in a match and have broken and ran, I had no stress or even the knowledge that I was running out. I just played each ball as it came up. It seems like I am in this place of calm.

Dwight

I agree. I think that by actually analyzing percentages, and trying to think "What is the easiest way to run this table?", that my game is OK even when I'm having an off night.

You don't have to be playing your best game to run out or to win, you just have to play your smartest game.

I never thought of it that way before, but now that you mention it, there are times I am playing in a tournament and I am standing there thinking "GREAT, now what am I going to do?". So it does make sense that if I practice playing smart, then my tension will reduce. Thanks guys.

 

[softshot]

I don't know if this works or not... but someone once told me to take 3 different radios.. tune them all to different stations.. and then try to play..

seems to me if you can learn to concentrate with all that noise.. you will be fine under any condition..

 

[smoooothstroke]

Just noticed your on the other side of the hill from me.Do they play pool over ther?..Just kidding,are there any good pool rooms in Moses Lake?

 

[Vinnie]

Just noticed your on the other side of the hill from me.Do they play pool over ther?..Just kidding,are there any good pool rooms in Moses Lake?

As a matter of fact, There will be a room opening here within a month or so. I think it will have 4 9-footers and 4 8-footers.

 

[Vinnie]

I don't know if this works or not... but someone once told me to take 3 different radios.. tune them all to different stations.. and then try to play..

seems to me if you can learn to concentrate with all that noise.. you will be fine under any condition..

It's not really distractions that bother me. Here is a typical scenario for me...

I am at a tournament and playing someone I know is better than me. I'm at the table and realize "hey, I can get out from here". Then BAM! I start to get nervous and then POW! I mess up my position or miss a shot.

 

[softshot]

It's not really distractions that bother me. Here is a typical scenario for me...

I am at a tournament and playing someone I know is better than me. I'm at the table and realize "hey, I can get out from here". Then BAM! I start to get nervous and then POW! I mess up my position or miss a shot.

I have only tried it a few times... BUT.. if you continue running balls in that environment you develop stress... you get frustration.. you "TRY HARDER" and miss..... and eventually you just shut it off .... and get that noise out of your head.....

I would do it more often but .. it is very stressful and very irritating and not much fun at all...

but it puts your head in a different space.. and in the long term can give you a method to overcome .. the same stress you are facing...

try it... it is not as easy as it sounds....