Stuck in a pool slump

DionBakasushi

DionBakasushi

Eternal Challenger
Silver Member
In the recent two months my game has been de-proving to the point anybody who picks up a cue would probably kick my ass .
My fundamentals aren't solid but it's there .
My mental game is really weak , just about any negativity gets to me .

Some inputs on getting out of this hole ?
 
I was playing real fine 2 months back . But ever since i started going to the gym i started not being able to shoot certain shots that i have been able to previously , soon after that i set repeated shots as i was paranoid that my skill had "left" me . And after each time i missed the tension started building up to the point im afraid of taking the shot ( hesitating on the pause before i stroke it ) . And now im so afraid and ashamed that i can even beat players that just began ( i have been playing for more than 3 years ) even after practicing daily of stop shots and pattern play .
I feel it is a mental ****up , but i cant really see it from where i am at .
 
Going to the gym regularly is fine, but as far as your pool game - you don't want to lift really heavy.

Anytime someone is in a slump, if you play regularly (more than once or twice a week) you should take a break - 1-2 weeks off from playing. When you come back renewed to the game.

If a break doesn't work, it can be back to basics time. Setup a couple lessons with an instructor, maybe he will see things that you do not know that you are doing.
 
Just get out of your head and play people. Changes to your routine off the table will affect your game, but you can't let it stick. It's temporary. Just put your head down and plow through it, or you'll make this worse than it needs to be.
 
I can't say what it is but as someone already mentioned if you're lifting heavy at the gym it can wreck havoc with your game. A few years back I was talking to Mike Davis who was going through a terrible slump that he eventually linked to working out too much & it changed his game, just a thought,
 
I figured it was the weights i have been doing , so i cut it down dramatically .
I'm not sure whether i have lost my "muscle memory" but heck it seems even basic drills cant get me back the finesse in the stroke .

Any good ways to get back a good stroke ?
 
I work out hard 5 days/week in the gym and my game feels great. I have tons of stamina and feel strong at the table.

However, when you first start working out, it takes time to get over the fatigue. Maybe you're more tired now that you're working out. It will improve over time.

How to find your game again? Get a good rest and then do a marathon practice session --- as long as you can stand. It will help.
 
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Not an instructor but I've lifted heavy for years. So have some pro level players. I wouldn't give up lifting heavy at all. Your body will get used to it and your game will be just fine.

Putting a stimulus on your muscles, along with eating clean and sleeping well, are about the best things you can do for your health and longevity. Good pool and health to all:)
 
I lift usually three days a week and do cardio two days a week. It helps my game because I feel more focused and I don't have to worry about fatigue.

If you're body building, you may lose some of your finer touch and feel, but pick up your practice schedule and get a few more hours on the table to even it out. It sounds like you've picked up a bad habit or two and your head is sabotaging your game.

Post a short video of yourself running a few balls and the instructors will pick out a few things to work on in your stroke/game. Everybody goes through slumps!

Best,
Mike
 
For me, sometimes I pay for a lesson just to ask questions and pick my instructor's brain.

Maybe he/she had faced the same issues you had and came up with ways to overcome.

DionBakasushi said:
Yes. That's where i learnt my basics , kicking system , parallel aiming , etc .
Click to expand...
 
If it is only a mental block, and you are pausing excessively before you commit to stroke, do something unorthodox to help yourself. Spread 15 balls around the table and try to run them speed pool style in 60 seconds. Even if you can't run them all, keep on playing as fast as you can on subsequent racks. Once you start pocketing some balls again like your old self, set the timer for two minutes, then three minutes, then play normal speed.
 
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