I think I'm going to try not to play pool over Christmas. I was very tempted to get some practice because my wife is working Christmas Eve, Day & the day after (Boxing Day to me!) but after playing some horrible stuff this week I'm going to do my best to forget all about it.
Now, I don't play nearly as much as I'd like to or used to, but after only getting back into the game a few months ago I'd started to feel like I was almost back into the swing of it. This is after a 13 year break. I'm not one to get disillusioned too quickly but this week has tried my patience! I only play twice a week, once with my buddy & in a 9-ball tourney (I'm still learning the intricacies of that after playing 8-ball in the UK all my life.)
So, on Tuesday my pal beats me for the first time ever. I was actually pleased about that, I've been giving him advice on cue ball control & always telling him to believe he can do it. He can do it, he plays some beautiful cut shots, long shots, etc. He just needs that belief. As for my game that night, my draw stroke failed me several times so I stuck to playing with topspin. That helped for awhile but it gnawed at me to know that I was playing with less than my usual game. I was 6-4 down & said let's make it a race to 9, I ended up losing 9-8 on the final 8 ball!
I wasn't too disheartened by that but then I go to my local tourney on Thursday night. Even on the smaller tables my shots were off, positioning was abysmal & I missed several easy balls. I'm not one to whine about a game but I was more than a little pissed off! I hung around to watch the later games & that just got me thinking that I should've still been playing. I didn't see anything that would worry me if I'd still been in it.
OK, so I'm grumbling. Maybe I just wanted to get it off my chest. I did tell my wife I'm going to take some time away from the tourney but I will be playing my buddy again on Wednesday (Well, that is after Christmas!) after all, that's our night of playing for fun!
I'm sure there are plenty of folks on here who have felt the same way, so how did you combat this? It's not the first time I've hit a slump but in the old days there wasn't the wealth of information that is AZB!!!!
Look forward to hearing from you, & before I forget........A Very Merry Christmas to all the fine folks here!
Ade.
Now, I don't play nearly as much as I'd like to or used to, but after only getting back into the game a few months ago I'd started to feel like I was almost back into the swing of it. This is after a 13 year break. I'm not one to get disillusioned too quickly but this week has tried my patience! I only play twice a week, once with my buddy & in a 9-ball tourney (I'm still learning the intricacies of that after playing 8-ball in the UK all my life.)
So, on Tuesday my pal beats me for the first time ever. I was actually pleased about that, I've been giving him advice on cue ball control & always telling him to believe he can do it. He can do it, he plays some beautiful cut shots, long shots, etc. He just needs that belief. As for my game that night, my draw stroke failed me several times so I stuck to playing with topspin. That helped for awhile but it gnawed at me to know that I was playing with less than my usual game. I was 6-4 down & said let's make it a race to 9, I ended up losing 9-8 on the final 8 ball!
I wasn't too disheartened by that but then I go to my local tourney on Thursday night. Even on the smaller tables my shots were off, positioning was abysmal & I missed several easy balls. I'm not one to whine about a game but I was more than a little pissed off! I hung around to watch the later games & that just got me thinking that I should've still been playing. I didn't see anything that would worry me if I'd still been in it.
OK, so I'm grumbling. Maybe I just wanted to get it off my chest. I did tell my wife I'm going to take some time away from the tourney but I will be playing my buddy again on Wednesday (Well, that is after Christmas!) after all, that's our night of playing for fun!
I'm sure there are plenty of folks on here who have felt the same way, so how did you combat this? It's not the first time I've hit a slump but in the old days there wasn't the wealth of information that is AZB!!!!
Look forward to hearing from you, & before I forget........A Very Merry Christmas to all the fine folks here!
Ade.
