The fragility of "good pool playing"

BillPorter

BillPorter

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Even after 45+ years of pool playing, I continue to be amazed at the fragility of "dead stroke" and the factors that can blow it up. A pool player can go from a high confidence ball making machine to a timid, low confidence, ball hanging machine in a matter of minutes, literally from one game of pool to the next. The other day I was playiing one-pocket with a guy whom I have played often and who plays about my speed. In the first two games we played, I made no real errors and missed no shots. The game felt easy as I coasted to an 8 to minus 1 win and an 8-0 win. The third game was going along about like the first two, when I mentally "let up" and quit really bearing down on my shots. Maybe I wanted to prolong the session and feared that my opponent might pull up if he got too frustrated, but for what ever reason, I just started playing with a "casual" attitude and missed a couple of shots that I should have made. Suddenly, the shots no longer looked easy. When I tried to recapture my earlier level of performance, I found myself getting tense and coming up off of shots. My opponent's level of play jumped way up and I lost 4-5 games in a row. Most of you have had similar experiences where your level of play dropped dramatically for one reason or another and you found yourself facing relatively easy run outs with almost no confidence in your abiility to run balls. It would be like a weight lifter who could normally press 250 pounds with ease suddenly found himself unable to get 100 pounds off his chest. While there may be many, many factors that can lead to such a sudden decrease in your level of play, the experience I had highlights one such factor; mentally "letting up" during a match. Anyone able to offer some other factors that can drop you right out of "dead stroke?"
 
Excellent points. I contemplate many of the concepts and ideas you are bringing up all the time. I like the weightlifter analogy.

Few games can make a seasoned veteran player look like an inept novice like pool can. I guess this is what keeps me coming back for more, game after game.
 
good post. i wish i had a dime for every time i could have written the same thing you did. what really gets me is when playing league winning the first 4 to get to the hill and then losing the match. :mad: :mad: :mad:
and its all mental.
 
Good post, I also liked the weight lifter analogy.

When it happens to me it's usually the result of hitting the balls too hard because I'm trying to get positions that I don't really need. I really just started noticing this game destroying pattern last week and now that I'm aware of it, I've been doing a better job at not falling into it.

It tends to be a cycle,

1. I'll find myself in a position where I give myself a poor leave that I'm really going to need to shoot hard in order to get good position on my next ball. Then I miss the ball.

2. Because I missed the ball in shot #1, I start subconsciously doubting myself and telling myself that I need to get better leaves.

3. Because of #2, I start hitting the ball harder then I really need to in an effort to get the cue ball closer to the next ball or to give myself smaller angles.

4. #3 causes me to not only hit the cue ball harder then I should be (which results in more misses), it also results in a lot more straight or nearly straight in shots that....wait for it.....require shooting harder then I should to get to my next ball.

Rinse and repeat from step #1 until I lose half my games that night.
 
BillPorter said:
Even after 45+ years of pool playing, I continue to be amazed at the fragility of "dead stroke" and the factors that can blow it up. A pool player can go from a high confidence ball making machine to a timid, low confidence, ball hanging machine in a matter of minutes, literally from one game of pool to the next. The other day I was playiing one-pocket with a guy whom I have played often and who plays about my speed. In the first two games we played, I made no real errors and missed no shots. The game felt easy as I coasted to an 8 to minus 1 win and an 8-0 win. The third game was going along about like the first two, when I mentally "let up" and quit really bearing down on my shots. Maybe I wanted to prolong the session and feared that my opponent might pull up if he got too frustrated, but for what ever reason, I just started playing with a "casual" attitude and missed a couple of shots that I should have made. Suddenly, the shots no longer looked easy. When I tried to recapture my earlier level of performance, I found myself getting tense and coming up off of shots. My opponent's level of play jumped way up and I lost 4-5 games in a row. Most of you have had similar experiences where your level of play dropped dramatically for one reason or another and you found yourself facing relatively easy run outs with almost no confidence in your abiility to run balls. It would be like a weight lifter who could normally press 250 pounds with ease suddenly found himself unable to get 100 pounds off his chest. While there may be many, many factors that can lead to such a sudden decrease in your level of play, the experience I had highlights one such factor; mentally "letting up" during a match. Anyone able to offer some other factors that can drop you right out of "dead stroke?"
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What happened is you got bored. It happens to me and you get sloppy and uncaring in your play. A spot adjustment keeps it interesting and a challenge.
 
Same kind of thing happened to me lastnight. I was playing a couple sets for cheap. I got up 3 games in a race to 5 in both sets and ended up losing both. Its like I let up because I knew I had the lead, once I let up I started missing and once I started missing I started losing confidence, lets just say it was all down hill from there haha.
 
Not only do I wholeheartedly agree about the dead stroke issue and how fragile it is, but I am also amazed at the difference between one's normal "A" game and how easy it is to show up with your B or even C game just from things that have been described and others - missing an easy shot or easy shape, getting into a pattern of hitting the balls too hard or forcing shots, second guessing yourself from doing the above, setting up funny with your stance, where your feet are pointing, bending your legs differently, grip pressure, and the list goes on and on. When I was playing years ago on a regular basis, those types of things only affected me occasionally and I got through it. Now that I'm trying to get back up to speed again, every night can be an adventure, and even within a given night I can go between speeds, which is typically unusual for me. Something as simple as going from 9 ball to a ring game, where you shoot less frequently, can throw off my rhythm and cause me to lose confidence and play badly.

Regarding the original post, besides mentally letting up, another thing I've found when you are actually in dead stroke that you should NOT do is start analyzing how you got in dead stroke or thinking to yourself how good you are playing. In my experience, as soon as you start thinking about it, it's over. I've played my best pool when I just let it happen and don't think about anything, but still have great concentration in the moment without worrying about past results, how many balls or racks I've run, or what I'll be eating for supper... One memorable tournament I was in dead stroke, won the lag, ran 5 1/2 racks on someone, overran position or didn't break a ball out, played safe, got ball in hand and finished the job (race to 6). I set the cue ball down and was getting in position to break when the guy came over with his hand extended - I had no idea I had won the match already, was over that quickly. Now that's dead stroke. Used to happen occasionally, probably once or twice every month or two, but been a long, long time since I've had that feeling... :)

One other thing I hate is when I'm playing my B or even sometimes my C game, and still manage to win a match or even several, but leave feeling very unsatisfied. I want to scream out "I play better than this!!". But of course no one cares, especially if you just beat them. I would much rather lose a match when I'm playing well to a better opponent than win a match and play badly - unless I win a lot of money while doing so, then who cares!!!

Great post, and I too love the weighlifter analogy.
Scott
 
BillPorter said:
Maybe I wanted to prolong the session and feared that my opponent might pull up if he got too frustrated, but for what ever reason, I just started playing with a "casual" attitude and missed a couple of shots that I should have made. Suddenly, the shots no longer looked easy. When I tried to recapture my earlier level of performance, I found myself getting tense and coming up off of shots.
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What you experienced is oftern referred to as "being stuck in stall" and is a typical outcome of "taking it easy" "banging balls" "knocking them around" and "just hitting a few." Coming off of stall is one of the hardest things to learn, and even harder to master. As you noticed, you only stalled for a few shots and your game was off. Imagine having to stall for hours, and then having to hit high gear...

Sometimes, a bathroom break will get you back. Or maybe a 10 minute breather outside, or getting some (but not too much) food in you. Other times, you might be stuck in stall until you get a good nights sleep.

FWIW, it may be a better idea to NOT stall, and simply try to miss somewhere on purpose (i.e., missing a pocket by 1/8" or banking short/long, or trying to freeze something to a rail, etc). This will keep your brain working FOR you- not against you...

BillPorter said:
Anyone able to offer some other factors that can drop you right out of "dead stroke?"
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1) Getting 3 fouled
2) too many luck shots by your opponent
3) getting intentionally sharked
4) eating too much
5) getting into an argument about rules/shot/etc
6) opponent takes a long bathroom break
7) spectators gather
8) spouse/significant other calls

;)

-td
 
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I've come to accept the following scenario: trying something different, playing great, leaving the table for 5 minutes, returning and not being able to repeat the stroke.
 
I find myself gearing my game to the opponent, last Sunday I was playing well against all the decent players and then came the 20 year old banger. I won every game against the guys I knew and then the 20 year old (shoot hard and hope for the best) player took me down. He had a good eye but didn't give any thought to position. I let my guard down and I paid for it. I've done this before but never seem to learn the lesson.

BK
 
????????????

It could be a number of things or cobination of things:
1 loss of concentration
2 waitress looked to good in her jeans
3 music was to loud
4 girls from Hooters came in for shots
5 cell phone wouldn't stop ringing
6 just broke up with wife or girlfriend
7 or it could be just a simple case of A.T.M. (Allergic to Money)
All of the above an many more can cause the stroke to come an go at will.
Pinocchio
 
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I've seen Bill Porter PLAY up close.

;) Bill,

One Pocket is much quicker than 14.1, but can get into a 'bunt' contest and become less than 'exciting' and cause mental 'anguish'

Most 14.1 players have already experienced what you are describing IMO...
One of my practice drills that was expained to me many years ago is very simple.

Throw 15 balls out on the table and make sure there is nothing TIED up or on the rail or just make them all easy shots.

Start out with ball in hand and anytime you get out of position take ball in hand to make sure you keep pocking with success. The drill is to expose you to 'simple' pool. shoot, make a ball, shoot, make a ball, shoot.... boring pool? not if you end pocketing more than 100 balls... that is just a little over 6 racks.

Pocketing all these simple shots will get your mine aclimated to the routine state of pool. You will get use to this 'lull' in your game and will be better prepaired in future 'lulls' to play through.

Anyway, it has worked for me... ;)
 
I think you hit it on the head when you said you "mentally let up". This isnt the thought process when you are in dead stroke. Being in dead stroke, aside from hitting every shot pure, is also about concentration and confidence. If you cannot combine skill, confidence and concentration....then you will never be able to attain the dead stroke realm.

Southpaw
 
After reading this post I realized that no one mentioned that they were going through their pre-shot routine. According to Jim Rydell in his book "The Owner's Manual for the Complete Pool Player"; To play consistant pool you need to develop a consistant pre-shot routine and use it on every shot for the rest of your life. Consistant means the exact routine each and every shot. 8JIM9
 
Very good point... but the moment you stop using your PSR, you are up to the mercy of the unknown results. Distractions/Shark moves/a moth buzzing around the table lights/strange thoughts (non-pool related) and all different types of thoughts that can enter your head will have a chance of

I think this was the point of the discussion... falling out of the 'pre-shot-routine' or 'dead stroke' why does this happen, has anyone experienced this unfortunate process. Play great.. .then BANG... play poor..


8JIM9 said:
After reading this post I realized that no one mentioned that they were going through their pre-shot routine. According to Jim Rydell in his book "The Owner's Manual for the Complete Pool Player"; To play consistant pool you need to develop a consistant pre-shot routine and use it on every shot for the rest of your life. Consistant means the exact routine each and every shot. 8JIM9
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I agree that was the point of the discussion, it's just that no one was calling it by it's real name. I can only guess why you would stop using your PSR. Maybe you sub-consciously want to lose. Maybe it's like Bert said in "The Husler" maybe your just looking for an excuse to lose. When I leave the house to play pool, that's exactly why I leave the house. I'm not going out to "hang-out"; I'm going out to play pool. Before I leave the house, I've already set my mind to play pool. Could it be that attitude that keeps me consistant. 8JIM9
 
I think it's because you have "the nice guy" curse!:D

You started playing great, and felt bad for the other guy causing you to let up and get out of sorts. I had trouble with this before because I wanted other people to have fun shooting too, then I read a few books on competition and your emotions. Some people never have trouble destroying an opponent no matter what speed they play. Others like me want to win but not at the expense of the other guy feeling bad or getting upset so to speak. It's a nasty circle, especially in tournaments!

Then the ideas clicked that I should play my hardest no matter what. If I start stalling I'm taking an experience away from my opponent. Maybe I pound on them and they decide to practice harder making them a better player. Maybe they quit and become GREAT at something else. I guess stalling is really lying to the other player making them think they are something different then they really are which is NOT what I want to do.

It may sound harsh, but when I want to let up I always think of Mosconi doing all those exhibitions and just running out on EVERYONE no matter what.
 
I think it's because you have "the nice guy" curse!:D

You started playing great, and felt bad for the other guy causing you to let up and get out of sorts. I had trouble with this before because I wanted other people to have fun shooting too, then I read a few books on competition and your emotions. Some people never have trouble destroying an opponent no matter what speed they play. Others like me want to win but not at the expense of the other guy feeling bad or getting upset so to speak. It's a nasty circle, especially in tournaments!

Then the ideas clicked that I should play my hardest no matter what. If I start stalling I'm taking an experience away from my opponent. Maybe I pound on them and they decide to practice harder making them a better player. Maybe they quit and become GREAT at something else. I guess stalling is really lying to the other player making them think they are something different then they really are which is NOT what I want to do.

It may sound harsh, but when I want to let up I always think of Mosconi doing all those exhibitions and just running out on EVERYONE no matter what.
 
BillPorter said:
While there may be many, many factors that can lead to such a sudden decrease in your level of play, the experience I had highlights one such factor; mentally "letting up" during a match. Anyone able to offer some other factors that can drop you right out of "dead stroke?"
Click to expand...

Allowing something other than the table and your play get on your nerves. For me, if the other guy is either A)a slow player, or B)overly self-congratulatory, I will get so annoyed at them that my own game falls apart. There are specifically two guys I regularly play with who really get me with this.

One of them isn't really a great player, but will consistently run 4 or 5 balls in 8-ball if I give him a shot, and will take 3 minutes to do so. Once those three minutes are up, I'm so annoyed at him I can barely even see to play my own game.

The other one is extremely cocky and extremely condescending at all times. He's a very good shot-maker, especially on long shots (the distance never seems to bother him), which is good because he can't control the cue ball to save his life. As his runout goes along, the shots invariably get more and more difficult, which makes it infuriating when he keeps making them, and then talks about how easy the game is. I want to crush him with my more complete skill-set and really vastly superior pattern play, cue ball control, and strategy, but one or two of those hero-shot runouts and my game totally deserts me, and I end up losing to the guy, which only fuels his ego and condescension.

Anyway, one thing I need to figure out about this game is how not to let the play of others bring my own level of play down.

-Andrew
 
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