I don't know but it seems that i have come up against a wall,the more i practice the worse i seem to be shooting.
Has this happened to anyone else?
Has this happened to anyone else?
The more I practice
- Thread starter bobroberts
- Start date
I don't know but it seems that i have come up against a wall,the more i practice the worse i seem to be shooting.
Has this happened to anyone else?
Yes It as happened to me the other night , I practiced a few hours and it seemed that I couldn't get anything in , so this is what I did I cleared my mind of everything and anything that I would think of and keep a clear head , and took a couple deep breaths and started back and started shooting like I was on fire so try that it may help .
Take 2wks off, then quit.
barump-ump-upm
barump-ump-upm
I dont know what your practice consist of. If you are just shooting balls or doing drills. Below is a link to a website that has a lot of various drills on it. There is one called progressive practice that makes practice a bit more fun and shooting with a purpose. Does not hurt to take a day of here and there though.
anyway best of luck,
Darin
http://web.me.com/forcefollow/Site/Welcome.html
anyway best of luck,
Darin
http://web.me.com/forcefollow/Site/Welcome.html
I don't know but it seems that i have come up against a wall,the more i practice the worse i seem to be shooting.
Has this happened to anyone else?
Maybe you are practicing the wrong things or the wrong way?
1. Try practicing something different. Work on your stance and stroke. Check your alignment. I get sloppy over time and the minor details fall out of place and it all goes to hell.
2. Perhaps take a couple week break and maybe give yourself time to forget those bad habits. I find a break allows me to come back with a clear head.
3. Maybe change the routine of your practice. Are you practicing long marathon sessions twice a week or are you playing an hour every day? I find the hour a day works wonders for me. Long sessions can wear you and your focus out. I get sloppy after many hours practicing. I don't see the point in practicing sloppy play.
4. If all else fails, maybe get some instruction?
matta
practice makes worse
I believe its a mental thing.just not focusing.too many other thing on the mind.Problem is I walk by the table all day.I cant help but pick up the cue.Some days are magic some days not.
I believe its a mental thing.just not focusing.too many other thing on the mind.Problem is I walk by the table all day.I cant help but pick up the cue.Some days are magic some days not.
,.
Sometimes I feel that I take having a table at home for granted. When I go downstairs to smoke I will start shooting for a few minutes and get frustrated. Then other times I might go downstairs and play for 5 hours straight. Take a break and go fishin
Thats when I play my best:thumbup:
Sometimes I feel that I take having a table at home for granted. When I go downstairs to smoke I will start shooting for a few minutes and get frustrated. Then other times I might go downstairs and play for 5 hours straight. Take a break and go fishin
Thats when I play my best:thumbup:
Take care of your head
I think whats helped me the most in improving isnt the quantity of practice, but the quality. I used to spend my practice sessions doing every drill I knew in sort of a mindless state. I would run through it, then do it again, without really paying attention to what I was and wasnt doing correctly, and without researching and analyzing what I needed to do to improve.
Now when I practice, I'll pick out one drill and really try to execute it perfectly, and either way, I wont spend a whole lot of time on it. I try to alternate between different exercises so I stay fresh mentally. I've also found it helps to throw out 5 or 6 balls and run them between exercises and drills to refresh your focus.
Lately I've really been working hard on building potting repitition with different difficult cut shots. I will throw a buisness card down at different places on the table and set up the shot trying to land on or near the card with different shapes while pocketing the ball. I rotate pockets and shots after Ive nailed it a few times on each shape. Its really a great way to lock in on pocketing tough cuts with different kinds of English, but the drill also works on any kind of shot.
Ive also found that its really helped me to concentrate and key in on my stroke during practice. If im playing, I try to focus on the table layout and getting in rhytm...etc.. but when I'm practicing, I find its been helpful to really concentrate on mechanics even while doing drills that focus more on shape.
Anyway, these are a few things that have helped me lately(video taping my practice sessions has also been a large help). I hope some of this may be useful.
I think whats helped me the most in improving isnt the quantity of practice, but the quality. I used to spend my practice sessions doing every drill I knew in sort of a mindless state. I would run through it, then do it again, without really paying attention to what I was and wasnt doing correctly, and without researching and analyzing what I needed to do to improve.
Now when I practice, I'll pick out one drill and really try to execute it perfectly, and either way, I wont spend a whole lot of time on it. I try to alternate between different exercises so I stay fresh mentally. I've also found it helps to throw out 5 or 6 balls and run them between exercises and drills to refresh your focus.
Lately I've really been working hard on building potting repitition with different difficult cut shots. I will throw a buisness card down at different places on the table and set up the shot trying to land on or near the card with different shapes while pocketing the ball. I rotate pockets and shots after Ive nailed it a few times on each shape. Its really a great way to lock in on pocketing tough cuts with different kinds of English, but the drill also works on any kind of shot.
Ive also found that its really helped me to concentrate and key in on my stroke during practice. If im playing, I try to focus on the table layout and getting in rhytm...etc.. but when I'm practicing, I find its been helpful to really concentrate on mechanics even while doing drills that focus more on shape.
Anyway, these are a few things that have helped me lately(video taping my practice sessions has also been a large help). I hope some of this may be useful.
I know the feeling. I get everything feeling great and natural then I start thinking about what I'm doing. Feel goes right out the window. I think about everything... grip, stance, aim, shape, bridge etc. Funny how you take steps back. I have noticed that the step back doesn't last as long. I would shoot like crap for a month or two and now have it down to a day or two.
BlackVenom2000
Billabong
Yeah, definitely a mental block, it happens in almost every sport.
Some people mistake a focus problem with a mechanics problem. Perhaps it's not pool you need practice at, but you need practice focusing.
Take some time to excersize your mind. Try to work through a puzzle, crossword puzzle or a strategy game from finish to end.
Attention focus is something that needs practice on and off a pool table.
Matt has the right idea. Too many players mistake playing alone for practicing.
True practice has a definite goal. Maybe the goal is to work on your stroke, so you focus on your stroke. Maybe your goal is to get better speed control, so you work on speed drills.
Putting in time on the table can be great, but putting in hours doing things the wrong way will only establish bad habits that become more difficult to break. Practice time is the time to fix problems, and build good habits. It is time to evaluate specific aspects of your game.
If you practice the right way, you will see the difference in your competition.
If you practice the wrong way, guess what shows up in your game.
Steve
True practice has a definite goal. Maybe the goal is to work on your stroke, so you focus on your stroke. Maybe your goal is to get better speed control, so you work on speed drills.
Putting in time on the table can be great, but putting in hours doing things the wrong way will only establish bad habits that become more difficult to break. Practice time is the time to fix problems, and build good habits. It is time to evaluate specific aspects of your game.
If you practice the right way, you will see the difference in your competition.
If you practice the wrong way, guess what shows up in your game.
Steve
blah blah
Shoebat
How many teeth do you have? You may have to yank them. All.
...Seriously, it could be they way you are practicing, what you are practicing, or even that you actually are improving but not noticing. Maybe it's time to get someone else involved- either a teacher or a sparring partner?
...Seriously, it could be they way you are practicing, what you are practicing, or even that you actually are improving but not noticing. Maybe it's time to get someone else involved- either a teacher or a sparring partner?
Are you shooting worse in games or in practice? I watch guy's "practice" all the time warping in shots at a hundred miles an hour using center ball (or follow or draw exclusively), long thin cuts crazy angle shots long staight cross corner shots.
Then these players wonder why when they get in a game they miss simple shots and positions they haven't practiced them! Thats like practicing throwing seven ten splits in bowling until you perfect them and wondering why you can't throw a strike, a seemingly much simpler shot.
What game are you practicing for? Maybe I can give you some Ideas.
Remember to practice playing the game once in awhile so you don't just learn to shoot shots, you learn to put them together and play.
Bern
Then these players wonder why when they get in a game they miss simple shots and positions they haven't practiced them! Thats like practicing throwing seven ten splits in bowling until you perfect them and wondering why you can't throw a strike, a seemingly much simpler shot.
What game are you practicing for? Maybe I can give you some Ideas.
Remember to practice playing the game once in awhile so you don't just learn to shoot shots, you learn to put them together and play.
Bern
Practicing isn't the easiest thing to do. I only practice for twenty minutes most of the time. I find it hard to hold the level of concentration I need any longer than that. Unless I'm getting ready for a big event. That's when I can practice for much longer periods of time.
When I'm practicing, I'm actually playing a simulated game. I play safe when I'm supposed to, and I try to lock myself up. My opponent isn't going to show me any mercy. I kick at the ball and try to hit it. I look at it this way. I have to practice the way I'm going to play.
Hope this helps.
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tommcgonaglerightoncue.com
When I'm practicing, I'm actually playing a simulated game. I play safe when I'm supposed to, and I try to lock myself up. My opponent isn't going to show me any mercy. I kick at the ball and try to hit it. I look at it this way. I have to practice the way I'm going to play.
Hope this helps.
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tommcgonaglerightoncue.com
I don't know but it seems that i have come up against a wall,the more i practice the worse i seem to be shooting.
Has this happened to anyone else?
maybe you're getting over saturated. usually when that happens to me it's a focus issue. have you tried competing? tournaments and cheap action might get you back on track. sometimes people need a reason to want to win.
or maybe you ought to just chill and hit some balls around
Practice???
Practice??? I mean what are we talking about here? Practice. I mean really practice????You can't be serious. Practice???
:embarrassed2:<<<Bad Alan Iverson impersonation>>>
This is the third week for me of any sort of practice so I'm still enthralled. After all these years I finally got a table at home and am practicing. (GCIII-new k55 extended subrails 41/4" corner pockets new simionis, Sweet) My practice used to consist of going to the room and getting into action, which I will still do as I enjoy it. I have noticed in only three weeks my recognition and muscle memory getting better on shots I normally don't have confidence in. After the Texas Open I am going to take the next step and schedule a session of pool school with Mr. Randy G for my first ever lesson. The school of hard knocks has been my teacher all these years so now I want to expand my horizions and learn the three R's of pool. Hopefully an old dog can be taught new tricks. I think everyone should have their own twist to practice so that the time and effort will contribute to the overall scheme, but I also think that through action matches and tough tourney type formats is where one gets the satisfaction and reconizes the fruition of the practice. Keep on whacking!!!
Practice??? I mean what are we talking about here? Practice. I mean really practice????You can't be serious. Practice???
:embarrassed2:<<<Bad Alan Iverson impersonation>>>
This is the third week for me of any sort of practice so I'm still enthralled. After all these years I finally got a table at home and am practicing. (GCIII-new k55 extended subrails 41/4" corner pockets new simionis, Sweet) My practice used to consist of going to the room and getting into action, which I will still do as I enjoy it. I have noticed in only three weeks my recognition and muscle memory getting better on shots I normally don't have confidence in. After the Texas Open I am going to take the next step and schedule a session of pool school with Mr. Randy G for my first ever lesson. The school of hard knocks has been my teacher all these years so now I want to expand my horizions and learn the three R's of pool. Hopefully an old dog can be taught new tricks. I think everyone should have their own twist to practice so that the time and effort will contribute to the overall scheme, but I also think that through action matches and tough tourney type formats is where one gets the satisfaction and reconizes the fruition of the practice. Keep on whacking!!!
Practice??? I mean what are we talking about here? Practice. I mean really practice????You can't be serious. Practice???
:embarrassed2:<<<Bad Alan Iverson impersonation>>>
This is the third week for me of any sort of practice so I'm still enthralled. After all these years I finally got a table at home and am practicing. (GCIII-new k55 extended subrails 41/4" corner pockets new simionis, Sweet) My practice used to consist of going to the room and getting into action, which I will still do as I enjoy it. I have noticed in only three weeks my recognition and muscle memory getting better on shots I normally don't have confidence in. After the Texas Open I am going to take the next step and schedule a session of pool school with Mr. Randy G for my first ever lesson. The school of hard knocks has been my teacher all these years so now I want to expand my horizions and learn the three R's of pool. Hopefully an old dog can be taught new tricks. I think everyone should have their own twist to practice so that the time and effort will contribute to the overall scheme, but I also think that through action matches and tough tourney type formats is where one gets the satisfaction and reconizes the fruition of the practice. Keep on whacking!!!
You and Alan have a lot in common these days, both are doing bad Alan Iverson impersonations
swrooster. Great decision. You will be amazed at all the insight you will gain into your own game by spending those 3 days at pool school. Randy is a great instructor, and you will find you have plenty to work on when you get back home. You will also learn how to practice effectively...one of the biggest bonuses of pool school.
Please let us know how it went when you get back from school.
Steve
Please let us know how it went when you get back from school.
Steve