The Same Old Banger Scenario.

R

RobDeBank

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Hey everyone I am sure I am not the first person to post this on here and if someone has recently I am not trying to hijack.

Anyways I am 22 and have been banging balls for probably 4-5 years now and spent maybe 2-3 of them trying to really get better and play properly. I am probably a lower level B player and only really play rotation games.

Here is my problem however... at least 2 times a week I find some time to go to the pool hall and shoot some 9 ball for maybe 2 hours by myself. It starts like this I break, start with ball in hand and play as good as I can play. I always do my pre shot and every ball I hit I stroke the ball as smoothly as I can. It feels great and play my best game, I even look like I know what I am doing to any by stander. I do this for awhile and usually a friend meets me to play some.

We dive into it and I play like a complete banger. I am tense, I don't stroke the ball properly. I like to hold my cue very loose almost the same way Bustamante plays (except not NEARLY as good obvs) I even use my wrists a little in every shot. I have seen instructors and they all said my stroke is fine and there is nothing wrong with the way I hold my cue because for some strange reason when I grip my cue with my whole hand firmly I twist a lot in my stroke. So I play with a loose grip and so on, the main point here is that I play so comfortably and loose when I practice. I even have a better rhythm and more confidence. Is this something I will eventually figure out, is it just mental or what? It just bothers me that everything I practice so hard on works until I need it lol.

Sorry the post was so long everyone, any positive feedback or similar stories would be helpful, thanks.

-Rd.
 
RobDeBank said:
Hey everyone I am sure I am not the first person to post this on here and if someone has recently I am not trying to hijack.

Anyways I am 22 and have been banging balls for probably 4-5 years now and spent maybe 2-3 of them trying to really get better and play properly. I am probably a lower level B player and only really play rotation games.

Here is my problem however... at least 2 times a week I find some time to go to the pool hall and shoot some 9 ball for maybe 2 hours by myself. It starts like this I break, start with ball in hand and play as good as I can play. I always do my pre shot and every ball I hit I stroke the ball as smoothly as I can. It feels great and play my best game, I even look like I know what I am doing to any by stander. I do this for awhile and usually a friend meets me to play some.

We dive into it and I play like a complete banger. I am tense, I don't stroke the ball properly. I like to hold my cue very loose almost the same way Bustamante plays (except not NEARLY as good obvs) I even use my wrists a little in every shot. I have seen instructors and they all said my stroke is fine and there is nothing wrong with the way I hold my cue because for some strange reason when I grip my cue with my whole hand firmly I twist a lot in my stroke. So I play with a loose grip and so on, the main point here is that I play so comfortably and loose when I practice. I even have a better rhythm and more confidence. Is this something I will eventually figure out, is it just mental or what? It just bothers me that everything I practice so hard on works until I need it lol.

Sorry the post was so long everyone, any positive feedback or similar stories would be helpful, thanks.

-Rd.
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Are you really Willie Sutton....:-)

Sounds like you need to have your "process" examined. What City do you live in?

SPF=randyg
 
randyg said:
Are you really Willie Sutton....:-)

Sounds like you need to have your "process" examined. What City do you live in?

SPF=randyg
Click to expand...

I am not sure what the deal is, I have gone to a BCA instructor and he said I am doing things fine and it is just a mental thing. I am going to see him sometime soon though to work on it.

And nah not Willie.
 
so just to be sure, when you're practicing you're relaxed and do better, and grip loose, and when you're playing and start dogging it, you grip tightly and twist?

Seems pretty straightforward. On each shot just tell yourself "relax" and focus on the back hand. Once lined up you can forget about the bridge. Just keep telling yourself "relax" like a mantra almost during your warmup swings. Make sure the final swing doesn't change.

It can help to think of it like just carrying the stick into the ball. Not guiding it or driving it or forcing it or even stroking it. Just let the whole solid 18-21 oz (or whatever) feel like a solid mass that's colliding with the ball. Your hand is just kinda along for the ride. It's amazing what kind of stroke power is possible doing this. You'd think it's hard to generate decent force but you'd be wrong. I think spiderwebcom has a video on youtube of him intentionally letting the cue slip out of his hand and he draws the length of the table and back.
 
CreeDo said:
so just to be sure, when you're practicing you're relaxed and do better, and grip loose, and when you're playing and start dogging it, you grip tightly and twist?

Seems pretty straightforward. On each shot just tell yourself "relax" and focus on the back hand. Once lined up you can forget about the bridge. Just keep telling yourself "relax" like a mantra almost during your warmup swings. Make sure the final swing doesn't change.

It can help to think of it like just carrying the stick into the ball. Not guiding it or driving it or forcing it or even stroking it. Just let the whole solid 18-21 oz (or whatever) feel like a solid mass that's colliding with the ball. Your hand is just kinda along for the ride. It's amazing what kind of stroke power is possible doing this. You'd think it's hard to generate decent force but you'd be wrong. I think spiderwebcom has a video on youtube of him intentionally letting the cue slip out of his hand and he draws the length of the table and back.
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Well I am off to the poolhall today so when I start matching up I will try and remember to do these things you are suggesting. I will definitely let you know how it turns out but they sound like great tips so I am sure it will help.
 
you know what creedo the advice did actually help me a little bit.. I shot a lot better for a decent part of the night, thanks.
 
Quote from Willy "the Actor". "Why did you rob banks Willy?"
and Willy answers, "Because that's where the money was."
Willy was my childhood hero;) Johnnyt
 
Try this little experiment. Take ten balls out of the rack and see how many spot shots you can make in a row. If you can't do better than four then you might think about quitting pool and taking up origami, or perhaps taxidermy. Other than that, look around for some weekly or monthly Nine Ball tournaments in your area and play as often as you can. Becoming 'tournament seasoned' is as quick a way as any to improve. :wink:


P.S. When you get a chance could you make me one of those stuffed squirrels with nuts in it's mouth? I'd like to give it to my second wife.
 
Rob, that's good news :) I was winging it but every so often I make something up that works out. Hope you start snapping off the tournaments and/or winning some green.
 
Hey Rob,

14.1 got you on the first step in the right direction and other good advice follows in the posts after that. Everyone that starts taking the game seriously has at one point or another seen their practice game be better than their competitive game in fact the two get closer over time but most players notice this about their practice vs. competitive games for the rest of their carreers playing pool. The main difference is that there's a little HEAT on you when you play (braging rights, tournament standings, money). Some people will take years to understand or admit they are under the heat. When you see pros jump up on some shots, that's the "heat". If it happens to Alex, Ralf, Mika, it will happen to you. The only way to bring your competitive game to the level of your practice game is to compete regularly, the more the better. Better yet is to play for some money. it doesn't have to be much a dollar a game when you play against good friends could do it. Whatever is enough to make you a little uncomfortable or a little angry (more on this later) when you lose. It should cost you something when you dog it. Some guys will dog it for 10 years and pay before they get it, but once they do, there's no looking back. Imagine if it cost you $5 everytime you miss a shot in competition where you said to yourself: "if i could take this shot again i would make it 1000 times in a row". Putting something on the line worth more than your pride will help you take those misses out of your game. I'm not looking to make a gambler out of you, this is a proven way to increase your concentration or make you broke, at some point you'll get tired of being broke and your concentration will improve and so will your game, because that is the level of concentration you'll start bringing to your practice sessions and the circle of better pool playing begins, get it? It takes time don't look for overnight cures, enjoy the road that gets you there or you will miss the intended lessons. On getting mad when you lose or dog it, or got sharked or distracted by something or someone, is the first sign that you can't learn anything, keep that stuff for yourself, 100% of the time YOU are the ONLY reason for the miss, stay cool, concentrate, paly your best, learn from your mistakes, practice your weaknesses not your strengths, that is it.
 
Rob,

It sounds to me as if you suffer from "performance anxiety", a common malady that affects performers in many types of sports/games. You simply are worrying about how you are going to look in front of others, therefore putting undue pressure upon yourself.

There are probably many different ways to handle this (short of hypnosis). I can only tell you how I personally deal with it. All during my match I keep telling myself "Damn, this sh*t is fun!!!". Keeps me in the realization that the game is wonderfully fun and a pleasure to play, which consequently puts me in a more relaxed state of mind resulting in improved play.

Try it!!!

Maniac
 
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Well Rob , you just keep a level head and focus , you'll get better only time will tell ,
Now I myself have a similer stroke as Bustamante , very loose grip and a wrist that looks like it's falling off a tree , Now I get told that I'm doing everything wrong and that i should change but I play really well , that's my style I feel comfortable , I time to time and that feeling were I can't perform but i just go and wash my hands put a little water on my face and I'm good to go .

I think only time will tell and you work hard at it you will feel more comfortable .
 
maybe the lack of starting with ball in hand when playing against others is hurting you. starting out with perfect shape, and being able to stay in line is a whole different monster than needing to get shape from a tough opening shot.
 
This just appears to be normal for almost everyone. Time, competition, and lots of time will help. Eventually playing will be the same as walking or standing :)

-s

//i know i said time twice
 
You have gotten some good advice here but it lacks one thing. You are obsessed with winning and it is effecting your game. Until you come to terms with it and realize that winning all the time is not an option in any sport you will defeat yourself every time. You have the mechanics, now adjust the mental approach.

God luck. :thumbup:
 
Wow thanks to everyone, all of this stuff is really good and will probably really help me a lot. I love playing pool so much and It just gets frustrating when I don't play to my ability. As for dogging the the money ball I am the worst on the planet for that, Unless I am playing confidently which seems to come and go frequently in matches. I will try to remember all of this and make it a habit to commit to it all from my preshot to my finish for every shot. I will also remember to keep telling myself... damn this sh*t is fun every once in awhile too lol. I am actually surprised too see so much helpful feedback from everyone, believe me I took time to read everyone's thought's a few times and really try to get it all in my head for when I play. Thanks again everyone.
 
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