Tips Anybody?

DeNardo Boy 16

DeNardo Boy 16

Jeff DeNardo
Silver Member
Hey Guys I need some tips for shooting in league. I am a solid 4 (right now they moved me down to a 3) but in league I dont shoot as well as I do outside at a pool hall or a bar. Outside of league I give our 6 a run for his money everytime we shoot. I think I get nervous and second guess myself. I know what english to hit and my speed is almost down pat but I dont know what it is about shooting in league. We just took first place and are going to tri cups so I want to get this out of my system now. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks Guys.
 
When you can beat a 6, move down from a 4 to a 3 you are doing great at sandbagging. Whatever you are doing keep it up. :yeah:
 
He beats me most of the time, dont get me wrong he is a great shot, but I do beat him time to time and I am not just a push over.
 
Tips.

There's no eazy fixes.
1. Practice,
2. Read books,
3. Practice,
4. Watch DVD's of your favorite players playing your favorite game(s).
5. You guessed it, practice some more,
6. Play in tournaments,
7. Play for money,
8. take instructions from a reputable teacher,
9. go to the gym,
10. Keep practicing,
11. You're almost there.
12. Quit your job,
13. Sell everything you own, empty your bank account, leave your girlfriend/wife, go on the road for 8 months,
14. Why arn't you practicing???
15. Now you are a low life bum, with no job, no permanent address, single, you probably have herpese too, but your a great pool player and you're no longer nervous on league night.

That's what it takes, and if you do it under 5 years you're special.

Good luck.
 
I think one of the most common problems with intermediate players is that they don't pick specific SPOTS on the table to place the CB. Rather, they go to general areas. That little bit of uncertainty, opens the door for all kinds of doubt.

It's much easier to say these words than for a player to diligently practice them. Pick a definite place for the CB, and complete your shot. Even if the CB doesn't get perfect, at least the shot is complete in your mind.

Don't pick ridiculous position to play either. There is more than one way to get to the next ball. Pick the simplest route.
 
This near-exact subject is going on over in this thread, with a lot more replies... go have a look. I bet you can find something that will help you.

http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=184188

I have had a similar problem. This is my first league session, so I'm non-rated 4, but because of my anxiety problems, I'll end up staying a four, although I play even with the 5's and 6 we have on our team outside of league matches. *sigh* I think I finally figured it out though.

And to the guy who congratulated you for sandbagging... sandbaggers ruin leagues.
 
I think most people feel more pressure from league because its not just you losing,its the whole team,but if you are a 3 and had a bad night and your team still won then you shouldnt feel as much pressure,I know you want to win but that handicap gives you a little room to learn and get comfortable with competition and when you do have a good night of play that makes you even more dangerous because of your handicap.A high handicap player is suppose to get out but when a low ranked player runs out its devastating to your opponents team,Dont put so much pressure on yourself and use this time to learn before adding pressure Good Luck Peteypooldude
 
1. Be willing to take advice from those you know shoot better than you.
2. Pick a shot and a leave and commit 100% to it, no second guessing.
3. Hit it as best as you can, without being lazy about anything.
4. Make the ball. In most cases winning is more important than sinking balls and you don't want to just make balls in 8ball if you can't see yourself running out. But league's a little different, in many of them... every point counts. So just put a little extra focus on making it.

If you honestly give your best try to each shot, you have nothing to be nervous about and nothing to be ashamed about if it doesn't work out.
 
DeNardo Boy 16 said:
Hey Guys I need some tips for shooting in league. I am a solid 4 (right now they moved me down to a 3) but in league I dont shoot as well as I do outside at a pool hall or a bar. Outside of league I give our 6 a run for his money everytime we shoot. I think I get nervous and second guess myself. I know what english to hit and my speed is almost down pat but I dont know what it is about shooting in league. We just took first place and are going to tri cups so I want to get this out of my system now. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks Guys.
Click to expand...

Jim Meador has several tips,just go to billiards world.com...his articles are very humorous,as well as insightful. You will find something you can use..he brought
Tears to my eyes more then once,as I relatted his material to myself..
Best of luck to you,with your pool journey...
 
peteypooldude said:
I think most people feel more pressure from league because its not just you losing,its the whole team,but if you are a 3 and had a bad night and your team still won then you shouldnt feel as much pressure,I know you want to win but that handicap gives you a little room to learn and get comfortable with competition and when you do have a good night of play that makes you even more dangerous because of your handicap.A high handicap player is suppose to get out but when a low ranked player runs out its devastating to your opponents team,Dont put so much pressure on yourself and use this time to learn before adding pressure Good Luck Peteypooldude
Click to expand...

I think this is it, you're putting extra pressure on yourself because you want to do good for the team.


:cool:
 
An for God's sake don't forget why you are there, too have fun..:joyful:
 
To "show up" for league night, I had to do a couple of things. . .
- Want to seriously beat my opponent no matter who showed up. I would have been mentally prepared to beat Efren at 8 ball on league night. I mean beat like you have never done it before. The kind of want that would allow you to beat and old lady in a wheelchair to steal her wallet for dinner beat.
- Have a quick warm up plan. Right now, I have 3 shots I mark off with chalk and shoot each until I can make them over and over. For me, it is about stroke check and head position check.
- Relax and have lots of internal confidence. Confidence is what allows you to shoot a smart safe with 5 balls left on the table, instead of trying to catch up to your opponents ball count. You have to know, in your mind, one good shot and I'm out!
- and in my case. . .be sober enough to shoot the last match as well as the first!
 
nksmfamjp said:
To "show up" for league night, I had to do a couple of things. . .
- Want to seriously beat my opponent no matter who showed up. I would have been mentally prepared to beat Efren at 8 ball on league night. I mean beat like you have never done it before. The kind of want that would allow you to beat and old lady in a wheelchair to steal her wallet for dinner beat.
- Have a quick warm up plan. Right now, I have 3 shots I mark off with chalk and shoot each until I can make them over and over. For me, it is about stroke check and head position check.
- Relax and have lots of internal confidence. Confidence is what allows you to shoot a smart safe with 5 balls left on the table, instead of trying to catch up to your opponents ball count. You have to know, in your mind, one good shot and I'm out!
- and in my case. . .be sober enough to shoot the last match as well as the first!
Click to expand...



Hahahaha. Thank You guys for all of your help it is greatly appreciated.
 
DeNardo Boy 16 said:
He beats me most of the time, dont get me wrong he is a great shot, but I do beat him time to time and I am not just a push over.
Click to expand...
This isn't going to be the post of encouragement since you're getting enough of that.

Anytime a player asks this same question, it's invariably the same. If you think during non-competiton games that you're giving the SL-6 a "run for his money," but lose during league night to other players of your skill level, then you most likely have a clouded view of how you're doing in practice games.

I'd like your SL-6 to come here and give an assessment of your games against each other.

Fred <~~~ reality cross checking
 
Fred is dead on here. We often think in terms of our best game, which is far different from our average game. Our ego tells us we are capable of playing at one level, but the truth is, if we always played at that level, that would become our new average. Since we don't, we must understand that we have good nights, bad nights, and most often, somewhere in between.
That's why it's called your average.

Steve
 
Cornerman said:
This isn't going to be the post of encouragement since you're getting enough of that.

Anytime a player asks this same question, it's invariably the same. If you think during non-competiton games that you're giving the SL-6 a "run for his money," but lose during league night to other players of your skill level, then you most likely have a clouded view of how you're doing in practice games.

I'd like your SL-6 to come here and give an assessment of your games against each other.

Fred <~~~ reality cross checking
Click to expand...


That would be myself. I strongly beleive that his issues with how he shoots in league as opposed to practice stem from confidence. He is definetely a strong shot but as said in an earlier post, does not always not where to put the CB in order to get out. They lowered him to a 3 because he lost a couple matches in a row and I think the one was a pretty bad loss. He definetely does not sandbag as he would not be a part of my team if he were doing so. He is a strong 4, but it just so happened he went on a short losing streak and we all know how lower SL's teeter in the APA (please for the love of god don't turn this thread into an APA bashing one). As far as this thread goes denardo, I think a lot of people have some insightful things to say and you should pay attention. It's still all about fun at APA league night, but everyone wants to better their game and win their matches. You just started playing on our team at the beginning of this session and I'm sure you are doing all you can to impress us, but we all know you are a solid shot, and you should too. Work on problem shots, different layouts on the table, drills (I have a million), and just having fun. Chances are you are not going to be a pro pool player, considering you are getting like a $200,000 education, so just have fun. As far as tri-cups go, its no big deal, it's actually more fun than league night. We usually bring a couple cute girls up with us, and Jeff's always good for a drunk laugh!
 
It's obvious your relaxed play against your skill level six. You have to find the same comfort zone when you are playing for keeps.

Some people play a lot worse, when they start thinking.
 
Chill out :)

I have seen you shoot inside and out of league. You need to clear your head and focus when you shoot. We all know you know what to do. When you step up to the table, take a deep breath and say some confident words to yourself before you shoot, encourage yourself instead of worrying how to get out. You need to get to another level mentally when you shoot. Focus focus focus. Tune everything out and try to think positive thoughts every time you get up to shoot.
 
stljohnny said:
although I play even with the 5's and 6 we have on our team outside of league matches. *sigh* I think I finally figured it out though.
Click to expand...


Same here, also my first league session. I almost always play rather better when there's nothing at stake and no one is watching the game, i.e. in off-hand games.
It's mainly mental and all boils down to confidence I guess.

How/what did you figure out, Johnny?
 
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