Tired of It (A Rant)

[MOJOE]

In my practice play - the lowest I've ever been rated is a 5.

Just curious, what does this mean? Who rates you in your practice play? It's how you perform under the pressure, how you play when no pressure is on does not mean a thing if you can't bring it to the match.

If you are a level 4, you still have a very long way to go and are most likely having unrealistic views of your game if you think you should be beating other 3's and 4's consistently. If that were the case you would be a higher level player.

Remember, it you aren't performing, you are most likely not the player you think you are. Does not mean you can't get there, you just aren't there yet. Probably not what you want to hear but no reason to sugar coat it either. JMHO.. you asked.:smile:

 

[4onthebreak]

Keep your expectations in check with what you're ACTUALLY doing

If you always brought your "best game" then it wouldn't be your "best game", would it? It would be your "average game".

As a SL 4 who went to a SL 5 in the past year (and I'm trying to move up to a SL 6 by the end of the year) this is something I really had to come to grips with. I break and run maybe once every 3 months in a league game. There is no earthly reason for me to be upset at myself if I'm not running every rack. I'm just not there yet.

You need someone whom you trust and respect to give you the good and bad of your game. Not some brown noser and not someone who's trying to puff you up.

You may have read Small Motions but it didn't sink it. Speed reading that kind of book isn't what you need. You need to slow down. Read a chapter and let it sink in.

You seem like you're in some kind of a rush to be a pro. You seem frustrated that it hasn't happened according to some timeline you put together. Put the time in and if you're capable it WILL come to you.

 

[gregcantrall]

You need a good coach or instructor.

You need a good instructor that will be able to analyze your game and basics . Having many different strong or better players giving you pointers is not the same. You need to study under one master. I got lucky when I was struggling as you describe. I found a road player that I was able to take lessons from. He broke my game down and we went back to the basics and rebuilt from the ground up. If you develop a rock solid foundation and pre-shot routine you will enjoy more consistent play. After rebuilding my foundation and giving me a pre-shot routine I could execute by the numbers he had me incorporate straight pool as part of my practice routine.

 

[RFranklin]

Perception

When I read the initial post I assumed you were a 6 or 7 and that you were talking APA 9 ball because we all know the issues with the way that is scored. Then I read that you are a 4 as well . Guess what, if you boatrace 3's and 4's like you think you should be, you would be a higher ranked player. 4's dont run out so it is usually who makes the most mistakes that loses. I have scored SL 4/4 races that took 40+ innings so either player could have won easily if they had just executed. Keep practicing and get to where you get out with 3 to 4 balls left most of the time and I guaranty you, you will be winning those close matches instead of losing them.

 

[BJTyler]

Before I played my matches I played a game of one pocket and pocketed 8 balls in 3 innings

not 100% sure what this means...(what does it signify?)

 

[Celophanewrap]

I feel your pain and I think we've all been there. The part about putting to much pressure on yourself I think may be right. One of the things that worked for me, but it took some self-training, was to stop going into every match thinking I should win this, no problem. Just play. I developed the attitude that I wanted to go into every match and play at my top level, play my best, regardless of what my opponent did. No matter what, sometimes the other guy will make all the balls before I do. I can't say for sure but I think this might be what is meant by the phrase "play the table, not the other player". Then the next big thing I tried to incorporate was to know my opponent, even if I didn't know my opponent, for example - at their skill level what can I expect of them? So you play your opponent, but you respect the table. And finally, to play smart. High percentage shots and safes, don't take chances I don't feel good about, and always be prepared to have to do something amazing, outrageous 90 degree cut along the rail, the perfect defense with one ball on the table, a 4 rail kick or bank, or whatever. Hopefully you'll never have to do anything amazing, but it's a good thing to have in your back pocket. Most of all, trust yourself.
I always harken back to the Karate Kid for advice, "Trust quality of your skill, not the quantity" and something that I heard Minnesota Fats say in an interview one time, "Take easy shots, if you shoot all your easy shots, you won't have any hard ones left"
Just play your best every time, let the rest take care of itself

 

[jaetee]

You must have the ability, without fail, to make certain shots: ones that are long and straight in; 45 degree cuts; short draw and follow shots. Include all shots you consistently have problems making less than 100 percent of the time.
Your certainty in making these shots will allow you to start playing position.
But first, you must have the ability and confidence to make those simple, key shots.
Shoot safe!
John

I agree with this 100%.

My Achilles heel right now are the long, straight-in shots.... Something always seems to be just a hair off. Measles CB is showing me that even when I think I'm hitting dead center - I'm really not... there is clearly something fundamentally wrong going on in my stroke, like I'm occasionally chicken-wingin' it at the end... Missed shots of that nature usually rattle the pocket and leave my opponent easy. Tiny error on my part = bit advantage to my (often lesser) opponent.

 

[dnixon]

a 4 is a 4 if you are a 4 that loses to 4s an 3s you are a 4 my friend.not a 5/6/or a 7

 

[bdorman]

I feel the difference between practice, or just shooting with friends vs. match play.

My thoughts, and overall cognition is worlds different and I hate it. I just wanna be able to play matches the way I play just shooting around.

Sent from my X501_USA_Cricket using Tapatalk 2

My suggestion is to play your league matches for fun...same as you play with your friends or solo. Forget about having an opponent, forget about winning-losing; just play for the satisfaction of the game.

If you find your thoughts leaning to "the match", think of something else; something funny that will jolt you out of match-thinking. (lots of jolt material in the Funny Pics/Gifs thread).

Will this solve the problem? Maybe, maybe not. But afterwards you'll have a useful piece of information.

You've been trying to solve this problem with the same solution (more serious play) time after time. It's not working. Try something completely different.

BTW, I'm no expert of levels-of-play but I know you're capable of 5++ from playing against you at Chris's. Maybe you just need to lighten up to get there.

 

[nobcitypool]

I didn't realize you are a 4. Based upon some of your previous posts, I thought you would be at least a 6. You're the guy who was going to post video showing your bank shot runs on a 9' diamond (but never did).

Now knowing you're a 4 and seeing your rant, one simple piece of advice. Get a straight stroke. You can grind it out yourself and maybe get there or take a lesson from a quality instructor and accelerate the process. I think Scott Lee is gong to be near Chicago soon, if there's any way you can afford it, get a lesson from Scott. Or drive to St Louis and see Mark Wilson.

Put the cb on the button, hit straight to the center Diamond of the other end rail and see how often out of 10 tries the cb comes back to your tip. If not 8 or 9 consistently, your stroke isn't very straight. Then do it at 3 speed to where it passes the button and goes back to the center Diamond of the other end rail. If you get to 7 or 8 out of 10 with 3 speed, work on 4 speed. On 4 speed, I put two balls spaced 3 balls width at the button, that's the goal posts.

I know you're a college aged guy, so if you can't afford a lesson from Scott, try to get a couple of the best players you see at the place you play to watch your stroke. Save your pennies and buy Mark Wilson's book! There's no better instructional material for the stroke on the planet. Get your stroke straight and those 3 and 4s won't be beating you any longer.

 

[Zphix]

I would love to record a video of me playing an APA match and me just shooting. When I shoot - my subconscious is steering and I have no problem potting balls, playing position, banking, etc. In a match though, everything becomes conscious so I lose that muscle memory.

If I'm about a high 5 or 6 in practice then why can't I be in a match? That's what bothers me - is that I ACTUALLY AM a better player than I display in matches but my nerves, cognition, and brain screw me over.

It's not a matter of not being able to play position, or a matter of not being able to play safe, it's a matter of shutting my inner voice off and just letting myself let loose.

Bdor,

I got similar advice from a local 6/7 and she said she chews gum and puts songs on the jukebox to sing to take her mind off of the match. If that doesn't work, she looks at funny pictures her friends have sent her in the past.

 

[alstl]

You are focusing too much on other stuff than on the balls. Irving Crane said he never thought about who he was playing. His entire focus was on the balls.

I also suspect you need to hit more balls. If you put in the time at the table you won't have to rely on the opinion of others as to whether you are improving.

If, like a lot of people, you don't have the time to practice a lot, then just play for fun.

 

[nobcitypool]

I would love to record a video of me playing an APA match and me just shooting. When I shoot - my subconscious is steering and I have no problem potting balls, playing position, banking, etc. In a match though, everything becomes conscious so I lose that muscle memory.

If I'm about a high 5 or 6 in practice then why can't I be in a match? That's what bothers me - is that I ACTUALLY AM a better player than I display in matches but my nerves, cognition, and brain screw me over.

It's not a matter of not being able to play position, or a matter of not being able to play safe, it's a matter of shutting my inner voice off and just letting myself let loose.

Bdor,

I got similar advice from a local 6/7 and she said she chews gum and puts songs on the jukebox to sing to take her mind off of the match. If that doesn't work, she looks at funny pictures her friends have sent her in the past.

Again, it likely goes back to the stroke. The definition of a good stroke is it is straight and repeatable under pressure. So perhaps your stroke works fine when casually banging balls around in practice but under the pressure of a match, it starts to fall apart. I'm sure you'd rather be able to put on head phones or come up with some magical Zen chant that relaxes you but that still isn't going to make a crooked stroke straight.

 

[BJTyler]

instructor

Zphix,

Have you tried posting this in the "Ask the Instructor" forum? you may find what you're looking for there.

I just noticed that for all of your passion for pool and desire to improve, you've never posted any questions in that forum (although you did answer somebody else's question once).

It may be helpful to your cause.

 

[Chops02]

my game jumped about two balls when i started playing for a little something more often. put yourself under pressure more, and you'll execute more when under pressure. i have truly seen about a 2 ball increase to where i was this time last year, and the only thing i changed was gambling a little. i don't know the o/p, so i can't say that he doesn't, but try that. it helps a lot to know you can execute a shot under pressure instead of knowing you can execute when playing with your buddies.

 

[Banks]

I would love to record a video of me playing an APA match and me just shooting. When I shoot - my subconscious is steering and I have no problem potting balls, playing position, banking, etc. In a match though, everything becomes conscious so I lose that muscle memory.

If I'm about a high 5 or 6 in practice then why can't I be in a match? That's what bothers me - is that I ACTUALLY AM a better player than I display in matches but my nerves, cognition, and brain screw me over.

It's not a matter of not being able to play position, or a matter of not being able to play safe, it's a matter of shutting my inner voice off and just letting myself let loose.

Bdor,

I got similar advice from a local 6/7 and she said she chews gum and puts songs on the jukebox to sing to take her mind off of the match. If that doesn't work, she looks at funny pictures her friends have sent her in the past.

You're trying too hard and letting the anxiety of league scores get to you. Just play your game and you'll eventually get past it. I've seen it happen with just about every person that starts playing league.

 

[ScottK]

I want to offer some information which will be helpful in this discussion and in Richard's assessment of his game.

I may have confused him a little when I told him to stop playing in the APA area in which he plays because the LO there will make him a 6 by the time he leaves for school. It's not because you play APA 6 level pool, Rich, it's because almost everyone in that area is over handicapped. I'll go into detail in a subsequent post if necessary, but that is truly the case. Almost. Everyone.

In an accurately handicapped area Rich is capable of shooting strong 4 to weak 5 APA level pool. In the area in which he plays, playing as a 4 he shouldn't be losing to 3s and 4s. Those opponents, in that area, are probably weak to strong skill level 3s anywhere else. Based on what I know him to be capable of, I'd back him as long as any of those players wanted to gamble were it not for this mental issue.

Now, I agree Rich probably overestimates his playing ability, most players do, and I've told many people I think that's the worst mistake you can make in pool. You're far better underestimating your ability than playing under the impression you're better than you actually are. But I digress. Knowing Rich, and knowing the type of player he's likely facing, I'm inclined to think he's in his own head. Rich, I'm not saying your stroke couldn't use any work... just about everyone's stroke can. I'm saying I agree there is an underlying issue in your mental game.

I also agree you can't speed read Pleasures of Small Motions, and I know you knocked it out pretty quickly. I do think it's a book worth owning. That's why I said "Buy it. Read it. No, you may not borrow my copy. Buy it. Read it." Maybe try "The Inner Game of Tennis" or "Zen and the Art of Archery" as have been suggested, you may get more out of one of those books. "Zen Golf" is another suggestion.

I feel like I'm forgetting some things I wanted to mention, but this is probably long enough for one post. I'll add more later if I remember it. We can talk about it more when I next see you.

 

[ScottK]

I tried to find the post, I believe it was yours, in which I said something along these lines, but I'll just say it again:

The game you play when you "practice" isn't your game. Your game is what you're able to deliver under pressure, when it counts. Embrace that concept.

 

[Icon of Sin]

You sound like a typical league player... not that there's anything wrong with that. Most people get nervous and hyper-aware of everything they do when in competition... especially when the results effect more then just yourself (ie team).

My APA masters team plays for the Vegas trip this weekend. I'm sweating the shit out of it. This is my best shot at the trip as I am on a fairly strong team. This is my last go at it, I'm done with leagues regardless of winning or losing.

 

[bdorman]

Again, it likely goes back to the stroke. The definition of a good stroke is it is straight and repeatable under pressure. So perhaps your stroke works fine when casually banging balls around in practice but under the pressure of a match, it starts to fall apart. I'm sure you'd rather be able to put on head phones or come up with some magical Zen chant that relaxes you but that still isn't going to make a crooked stroke straight.

Nob, think of what you're saying:

You have a straight stroke when playing casually.

You have a crooked stroke when playing seriously.

The solution is to play casually. He can work on his stroke forever but it's not the problem. The problem is his mental approach to match play.

The other element is that Richard is one us that enjoys the beauty and elegance of the game. It's like an Einstein physics equation: you have to admire the beauty and elegance of the simplicity of his equations. Play for that.

I like the pic below to break any serious train of thought. The Funny Pic/Gif thread is full of them. Pick one that works for you.