Tough Night on the Table

nelldrake

nelldrake

Waterskier/pool addict
Silver Member
What do you do when you are having an off night and you have to play a match? Every now and again I have a night where I cannot do anything right. I miss ball in hand, scratch, hook myself, get way out of line etc. Do you just write it off as a bad night or do you go to the bathroom and wash your hands, talk to yourself, or something else? It is the worst feeling in the world, especially, when you get beat by a beginner. What do the pros do when they find themselves in this position? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Nell Drake
 
First I check my alignment, secondly I make sure my pre shot routine is the same and then I look at my fundemantals. IE staying down on the shot and my SPF..
 
Usually, I find that when I am having an "off" night it is because I am distracted. I jump up before the shot is complete...shoot without really looking at the object ball or where I want the cue ball to end up, etc. In other words, it is a problem with my fundamentals.

Unfortunately, I usually don't recognize this until after I'm done taking my beating and analyze what just happened. It usually has to do with other things that are going on in my life (stress at work is a big factor), and not necessarily my pool game.

When it is happening, I try to slow down...make sure I stay down on all my shots..."see" the cue hit the spot on the object ball and really pay attention to where I want the cue ball to end up. It is very frustrating when it happens...but by getting back into a "paying attention" mode, I can usually get back to something close to my normal game.

John
 
Look forward to the next/better time. And go find something better to do...fast!

Sometimes you're the hammer, sometimes you're the nail.
 
The suggestions so far have been spot on. I'd like to add another tip that works for me.

Usually, if I'm not playing well it's simply because I'm not comfortable. It could the surroundings, who I'm playing, what's on the line, who's watching, etc. Sometimes there's not even an apparent reason.

When I have one of these episodes I try to just "let go." Ever notice whenever someone gives up because winnning is no longer an option? All of a sudden they relax and start playing better. Trying too hard is a killer.

Of course, there's no substitute for on-the-job-training. An old dude called it OJT. The more you do it, the better you get at it.
 
We all come apart at the seams now and then. Sometimes I know that I've picked up some little flaw(s) that cause that tough kind of night. Sometimes, you think you can see the right cut angle and come to find out that the eyes are playing tricks on you a little.

I usually chalk up one bad night as just that...a bad night and realize that it just happens.

It's another thing to have them run consecutively and then I try to self diagnose the problems. Sometimes, I'm successful at it and sometimes I'm not.

If I find that that I've tried all the normal "fix me" problems, it could be attributed to a little burn out. If this turns out to be my conclusion, I may take off a day or two just to give me a chance to re-group. Sometimes retreat is the better part of valor.

I've had nights where I constantly hook myself after the break and it doesn't matter what area behind the head string I've tried it from. Sometimes we all just get bad rolls and there's nothing you can really do except just get through the night and when you return, you may find that you're the one who reigns supreme and someone else is having a night just like you had.
 
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burn out, that is what i believe i am experiencing at the moment. i practice/play daily and have had 2 nights per week in a 9 ball tournament but lately have been in a slump. one would think i have just started playing! i have decided to take a few days off and regroup. did a little tweaking on my stroke about a week ago too and the "medicine" hasn't worked yet. have had thoughts of just plain quitting but that is never an option, love the game too much! :D
 
I take a deep breath or two, try to block out everything else and focus on my fundamentals. Going back to basics seems to really get me back on track.

It only takes one good shot to get your mind right. Just like it only takes one thing going wrong to screw it up again!
 
Hey sport, all that has been written by these great members here is great. The only thing I would like to point out is why are you there? To support your family, to build your EGO or even rob the place? I would think maybe to have a little fun from every day life. So take all this info filter it a bit an you will find the answer all by your self and thank God you have a day job. :smile:
 
For Me, take a few min close eyes and breath, stop all stimulants, for me its caffeine. While shooting i focus on my pre shot routine, and if its allowed in the touny/league I put on my Ipod and headphones and block the rest of the world out.
 
I will generally go rent a table and play by myself for an hour or so between matches. That's the only thing that's ever resurrected a bad night for me.

I've entered double elimination tournaments and, lost my first match because I was all thumbs and couldn't put ANYTHING together. I'll go rent a table and if anyone asks to play with me I'll politely tell them that I'm using this time to warm up and work out some problems.

That's where I go to work on what is wrong. Staying down on the shot, slowing down, focusing on stroking straight and all of the fundamentals so that I'm acutally NOT thinking so hard about them when I'm playing in a match. If I'm thinking about that stuff too much DURING a match, I'm sure to lose.
 
nelldrake said:
What do you do when you are having an off night and you have to play a match? Every now and again I have a night where I cannot do anything right. I miss ball in hand, scratch, hook myself, get way out of line etc. Do you just write it off as a bad night or do you go to the bathroom and wash your hands, talk to yourself, or something else? It is the worst feeling in the world, especially, when you get beat by a beginner. What do the pros do when they find themselves in this position? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Nell Drake
Click to expand...


The reason is your not focused. The why part is something you need to figure out. It appears you don't have any idea. Obviously your doing some things different than what is normal for you. Learn from your mistakes. When you miss, play poor position etc that should be a lesson. When you get frustrated you do not learn from your mistakes.

Chances are, you make some of the same mistakes when you are playing well. Although there not off as much so you get away with them. A lesson and what to look for is in order. If you know someone that can tell you what your doing wrong and why that can help. It depends on their knowledge. Have you ever taped yourself?

I say write it off, we all play sub-par at times. If you can hit a few balls before your match just play simple stuff and try to build some confidence. And no Nell, its not the worst feeling in the world. The worst may be right around the corner. Enjoy the journey, learn from your mistakes and improve. Take it in stride and don't look back. Someone has to loose, this time it was you. What ya gonna do about it? eh? :smile:

Rod
 
Hi Nell-

If you don't drink-start. Patron is a good entry level beverage.

If you do drink-continue to do so-but responsibly.

If the problem game is 9ball- Chant 'where dat nine ball?' as you approach the table and ride it on every shot.

If the game is 8ball-have everyone chant with you-'where dat nine ball?'this will confuse, confound and irritate the opponent enough to insure victory. If this doesn't work-refer to imbibing advice.

Above all-don't sweat it-unless you are gambling high-it's not that important.

Enjoy! Pool should be fun. Life has enough other sources of stress, anger and dissapointment.
 
Without addressing everything you brought up, I can give you one extremely important piece of advice...

NEVER, EVER "write off" a session of playing pool... Especially if you are competing...

So long as you have not had to shake your opponent's hand in a congratulatory fashion you can still win...

Every moment should be spent trying to do just that...

Figure out something...!! Anything...!! But don't give up...

Anyone can win when they are in dead punch and playing perfect...

Be the person that wins when they miss ball in hand and can't make a ball in the ocean...

It might not work out every time (or even very often), but if it works just once you are a better player for it...

I'd much rather play the player that quits on himself than the one who has a mad look in their eye trying to figure out a way to beat me even when they are playing like total crap...
 
Yeah, I've had those types of nights and that is the reason I wrote down my pre-shot routine on the back of a business card and keep it in my wallet.

Usually I have either forgotten a portion of the PSR or all of it. Hopefully I don't wait too long to remember that I need to read the PSR again. When I read the steps, I am reminded of why I have a PSR.

This has been very effected for my comeback with some confidence that my night usually ends on a better note. But, only if I remember why I keep the business card in my wallet.
 
It's always loss of focus with me. What often works to regain it is to find some detail to focus on first, like exact tip/CB placement. Focusing on one detail is easier for me than collecting myself all at once, and that focusing "seed" then (usually) expands fairly quickly to encompass my whole game again.

pj
chgo
 
Nell,

When you practice always practice your approach to a shot, stance, and visual alignment. I call it step 1, step 2, step 3, step 4 and then shoot.

When you get into a match, it will seem like this procedure is taking quite a long time. Dont worry about it. When it becomes automatic it really only takes a few seconds to get lined up...visually and physically.

When you start to get automatic with lining up.

Here is what you do.

Say to yourself, I'm going to make the ball in the pocket and I want the cue ball to stop right there using high right at medium speed. Dont have any other thought in your mind except the contact point on the object ball, bend over and shoot. Dont try to make it happen.....let it happen.

Pay attention to where the cue ball ended up.....did it end up where you wanted it to or did you miss the spot. You have to pick an exact spot for the cue ball to end up....set a piece of chalk there and try to hit the chalk.

The game is all about feel and letting go....trust your mind to do the right thing.

I have had bad days also........sh1t happens. :smile:

John (GTJ)
 
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