Trouble closing, how to overcome it?

W

will14.1

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Let me start out by saying that I'm not a monster on the pool table. I'm probably better than average and want to get better, but I'm not to the point of playing one inning pool consistently when I have an open table. I definitely miss my share of easy shots, but I think I'm pretty decent.

One of my biggest problems is that I seem to go slack when I'm playing a match and I've got a big lead. If I'm up four or five games on my opponent I seem to give up a little. Most of the time I'll throw away at least a couple games in a set before I can figure out how to close. (and sometimes I have to win hill-hilll or I'll lose the set) If I'm playing someone and we're both shooting well then I can keep in gear during the whole match, but if s/he is faltering I seem to slow down. Almost all pros I've seen and some really good local players see their opponent stumble and it's like they smell blood in the water? I'd really like to be like that, but I can't seem to feed off my opponents mistakes. I think I start to feel bad for them.

I hate losing and I'm generally a competitive person, I just seem to want to win close. Please help?

Does anyone have any suggestions for how I might solve this problem?

Thanks, y'all,
Will
 
will14.1 said:
Let me start out by saying that I'm not a monster on the pool table. I'm probably better than average and want to get better, but I'm not to the point of playing one inning pool consistently when I have an open table. I definitely miss my share of easy shots, but I think I'm pretty decent.

One of my biggest problems is that I seem to go slack when I'm playing a match and I've got a big lead. If I'm up four or five games on my opponent I seem to give up a little. Most of the time I'll throw away at least a couple games in a set before I can figure out how to close. (and sometimes I have to win hill-hilll or I'll lose the set) If I'm playing someone and we're both shooting well then I can keep in gear during the whole match, but if s/he is faltering I seem to slow down. Almost all pros I've seen and some really good local players see their opponent stumble and it's like they smell blood in the water? I'd really like to be like that, but I can't seem to feed off my opponents mistakes. I think I start to feel bad for them.

I hate losing and I'm generally a competitive person, I just seem to want to win close. Please help?

Does anyone have any suggestions for how I might solve this problem?

Thanks, y'all,
Will
Click to expand...

Remember the Color of Money and the guy with the hole in his throat......Just do it
 
Sports psychology.

Create an urgency with every game with "need" statements.

Stuff like "game 1 is most important, I must win game 1" when you're starting the match.

"I need a 2 game lead"
"I can't let my opponent to be 2 games within reach"
"I need the hill before my opponent reaches 2 off the hill".

Whatever works - your mind drives what your game does, NOT the other way around.

If you are less focused when you're ahead, grind it into your mind that you're NEVER ahead - you're always behind because you haven't met your next "need" statement.
 
Whenever I'm up by a lot, especially against a player I respect, the same thought always creeps into my head - "How am I ever going to win another game?" I don't know why but I always think my last shot is going to be my last opportunity. When I get back to the table, I approach it like this might be my best opportunity to win so I better not f- it up. To a certain extent, I sometimes feel a bit more confidence and perhaps my shot selection is a bit more aggressive at times but I still try to reign it in a bit and remind myself that shitty pool on the hill allows hill-hill.

You want to do better when you're ahead? Tell yourself you may not shoot again. Everyone else will think you're a cold and calculated killer. You don't need to tell them that you keep the pressure on because you feel you have to.
 
TCo said:
Sports psychology.

Create an urgency with every game with "need" statements.

Stuff like "game 1 is most important, I must win game 1" when you're starting the match.

"I need a 2 game lead"
"I can't let my opponent to be 2 games within reach"
"I need the hill before my opponent reaches 2 off the hill".

Whatever works - your mind drives what your game does, NOT the other way around.

If you are less focused when you're ahead, grind it into your mind that you're NEVER ahead - you're always behind because you haven't met your next "need" statement.
Click to expand...


This is precisely what I do. I wish it were a mental trick but the truth is, I really believe every statement.
 
will14.1 said:
Let me start out by saying that I'm not a monster on the pool table. I'm probably better than average and want to get better, but I'm not to the point of playing one inning pool consistently when I have an open table. I definitely miss my share of easy shots, but I think I'm pretty decent.

One of my biggest problems is that I seem to go slack when I'm playing a match and I've got a big lead. If I'm up four or five games on my opponent I seem to give up a little. Most of the time I'll throw away at least a couple games in a set before I can figure out how to close. (and sometimes I have to win hill-hilll or I'll lose the set) If I'm playing someone and we're both shooting well then I can keep in gear during the whole match, but if s/he is faltering I seem to slow down. Almost all pros I've seen and some really good local players see their opponent stumble and it's like they smell blood in the water? I'd really like to be like that, but I can't seem to feed off my opponents mistakes. I think I start to feel bad for them.

I hate losing and I'm generally a competitive person, I just seem to want to win close. Please help?

Does anyone have any suggestions for how I might solve this problem?

Thanks, y'all,
Will
Click to expand...


In my experience when I'm playing really well I don't even notice the score. The problem with thinking about your lead is that it effects your focus. I've always believed that overly positive thoughts or overly negative thoughts are equally bad. Stuff like "I'm shooting well" or "I can't make a ball" is the best way to take yourself out of stroke.

Train yourself to be aware of your thoughts while you're playing and that's a start.


Dudley
 
My 2 cents..

I try and focus on one ball at a time and position for the next shot and nothing else. Thats enough for my mind to focus on. I dont think about the score or any balls i have missed, only the ball im on and next 2 unless i have a cluster, or a safe. I found when talking to my self like" Im shooting great" or "I can beat this guy", i loose focus on the task at hand, and normally bobble the shot or butcher it. Just my approach.:thumbup:
 
Bet enough that it will hurt to lose it. Most times this brings out the killer instinct in people. Johnnyt

PS:Then again some people dog it more when too much money (for them) is at stake.
 
If TCO's trick works for you, use that... for me, it's the opposite (so now you have 2 things to try).

I don't think about or want to know the score. Don't pay any attention to it.
In league, I like it when my league teammates don't tell me.
And it adds pressure to me, when I think in terms of "man, I can't let this happen or I'm in big trouble.
I can't let him get up on me. I can't let it get close". I play better when I don't feel any pressure.

There was a pretty good article recently mentioned about focusing on the process and not the results.
The score falls under "focusing on the result".

Basically your mindset should be "Did I win yet? No? OK then there's work left to do."
Then get onto the table and do your job :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top