Trouble getting started.

[Straitline]

Ok I've ran into a problem. When I play in league or tournaments I have trouble playing at my true level for a short period. When I say short period it's like 1-2 racks. I'm a 9 in APA 9 ball and I also play NAPA. It's killing me mainly in NAPA or my APA masters. NAPA because if I give up 1-2 racks to a low player that I'm already spotting multiple games 1 sloppy 9 and I'm done. Masters cause they are good enough to capitalize on me giving up 1-2 and they have the table figured out before me and get good and warm. Once I get going I play just fine right at my skill but till then I'm a duck. It's not a matter of warming up enough or to much cause it doesn't change with one hour or 10 min of practice before hand. Also playing alone the problem isn't there. I used to play daily on 9' then took 8 years off till a friend talked me into this small table league stuff. Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[Donny Lutz]

Ok I've ran into a problem. When I play in league or tournaments I have trouble playing at my true level for a short period. When I say short period it's like 1-2 racks. I'm a 9 in APA 9 ball and I also play NAPA. It's killing me mainly in NAPA or my APA masters. NAPA because if I give up 1-2 racks to a low player that I'm already spotting multiple games 1 sloppy 9 and I'm done. Masters cause they are good enough to capitalize on me giving up 1-2 and they have the table figured out before me and get good and warm. Once I get going I play just fine right at my skill but till then I'm a duck. It's not a matter of warming up enough or to much cause it doesn't change with one hour or 10 min of practice before hand. Also playing alone the problem isn't there. I used to play daily on 9' then took 8 years off till a friend talked me into this small table league stuff. Any advice would be appreciated.

Do you have a specific warm-up routine?

I teach my students a routine that begins with a few very easy shots, focusing on fundamentals. If it's before a match, I then have them play one rack as if it mattered, to get in the right mind set.

 

[RWOJO]

Trouble Getting Started?

It seems kind of vague? You say you warm up 10 minutes or an hour and you still have the same problem?

Is it nerves? Is it carelessness? Is it pocketing balls or speed or both?

More information would help on being able to offer advice.

 

[Straitline]

RWOJO, it was a combination of low accuracy and speed control. But I actually stumbled across the problem. I work a crazy schedule and caffeine is a driving force in the industry. So since its habit to grab an energy drink on my way anywhere I did it on my way to play pool. I have quit doing that and have been starting much better. I think just the small amount of pressure with the energy drinks making my brain bounce around a little made it rough till the drink faded. I'm not a "natural player" I'm very mechanical and had to work hard to learn to be a competitive player so I think that little zing was enough to knock me out of stroke. Since dropping the drinks I can start matches running out again. Thanks for the interest.

 

[RWOJO]

Caffeine

I understand what you mean. I wake up at 5 or 6 a.m. depending on the day, then do lessons after work and then have league or matches setup. Most days I get home by midnight and get 5 or 6 hours of sleep. After several days of this I am relying on an energy drink to get by.

The Accuracy and speed control are both fundamental issues.

Accuracy: try to make sure that you do not move anything other than your shooting arm. On the follow through try to freeze and stay down until the cue ball comes to a stop. Body movement during the shot is probably the #1 reason people are not accurate. Example: get down on a shot, get your tip near the cue ball, stare at your tip - now move either of your feet, your head, your hips... any body movement pulls you off the line of the shot and even slightly off this line will cause you to not make the shot.

Speed control: a little bit of practice goes a long way. a couple times a week practice 3 speeds. I consider speed as table length so 1 speed would be shooting the cue ball from one end of the table to the other end while trying to get as close to the rail as you can. 2 speed would be a lag (down table and back to you). 3 speed would be down, back, and down table. To practice this shoot 15 balls at 1 speed - each time moving the ball off to the side but keep it the same distance from the end rail. After the 15 balls look at your consistancy/accuracy. Then repeat this with 2 speed and 3 speed. TIP: your practice strokes should be the same speed your want your final stroke to be.