UGH!!! What's wrong with people??!!

[TX Poolnut]

This is going to be a changing day in your life.

 

[ShootingArts]

My pause

A good constructive post. When I need to regroup, I take a bathroom break. The primary reason, maybe the only reason, is to go to the sink and wash my face and hands with the coldest water I can find. A bottle of cold water from the cooler isn't a bad idea although you may get a funny look toting it in the bathroom! This gives me a few minutes to give myself a little self talk about cranial anal inversion, the cold water makes me feel much more alert, and the whole process gives me the feeling of starting fresh. The cue slides through a clean dry bridge a little better too.

I learned this purely by accident but Jackie Gleason does the same thing in The Hustler right before he commences wiping the floor with Paul Newman the first time around. Not sure where they got that from but Jackie was the most believable pool player I have ever seen on film and rumor has it he had a good game in real life.

Hu

As a former room owner, I watched this happen to many people. Various reasons destroy your focus. It is more important to understand that it takes everything you have mentally to bring it together after you first notice it is happening to you. If you can take a break take it fast and bring yourself together. I once had money on the line and noticed myself missing easy shots that would put the match in the history books. I sat down after a shot an told myself no more of this B.S. Once it was my turn again, I walking into the restroom and looked into the mirror to regain my focus and opened the door to the pool room and looked across the room to the table and said to myself do not leave this room unless you are ready to pull everything together. I stood in the door for about 15 seconds then walked out to finish and bring home the cash. If you feel it early, stay in the chair and focus then stand and unless there is a shot clock you are not using your one break. Once I had to put down my cue to break up a fight and toss a guy out comming back only needing to breathe in twice before picking up the cue and getting back to work. Different things do different things to each person find you way to recover. Scooter from OKC sold me a case with a keychain that said "Life's Rough, Lighten UP!" I still use that keychain today.
I hope you find something to work for you soon.

 

[Snapshot9]

Is

your name Murphy? You must have been pretty lucky to have been up 5-0.

If something this 'small' tips the pot over with you, you're lucky to win any matches at all.

 

[androd]

This has happened to everyone. Me more times than I care to remember.

The truth is, if you're looking for a way to lose, any old excuse will do.

~rc

tap tap tap
your ed zachery right my friend. this forum is full of players alway getting sharked by something, this is the answer to all of them. toughen up! quit looking for an excuse.

 

[grindz]

Watch "The Hustler" over and over and over again until you see the light.

td

 

[ironman]

Okay - I'm playing in a 9-ball tourney today, race to 6 and I'm up 5-0. I'm playing some of the best pool I've ever played, and really felt like I was in the "zone". I broke rack 6 and didn't make a ball, so I go sit. A player from another table, who was in his own match, walked over to me to tell me that I wasn't breaking from the box, which I honestly did not realize. I freaking flipped out! Not verbally, but mentally. I totally lost my focus and before I knew it I was missing straight-in 1 foot shots. Needless to say, I lost the match 6-5. I'm usually pretty good at blocking out outside interference, people talking or walking around, but this totally took me out of my game. I felt that it was totally inappropriate and none of his business, but I also know he didn't mean anything malicious. I'm sitting there thinking why he couldn't wait until the match was over to tell me, as at 5-0 I wasn't going to break again. And I'm having this entire conversation in my head over and over and over. I was livid.

What would you do in a situation like this to maintain your composure and sense of calm? I was never able to regain my brain and ended up going two and out (yes, I agree - my fault).

After I got knocked out of the tourney, I sort of nicely explained the situation to him and how his actions affected me, and I'm sure he'll never interrupt another player in a match again. Even though it's now a few hours later, I'm still mad.

Know the rules.