What single thing (theory,suggestion,equipment) has turned your game around?

TAKING A BREAK!!!!!!!!!! Seriously, if you play a lot, just set the cue down for a couple of weeks. This could help ammend bad habits that you may have developed which led to a streak of bad pool. I would keep watching pool and thinking about it (like visualization, "what would you do here", etc.) but just taking a break sometimes is the best medicine; not always, but it is a hell of a lot cheaper than buying a new cue, instructions, etc.
 
Concentrating my focus. Instead of using the ghost ball, I focus on where the two balls are physically going to make contact. I don't think about how hard I'm going to hit the cue ball, I'm thinking about how I want the cue ball to move after I've hit the object ball. Someone on the forum said "Aim small, miss small." That's my mantra now.
 
When I first started, my teacher was very strict when it came to position play. On other words, he really pushed me to get 'correct' and as perfect as I possibly could on every shot. So, I had a habit of trying to force some of my position play in situations where I should have 'laid back' and settled for a tougher shot and trusted my pocketing abilities. When I learned to trust my pocketing and to quit taking extra risk in order to get perfect on every shot, I stopped hooking myself so often, reduced my scratches, and generally increased my 'out' rate.
dave
 
Tokyo-dave said:
When I first started, my teacher was very strict when it came to position play. On other words, he really pushed me to get 'correct' and as perfect as I possibly could on every shot. So, I had a habit of trying to force some of my position play in situations where I should have 'laid back' and settled for a tougher shot and trusted my pocketing abilities. When I learned to trust my pocketing and to quit taking extra risk in order to get perfect on every shot, I stopped hooking myself so often, reduced my scratches, and generally increased my 'out' rate.
dave
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i feel the same way. Ive played better since ive stopped trying to force position, just take the tough shot.
 
Ever since I quit being as competitive and started enjoying the game as a hobby, I seem to play a lot better. I enjoy losing as much as winning, as I learn just as much. Pool is now what it's supposed to be. Enjoyable.
 
also two really good movie quotes:

aim small miss small - The Patriot

slow is smooth smooth is fast - Shooter

funny how aiming techniques can be used across sports
 
fan-tum said:
What single thing (theory,suggestion,equipment) has turned your game around?
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Personally,concentrating on striking whitey in the center.
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Two books: 99 Critical Shots by Ray "Cool Cat" Martin and
Byrne's Advance Techniques in Pool & Billiards by Robert Byrne.
 
Really focusing on every shot. Having a clear idea of not only the target but of what I'm trying to do with the cue ball. I have a tendency to get "vague" sometimes on a shot in the middle of a run and it always bites me. So I'm trying to really make sure I don't shoot without a clear focus of what I'm trying to accomplish, target and position-wise, on every shot.
 
Finally learning that missing happens to everyone and not hanging onto a ad shot longer than it takes to walk away from the shot. Once I accepted that everyone misses and loses and gets bad position at times, my attitude alone got my game on a better track. Total mental game and if that isnt strong you can talk yourself out of winning!
 
Jimmy Reid's DVD's and a lesson from a BCA instructor. So it really wasn't one thing but each helped the other.
 
Shoot with the small leather end.

Actually it was a shot set up rhythm from a video I saw from Mike Sigel. His set up rhythm was great. I added one step to it and it made it even better for me. I've noticed that when you are getting negative returns in just about anything you should return to the basics.
 
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