What to Change About Your Game When In a Slump

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fast&loose designs

Chris Santana
Silver Member
Hey everyone. So I'm making an infographic about what players can/should do when in a slump. A few years ago, I was in a year-long losing streak, so I changed a few things about my game. Nothing on stroke, stance, or aiming - I'm talking about habits and mindsets. Here are a few things I did, anyone have good suggestions?

1. Switched from drinking soda during and before matches to Gatorade/water
2. Stopped showing emotion/frustration after missed shots
3. Stopped looking at tournament board to see who I would play
4. Developed a pre-shot routine
5. On the money ball, I get down on the shot, miss the shot in my head, stand back up, get back down on the shot, and make it. This habit worked so good because I used to dog the shot in my head, then REALLY miss it when I shot it. This new habit allowed me to do it in my head only, then get up and back down, and pocket it.

Any suggestions would be great, and the good ones will be featured on the infographic and the my website. Thanks everyone.
 
If you are in a slump because you are in a rut, then take some time off. Everyone needs time off once in a while.
 
You could try changing the pace you play at, slow down or speed up. Take some time off from playing and re-check all your basics. I understand that the first thing pro ball players look to is their stance.
 
Pushout said:
You could try changing the pace you play at, slow down or speed up. Take some time off from playing and re-check all your basics. I understand that the first thing pro ball players look to is their stance.
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Impossible. Chris plays at a speed of Tony Drago X 10
 
On a more serious side. I believe pace and pre-shot routine are the best things to go back to. At least for me personally, when I'm running racks its when I am playing slower and not rushing shots. I also felt that my game became much more consistent after I developed a consistent eye pattern. When the tip is at the cue ball I look at the cue ball, on the back stroke I look at the object ball - could be tiring if you have a lot of practice strokes, but I only take like 3.
 
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thanks for the post skyperchris.very timely as i am in a slump almost weekly! seriously, you have outlined very good points. i have a question about #1, i stopped having a beer during tournement ime and switched to "root beer", close to a beer but with a root. :rolleyes:. why did you change from a soda? on your point #2, yea, you are right, my turning over the table when i miss is really quite a scene. i would like to add a couple of other suggestions if i may;
6. no food within 30 minutes of "shoot time"
7. what i call "double down", stay down on the shot until the OB goes in and keep the point of the cue down after followthru.
8. play a mind trick on that last ball, pretend it is not the last ball by using the cue to point where you want the cue ball to end up after the shot (like always). your mind then thinks this is just another shot and not the $$$ ball. thanks for your post, i'll try anything that may help. :thumbup2:
 
oldplayer said:
thanks for the post skyperchris.very timely as i am in a slump almost weekly! seriously, you have outlined very good points. i have a question about #1, i stopped having a beer during tournement ime and switched to "root beer", close to a beer but with a root. :rolleyes:. why did you change from a soda? on your point #2, yea, you are right, my turning over the table when i miss is really quite a scene. i would like to add a couple of other suggestions if i may;
6. no food within 30 minutes of "shoot time"
7. what i call "double down", stay down on the shot until the OB goes in and keep the point of the cue down after followthru.
8. play a mind trick on that last ball, pretend it is not the last ball by using the cue to point where you want the cue ball to end up after the shot (like always). your mind then thinks this is just another shot and not the $$$ ball. thanks for your post, i'll try anything that may help. :thumbup2:
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I am a heavy soda drinker. Drink about 1-2 liters per day sometimes. The soda dehydrates me, makes me sweaty sometimes and shaky as well.

It's important to understand that some of these changes are done for the mere sake of a change - it forces other habits to change, and sometimes your game just needs to be shaken up a bit to get you on the right track.
 
I think step 1 is identifying WHY you are in a slump? It is hard to correct something if you can't pinpoint what it is that needs corrected...

Several examples:
- Mental preparation?
- Physical preparation?
- Fundamental issue?
- Is it a certain type of shot only that you are missing repeatedly?
- Position?

If I can't identify why I am in a slump, it's a lot harder to correct it. I can do some little things for sure guessing, but for training purposes I better be able to identify the problem first.
 
Spimp13 said:
I think step 1 is identifying WHY you are in a slump? It is hard to correct something if you can't pinpoint what it is that needs corrected...

Several examples:
- Mental preparation?
- Physical preparation?
- Fundamental issue?
- Is it a certain type of shot only that you are missing repeatedly?
- Position?

If I can't identify why I am in a slump, it's a lot harder to correct it. I can do some little things for sure guessing, but for training purposes I better be able to identify the problem first.
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Great point, and makes sense. However, identifying what the problem in our game is seldom easy, especially when there are multiple problems. If you're a pro, you got there by overcoming flaws and inconsistencies in your game, and can identify problems in your game much easier than an intermediate or amateur level player.

Since it can be difficult to pinpoint what is causing our slump, I suggest simply changing something in your habits. Although this may seem like a temporary or transparent fix, it actually works because it forces your mind to work differently, sometimes see things in a new light, or expose a flaw in your game. For instance, I switched from soda to Gatorade, and it exposed my weakness when I would drink Pepsi while playing (the shaking and nervousness). That change alone made me think of other things to change in my habits, and I not only pulled out of my slump at the time but also went into a 6 month winning streak.
 
Hey Chris, I do agree sometimes it can be difficult to pinpoint what is causing a slump. I have been trained to identify some of the things I listed above so maybe I am one of the lucky ones in that aspect. If it is a mental problem, it may be very simple like the change(s) mentioned that seem small, but the impact is huge.

Once players get to a certain skill level, I feel this game becomes so much more mental then physical. How many times do we miss an out vs an opponent and then later on set up the same out on our own table, or even the same table you just lost your match to someone and then run it out with ease? It happens a lot.

While it may be nice to see a lot of random small things listed in this thread that may help bust players out of a slump, at least for me personally I don't want to be blindly just trying things left or right. I want a game plan. One great thing I learned while taking a class was how to spot mistake physically. The mental aspect is a whole different ball game, but good to discuss.

Edit....if there are multiple problems, I would recommend correcting one at a time or it will be brain overload. Baby steps....
 
The best way I get out of slumps is to just go to a pool hall and play racks by myself. No drills, no shooting with other people, no gambling. I feel that sometimes the pressure of playing in a tournament, in a league or for the money can really put you in a slump. Playing by myself kind of brings me back to the joy of shooting pool which in turn always gets me out of slumps.
 
Very good suggestions in here so far. For me, i usually just go back to basics. Less English , less power, and sometimes I shorten my stroke. As mentioned above, taking time off will give your mind a mental break and I think that helps a lot too.
 
CONFIDENCE!!!!! Most times something as small as one missed shot or a lost game or match can drag you into a slump. Loss of confidence in your game can do alot. So can unfamiliar equipment or a lack of play. Try going back to basics and KNOW that you will win. When I'm in a slump I try to remember that everyone I play either fears playing me or looks up to me as the guy that is going to make the shot in clutch time and my slump usually is gone.
 
Remember why you play pool in the first place...

I see 2 different things...generally causing slumps...

1. Mental weakness...we all have it.
2. Fundamentals problems...we all have these too.

Regarding #1...there's a great book called"a mind for pool" old but good, that deals with the heckler, and building mental strength. Talks about envisioning the shot, and all parts of the mental game.

Re #2...have a GOOD pool player watch you play for a few racks looking for consistency in stance and bridge, follow thru, head staying down, stroking straight, and not poking the ball...

Your problem is likely in the fundamentals which is causing you to miss, thereby causing you to lose, hereby causing you to lose confidence...further causing you to start double guessing yourself and making radical changes...down to what you are eating and drinking.

It took me 25 years to fix my fundamentals errors and the final one that I had problems with but didn't know I did was the way that I was lining up my shot...I shoot right handed but just found out a couple years ago that I was LEFT EYE DOMINANT...and learned that sometimes I was lining my RIGHT EYE up over the cue...causing me to miss...now sometimes I catch myself doing it and I need to remember to close my right eye, forcing my brain to focus thru my left eye, and when I close my right eye, I can actually see that I'm not lined up right and I would miss the shot.

I went 20 years having good nights and some nights that I just played horrible.

I no longer play HORRIBLE ...my range now is from good to great...sometimes I play ok, sometimes great...but it's a rare thing for me to TANK it all night now that the house is in order...

My suggestion is...find your thing that's causing u to be off...and the house will be in order, and confidence will follow...

Finally...REMEMBER WHY YOU STARTED AND STILL PLAY POOL!!!
It was to have FUN!!! REMEMBER? We put so much pressure on ourselves because we're so competitive that we literally stop enjoying the game. Stop keeping score, work on fundamentals, monitor positive progress on the fundamentals regardless of the score of the game.

HAVE FUN
 
DoubleD said:
If you have to close your right eye to line up with your left, you are not left eye dominant.

dld
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THats what I thought...lol
But I am...I'm just used to looking and sighting thru my right eye from a lifetime of hunting:cool:
It's that I line my right eye up over the cue...just thru habit...sometimes
Funky stuff...eh?
 
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You guys have all made good suggestions. However, there are plenty of things one can do to IMPROVE his/her game. I'm more interested in how to get out of a slump.

A slump is like a valley - there are mountains and hills surrounding it that make it a valley. You have the skills, the stance, the understanding, and the confidence to run racks. You have done it many times, but you're just going through a rough patch, one that doesn't have a clear answer as to why it's a rough patch.

In reality, there are hundreds of potential reasons. Stress from work, stress from home, loss of a job, bad mood, poor eating habits, the economy, the weather, etc etc. I think it's important to understand the difference between being in a slump and not advancing in skill level. You NORMALLY shoot a .780, but these past few months you're shooting a .410.

CHANGE SOMETHING. This can literally be anything - the point is that you shake things up, you force yourself to look at the table differently, you approach each shot differently. This has nothing at all to do with your skill, it has to do with being in a rut. You know how to drive your car, but right now you're stuck in mud.
 
SkyscraperChris said:
You guys have all made good suggestions. However, there are plenty of things one can do to IMPROVE his/her game. I'm more interested in how to get out of a slump.

A slump is like a valley - there are mountains and hills surrounding it that make it a valley. You have the skills, the stance, the understanding, and the confidence to run racks. You have done it many times, but you're just going through a rough patch, one that doesn't have a clear answer as to why it's a rough patch.

In reality, there are hundreds of potential reasons. Stress from work, stress from home, loss of a job, bad mood, poor eating habits, the economy, the weather, etc etc. I think it's important to understand the difference between being in a slump and not advancing in skill level. You NORMALLY shoot a .780, but these past few months you're shooting a .410.

CHANGE SOMETHING. This can literally be anything - the point is that you shake things up, you force yourself to look at the table differently, you approach each shot differently. This has nothing at all to do with your skill, it has to do with being in a rut. You know how to drive your car, but right now you're stuck in mud.
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What about a new cue or shaft? Or even a new tip.
 
I agree that if all you want to do is get out of the rut...changing things can do it...it's a patch though, IMO.

If you want to fix WHAT CAUSED THE SLUMP...you'll need to dig much deeper, find the culprit and fix it to avoid future slumps.

IMHO there's very little value in getting out of the slump unless you can learn what put u into it...otherwise you will need to wait until you go into another slump, before you will be able to challenge this beast directly. Take this on as a personal challenge.

When a car has an intermittent problem, the customer takes it into the shop...and it doesn't do it...a mechanic can't fix what he can't find. Consider your issue "acting up" which can be a blessing...use and embrace this time to isolate the problem and fix it for good!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just my opinion.
 
I would define slump as caused by the mental approach.
You could ask yourself if whilst your shooting is your focus 100% on the task at hand.
If your not focused and can't seem to get focused, you could try not playing for a few days and just watch videos of your favourite players for some inspiration.
Or you could just take some time off till you really feel the urge to play.

If on the other hand you are having mechanical issues you may want to look at simplifying them that way they become much easier to diagnose as you can go through it step by step.
This may only be a solution if you have not been playing for 90 years though :)
good luck
 
Great Thread

Great Thread !

I'm certainly no PRO , but my analytical nature tends to make me want to deal with problems efficiently.

1- define the problem.
You cannot solve a problem if you do not know whats wrong. (this may sound silly, but it is a crucial 1st step.) It basically can be only 1 of 3 things:
A- its you mentally
B- its you physically
C- its the equipment

I got stuck and went into a slump as I could not string shots consistently. At first I thought it was my stroke, then my stance. It turned out my tip got uneven and needed attention.
Once my shaft had started to loosen and I didn't think of it till the "tong" sound on my hit changed tone. (Sometimes it is easy to rule out "C")

If it's "A",..... Take a brake, then deal with it rationally.

If it's "B",..... Its back to fundamental mechanics.
 
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