What to do in a terrible slump?

2wld4u · Oct 27, 2005

Hey! I consider myself pretty good, Lately I have been in one heck of a slump, I mean I can break and run, it seems lately when I try to get out I miss either the 8 or 9 everytime, 3 and 4 foot shots! I cant believe whats happening, so I decided to take a couple days to try and sort it out.. Its hard loosing when your run out only to hang the 8 or 9 right in the jaws, consistantly, and Im not taking it to well... any suggestions?

(take two weeks off, then quit right?) Possibly, Id like other considerations first...

2wld4u

Barbara · Oct 27, 2005

Go back to your basics. If you've never been to a Pool School or a BCA Certified/(preferably) Master Instructor, then you should do yourself a favor and schedule a course. You will learn how to diagnose your stroke.

Okay, so for on the cheap and not so in-depth that may help you out, try out Bert Kinister's "Shot Number 1" for a few racks on both sides of the table and see where you're actually hitting center ball on the CB. If you can't hit center, then you've got alignment problems. Maybe with your body/eyes/feet/, then you should get thee to an Instructor.

Or you could videotape yourself and watch.

Barbara

2wld4u · Oct 27, 2005

Thats some good suggestions, I'll buy that tape, I have noticed I have to correct my aim time time, and I have been useing more side spin, I think your exactly right... Thanks Barbra, I appritiate your thoughts..

2wld4u

MrLucky · Oct 28, 2005

Back Up And Start From The Beginning!

i usually take a day or two off, then start on my basics ! ie: set, pause freeze! stroke and elementary drills

Tim-n-NM · Oct 28, 2005

Just take a break for a week or so. If you were a good player. You will still be a good player in a week. Sometime your brain gets in the way of your stroke. Your probly a little too mechanical right now because your thinking about missing. Find something else to spend your time on for a short period of time.

It aint gone forever, it just feels like it.

Tim

akaTrigger · Oct 28, 2005

I was always told when you are in a slump to only use center ball - no English at all. Give it a try when you can.

Melinda

deadstroke32 · Oct 28, 2005

Taken sometime off is good .But don't think about pool .In that time ,do something other the pool .Don't read mag's on pool .go 4 walks .watch movies non pool movies.go fishin..jus clear your head .Too many things going on at one time in your head.when your playin ..Sometime u jus have to let it go. Cause u know what "u" can do when u get down, relax and play your game.
time is a blessin .
Have fun with it .....

Black-Balled · Oct 28, 2005

Are you losing at league?, tournaments?, gambling?, funsies w/ buddies? strip pool w/ the ladies? If it is the last, then please keep up the good work!
For the others:
League/ tournaments- throw 4 to 6 balls out on the table, take BIH and run 'em for an hour or so. Basically get the right # of balls so that it is really easy and just do it over and over. You have to get used to not missing for an extended period of time. Perhaps my estimate of 4-5 balls is too few for you, I dunno.
Gambling- re-evaluate! re-negotiate!
Funsies- the belt just holds up your pants.

And in the end, you'll play like you play. Hopefully, someday, we'll all play better!

senor · Oct 28, 2005

Do you gamble? If so, finding the wettest fish that you can pound on always helped me get out of a slump.

2wld4u · Oct 28, 2005

Simply amazing...

I think I'll try everyone suggestions thus far, its all sound advice....

2wld4u

2wld4u · Oct 28, 2005

Simply amazing...

I think I'll try everyone suggestions thus far, its all sound advice....

2wld4u

Eric. · Oct 28, 2005

Someone mentioned it before; take two weeks off and after two weeks, you should quit the game

(j/k)

Going back to basics, checking my fundamentals i.e. alignment, comfortable stance and consistant pre shot routine always helps me thru.

One thing I did, years ago, was to write down me pre shot routine when I was in stroke. This way, when I get out of stroke, it helps to read over what I was doing when I was hitting them good. Alot of times, I find that I'm cutting corners when I fall outta stroke.

Good luck.

Eric

Island Drive · Oct 28, 2005

One particular Shot

Think back to that day when your game went south. There was most likely one instance that triggered/created your downward fall. Think about that moment in time, dwell on it, take it apart, remember every thing you were doing during that moment/shot, and within that sequence of events lies the problem/answer, it could be "you" or something else, finding the true answer can be enlightening and humbling. Sometimes it can take up to two weeks to figure out something that could change your game forever, ironically it will do the same to your personality, did I say that?

pete lafond · Oct 28, 2005

Reduce your expectations to simply enjoying pool. Most of this stuff is just mental. Factors like emotions tend to ruin it. Instead just play a shot at a time and do not compare yourself to what you have done in the past or how well you should perform against an opponent. Do not pay attention to the score or where you are in a rack. Doing this will help your mental game and if it is basics your having a problem with, not to worry as it will re-appear when you are not looking for it. Just enjoy.

Eric. · Oct 28, 2005

I think this is great advice. The same could be said for taking your game to a higher level.

Concentrate on hitting the shot as well as you can. This means the whole shot-pocketing and perfect position.

Eric

cheesemouse · Oct 28, 2005

2wld4u,

Sounds like you've got '8/9ball fever...it could be a simple mental adjustment...ex: your running the balls in little packs of three, we all do that even if we don't know it, then there are just the two balls left on the table. Should we change our thinking because just two balls remain? No, just add an imaginary third ball to play shape on, this continues the same thinking you demonstrated during the run from 1>the 7ball...of course, I could be wrong...

Varsity2016 · Oct 28, 2005

just quit, take up cooking

Black-Balled · Oct 28, 2005

No way. That is far to dangerous. You could actually have to do some work. And you might lose the tip of yor finger!

mikepage · Oct 28, 2005

Here's what seems to help me. I go back to fundamentals, like others have suggested, including remembering to aim, making sure the stick is as level as possible, getting my head low, and staying down. But I also do something else. I go to a shorter bridge than normal and I put my grip hand a little forward of vertical. For me that seems to help. Then when I'm starting to feel comfortable again, my bridge and grip slowly return to normal. It could be this is related to the particular stroke problems I have and won't be helpful to you. But if you're missing four-foot shots anyway, it can't hurt to try ;-).

mike page
fargo

DaveK · Oct 28, 2005

I cannot recall where I read this, but it seems to work for me sometimes. Think of the sound of the ball dropping into the pocket just before you shoot. I have extended this to imagine the sound of the entire shot (tip-CB impact sound, CB-OB impact sound, kerplunk of OB in pocket). Perhaps it is simply a positive reinforcement of success (don't imagine the rattle of a jawed ball, that's bad bad bad

).

I also agree with Gerry (in the Concepts that Make You Better thread) about planning very precise shape. It doesn't always work out that way, but it mostly will get you better shape than if you are just trying to get the cue ball into a general area.

Dave

What to do in a terrible slump?

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