When You Miss

1ab

1ab

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Missing a high percentage shot causes any player anguish. How we react sometimes affects not only the match, but teammates, upcoming matches, and perceptions of your demeanor. Those of us with a Type A personality traits undoubtedly have more difficulty remaining calm. I, admittedly, become agitated to a fault at times. I am able to reign in my attitude afterwards, but fully realize the discomfort I have caused others. Truthfully it's not about winning and losing so much as it is performance in the moment. I'm trying to learn how to keep the proper perspectives of competition and sincerely want to give my opponents and the sport the respect they deserve. May I ask, what techniques or thoughts others use to deal with their mistakes calmly ?
 
I do a quick mental analysis and determine if it was a bad shot or bad leave from the previous shot and then sit down and forget. I'll either lose myself in the music depending on what's on or just sit and watch other players shooting up to the point that my opponent shoots. Short term memory loss and short attention span do have some benefits I guess
 
Show no emotion/ negative body language whether you make a good hit or bad hit. Always look confident, sharks can smell blood.
 
All depends on what happened earlier in the day/week/month/year to be honest. When I'm in a good mood and feeling fresh, it doesn't even cross my mind at all.

When I've had bad or stressful stuff happen I usually will throw a water bottle through a wall on the first shot to get me warmed up for further rage.

To answer your question though, you're looking for a technique to deal with the after feelings of missing a gimme shot. I won't share a secret because it took me years and years to figure it out, but I will share part of it.

At the elite level of all play, being calm under stress is the only real difference. Mechanics and things of that nature at that high level of play are pretty similar. So can you tell me what can help you learn to stay calm?

Learn how to PROPERLY meditate. Don't just sit there with your eyes closed, there's so much more to it than that.
 
When you miss take out your anger on the shot that was missed - not on your stick, or the table, or you opponent. Take a mental note of the shot or even write it down on something. Next time you get a chance to practice, seek out your revenge by making that shot 10, 20, 50, or 100 times in a row. That's really the only good thing that can come from a missed shot. All the other drama is just wasted energy, not that I haven't been guilty of it myself a time or two.


Edit - I read right past the part about it being an easy shot. In those situations I like Tom's advice below unless it becomes a habit. Then you need to figure out what's going on.
 
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Humor.

I use humor.

Often self deprecating humor.

Show no emotion/ negative body language whether you make a good hit or bad hit. Always look confident, sharks can smell blood.
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I am not so worried about what the other guy "smells". He needs to worry about what I smell. :wink:
 
For one thing, I know I won't always play at my peak and I will miss shots sometimes, even high percentage ones, so I don't beat myself up about it. By realizing that, it has taken some of the pressure off of playing perfect, taken the fear of missing away. If I can keep that frame of mind, I can remain relaxed and I end up missing them much less often as a result.
 
I laugh at myself because I know I just made a FOOLISH mistake.

I sit down and wait for my next turn at the table.

There was a great commercial back in the day.

It stated: "Never let them see you sweat."

I try my best to act that way no matter how bad or even how good things may be going. I know they can change either way, in a heartbeat."


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Order: Right On Cue:

http://tommcgonaglerightoncue.com
 
These are all great suggestions, and I'm reading every reply carefully. I have felt there has to be an easier way to deal with mistakes for a long time. I probably wish this would've been one of the first threads I started. Humiliation is a bitter pill to swallow !
 
1ab said:
These are all great suggestions, and I'm reading every reply carefully. I have felt there has to be an easier way to deal with mistakes for a long time. I probably wish this would've been one of the first threads I started. Humiliation is a bitter pill to swallow !
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I read something recently that has helped me and it's pretty darn simple. First, address every shot the same way mechanically speaking...second, always put forth your best effort on every single shot, and thirdly just focus on how you're going to get back in the game once you're back at the table. Look forward always and do not visualize your mistakes while in a match and waiting for your next turn.

I lost 5-0 in 7 innings last night but didn't get down on myself. I didn't let myself get down mentally and actually shot well though on paper it looked bad. I missed 5 shots, my opponent missed 1 I think....maybe two. He made the 8 on the break in the last game so I can't get upset about that one. I made more mistakes and opened up the table for him, end of story. I won't do that again!
 
1ab said:
These are all great suggestions, and I'm reading every reply carefully. I have felt there has to be an easier way to deal with mistakes for a long time. I probably wish this would've been one of the first threads I started. Humiliation is a bitter pill to swallow !
Click to expand...

You are not alone. I am rather disappointed with how I handle missing, as well. (You would think with all the experience I have doing it, I would handle it better! :p)

I know I need to stop reacting so strongly. I understand it, completely. The trick is not letting my emotions get ahead of my reasoning...

Good luck to you (and all of us) in getting a handle on it.
 
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