Frustration

[The Statman]

Aaaarrrggh!

I'm a sort of reasonable average club player, make regular 20s and 30s, the occasional 40 or 50 and even once a year or so the odd 60 or 70. I have a pretty good safety game and, I would say, a better than average knowledge of the angles.

But, just recently, I have been completely rubbish.

I can pinpoint the start of my downfall to the time my tip came off. This is absurd since the old tip was atrocious. It wasn't even on completely straight; when I played screw shots I had to turn the cue one way up and when playing follow through I had to turn it the other way!

Now I have a tip that is perfectly formed and perfectly fixed.

I'm thinking maybe that this timing is just coincidence. But I cannot pot anything that isn't over the pocket, and what I do miss does not even threaten the jaws.

Maybe I'm just going through a bad patch which I will naturally come out of.

Any thoughts? I was seriously peed off last night and gave my cue a hard knock into the cushion rail (something I consider exceedingly bad manners and can hardly believe I did!).

[elvaago]

Jimmy White was heard to say he takes about 6 weeks to get used to a new cue, which he considered very short. Some pros take months if not years to get used to a new one and they treat their cue like holy shrines.

Maybe you need to get back to the basis. Line up some easy balls and pot them. If you fail at those, your stance, grip and cue action was probably adjusted for your bad tip. Having a new tip might require you to change those factors a little.

[Semih_Sayginer]

just a bad patch of form brought on perhaps by the fact you were in a slightly strange routine due to your last cuetips failings.

now that the new tips ok, and youre not focusing on that fault you will perhaps now be readjusting to setting up your stance and shot normally, without other influences having to be concentrated on.

more time in practice session and less time in matches should see an improvement, especially if a better player can help view your routine and give pointers to anything they think could be significant. (beware though that the person isnt being too critical as that could just make you focus on things that arent really wrong, so make sure the person is a good player, and a good judge of technique etc...)

[dannyd0g]

I know the feeling.

I usually try to console myself by trying to convince myself that even the likes of Ronnie O'Sullivan occasionally cant string more than one or 2 pots together. So if sometimes even a top pro can completely loose their game it must be just some sort of bad batch.

For me at the moment its even worse though. I'm only playing a few times a year and probably as a result of that , I am usually pretty woefull these days, seldom producing the feel or form that seemed to come naturally or easily before. But at least I can always keep blaming that on lack of practice.

:o

[Jay1]

I'm no expert by any means being a player with a highest break in the low 30's and one that gets very excited every time I break 20. But thought I would offer some thoughts.

Firstly, this one comes from golf, which I am far more proficient at, you have now changed your preshot routine as you don't need the cue a certain way up to play certain shots, this may have a subconscious mental effect, and at the least alter the time it take you to play a shot, in golf, as I believe is the case in snooker, the pre-shot routine is very very important. I would suggest going back to playing different shots turning the cue, as you used to with your old tip. Although you may no longer need to it may just bring that bit of familiarity back.

Second, I would change the tip. Even though it may look fine and possibly feel fine, you clearly don't have faith in it. Rip it off and try another one. Any psychological boost can help.

[Semih_Sayginer]

fair points jay1, although he could rip off a tip that looks fine and actually is fine and replace it with one that is fine, but is "off". that would certtainly not help.

i wouldnt take off the tip unless youre 100 % sure theres something wrong with it[in this case].

[Jay1]

I agree with you mate to an extent, but even if something appears to be fine, if you simply don't trust it you are going to struggle to get confidence in it. As it is such an inexpensive and relatively straight forward job, I would be inclined to change the tip, if you then get a bad one you just change it again. I'm sure most of us have had times when a tip has only stayed on for a couple of games before being replaced for one reason or another.

[Semih_Sayginer]

wasnt saying you were wrong either, just tha going by TS's post hes more than happy with the tip, and from the experience of playing id expect someone who can get half century breaks to be able to tell an "off" tip almost straight away, or at least be suspicious that its not perfect

it may be the tip, and he doesnt know. he could change it, and start playing great, but that might not mean it was the tip that wasnt good.

basically, its a case of advising, and trial and error until it comes good, and you may never know if anything tried was actually the solution, or if mentally it gave you the confidence youd lost......

[MrRottweiler]

I need to retip my cue but as I always have to break it in and inevitabely play terrible for a few hours I'm reluctant to do so. I always position the cue with the brass plaqu facing up but when breaking in a tip I'll rotate the cue so it evens the tip out and compresses it evenly. If you've retipped your cue this might explain the dip in your performance Statman but a few hours on your own trying different testing pots should remind you of your ability and reverse the 'bad patch'.

[Semih_Sayginer]

I need to retip my cue but as I always have to break it in and inevitabely play terrible for a few hours I'm reluctant to do so. I always position the cue with the brass plaqu facing up but when breaking in a tip I'll rotate the cue so it evens the tip out and compresses it evenly. If you've retipped your cue this might explain the dip in your performance Statman but a few hours on your own trying different testing pots should remind you of your ability and reverse the 'bad patch'.

good point there rottsy, although hopefully statman will already know that a tip should be played in and that should be done while rotating the cue to try to not wear it down unevenly when bedding the tip in.

thats the reason why most folk who hold their cue in the exact same way wear out their tip quicker that folk who dont, as the tip becomes lop sided and wears towards the ferrule much more quickly than an even wear.


(ive heard of some people who bed in new tips at home with a spare ball playing it on surfaces like a kitchen worktop(covered with a towel). practises cueing at a similar height to a table, and also saves table light time to bed the tip in)

[The Statman]

Thanks for your responses.

The most surprising thing I've found is not so much that I'm going through a bad patch (at the moment, that's all I'm putting it down to), but how depressing it seems to be.

Usually if I have a bad patch I obviously don't like it, but I can tolerate it with a sort of "Oh well, it'll be better in a week or two."

But I seem to be extremely exasperated at the moment even though it is nowhere near a week or two that it's been going on!

I will keep you posted about how (or if) things improve.

[Cue_147]

Im in the same situation The Statman, im playing some rubbish stuff at the minute. It feels as though i can't given hold the cue correctly but my coach thinks im playing well and its all mental.

I get fustrated but never show it untill recently when i rapped my knuckles on the table and one cut them, i felt really stupid left the club soon after and didn't play for a couple of days.

Got a league match tonight aswell.

[PaulTheSoave]

Oh Well, I better join the club. I have been playing horrendous and want to chuck it in, would it not be for the after drinks! I wonder what it is. I have to say that lately i actually need reading glasses. Does this have an effect on my vision to play snooker? as my normal sight is okay.

[austrian_girl]

Seems to be a greater problem these days than one would think. I am affected too. Is this contagious? :eek:

I've actually decided last week never to pick up that **** cue again and never spend a **** cent for the table again. Usually I change my mind as soon as I watch some snooker but as even my trip to the Swiss Open hasn't changed my mind, I don't think I'll break my promise to me this time. :(

Good luck to you, tho, Statman! Hope it'll be back to normal soon.

[Snooker Rocks!]

I went through exactly the same thing about a year ago.

I just couldn't play.

The way I got out out of it (which might help you) is by going down to your club and in practice, play every shot reaaallllly slowly.
Think about the spin you'll be appliying, the power of the shot, the angle you should be hitting it at, and once you're very sure you'll sink it in the heart of the pocket, strike through, keeping your head down.

It worked with me, and it might work with you. Just remember to take every shot very, very slowly, and make sure you leave yourself an easy next shot.

Good luck ;)

[lbs]

....
(ive heard of some people who bed in new tips at home with a spare ball playing it on surfaces like a kitchen worktop(covered with a towel). practises cueing at a similar height to a table, and also saves table light time to bed the tip in)

the best ways to bed the tip in is the compress the tip (by using a vice, placing it under the bed for weeks or whatsoever).
Some claim that covering the tip with a cloth and knocking it with hammer works, but I tried it and the effects aren't as good as the slower vice/bed methods.

after fixing the tip on, take a spare (spare because this exercise does take away some of the polish) cue ball and use it to hit against the tip--side ways, dead center--firmly for a few minutes.

my personal opinion :D

[lbs]

Thanks for your responses.

The most surprising thing I've found is not so much that I'm going through a bad patch (at the moment, that's all I'm putting it down to), but how depressing it seems to be.

Usually if I have a bad patch I obviously don't like it, but I can tolerate it with a sort of "Oh well, it'll be better in a week or two."

But I seem to be extremely exasperated at the moment even though it is nowhere near a week or two that it's been going on!

I will keep you posted about how (or if) things improve.
statman, i am having the same problem as you.
I can't even hit 20s nowadays, but i am battling.

hope to hit the half century somewhere next month.

[elvaago]

That's the first time I've heard anyone give the advice: Play like Peter Ebdon!


I went through exactly the same thing about a year ago.

I just couldn't play.

The way I got out out of it (which might help you) is by going down to your club and in practice, play every shot reaaallllly slowly.
Think about the spin you'll be appliying, the power of the shot, the angle you should be hitting it at, and once you're very sure you'll sink it in the heart of the pocket, strike through, keeping your head down.

It worked with me, and it might work with you. Just remember to take every shot very, very slowly, and make sure you leave yourself an easy next shot.

Good luck ;)

[Semih_Sayginer]

the best ways to bed the tip in is the compress the tip (by using a vice, placing it under the bed for weeks or whatsoever).
Some claim that covering the tip with a cloth and knocking it with hammer works, but I tried it and the effects aren't as good as the slower vice/bed methods.



i completely disagree. id still say the best way, and almost certainly the quickest without risk of damaging the tip, is to have a hit with it.

the tip will bed in (compress) quite uniformly, especially if you spin the cue around to ensure all the tip is bedded in and it doesnt get sided.

if your way works for you, and your happy with it, then excellent, but id still do it the "old fashioned way" as ive not had any problems doing so, and its far quicker than talking to the cue under the bed in your sleep telling it to hurry up and bed in. :)

each to their own.

[lbs]

i completely disagree. id still say the best way, and almost certainly the quickest without risk of damaging the tip, is to have a hit with it.

the tip will bed in (compress) quite uniformly, especially if you spin the cue around to ensure all the tip is bedded in and it doesnt get sided.

if your way works for you, and your happy with it, then excellent, but id still do it the "old fashioned way" as ive not had any problems doing so, and its far quicker than talking to the cue under the bed in your sleep telling it to hurry up and bed in. :)

each to their own.
semih, my second part of the reply is exactly what you say :D just that instead of using the cue tip to hit the cueball, its having the cue ball in ur hands and hitting it firmly against the tip, all the while rotating it to ensure a uniform bed in :)

[Semih_Sayginer]

semih, my second part of the reply is exactly what you say :D just that instead of using the cue tip to hit the cueball, its having the cue ball in ur hands and hitting it firmly against the tip, all the while rotating it to ensure a uniform bed in :)

id say thats completely different. :D

no matter. youre happy doing your way, and ill stick to the traditional swift and easy way. everyones happy.

:)

Edited to say thanks for the good rep received in this thread

[Erwan_BZH]

No kidding folks but this must be contaigious! lol I am joining the group of the depressed/frustrated guys! I play like sh*t for 2 weeks now, it's incredible.
Three weeks ago, I knocked in a 93 break on a lineup (best break ever, even on a lineup)...then 2 days after, I couldn't pot a 30!
My grip is rubbish, I just don't have any feelings with it, I'm not at ease with my stance, with my sighting...grrr.I wish I had a coach here....:rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:
As I am quite a nervous guy, it tends to frustrate me so much, far beyond what I should do. And of course, once you're irritated (to say the least), you can pot even less balls...

Deadly circle...

[The Statman]

...I wish I had a coach here...To drive you as far away as possible, by the sound of it!!!

[Mitsuko]

I haven't played "well" since I got my new cue, yesterday my highest break was 18 :rolleyes: Not that bad for me, but it was easily my best of my session, I could hardly pot 2 balls in a break. I was rubbish :mad:

[cueman]

Its a very tough game to stay consistent at, I play to a pretty good standard so imagine how frustrated I get when I can't make a 50 break!
I always find there are two ways to cure bad form, play through it or have a break from the game for a while. Depending on the type of person you are will depend what works for you. If you get easily frustrated then I would suggest having a break, then when you come back don't expect too much from yourself and hopefully you will come back determined to play well.
If you are a determined type that hates to play bad or lose then I would play through the bad form, chances are you know this works best for you.

As for Statmans original problem, a change of tip isn't always nice to go through and they usually play different to the last one you used. I have played with new tips in the past and couldn't pot certain shots and the cue ball control was awful. Some take a while to bed in whilst others can play pretty well straight away. With experience you can usually tell if a tip will bed in quickly or not. I tend to give it about 2-3 hours and if I'm still getting no joy I take it off and try a new one.
I don't have this problem now because I use the talisman pro soft tips that take very little time to bed in and last for ages. They are quite expensive though and are quite hard which doesn't suit everyone. The thing is to try and find a tip you like and use no other brand.

[The Statman]

Thanks for your helpful and interesting responses, ladies and gentlemen (and the four stars for the thread – I'd depress myself more often if I knew that I'd be rewarded for it :) )

You'll be disappointed to know that I have not had amy better joy this last week. I played terribly, but with OK patches, on Saturday, only winning the first-round match in the club comp because my opponent played even worse, and proceeded to lose in the second round to a middle aged lady to whom I concede 63 points a frame. I wasn't so much bothered by the fact that she beat me 2-0 but by the fact that, on aggregate, she beat me by more than the start I gave her!

Wednesday showed a little light at the end of the tunnel, but alas it was an oncoming train. It came off the rails. I played OK in small patches, but awfully on the whole, and my team captain (which is me) agreed that I should not play this week (Thursday) because coincidentally I had an ungetoutofable engagement.

I will be missing the Saturday and Sunday tournaments on both the 2-3 and 16-17 December because of the Premier League and UK finals, so am determined to enter the remaining ones to get me in the top-16 of the club end-of-year rankings, which would put me into the new year play-offs for a handy £400 top prize (or at least, £20 for going out in the first round!).

So I will report back after tomorrow evening. I think I have come to the conclusion that it is really just a bad patch, albeit a long one.

In January 2005 I set myself a target of making a 40+ break every calendar month, and to date I have done so with ease (except March 2005 when I made an exact 40 on the 31st) but November 2006 may come to be a sticking point now that it is the 25th and the closest I have got is to miss an easy straight pink with guaranteed position when on 34.

[hegeland]

Seeing that this thread has developed into a place where you can write out your anger and frustration, I'll join the department for complaints too.

Since I first touched a cue some 11 months ago, my standard of playing has quickly improved. So quickly that more than one person has called me "a natural". Now that is of course very nice to hear, but it can be acting as a obstruction just as well. During the summer I was able to practise a lot and everything was flowing so to speak. But since then, and especally these last few weeks, due to my commitment to get top grades I have not been able to practise more than, at most, twice a week. And I now start to feel that I am not improving as frequently as before, if at all. I don't know if it's the poor aiming or the lack of straight cue delivery, but I suspect it's a bit of both. I play so poorly the thought of quitting and go back to record collecting has crossed my mind more than once, but then again that would be like giving up. And I'm not a person that gives up easy. But I, just as everyone else (?), sometimes think: is this the best I will get? Have I reached my limit? I would like to think not, but I'm not sure any more. Maybe cue sports just isn't my thing? But it gets so depressing thinking that, so better don't. It's just seem impossible for me to improve any more. I guess I just have to hang in there, and sooner or later it will take off again.

But the most frustrating thing is that I see a shot and feel that I just don't have the energy to concentrate and think about all the things: stance, where to aim, where the cue ball will go, what pace is best to use, etc. I just sort of get down and swing my arm and hope the ball will go in. I know it sounds stupid saying that I don't have the energy to concentrate, but that's the best I can describe it right now. When I'm playing it seems to me as if I'm doing it just like I used to, with the difference that the ball no longer go in the pocket! Am I too tensed and need to relax more in my arm and mind or am I careless and need to play more Peter Ebdon style so to say?

I'm thinking about videotaping when I'm playing, but the boys would be laughing like madmen seeing me put up the camera and tripod and stuff at the table.

[MrRottweiler]

I used to film myself on my home table to identify problem areas and to try and get a maximum on tape! After a few years of trying I finally got a maximum on the line up (10 reds so 107 total)

Typically, I wasn't filming at the time. :(

[missneworleans]

Maybe you need some fun, holidays...:D

[The Statman]

... But since then, and especally these last few weeks, due to my commitment to get top grades I have not been able to practise more than, at most, twice a week. And I now start to feel that I am not improving as frequently as before, if at all. I don't know if it's the poor aiming or the lack of straight cue delivery, but I suspect it's a bit of both. I play so poorly the thought of quitting and go back to record collecting has crossed my mind more than once, but then again that would be like giving up. And I'm not a person that gives up easy. But I, just as everyone else (?), sometimes think: is this the best I will get? Have I reached my limit? I would like to think not, but I'm not sure any more. Maybe cue sports just isn't my thing? But it gets so depressing thinking that, so better don't. It's just seem impossible for me to improve any more. I guess I just have to hang in there, and sooner or later it will take off again. ...Well I guess everyone DOES have a limit (given their circumstances – opportunity to practice, financial constraints etc. as well as plain ability), and I guess you can never be sure if you've reached it.

I must admit I am more concerned with enjoying the game than improving mine. I would class myself as a 'social' player despite having played in the league for about 12 years. I have certainly no signs of giving the game up until I really don't enjoy it, and that position has, thus far, never been even close.

I still look forward to trips to major finals, it is not yet a faff to get dressed up and travel a couple of hundred miles to referee at a large amateur tournament ... and I haven't yet been known to turn down a game without a prior engagement! And that, to me, is the most important thing.

However, it does get frustrating, naturally, when you can't produce the form you know you are able.

Hegeland, having been playing less than a year, I think you can safely put the downturn in your game down to your lack of ability to play as regularly, because of your college work. It will soon return, I'm sure.

[hegeland]

Well I guess everyone DOES have a limit (given their circumstances – opportunity to practice, financial constraints etc. as well as plain ability), and I guess you can never be sure if you've reached it.

I must admit I am more concerned with enjoying the game than improving mine. I would class myself as a 'social' player despite having played in the league for about 12 years. I have certainly no signs of giving the game up until I really don't enjoy it, and that position has, thus far, never been even close.

I still look forward to trips to major finals, it is not yet a faff to get dressed up and travel a couple of hundred miles to referee at a large amateur tournament ... and I haven't yet been known to turn down a game without a prior engagement! And that, to me, is the most important thing.

However, it does get frustrating, naturally, when you can't produce the form you know you are able.

Hegeland, having been playing less than a year, I think you can safely put the downturn in your game down to your lack of ability to play as regularly, because of your college work. It will soon return, I'm sure.For me at least at the moment, it's a bit hard to enjoy the game when I'm not improving (rather delclining) my standards. But as you say, enjoy the game is the most important thing, but beeing of a competitive nature, I sometimes find it bit depressing when I know I'll miss one in three balls or so. But I think (and hope) that my decline is due to mental rather than technical aspects.

As for you, I'm sure you'll get over this short-term downturn before long. :) Maybe you should take a break, just to really get back your "hunger" for the game, I mean the "playing part" of the game if you know what I mean?

Setting up targets like doing one 40+ break each month can be a good thing, but it can also be an obstructing thing that makes you miss balls like the pink you wrote about.

[Erwan_BZH]

For me at least at the moment, it's a bit hard to enjoy the game when I'm not improving (rather delclining) my standards. But as you say, enjoy the game is the most important thing, but beeing of a competitive nature, I sometimes find it bit depressing when I know I'll miss one in three balls or so. But I think (and hope) that my decline is due to mental rather than technical aspects.

As for you, I'm sure you'll get over this short-term downturn before long. :) Maybe you should take a break, just to really get back your "hunger" for the game, I mean the "playing part" of the game if you know what I mean?

Setting up targets like doing one 40+ break each month can be a good thing, but it can also be an obstructing thing that makes you miss balls like the pink you wrote about.


Hej Hegeland,

If I were you, I wouldn't bother too much about my level after just one year of snooker. It's my third, personnally, and I used to say the same after my first and second years. But snooker is such a tough game to master that it takes YEARS to really fulfill a potential, and really be consistent.
So I agree, it's really frustrating sometimes when you miss an easy shot that you know you shouldn't have missed, and that missed shot prevent you to knock in a much higher break...or when you play at a very poor standard, and you know you can do way way better...But I guess we must try to take it with philosophy, and to cope with the situation. This is where the mental approach of the game is SO important.

But I know, it is SO frustrating...lol Many times, the idea of smashing my cue or hitting something came accross my mind! ;)

[PaulTheSoave]

It seems we are all in the same patch. Last time i got some improvement. At least i was able to pot 6 consecutive balls. It came after i concentrated very hard, not giving any easy chances away, doing wreckless shots. putting pressure on my opponent by playing safe. It was at that moment he was forced into errors and i took the opportunity. Still lost 2-1, but my second frame was a bit like the old form.

[The Statman]

You will (I hope) be pleased to learn that things are starting to look up! I decided to persevere with my tip, because it looked OK and I convinced myself that it was not the issue.

I did yesterday manage to get my 40+ break for November, one day before the end of the month (between two 36s, one where I missed an easyish pink and one where I missed a tricky red with a guaranteed pink to follow) and played pretty well. The occasional silly miss, but much more encouraging!

I also managed to beat my archrival 6-4 in comfortably under three hours, and now have a 28-frame lead for the year (110-82) meaning that only the most unimaginable collapse will prevent me from gaining a lead of 4 years to 2 this millennium!

[hegeland]

Congratulations, Statman!

I have decided to take on a different approach this time, and so far it's looking good (decent).

I figured my two major weaknesses were

1. losing my point of aim slightly when bending over

2. not cueing straight enough

I have tried to concentrate real hard on these two things while practising, and it feels a bit better right now. I kind of think "now I've pinpointed the point of aim, lets just move the cue straight as an arrow to that exact spot, nice and easy". :rolleyes:

[hegeland]

Hej Hegeland,

If I were you, I wouldn't bother too much about my level after just one year of snooker. It's my third, personnally, and I used to say the same after my first and second years. But snooker is such a tough game to master that it takes YEARS to really fulfill a potential, and really be consistent.
So I agree, it's really frustrating sometimes when you miss an easy shot that you know you shouldn't have missed, and that missed shot prevent you to knock in a much higher break...or when you play at a very poor standard, and you know you can do way way better...But I guess we must try to take it with philosophy, and to cope with the situation. This is where the mental approach of the game is SO important.

But I know, it is SO frustrating...lol Many times, the idea of smashing my cue or hitting something came accross my mind! ;)Oh yes, the art of equanimity. Difficult to master indeed. Well, it's good to know one is not alone. :cool:

[missneworleans]

I improved my play and finally will go to play snooker tomorrow or at Saturday-hoping to make a good break!!:p :p

[Stunrunthru]

Statman,

In my opinion any player who can knock in the odd 70 can be a 100 break player.

You obviously love Snooker and my advice would be just to try and relax and enjoy yourself and your game will come back to you. Alternatively take a few months out from playing.

I've hardly played since the summer but love snooker and have played for 20 years plus. I picked up my cue last week after a while and was so looking forward to playing. I just put the colours on their spots and spread 7 reds around the pink and black spots area. I hardly missed a ball and the reason for this I feel was the fact that I was bursting to play.

Anyway hope to see you and Kellie at the Welsh Open.

best regards
Rajinder

[missneworleans]

My improves were very succesful, as I made a marvellous 60 break!!:D

But still angry for myself, missing easy red:mad: :o

[The Statman]

I am definitely looking up! Made a 52 and several mid-30s and beat my mate (who was also playing pretty well, which adds to the enjoyment) 6-2. I now have a virtually unassailable lead for 2006 and am happy with the world again!

[hegeland]

Good to hear things are going well for you, Statman.

As for me, I'm playing tonight first time for over ten days, it's neck or nothing now!

[missneworleans]

Good, that thighs are going well for you, Statman:) :)

[The Statman]

Good, that thighs are going well for you, Statman:) :)I hope you meant 'things' rather than 'thighs'!

[missneworleans]

I hope you meant 'things' rather than 'thighs'!
Of course, just wrote it too fast:o :D

[scott]

I have been struggling with form also, only get to pratice once a week, sometimes only for hour and a half, so therefore cant expect to improve to much just try to keep my game where it is at now, I am hoping that over a year will see improvement and try to get up to 40 and 50 breaks, at the moment my game has slipped down to only getting mid 20,s due to lack of time at table. I pratice just spotting colours and trying to get muscle memory going in my cueing and general stroke play. The main thing about my game is Im enjoying it still even though my breaks have dropped down. I try to keep in my mind that the time at the table is mine and I dont have any expectations but to have a great time and a beer with my mates at the end. I will get back to what I was ( thats the competitive streak in me):)

[The Statman]

Well I played marvellously on Monday and last night. Knocking them all in and feeling so much happier about being round a snooker table! (Which, of course, is half the battle and a vicious circle – the crapper you play the more annoyed you get, and the more annoyed you get the crapper you play!)

We have just had three of our tables re-clothed and the one I played on yesterday has been transformed from a horrible table with big but deceptive, inconsistent pockets to one which runs extremely nicely and is a pleasure to play on – especially, of course, if you're playing well!

[hegeland]

I'm over the moon at the moment! :D

Before last night I was ready to pack it in, or at least take a break till after new year. Then I was playing this Class One player (There are four divisions, Elite, Class One, Class Two and Class Three). I was playing alright, not making a fool out of myslef, won a frame here and there, didnt' have the run of the balls. And he was really impressed, said he couldn't believe I had only ever played one tournament. He thought I was a Class Two player, and I think I barely make it in Class Three. It was nice to be able to play well against a good player, and getting quite some advice too.

So, understandably, I feel a bit more cheerful today. If only I could rasie my B game, cause right now it's more like an E game. :o

[The Statman]

Things are looking up and up!

We had a league match last night, and I made a 60 in an exhibition match beforehand (I like to call it an exhibition – it was of course only a practice knockabout before the game :)) and, although the two frames of the match were not of that caliber (a notoriously defensive opponent), I played solidly without big breaks (nothing over 16, in fact), with good safety in the first, and in the second eked out a 3-3 draw from 3-2 down and 24 behind on the brown in the last frame. I got a good snooker from which he escaped, another from which he didn't and, after taking the brown singly, made the best blue-pink-black clearance I think I have ever made to shade the frame by two points.

My two teammates did not fare quite so well. They are teenage/twenty-year-olds whose game relies on potting. The first two frames were over in little over twenty minutes; the third and fourth took a total of about 40 minutes, and these are the kind of players who, if they are not left chances of long pots, are nothing. (They do not lack the skill to play good safety, but) they lack the mental attitude to decline a low-percentage long pot with no guaranteed position in favour of a good safety shot which may yield a better opportunity.

I played frames 5 and 6 against an old-school player who can bog you down in safety and make you lose your potting momentum. I like to think that I gave my teammates, who lack match experience of course (which is a relevant factor even at this lowly level, I am convinced) an illustration that, even if you're not throwing in big breaks here there and everywhere, you can still snatch the important frames which so often are lost because you are a little too greedy in your shot selection.

I think they were a bit peed off that they were still sitting there at gone ten o'clock when they'd played their four frames in about an hour total, but I think it's an important lesson for everyone (myself included, at times) that, if you persevere you can pull any kind of frame out of the fire.

I bring you this just because it is an interesting thing, snooker strategy, and there is such a variety of styles of play that you have to be ready to combat any of them. A player who takes two red-colours and always leaves you on the baulk cushion can often beat someone who normally would not miss a ball.

[The Statman]

As a matter of interest, does anyone else feel that they sometimes feel sort of disappointed when they don't get many chances – even if they play well – just because scrappy games don't give quite the same buzz?

I think I am learning to be pleased with frames that I play well safety-wise, just as much as by making biggish breaks.

It is this kind of mindset aspect that is so difficult to see past. You play well, but you've got no figures to show for it – you should feel pleased but somehow, you can't see how satisfied you should be.

Blimey, I rambled on in that last post, didn't I! Apologies! Hands up if you managed to read right to the end!

[Mitsuko]

I like playing scrappy. I'm good* at getting out of snookers and good at getting people snookered if needed :)

* By good I mean compared to the rest of MY game ;)

[Ginger Freak]

I hate scrappy frames, as my natural games relies on me getting into a rhythm. I am not too good at making chances, but I am good at taking them, if that makes any sense!

That is not to say I cant win them though, as I would consider myself as having a decent 'Snooker Brain'

All in all, I would rather play bad and win a nice, open frame, than play well, and just scrape a boggy one. (Is that a paradox?)

[The Statman]

Time for an update ('cos I want to show off!).

Today I played magnificently, making a fine break of 79. I took the blue early on and went into the pack, and picked them off on a table that has recently been re-covered most beautifully.

I left myself short on the blue and had to go in and out of baulk to get up for the remaining reds, but I overscrewed it slightly and caught the green. I was a little annoyed to see the green roll into the pockets. I did not deserve to continue the break as it was a poor shot – but I deserved the 84 for the blue!

While I am in such an upbeat mood, may I wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year – by next week my form may have changed my mood......

[Cyril]

Merry Christmas to you too Statman and congrats on your 79 break! I must start playing again!

Ginger, I'm with you, when I play (which is only ever socially), I'm a bit of a "Great WT". I just want to get in around the black with a chance to make some sort of a break.

[The Statman]

Well things are still looking up as we enter the seventh year of the third millennium!

I had a 68, 56 and 43 over the weekend and I feel really enthusiastic about playing – not just looking forward to getting the cue out but a real feeling that when I get it out I will play well.

I played a guy at the club till well after midinight on Saturday night, haven't played him for ages. We were both playing fantastically and feeding off each other's good play.

As some of you know, I had a car crash a few years ago which has left me unable to do long stints of walking, such as round a snooker table for hours on end, but it was impossible to stop such was the thrill of both of us playiing well at the same time. It bodes well, hopefully, for 2007. I will pay for it in the next couple of days because I'll hardly be able to walk straight, but it serves as a good reminder that, if you persevere, the good days will return!

Happy new year everyone :)

[PaulTheSoave]

Did not seem to bother you last time when we walked to the pub for a mile in York! :p



As some of you know, I had a car crash a few years ago which has left me unable to do long stints of walking,

Happy new year everyone :)

[Welshsteve]

I'm going through a bad patch myself at the moment. Earlier this season (back in September/October) I was playing the best snooker of my life. Regularly knocking in 30s and 40s in just about every frame. This culminated in me getting my best ever break of 62 about 6 weeks ago. Then for some reason I changed practice partner as he went to play for a diferent club, and also one week in a match I played on a terrible table and never really got going again, ever since then I have been awful, and having won my first 6 matches of the season, I have now lost 4 of my last 6 matches.

To try and combat it, I'm trying to put in more practice, and have started practicing with better standard players. I'm hoping this will help.

[The Statman]

Well some things are meant to last and some things aren't.

On Monday evening (January 1) I went down to the club and, it has to be said, I played awfully! Having played so well on Saturday and Sunday (see above) I was a little bit concerned, and so yesterday I phoned one of my teammates to see if he wanted a game - with about ten minutes' notice!

We had a good session, some nice shots and breaks on both sides, and I won 7-2.

I even had a nice break of 77, although I missed a ridiculously easy red, about quarter-ball at close range. I think I had just realised that a couple of mates further down the room were watching. It was not the fact that they were watching, just the fact that I noticed! Of course once my mind had been distracted I should have got up, composed myself and got down again, but it was such an easy pot I thought it unnecessary. Anyhow my disappointment at missing an even higher break is outweighed by how pleased I am to have got that far in the first place!

I have sort of subconsciously realised that I have recently become much more focused on each shot individually – even yesterday I got slightly out of position on a break of 40 with a good table, and resisted the temptation to try to carry on the break with a low-percentage pot in favour of a safety – and it is this that brings about an upturn in confidence. It diminishes the vicious circle that made me start this thread a couple of months ago – you can't enjoy it while your playing rubbish but you can't play well when you're not enjoying it. And confidence suffers as a result.

This is fast becoming my snooker life story, but I feel that as I learn lessons at important junctures it would be wrong of me to keep them to myself!

I am sure I will have plenty more highs and lows in the coming months, and as they happen I will let you know what happens, how it affects me and how I'm going to go about rectifying it!

[Welshsteve]

I received the draw for the first round of the league cup last night. After a move to a new club, and players taking a while to settle in, we are currently one off bottom of the B Division (third division of the pyramid). We have been drawn to play the reigning Premier Division champions in the cup. We are home at least, but with our tables being among the very best in the league, it could be a very difficult night for us.

Having said that, it's a great incentive for us to show what we can do against superior opposition. My players are much better than they are playing at the moment, none of us have hit form all on the same night yet. A couple of seasons ago, we beat the then current league and cup holders 6-1 in the first round of the cup, the same year we lost just once on our way to promotion from the division we are now back in.

Who knows eh? :)

[Stunrunthru]

I've made it my new year resolution to play snooker again regularly.

I've been playing for around 21 years but the past 5 years I've not played as much as I normally would due to marriage and kids etc!

Anyway I returned from a 3 week holiday on new years eve and then played Snooker for the first time in around 3 months last night.

I began with a line up to get my cue arm going and decided to play for just the black from the reds. I managed 72 before missing one to the centre> I found I was finishing quite near to the cushion quite often during this excercise and in the end it proved to be my downfall.

I then practised potting the blue to the middle and aiming to smack the pink on the nose in doing so. I need more practise with this!

I then played a frame against myself and knocked in a 56 - 7 reds and 7 blacks before being forced to miss a long red. Willie Thorne would have said ' that wasn't the bad shot. It was the one before that. Why did he leave himself straight on the black!'

Anyway the main thing is I'm enjoying it again as that's what it's all about.

Also hoping to take a coaching qualification this year.

[Stunrunthru]

I'd like to use this thread to share news of my form with other members as the legendary Statman does.

I've just knocked in a break of 82. Just the colours were left. I left myself near to the side cushion and had to drop a straightish yellow into the yellow pocket so that I finished high on the green which was on the baulk cushion. Anyway I missed the yellow. I'm sure I'd have cleared with a 109 had it gone in as the rest of the colours were all on their spots.

Anyway it was nice to get a break which would have won a frame in one visit.

--------------------------------------------------------

'This young man is the most aggressive break builder the game has ever seen' - Willie Thorne referring to 7 times world champ Stephen Hendry.

[hegeland]

OK, I just have to brag a little:

I played in a national ranking tournament (9-ball) today, my second ever.

And would you believe, I got all the way to the final and lost 8-7 after having missed two seemlingly unmissable 9-balls!

But I feel like a million at the moment, everyone came to congratulate me and said it was very very good of me to get to the final in my second ever tournament. Prize: a silver plate and some money.

:D :D :D

[Miss_S]

Congratulations,Hege! That's great!
Let's hope you'll go all the way and win the next time around :D :D

[Valderie]

Well done Hege - let's hope it's your first final of many!:D

[abextra]

Congratulations, hegeland! :D

[The Statman]

Well done mate!

I'll have to do the same this morning – it's our club's top-16 handicap knockout with £400 for the winner, down to £10 for those losing in the first round.

I'll let you know....

[snookersfun]

Good luck, The Statman:D
Are you off to the Masters after that?

[The Statman]

No, no – no Masters for me this year. Cannot afford either the money or the time off!

I won one match this morning but collapsed in the second, but I got £30 for my troubles and can't really complain.

I was drawn on a table which I hate – not an excuse, of course, because my opponent didn't seem to have any problems with it! But a psychological obstacle that may not have made any difference anyway – I'm easily capable of playing crap on any table!

[MrRottweiler]

The ultimate disaster for me happened today. I re-tipped my cue recently and after a bit of sanding I was playing better than ever. Then I noticed the tip was split at the base. (There are always a few 'split' tips in a box)

I changed the tip to another which wasn't split and have been getting lots of solo practice and frankly I have been performing my best break building ever. This morning I got to my club before it opened and prepared my table and match balls. Iron, polish etc. I then went home and had a bacon sarni and casually got ready for a 4 hour practice session. I get back to the club (excuse me going in to detail here) and popped to the loo before approaching my table exited about how well I was going to play. To cut a story that is fast getting boring short I pulled out my cue and noticed the tip was soaking wet. Probably from when I put it down in the loo while it was in its case. I'm usually so careful with my tip as well. I played for about an hour but it was no good as it had to come off. It started flaking and I got a horrible 'thud' every time I struk the cue ball. Applying spin, with confidence, was out the window.

Anyway, never mind! :rolleyes:

[hegeland]

You put your cue and cue case in the toilet!? Excuse me for laughing, but LOL!! :D:)

[MrRottweiler]

Not actually 'in' the toilet I'm sure you understand. On the floor where its clear to me now there was a puddle. I just hope it was water. :confused:

I just re-tipped and its a great fit. The first tip I attempted to put on I sanded the base and it practically fell apart! I paid 50p for it and the thread had clearly gone.

[The Statman]

My 'frustration' thread has lain dormant for a while, so do I presume that none of us has been all that frustrated recently?!

Well it's back. I played last night, and in the first frame I made two twenties and cleared with 37 to blue to take the frame 80-0. I thought it was going to be a good evening!

But it was not. I couldn't pot a ball thereafter and was getting more and more peed off, so much so that I got myself a pint (I never drink alcohol while trying to play properly) and drowned my sorrows!

I'm sure I will go to the club tomorrow and it will all be forgotten, but I just thought I'd reopen this thread and let you know what a happy bunny I am this morning!!

[Welshsteve]

I'm with you on that Statman. I too won my first frame of the evening last night, with breaks of 23, 22 and yeloow to pink for a 20, to win the frame 90-4. My next two frames were against two chaps in my team squad, who aren't the best, but only a colours clearance got me out of jail in one of them, and I lost a black ball game in the next. I too then decided to have a couple of beers. Then, would you believe it, I played really well in my next frame against a better player and won it.

[The Statman]

Gosh it's three months since this thread was visited!

Well, tonight was wonderful.

In our club's twice-weekly handicap competitions, it seems I need to give a reasonable start to someone in my first round to instil in me the discipline to play properly. I happen to be of that kind of standard where there are several people who give me a sizy start, and several to whom I give a sizy start.

If I am given a start I seem unable to discipline myself whereas if I am giving the start I am somehow able to knuckle down and do the business. And thus it was tonight.

First match I was giving 56 a frame, was 1-0 down (best of 3) and needed 4 snookers in the second. I got them and won the match. My safety was superb! I had almost forgotten how capable I was of a good safety game. I won my next match 2-0, the next 2-1, the semi-final 2-1 after needing a snooker on the pink in the decider, and lost the final only on the final pink, 2-1 against an opponent to whom I give 63 points a frame.

I think this could just be the beginning of a new me! I've played 14 frames tonight, and it's been non-stop from 5 o'clock till just before midnight, which gives an idea of how methodically I've played.

My highest break was a good 49 (I played safe on the next red rather than risk a long red which I would normally have taken on) and no other 20+ break that I can think of.

I think I have just turned an important corner and will be a more consistent player for it. I will report back.

[Lee Vilenski]

Uurg! The worst frame I have had! I scored 89 with a break of 23, 28, 9, 2, 17 and 10. I thought the frame was dead. But, The guy i was playing kept on playing... ! He made me miss 7 snookers, and cleared up to win on an extra black!

[Welshsteve]

Uurg! The worst frame I have had! I scored 89 with a break of 23, 28, 9, 2, 17 and 10. I thought the frame was dead. But, The guy i was playing kept on playing... ! He made me miss 7 snookers, and cleared up to win on an extra black!

I did the reverse earlier in the season. My team were 3-2 down with two frames left to play. I then went on and found myself 34 down with only the pink and black left. I forced three snookers, each time he hit the black in his escape attempt. I then potted the pink and black to force a re-spot. I then potted the black on the re-spot to win the frame and send the match into the decider. I was well happy as you can imagine. That is until we lost the decider :(

[The Statman]

Those people who watch but never play the game have no idea what a luxury it is to be in that position!

I just cannot stand playing way, way, way below par, day after day after day!

I know all that malarkey about, just shrug it off and good form will return blah blah blah, but how long do you have to wait?

I lost 7-2 to a guy who, honestly, is a fair bit better than me, but it is not the results that stick in the mind, it is the form you showed. Honestly, it was pathetic!

The last five weeks I have been abysmal. I cannot seem to pot, play position or play safe (other than that, everything is fine!). About three weeks ago I made an excellent 67 which had an outside chance of becoming a ton, but the last red and yellow were awkward so I didn't beat myself up about that. But I thought, "Goodie, this bad patch is at an end and I can actually play this game." But that, as I say, was three weeks ago and I am getting a bit impatient. I was ill all last week so you can knock a week off the length of this misery, but... Aaarrrgghh!

Thank you for listening. I just wanted to get it off my chest!

[hegeland]

I could dito that. The way I've been playing the last couple of weeks I've missed positions and pots that I honestly have not missed since I was just starting to play over one year ago. Funnily though, my ability to play safe and get out of snookers have improved a bit during this time, I think.

As a result of my poor playing, I've not played as much as usual, and that has also probably contributed to my ability to, at times, miss just about every ball that isn't hanging in the heart of the pocket.

[trevs1]

Gosh it's three months since this thread was visited!

Well, tonight was wonderful.

In our club's twice-weekly handicap competitions, it seems I need to give a reasonable start to someone in my first round to instil in me the discipline to play properly. I happen to be of that kind of standard where there are several people who give me a sizy start, and several to whom I give a sizy start.

If I am given a start I seem unable to discipline myself whereas if I am giving the start I am somehow able to knuckle down and do the business. And thus it was tonight.

First match I was giving 56 a frame, was 1-0 down (best of 3) and needed 4 snookers in the second. I got them and won the match. My safety was superb! I had almost forgotten how capable I was of a good safety game. I won my next match 2-0, the next 2-1, the semi-final 2-1 after needing a snooker on the pink in the decider, and lost the final only on the final pink, 2-1 against an opponent to whom I give 63 points a frame.

I think this could just be the beginning of a new me! I've played 14 frames tonight, and it's been non-stop from 5 o'clock till just before midnight, which gives an idea of how methodically I've played.

My highest break was a good 49 (I played safe on the next red rather than risk a long red which I would normally have taken on) and no other 20+ break that I can think of.

I think I have just turned an important corner and will be a more consistent player for it. I will report back.



I'm amazed at the fact that you were giving 60..ish start to someone when you played fourteen frames overall and your highest break was only 49.

When I played any form of league snooker last, I can remember playing off a handicap of -35, when the maximum handicap was +49.

Many was the time I played people and gave 50 - 60..ish start, but, the gulf in ability and experience was enormous. If I'd played fourteen frames in a one day competition against players receiving huge starts from me, I'd be scoring 'REALLY' heavily, as there would be a chance every ten to fifteen seconds coming along.

What I'm getting at here is this:

The system of handicapping in your competition appears to be a little off balance.

The only players involved in league snooker giving those kinds of start from my memory were more or less very very good amateur or pro level.

If this is where you're at, then I understand, but, you say some players offer you big start too???

I don't get it

[Juza]

I have also been little bit frustrated with my game lately. I have played under my ability but i try to be not too hard to myself as i haven't had time to practice as much i would liked due to my work.

Hopefully i can battle my way out of this bad form. I'm sure i'll be okay when i get chance to do some solo practice.

It's unbelievable how frustrating this game can be :o .

[The Statman]

Everything returned last night!

I beat one of our club's better players, 7-6 on the final black! Played really well and enjoyed it a lot more than recently!

If you had seen me last week for the first time, and then offered me a game yesterday, you would have thought I'd been trying to falsify my handicap.

[Erwan_BZH]

I know really well what you're talking about Statman. I used to experience the same thing : playing great one day, playing crap the day after. And it leds me to an enormous frustration sometimes. I'm just boiling inside, so ashamed not be able to hit any form of concistency whatsoever.

I'm not a very good player, though I think I can be a good player. I played horrendously the past weeks and two days ago, I knocked in a 95 break on a lineup!! Ok, ok, it's just practice, and it's just a lineup but just to tell that sometimes, when I manage to stay 'in my buble' I can do great. But if I go out of this bubble, it can drive me mad not to reach my own expectations (that can be too high maybe). It's almost physical, I mean, sometimes I just punch a wall or something as I'm so disgusted wih the way I play! It's stupid, I know, but I love this game so much that I really want to perform well...

This game is marvellous when everything is clicking but it's a torture when things aren't...

[dantuck_7]

I've been in a good run of form in the last couple of months. Have had breaks of 40, 45 and 51 and then a fair few 20's and 30's. I find that if you put in the practise it will pay off. I had a fairly bad condition in tight games of not being able to play some shots (not being able to release the cue). This has slowly drifted away which has got to be good!

I know what you're saying about being consistent though - some nights I can't seem to reach the same level and I think you just have to accept that your better game isn't there.

Try and work out when to be aggressive and when not to be - get a few points and play safe then hope for a nice chance to start off.

[The Statman]

Time for my approximately bimonthly moan!

I entered our club handicap comp this evening and drew a guy in the first round whom I was giving 35 points a frame. This I would judge as a fair handicap and one from which I would expect a close game.

Well I conceded the first on the green needing three snookers and in the second I managed to score 2 points, one of which was a fluke! I was in a bit of a mood, not because I lost but because I had oodles of chances but didn't even threaten to take one of them.

Anyway I decided to get some dinner and, while waiting, gave this guy, who was also struggling somewhat tonight, a few games.

In the end we both picked up a bit, but so frutsrating was it that I used immoderate language at one juncture, as I rolled the cue across the table leaving all the balls in a line on the side cushion. It was a terrible loss of composure; almost certainly my severest example in 20 years of playing snooker.

And then I made my third highest break of the year, a 70, and left the club a slightly happier chap!

Nevertheless that doesn't alter the fact that I was abominable. I have never been so furstrated to the extent that I lashed out like I did.

Merry Christmas, by the way!

[hegeland]

I have to say I would have liked to witness that scene as when I met you you came across as the real "Mr. Nice Guy" if there ever was one. ;) But I know when competing most people form a different persona, and I have to confess I'm no exception. When playing cue sports, I'm very competitive, but never otherwise in life and not in other sports either.

Still quite a coincidence, I've had a really frustrating forthnight also. But it's been a mixed bag of emotions.

I went to Malmö to play in a ranking event. First day I played alright, kept my focus and composure and finished third out of approx. 45 players. This result made me certain to climb up one division on the national rankings, from class 3 to class 2, at the next event or two.
The next day it was a class 1 ranking event at the same place. Now I had no pressure on me as I had already fulfilled my goal for the weekend. But I still wanted to make a good run, as I felt my game was in good shape and I felt relaxed yet sharp.

I then faced a guy from the previous day. I beat him convincingly again. Then I faced a really good guy, lost by some margin but still played well and made two break and run outs. After that I had a match on the losers side of the draw. I had seen my opponent practise some before and I knew I had a very good chance, in fact I was certain I would win.

As the match progressed my game started to fell apart. I felt like I had lost my creativity and found myself more than once losing position badly or feeling unsure of what to do when at the table. The other guy was just as bad, and just as I had expected I got plenty of chances but blew them all. How frustrating! After nearly three hours (!) of pure blood, sweat and struggle from both players the score was 9-9 and the deciding frame was coming up. There was a possible plant on, although the odds of me making it was probably not even 50/50, and I probably rushed it a bit because not only did I miss the plant by a mile but also managed to go in-off with the cue ball. Ball in hand all over the table. My opponent then took the same plant on, sinked the 9 ball and won the match 10-9. Curtains.

It's 300 km to Malmö, so I had plenty of time to think about that match and that miss on my way home! :rolleyes:

Then just the other night, a somewhat similar thing happened to me. I was playing in a local handicap tournament. My opponent had a handicap of 16, mine is 2, first to 21 frames. I won the lag, broke and ran out, broke and ran out again. Before long, the score was 20-18 to me. Then I just had to sink a simple 9 ball, and did just that, but as I was reaching my hand over to my opponent, the cue ball seemed (at least to me) to get a really big bounce of the cushion and just had enough energy to go in-off! The next frame I had ran the table and left myself with a thin cut on the 9 ball, but still a pot I made 19 out of 20 times. I overcut it and left it hanging in the jaws and all of a sudden the score was 20-20 and my oppnent hadn't potted more than five balls or so, in total! He then found some sort of magical form as the broke and ran out the table. Curtains again.

Not that I used any foul words, that would be below my dignity of course! ;)

But I did almost break my cue in the first of these two incredibly frustraing matches. I also threw my cue away in disguist over my performance, on the snooker table next to our table, on more than one occasion, but luckily no one was playing on it!

I will take the holiday off and not go near a table for at least two weeks.

Let's hope we both get off to a fresh start in the new year!

[Erwan_BZH]

May I join your club, folks? :D

I've been playing crap for a month now...I just can't figure out how it and most of all WHY it started! I went on holidays early November, and when back home, I played superbly, full of confidence...But then, after maybe one or two weeks, my game fell apart again...No feelings in my grip, my stance, my vision is rubbish and my angles had been somewhere between Earth and Mars!

I'm really looking for the new Year to help me. I'm moving to Ireland on Jan 8 to settle there and start a new job. I really hope to find a good snooker club where I could receive some savvy advices, as well as a bit of coaching lessons. I badly want to improve and eliminate my technical defaults!!!

[C-J]

I'v had a similar experience.Came back from a 2 week holiday and my vision looked like new,saw the lines crystal clear and played full of confidence.
In this periode i must have changed something in my line up or sightning(i'm left eyed) because after a week or so i started to miss a few easy ones and my confidence slowly disappeared.

When you're going to a slump it's because something you're doing has changed.When this is intentional it's o.k.You are trying to make a change wich in the end will be for the better.When unintentional you need to find out what ecxactly has changed;is it the way you're feeling or thinking or is it something you're doing.

What always has helped me is going back to practise the straight and easy shots.Nice and easily,check the sightning line and how you have arranged your body around the cue,and focus!This way you can slowly gain back your confidence and go on from there.

[poolqjunkie]

I was goi9ng through a big big terrible patch in the last few weeks, i changed my grip, and everyhtign else and things were not looking up.
So, I decided to go back to practising the basic--I practised potting the black from all angles, potting the blue into the corner from the baulk, potting the pink into the side from all angles, and so on. I did not play with anyone for a while, and just practised the basic, then soem drills around the black, pink, blue, and runnign the colors and such. I also tried very hard to pay attention to what my eyes, hands, and the rest of my body were doing when I practise.

I am happy to say that i feel much better now, and I am more confident. I have decided to keep this practise routine for a while, to make sure I do not just bang ball around when I practise. I also think that if I am not playing well, it is a good idea to practise more, and play less matches, so i do not get frustrated over and over again.

One thing i think was causing my slump was the fact that I was not focusing well in the last few weeks. So, I also tried to practise the line up and really focus on each and every shot. The problem is to develop a rhythm. When i was playing bad, i had terrible rhytm and I could not think properly.

[C-J]

It's very difficult to focus the right way when your playing bad.I think this one of the most difficult parts of the game.When you're not playing well and/or only get difficult shots and your opponent seems to have an easy starter all the time you're thoughts go on the run and focussing the right way gets almost impossible.If you are able to change this thinking proces during a match you have got what it takes to become a very good player.

[Erwan_BZH]

I didnt play the past weekend and today was my first trainig session since last friday. I admit I had a good one. My vision was better, my angles too...I tried new grip/Cue action....trying to snap my wrist a bit more when strinking the cue ball and my strokes were a lot sharper and more accurate.
I'm going to work on it again tomorrow...

[CoachGavin]

I can completely understand what you guys are going through. I actually keep a diary of my snooker results and I even make comments on how i think i have played and what breaks i have made. I sometimes read over them and sometimes I obviously feel like my game is completely down the pan! When i have had a bad patch i write how i am fed up with the game and how i am getting worse instead of better. Its funny though because i then read on a few weeks and I see things tend to improve and their are constant ups and downs. I can also see that taken as a whole my game has improved over the past 5 years. I think peoples games can be seen like shares in the stock market. Shares have their ups and downs over the sort term but over a longer term they tend to improve which is why people have accounts with them. In theory if your technique is quite sound and you believe in it and practice then you should be able to keep improving but along the way you will have ups and downs. As a coach when things go wrong i always go back to the basics. If the technique has not changed and is okay then it could be a loss of confidence and changes of tips, cues, a few losses etc can bring this type of thing on. Anything that would replenish confidence is the way forward. I usually put in extra practice and avoid playing people i usually lose to for a few weeks until i feel back into the swing of things. Thats just my way, I am sure other people have other ideas.

[Stunrunthru]

I've not had a league match for a few weeks. Our next match is 2 weeks today and I have to play my league doubles semi final this month.

I'm practising once a week - every saturday a.m- with the Cuestars at my local club and I feel I'm hitting the ball really well.

With my team 3rd in our division and in my opinion heading for prmotion to the top division I'm really enjoying my game.

[The Statman]

I was going to resurrect this thread a week ago when the usuallu affable, easygoing Statman had a stinker of a night and was seriously peed off, and was not entirely respectful to either the table or his own knuckles!

However, I reached the final of our league's mini tournament, a one-evening, one-frame knockout for everyone except those in the top division. After my first opponent failed to show due to flu, it meant merely that I had won two frames and lost one, but I had played reasonably well and a little happiness was restored.

Yesterday I played really well. A couple of my mates couldn't make it at short notice, so I was on my own and actually embarked on some solo practice, something I rarely do (it is not for someone who possesses the amount of indiscipline that I do, and it gains one nothing!)

I was just packing up when another clubmate came in wanting a game, and we were still at the club at 11 o'clock! I finished off with a lovely 59 clearance, from four reds left, and today I am all smiles.

League match tonight; we shall see.

[hegeland]

Aye, nothing beats the feeling of finishing on a high note!

[dantuck_7]

I finished off with a lovely 59 clearance, from four reds left, and today I am all smiles.


Must have been pretty good. I had a decent practise yesterday was trying some of those mid-range straight screw shots. Still no good at them.

Statman, I'll defnitely be up for a rematch at Sheffield.

[royboy]

One of the things I do when I'm lacking confidence is lift my head on the shot too early because I'm anxious to see where the object ball is going. When I do this the cue usually comes through sideways, making it nearly impossible to pot the easiest of shots!

I find by concentrating on staying still and not worrying about the object ball I can usually get an improvement in my potting.

Hope this helps!

Cheers

[hegeland]

One of the things I do when I'm lacking confidence is lift my head on the shot too early because I'm anxious to see where the object ball is going. When I do this the cue usually comes through sideways, making it nearly impossible to pot the easiest of shots!

I find by concentrating on staying still and not worrying about the object ball I can usually get an improvement in my potting.

Hope this helps!

CheersIndeed; one should never neglect the fundamentals of the game.

[Deano82]

cheers guys read this thread yesterday morning then went and played pool and played rubbish was always losing 2-3 games behind against 1 guy the other was even worse than me so only lost once to him as i potted the black and white near the end of the session i was 7-4 down then won the next 9 games to win 13-7 so i only had a bad 3 hours thankfully

[Andy Evans]

But the most frustrating thing is that I see a shot and feel that I just don't have the energy to concentrate and think about all the things: stance, where to aim, where the cue ball will go, what pace is best to use, etc. I just sort of get down and swing my arm and hope the ball will go in. I know it sounds stupid saying that I don't have the energy to concentrate, but that's the best I can describe it right now. When I'm playing it seems to me as if I'm doing it just like I used to, with the difference that the ball no longer go in the pocket! >>

Yeah, right. I play with my son, who since he was 7 just picked up a cue and naturally played good shots. I agonise over my stance, cue action, cue and a million other things and he just thinks I'm self obsessed. He calls me "Martina" (Navratilova.... as in me, me, me, me) and can't see why I don't just play by feel.

The most depressing thing is what I do for a living - I'm a performance psychologist.

Enough to make you slit your wrists, isn't it. As they say - the cobbler's children have no shoes....... (I once had a girlfriend whose house had a half tiled bathroom with dripping taps - needless to say her dad was a plumber)

[dantuck_7]

But the most frustrating thing is that I see a shot and feel that I just don't have the energy to concentrate and think about all the things: stance, where to aim, where the cue ball will go, what pace is best to use, etc. I just sort of get down and swing my arm and hope the ball will go in. I know it sounds stupid saying that I don't have the energy to concentrate, but that's the best I can describe it right now. When I'm playing it seems to me as if I'm doing it just like I used to, with the difference that the ball no longer go in the pocket!

Andy,

I've had a few games like that in the last couple of weeks.

I think it was that I was just too tired to play properly. Every shot needed my full attention and it feels like you're putting everything into it. Running on empty.

[Andy Evans]

Andy,

I think it was that I was just too tired to play properly. Every shot needed my full attention and it feels like you're putting everything into it. Running on empty.

Well, there's the huge factor of depression and worry. Not really something to go into on a forum like this (or is it?) but a really large number of people hover about the mild depression line and when under stress show the typical symptoms like (from the Beck depression inventory):-

I feel sad
I feel discouraged about the future
I feel I have failed more than the average person
I don't enjoy things the way I used to
I feel guilty a good part of the time
I feel I may be punished
I am disappointed in myself
I am critical of myself for my weaknesses and mistakes
I am slightly more irritated now than usual
I put off making decisions more than I used to do
I am worried that I am looking old or unattractive
It takes an extra effort to get started at doing something
I get tired more easily than I used to

That little lot takes you into mild depression!!!

I wouldn't say I was depressed, but looking at the above that's pretty much how I feel after missing three easy shots in a row!!!

[dantuck_7]

Did anyone else read that today is the worst day of the year?

This was based upon weather, illness, debt and tidal surges on the River Severn.

A good excuse if anyone plays below par tonight.

[The Statman]

Did anyone else read that today is the worst day of the year?

This was based upon weather, illness, debt and tidal surges on the River Severn.

A good excuse if anyone plays below par tonight....or, if they're playing golf, above par!

I don't care: I'm not playing tonight!

[dantuck_7]

I had a couple of frames tonight. Had a missed blue on 37 with more reds on. That was quite pleasing but I then played football and missed 2 open goals!

[Alex0paul]

Been practising for a tournament this week. I had played brilliantly on Tuesday and Wednesday. However towards the end of my practice on Wednesday I started getting that tinny noise when I striked the cueball. Went to practice again on Thursday and couldn't control the cueball, struggled to make breaks over 10! Got home, had a look at the cue and the tip came off! Just put a new one on and will need to knock it in before saturday.

[The Statman]

I think I played as badly as I have ever done last night!

However, my cue was in for a re-tip and I was using a borrowd one substantially heavier than I am used to.

I was still surprised that it was so bad. I would have thought, with a heavier cue of similar tip width, that the main problem would be overhitting or overscrewing. But I was struggling to even make the correct angle, sometimes wildly wide of the pocket!

It was when I had had 8 attempts at the line-up and failed to exceed 17 that I decided my time would be better spent at the pub!

[hegeland]

Lol, sometimes you just have to realize that it's best to leave it as it is and come back fresh another day. The will to finish your practise session on a high note can be conter-productive if pushed too far.

[dantuck_7]

Statman thats pretty much what happened to me - think I had a 30 from the line out but nothing else. New table, new tip and new glasses were my excuse.

Looking forward to a good game in Sheffield then.

[The Statman]

Blimey is it really 4 months since I've had to vent my frustration?

Christ, I can't play this game! Have played absolutely [words deleted] for so long now it's unbelievable! Got into a bad patch, went on a nice holiday for two weeks, came back all refreshed; can't pot a ball.

Today I started with a break of 39 and I think it is more than double my highest break for over a month. Now I don't mind being beaten; I don't mind being outplayed. But I do struggle to come to terms with playing so shi te that I look like I first picked up a cue yesterday.

It also brings my opponent, with whom I'm supposed to be having some serious-ish practise, down because he doesn't need to worry about taking ridiculous shots on because he knows the most I'm going to make if he misses is approximately minus four.

And we're not just talking about missing a 50-50 shot by a couple of inches; we're talking basic, straight blacks off the spot with nothing even slightly fancy required for position. It is hard to remind myself that I am a player who fairly regularly makes breaks in double figures!

Any ideas? Apart from snapping the cue? (I must admit I've always had a slight curiosity as to the feeling of psychological satisfaction in the immediate aftermath of snapping a cue, but I'm not the kind of person to actually carry it out.)

The League's centenary season kicks off in about five weeks' time, it will be my sixteenth, and I think I seriously need to sort something out before then!

By the way, nothing in this post can be described as exaggeration. (Well, except the minus four bit.)

[Alex0paul]

Any ideas? Apart from snapping the cue? (I must admit I've always had a slight curiosity as to the feeling of psychological satisfaction in the immediate aftermath of snapping a cue, but I'm not the kind of person to actually carry it out.)


Its a wonderful feeling especially if you snap it in the right spot.

[The Statman]

I'll do it tomorrow then. I can say "Alex told me to." I think of the poor old piece of wood that's been unharmed for about 75 years until I came along, started playing my best snooker ever with it after playing for a decade, and then come along and snap it in a fit of pique (is that what pique means? I never have been sure) on recommendation from a trusted friend off the internet.

I'm beginning to warm to the idea. Do I need to have a pint at the time, Alex?

[dannyd0g]

Christ, I can't play this game! Have played absolutely [words deleted] for so long now it's unbelievable! Got into a bad patch, went on a nice holiday for two weeks, came back all refreshed; can't pot a ball.

Any ideas? Apart from snapping the cue? !

.)

Maybe go right back to the very basics ? - get the line of the pot, place the cue on that line, walk into the shot around the cue, cue precisely and robotically, head still - you cant miss.

Thats the theory anyway...:p

I know it wont be any consolation to yourself, but it is a consolation to a lesser player like myself that even better players also struggle just as badly sometimes ...;)

[Stunrunthru]

Chris - put your cue away until the start of the season.

I have been playing crap recently as well and always tend to do so during the summer therefore decided not to play until a day before the first match of the season.

You obviously love the game just like I do and I think you will miss it and be raring to go at the start of the season.

[Alex0paul]

I'll do it tomorrow then. I can say "Alex told me to." I think of the poor old piece of wood that's been unharmed for about 75 years until I came along, started playing my best snooker ever with it after playing for a decade, and then come along and snap it in a fit of pique (is that what pique means? I never have been sure) on recommendation from a trusted friend off the internet.

I'm beginning to warm to the idea. Do I need to have a pint at the time, Alex?

Its best to cause a scene. I missed a pathetically easy shot of which I had been doing constantly that day, put the cue against the table at a 45 degree angle and put me leg through it. Walked out and threw the two pieces in the bin. It felt good and the day after I played fantastic snooker with a cue from the rack.

Obviously if its an old cue I would recommend not snapping it,

[poolqjunkie]

Blimey is it really 4 months since I've had to vent my frustration?

Christ, I can't play this game! Have played absolutely [words deleted] for so long now it's unbelievable! Got into a bad patch, went on a nice holiday for two weeks, came back all refreshed; can't pot a ball.

Today I started with a break of 39 and I think it is more than double my highest break for over a month. Now I don't mind being beaten; I don't mind being outplayed. But I do struggle to come to terms with playing so shi te that I look like I first picked up a cue yesterday.

It also brings my opponent, with whom I'm supposed to be having some serious-ish practise, down because he doesn't need to worry about taking ridiculous shots on because he knows the most I'm going to make if he misses is approximately minus four.

And we're not just talking about missing a 50-50 shot by a couple of inches; we're talking basic, straight blacks off the spot with nothing even slightly fancy required for position. It is hard to remind myself that I am a player who fairly regularly makes breaks in double figures!

Any ideas? Apart from snapping the cue? (I must admit I've always had a slight curiosity as to the feeling of psychological satisfaction in the immediate aftermath of snapping a cue, but I'm not the kind of person to actually carry it out.)

The League's centenary season kicks off in about five weeks' time, it will be my sixteenth, and I think I seriously need to sort something out before then!

By the way, nothing in this post can be described as exaggeration. (Well, except the minus four bit.)

Hi,

Speaking from experience, when I am missing shots I know I can usually make, it is usually a fundamental problem. More often than not, I am sighting incorrectly because my head is sighting at a slightly different angle. Sometimes, it is because I am hitting the ball too hard, or holding my cue funny.

So, now, when I am not playing well, I pay more attention on my angle to the shot, and my sighting position (where is my head and which direction is it facing). It has helped me a lot.

Another thing I have noticed that has worked for me is to get a good start in a match. By that I mean to play the right shot, and get into the right mind frame in the beginning. This helps to build confidence and flow.

I was playing someone yesterday. I was not feeling too good about the way I was stroking the balls, when I had a chance, I tried to make as many points as I can and I selected my shots carefully so I did not go for any reckless shots. I really focused on my potting, keeping my head down, thinking about where I wanted my cue ball to be and so on. I had a break of 30+ and another 20+ and was up almost 60 on my opponent soon. That gave me a lot of momentum and confidence.

Although I did not play really well, but I played tight and was really focused so I did not really missed the pots I went for and did not leave much when I played safe. This kind of set the tone for the remaining match and I won 6-2, without making any 50+ break. I was not really on and only had a 41 and then some 20+ and 30+ and such, but I could feel that my opponent was a mess and he started leaving me shots that he should not have gone for.

If I had gone for some low percentage shots in the first frame, missed a few, let my opponent made a few points--I would have most likely panic, tried to change something in the middle of the game, then got frustrated, made the wrong shot selections, missed more shots, and then just got destroyed...

I am not sure if this applied to you, but it does to me, that i got a good start with the correct positive mind frame in the beginning of a match-regardless of my condition on that day.

I would like to share with you something that is easy to say but hard to do: at the end of the day, everyone misses, and no one wins all the time.

When i loss, I go back tot he practice table, and work on beating the guy so bad that he will fear playing me.

Just look forward to have the last laugh at the end.

[The Statman]

Obviously if its an old cue I would recommend not snapping it,Uh – NOW you tell me.......

[Gimme Danger]

Uh – NOW you tell me.......

Ha ha! I'll fetch the Duck tape......

[C-J]

Well,i have to admit i totally understand your feelings.I'v been on the brink of snapping my cue a number of times wich i managed to avoid only by biting it real hard....:eek:....so i could still use it when the aggravation curve was on its way down again.
In twenty years of playing the game has drawn me through hell and back countless times but if it would have been easy i would never had stuck with it.

Because of my stuberness and singlemindness in the past years the game has showed me all that can go wrong during all those hours on the practice table and in matches.

I am not a good player so i had to learn a lot of things by myself and because of that i now fully understand how difficult this game really is(and admire the pro's even more,especially Steve Davis)

The problem you are facing at the moment i think is lack of confidence.
IMHO you can only have real confidence when you're in the "unaware capable" stage.Now when you start to miss easy balls you start to check your basics so you go back in to the "aware capable" stage.In this stage a lot can go wrong because your eyes can play tricks on you(especially if you have a dominant eye) and maybe causes you to change your technics while in fact you only see it slightly different.When you have a dominant eye it's also very easy to line up slighty across to the dominant side when you go down and try to hold contact with the aiming line.When you are playing fluent(unaware capable) you are not thinking about this line when going down and therefore you automaticly come straighter behind the middle of the white giving you more confidence in sightning which i think is the key....

[The Statman]

Thanks.

As soon as the Duck Tape arrives I'll be back down the club!

(PS No, I haven't really snapped it.)

[poolqjunkie]

What cue are you...or should I say were you... playing with?:)

[PaulTheSoave]

I have heard rumours you are missing a couple of tournaments this season. Well, it seems you are not in touch with the game anymore on the highest level, which will be transfered to your own play on the table I am afraid. My idea is therefore, order your GP tickets as quickly as possible!!!!!!!:D





Any ideas?

[kellie-text]

I have heard rumours you are missing a couple of tournaments this season. Well, it seems you are not in touch with the game anymore on the highest level, which will be transfered to your own play on the table I am afraid. My idea is therefore, order your GP tickets as quickly as possible!!!!!!!:D

Paul's right Statters - a visit to Glasgow will do your game the world of good!

[hegeland]

Aye, words of wisdom!

[The Statman]

Unfortunately I still can't make that weekend!

Anyhow, in the mean time, I thought things were getting better. Had a couple of 40s at the weekend (nothing else in double figures, mind, but a couple of 40s nevertheless) amid an immodest number of pints of beer.

However, now I have resumed sobriety (cannot afford taxis all the time!) I find everything has spiralled downwards again.

It looks like my team's reserve is going to be me this year.........

[APK]

Hi Statman.
Do you remember a couple of seasons ago how I started playing like a dyslexic babboon? I understand your pain but PLEASE don't snap and launch your cue as we have seen unnamed others do in a fit of rage.
Who am I going to play against and be humiliated by when I finally get the chance to return to the table?

[Snookeraddict147]

my tip is... fight with yourself and ask yourself why do you do that and keep your targets in mind... then it shall go:rolleyes::cool::snooker:

[Blondie]

Unfortunately I still can't make that weekend!

Anyhow, in the mean time, I thought things were getting better. Had a couple of 40s at the weekend (nothing else in double figures, mind, but a couple of 40s nevertheless) amid an immodest number of pints of beer.

However, now I have resumed sobriety (cannot afford taxis all the time!) I find everything has spiralled downwards again.

It looks like my team's reserve is going to be me this year.........

Hey Statman,

...........no worries, do you manage to get a lot of practice in? For me, if I can't get to a table and put the hours in, everything goes a bit pearshaped.

Lol.....xx

[The Statman]

Hi Statman.
Do you remember a couple of seasons ago how I started playing like a dyslexic babboon? I understand your pain but PLEASE don't snap and launch your cue as we have seen unnamed others do in a fit of rage.
Who am I going to play against and be humiliated by when I finally get the chance to return to the table?I was being overdramatic and I am not going to snap it. I will pay a quid deposit for one off the rack when that day comes and it will be money well spent!

Anyway, what's with this dyslexic babboon malarkey? You couldn't read the balls?

[The Statman]

Well, I have been sharing with you all my woes over the last couple of weeks and I know that, not wishing to make this thread a public moaning place, I ought to share with you important lessons learned on the way through the highs and lows of the game.

On Wednesday I learned the most important lesson that I have ever learned during a game of snooker, and it is this:

Very important lesson

If you knock your knuckles on the wooden rail of the table, it actually hurts. Indeed, if you really work at the technique, it is possible to draw blood.

So, next time you're thinking of rapping your knuckles on the woodwork, bear this in mind before you make your final decision to carry it out.

(And if you do do it, and it does hurt, don't say I never told you so.)

[The Statman]

Gosh it is two months since I had a frustration moan!

But, today, a happier story.

Having played twice this month so far, I seem to have reversed my seemingly downward spiral and am now playing much better.

Proof, if any were needed, that we all have bad patches and we all come out of them, and we just have to ride the storm!

In fact, on Monday I bettered my highest break of 2008 and last night beat it yet again, making a nice 83 which could so easily have been more. I missed the green with a potential 108 looming! But I am not going to beat myself up about failing to make my first ton (been there before, years ago) and instead wallow in the glow of playing like someone who's actually picked up a cue before.

[Oldgit]

Well done!! I also had a frustrated moan a couple of months ago as I seemed to be on a similar downward spiral but last night our snooker team beat the top of the division team 5-0 and I went on last and played confidently for a change!!

You and I must be very similar standard.....last year I got two '88' breaks and this year have had a few 70s but still not managed that elusive century yet!!

Good luck

Oldgit

[poolqjunkie]

Gosh it is two months since I had a frustration moan!

But, today, a happier story.

Having played twice this month so far, I seem to have reversed my seemingly downward spiral and am now playing much better.

Proof, if any were needed, that we all have bad patches and we all come out of them, and we just have to ride the storm!

In fact, on Monday I bettered my highest break of 2008 and last night beat it yet again, making a nice 83 which could so easily have been more. I missed the green with a potential 108 looming! But I am not going to beat myself up about failing to make my first ton (been there before, years ago) and instead wallow in the glow of playing like someone who's actually picked up a cue before.

Congrat!
That is great!
Keep it up.:)

[PaulTheSoave]

Missing the green off the spot is exemplary for a bottler!

nah, just jealous, will never make a 83 in my life:(

[The Statman]

Missing the green off the spot is exemplary for a bottler!

nah, just jealous, will never make a 83 in my life:(I don't recall saying it was on its spot...

Anyhow, last night, had our league match in which I lost, effortlessly, with a highest break of eleven. Returned to the club, sank two swift pints, and knocked in a 74! (We shan't mention the ball I missed – not off its spot, Paul – with a 101 looming.)

[kellie-text]

Maybe you should have 2 swift pints before your league game Statters, it seems to help your game!

[April madness]

Maybe you should have 2 swift pints before your league game Statters, it seems to help your game!

Or experiment and have 3 pints - maybe that will help to get that century finally! :)

[The Statman]

Very important lesson

If you knock your knuckles on the wooden rail of the table, it actually hurts. Indeed, if you really work at the technique, it is possible to draw blood.

So, next time you're thinking of rapping your knuckles on the woodwork, bear this in mind before you make your final decision to carry it out.Further to my very important lesson earlier, I have a subparagraph to add:

The harder you hit the table, the more it hurts.

I can hardly type this and am considering going to the hospital when I get back from Telford (priorities!).

Oh, merry Christmas by the way!