Tough shots and Easy pots. Help needed.

[totlxtc]

Im having a little bit of a problem with my game at the minute. As a few know im a UK 8 ball player, but im sure its relevant to snooker too.

Lately ive been having problems with easy pots. I know this sounds silly but here is my explaination. If im on what could be judged as a hard or very difficult shot, id get it 9 times out of 10 and get postion off of the ball perfectly. But lets say that now i have positioned myself perfectly for a nice easy ball, and ill miss!! By 2 inches or rattle it in the pocket??? Im still playing at the same pace, i still take the same time for the shot, yet i either miss or go out of postion completly. This is really beginining to hit my confidence now as constantly missing really easy shots is making me feel like a fool. Last season I had 16 games won out of 18....this season ive played 6 and lost 4!

Anyone able to help?

[Watford]

Practice, practice and practice.
If you stop worrying about it and but some hours in on the table it will come right. Set up some simple routines and clear the table down replaying anything you miss.
I do a nice one were I put three balls in baulk like on a snooker table. Black on it's spot with two balls next to it mirroring the baulk end and three balls in the middle. Start from baulk clear them without missing. Make them all simple shots if you miss replace till you pot it then start over.
It's not hard but you must concentrate and pot easy shots.
Put the time in and the pots all get easier"

[totlxtc]

Thats a good idea thanks Watford. Ive never suffered like this before and its getting embarrasing. Ill give that a go tomorrow night.

Plus with 3 balls, 50p table goes a long way

[Mellow Yellow]

Did this start as a one off and now its plays on your mind with all the easy ones. Perhaps your just thinking about the easy ones too much because of this. Just say to yourself you've got the harder pots mastered so the straight ones could be done blindfolded.

Like me i suppose, i play well in local league, won 18 out of 20 last season, but when it comes to interleague i've only won 1 out of 6 so far. I know its a higher standard at interlegue but i have had chances in all games that i would have easily taken in local league. Its just the way it goes. You cant win em all otherwise we'd be getting paid for it!

I think you just try to clear your head of all negative thoughts and go back to basics and concentrate 100% on potting the ball and getting position.

[steveflanuk]

What are you thinking about on the easy ones?

Are you thinking more about getting position on the next ball, or is it something like "I shouldn't miss this"?

Basically you need to follow the same routine as you do with the harder ones you don't have a problem with - and try to clear your mind. Even if you're only thinking "I shoudn't miss this" on the easy one's you're not concentrating on the pot 100%.

Your body knows naturally how to aim and how hard to hit the cue ball (evidenced by you potting and getting perfect position with much harder balls) - so just see the shot, get down, CLEAR YOUR MIND, and let the unconscious part of your brain take over.

It appears from what you're saying that with the harder pots you are relaxing more and letting your body go through the cueing motions naturally - which can be undone on easy pots. The main reason being is that because the pot is easy, you assume you will pot it and therefore think more about positioning for the next ball, etc without concentrating solely on the pot in hand. Therefore, your brain gets muddled and confused and the muscles in your body can't respond quickly enough to get the cue back on track.

Also, one thing you need to remember is that if you feel uncomfortable when cueing on an easy shot - don't shoot, stop and start again.

[Watford]

Jesus I'm having a bad year this year too!
I 8 balled a county player last week which was fun but had lost the previous 4 games against muppets.
I've not played interleague this year but I think I played 12 won 7 last and I think the first year I didn't win many at all.
I've actually played some of the worst games I've played in 8 years this season.

[totlxtc]

Did this start as a one off and now its plays on your mind with all the easy ones. Perhaps your just thinking about the easy ones too much because of this. Just say to yourself you've got the harder pots mastered so the straight ones could be done blindfolded.

It just started out of the middle of nowhere. Over the last few games i had just noticed that im missing the easier shots and getting the hard ones.

What are you thinking about on the easy ones?

Are you thinking more about getting position on the next ball, or is it something like "I shouldn't miss this"?

To be honest I feel im not thinking anymore differently about the easy ones than the harder ones

Basically you need to follow the same routine as you do with the harder ones you don't have a problem with - and try to clear your mind. Even if you're only thinking "I shoudn't miss this" on the easy one's you're not concentrating on the pot 100%.

Your body knows naturally how to aim and how hard to hit the cue ball (evidenced by you potting and getting perfect position with much harder balls) - so just see the shot, get down, CLEAR YOUR MIND, and let the unconscious part of your brain take over.

It appears from what you're saying that with the harder pots you are relaxing more and letting your body go through the cueing motions naturally - which can be undone on easy pots. The main reason being is that because the pot is easy, you assume you will pot it and therefore think more about positioning for the next ball, etc without concentrating solely on the pot in hand. Therefore, your brain gets muddled and confused and the muscles in your body can't respond quickly enough to get the cue back on track.

Also, one thing you need to remember is that if you feel uncomfortable when cueing on an easy shot - don't shoot, stop and start again.

I think you have hit the nail on the head as i do question my concentration after I have played the shot, which is too late. I remember someone saying when under real pressure make sure I take deep breaths and think about it then clear all thoughts and just focus on the shot in hand.

[RocketRoy1983]

From similar experiences i'd say you maybe need to take a bit of time off and forget about the game as best you can. When you return I find that you see things differently. If, however, this isnt possible as maybe your playing twice a week or so then just totally relax even imagine your not playing anyone if possible as if your just having a practice session. Be careful not to relax TOO much but just forget about youre past run of bad fortune and misses and youll be fine.

[totlxtc]

I have suffered from that before and after a really bad season i sat out for the next. But my whole game had suffered. At the minute i only get 1 day a week to practice and wish i could more. Maybe a break would do me good too

[RocketRoy1983]

I lost last week tuesday 2-0 in a small inter-club comp and had an ABSOLUTE mare. Im playing tonight for the 1st time in 9 days and im sure (as it has before) this will benefit my game. Im sure it will yours too.

[bongo]

Some good answers here, I agree with them.

[noel]

Some good answers here, I agree with them.

I agree with Bongo agreeing with all the sound advice.

It is a sad fact that any and all of us can go off the rails in a single shot, in a game, in a match, in a tournament, in a season, in a year... and unless you've broken a bone or other it's likely mental.
I especially get freaked out when I can make very difficult pots with shape but shame myself on the easy ones. When that happens I usually walk away from the table, and while my opponent hopefully doesn't clear all the balls, I think about how much I love snooker and how much fun it is

Later, as has been suggested, practice is , I find, the best punishment for slipshod play... and this may sound crazy, but it has worked for me in getting my mind and shot visualization back in sync...

"That shot is so easy, I could make it with my eyes closed"

Get down in your shot, sight, waggle, pause, close your eyes.
Picture the rhythm, the stroke touch and follow-through and shoot.

Open your eyes.

What happened?


=o)


Noel

[bongo]

Just never take any shots for granted, there is a good saying which is "The 'easier' shots are the ones you concentrate more on". There is any shot that is missable, don't do thinking you can pot it all the time, that is not fair on your game.

[kevy62]

Just never take any shots for granted, there is a good saying which is "The 'easier' shots are the ones you concentrate more on". There is any shot that is missable, don't do thinking you can pot it all the time, that is not fair on your game.

well said bongo! don't let your consentration slip for an instant!
I assume you guy's are refering to pool, so I have adapted a snooker attatude towards map reading for clearance purposes only.

I am of the opinion that as a general rule of thumb you should be confident/relaxed & above all else, commit to the pot, don't think too far ahead during your map clearance, (three balls or so ahead) & clear up.

[totlxtc]

Many thanks for the replies. I think i may suffer from lapse of concentration during easy shots. This Monday night im going to slow my game down and ensure to be on full concentration. Will let you know what happens