losing my head

[seanh3927]

hi just wondering if anyone could help me
im 15 and play snooker twice a week once with my family and the other in a junior tournament. But when i go with my family i tend to loose my head ill miss i few easy balls and then i start getting annoyed with myself then when i come back to the table i just want to pot if i miss again then thats it for the night ill probably not pot much for the rest of the night how do i keep focus and not let my head get in the way ? many thanks

[snookerdad]

Hi Sean

Playing with family can cause all sorts of problems in your head.

Why not knock that on the head and use the time instead for practising set routines. And only play matches in your junior competitions.

Tim Dunkley (World Snooker coach)

[seanh3927]

ok will try that thank you

[deant1982]

Practicing with family can be EXTREMLY off putting. I was taught the basics from my dad, who at his best was a very good player. His standard has declined a lot now, but it is mostly due to the fact he can't bend over the table and his eyesight is rubbish, but he still knows the correct shots, and when he plays it right, he knows exactly what is going to happen. This proved to be a major help when I was learning, as if I doubted why I was told a shot and it didn't go as planned, he would set them up as they were, and do it himself, just to show it would work like said. I played against him more than anyone, getting to the point where I beat him probably 90-95% of the time I played him. HOWEVER, at the time, I was making regular breaks in friendly games well in excess of 50 and 60 (one session - 6 frames - 2x60+, 2x50+, 3 x 40+, 3x30+) but I could never get passed 42 against him. No idea why, but several times I got to 42, and stopped. After playing him since I was 13, (now 28, nearly 29), I have only ever gone passed 42 once against him (77). It just is unexplainable, but for some reason I know a lot a of people that cannot play against family members. It must be something purely psychological. Several friends of mine play their parents regular, and all struggle and splutter through the frame. Usually they win, but it is a very rare occurance that it is by playing to the standard that they are very much capable of.
If possible, try to find a different practice partner whenever you can. Always look for a player that is better than you, but not someone that is head and shoulders above you. This way, they will (unintentially) make you improve your game in order to compete with them. Continue concerntrating on your own technique, style, and overall game, and you will get it right. If you ssearch through my posts, I put one on another thread about someone that gets nervous in matches. Trying the approach I suggested there might help you in your situation as well. Alternatively, look up Terry Davidson on here, and go through his posts. He is a coach based in Canada, and what I have read is very knowledgable and will try to help. I can't imagine he hasn't posted something about this type of thing before, or at least about mental discipline.....
For the record in case you were interested, I should have made 100+ when I got the 77, I cleared a difficult table to 2 reds left, both about a foot to the side of the black towards each pocket (one either side) straight shot, white about a foot away from the red, all colours on the spots, and missed the red. D'oh! That would have been more special, as in 60+ years of playing, he has never had an opponent make a century against him! I would have been the first, and considering the level he always played at, That would probably have been my proudest achievement.