How to stop thinking about too many things!

[Tom Read]

Hi all,

I had a coaching lesson a couple of months back and haven't gone back since due to not feeling like I've put into practise everything, as well as having the time and money.

There were many points that were addressed in my lesson, and now I seem to be overcomplicating them all. Instead my shot choice becomes blurred while I'm sorting out everything to do with my stance, so I find myself reverting to my old self. The old self being not all technically correct but a lot more fluent and confident when at the table.

Any suggestions on how to prioritise thinking about the shot, rather than everything else as it's really bugging me and is becoming quite annoying!

Thanks.

[philthoms]

Hi Tom,
If you have had a 73 break then your natural stance etc must already be decent. I know players who have had all their natural ability disappear because of too much coaching. We used to call this being over-trained. Just make sure the basics are right, practice more if you can and you'll get better results and enjoy the game more. Use the trusted practice technique of playing the white from brown to black spot, returning hopefully in a straight line. Experiment a little but don't overdo it. Above all make sure you feel comfortable and controlled when playing.

[Tom Read]

I don't know where the 73 came from to be honest, I haven't been able to string a 25 break together of late, just have no confidence. I'm trying to practise more atm as I've finished my exams now, so I have a fair bit of free time up until October-ish, which is when the new season starts, so hopefully it will all fall into place by then!

Well thanks, I'll try and concentrate on the basics, as I'm probably overcomplicating everything.

[philthoms]

Tom,
Your biggest break of 73 is stated at the end of your original post, with an 83 in the line-up.
Have a look at Frank Callan's website, Frank is a well respected coach. He coached Hendry and many others a few years ago.

[Terry Davidson]

Tom:

When practicing work on just one thing at a time until it becomes natural and don't worry about all the other coaching points. I would recommend you write them down and then score them off one at a time as you 'get' them.

This way at least you should only have one coaching point on your mind at any time, whether practice or match play.

I always write down about 4 or 5 points for my students plus usually give them a video with those points explained and then they go away and practice them one at a time and come back once they have the points mastered. Some are very minor but some having to do with the backswing and delivery can be difficult and hard to master

Terry

[Tom Read]

Yeah I wanna work on them one at a time, but a lot of them combine for the end product of cueing well. Like, how will I know whether I've cracked one thing, as something else I haven't yet concentrated on may be preventing it from working properly, if you get me.

[Terry Davidson]

Tom:

I hate to disagree with you but they can all be separated into invidvidual solo practice cells. For instance, you mentioned the stance and that is probably the best thing to start with, forget about all the rest and just master the stance.

The next thing if your coach mentioned it is the grip once you've mastered the stance and have your set-up down pat. The grip should be nice and loose and the cue is held with only the forefinger with the thumb just holding the cue in the bed of the 4 fingers, with the back 3 just touching the butt. You should form this grip BEFORE you get down into your (now) perfect stance.

The next thing should be forming a solid bridge with a strong 'V' which is fairly simple but make sure the wrist is straight and you can see the tip of the forefinger past the thumb.

Next is the backswing. Most players have a backswing that is too fast as isn't straight and this is where a lot of their delivery problems originate. The golden rule on backswing speed and length is it has to be slow enough so the player can POSITIVELY control it and keep it straight all the time. The length should be proportional to the power you want or else long all the time (ferrule almost back to the 'V')

If you don't have a natural rear pause then this could be the next thing to work on although there are some pretty damned good players around that don't have a rear pause but keep in mind almost all of the very top players have one so it might be a good thing to have (I don't have one and I wish I did but it's a little too late for me).

Next comes the delivery. It should start out slow (a longer backswing makes this easier) and build up speed as you approach the cueball AND CONTINUE TO ACCELERATE THROUGH THE CUEBALL until your grip hand hits your chest (on ALL shots).

Last but bar far the most important thing throughout this is your solid stance should mean you don't move the upper body AT ALL from the time your bridge hand hits the table until the end of the delivery when the grip hand is against the chest AND STAY DOWN ON THE SHOT FOR AT LEAST ONE MORE SECOND OR TWO AFTER THE CUE HAS COMPLETED DELIVERY.

If you can learn these points one at a time you WILL improve and once you are at the point where you are delivering the cue consistently (and hopefully straight) you will improve RAPIDLY.

Terry

[miscuehamburg]

There isn't anything better than Terry's advice, but I would like to add a mental note to it. Your headline suggests to me that you are thinking too much whilst on the table. Thinking about your stance, grip etc when lining up a shot is very contraproductive, to say the least. No wonder you also state your 'old' self feels more comfortable & fluent when you fall back to it. Try to hone your technique in short solo practise sessions (step by step as Terry recommends), but it is imperative that you must not have this kind of thoughts when you are actually playing. Then it is time to rely on all you have got at the moment and just run on automatic. W. Timothy Gallwey's books ('The inner game of Golf/Tennis') are worthwile reading on this aspect.

[DandyA]

There isn't anything better than Terry's advice, but I would like to add a mental note to it. Your headline suggests to me that you are thinking too much whilst on the table. Thinking about your stance, grip etc when lining up a shot is very contraproductive, to say the least. No wonder you also state your 'old' self feels more comfortable & fluent when you fall back to it. Try to hone your technique in short solo practise sessions (step by step as Terry recommends), but it is imperative that you must not have this kind of thoughts when you are actually playing. Then it is time to rely on all you have got at the moment and just run on automatic. W. Timothy Gallwey's books ('The inner game of Golf/Tennis') are worthwile reading on this aspect.

great post miscuehamburg, I agree entirely ...

[tommygunner1309]

Tom

What Terry has outlined above is just perfect and absolutely correct. (as usual). If you have until Oct before the season starts then you have bags of time to practice what Terry has told you on a daily basis. Remember PRACTICE MAKES PERMANENT. By the time the league starts your stance, grip etc will come naturally. Once you can get down in the same position every time, you can cease to worry about it and just concentrate on the shot. Always remember what you want to achieve from the shot, ie cueball position, but don't take your eye off the pot. Jimmy White once said "If you make a 50 break, you can make anything>"

[Tom Read]

Great replies everyone thanks, especially Terry's. It's just quite frustrating at the moment as it's almost been a step backwards, but I knew it would be like that, which is why I've done it in the close season ready for the new season. Best get practising! Thanks again

[Inoffthered]

You should form this grip BEFORE you get down into your (now) perfect stance.

Even tho this was directed at Tom, I have to thank Terry for this one piece of advice. Since doing this ( it's amazing how you forget the small details that make all the difference ), everything feels good.

Now, when I play a stroke, I'm in control of the cue again, where sometimes ( before ) it felt as tho I must have been forward of the vertical in the address position.

I'm back to consistently following through ( i use the Del drive technique ), without dropping my elbow just before striking the cueball. Sweetest I've hit the ball in ages ( talking as someone who plays once a week now! ).

Thanks Terry!