where have i gone wrong ?!?!?!

[Rabbithunter]

A month or so back. I could be knocking in 40s on the line up, and 20s during gameplay.

But as of late im struggling to string 3 balls together

The only change i can think of is i have bought a new cue..... could this be where i have change ?

[Terry Davidson]

As the saying goes...'it's a poor workman who blames his tools'. But, just in case, try shooting the spots and also check the tip. If you can put your thumbnail into the side of the tip with not a lot of pressure then that tip is spongy and should be changed. If it's the tip that came with the cue then change it anyway as I've found unless you request a specific tip from a cuemaker you will normally get one that isn't too good (exception would be the better known cuemakers like MW, TW, AT, DC, etc.

Terry

[Byrom]

Maybe it is your sighting - when you are used to a cue it is second nature to play with it and you do not need to think about what you are doing and sometimes with a new cue it takes a while to get used to how it feels and looks and this can distract you by you looking at or down the cue and taking your eyes off the shot.

Perhaps try making a effort to keep your eyes fixed on the object ball all the time and see if this helps.

[j6uk]

Cue resonance can effect touch, feel, using side and alignment quite considerably. For example I like a cue with some give in the shaft so, if you give me a stiff cue, I know I may have to compensate for that before I walk-into the shot.
To check the stiffness, hold the cue an inch or so bellow the balance point and firm-tap the free hand half way up the shaft, the cue will vibrate, if its stiff, not much.
For me a nice cue will visibly resonate for around five seconds enjoy

A month or so back. I could be knocking in 40s on the line up, and 20s during gameplay.

But as of late im struggling to string 3 balls together

The only change i can think of is i have bought a new cue..... could this be where i have change ?

[Rabbithunter]

Thanks.

Today i was playing against my brother and during gameplay.... same thing couldnt make any breaks really. I think my best was one red one black.

My brother left and i stayed on for half hour and was making some cracking shots.

One shot i was working on was potting the blue from its spot into the center. And powering the CB up through baulk and back again to somewhere near the black spot. I was hitting it well.

Then another.. spotted black and a red halfway between black and pink spot. The object was to pot black and leave position on the red. Then red back to black. Replace the red ..... you get the idea..

I was hitting these well on the practise table....

Could it simply be 'match pressure' thats makng me so bad

[Belloz22]

Thanks.

Today i was playing against my brother and during gameplay.... same thing couldnt make any breaks really. I think my best was one red one black.

My brother left and i stayed on for half hour and was making some cracking shots.

One shot i was working on was potting the blue from its spot into the center. And powering the CB up through baulk and back again to somewhere near the black spot. I was hitting it well.

Then another.. spotted black and a red halfway between black and pink spot. The object was to pot black and leave position on the red. Then red back to black. Replace the red ..... you get the idea..

I was hitting these well on the practise table....

Could it simply be 'match pressure' thats makng me so bad

It can be match pressure - i have the issue where i make 60+ in line ups in practice - and barely touch 20s in games, i miss anything simple or would give me a chance at a break. It is a completey different mind set playing match play to practice.

[Rabbithunter]

Well well well

I had my cue re-tipped and i gave it a sand down. Which i think has improved my cue action.

I was doing a 7red lineup today. 4between black pink and 3above pink.

Straight away i was knocking in 16s and 17s again. I hit a 24 and was determined to hit a 30

To my suprise i knocked in a 45 :-)

[j6uk]

So was your tip soft, medium or hard and what tip do you have on there now rabbit?

Well well well

I had my cue re-tipped and i gave it a sand down. Which i think has improved my cue action.

I was doing a 7red lineup today. 4between black pink and 3above pink.

Straight away i was knocking in 16s and 17s again. I hit a 24 and was determined to hit a 30

To my suprise i knocked in a 45 :-)

[alabadi]

This is quite common, change of tip , cue or even playing on a different table, we all go through periods where we can't string two pots together.

i play Wednesdays and Thursdays every week on two different tables at different venues, the difference in my form is alarming, on Wednesdays absolutely terrible, i feel like i have never played before can't pot a string of 3 balls together, then come Thursday and i'm a completely different player. i can get breaks of 30+ really baffling.

i really can't put my finger on it to why, i know that the conditions are different, however i have played on the Wednesday night table for a year now so you would think i was use to it, all i can say is it must have something to do with that enviroment that i don't get on with, lots of banter we usually play doubles noisy enviroment...etc.

the other venue is quieter i play with one player so every shot is my own....i don't know something must suit me better than the other.

but as long as you know that you can make the breaks, thats what matters just don't let it get to you, the more you get wound up the worse you will play, this game needs focus and a clear mind to get any success.

[Rabbithunter]

With regards to the question on the tip.....

I aint quite sure. Im not that technical as yet but i reckon the tip i have now is hard??

Something has definatly giveway... as i have just been down and was knocking in high 20s on the lineup and the best was 38.

Hopefully got a bit of form back..... i think sanding my cue down has helped? Giving a smoother action?

Thanks