Went for a game today and...........................

[bluenose1940]

Had an absolute nightmare! For the life of me I could not pick my angles all morning. However hard I tried I just could not get my shots right, I was even missing balls sat over the pocket! I thought that I was picking my spot (BOB) OK but, when I got down on the shot I had lost it completely. I didn't pot more that 3 successive balls all morning (until the very last frame) and, I gave 25 points away in one frame alone!

To cap it all, I broke off in 3 frames and in each of them, I brought one of the reds down the table and twice this red finished up midway between the Blue and the yellow and the third one actually nestled up against the yellow. Amazingly the remainder of the pack remained very tight in each case and, equally amazingly, the white finished up where I wanted it, on the baulk cushion.

A slight recovery was gained in the last frame when I potted yellow through blue and the pink juddered in the jaws!

I'm playing again on Thursday and so I'm hoping that I will have things sussed in my mind by then.

[DeanH]

Went for a game today and...........................

I went down the club tonight for some solo practice which have not done for sometime and played really well, for me
Did a couple of spreads and then some blacks with a few reds, then blue off the spot (a nemesis of mine ), both to the pink and though the baulk, then a full line up.
I deliberately didn't count the breaks but I felt in the zone most of the time and played so comfortably.
I must do this more often

[DeanH]

Went for a game today and...........................

I mention this because recently I have been having similar experiences that you described
So I hope to have broken the trend

[cyberheater]

I mention this because recently I have been having similar experiences that you described
So I hope to have broken the trend

I did pretty much the same today and will do the same tomorrow. It's amazing how free you play and how much better you cue when you're not thinking about scores or your opponent and your just trying to get into the zone and follow your natural tempo. I really wish I could play as well when I play other people.

[jim evans]

Just got beat by mate 7-8 nowt so join the club lol

[Neil Taperell]

Just go back from a league match ......missing balls from less than 2 foot . Don't know why I bother to practice at times

Bloody frustrating game

[jrc750]

I got hammered tonight, couldn't pot a ball, sometimes i just don't understand this game

[lesedwards]

I got hammered tonight, couldn't pot a ball, sometimes i just don't understand this game

I thought I might as well add my two cents. Played a best of 3 against my Son tonight which never practices and he beat me 2 to 1. I average 2 hours a night practice on my table and I can pot balls and make great shape then put me in a game position and its like I cannot comprehend all the balls on the table and I miss easy shots thinking about where I am going next mean while when I get down over the ball I looses all train of thought to where the cue ball is going and how hard to hit it which results in lots of reds with very few colours. The last game I made 8 reds and had a total of 22 when we got to the colours. That is bad. Very frustrated.

[Neil Taperell]

But i bet we will all be back on the baize again very soon !

Me , taking a week off until next weeks League game . Hopefully will be play a bit better .

I think the main frustration is that we know we can play better and seem to lack consistency . Can't stand missing easy pots either .
My mind must be else where . Also , beat myself up and the head goes in matches .

So the conclusion is that i need to improve concentration and consistency .

[fred.england]

But i bet we will all be back on the baize again very soon !

Me , taking a week off until next weeks League game . Hopefully will be play a bit better .

I think the main frustration is that we know we can play better and seem to lack consistency . Can't stand missing easy pots either .
My mind must be else where . Also , beat myself up and the head goes in matches .

So the conclusion is that i need to improve concentration and consistency .

Neil, I often tell myself a famous Steve Davis quote "play like the game means nothing but in reality it means everything" (or something like that) I think it's one of TSF members signature. I still play like crap sometimes but it's worth a try!!

[Neil Taperell]

Yeah Fred , i like that quote .

For some reason when i play matches i lose all sort of thinking unlike when i practise . Strange really . It is like Les says in a couple of posts up ......can't comprehend the balls. It's all most like tunnel vision i suppose .

I played better last year when i had a lot of external pressure ......this season i have most things sorted and thought i would be relaxed when i play but i seem to be getting more and more frustrated . Deep breathes all round and slow down a bit .

Any way it's only a game of snooker.............don't know why i get so stressed

[fred.england]

My game has really slowed down but amazingly, my standard has really improved. It's a lot to do with the time I now have on my hands (rather be playing snooker than in the house with the missus! Shhh). I'm finding that my slower game has improved my concentration and focus on each individual shot! Please don't get me wrong, I'm not as slow Thorburn of Griffiths played. I'm out of breath most of the time so I don't even have to tell myself to slow down. It really has helped my game of late.

[lesedwards]

Now we have our frustrations out, anyone have any good positional practice routines other then the line up?

[Neil Taperell]

I watched one of the decent players down our club do 15 reds in a sort of square pattern around the pink last night .............he eventually missed after 110 pots !!!!

Perhaps one of the respected coaches or members on here could put up a diagram of this and a few other practice routines .

I wasn't really paying attention , as i was too busy making a break of 15

[DeanH]

have a look at Fergal O'Biren's website
http://fergalobrien.ie/practice.html