I Need Help with League Performance

[richproc]

I play in my local league over just 1 frame and this season has so far been the same as the last one where I am really struggling to find any form on match nights. My form in practice and in the competitions has been mostly great over the same period where I reached the semi finals of both the individual competitions last season and the final of the doubles. I just can't seem to concentrate as well in the league and I am really struggling for confidence, for example this week in the league I seemed really nervous and my cue action just felt all wrong. I did win my game beating one of the best players in the league but it was a real struggle to pot any balls and the ones I did pot seemed to wipe there feet.
I find the game really frustrating sometimes as everyone who has seen me play or played against me keeps telling me how good I am and they all keep expecting great things from me in the league. I have made century breaks in practice and 50 plus breaks in the league but I am no where near this good in the league even if the balls are really well placed I am struggling to make 20.
I just don't know what to do to improve my concentration for league games, I just hope someone on here can help me.

[hotpot]

One frame snooker is a real nightmare muck especially if youre first few shots go to pot . You have to be positiveand fancy the job right before the start of the frame through to the end otherwise you start thinking negative and loose the frame rather than your opponent winning it with good play .

Best of three or five you can start off negative and doubting yourself then after one frame very often something will click and your really up for it . you dont have that time in one frame thats why you have to be positive just before you start and remain so .

[Byrom]

Just go for it and attack the game - don't be afraid of missing - towards the end of the game you can battle it out for the win if it gets scrappy but be a bit more attacking like you are in practice at the start.

Obviously it depends who you play but most of the time the thing is if you are playing weaker players the colours end up going safe off their spots and break building gets harder in lots of league games after a while.

In a league game many of these players have good safety games so sometimes I think rather than find the baulk cushion and drag them and me into a safety battle I sometimes find it better to actually leave them a hard chance - or a trap shot - then pick them off when they miss.

Your confidence should come from the fact you know you can do it in practice - so it has to come sooner or later in a match. Tactics like I explained also help give you confidence because it gives you a sense of being in control at each stage of the game.

I think yours is more a lack of concentration and belief - so more a mind thing - but you can do it so remember the times you made those breaks and think positive - play a bad shot just move on what is done is done re focus quickly and play and keep to your natural rhythm.

That is my 2 pence worth

[j6uk]

Before your match drop a couple of quid in the fruti whilst necking a few pints of guinness. The guinness will fill your wellies with led so you can't move on the shot and you might win the jackpot..
Warning: If you win the jackpot on an away match you could get barred.

[rightoncue89]

Play attacking, get the reds open early, it will put pressure on your opponent.

They may well take advantage and score well, or they will leave you with a chance to get in amd score, thats the risk but over one frame i tjink its worth the risk

[GeordieDS]

League frames are all about the point for the team and if your a good player then any player worth their salt will try and disrupt your natural rhythm.
I always feel good when i get a much more talented player pointing his cue like a sword or slamming his hand on the table with frustration.

The trick is for you to just enjoy yourself and not worry about big breaks and then they will come.

[j6uk]

The journey is what its all about. Then if you've done all the practice and your a nice player then the breaks will come.

The trick is for you to just enjoy yourself and not worry about big breaks and then they will come.

[richproc]

Thanks for the help I will try to implement them in my next league game.