Frustration

[thai_son22]

I'm not sure if this fits here in the correct section but I'll give it a go.

Recently when playing I've found that i am so inconsistent. When i first go into the club i play to a level i can accept and feel good about my shots and ability. Fast forward a couple frames I'm the opposite. I completely can't play. The deterioration isn't even gradual. It's just the complete opposite of the spectrum. I literally cannot do anything. I lose the line of shot i feel as though i just cant do anything.

I start to think what am i doing wrong. My grip my this my that whatever it is. Recently someone pointed out my wrists are turned out on some shots etc but when this happens at the start there isn't an issue. Only when i cant pot it's an issue.

I understand that people have good and bad days but to suddenly stop playing after a couple frames it just happens time and time again and i just cant understand what's happening.

It's so frustrating and i really feel at loss with myself. I started tonight and went 4-0 up playing really good stuff and by the end of the night it was 4-4 and im just so lost with the game right now.

Sorry, my rant is over.

[denja]

I'm not sure if this fits here in the correct section but I'll give it a go.

Recently when playing I've found that i am so inconsistent. When i first go into the club i play to a level i can accept and feel good about my shots and ability. Fast forward a couple frames I'm the opposite. I completely can't play. The deterioration isn't even gradual. It's just the complete opposite of the spectrum. I literally cannot do anything. I lose the line of shot i feel as though i just cant do anything.

I start to think what am i doing wrong. My grip my this my that whatever it is. Recently someone pointed out my wrists are turned out on some shots etc but when this happens at the start there isn't an issue. Only when i cant pot it's an issue.

I understand that people have good and bad days but to suddenly stop playing after a couple frames it just happens time and time again and i just cant understand what's happening.

It's so frustrating and i really feel at loss with myself. I started tonight and went 4-0 up playing really good stuff and by the end of the night it was 4-4 and im just so lost with the game right now.

Sorry, my rant is over.

This could be a mind thing ! how many of us go to pieces when we see the winning line come into veiw ? I have suffered from this many times you think I have it in the bag then you start playing NOT TO LOSE ! INSTEAD OF PLAYING TO WIN ! This nine times out of ten happens when you are playing a real good player or a important match where a win would be are great boost to your ego and status, the reverse can also be true when you are playing a less skillful player and dont want to look a twit ! ok ! in a ideal world we should not let ego pride and fear get in the way but lets face it its a human trait, BEST ADVICE ! Play the table not the man (or woman) (must be P.C. correct). block out the guy standing there smugly chalking his cue and play the real opponent the table and the balls.

[Shockerz]

block out the guy standing there smugly chalking his cue and play the real opponent the table and the balls.

If you get a hit edgy because of who your playing then look at the floor or the balls and work on clearing your mind of any thoughts. Its something you have to keep working on as I found out last night (I got frustrated as the guy continually messed his shot up and left nithing ir snookered me; I should know better but thats why we have rules and I forgot mine!).

[bluenose1940]

denja said :-
BEST ADVICE ! Play the table not the man (or woman) (must be P.C. correct). block out the guy standing there smugly chalking his cue and play the real opponent the table and the balls.

Shokerz said :-
If you get a hit edgy because of who your playing then look at the floor or the balls and work on clearing your mind of any thoughts. Its something you have to keep working on as I found out last night (I got frustrated as the guy continually messed his shot up and left nithing ir snookered me; I should know better but thats we we gave to have rules and I forgot mine!).

I just love these two bits of advice, thanks chaps. I've got two finals to play next week and I already know how I'm going to be feeling on the nights and so, in any games that I play between now and then I will putting these gems to good use.

[Byrom]

That's snooker for you - one minute you cant miss the next minute your head goes missing

Basically it happen to all players.... Being a snooker player is like being a mountaineer - you strive to reach the top and there are days you feel on top of the world you are sure of your footing you allways make the right moves and you get a euphoric buzz when you finally succeed - at your best you reach the pinnacle and can see everything clearly.

Other days weather turns bad and maybe you lose your footing and have to turn back.

Answer - remember you did that mountain before - you will do it again - most of the best players are not the ones that learn to win the most they are the ones that learn to cope with losing the best.

[Shockerz]

That's snooker for you - one minute you cant miss the next minute your head goes missing

yep, what a game this is. Lost 2 black ball games Thursday in lge individuals comp and backed it up with playing like a lemon in the league. Back to to basics, and clear the mind of what's gone and play a couple of confidence games to bed in what you already know!

[Cue crafty]

denja said :-
BEST ADVICE ! Play the table not the man (or woman) (must be P.C. correct). block out the guy standing there smugly chalking his cue and play the real opponent the table and the balls.

Shokerz said :-
If you get a hit edgy because of who your playing then look at the floor or the balls and work on clearing your mind of any thoughts. Its something you have to keep working on as I found out last night (I got frustrated as the guy continually messed his shot up and left nithing ir snookered me; I should know better but thats we we gave to have rules and I forgot mine!).

I just love these two bits of advice, thanks chaps. I've got two finals to play next week and I already know how I'm going to be feeling on the nights and so, in any games that I play between now and then I will putting these gems to good use.

Small addition to this great advice - never forget you play to have fun, we all want to win, that normally means we have played well. The majority of us on here don't play to pay the mortgage, so smile, be happy and relaxed playing the game you love, be patient if you miss a couple and it will come. I've been guilty of forgetting this in matches myself lately. Deciding to accept what ever comes your way in a match with a smile means you win whatever the outcome. : )

[Shockerz]

Small addition to this great advice - never forget you play to have fun, we all want to win, that normally means we have played well. The majority of us on here don't play to pay the mortgage, so smile, be happy and relaxed playing the game you love, be patient if you miss a couple and it will come. I've been guilty of forgetting this in matches myself lately. Deciding to accept what ever comes your way in a match with a smile means you win whatever the outcome. : )

It's a great point that we all agree with but it's difficult to imaging a pre match plan as, focus, keep a clear head, remember your rhythm, keep it tight to start with etc etc and, and by the way, enjoy it no matter what.

It's funny because we all agree with the enjoy it bit but I guess we are all competitors and sometimes get the balance between being competitive and enjoying the sport we love.

We all love to win because that's easy to cope with and if not careful you can also get a little easy going over losing and it becomes a habit so I guess we all go through our own cycles.

I think I prefer to accept defeat and focus on what I can do different and if the other player was awesome then just respect you are in the presence of greatness, bite his snooker tip off whilst he's in the toilet and be at peace with Karma.........or just have a beer and laugh which seems best.

[Cue crafty]

It's a great point that we all agree with but it's difficult to imaging a pre match plan as, focus, keep a clear head, remember your rhythm, keep it tight to start with etc etc and, and by the way, enjoy it no matter what.

It's funny because we all agree with the enjoy it bit but I guess we are all competitors and sometimes get the balance between being competitive and enjoying the sport we love.

We all love to win because that's easy to cope with and if not careful you can also get a little easy going over losing and it becomes a habit so I guess we all go through our own cycles.

I think I prefer to accept defeat and focus on what I can do different and if the other player was awesome then just respect you are in the presence of greatness, bite his snooker tip off whilst he's in the toilet and be at peace with Karma.........or just have a beer and laugh which seems best.

You've hit the nail on the head there with "balance".

I guess I'm trying to get back to when I was a lad, never had a lesson, never knew what balls I was playing with, or what table make was, cushion bounce etc etc and still used to knock 50's in regular. I don't remember having any agenda back then, just knock balls in and look cool! ; )

Wonder how Ramons doing with that time machine?
Lol. (tips don't taste nice and my teeth are falling out) : P

[Shockerz]

You've hit the nail on the head there with "balance".

I guess I'm trying to get back to when I was a lad, never had a lesson, never knew what balls I was playing with, or what table make was, cushion bounce etc etc and still used to knock 50's in regular. I don't remember having any agenda back then, just knock balls in and look cool! ; )

Wonder how Ramons doing with that time machine?
Lol. (tips don't taste nice and my teeth are falling out) : P

Oh to be fit, sharp energetic and young again popping down the club every night, what a life!

I certainly still enjoy life, probably even more now but it was nice potting balls for fun years ago, what a great game this is!

[thai_son22]

im not old by any means but i suppose in my teens i could go on for hours and hours and just sustain my play. and if i went off the boil, i could play it out and play myself back into rhythm.

ive found that now i just cant seem to do it and i guess thats whats getting to me. i dont actually feel pressure weather i play people better than me or worse off. i just seem to always start cueing pretty well then fall apart

[Shockerz]

im not old by any means but i suppose in my teens i could go on for hours and hours and just sustain my play. and if i went off the boil, i could play it out and play myself back into rhythm.

ive found that now i just cant seem to do it and i guess thats whats getting to me. i dont actually feel pressure weather i play people better than me or worse off. i just seem to always start cueing pretty well then fall apart

It's gotta be a concentration thing (personally I think it's natural with age).

I used to play all night sometimes and then go to work but I'd have to sleep for 2 days now if I did that.

Need to be like water and go with the flow on natural things, maybe it's just about finding a different way to find the same result.

[vmax4steve]

It's definitely a concentration issue, I'm the same, if I'm playing a best of five and I don't win 3-0/3-1 then I'm going to lose.

[ace man]

Can anyone give me one example of a player who plays the same level each time he gets to the table? I have never ever seen anything like that. Not even close.
Of course better players will be more consistent, but even they will have patches of absolutely horrible standard of play.

[Cue crafty]

im not old by any means but i suppose in my teens i could go on for hours and hours and just sustain my play. and if i went off the boil, i could play it out and play myself back into rhythm.

ive found that now i just cant seem to do it and i guess thats whats getting to me. i dont actually feel pressure weather i play people better than me or worse off. i just seem to always start cueing pretty well then fall apart

I had some great advice about women years ago, when you find one your crazy about, don't suffocate her with attention, fear, or obsession. Stay cool, leave her alone sometimes when "space" is required, do other stuff, live a full life.

It's just the same with snooker or anything else, if you let it go it will always come back and be yours forever...