Concentration on matches

[Djamil]

Hi friends,
i just realised something in my game and want some advice with you guys.
I'm an average snooker player i.e making minimum 30 breaks in most frames...
i don't know if it's lack of practice causing that cos i play only 1 or max 2 times a week.
When i start a match,my concentration seems very present .Say we are playing 7 frames,i realise i struggle in my last frames.Concentration gone and my cue action is no longer smooth and tend to miss easy pots which puts even more pressure as ur opponent tends to capitalise on it.
your comments are most welcome...
happy potting,
djamil xxx:snooker:

[CoachGavin]

It could be a number of things. One thing i would say is keep yourself hydrated and well fed. I used to play sessions of 20 frames and would buy a drink every couple of frames and have some sort of meal/food after a couple of hours play. If you dont drink water or something regularly this can affect concentration. Also it will depend what you are used to. When i was playing long sessions a game of best of 9/11 would seem really short. At about this time I would also find it quite easy to practice alone for 3 hours. Perhaps you need to practice alone so you get used to concentrating for longer periods?

Hope this helps in some way.

[bongo]

Concentration is something that is very difficult to keep over long peroids of time, so after a frame or so in a match, maybe you could go out of the room, go to the toilet, buy a drink or something where you can just relax and almost not concentrate is that is the way to describe it. CoachGavin's words were very helpful too.

bongo

[Djamil]

thanx a lot guys.Will try to do as you say.
thanx for help.
cheers,
d

[SD147]

Agree with CoachGavin about practising on your own. You should try to as much as you possibly can as it makes you more diciplined.
Sometimes the atmostphere of where you are playing can be a factor in losing concentration. If you are in a environment with lots of distractions the mind can wander sometimes.
This bit of advice is not always practical if you don't have a ref, but it has worked for me a couple of times; place a coin (not a bright one as it could be a distraction to your opponent) on the floor where you either sit or stand when not at the table. While your opponent is at the table try to keep your focus on the coin and it could help to stop your mind and eyes wandering around. I know it's not always practical if there isn't a ref as you would be re-spotting balls for your opponent, but could be worth a try.

[miscuehamburg]

Good advice here so far. Would like to add something:

@ Gavin: "Perhaps you need to practice alone so you get used to concentrating for longer periods?"

How true

-Set goals while you practise, write down the results and try to beat your record in any routine you do.

@SD147: "Place a coin [...] on the floor where you either sit or stand when not at the table. While your opponent is at the table try to keep your focus on the coin and it could help to stop your mind and eyes wandering around".

- Pick a spot on any object for you to comfortably rest your eyes. It could be anything in the location, as long as it is simple and does not move, ie resting balls, a brick in the wall, a (turned off) spotlight and so on. Focus on the spot and let all other irritations be. This should work even if you have to replace the colours for your opponent in the meantime.

[moondan]

I think its a lack of hours on the table, pure and simple.
If your a runner and you only run twice a week you are not going to compete with the guys who do five days.
Thirty breaks in most frames is damned good, and when you consider most good class players, especially ones with pro ambitions would certainly spend 50 hours per week on the table your doing pretty well, double your hours and you will double your average pretty quickly. Its no secret, just hard graft.

[Djamil]

Thanx a lot for all you advice.
happy potting,
djamil xxx

[kevy62]

practice makes perfect, there is no substitute or quick fix.

lone practice is much harder,
but you will see results faster, because your concentration levels will be higher.

[adam_s_101]

What do people think of listening to music or the radio with headphones while practicing alone?

I play about 5 hours a day and when playing alone find it helps to keep the concentration, just gives a bit of background noise in an otherwise empty room

[Gimme Danger]

Our snooker club tends to have VH1 on most of the day, so your gonna get music whatever. I'd sooner have it quiet, no distractions, clear head so I can concentrate on what I want to do.

[kevy62]

you could do better with no noise, but in most clubs, you have to get used to distractions, this can help make you block them out & play through any banter/music thus improoving your concentration.

[davidhawkes]

I play in a local sports club where there are 2 snooker tables in a purpose built room. This room backs onto the gym where dance music is played really loud.

All that can be heard in the snooker room is the base of the sound thumping through the walls and ceiling.

As far as concentration goes, you must focus on your shot - even if someone is talking at the same time!

[Gimme Danger]

I went up for an hours practice last night. Only three out of the eight tables being used, music channel on. I managed to shut out most of the chatter and sound from the TV, and had a really productive session.

[bongo]

I went up for an hours practice last night. Only three out of the eight tables being used, music channel on. I managed to shut out most of the chatter and sound from the TV, and had a really productive session.

Well done, it shows good concentration.