More practice, more pressure on myself, play worse

[mchpddl1]

Hi,

Just to share my feel:

If i play snooker with a partner once/twice a week, i feel the hunger for the game and play really well, in tune and in the good feel/concentration zone.

But if i start practicing on my own for 3-4 times a week, i feel i exert more pressure on myself and when i play against players again i play worse because of the desired to play better, and sometimes not even have the hunger for the game. Losing match again and again.

Its frustrating and disappointing, has anyone came across similar situation and how can i improve this pyscholoical side?

Thanks for your suggestions in advance.

[Alex0paul]

I had a similiar feeling as you have. I used to get so angry when I missed easy balls in practise thinking I should pot this. I realised I was going into most shots with a negative attitude in practice thinking "I shouldn't miss this" and therefore not fully focusing on just potting it.

However I have become more positive towards each shot and I pot them more times than I miss because I know I have potted them before so whats to stop me potting it again.

[Whirlbreeze]

I had a similiar feeling as you have. I used to get so angry when I missed easy balls in practise thinking I should pot this. I realised I was going into most shots with a negative attitude in practice thinking "I shouldn't miss this" and therefore not fully focusing on just potting it.

However I have become more positive towards each shot and I pot them more times than I miss because I know I have potted them before so whats to stop me potting it again.

Hi ,

Just to share my feel too, I used to feel the same way, but now have changed the mental attitude and it works wonders for me. I`m now finally winning games.

My practice is pretty much the same, however my main focus is now on my cue action rather than potting. The breaks and accuracy and constantcy comes natually with a sound cue action.

I`m in no position to say much, but maybe you could try a different focus during your practice and let it all come together during a match. I play better at matches now.

good Luck!

[RocketRoy1983]

Yes very interesting topic for discussion. The more practice you put in, although in theory you should take this into your match game, it doesnt work out like that. If you put in just 2 hours a week practice maybe the day before a match I would imagine most people would play better than if they played for every day or 3/4 days a week leading upto their match. This is due to, in my opinion, and as you state, more pressure and expectancy is put on yourself as you are thinking something along the lines of "Well I dont understand how ive missed that ive potted that 8/10 in practice"

Unfortunately, that 2/10 can occur in a match and it is then down to your mental game to put it to the back of your mind and get on with the game.

[Asi]

great topic. I suffer from the same scenario and its very frustrating!!! I think its due to the fact that I "over practice" the technical side of the game without any mental practice. I think you must find a balance between your practice and matches. matches are the best way to work on your mental game and hopefully all your practice benefits will come into the match. otherwise, you will be great in practice but very poor in match coos you don't afraid to miss or have not learned yourself to play your best under pressure. as I said, I have the same problem and I am trying to find solutions as well. any advise will help, as I love to practice by my own 4 times a week which really made me better at practice but unfortunately made me worse during game - doesn't make sense but as snooker is a mental game as well, I can see why its happening

[Fatboy]

Just play one shot at a time, no matter what the effort is: a pot, containing safety, leaving the white on the baulk cushion. Its all the same one shot at a time. Clear your mind of all other distractions, as they can only cause the troubles you describe, it takes a bit of time to achieve this shot by shot skill and years to master for most.

[1lawyer]

great topic. I suffer from the same scenario and its very frustrating!!! I think its due to the fact that I "over practice" the technical side of the game without any mental practice. I think you must find a balance between your practice and matches. matches are the best way to work on your mental game and hopefully all your practice benefits will come into the match. otherwise, you will be great in practice but very poor in match coos you don't afraid to miss or have not learned yourself to play your best under pressure. as I said, I have the same problem and I am trying to find solutions as well. any advise will help, as I love to practice by my own 4 times a week which really made me better at practice but unfortunately made me worse during game - doesn't make sense but as snooker is a mental game as well, I can see why its happening

This post is very close to how a lot of players feel...and me and everyone want to bring their practice game to the match table....I feel this person has already got the answer though....Asi....I will be interested if any of what I have said works for you...as it has for me and others....learning to think of nothing in a match can be hard when you have trained yourself to think technique technique technique in practice keeping calm too can be difficult if you are not used to it although it becomes easier over time...good luck:snooker:

[Asi]

Must give a lots of credit to 1 lawyer. few days ago I read the quote by Steve Davis you mentioned here:
"play as if it means nothing when it means everything" .
it seems to work perfect for me in matches!!! oh... and one more thing, the "don't think" advise you wrote here sounds too simple at first place but that's why its so powerful. it makes a complicated game simple.
Thanks for that and all other good tips. seems you know what you saying!!!

[Asi]

....learning to think of nothing in a match can be hard when you have trained yourself to think technique technique technique in practice keeping calm too can be difficult if you are not used to it although it becomes easier over time...good luck:snooker:

yep. what I have been doing during matches is to "promise" to my self that next time that I will be by my own on the practice table, I will think and correct all "technical demons" that pop up during the match... and guess what ... it worked. i had cleaer clear mind and played very well with some nice mini breaks.

[circle]

simple routines

These days i dont have time to practice as much as id like.

my routine is:
Long straight blues

Clearing the colours

A simple but mighty effective routine for me is, pot red twice off black spot, the off the blue spot then back to the black spot (as in billiards) this works wonders for me! it has everything. it also can replicate pressure as you know when you come close to beating your previous best score. Similar to when i used to do line ups, i never got round to clearing with just using the blue!


Ps as another reply mentions, potting the black off its spot into alternative pockets is useful, my best is 45ish, club manager didnt like the lines i left on table though!

[CTquick147]

I agree with circle about the long straight blues and clearing the colors. And also the blacks off the spot. These are all key if you are putting in solo practice, and we all should be. The long straight blue is a favored method used by the top coaches right now( a 9 out of 10 or better is the target). Like most of the players on this thread I have had moments where I knock in almost every shot I take on while I'm by myself, and struggle once I'm playing a frame.

I've come to conclusion that they are separate entities; in the past I'd practice alone and then play right after, I'd wear myself out with extensive practice routines, and then beat myself up for playing worse than I'd been potting hours before.

Now I know that if I'm playing seriously I shouldn't "over practice" that same day, we have only so many shots in us on any given day, and I'd rather have my best shots during a frame with someone.

I can't stress enough how that long blue routine has improved my stroke though. I used to spend too much time on the line-up, or just running the colors, both of which are very key I believe, but the long blue is best because if you're hitting it clean, getting the center of the pocket and leaving the white ball right on the blue spot almost every time, well, you're cueing it sweet.

[bongo]

I agree with the fact that 1 hour of focussed practice that is purposeful practice is better than 6 hours of knocking balls around. It is easy to say that after a missed pot just get on with the game but it isn't as easy as that is reality. When you have played a couple of hours of solo practice it is very difficult straight after to play a match as it is difficult to focus when someone else is at the table after lots of solo practice. It is important to get the right balance of solo and match practice.

[cm59]

this threads good its the same for me i practice on my own and play with my dad and brother they dont practice or play for position or anything so when they start to get pots that i miss and get in front i get really annoyed cuz i practice quite a bit i know that in time eventually i will constantly beat them just annoting at the mo

[poolqjunkie]

I like to practice and I hate it when I am not practicing enough.
The more I practice the better I play.
I dont understand why I would play worst if I practice say 6 hours a day.

[RocketRoy1983]

I like to practice and I hate it when I am not practicing enough.
The more I practice the better I play.
I dont understand why I would play worst if I practice say 6 hours a day.

Hey poolqjunkie

You probably wouldnt play any worse but 1 1/2 halfs solid and varied practice is more advisable than 6 hours just potting balls for fun if thats what your doing. However, if you can handle 6 hours and vary your practice with varying routines go for it.