What goes so badly wrong?

[the montrealer]

I posted on here about a week ago about how I was playing well and wanted to try and improve to get a century.

I have a lot of 50 breaks, and most weeks I'll get a 70.

I played today, my highest break was 24. I literally could not do it. I couldn't pot, couldn't get position. Absolutely crazy. So frustrating. I couldn't make 15 it was THAT bad.

How does that happen? How can I play so bad today? What am I doing wrong?

After a few frames of that, my confidence was through the floor.

HI It happens to everyone even the Pros have a bad day at the Office. Also note to help you are you playing a lot of snooker these days. Maybe you are burnt out take a day off . The next day you will be fresh and ready to play in your normal game.

[maxz]

hi, yea it happen once a while. i have been playing well since i got my new cue and been hitting very well for something like 45 days. suddenly yesterday and the day before, just cant get in the mood.scoring like 10s to 30s. so what i did was just chatting with other players, watching other player playing. just get a couple days off from the table and relax. or go back to basic also a good idea. good days ahead . ^^

[bricktip]

I think it would be good to note a few of the most common technical failures, but i don't mean for players who are developing, i mean for those who already have a decent technique and basically do the right things.

As Terry mentioned, it's usually something like not pushing straight through the line of shot, perhaps unconsciously steering the cue.

Another one is related to sighting. Ok, you maybe looking at the balls, but are you really looking? It's so easy to nonchalantly look at the balls, but not really focus as much as necessary.

It's so easy to over think technique, but if a handful of basic principles are executed correctly then it makes the game not seem so impossible.

[tedisbill]

Right, I didn't mention this before, but now it's badly in my head.

My bad form has continued, I literally haven't played this bad for over a year.

Anyway, 8 months ago, a load of **** happened (long story), and I started smoking. Well, 2 weeks ago I though enough was enough and I quit. So basically, literally, since the day I quit, I can't play anymore.

Is this totally in my head, or do you think withdrawing from a drug could cause my coordination to go off?

[Terry Davidson]

It's a fact that nicotine replaces the chemicals the body uses to transmit electrical impulses between nerve endings. While it will effect the coordination, it shouldn't take more than 2 or 3 weeks for your body to re-adapt.

Although I don't recommend it you could also start smoking again if this is really getting to you. How about trying nicotine gum for a few days and see if that helps but then again you would have to withdraw off the nicotine again

Terry

[tedisbill]

Thought as much Terry.

I'll just ride it out for another couple of weeks. The last thing I need now is to get addicted to nicotine again.

Cheers.

[tedisbill]

Well my bad spell continues :-(

I had a couple of 50s last week, but it seems like such a struggle. Feels like the hardest game in the world day after day.

I hope I get some confidence back soon, because my game is slowly getting destoyed :-(

[matt926_uk]

Try lowering your expectations a little and just enjoy playing, its a hard game to keep performing day after day at your peak, give yourself a break.
It also sounds like your too focussed on what breaks your making as a guide to how well your playing, sometimes the balls just aren't on and big breaks are impossible. Go back to basics, take each ball one at a time and relax.
Who cares if your making 20's, 30's or 50's they don't tell the whole story as to how well your playing. You can play a really good frame but only have breaks of 20 or the next frame the balls just fall nicely and you make 70.
Self imposed pressure will destroy your game

[tedisbill]

matt926 - I think you're right mate. Cheers

I've put myself under so much pressure to perform every time, I can't play now :-/

I need to just relax and try and enjoy it a bit again.

[vmax4steve]

A person can get addicted to nicotine in just a couple of weeks, and can also get off their addiction in the same amount of time. Nicotine is not a hard drug and is easy to quit. What is not easy to quit however is the nipple reflex; that is the real addiction because it is a part of human instinct whenever one gets upset, anxious, afraid or depressed. As an infant one will suck on mummy's nipple, a dummy, a bottle the thumb, as an adult anything that is taken orally gives the same effect be it food or drink or cigarettes.
The fact that a load of sh*t happened to you as you have stated means that taking up smoking was triggered by the nipple reflex ie: the need to be comforted by having something in your mouth, and this is the reason why so many people find it incredibly hard to quit smoking even though no longer addicted to nicotine.
That load of sh*t was and is evidently still on your mind and is affecting your snooker and until that load of sh*t gets taken care of or can be put to one side then your game will continue to suffer. No amount of coaching will change this, you have to get your head together.

[jimhassel]

Like the saying goes, everyday is not Sunday!
There are days when you are not upto the mark, physically or mentally. It won’t last forever. Sometimes, everything goes fine and you feel ‘this was my lucky day’.
I like the idea of a video, so you can get suggestions on how you can improve..

[tedisbill]

What goes so badly wrong?

Not too bad today. Couple of 50 breaks.

Starting to time the ball well again :-)

[magicman]

vmaxforsteve is bang on here imo. The game is won and lost in the head. If you're distracted by off the table stuff it isn't good for concentration or focus or getting in the zone or whatever you want to call it.

Plus anybody that knows Nick Drake has to be listened to!

[Terry Davidson]

magic:

For those of us who are ignorant or non-Brit, who is Nick Drake when he's home?

Terry

[DeanH]

Well I am a Brit and not-ignorant but I don't know who Nick Drake is either, ?