Run of the ball

[martj]

Why is run of the ball so cruel? I swear i am the unluckiest player to ever pick up a cue, my 3rd year playing the game now and i've constantly had rotten luck it's soul destroying and after this season i will never play a competitive frame of snooker ever again because i can't deal with losing to luck. I don't mind losing fair and square but when my opponents are constantly getting flukes and run of the ball at crucial moments it really is a horrible way to lose and i can't put up with it anymore. Sorry for the rant just felt like i needed to get it off my chest.

[jrc750]

Can be a tough game sometimes

[tedisbill]

It's no fun in league games.

I presume you play in the West Mids league then?

[martj]

Run of the ball

Yes mate play in west mids drives me insane, played a bloke 2nite and totally outplayed him in all departments but the run and flukes hes had i just wanted to wrap my cue round his head tbh lol. For example hes potted last red and hes on the pink, the yellow is very near to yellow pocket so it's a simple pot on pink and stun up off side cush, well hes missed the pink by a mile and the white has landed plum on yellow only for the pink to roll over the pocket lol! Earlier in the frame i put him in 2 snookers and hes got out of them, not hitting his intended red i might add, and fluking snookers back on me! damn game!!

[tedisbill]

That's why I just lost interest in one frame snooker.

It's everything about it. You can't play your natural game, it's all cagey. Flukes and run of the ball make a massive difference. Plus I was getting nervous. I just lost interest in it all.

[mythman69]

Don't let other players flukes spoil your love of the game! It happens to us all. Just remember that sometimes you will fluke a win too. It is just a part of the game. Sure some people seem to get a LOT of flukes but just ignore them or you will soon be very frustrated and your level of play will suffer. Just keep practicing and you will improve and win a greater percentage of your games even if you encounter some fluky players. Just think of it as a challenge i.e. getting out of a fluke snooker or winning the frame from one fluke snooker down.

[martj]

Run of the ball

I know mate it drives me nuts. I suffer with nerves too as you know from my other thread but the last few weeks i've been able to control them and play well and same again 2nite untill the run killed me.

Just don't think competitive snooker is for me, after this season i'll just practise at least you can laugh flukes off then cos it doesn't mean anything, if it costs you the frame you just play another one.

Did you used to play west mids?

[mythman69]

So if you lose a competitive snooker match just play another one. The more you play the less you worry about your nerves and flukes. It is not like you lost the World Championship. Every match, someone has to lose and sometimes it is you. Even ROS loses matches and he is a GOD on the snooker table. The more you play, the more you will win but you will also lose some too. If you don't play any competitive matches you wont win any at all.

[martj]

Run of the ball

Mythman i've been trying to think like that for the last 2 and a bit years but it comes to a point where you just can't take anymore. A lot of people probably say this bit i rarely get the rub of the green with this game, everybody i play with or have played with says they can't believe how much bad run i get or how much players seem to get against me. All this and suffering with nerves just takes the enjoyment out of it. Maybe i'm just not mentally strong enough for this game.

[martj]

Run of the ball

I can see your logic mythman and perhaps you are right, i don't mind losing a frame if the guy has played well or if i have played like a bloke with no arms then i can deal with it. But losing to complete flukes is soul destroying. And it keeps happening.

[mythman69]

Keep at it! Ignore all those comments about how unlucky you are. Only 2 and bit years, you are probably over the worst of it and it will get better. Once you can play with less nerves you will worry less and less about flukes. Remember that everyone gets nerves during a comp game but over time you get less and less and play your natural game more and more.

I was reading Jimmy White's 'Snooker Masterclass' and he talks about overcoming PNT (pressure, nerves and tension).

"I have never seen or met any player who doesn't succumb to PNT and I've been around snooker for a long time."

"Keep your cool. It's easy to be composed when everything is going right. It's easier said than done to remain calm when things go against you. Don't get angry with your opponent, the table, the noisy spectators or yourself if you are playing badly. It only makes your game go from worse to diabolical. Say to yourself: OK, I'm playing badly or I'm not getting the run of the balls, but I'm going to keep trying."

"discover the great pleasure of turning a defeat into a win"

[mythman69]

Why kick yourself because the opponent won on a fluke? It happens! Doesn't mean anything about your play does it? I feel a bit bad when I win by a fluke as I would much rather pot a good long black to win. But I don't feel bad when they fluke it to win. Treat it as a chance to learn mind control. If you can overcome this you will win more games. After all snooker is as much a mental game as it is a physical one. Nerves and frustration will lose you a lot of games. Overcome this and you will be a much better player! Not easy and it takes time but it is part of the challenge of snooker.

A player at the club always says "bring it on" when the other player flukes a snooker. He has the right attitude I reckon!

[tedisbill]

I know mate it drives me nuts. I suffer with nerves too as you know from my other thread but the last few weeks i've been able to control them and play well and same again 2nite untill the run killed me.

Just don't think competitive snooker is for me, after this season i'll just practise at least you can laugh flukes off then cos it doesn't mean anything, if it costs you the frame you just play another one.

Did you used to play west mids?

Yeah. I played for Landywood, the team that's in division 2 now.

[scottley]

Yeah, theres a lot to be said for temprement, it can be annoying when someone gets a bit, you just have to roll with it, easier said than done though!

[fred.england]

I firmly believe that over the course of a session, season or sometimes just a single frame, flukes will even themselves out. It's like tossing a coin! If you did it 100 times it would probably be pretty close to 50/50 at the end. I understand it's hugely frustrating to lose on a fluke but I bet there are times when we win on a fluke but conveniently forget it happened!!! Keep at it martj. Don't give up on the game mate. Have a few sessions and write down all the flukes you and your playing partner get. I'm very sure you will be surprised with the results....