How to get confidence back?

[martj]

When you have gone through a rough patch and your confidence was low, what did you do to help raise it again?


Is it simply a case of playing thtough it and eventually it comes back?

I'm on a bad run at the minute, can't seem to buy a win and my confidence is so low it's unreal, i'm not getting hammered and i am putting myself against the better players so i'm not shying away from it but i just can't get over the winning line.

All the games i'm losing are pretty close but when you're struggling nothing seems to go your way, i find i'm always half a roll from a good snooker or getting unfavourable flicks, nudges, cannons etc. It's frustrating because i know i'm better than what i'm showing.

Any advice would be aprreciated, i think i'm gonna have a break for a few weeks or is that the worst thing you can do in this situation?

[Byrom]

I hum a tune to myself in my head to free my mind from any negative thoughts or nonsense - try it.

Oh and get back on the practice table on your own and work on it - a few tons on your own and you soon be back up and runing.
I think it is important to look at every defeat as a positive actually - because you have somethings to work at now - particular shots you missed - weakness in your game and safety.

Accept the bad deals brush them off quickly - if they hang around and bother in a game you are just helping the other guy yes? Dont let it bother you and you improve quicker and get better results - if it still bothers you after the game has finished and makes you want to put your cue away then that too is a weakness of the mind - you need to work on a calmer mindset. Dont let it bother you - this is just snooker - everyone feels like this at some point - it is a feeling that goes away in a couple of days.

So do something about it - rather than nothing.

Get prepared or prepair to fail.

[itsnoteasy]

Nice post Byrom.

[Byrom]

Nice post Byrom.

Thanks took me years of absolute torment to learn this - if I can save one person that pain jobs a good un.

[alabadi]

Byrom said it, one thing i can add although i'm no expert at it and am trying to do it myself is not try to force anything, i.e when playing you should just do it and not try to do it, because when you try it puts pressure on the shot.....easier said than done, i haven't managed to completely relax yet.

[Tiger800]

Stay in the present, anything else is just a distraction.
Slumps are often self fulfilling, it starts with a bad day or session and then you start to believe you are in a slump. If you start each day or session by clearing your mind and staying in the present focusing on one shot at a time you will put it behind much quicker. Push out the negative thoughts of being in a slump don't let them dominate your mind, one way to do this is distract your mind by focusing on a key word or words, when I get off track I use "eye on the ball" or "relaxed grip" and repeat this in my mind to get me back in the zone, your brain has a hard time doing two things at once so tricking it can work wonders.

[itsnoteasy]

I have been playing so well recently, and went into my league game tonight honestly expecting to make a fifty if I got the chance, well the chance came and on twenty five I tried to flick three reds open off the black and missed them, I then fell apart as I knew it was there for me, I have never felt nerves before because I never expected anything of myself before ,but now I know I can do it in practice it got to me tonight. I need someone good to play games against so I can get used to game play, no point knocking in fifties and sixties against myself, as it doesn't matter if I go first or second I always win lol.

[martj]

How to get confidence back?

Good post Byrom. It's so mentally tough this game and i am so mentally weak at times. It's tough when going through a bad patch you can just never see a way through it. I had a league game tonight and the team we played have 1 really good player and 4 weak players and their best player always goes number 1 on the card, capo asked me where i want to play and i said put me number 1, so i didn't shy away and take the easy game against 1 of the weaker players, bloke didn't miss a long ball and beat me pretty comfortably. Maybe it would of been a wise decision to play the weaker players and get a win.

[pottr]

Practice... practice... practice

[finabb]

Perfect Practice makes Perfect, get a good clubs member to see if he see's a problem.

It took my mate 3 shots to see that I was looking at the pocket and not keeping my eyes on the line of the object ball
After that I started making 50+ in matches and not just practice........made a huge difference

[itsnoteasy]

Perfect Practice makes Perfect, get a good clubs member to see if he see's a problem.

It took my mate 3 shots to see that I was looking at the pocket and not keeping my eyes on the line of the object ball
After that I started making 50+ in matches and not just practice........made a huge difference

Oh yes, this is my last big thing to get over, after that it's just hard work.

[inevermissblue]

I would be up for a practise session if we could possibly arrange it? Especially if your upto travelling to stoke. as there are a number of places we could play. All selected venues have very good playing conditions. 1 step in the right direction in terms of confidence!!!

[martj]

How to get confidence back?

inevermissblue: If that was for me then yeah i would be up for that mate definitely, i don't know what standard you're at, i'm not brilliant but can plat a bit in patches.

Feeling a lot more positive my confidence is still low but i'm not exactly playing terrible so it has to change soon.

[pottr]

INB is a very good player.

He'll be able to give you some worthwhile pointers.

[davipp]

When I was a much younger player and had hit a slump I would play pool. Because the table was smaller the potting would suddenly return and of cause up goes the confidence levels. I found it to help me anyway.