Hello All:
It has been a long time since I have been on the Forum. I am a KATRINA survivor who was seriously injured after falling off my roof onto a pool deck (not to be confused with a pool table). I had significate wind and flood damage to my home and personal property. I was abused by my insurance company and mortgage company, and contractors who ripped me off and caused me to mistrust everyone and rebuild my home and our lives. The contractors are in prison today and have been there for 2 years. It is a shame, but I am not alone with the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
My Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) got worse and I have been recently diagnosed with Type II Diabetes and Neuropathy problems that the cause has yet to be determined. Diabetes and RA affect your physical and Mental condition in a very predictable and adverse way.
For those who don't remember me, I am 53 years old and use to be one heck of a good pool player who grew up in the city of brotherly love. My pool and video library is fairly extensive and I have played some of the greats as I met them on my journey throughout the world.
Well, after mentioning the above, I will answer your question about choking, the mental game, concentration and consistency, play the table and not the opponent, and whatever other name you want to use to resolve your poor performance.
To be a really good pool player you have to be in good physical condition. I don't mean if your fat and out of shape, you are not going to do well, but in the long tournaments, you will not hold up like the guy or gal in real good shape. Your entire physical condition affects your mental and emotional state.
The next thing is that you have very good and consistent fundamentals such as your comfortable stance, rock hard bridge, smooth warmup and follow through stroke every shot.
Learn as much as you can by reading a few good books and watching some good training videos that you can use that rewind button. Learn about cueball physics, kicks and banks, safeties, jumping etc...
Iimprove those shotmaking skills by taking your knowledge to the table and practicing drills etc... Play every type of player (League and Tournaments).
I will tell you a secret about choking, there is no secret. The answer lies with what I said above. Play the table is bad advice, you are playing an opponent. An opponent who can be beter or worse then you. An opponent who may be better at sharking techniques that can affect your play. Many folks try methods such as wearing earplugs or listen to music to focus out the shark. It don't work with the better sharks, because you still have to keep your eyes open.
Try this concentrate on every shot, take your time, do the warmups, follow through on every shot, if a shark makes a move, get up, and patientlty go through the routine again, and repeat until he/she stops.
Yeh, thats right. You have to in good physical and mental shape, know as much as possible, be skilled, be consistent, and be patient. You can lead a horse to the water, but you cannot make him drink. No book or video is going to make this happen, you have to have good control of your body parts and emotions.
When I get excited, I get sloppy. When I get mad, I get sloppy, When I see victory before putting in that 8 or 9 Ball, I miss the shot. All shots should be the same, just another ball.
Good Luck to all.
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Philly Willy |
