December 13, 2004
To H*ll With Bad Luck
What do you do when you encounter a match that simply does not go your way? Often times, we get into a game where all the rolls seem to be going the other way and we can’t get a break. It is not long before we can see ourselves telling our friends that we lost because of bad rolls. We can see the conversation in our mind. We can almost hear the words that are sure to come. This is a glimpse of an expected future and if we are not careful we will satisfy our self-fulfilling prophecy.If all the rolls are going against you, it is time to slow everything down. Take extra time on the break. Stand at the head of the table and imagine the balls racing around with great speed. Listen to the expected sound of a good break. Anticipate the shattering of the rack. Follow through. Stay away from the temptation to deliver a defeated stroke on your break shot.
Go through your pre-shot routine several times in a slow and deliberate manner. Trust your stroke. Each time you lean into a shot, believe you will make the shot. Look good shooting the shot. Stand tall. Do not yield to the torments of that fickle mistress lady luck. Square your shoulders and expect good rolls. Close your eyes and visualize the momentum swing that is coming your way.
To often when bad luck comes our way we give up. After all, luck is something we have no control over. It comes and goes on its own and when we feel victim to the mistress of bad fortune, we throw our arms up in despair. This gesture alone will increase the bad rolls. Don't give in. When you resist the onslaught of bad luck, you strengthen good luck. We strengthen that which we focus on.
In one match I was having a very hard time with my stroke. It was so bad I wished my opponent would run the set so I would not have to go to the table. Everything I did was comically wrong. My safeties left him straight in. When I missed, which was often, I left the ball in front of the pocket. It was like touching hot coals. I sat in my chair and hoped he would just run out.
Leave me to my misery. On one shot, a simple stop shot for position on the 9-ball, I decided to draw it the length of the table, and then back down to end up where a stop shot would take me. I loaded up the cue ball and delivered a crisp "I don’t care draw stroke." The cue ball raced down the table, and back up for perfect position on the nine. This ridiculous attempt was to throw pie in the face of bad luck. I overcame it with my actions. My opponent thought I was crazy but for the rest of the match, my stroke was free and smooth.
I managed to crawl back in the match and then snapped the nine in at hill-hill. I never did have that conversation with my friends.
Actions Speak Louder than Words
(A side note from Samm’s Side Pocket)
I am often approached by players who say “I want to get better. How do I become a better player?” They may play in leagues or play socially with their friends, but they insist they want to take their game to the ‘next level.’That’s great.
I’m always very excited to meet or hear from any player who is as interested and as passionate about this game as I am. I am very willing to share any experience or insight that might be helpful, upon request.
Well, here’s the catch. Ya’ gotta put your money where your mouth is. Meaning, most of the time, when players ask me what I’ve been doing to improve my game, they don’t realize that not only do I read about pool, watch and study the pros, and take formal instruction I also put in the time. I practice for hours and hours a day and that’s the only way I have been able to come as far as I have in the past six months. My practice is structured to focus on specific areas of my game. I practice with a purpose and I don’t just bang balls around.
Practice, to me, does not mean playing in leagues or playing socially. Practice means, as The Monk tells us: taking action, measuring my progress, making adjustments, and consistently repeating these steps. I have a regimented practice program that I follow. Any player that does not believe that this will benefit them has either not given it a serious try or was not working on the right things. You cannot develop your fundamentals by playing in leagues and tournaments every night.
When other players ask me what they can do to improve their game, my number one answer is always “practice,” because no amount of accumulated knowledge can compare to the training and conditioning of your body. It is not productive to complain about your progress if you are not working hard. I encourage you to get out to the table and hit balls.
It saddens me to see players with great potential not give themselves a chance because they don’t take the time to strengthen their weaknesses. It offends me when people think that I have accomplished so much simply with instruction and videos alone. On the contrary, if I don’t practice at least a couple hours a day, I notice an immediate difference in my stroke.The bottom line is: Actions speak louder than words. Don’t be disappointed by your performance when you’re not playing up to your potential. The only way to improve is to invest the time. No amount of instruction, leagues/tournaments, books, or videos will help you accomplish your goals if you don’t help yourself. Practice is fun. Let’s pile rocks. Thanks to all the readers for your constant support.
You know you’re a D Player when…
5. You approach the only girl in the pool room who’s just trying to practice, assuming she must want to play with you.6. Your idea of following through is jumping up in the middle of your shot.
7. You stand within arm’s length of the table during the entire match.
Do these three things in all your endeavors. Along the way, you will want to make adjustments. If something is not working, you will be able to change your approach and make it happen. This is why it is important to measure your progress. This is why I have these lessons here. I want you to be able to measure your skills. Each of these shots takes a specific skill.
Once you master this skill, you will be able to use it in a variety of other shots. Not am I helping you with a specific shot, I am helping you develop skills to handle a wide range of situations.
Note From The Monk
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I
write a column for several billiard magazines each month. My editor
has added a value to my articles. These articles do take time to write
but they come from over twenty years of experience in this game. For
my articles I receive compensation. The work I do has a value.
This newsletter has a value of $4.00 per issue. Over a year’s
time, the newsletter is valued at over $200.00. If you add the
contribution Sammantha puts in, the value is even higher. At no time will I ever charge for this
newsletter. |
I consider you my personal friend and it is an honor to write for you each and every week. I enjoy sharing my strengths, hopes and experiences with you. Share this newsletter with a friend. Help me put reach those 10,000 special readers who share our love for this game. You can do this by signing up a friend this week. Thank you so much for being the kind of player who loves this game as much as I do. Remember, we share the integrity and gentle spirit of good sportsmanship. This sets us apart from others. You will find the message, respect for the game, and honor for those who play it the right way, in all of my writings.
The Draw Shot
Do not shoot this very hard, just snap it through. Let the draw stroke develop for you. Do this several times. Set up again, get ready to shoot, close your eyes and deliver a soft snappy draw stroke. You will do very well with this exercise.
The cue tip goes through the cue ball faster than the cue ball leaves the area. Snap through with confidence. You are not allowed to be tentative. Snap through and have fun. Smile when you deliver the next draw stroke and yell out, “God, I love this game.”
