Is it possible? Could I really be starting to improve?
As the days went on from my initial three day intensive, it became harder to maintain the intensity. There were days that life came up and I couldn’t even practice at all. Without a schedule set in stone, I found that it was difficult to maintain a consistent practice. I decided that I needed to schedule my practice. I would make practice like any other thing in my life, if I set aside a particular time of day that was dedicated to practice, I would know that I was not practicing when I should be.
Of course, me being me, I set the schedule too aggressively. After talking to Demetrius about my schedule we found that I was trying to do way too many drills before mastering any. I simplified my schedule a little and was able to start practicing a little more consistently. I didn’t make every practice session, but when I missed a scheduled practice, I knew that I was missing a scheduled practice. It held me accountable.
Another league night came and this one was interesting. It was a nine-ball match and my opponent was quite good. I didn’t fail or buckle under the pressure though. I started out way ahead and had a commanding lead. As the match was nearing its end, my opponent decided to switch the game up and start playing very defensively. It was a battle of a safety game, where if my opponent didn’t have a perfect shot that was 100% in, they would safety. It slowed the game way down and every ball was painfully difficult to get. I ended up winning because I was so far ahead, but my opponent’s tactics did work somewhat. They made quite a bit of ground back up, and if they had started that tactic earlier, then I might not have won that game. I was just too far ahead when they changed tactics.
I played good pool though. I might have played my best pool so far this league season. My pre shot routine was solid and my shotmaking was starting to improve again. I kept a slow pace and didn’t rush a shot. I didn’t make any stupid mistakes, and I played pretty good pool. I wasn’t on fire, but it was by far the most consistent pool I’ve ever shot from the first shot to the last shot. I did notice that the difficult of my shots increased after my opponent switched strategy, but I don’t think it got to me. Was I getting better at the mental game? Was this a fluke? Was I actually improving? These are all things that are racing through my mind. All I know is I won the game. I was very cordial, but when I got back to my car and I was alone, I absolutely did a giant happy dance in my car. As I drove home, it felt really good. Even if I would have lost, I might have still felt super excited. I was starting to play better pool.
Takeaways: My opponent was able to make some headway by playing a more defensive game against me. Perhaps, I should have also changed my tactics and played more conservatively too, or perhaps I should have played more aggressively to compensate for the conservative play. It felt like in football where the other team makes a halftime adjustment and starts to improve. I’m not sure what I should have done as my “halftime adjustment” to compensate for this change, but I clearly should have done something. I’ll need to figure that out.
Of course, me being me, I set the schedule too aggressively. After talking to Demetrius about my schedule we found that I was trying to do way too many drills before mastering any. I simplified my schedule a little and was able to start practicing a little more consistently. I didn’t make every practice session, but when I missed a scheduled practice, I knew that I was missing a scheduled practice. It held me accountable.
Another league night came and this one was interesting. It was a nine-ball match and my opponent was quite good. I didn’t fail or buckle under the pressure though. I started out way ahead and had a commanding lead. As the match was nearing its end, my opponent decided to switch the game up and start playing very defensively. It was a battle of a safety game, where if my opponent didn’t have a perfect shot that was 100% in, they would safety. It slowed the game way down and every ball was painfully difficult to get. I ended up winning because I was so far ahead, but my opponent’s tactics did work somewhat. They made quite a bit of ground back up, and if they had started that tactic earlier, then I might not have won that game. I was just too far ahead when they changed tactics.
I played good pool though. I might have played my best pool so far this league season. My pre shot routine was solid and my shotmaking was starting to improve again. I kept a slow pace and didn’t rush a shot. I didn’t make any stupid mistakes, and I played pretty good pool. I wasn’t on fire, but it was by far the most consistent pool I’ve ever shot from the first shot to the last shot. I did notice that the difficult of my shots increased after my opponent switched strategy, but I don’t think it got to me. Was I getting better at the mental game? Was this a fluke? Was I actually improving? These are all things that are racing through my mind. All I know is I won the game. I was very cordial, but when I got back to my car and I was alone, I absolutely did a giant happy dance in my car. As I drove home, it felt really good. Even if I would have lost, I might have still felt super excited. I was starting to play better pool.
Takeaways: My opponent was able to make some headway by playing a more defensive game against me. Perhaps, I should have also changed my tactics and played more conservatively too, or perhaps I should have played more aggressively to compensate for the conservative play. It felt like in football where the other team makes a halftime adjustment and starts to improve. I’m not sure what I should have done as my “halftime adjustment” to compensate for this change, but I clearly should have done something. I’ll need to figure that out.
No doubt about it, you're getting better! Great shooting and thank you for keeping us posted!
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