Billiard (pool) pros: Do you have any tips?

Question

Especially for being consistent. I have good days and bad days. The bad thing is, when I get to drinking it seems like I sometimes shoot some awesome and almost impossible shots, even when I call them. However, even that isn't consistent, and it sucks to have to drink to shoot good.

Obviously, I'm sure people will say practice a lot, but I've played pool for years, just wondering what is wrong with me. Sometimes I just get worried I'm not going to be able to make the shots, and sure that the other players are better than I am. Tonight I won some games, but mostly from pure luck. Well, I mean, it seems like I was playing defensively, even when I wasn't trying. I don't want to play that way all the time. But I don't want to have to drink to feel like I'm doing good, either. Thanks for any advice.

Answer 1

Sounds more like nerves  -A drink may calm you down -I used to get so calm they had to carry me out of the poolroom

But just relax and get focused on your game,and dont think about anything except making your shot and lining up for the next one

If I have BS on my mind you could take rails off the table and I couldnt shoot the balls off on the floor it can really mess your game up

Stay on your game and relax

Answer 2

Sounds to me like it is all about your confidence levels. Drinking makes you feel more confident and so you play better, as you commit to the shots and are maybe concentrating on the shots a little more as you know you've had a couple of drinks. Then you get a little too drunk and play worse. The drinking also makes you confident enough to try trickier shots which are maybe at the limit of your talent and so don't always come off for you.

So stick to having a couple of beers to get your confidence up and then play solid pool, stay away from those five rail double carom shots. And hopefully your confidence in your game will grow and you wont need the beer.