Posted on 15. December 2011 09:00 by Johnny
This month's edition of Pool Synergy is all about how to recharge your pool game while dealing with being burnt out, rundown and generally exhausted. Be sure to click the header image above to read all of this month's entries.
For me personally, whenever I'm at the table and the balls seem blurry and I can't seem to stand up straight and no matter what I do with my back arm, the cue ball goes somewhere else, I know it's time to call it quits. The question is always: For how long? Sometimes, I adhere to half of the old pool player's advice "Take 2 weeks off, then quit." I will take a week off, completely, not watch pool online, not play pool games on my phone, not read AZB. Just a full system shutdown. Things have to be pretty bad for that to be the answer though.
Although, not every break has to be so severe. Sometimes, I'm just having a rough couple of weeks outside of the pool hall and simply don't have the energy to practice, but still want to be doing something pool-related. Those are the days where I troll AZB reading filtering through the messages looking for helpful advice or a good discussion of a player's mechanics, etc. Those are also the nights where I might play a game of pool on my phone before falling asleep to sort of unwind from the day, but still get some kind of pool-playing feeling. Or, if there's a good match on UStream, I'll watch a live stream. If not, YouTube has thousands of hours of great pool matches. It all helps me keep pool in mind without physically draining me.
And each time, regardless of the break intensity, when I do finally get back to the table, I'm refreshed, and excited to be there. I don't do any drills, and instead basically knock the balls around. Not put any pressure on myself, just let myself enjoy the simplicity of the game. Powerstroking shots just for fun. 3,4, and 5 rail banks just to see if they go. Essentially rediscovering the wonder and awe the game can provide when you're not confined to the strict rules of KISS for the money/match/league/title/tournament. It's like learning how to love the game all over again.
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