My 2009 New Years Pool Resolutions

I was on the AZ Billiards forum New Years Eve (yeah, I’m a real party animal), and in response to a thread about New years resolutions I posted mine. A few minutes ago it hit me that I hadn’t posted them here, but should have.

Photo of Fireworks
Image by springm via Flickr

I don’t want to turn this blog into a diary about everything I do in pool, that’s just not me. But posting these resolutions will have a longer term purpose, so here they are:

  1. Solve my problem with staying down. This is my biggest difficulty and once conquered will make a huge difference in my game. More than half my misses are because of it, and if I could eliminate 1/2 my misses . . .
  2. Gain more control over the mental side of the game, primarily not getting angry with missing and not getting down on myself. I have a problem with depression and a more positive attitude helps in everything else in life, it’s got to help my pool game.
  3. Post more frequently (aiming for twice a week vs the current once every 2 weeks), on Pool Student’s Blog.

I figure getting these out in black and white may be just the extra bit of incentive I need to help me stick to them. I plan to revisit these every month or two to check in and see how I’m doing. I’m confident I’ll succeed if I take it one day at a time, chalking up one tiny little victory after another. That’s much easier than looking out over the whole year and getting depressed at how big a job I’ve set for myself.

So here’s what I plan to do in January to make my first dent in these targets:

  1. I’m going to practice for at least an hour every day I get to the pool hall, before I play against anyone. In this hour, work on all my fundamentals will be a priority, especially staying down. I also expect to get some help here from Resolution #2.
  2. I’ve purchased and just begun to read The Inner Game of Tennis, by W. Timothy Gallwey. This critically acclaimed little book on the mental game, or inner game as Galwey calls it, was published in 1972. It was a sensation at the time, and has become a certified classic. Speaking of the inner game, Galwey says it “is played not against, but within the mind of the player, and its principal obstacles are self-doubt and anxiety.” I’ll let you all know what I think when I finish.
  3. On posting more frequently, my plan is to post at least one article per week, along with one drill, puzzle, quiz or review as well. That should help me keep a balance of content and give me plenty of variety to keep from getting in a rut.

Best wishes to everyone for the New Year, and not just for your pool games! Write in with your comments on your own resolutions, what they are and why you picked them.

2 Responses to “My 2009 New Years Pool Resolutions”

  1. KarthickNo Gravatar - January 4th, 2009

    Thanks for the awesome website yo! I just stumbled across this when I was searching for pool tips. Do keep up your promise of updating the blog this year and also let me know the tips from the inside game book you purchased! Cheers.

  2. Tom Simpson, Master InstructorNo Gravatar - February 11th, 2009

    I noticed one of your resolutions is to cure your “jumping up” problem. Here is a link to a column I wrote which describes the cure I’ve found. I use it with students in my 3-Day Intensive. This works:

    http://poolclinics.com/pdf/Simpson%2076%20-%20Anchoring%20the%20Bridge.pdf

    You can’t jump up until you un-anchor your bridge. It’s also adding another point of confidence in your PSR.

    Best Wishes.

    Tom Simpson
    National Billiard Academy . com
    614 975 8337
    “Beat People With a Stick!”

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