Visit NWQPOOL.COM

I’m back at tournament play and competition these last five weeks. I had taken one year off to strictly work on my game at home. This helped with the physical aspect but hurt my competitive sharpness. As I felt nerves during that first night back, I missed shots that I would normally not miss. From that, I allowed negatives to enter into my head. As I accessed my overall performance and attitude after each match, I recognized a pattern of self criticism. This is exactly what you’ve pointed out here. Learning to control one’s self during the heat of battle is so so important. Finding what keeps us calm and focused before and during our matches is critical to winning. Thanks Brian for articulating so well, this critical aspect of the game 👍🏻

I Remember. For my first year of lessons with you. This was the major problem. I couldn't get past it. Eventually we did. I appreciate all the zoom lessons ..I wouldn't be at the caliber that I'm at now without your help

@FXBilliards

11 ай бұрын

It’s been great watching your game develop. Keep up the good work buddy.

This is such a huge lesson. Positive self-talk is absolutely crucial because your brain will provide whatever outcome you expect to happen.

@FXBilliards

11 ай бұрын

I’m grateful that you watched my video. Have a great week.

My mental game is a flip of a coin. I can shoot like a 5-6 and beat 6-7 in practice on my good games and then match time or flip of a coil i get beat by a 3 on my bad days. If i can ever master the mental part i know i will become a better shooter for sure. Work in progress for sure. Thanks for the advice cuz.

I’ve been playing some straight pool for two years. Most of the guys have been playing for about 50 years. I’ve been playing for about seven and working hard. I don’t give up. I try hard. It’s a fun game, right? It’s really hard to keep a good attitude against great odds. I’m working on improving my game doing the best I can.

Yes. Say, "I never miss the 8 ball!"

I’m a 7 rank in both 8ball and 9 ball APA…. I’ve learned in the last year the importance of breathing and slowing my heart rate down….

I was thinking this to myself just the other night at our league match, listening to all of the ways that players are bashing themselves for making mistakes. Keeping it positive is definitely one of the most challenging parts of the game. I am improving at this, just like everything else :)

@FXBilliards

11 ай бұрын

Well said

Very important part of the game we all needed that. I know I did

I played in a chip tournament Friday, I'm 475 Fargo, these are races to 1, winner stays at the table, loser gives up a chip and moves on. First game against a high 500, I had a chance but couldn't run out on my turn, lost to a better player, no shame in that. Second game w/another high 500, I lose the toss, opponent breaks and runs out. Third game, another high 500 shooter, I did get a shot on this one, he then ran out. Fourth game, same high 500 shooter, he wins the toss, breaks and runs out. I got disgusted and left with two chips, I tried to keep up with relentless positivity, but after spending two hours and having 6 shots I was done. Sometimes it's just not going to happen, it really depends on where you fall in the draw as to what players you end up playing. As always thanks Bryan, always good information in your video's 😀

@FXBilliards

11 ай бұрын

Thanks for sharing your experience. Have a great week.

Actually you’re the man Brian

My inner voice... I should have ate something today, I'm hungry, should I eat here or eat later? 😀😀 But seriously, I think ego is a big part of it. If I made a good shot I think other people in the pool hall saw it. they probably aren't watching. But, I do see people watching me sometimes, or maybe it's my ego. When I practice and can zone out with some headphones I think I play really good. If I start to casually play against someone I don't play near as good. I have these little battles with myself in my head. But I think part of it is the guy I started playing with likes to chat a lot and I start to play good again when we aren't talking for awhile. I'm just trying to work through it and get used to it. Maybe Efren did so well because he was humble.

I used to do something similar to myself but watching our captain get frustrated and it totally kill his game I realized I needed to keep myself composed. Now I’m more confident and I’m striving on the table. I’m only a 3 as I just started last session but I have 6s and 7s saying they wouldn’t want to play me. I’ve won the last 6 in a row and 5 being rackless and a lot of it due to my confidence. It has allowed me to get a grip on my nerves and truly play to my ability. Thanks again for a great video pal!

@EkinghFightNews

10 ай бұрын

sounds like your gonna be a 4 pretty soon

"You suck Beyan". LMAO! That was great! Thanks for sharing another great video!

@FXBilliards

11 ай бұрын

Thank you my friend - Who runs 14 and misses an EZ 8 ??? I guess we know who. Have a great day.

This was actually kind of a life changing realization, because ot applies to literally every single thing we do

Charlie Brown at the pool table: I was sharked. I sharked myself. Good grief.

Best advise ever. I'm my own worst enemy with everything I compete in. I'm not a bad sport nor do I mind losing but I absolutely hate to "not be perfect" and then it's downhill from there.

Most important thing in any sport is confidence. Great video!!

@FXBilliards

11 ай бұрын

Absolutely!

Great video Bryan! Truth spoken… such a huge mental aspect to the game. It’s your cue and your brain out there, that’s all you got!

@FXBilliards

11 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching and leaving your comments. Have a great day.

Brian I'm doing my best to stay positive although I'm having a horrible session. My pool game has I'm proved immensely in the last 7 months with help of you channel and others but most Importantly table time. I will walk into the bar and say to myself I'm not losing tonight then lose 3-0. Having trouble with the fact my game has improved but the losses are piling up to opponents I should not lose too. Thanks for your help with this video!

Guilty of this for sure. Trying to work on this as it is good advice.

Great video! So true. I can be playing great and let one shot send my game into a terrible, unending downward spiral. I will definitely start consciously incorporating this positivity into my game and really work on it!

@FXBilliards

11 ай бұрын

Outstanding. Have a good week.

My Self-talk comment for the Day is appreciation for Bryan! My Orange County, California APA Ladies Team earned a bracket spot in APA World Pool Championships this coming weekend. Thanks for all the videos. WildFire!

Great advice for everything you do in life. When you make a mistake, pretend it was your best friend or child that made the same mistake. What would you say to them? If that doesn't work pretend you are talking to someone who would kick the crap out of you if you said the wrong thing to them. Thanks for all your videos!

Mike Sigel... Self talk that EVERYONE can hear all the time... He coaches his opponents on what he's thinking at all times... And he still gets the hook in somehow.

Great advice that I should really heed. Also, we all know you missed that 8 ball to prove a point. 😂

@FXBilliards

11 ай бұрын

I’m not telling

been struggling with my break , think i finally know how my foot placement should be get that power break and i less frustrated , of course be nice i can run out nice table but i don't just happen time to time

Very true B. Lots of people needed to hear that to change the way people think and possibly their game

Was up Brian, Hope all is well on your end. one of the things that to help me mentally is play out the same shots i missed during match play I will shoot that shot 20-30 time until I feel the stroke and are drilled in my mind also while listening to a particular song for motivation. as captain of my team I know what is expected of me I know I’m not a Machine and that the BALLS ROLL FUNNY FOR EVERYONE. But yes positive feedback is better than beating your self down.

I would love to hear more, i have problems in turnaments, i would say a turnament takes away 50% of my capacity compared to practice level.

As always, another great video! Thx Brian!

@FXBilliards

11 ай бұрын

Thanks again!

Just like golf, pool is definitely a majority game. You get in your way most of the time. Play the game on the table and try to forget the rest.

@FXBilliards

11 ай бұрын

Yes indeed - thanks for watching buddy

Always learn everything I watch, thank you so very much Brian

@FXBilliards

11 ай бұрын

Thanks

Brilliant. . you were talking to me. .I heard you. . Thanks 👍

@FXBilliards

11 ай бұрын

Hope you enjoyed it!

Check out a match in 2005 between Efren Reyes and Mike Siegel. It was a $200,000 king of the hill match and Mike “The Mouth”totally lost it. I say be more like Efren, laugh at your mistakes and have fun!

Your mental game is very important for improvement.. Great video and advice; your explanation was well said.

@FXBilliards

11 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching and make sure you subscribe. Have a great day.

Brian I had 2 matches last night the first match everything was hanging in the pockets and not just for me. So now I’m on a different table for match 2 and I was so thrown off thinking about my first match I was over compensating and I was mentally done. Worst feeling in the world

I got to an apa 7 and went on an epic win streak, i beat the best player in the league and then fell apart. Im still a 7 but I really hit a skid. I'm still playing well but just can't win.

I never miss 🤔

@FXBilliards

11 ай бұрын

I’ve never seen your miss. So I guess it’s true.

Yes great video...loved the ending...I've heard it said that pool is 80% a mental game...I try to address this in my league and tournament play....but sadly I have lost games...because of Wrong Mental preparedness....I wish I knew of a book that addresses the Psychology of Billiards...I would study it...Thanks Brian...i enjoy your videos and your Straight talk on your explanations....🙂

@FXBilliards

11 ай бұрын

Your views mean a lot to me. Thank you very much for your comments.

Thanks Btyan

@FXBilliards

11 ай бұрын

Thank you Brett. Make sure you subscribe and hit that notifications bell. Have a great day and thanks again for watching.

I normally say don't beat myself because I'm my toughest opponent

@FXBilliards

11 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching and thanks for sharing your comment

Question please…when a new tip is put on, is it normal for the tip to be flat, and that is why you need to shape them? The reason why I ask is because where I live they out some tips on the badly need cues, and when I looked at them, they were flat. Not sure who or where they went to get them out on. Also if you tap a cue stick on the butt end and you hear a rattle inside, does that mean the cue isn’t any good any more, or is it fixable. TIA

@FXBilliards

2 ай бұрын

Some higher end places will shape your tip but if it’s flat you need to do it. If a cue rattles the weight inside might be loose. Take off the rubber cap on the butt and tighten the bolt inside the cue.

Hey Brian I was wondering if you replace your tips yourself and if so do you use a lathe? I am planning on upgrading to a revo shaft but am really trying to minimize risk as much as possible, and since I change my own tips without a lathe and the closest repair shop is 3 hours from where I live I wonder if that should affect my want to purchase it. all the crazy tech seems intimidating and hard to work around. Anyways I'd love to get your opinion on this and know what you would do.

@FXBilliards

11 ай бұрын

I was 17 years old the last time I replaced my own tip on a piece of crap cue. I will never do it again especially not on expensive equipment. I think it’s a very bad idea and often ends in negative outcomes. If I was three hours away from my cue guy, I would probably mail my shafts to predator before doing it myself. That’s just me. I’m also fortunate enough to have four almost identical shafts, so it takes a long time before I need to replace my tips. I’m also not very handy with tools so I might be the wrong guy to ask. Sorry I couldn’t help you more.

Highly intelligent people talk to themselves. Or so I keep telling myself.

@FXBilliards

11 ай бұрын

That was me telling you- I think you’re confused. Thanks for watching.

Hope you enjoyed the fourth of july

@FXBilliards

11 ай бұрын

Got to spend time with the family, so that’s a good thing. Thank you.

I Need some Helpful guidance....very much related to this video but not quite the same thing, I'm suffering from blank out I don't see what I'm supposed to do but when I'm playing at home I'm perfectly fine.. it's like stage fright. I really need to get over it it's messing my average up. intentionally messing up. most of the players at the bar League I asked them what should I do. believe it or not most of them say drink more or smoke some wacky tobacco.one player actually takes anti-anxiety medicine. I have somebody at work and he said they take two shots of whiskey. I really need to get over it what I'm doing now is this playing a lots of pool lots of pool hopefully that works. I do drink a beer but I never drink more than two, as for the other stuff to help ,is not what I'm about.. last note I'm a very new player to the pool league my very first season,,

@FXBilliards

7 ай бұрын

Check out our video series on the mental game of pool. Go to nwqpool.com. It’s not very expensive and it will certainly help you.

@javelinzamot9907

7 ай бұрын

okay I'll check it out it's not too expensive