Bad Hair Days, On and Off-Form Days

[Ray Ager]

I'm sure this has happended to all of us...

One day when you shoot you hit (nearly) every boule, when you point you always beat the opponents and get everything in front of the jack.

The next day... AAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!

You can't hit a boule or get a boule within 2m of the jack.

Can anybody offer any serious, useful advice, explanations for why this happens and how to deal with it.

TIA

Ray

[Barbara]

In my case, I reckon it's all down to lack of practice. I can really only play at weekends, times when there are other (some of them mundane) things to do as well as play petanque, although I do try to get as much petanque in as possible. I could play on summer evenings if I wasn't so knackered after a day's work!

Other than that, it's probably down to variations in my levels of concentration, something which I'm working on improving.

What explanations do other members have?

[Toni]

I think a drop in performance often follows a big day of competition. Your energy levels and concentration are lower than normal. I think a big win the day/few days before often leads to complacency.

Also if you are playing teams of much less ability or with no tactical skill it is hard to get fired up for the game.

If you turn up to an away venue and not take time to pratice on it your game will drop, or after a lunch break or long wait for a game to start, dont to into the game cold have a few ends of a friendly game amongst your team first.


If your game drops and your not hitting boule or cant point "go back to basics"
1) compose your self
2) consider your posture when in the circle
3) look at your target or landing spot
4) think about your throw, straight arm etc.

Slow your play right down and dont rush.

If playing against a much lesser team and you cant get into the game, set yourself targets.
eg. we will try to get 3 points this end with out shooting a boule (use this to fine tune your pointing)

if you are playing against a team that doesnt shoot
eg. we will try to shoot and hit 6 boule this end.

Always take the game seriously and never underestimate your oposition, but make the game more intresting for yourself.
NEVER take the micky out of your oposition by letting them think you are not taking the game seriously.

[Trotter]

Sound advice from both Barbara and Toni

The Bjorn Borg method of concentrating on your next shot rather than beating yourself up about one that has not gone to plan is well worth following ( but not always easy in practise ! )

Also remember the old Adage :Fail to Prepare : Prepare to FAIL

Like Barbara says it isn't always easy to find the time to put in the practise but there are very few players who can just turn up for a league matc/competition and expect to win if they don't put in the practise time. It is worth thinking about your practise time as well, just turning up and having a game isn't that useful try some of the excellent practise routines already posted in this forum and also the shots that you don't normally play ( or have the courage to play in competitions/league games ) so use your practise time wisely

[Barbara]

Trotter,

I tend to think of club sessions as practice anyway and will try tricky shots, etc, that I'd be a bit wary of in competitions. The trouble is that that doesn't always go down well with some partners, especially those you've gained from a melee!

But your advice is sound too. I always did admire Bjon Borg's style!

There's another old age - if you fail to plan, you plan to fail. I guess that's similar to what you're saying.

Barbara

[Ray Ager]

Thanks for the ideas. I'm never quite sure about how much practise? I do practise a fair bit but sometimes wonder if I OVER practise and go a bit stale. The occasional break can mean you come back refreshed.

I agree a lot with Toni's comments, especially about getting the right mental attitude with teams that play poorly.

Any more comments?

Ray

[Lee Lick]

Hi all,

In my opinion, it’s all about focus. Once you have been trained how to release the boule properly you should purely focus on the boule you want to hit. If you think about what your arm is doing or your grip or anything else your focus is not on the target. In your subconscious mind you already no what you must do and how to do it. I believe you should focus on what part of the boule you want to hit so you no what way the target boule is going as well as your boule.

Holding focus for long periods of time is easier for some players than others as we are all different. The way to improve your focus is by playing and trying to hold your focus throughout the day you will get more consistent.

Some players get intimidated when they come up against top players, this is because there concentration is broken and they loose their focus. They concentrate on who they are playing. Keep your concentration on the game and your focus on the target.

Two boule on the ground side by side the one boule is yours the other your adversaries. How often do you see players shooting there own boule out? This is because they are focusing on not hitting their own boule instead of focusing on the target boule.

It’s all about focus!

Lee

[Barbara]

That's all good advice, Lee.

Whoever my opponents are, I think to myself that it's me who is going to play my boules and not them. I play my own game and I either win or lose. Then I can't blame anyone but me if I lose.

So you're right, it is all about focus.

[loopy]

Hi Lee

I know what you mean about shooting your own boule out!!!!! Partner

And it is always should raise your game when playing against top players

loopy

[Lee Lick]

We all ready proved that first and last games ^^

[Rachael]

well you just have to keep calm and not get annoyed with yourself cus if you do that you will tense and get worse.once you have thrown the boule their is nothing you can do. just think positive


rach