Contrary to popular opinion

Inconsistency is not the cause of you having a bad night, or of you being in a prolonged slump, inconsistency is a symptom. Something else is causing you to be inconsistent.

What is causing the problem? It depends on your real  skill level, not your perceived skill level.

The cause is not doing Your basics. With the lesser skilled players (those who are really just learning the game) it would be the lack of knowledge of the "basics" the "fundamentals."  You have so much fun ahead of you, I think I almost envy you .. maybe .. a little -- nah no way. I am having too much fun at this level and anticipating learning even more.

I hope this article helps you.

Learning your  basics is the most important thing a new player can do, they will teach you to finesse your shot. Using the basics during practice will teach you not to force the shot, practicing them will teach you to feel the difference between finesse and force, and (most important, for keeping them a part of you), to recognize when you feel that feeling.

For the more advance player, it is different, you have already learned what your  basics are, and have been playing with them for a number of years. But now you find you are not playing to what you know is your real skill level. Maybe this is just a one shot thing, maybe the whole evening of missing shots especially on the money ball, still maybe it something that has plagued you for weeks or months.

Which ever is the case, you have forsaken some aspect of your  basics. It could be any of them, stance, grip, rhythm, bridge, stroke, your mind, and the list goes on.

Practicing the basics and playing with them, training your subconscious to use them will give you focus and trust in your self, and confidence to your game. And inconsistency will plagued you less and less. Have someone you know and trust look at your game and see if they can tell you what basic you need to work on. Then work on them. Have fun.

Mike McDonald
Onthesnap@cox.net