The club of the superstitious billiard players

Do you need to use the chalk before each shot? Do you stand up up suddenly if you do not see a clear next shot? Do you always heat up throwing the same balls? Do you have a good luck shirt for the most important championships? If the answer to many of these questions is yes, then welcome to the club of superstitious billiard players. Today, they (we) are the protagonists of this post.

"Excessive faith or excessive valuation with respect to something", this is the definition of the superstition concept. It exists in all areas of life such as work, family, personal relationships or leisure, although here we are only interested in the superstition applied to billiards.

Why are we superstitious, the billiard players? The main reason is to gain confidence. We believe in small actions that help us to be more confident in our game. For example: we believe that putting chalk before each shot helps us (although it is not strictly necessary to put balls), we believe that if someone passes by and we do not get up, we will fail, and that is why we get up; or we believe that if I have aimed at the ball for too long, then I will fail, and that is why I have to get up too.

Superstition and negative thoughts are closely linked. I think we are more manic those of us who have a brain willing to send us negative thoughts every two times. Superstition is in a certain way a way to overcome them.


Superstitions when putting chalk
There are many billiard players, even professionals, who force themselves to put chalk with both hands before the shot. First with one, hold the cue with the other hand, and then with the other. Pretty curious.

Superstitions when aiming
The more manic of us have a specific number of "aim shots" established as routine. Normally it is already quite automatic, we are not counting on each shot. But nevertheless if we notice that the number of aim shots grows (by the doubts or because something confuses us) then we stand up to think again the play.

Superstitions before the game
Have the same breakfast or play sports every championship morning, wear the fetish-talisman shirt, put some nuts in the cue case ... All these preparted details are also typical in superstitious billiards.

Superstitions when missing a shot
Some billiards players close their eyes and visualize the reasons why they failed, or imagine that the balls are "your friends". Some even talk to them (imaginary, of course) :)


Is being superstitious good or bad? As it has advantages and disadvantages, everyone chooses which part weighs the most. I think it's good, as long as it does not become an excessive obsession. It is good to have certain routines, internal processes that help you to activate or to perform to the fullest.

And you, do you consider yourself a superstitious billiard player? Tell us in the comments! It is not worth saying that before each shot you take a sip of beer so that everything goes well :)