I just watched parts of the above match. A lot to take in here. Neither player is particularly impressive and would be big underdogs to any good player. Believe it or not Jeremy has more upside to his game. He looks like a guy with a job and family that also likes to play pool. If he could devote himself to the game full time he might be an 800 level player. But I doubt that's what his goal is. He's a two hour a day player who can beat most of the local players where he lives. You tell me if I'm wrong. I like the way he comfortably got out in the last rack with no fuss and no strain, and no wasted motion!
As for Tyler, he looks stiff and uncomfortable most of the time, with no flow to his game. It's like he's trying to do everything by the book and must keep reminding himself what to do on each shot. If you're in your head too much you will never be a top player, plain and simple. The best pool pool is played almost unconsciously. He has an inner intensity that only creates more pressure for himself on every shot. He spends way too much time studying obvious shots, where we (and he) know what he's going to do within seconds, and yet he walks around looking at this simple shot from every angle. Weak sauce I'm afraid. The last rack is case in point. A very simple position shot from the two to the three ball and he studies it for about a minute??? And then he bunts the cue ball and leaves himself a full diamond short on position. He does make the three but shoots into nowhere with the cue ball and now has to play safe on the four. Match over after that.
Tyler needs a mental coach.
Your observations are on point, very astute although kinder than I would be regarding Tyler. Tyler reminds me of a player that turned into a coach, a coach he’s spent some time with, Mark Wilson.
Mark, as you know, once played pro pool for a short period of time, emphasis on the word played as he never won a damn thing, for the same reason Tyler never does, lack of heart. He played slow, unless he had absolute perfect position, he’d look to duck and play a safety. I saw him shoot over .900 in a match once and his opponent shot a lower percentage and won the match.
Some guys, while through hard work and dedication actually develop a skill set to where they have all the tools to play at an elite level, but they lack heart, they have a ten cent head and never reach their full potential. Tyler doesn’t need a mental coach, he needs a heart transplant. Or he could do what he’ll eventually do, just become an instructor. Some guys just can’t compete, they just don’t have it in them.
