Dogged my brains out last night

brandoncook26

brandoncook26

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Played a 9 ball race to 30 last night. The guy I played is a friend of mine. I think we play pretty close. I started out playing really well. It took a few racks to get my break down, but once my break was working I was running out and playing about the speed I expected out of myself.

I had my opponent down. He was discouraged and I was feeling pumped up. After a little back and forth I started to pull ahead. I felt like during that moment, he couldn't beat me and I was going to win. I was ahead 22-15 and still playing good when he hit a 2nd wind. He started to roll back and we were tied at 25. This is where the trouble arose.

I wanted to win so bad that I got in my own way. I started thinking about the finish line and every ball became the most important shot I've ever had. I found myself having an inner dialogue. "Only four balls left in this rack. You have to get out. You can't let him get back to the table."

This self talk built up pressure and I started dogging it terribly. We are both run out players and only needing a few games it is possible to not get back to the table. At this point, I couldn't accomplish an easy three ball out. He ended up winning 30-27. I was so disgusted with myself that I thought about it all night. I should have won. I was in a position to run away with it and couldn't finish. He played good but I had many chances to take it.

Just wanted to get it off my chest. It was eating at me and by getting it out there, I will make sure it doesn't happen again. I'm sure he will read this. Next time I'm coming out firing and will make sure I get stronger throughout, not weaker. Next race you will have caught a tiger by the tail.
 
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Bummer.

You should start a thread about that 68 in your av. Looks bad ass. Do we have an off topic section?

YEAH...JUST CHECKED....NON POOL RELATED.
 
CharlesUFarley said:
Bummer.

You should start a thread about that 68 in your av. Looks bad ass. Do we have an off topic section?

YEAH...JUST CHECKED....NON POOL RELATED.
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Don't go to NPR. You'll get sucked in and you won't be able to get out :) BTW, sold the car a few years ago. The avatar is my little tribute to the one I lost.
 
Doggin balls VS playing better

I know what you mean, I've been there before, go from running racks to can't run three balls. Sometimes it is caused by missing an easy shot and I think about it into the latter games, which cause me to miss even more shots.

Sometimes the game is really close and I just try to hard to win, I get to much into the NOW, when I need to let the subconscious part of my mind play the game and then the game returns to being very simple, it's easier said than done, but the guy's that play good all the time are really not thinking about it, but just doing it!


David Harcrow
 
catpool9 said:
Sometimes the game is really close and I just try to hard to win, I get to much into the NOW, when I need to let the subconscious part of my mind play the game and then the game returns to being very simple, it's easier said than done, but the guy's that play good all the time are really not thinking about it, but just doing it!


David Harcrow
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I agree with David. I have been in this situation many of times. One thing I have noticed is that if you just focus without really thinking anything in words, such as talking to your self, you can really step up your game. Focus as hard as you want but just make sure you are seeing it then executing it, not telling yourself how to do it. Once you start talking to yourself thats when those inner demons start coming out and you can start getting negative, and on top of all that, the part of the brain that makes sh*t happen doesn't use words at all! See it then do it. Visualizing use the other part of the brain which controls execution. I promise I didnt make this up!
 
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