Playing under pressure....

E

erikido

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
So this may not be what you expected. But, I play better under pressure. I have subconsciously known it for a long time.

My question is this-I tend to play down to lower level players and have trouble in the beginning of a tournament(don't see the money coming yet), so how do I create this pressure for myself when I am not feeling up for a match?

When playing against the lower level players forcing myself to try and win with a shutout has had some results. But, it really doesn't seem to quite bring the edge I am looking for.

Any things you do to get yourself motivated for a match that just doesn't feel that exciting at the moment?
 
erikido said:
So this may not be what you expected. But, I play better under pressure. I have subconsciously known it for a long time.

My question is this-I tend to play down to lower level players and have trouble in the beginning of a tournament(don't see the money coming yet), so how do I create this pressure for myself when I am not feeling up for a match?

When playing against the lower level players forcing myself to try and win with a shutout has had some results. But, it really doesn't seem to quite bring the edge I am looking for.

Any things you do to get yourself motivated for a match that just doesn't feel that exciting at the moment?
Click to expand...


Sounds like a sign that you are about to graduate from league pool. You can try to play the table instead of your opponent, but at some point you realize nothing can replace good competition.
 
I get the same way, if I play a lower level player than me I start to dog shots and not care, and when I lose a game I start to get mad at myself for losing and then ill start to try but I'm already too rattled by that time for my best game to come out.

I think the key to this is learning how to focus 100% no matter who your playing, practicing with more focus and intensity will help, if you only focus 100% when your playing good players I think it'll be harder to get in the zone no matter what the occasion is.
 
a couple of things

erikido said:
So this may not be what you expected. But, I play better under pressure. I have subconsciously known it for a long time.

My question is this-I tend to play down to lower level players and have trouble in the beginning of a tournament(don't see the money coming yet), so how do I create this pressure for myself when I am not feeling up for a match?

When playing against the lower level players forcing myself to try and win with a shutout has had some results. But, it really doesn't seem to quite bring the edge I am looking for.

Any things you do to get yourself motivated for a match that just doesn't feel that exciting at the moment?
Click to expand...


First thing, increase the difficulty of shots, not the shot itself, the difficulty in your mind. The ball goes in the pocket regardless but instead of trying to position the cue ball in a 6x12 inch area try to position it in a 3x6 inch area for example. Trying for four times tighter shape works wonders for concentration and there is no penalty for missing an inch or two.

Another trick is to turn your emotional temperature up. Just like slow deep breathing calms you, quick shallow breaths raise your emotional temperature. I have to do this when I am too relaxed.

Hu
 
ShootingArts said:
First thing, increase the difficulty of shots, not the shot itself, the difficulty in your mind. The ball goes in the pocket regardless but instead of trying to position the cue ball in a 6x12 inch area try to position it in a 3x6 inch area for example. Trying for four times tighter shape works wonders for concentration and there is no penalty for missing an inch or two.

Another trick is to turn your emotional temperature up. Just like slow deep breathing calms you, quick shallow breaths raise your emotional temperature. I have to do this when I am too relaxed.

Hu
Click to expand...

great post, gonna definitely focus on this next time.
 
erikido said:
So this may not be what you expected. But, I play better under pressure. I have subconsciously known it for a long time.

My question is this-I tend to play down to lower level players and have trouble in the beginning of a tournament(don't see the money coming yet), so how do I create this pressure for myself when I am not feeling up for a match?

When playing against the lower level players forcing myself to try and win with a shutout has had some results. But, it really doesn't seem to quite bring the edge I am looking for.

Any things you do to get yourself motivated for a match that just doesn't feel that exciting at the moment?
Click to expand...

how does anyone know what their subconscious is doing? that's why they call it your subconscious.

the reason why you "play down to so called lesser players levels" is because you may have an arrogant or self centred attitude towards how good you think you are. that would be the only reason why you would take shots for granted.

you are, or should be after all, playing the balls not the other guy.

insinuating that you normally play much better, but your lesser opponents bore you, isn't a constructive attitude to have.

i know this sounds harsh, i'm not trying to insult you but try to remember one thing:

"you are only as good as your last match"

find some maturity in your game, it could be the only piece of the puzzle missing for you to reach the next level:thumbup:

good luck!
 
I assume you have looked at this and have determined that you really sometimes play down to weaker opponents at the beginning of tournaments rather than that you are a slow starter. Just checking, but in any event if you don't already, make sure you get ample warm up time in just before the event starts.

Keeping your focus when you're playing a guy you don't think you can lose to is understandable. It is also a recipe for disaster. You need to remind yourself that anything can happen in a short race. Also realize that once you start playing down to a weaker opponent, sometimes it is not so easy to catch your normal gear, if not in that match then in the next ones when you face the better competition. This may add some of the pressure you need to start playing well immediately.

Another thing you can do is to try to imagine you are playing the ghost when you have a weak opponent - if you miss you lose. Obviously you can't get too wrapped up in this, like trying to get out when you should be playing a safety, but you get the idea. Every time you come to the table be thinking "I have to get out."
 
I'd say there are only a handful of players in the world who can REALLY play better under pressure, and they're champions.
 
erikido said:
So this may not be what you expected. But, I play better under pressure. I have subconsciously known it for a long time.

My question is this-I tend to play down to lower level players and have trouble in the beginning of a tournament(don't see the money coming yet), so how do I create this pressure for myself when I am not feeling up for a match?

When playing against the lower level players forcing myself to try and win with a shutout has had some results. But, it really doesn't seem to quite bring the edge I am looking for.

Any things you do to get yourself motivated for a match that just doesn't feel that exciting at the moment?
Click to expand...

Since I am the lower level player, wish I had your "problem"...:wink:
 
To tell you the truth i don't notice the pressure or put the pressure on my self if I lose it's because the other person made shots to win where I missed the shots to lose.

I don't agree with putting pressure on your self to play better that does not work for me. To me putting your self under pressure to is like ltelling your self you can't win .


You can't win rocky
 
far more common than you think

TheThaiger said:
I'd say there are only a handful of players in the world who can REALLY play better under pressure, and they're champions.
Click to expand...

It is far more common than you think. Timed events often indicate this. Competition times are often better than anything done in practice, pressure pushes the competitors to excel. A seasoned competitor or the lucky natural competitor should perform better in competition.

Hu
 
ShootingArts said:
It is far more common than you think. Timed events often indicate this. Competition times are often better than anything done in practice, pressure pushes the competitors to excel. A seasoned competitor or the lucky natural competitor should perform better in competition.

Hu
Click to expand...

Also think of rivalries. If the pressure(of a good opponent)creates u to play better-that is why they are rivalries generally
 
JoseV said:
To tell you the truth i don't notice the pressure or put the pressure on my self if I lose it's because the other person made shots to win where I missed the shots to lose.

I don't agree with putting pressure on your self to play better that does not work for me. To me putting your self under pressure to is like ltelling your self you can't win .


You can't win rocky
Click to expand...


The bolded part seems to indicate that the first sentence isn't true..
 
I have battled the "pressure demons" my entire life, but I am the opposite. When it was turned up, I shot terrible. It took me a long time to find the confidence in my self to allow for my best game to come out. I also seem to shoot down to my competition often. The way I solve that problem is I tell myself "you are a good player, but a better player would clean this guy's clock." Then, I do what Hu suggested, and become very critical of my position play. I figure that under normal circumstances, my opponent should never get more than one chance at the table, if at all. That is how I approach it, is what I mean. Often times, though, my opponent gets ample opportunity to remind me that I am still a banger.

The point being, I can strive to become a better pool player no matter who I am playing against. Do not let yourself simply be happy with a win. I have been thinking about keeping track of my run-outs, to try and get a clear picture of what that percentage is. Once I have the number, I simply try very hard to raise it.


Braden
 
OK, this will help I think. Well we played a different pool game years ago and there were a few more pool rooms and larger tables.Few bar boxes. In a flip of a switch (thats laying down the cue for 10 years) the whole world changed. I adapted to the 9 ball and ran into the same problem but for very different reasons . I found the ease of players and stuff to be more lets say different .
So instead of a logical warm up and my basic practice routine to get me set for the tourn I would just not even look at the tables and not play at all till my turn remembering a lets say different game. That was a HUGE mistake.
I had went to the wire with a top pro I played several times in my life actually had to share a toothbrush when we were kids but he cleaned my clock in a place I think in NC or Va or something around there and he should have not.
He should not have had a bite of me without a rip out of him back and visa versa.He adapted somehow and I could not get it.HE KNEW THE TRICK.Like your problem lets say.

I mean the legs were cut off the tables,the tables were small-the pockets were so huge but I missed gravy shots and only won 50 to 60 percent of my tourns to ball bangers and drunks or novice to advanced but not 1 master in sight and they had not even a game plan (sorry no offence meant to anyone) . I also feel pool has its fun times but he is talking serious pool errrrrr.

I mean what was up- gosh I had slept with pals under bridges in my life at 14 to save the motel money for the next tourn game.I was upset big time. Majorly. I had devoted my whole life to pool and lived it whole and here I was dumping.

Well I took a trip to watch this pro who was a old pal that lived my life too and he was number 1 in the world at the time to see what his trick was he had to have figured the slump thing out.Remember guys number 1 can change by the day or hour so can the top money player :).

I watched so close for the trick and was set to play him. His butt got up and played the same routines we did in straight pool (the game we played and he still does around the world just not in the USA) . He did the basics that all the hot shots FORGET to do .

He placed his cue down and smiled and said whats up man are you coming on to the picture show finally ? That means spotlight and for players like me its a bad place to be.Our usual replay in old days was indians said your soul can get trapped in a picture but really its for less $ .Once your known your bobbing for players and the easy money goes out the window and when you live a life of playing for hard money you need those easy shots here and there to survive the grewsome battles.You want to play the best players ever and raise a family or have a life your NOT going to do it in the spotlight cause your dead to money games except for some fool who got a stroke once in his life and watched the color of money too many times.We call it hero to zero syndrome .The pros unfortunatlly get scraps unless they stay at the top. well back to the song and dance


I told him my problem and he said yea he looked a fool for a while but it worked out for him.He did the same thing I did with another player, Ok here is the trick he told me and now I pass to you .Its great advise as he is the number 1 in the world several times a year or 2.

Here is the advice : GET OVER IT ! dump the head crap your are your own enemy.GET OVER IT-ITS IN YOUR HEAD. When you get up to the table whomever you played in your life you hated the most and drilled a 250 or 300 run on or whatever in a run to shut their Backer down and make his butt cheeks pucker do that ,Thats whom your playing if that helps.

Forget the fancy crap and all because you KNOW your better than them and stick to the SAFE basics , Safe basics win pool games. Play your game and play it basic.Sorry whats it 9 ball ok whomever you ran 9 racks on for the out over and over - play them in your mind.

Practice STRAIGHT POOL and forget other "practice players" before your session if they are LEARNING. If that don't work put down your fancy several thousand dollar stick that the balance, weight and tip only matter and put 100 bucks in your pocket and get a ticket 1 way farthest from home and work your way back on that money with the house cues.In our case we had a brunswick master stroke but a sneaky pete that costs $100 but should be sufficiant the rest is just show.

When you gotta eat pal you win or don't eat or you got hustled because you shoulda quit.You wont play'play when you gotta eat. I see several suggestions that seem logical on here and very good I might add but here is your options .

You stay where your at level wise or GET OVER IT. Happy your a good player and so many sounded in with great advise to help but if you want to drop your pants for help and because YOU see you need help, here is your real help-GET OVER IT and play your game its in your head and it was in mine and tough love from a few great players got my game back .

Do what you gotta cause that kid your showing off to is gonna plow right by you before you know it and he is NOT gonna wine or give you quarter because somebody like me will teach him not to.We will teach him to get over it or get out of my life .

Oh an age don't matter look at Balsis. Thats been the worst excuse from great players on here.(sorry don't sound in much just read) Oh Im old my back hurts I need pills or drink. Give me a break the best players that EVER EXISTED got up and picked up their cues and delt with the pain of age and wipped butt and put their own cues down, they were NOT shut down. Many big money players and especially top pros stay away from old people.1 pocket with the old people ? right. Wonder why because those old people will meet half way and play straight pool if asked.Because they will or may loose.

So your dealing with a factor that all levels and types of players deal with that I CAN assure you.Just get over it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top