Does your performance change depending of your opponent?

[Chopdoc]

Hi there,

We all have heard the saying "Play the table, not the player"

Although I have always preached playing the table it is very true that my own performance varies greatly depending on who I am playing. It has always been true of me and I have never been able to do much about it...



.

 

[TheThaiger]

Although I have always preached playing the table it is very true that my own performance varies greatly depending on who I am playing. It has always been true of me and I have never been able to do much about it...



.

I am highly suspicious of those that say they play better against better players.

At a decent level, you're either playing or you're watching.

 

[CreeDo]

I am highly suspicious of those that say they play better against better players.

At a decent level, you're either playing or you're watching.

Agree... I think good players are just waiting for their turn, and when it comes up, they try to play the table. They can get rattled of course.

But shooting better? The only way that makes sense is if they're slacking off against most opponents, and they only really try hard vs. good players.

If that's true, it means a lot of players out there are underachieving every day... Losing games they shouldn't, missing balls they shouldn't.

Some guys like to see it as a positive, that they can "ramp up" to a new gear vs. strong opponents. The way I see it... getting accustomed to being lazy, missing and losing can't be good for anyone's pool game.

 

[sfleinen]

Agree... I think good players are just waiting for their turn, and when it comes up, they try to play the table. They can get rattled of course.

I agree as well. Against good players, one plays at his/her full skill-level, not above and beyond it.

It's quite possible -- and likely -- that a "certain type" of opponent may drag your abilities down, but that is a MENTAL GAME issue, not a boosting or lowering of your skill level issue.

For example, I like to use the term "LaBrea Tarpit" for the type of opponent that is so deliberate, they slow you down and cause you to lose focus / slack-off. We all know "LaBrea Tarpit" players -- players that we very much dislike as opponents, because this type of player brings out the worst in us.

But again, that's a mental game issue, not a skillset-lowering issue. Nor is not playing that kind of opponent, and instead an opponent more to our liking -- "boosting" our skill level. Doesn't happen.

But shooting better? The only way that makes sense is if they're slacking off against most opponents, and they only really try hard vs. good players.

If that's true, it means a lot of players out there are underachieving every day... Losing games they shouldn't, missing balls they shouldn't.

Some guys like to see it as a positive, that they can "ramp up" to a new gear vs. strong opponents. The way I see it... getting accustomed to being lazy, missing and losing can't be good for anyone's pool game.

Uh oh. Let the league slams begin!

-Sean