Need advice to give

80P

80P

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I have a friend who plays decent pool but every time he gambles he plays horrible and misses shots he would normally make 10/10 times. He asked me this morning how to fix the issue and I have no idea what to tell him. Anyone had this problem and know how to fix it? I personally play better for money so im not sure what to tell him. Thanks in advance for any help
 
Gambling

80P said:
I have a friend who plays decent pool but every time he gambles he plays horrible and misses shots he would normally make 10/10 times. He asked me this morning how to fix the issue and I have no idea what to tell him. Anyone had this problem and know how to fix it? I personally play better for money so im not sure what to tell him. Thanks in advance for any help
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Some folks have the mindset necessary to gamble and some don't. Most don't, but still gamble...that's why hustlers make money.

Gambling can be a devastating addiction and has ruined many a pool career.
 
If he doesn't play well for money, but likes to gamble and you actually play well when gambling...sounds like a match. Tell him to gamble on you (stake horse), if he enjoys gambling. Gamblers play to win money. They take any practical approach, so long as they win the 'dough'. Only makes sense to gamble on a winner, rather than someone that doesn't have the composure to win under the pressure of having money riding on it.
 
Just like anything else, tell him to start small, maybe $5 a game, and play until he gets comfortable, then play for a little more. If it's the concept of playing for money and not the amount that makes him nervous, then the above posters are probably right, he just shouldn't gamble.
 
Focus more on the process than the results. Some people make shots easily when there is nothing at stake but then consciously think about making the ball when gambling or feeling any other pressure and miss it by a mile. Trust you can get out and then just do it.

Print out some of these articles for him to read. http://www.billiards.colostate.edu/PBReview/

I used hypnosis for awhile and that helped me quit a bit in dealing with pressure. PM me if you would like more information.
 
I learned a long time ago. Don't gamble with scared money. Does he gamble with money he really can't afford to lose?

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macneilb said:
Just like anything else, tell him to start small, maybe $5 a game, and play until he gets comfortable, then play for a little more. If it's the concept of playing for money and not the amount that makes him nervous, then the above posters are probably right, he just shouldn't gamble.
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Absolutely this.

If playing for money rattles him, and he wants to learn to do it well, he has to bet amounts he can easily afford to lose, and keep at it until he gets comfortable and learns to produce his A game for the cash.

-Andrew
 
80P said:
I have a friend who plays decent pool but every time he gambles he plays horrible and misses shots he would normally make 10/10 times. He asked me this morning how to fix the issue and I have no idea what to tell him. Anyone had this problem and know how to fix it? I personally play better for money so im not sure what to tell him. Thanks in advance for any help
Click to expand...

It rarely has anything to do with the money. It is usually the embarrassment and fear of losing. The same person may go to the track and blow a thousand and not even blink. Pool is a personal thing and when you lose you were beaten by another person. Other forms of gambling such as race tracks, sports betting and casinos are impersonal. Lots of things to blame other then yourself so you can accept it.

Your friend probably has a sort of inferiority complex. He feel less of a person if he loses and it puts huge pressure on him. I have known millionaires who could not play for $10.00 a game. If they lost, at least in their mind, people are laughing at them or thinking them a sucker.

This applies to many people but they don't realize it. They avoid gambling on pool not because of the money but if they agree to a game and lose they are a sucker. So they are always trying to lock it up. No one wants to feel like a fool. In reality no one is probably thinking that anyway, and even if they are, screw them. That is easier to say then do though.

Even in tournaments, most of the players don't really have a chance to win. You hear it all the time, some guy on the side making fun of someone who puts up a hundred to enter a tournament they have no chance. So a lot of players don't play because of that fear of being thought of as a fool or sucker.
 
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macguy said:
It rarely has anything to do with the money. It is usually the embarrassment and fear of losing. The same person may go to the track and blow a thousand and not even blink. Pool is a personal thing and when you lose you were beaten by another person. Other forms of gambling such as race tracks, sports betting and casinos are impersonal. Lots of things to blame other then yourself so you can accept it.

Your friend probably has a sort of inferiority complex. He feel less of a person if he loses and it puts huge pressure on him. I have known millionaires who could not play for $10.00 a game. If they lost, at least in their mind, people are laughing at them or thinking them a sucker.
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He needs to improve focus. To the point it's just him and the table...no room no opponent no rail. Has to will himself to runout from everywhere and nowhere. Some rolls are hard to fade. I lost thousands on a 1/4 inch roll of a ball or lucked in ball. Can only control what you do .
 
Aside from gambling more for lesser amounts he probably needs to work on his fundamentals.

Usually players who aren't that good to begin with are more affected by nervousness than better players because everything breaks down.

A player with a rock solid foundation and great fundamentals can rely on a repeatable stroke to get them through the motions despite any nervousness and anxiety.
 
takeitdown said:
He needs to improve focus. To the point it's just him and the table...no room no opponent no rail. Has to will himself to runout from everywhere and nowhere. Some rolls are hard to fade. I lost thousands on a 1/4 inch roll of a ball or lucked in ball. Can only control what you do .
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Like I said, it rarely has anything to do with money it is a problem with the actual competing. To a degree you are involved in something you don't have complete control over. For many people who are used to being in complete control of their lives this can be challenging.
 
pwd72s said:
Good advice...I was told something years ago by a guy who grew up in Long Beach, N.Y.

"Gambling is a business. If you're not in the business, don't do it."
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Long Beach, my old stomping grounds. I had apartment right on the boardwalk for 6 months. The Helena Hotel. I got a police escort over the Island Park Bridge, and told never come back. They new I was doing stuff, but never could pin it on me. I always worked alone. Johnnyt
 
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