New Attitude: Action, Action, Action...

K

ktrepal85

Banned
I think I've hit a point in my pool game where nothing will help me improve faster than being in action.

I need to develop endurance. Learn to play under pressure. Be comfortable losing money. Learn that it's costly not to give 100% focus to every shot. Learn to be confident. Learn to be fearless. Learn to be intimidating. Learn to control my emotions. Learn to gain motivation from being the underdog or behind in a set. Learn to accept the bad rolls. Learn the importance of controlling the table. Learn how to be the boss and take charge.

From this point forward I'll play anyone for money. $20 - $30 sets. Unless it's a huge mismatch I won't ask for weight. Losing a good action match is just the price you pay to get better. It's no different than paying for an informational DVD or lesson.

It's time to man up and move up the ranks...wish me luck!
 
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I like your attitude. If you make the shots you are supposed to make, and play safe when you should, you will be tough to beat. Good luck.
 
Drop The Rock said:
One Pocket

$10-$20 a game to start.
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Yes, one pocket included. I mostly play 9-ball and one pocket but I'll play pretty much anything. 9-ball, 10-ball, 8-ball, one pocket, straight pool, banks. The only games I won't play are golf and snooker, just b/c I've never played them and don't understand the rules.
 
Sounds like you're pumped and yearning to improve. Play better players and have a little skin in the game but get weight if necessary. You don't want to be the guy that an opponent can count on for making his car payment every month. If this happens on a regular basis you stop being an opponent and become a fish, a whale. Play tournaments. I like the way you are thinking. There is no shame in losing money to a good player. It could be cheaper than a lesson. Remember to watch intently what these better players do. Your subconscious is a sponge.
 
ktrepal85 said:
I think I've hit a point in my pool game where nothing will help me improve faster than being in action.

I need to develop endurance. Learn to play under pressure. Be comfortable losing money. Learn that it's costly not to give 100% focus to every shot. Learn to be confident. Learn to be fearless. Learn to be intimidating. Learn to control my emotions. Learn to gain motivation from being the underdog or behind in a set. Learn to accept the bad rolls. Learn the importance of controlling the table. Learn how to be the boss and take charge.

From this point forward I'll play anyone for money. $20 - $30 sets. Unless it's a huge mismatch I won't ask for weight. Losing a good action match is just the price you pay to get better. It's no different than paying for an informational DVD or lesson.

It's time to man up and move up the ranks...wish me luck!
Click to expand...

If losing money were the only way to get better I would suck hard.

If money is all that drives you to play this game, I can give you many easier ways to lose money.
 
This is nothing but foolish thinking. Gambling will perhaps teach you to be a better gambler...it will NOT teach you to be a better player...something taking a professional lesson will do. :rolleyes:

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com

ktrepal85 said:
I think I've hit a point in my pool game where nothing will help me improve faster than being in action.

I need to develop endurance. Learn to play under pressure. Be comfortable losing money. Learn that it's costly not to give 100% focus to every shot. Learn to be confident. Learn to be fearless. Learn to be intimidating. Learn to control my emotions. Learn to gain motivation from being the underdog or behind in a set. Learn to accept the bad rolls. Learn the importance of controlling the table. Learn how to be the boss and take charge.

From this point forward I'll play anyone for money. $20 - $30 sets. Unless it's a huge mismatch I won't ask for weight. Losing a good action match is just the price you pay to get better. It's no different than paying for an informational DVD or lesson.

It's time to man up and move up the ranks...wish me luck!
Click to expand...
 
ktrepal85 said:
I need to develop endurance. Learn to play under pressure. Be comfortable losing money. Learn that it's costly not to give 100% focus to every shot. Learn to be confident. Learn to be fearless. Learn to be intimidating. Learn to control my emotions. Learn to gain motivation from being the underdog or behind in a set. Learn to accept the bad rolls. Learn the importance of controlling the table. Learn how to be the boss and take charge.
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The Daily Affirmation with Stuart Smalley

You are good enough, you are strong enough and doggonit, people like you.
 
Scott Lee said:
This is nothing but foolish thinking. Gambling will perhaps teach you to be a better gambler...it will NOT teach you to be a better player...something taking a professional lesson will do. :rolleyes:

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com
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I disagree. It's foolish to think that a professional lesson will teach you how to perform in a high pressure situation. And since you're an instructor, your opinion is obviously biased.
 
I started playing many years ago before everyone had the teaching aids out there and the way you learned is exactly what you posted.

You can learn and learn and never ever stop learning from teaching aids, but, at some point, you need to get into action and mentally handle this sport.

I so like what you stated about controlling your emotions as when you can mentally handle losing like a champion, you will soon learn how to win like a champion in my opinion.

If you give the effort at 100 % when your at the table and leave it there no matter what happens, you will be a champion in a lot of eyes.

Good Luck
 
ktrepal85 said:
I disagree. It's foolish to think that a professional lesson will teach you how to perform in a high pressure situation. And since you're an instructor, your opinion is obviously biased.
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In the original post you stated that you wanted to be comfortable losing money...by definition, being comfortable is not a pressure situation.
 
ElCorazonFrio said:
In the original post you stated that you wanted to be comfortable losing money...by definition, being comfortable is not a pressure situation.
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Obviously, you are not a pool player. Logic does not play a role in decision making in the pool room. You're probably some 8 to 5'er who does engineering or computer programming or what not for a viable living wage. Please take your prosperous way of thinking elsewhere!
 
ElCorazonFrio said:
If losing money were the only way to get better I would suck hard.

If money is all that drives you to play this game, I can give you many easier ways to lose money.
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I am not playing this game for the money earned. I play this game because I love this game and I want to master it. In order for me to master it I must play in high pressure situations. If I am not in a high pressure situation I have a tendency to not play to my full potential due to lack of focus.

If someone told you to shoot a basketball into a hoop you would probably shoot it with 80%-90% effort. If someone bet you $20 you can't make the shot you would shoot it with 100% effort.

When I am gambling I am playing closer to the 100% mark then when I am not gambling. The more I play at a 100% level the better I will perform. If I continually perform at a higher level then my average level of play will improve and I will develop good habits.

I could care less about the money earned from pool. I work for a living with a good career where I make more in 4 hours than my best night at the pool hall. Regardless, I don't like losing money which keeps me focused!
 
ktrepal85 said:
I am not playing this game for the money earned. I play this game because I love this game and I want to master it. In order for me to master it I must play in high pressure situations. If I am not in a high pressure situation I have a tendency to not play to my full potential due to lack of focus.

If someone told you to shoot a basketball into a hoop you would probably shoot it with 80%-90% effort. If someone bet you $20 you can't make the shot you would shoot it with 100% effort.

When I am gambling I am playing closer to the 100% mark then when I am not gambling. The more I play at a 100% level the better I will perform. If I continually perform at a higher level then my average level of play will improve and I will develop good habits.

I could care less about the money earned from pool. I work for a living with a good career where I make more in 4 hours than my best night at the pool hall. Regardless, I don't like losing money which keeps me focused!
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Having money on the line works for mein regard to focus too but if you really love the game you should love to play just to play also.
 
ktrepal85 said:
If someone told you to shoot a basketball into a hoop you would probably shoot it with 80%-90% effort. If someone bet you $20 you can't make the shot you would shoot it with 100% effort.
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Don't presume to know me.

I would only give 100% because I decided to give 100% and I wouldn't cross the street for $20.

It's interesting, I have friends who participate in marathons, triathlons, mountain biking and even ultra marathons (i.e. 100mile run in mountains that has to be completed in 24hs or less). All of these people do this because of their internal drive, not for money or prestige--the guy who did the 100miler a few times doesn't ever talk about it. I have met very few pool players who are the same.

I understand my athlete friends, I don't understand the pool players.

So here you are, you have every need covered, you make good money, you have a rewarding career, but you can't just play your best pool for the sake of playing at your peak?

How weak does one have to be to admit that he can't bring himself to play his best unless he risks something?

I think Maslow had some things to say on this subject.
 
If you don't have the skills required to play under pressure the. You need to get comfortable losing money because it's going to happen more than not. As long as you have deep pockets then I guess it doesn't matter though.

Scott may be an instructor but he knows what he is talking about here. If you go into a match against a seasoned money player that is your same speed during league nights then you are more than likely going to lose. Get where you are comfortable and confident with your non-money game and then go into playing small sets with the locals.

You may be like me though and have no issue with having a good time and losing $50 bucks. It is a lot better though when you walk away ahead. I'll give you an example. I took lessons from Scott last year and to be honest I didn't really practice what I was taught until a few months after the lessons. I play a guy regularly $20 sets to 7 and he would give me 4 games on the wire. He would beat me or bring it within one game. Now, after taking what I was taught seriously he is asking me for weight because he can't win. Knowing what to do and why helps. I'm not bragging.....I'm just giving you a real life example.
 
ElCorazonFrio said:
Don't presume to know me.

I would only give 100% because I decided to give 100% and I wouldn't cross the street for $20.

It's interesting, I have friends who participate in marathons, triathlons, mountain biking and even ultra marathons (i.e. 100mile run in mountains that has to be completed in 24hs or less). All of these people do this because of their internal drive, not for money or prestige--the guy who did the 100miler a few times doesn't ever talk about it. I have met very few pool players who are the same.

I understand my athlete friends, I don't understand the pool players.

So here you are, you have every need covered, you make good money, you have a rewarding career, but you can't just play your best pool for the sake of playing at your peak?

How weak does one have to be to admit that he can't bring himself to play his best unless he risks something?

I think Maslow had some things to say on this subject.
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How does admitting that I player a stronger game of pool when money is on the line makes me a weak person? Your attack on my character for no reason at all just shows what kind of rotten person you are I guess.

If all you have to say is bad things about pool players then why go on a forum with all pool players? Why not go on the triathlon forum? Is this rewarding for you to push your negativity on to others? If you won't cross the street for $20 then you are a lazy piece of shi*.

And just like your athletic friends, I also play pool because of my internal drive and love for the game. Not for the prestige or money as I mentioned in my last comment. What aren't you understanding here?
 
Allen Brown said:
If you don't have the skills required to play under pressure the. You need to get comfortable losing money because it's going to happen more than not. As long as you have deep pockets then I guess it doesn't matter though.

Scott may be an instructor but he knows what he is talking about here. If you go into a match against a seasoned money player that is your same speed during league nights then you are more than likely going to lose. Get where you are comfortable and confident with your non-money game and then go into playing small sets with the locals.

You may be like me though and have no issue with having a good time and losing $50 bucks. It is a lot better though when you walk away ahead. I'll give you an example. I took lessons from Scott last year and to be honest I didn't really practice what I was taught until a few months after the lessons. I play a guy regularly $20 sets to 7 and he would give me 4 games on the wire. He would beat me or bring it within one game. Now, after taking what I was taught seriously he is asking me for weight because he can't win. Knowing what to do and why helps. I'm not bragging.....I'm just giving you a real life example.
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Your thoughts are conflicting here. Scott is saying that gambling is not going to make me any better. And you say you agree with that but then you also say that a seasoned money player will win against a non-money player.

What exactly are you trying to say?

I agree that you should develop skills before gambling and I have done exactly that. I am now at the point where I am going to start regularly gambling.
 
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