a few questions.

C

cheemagun

gettin there...
Silver Member
why do some players play better when they gamble?

why do some players play better when they play in tourneys?

why do some players only play good when they practice?

who here is a clutch player? that can run out that hill hill match or control and run out a tight set towards the end.
 
cheemagun said:
why do some players play better when they gamble?

why do some players play better when they play in tourneys?

why do some players only play good when they practice?

who here is a clutch player? that can run out that hill hill match or control and run out a tight set towards the end.
Click to expand...


Desire/determination...heart...mindset...and nerves.

Nobody is going to be a clutch player 100% of the time because of certain variables. You will WIN and you will LOSE, everybody does. I'd place myself on the up side of 50% or more. You won't be there to begin with if you at least don't believe it.
 
Watchez Is !!!

who here is a clutch player? that can run out that hill hill match or control and run out a tight set towards the end.[/QUOTE]

My vote goes to Watchez - I THINK!

TY & GL
 
cheemagun said:
why do some players play better when they gamble?

why do some players play better when they play in tourneys?

why do some players only play good when they practice?

who here is a clutch player? that can run out that hill hill match or control and run out a tight set towards the end.
Click to expand...


It really depends on what your level of comfort is. When I'm playing well, I yearn for competition. Tournaments, leagues, money-games, you name it, I wanna play in something that matters. When I've had recent success under these circumstances, playing for fun just won't cut it. You get bored and maintaining focus when you're bored is just about impossible.

The practice champion is a different breed entirely. Their comfort zone is when they're not challenged. Usually, if someone is struggling, they'll seek out that time when they can be alone and quickly fall into stroke. The mere existence of an opponent can cause stress and immediately serve as a distraction. This can lead in one of two directions with either the player learning how to transfer this knowledge to a competitive situation or complete withdrawal from all competition.

I think many of us can think of times when we performed well in the clutch and a few unforgettable times when we didn't. In fact, I can write a book on my incredible wins and horrible losses. It really is all part of the learning process and a key element in competition. If you've never choked, you've never really played. If you've never come through in the clutch, you haven't given yourself enough of a chance. There are just times when all is on the line and it feels like shooting bb's in a tunnel. Other times, once the stakes go up, the pockets seem to tighten. I guess, most of us play this game because we understand how difficult it is yet cannot get over the high when it feels easy.
 
I think players that play better in tournaments have a different mindset than players that play better for money. After all, once you've posted your entry fee and paid your expenses (hotel, food, etc.), there's no more money to lose in the tournament; whereas with gambling you can lose all your money (or worse) if you don't know when to quit. On the other hand, playing in a tournament requires coming out of the gate strong because if you lose you can't just flip a coin and play another set (and you only have two barrels). I agree with Jude about the players who play their best in practice - they need to be utterly relaxed and undistracted by such trivial things as "if you lose you're out/broke!!" LOL.
 
Some people gamble well with their own money and some people gamble well with someone else’s money. There is a difference here too. :) :D :p
 
actually its a disease

i think drivermaker said it best in the past

some people suffer from the common asspuckering disease.........and some don't :D

VAP
 
I can't play a race. I have to play for cash on each game. If I play for example a race to 7 for 200.00, I'll lose every time. But 10.00 or 20.00 a game, I'm a whole lot better.
 
I think Jude and Kelly are very close to being "on the money" (so to speak). It's all a matter of focus. In reality (perfect player, perfect world), it shouldn't make any difference because you should be focused on the game only...actually on the shot at hand only, and you shouldn't even be thinking about money at all. In the real world, different circumstances affect different people different ways. For some people, the pressure of playing for money actually triggers the concentration they need to win. For some people, the exact opposite is true.

If you could ever get such a tight preshot routine that your mental triggers work every time no matter what is going on around you, you should be able to play equally well under any circumstances because during the time of your actual shot, you would be in dead-stroke every shot....focused only on the shot. Pressure would not be an issue. I think it's hard to actually make the human mind work that way, though.
 
In my opinion, you're gonna get alot of different answers from a lot of different people. It varies from player to player. When I first started, I could play a blind man but if money was on the line, I was a lock to lose. I couldn't play for money. Somewhere that changed.
Within the past year I've gone from first round tournament loser (usually losing to people that were less capable than me) to a mediocre tournament player.
However, I am falt out, NOT a clutch player. Never! I was up $200 in a race to 7 against a friend of mine and we doubled up. I went up 6-0. Then promptly, dropped seven in a row!!!

Sometimes pressure mounts and some people (like myself) usually fold when it does.

And why do some people shoot better when they practice? Because there is no pressure. Who cares if you miss? It doesn't cost you a thing. This is a very mental game and sometimes, no matter how good your stroke is, your mental game can be crap and it'll burn you every time. That's why I'm penniless!! :D
 
Vonn31 said:
I can't play a race. I have to play for cash on each game. If I play for example a race to 7 for 200.00, I'll lose every time. But 10.00 or 20.00 a game, I'm a whole lot better.
Click to expand...

Hey there VONN31, I am just the opposite. I like a race, that keeps me focused on a near term goal. I can't count how many times I'll have an opponent down by 10-12 games & slowly let them leak back in. Once an opponent gets some momentum, it's hard to get them back in the can.

I don't have the killer instinct, but I can count money. Races are better for me.
 
Clutch playing has a ton to do with confidence - a ton rides on the mental side and a person's makeup. The ability to "free stroke" under the gun of a tournament or for the "chee$e" is what is important. If that back stoke arm tightens just a bit under pressure - your game changes and your confidence falls.

I've seen guys who can run 100+ balls several times a day and then can't get out of the 1st round of a tournament - not because of who they are playing, but because of the weight of a couple of bricks on their backs.

Mind set for money and tournaments are totally different also. For the cash it is up to you how far you will go, how much you will risk, how bad of a hurting you are willing to take. The tournament is structured (beginning, middle, end) - you are told who to play, when to play and basically how long you will place (per match). Some people thrive on structure and excel in tournaments - where others I've seen literally taking a $$$ beating at the table - down $1000's and keep going and seen them come back and win the cash in the end. No time limit, can go on for days with the same 2 going at it.

My experience from what I've seen is that, typically, the player that plays jam up for the $$$ can adapt and do well in tournaments, whereas the better tournament players, that don't really gamble, can have more problems crossing over to the unknown side of gambling. Of course there are exceptions and I'm talking playing for bigger $ amounts, not sets for $50 or $100.
 
One other thing... gambling can be completely chaotic, another test of one's makeup. You can have someone stuck a couple $100 and they want to jump the bet, asks for weight, wants more weight - all these have varying changes on your ability to handle pressure and that constant changing of pressure. All this over a course of playing the same person.

In the tournament - there is no jumping the bet to add pressure to your opponent, changing of the weight etc... again, very structured. Two totally different skill sets between gambling and tournaments.
 
cheemagun said:
why do some players play better when they gamble?

why do some players play better when they play in tourneys?

why do some players only play good when they practice?

who here is a clutch player? that can run out that hill hill match or control and run out a tight set towards the end.
Click to expand...

It's all mindset.

Gamble players think "If I just make this ball I will win $$$"

Tournament players think "If I can play my game and be consistent I'll hold on to win $$$"

Clutch players think "That chance is all I need, here I go, your ass is mine." or "Nobody can miss that shot against me and still win, sit down now, boi."

Practice players think "If I divide the OB into 1/8ths and aim the edge of the cue ball at the 3rd 1/8th for a 45 degree, no 48 degree cut, okay hit right there, 5 o'clock, ok, need perfect swing, okay now, straight back and straight through, okay let's make sure the head is correct, yep, cue under chin, okay practice stroke 1, 2, 3, and release - oh no, I forgot to account for squirt!"

No joke.

Cheers,
Regas
 
the pacing of pool is such that it allows for plenty of thought. pool is not a REACTIVE game. this is why the mental game is so important in pool, and all your question revolve around this very issue.
 
ceebee said:
Hey there VONN31, I am just the opposite. I like a race, that keeps me focused on a near term goal. I can't count how many times I'll have an opponent down by 10-12 games & slowly let them leak back in. Once an opponent gets some momentum, it's hard to get them back in the can.

I don't have the killer instinct, but I can count money. Races are better for me.
Click to expand...

I had a guy down 6-0 once and lost. I just cant get into it. It's like the games aren't important. I get it in my head that there's no need to rush because I've got plenty of games. The next thing I know, I'm drilled.
 
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