Neil said:
I found though, that it seemed like the more knowledge I gained, the worse I actually played. I was looking at a multitude of ways to make the ball and get the desired results. But NOT firmly picking ONE way and doing it. My mind was never focused. I thought it was, but it wasn't. You have to decide what you want to do BEFORE you bend over the shot. And focus just on that.
Your attitude HAS to change. IF you are scared of looking incompetent, SO WHAT! We all feel that. Just when we finally think we are getting somewhere in this game,Someone is always better.
Now on to my nemesis. Luck Factor.
People can say there is no such thing, you make your own rolls, ect. They are right, yet they are also wrong. Everybody knows someone that always seems to be lucky. You know the type, one that can step in cow crap and roses will start growing out of his shoes. Most people have no problem with the good side of the luck factor.
But every coin has two sides. If some people are just 'naturally' lucky, it stands to reason that some people are 'naturally' unlucky. I do believe you might be one of 'us'. Yes, I am too. This part is hard for me, because it bares a very private part of me. But I say it anyhow in the hope that it will help someone else avoid what I put myself through.
I always had some excuse. The ball rolled off (which was true a lot), it skidded, ect. And, in all honesty, a lot would work against me. So I started to spend a lot of time by myself. I was determined to get my game back where it used to be.
Many a day I would just say screw this stupid game. I've had enough! But one thing I did notice, but would not really admit to myself, was that the more I complained about the rolls, the more I saw them. It got to where I expected something to go wrong. And sure enough, I was right! It did! It got so bad that I could get 3" off position, STILL have a great shot, but I would complain about it. IT FEEDS ON ITSELF. Crap in=crap out. Re-read that please. It is VERY important.!!
So I started to hit a small tournament. Played in it, but really watched some of the other players. Guess what I learned? They sometimes got bad rolls too! Sometimes for a length of time! I wasn't cursed after all! This crap is part of the game! How in the .... had my thinking gotten so screwed up???
Great post Neil. I can really identify with a lot of the content.
I am at the "knows to much for his own good" point in pool. Too much thinking and not enough shooting.
I've played on bad tables and had equipment related bad rolls, but most of the time the flaw is in my execution.
Decide on a shot, believe in it and execute it. Negativity finds it's way into your cue and will destroy your confidence and game.
I'm one of those guys that has more good luck than bad. I fall in sh!t and come out smelling like a rose, though they don't grow out of my shoes..
Maybe when I get bad luck, I fail to see it as bad "luck." When I need a card to make my hand in cards, or have to make a 2 rail kick to pocket my last ball and get on the 8 (which I missed when it was almost straight into the side) and I am successful, I don't feel lucky. I feel vindicated that I made the right choice to select the shot I did or to hold on to the cards that went with the "lucky" card.
This goes to attitude. I think optimists are luckier than pessimists. I believe this is true because the optimist
expect the best result and then aren't disappointed if they don't get it. The pessimist
hopes for the best but expects the worse possible outcome. They are then relieved when the worse doesn't happen, and probably attribute it to luck (which they have no control over)
When I started playing I walkied into a bar and had my ass handed to me by everybody. I lose every game I played. I wasn't discouraged or upset, I was determined to get a game and get back in theree and beat every one of them. That was my goal... I didn't go back in there for about 6 weeks, rather spending every spare moment in the pool room working things out. When I went back, I stayed on the table for most of the night, and over the course of the next month beat every one of the regulars that so thoroughly stomped me that first night out.
Next I found a little Frioday night 8 ball tourney. The first time I entered I went 2 and out, it was disappointing. I thought I had game and I folded under the new pressure of tournament play. I went 2 and out 3 weeks in a row before gaining any traction. The next week I went straight to the 1 loss side and decided I was going to send as many people as possible home. I wanted to be the spoiler, and I wound up in 5th place after sending 4 others home for the night.
I still haven't won this tourney, but have taken second twice. My goal now is to win it, but prior to ever winning any money I decided I wanted to be the guy that the good players worried about, a short stop. I became the guy that no one wanted to play because I am capable of beating them all. It was very gratifying the first time one of them said "oh sh!t I gotta play you" from one of the better players in the tourney. It was my first match of the night and he did beat me (my own fault and poor execution) and he went on to win the tourney. I ended up on the one loss side and stayed there until I say the same guy in the finals. He was the only guy to beat me that night, and losing twice to the same guy and taking second was almost as sweet as I imagine winning it will be.
Sorry for the ramble, this is the first DCP thread I've posted in. Expect a positive outcome and don't chalk it up to luck when you get it.
Banger
i slumped in my chair and asked out loud why oh why oh why i dont ever get any decent chances at running a rack of 9-Ball..............
