Are you better or worse than what others think of you?

Pool players are always rated at their highest level. Meaning if a guy is or has been a good player, he will always have to match up at that speed. No one wants to hear the "I haven't been playing" story.

As for me, I can't play a lick anymore, but I occasionally fool someone. No one ever thinks I can play, and I like that. :D
 
At my pool hall there are a few different categories that have different views on me:

Players that are significantly below me think I'm great. They think I'm better than I actually am.

Players that are just a little below me think they can play me even. I love those guys. They think I'm worse than I actually am.

Players that I actually play even with think we play even. I play a lot with them. They've got my game clocked well.

Players that play a little better than me don't want to spot me what I actually need to have a chance to beat them. They see me during the rack or two where I'm not dogging any balls, and they see that I have a good stroke, play smart position routes, and have good speed control, and they think I play just as good as they do. They won't acknowledge that I completely dog one out of every 7 or 8 routine easy shots where they only dog one out of every 15 or 20, and they only want to play me even. I do play them even, but only for what I can afford to lose (read: "invest in my improvement").

Players that play much better than me: There's only one regular at the pool hall I match up in (I go to more than one pool hall, but I'm only a part of the matching up hierarchy in one) who plays much better than me. I think he knows exactly what I need to have a good chance to beat him, but he's not willing to give me all of it. He spots me, but never enough. I like playing him anyway, because he always teaches me something. I would say he's got my speed clocked correctly.

-Andrew
 
I think I underestimate myself at times. Or perhaps I expect more from myself than the level I play at currently.

Most of the guys on my team think I play better than I give myself credit for. I don't know if they're being genuine, or simply trying to encourage me, but I'm not satisfied. We all still have fun, and that's the point. I think.
 
justadub said:
I think I underestimate myself at times. Or perhaps I expect more from myself than the level I play at currently.

Most of the guys on my team think I play better than I give myself credit for. I don't know if they're being genuine, or simply trying to encourage me, but I'm not satisfied. We all still have fun, and that's the point. I think.
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Thats what the people on my team say about me too, and then it really drives me nuts when I play bad!!
 
Most people who know me think I am a lot better than I really am. I am way to streaky of a player to be very consistent and when I lose or shoot bad people think I am just not trying or letting them win but thats not always the case.
 
J.T.450r said:
Most people who know me think I am a lot better than I really am. I am way to streaky of a player to be very consistent and when I lose or shoot bad people think I am just not trying or letting them win but thats not always the case.
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I know that feeling all to well also!!!
 
People think I'm pretty good, and I also think I'm pretty good, so I guess they have me clocked. Of course they're easily impressed and I'm a little cocky :)
 
dr9ball said:
It depends if I'm trying to win or just playing for fun.
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BINGO!



Anyone that knows me well knows that competing against me is a totally different experience than warming up or practicing with me is.

This has worked to my advantage several times in tournaments.
 
well i know that i.m better then what AZB has seen me shoot on stream my friends thats been knowing me for years knows what i can do :thumbup:
 
Most people seem to think that i can play a little but i cant. I know what is in my head when im shooting and im never sure of any shot that isnt hanging in the pocket-I can only shoot with follow. Draw or center ball are sure misses.

I haven't won a handicapped event in over 15 years and it was only one. I'd say i have less talent for this game than 90% on here. Funny thing is i was a 2 handicap in golf when i was 15/16. Even that left me for a while, returning only briefly.
 
Big Perm said:
I am so inconsistent, people could say anything....many nights, I can't make a ball.....very few nights, I can't miss.....sort of a bad C player that shows hints of decent play every now and then....don't really play much anymore so you never know who's gonna show up.....some probably think I am better, some think worse.....dunno???
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Im the same way. Im so streaky that I cant even clock my game. Depends on how im shooting and if im drinking. I can go from running out from places I shouldnt be able to, to missing ball in hand over and over in the blink of an eye.
 
dru said:
Well me personally I feel like it depends on what day of the week, what equipment is being used, and how my stroke is. Id say Im about 50/50 with what people think...worst people think Im good, and better people think Im not...although I do get "the potential" speech alot...right Jeff?
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lol. good to see you bud!

potential is relative. its all a matter of how much we try to learn more each and every day. :D
 
It's Unanimous

Most say I play really bad, I think I am worse than that.
I have the attention span of a gnat.
 
I played in a singles 8 ball tournament a couple of weeks ago. I lost my first two matches and I was done. After I lost my second match, the gal who beat me (she played absolutely flawless) said to me, "As soon as I saw I drew you, I thought I was going home!"

I think a lot of people have seen me shoot my A game, and therefore rate me based on that. Therefore, when I have an off day, like I did the day of that tournament, people who know me are really curious as to what the hell is going on. I don't mind people thinking that way. If someone is even slightly intimidated by my game, then that gives me that much of an advantage before I even rack the first match.
 
I only get to play once a week, so when I do finally pick up a cue, my speed varies drastically. Some days I string together 3 racks, other days I cant string together 3 balls. What people think of me depends on what day they've seen me play.
 
I would guess that most people think they are better than they actually are. Most of my friends think I am better than I really am, but that is because they are not knowledgeable about pool. I supposse you can find out just how good you are by playing in some healthy competition.
 
My inconsistency is the only consistent thing about my game.

I play worse than most people think. I also play in a small, newer poolhall and there isn't a ton of talent in there. Don't get me wrong, there are some guys that I would definitely put some cash on, but most of us are C to C+ players.

-J
 
Standbykid said:
My inconsistency is the only consistent thing about my game.

I play worse than most people think. I also play in a small, newer poolhall and there isn't a ton of talent in there. Don't get me wrong, there are some guys that I would definitely put some cash on, but most of us are C to C+ players.

-J
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what's the name of this pool hall? :thumbup:
 
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