Do you shoot better gambling or in tourney play?

m79a

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I swear it seems like I shoot at least a ball better gambling than in tourney play. I don't understand it. In a tourney money is on the line also.
 
Tournaments are tougher. Little time to get in stroke and stay loose. I think Yoda was talking about pool tournaments when he said there is no try, there is only do, or do not... Gotta bring it or go home in a tournament.

With gambling, it seems like there is just more time to stay loose, and you can usually play another set if you lose
 
I think there is a couple of factors when you are playing someone for money. The money on the line is usually more substantial when you are gambling. Also, I feel it is easier to bear down when you are going against one opponent, as opposed to going through a field of players. In a tournament, you might sit between matches which can cool your stroke too. Oh, and there is instant gratification when gambling...when you finish your race to whatever, you either lose or win the money. In a tourney, you just move on to the next match.
 
I swear it seems like I shoot at least a ball better gambling than in tourney play. I don't understand it. In a tourney money is on the line also.

I've always done better in tourneys. I think its because its more impersonal. Its easier to ignore your opponent.
I've beaten someone in a tournament and barely noticed them - just some player on the draw.
Gambling is like a street fight. I mean a real fight where you always are aware of who is sitting in the chair when you are shooting.

You have to have the mentality of an assassin where its all about busting someone.
IMO thats why Hatch beat Appleton on TAR - he's tougher and no offensive, just plain meaner.

In the match between Mika and Shane - you got the sense Mika didnt bring it as much because hes geared to win tournaments and not to rob an individual.
 
I never shot well in tournaments. I shot much better for money. My way of thinking was I paid my tournament fee and it couldn't cost me anything more, there for I didn't stay focused. When I gambled I would be aware of the need to focus on evey shot or I could lose a lot of money quick. I wasn't a big fan of tournament play. My main goal in pool was to make money at it. Before the Internet you could sneak in and out of a bar that had a few tables and a bunch of union blue collar workers for clients with a few hundred and left everyone happy if you did your job right.

I never was good enough to play the big tournaments with the 9' tables. The smaller regional tournaments I could cash pretty high up. I found out quickly that the few hundred I'd win at a local tournament would cost me money gambling in the long run as people saw your speed at a tournament and didn't have to pay much for the info. I would play in a lot of cheap bar tournaments, play on the lemon and then pick up a score after the tournament was over. In the 1960's though 1980's you could make a nice buck hustling from bar to bar. Most of the easy big money was in bucket of blood bars, but the risk of winning and getting out with your money was a big rush. I think I hustled more for that than the money...although I did like free money to party. Johnnyt
 
Gambling!

When I shoot a tournament I feel I'm just paying for table time more less. Its in my budget for the days recreation. When I gamble its money out of my pocket every set.

I think the people with the mentality that first place is there money from the start r the ones that have the mental focus and stamina to take the money consistently
 
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