Does anyone actually believe GAMBLING will
- Thread starter CocoboloCowboy
- Start date
I think gambling will help with the pressure aspect somewhat, but there is a big difference between gambling pressure and tourney pressure. If you lose a set or two gambling, you can always play another set. If you lose a set or two in a tourney, then your out most likely even though you have only lost your entry fee. In either event, you have to learn to have a strong mental game...thats what really helps you get better. JMO.
Southpaw
Southpaw
crawfish said:
It's a pretty well known fact that Michael Jordan and Charles Barkley have always liked to gamble also, but is that what made them great basketball players? For that matter, what about all of the Olympic athletes who have to train rigorously and then use focused skill and dexterity under extreme pressure in order to become world-class champions; what part does gambling play in that?
All I'm saying is this: you can be anything you want to be and do anything you want to do, without gambling. I'm not trying to put down great pool players who gamble, I'm just not going to give gambling much credit for them being great pool players.
Roger
According to Anna K., that's her primary means of practicing. If you need to put money on the line to get yourself up for a match or to put pressure on yourself, I think that says a lot about a player's real passions. Someone with a passion for the game gets up for matches because they love playing pool and they love competition. Someone who needs to put money on the line to keep their focus likely has a passion for gambling instead of a passion for pool.
Just my $.02.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-aXf9x4sgc
Just my $.02.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-aXf9x4sgc
i don't think gambling will help your game,unless it is the only reason you play.i think it will help you play under pressure a little better,but only certain pressure.for instance,i used to gamble all the time playing pool,mostly pretty big money.not huge,but $500-$1000 sets on average,sometimes more,rarely less.i can play for probably up to $5000 a set before the pressure gets to me,but in a tournament i still lock up b/c i never play in tournaments.i got used to gambling and not used to tournament pressure.
i will also go so far as to say that gambling hurt my game in the end.i quit playing last year,but the last few years before that i was in stall mode trying to make money at pool.i tried to never play up to my full level unless i really had to to get the money.i tried to make games where i could play bad and still win,or games where i could stall around a little and still win.i made a little money at it over the last few years,but i truly believe all that stalling and playing down impeded my progression.i feel like i didn't improve over the last couple years playing b/c i never really tried to get better.i was only trying to get the cash.
so while i think gambling may inspire a few,the people that really want to get better at pool will get better wheter tey gamble or not.alos gambling can get in the way if you let it take over.
i will also go so far as to say that gambling hurt my game in the end.i quit playing last year,but the last few years before that i was in stall mode trying to make money at pool.i tried to never play up to my full level unless i really had to to get the money.i tried to make games where i could play bad and still win,or games where i could stall around a little and still win.i made a little money at it over the last few years,but i truly believe all that stalling and playing down impeded my progression.i feel like i didn't improve over the last couple years playing b/c i never really tried to get better.i was only trying to get the cash.
so while i think gambling may inspire a few,the people that really want to get better at pool will get better wheter tey gamble or not.alos gambling can get in the way if you let it take over.
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If you examine the greatest players in the history of the game, the vast majority of them gambled at the game. The crucible of high stakes action is a proven method of raising the skill level of the participants. I don't see how there could be disagreement over this. Sure there are examples of players like Hohmann or the Kaiser that don't gamble and play world class, but they imo are anomalies.
You don't HAVE to gamble to get better, but in most cases the action WILL improve your skills. Either that or you will go busted and quit pool...
You don't HAVE to gamble to get better, but in most cases the action WILL improve your skills. Either that or you will go busted and quit pool...
There are exceptions to every rule. Different strokes for different folks kinda thing....BUT...
I don't think anyone in this thread can possibly argue the fact that the majority of pool players universe-wide feel that gambling helps their game more than "trying hard when they practice."
It is what it is. Like gambling or not, more people think it's a benefit rather than a crutch.
I don't think anyone in this thread can possibly argue the fact that the majority of pool players universe-wide feel that gambling helps their game more than "trying hard when they practice."
It is what it is. Like gambling or not, more people think it's a benefit rather than a crutch.
So, how did great poolplayers become great? They had to play OTHER great players. Olympic athletes can compete with eachother without gambling. Walk up to 95% of the great pool players and ask them to practice for four or five hours. Their response?Roger Long said:
OK, OK..."95-98% OF ALL GREAT PLAYERS EITHER DID GAMBLE OR DO."
If you feel you can follow the tourneys and be great, go ahead. Better have a good job or career to support that. If you are gonna play local stuff and think you're gonna get to Johnny's level, good luck with that too. You can, however, reach a "good player" status probably without gambling. I will name fifty players to every "one" you can name that got that way without gambling. As a matter of fact, I can't think of one that never did. Any help with that? Pool isn't professional basketball. Most do what they have to to survive. Oh well, if you play any kind of percentages, (stocks, spec, etc.) you can bet that to be a great player, you will gamble, or have. I base this just on all the greats from now and in the past compared to the ones that don't. I, by the way, don't know any greats that haven't.
I think this is a pretty easy question.
Your game, yes you, has a range of how good you play. Sometimes you don't care that much, no sleep, no practice, blah blah blah. Gambling, if the money is worth anything to you, will make you Play towards the Better Side of your ability. For some, the pressure is too much (Coco), so they don't think Gambling will improve there game.
As to making you play better than you were capable of yesterday, maybe? I think you'd have to gamble with better players, squeak out some victories to build your convidence and at the same time learn more. And you'd probably have to do this for an extended period of time for it to make you better.
I guess gambling could make you better because you are actually at the table instead of sitting here reading this. Or you could be gambling against better players, hence playing better competition, but probably losing all your money. At best, you are probably putting in more hours playing at the better part of your ability, which overtime will make you a better player.
Clear as mud?
Your game, yes you, has a range of how good you play. Sometimes you don't care that much, no sleep, no practice, blah blah blah. Gambling, if the money is worth anything to you, will make you Play towards the Better Side of your ability. For some, the pressure is too much (Coco), so they don't think Gambling will improve there game.
As to making you play better than you were capable of yesterday, maybe? I think you'd have to gamble with better players, squeak out some victories to build your convidence and at the same time learn more. And you'd probably have to do this for an extended period of time for it to make you better.
I guess gambling could make you better because you are actually at the table instead of sitting here reading this. Or you could be gambling against better players, hence playing better competition, but probably losing all your money. At best, you are probably putting in more hours playing at the better part of your ability, which overtime will make you a better player.
Clear as mud?
its so silly to name like 4 or 5 different players who dont gamble and say "see, ha!"
Seriously, if we started naming all of the great champions who DO gamble starting with greenleaf and ending with shane, AZBilliard's bandwith would explode.
i don't particularly care either way, for me the game is harder when i gamble. not that it makes me better, but it is harder FOR ME. There is something to be said about having the fear of god put in you and running out when you have to. its a great feeling.
do i feel gambling makes me better, not necessarily. do i feel there is an added challenge, absolutely.
justin.
Seriously, if we started naming all of the great champions who DO gamble starting with greenleaf and ending with shane, AZBilliard's bandwith would explode.
i don't particularly care either way, for me the game is harder when i gamble. not that it makes me better, but it is harder FOR ME. There is something to be said about having the fear of god put in you and running out when you have to. its a great feeling.
do i feel gambling makes me better, not necessarily. do i feel there is an added challenge, absolutely.
justin.
junior718 said:
I would love to play a set with Ginky, but do you think he will play me for free? Doubt it. Im not a huge gambler, but I would put some money on the line to go up against a great player. I think the pressure of playing a great player will raise your game more than the pressure of losing money.
What Im saying is, sometimes you dont have a choice if you want to play someone better. And if Tony doesnt gamble now, I would guess he just doesnt enjoy it.... therefor, I would say his reason for ever gambling was to play people who wouldnt play otherwise.
The game has always been centered around gambling and money, and its really the only way a lot of pool players are able to get by. But to think its the only way to obtain that level of play, is crazy.
Like all sports, some people see dollar signs some people see trophies.... its all about what motivates YOU.
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A wise man, if he wants to be a millionaire, hangs out with, and parallels millionaires. So, by analogy, if you want to be a great player, you hang out and emulate(?) great players. If 98% of great players gamble or have, wouldn't you tend to agree that, by odds, you will better your chance of being a great player if you do? Common sense. You further your odds by doing what has already been tried and true.cleary said:
By the way, I'm still waiting for even one or two great player's names that have never gambled.
SO...
I would assume a guy with zero talent and tons of money can gamble all day and become a champion then?
My experience is that the ones pushing the gambling angle are (strictly a coincidence) the ones winning 90% of the time.
I would assume a guy with zero talent and tons of money can gamble all day and become a champion then?
My experience is that the ones pushing the gambling angle are (strictly a coincidence) the ones winning 90% of the time.
crawfish said:
Im guessing you missed this part of my post...
"The game has always been centered around gambling and money, and its really the only way a lot of pool players are able to get by. But to think its the only way to obtain that level of play, is crazy."
You must have a gift to be great, which I don't have. But, with constant action, and the ability to watch and learn, average intelligence, you can reach an echelon over the "practicer."cueandcushion said:
Simply this, you're not gonna get to play great players on a daily basis without gambling. Period. To be great, you must play great players.