Familiarity breeds boredom

A

Adanac67

Predator=Awesome
Silver Member
I am just wondering if anyone else has the same problem:

I had taken about three months where I never touched a cue because I was playing in a league and was playing really badly. When I did come back I felt fresh and rejuvinated and ended up winning 4 of 5 tournaments. However, recently I have become bored again because I live in a smaller city where I play the same players over and over again. It's like I subconsciously let up and lose the killer instinct. I wish I could put my finger on it because I feel I should be in the money at least 75% of the time. :confused:
 
That can be a problem ...

Living in a small town can be a problem for a poolplayer.
It distorts what you think your real ability is. You need
to make a trip to a larger city, and enter a larger tournament
for exposure to better players and new challenges.
Also, expand your playing a little. If you don't play 1 pocket
or rotation, play them for awhile. Play a little 14.1 or play
Golf on a snooker table. I know here in Kansas sometimes,
the guys that live in smaller towns always make trips to
other towns, not even big ones, that hold special tournaments,
usually 32 player tourneys, to play for more competition, and
to test themselves. It will be good experience, and you get to meet
new interesting players. Make contacts you can email, both players
and Pool rooms in larger cities close to you. Plan 2 or 3 trips a
year to play a 64 player tournament in a larger city that is within
driving distance. Get on mailing lists on these Pool rooms in
larger cities so you will know what is going on with them.
Basically, you need more exposure, and to network, giving
you more alternatives than you now have.
 
A friend of mine picks me up every other Tuesday (One night off every 2 weeks) and I go in with him to Vancouver to a handicap 9 ball tournament. Yesterday I was one out of the money and got beat by 2 players who are ranked higher than me. My first loss was hill-hill to an A player (I play as a B+) and I scratched off another ball and still can't believe it happened. I haven't lost to a lower ranked player in the last 4 tournaments there. I feel it's just a matter of time before I win there because I love the table and always feel confident. I just wish I could bottle up the concentration I bring to that tournament and bring it to my local tournaments.
 
Adanac,

I know your pain, i am kinda in the same boat, expecially with my work schedual, i can only play certain tournaments, so i make the most of it. But i get the same way, i end up playing the same people all the time, and it gets boring, and normally i feel like i take a step back in progress.

Yet when i do get time to play in bigger or better tournaments, i do tend to play better, but i only get so far, because i end up getting beat by someone whos a bit better than me, when i know i could beat them if i faced better competition all the time.

But like snapshot said, try playing different games like straightpool or rotation, or 1hole, and even 7ball.

dave
 
the better the player, the better his focus on the job at hand....

or, the better his focus on the job at hand, the better the player.

i don't know which comes before which.

that's why most players, save the great ones, play to the level of their opponent.

it's really a zen thing you have to work on,,,,and take pride in trying to play the perfect game.
 
I have always liked going to a new room, or new tournament, and not knowing a single soul there. No one knows your speed, if your stalling, or playing your heart out. The pressure is always on them to beat the unknown player in front of thier hometown crowd. I've done this and won tournaments, or lost 2 and went home. It's still alot of fun, and good for your game.....Gerry
 
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