Food for thought...

K

ktrepal85

Banned
Personal pool perspective is an oxymoron in some ways.

In order to get any better you really need to pick apart your gameplay, dwell on the flaws of your game, and work on improving those weak areas.

In order to become a dominant competitor you must focus on the positive aspects of your game to become extremely confident in your abilities and believe you can beat anybody on the planet.

The moment you believe you can beat anybody on the planet it's hard to convince yourself that you need to improve. And the moment you convince yourself that your game is weak and needs improvement it's hard to really beat anybody.

It's strange how that works, isn't it? I guess that's the reason that progress comes in steps. Once you reach a new level you feel awesome and eventually it becomes your new level of play. You won't improve from this level until you get beat bad and realize you suck and need to work on your game again. Then you work on your weak areas and move up another level...round and round we go!
 
Youre exactly right!

ktrepal85 said:
Personal pool perspective is an oxymoron in some ways.

In order to get any better you really need to pick apart your gameplay, dwell on the flaws of your game, and work on improving those weak areas.

In order to become a dominant competitor you must focus on the positive aspects of your game to become extremely confident in your abilities and believe you can beat anybody on the planet.

The moment you believe you can beat anybody on the planet it's hard to convince yourself that you need to improve. And the moment you convince yourself that your game is weak and needs improvement it's hard to really beat anybody.

It's strange how that works, isn't it? I guess that's the reason that progress comes in steps. Once you reach a new level you feel awesome and eventually it becomes your new level of play. You won't improve from this level until you get beat bad and realize you suck and need to work on your game again. Then you work on your weak areas and move up another level...round and round we go!
Click to expand...

You are exactly right. I always keep a mental note with myself of what I need to learn to do next, sometimes its a very small thing but later on those small things become big things between two advanced players.

I keep Pool in perspective. I like it being a great addition to my life and I very much enjoy the time I spend alone at the table. I am never bored. Sometimes I get myself a nice local beer and make notes of what I'm doing and executing well and where to go to next.

Pool is Awesome and an endless, pleasurable journey!
 
Quiet Confidence.

Maybe that 'I can beat anyone' attitude is what causes much of the turmoil here on AZB as it is carried over into these discussion forums.

I am confident in my ability & am not afraid of anyone. I say that because I know that if I play to my full capabilities I can beat anyone.

That may not be a correct assessment but it is what I must believe.

I also 'realeyes' & know that I do not always play to my full ability & I can lose to virtually anyone. Note that I said lose & not get beat by anyone.

That is the motivation to play as best I can on any given day. I don't want to lose...to anyone... especially myself.

The thing is, I know, deep down inside, as I think most of us do, the difference between losing & getting beat. You know when you lose & you know when someone just beat you.

So... I live in a world of reality but with a confidence from within that on any given day, if I play to my full capabilities I can & will win. That's the motivation too, to win & not lose.

What's the difference between Earl & Efren, Segel & CJ, or whomever to whomever. They are/were all top level but who's going to 'win' today. That's why matches are played. Who is 'the best' today.

If one is so good in their own mind & their is no chance of losing then why even play? Same can be said of winning, If there is no chance to win then why even play.

Doubt.

There is always doubt no matter how deep it resides. That's the challenge. To keep that doubt suppressed so deep that it never really surfaces.

Quiet confidence. No need to wolf or be cocky. arrogant, or condescending.

Quiet Confidence.

Sorry for being a bit off topic But it really is not. One needs to keep one's game at a level so as to maintain that Quiet Confidence.

In my opinion, one should be rather afraid of an opponent with Quiet Confidence.

Best 2 You & All,
Rick
 
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You have to possess both mindsets but use them at different times. When practicing, entering tournaments, matching up, or just analyzing your game you have to look at it realistically and with honest expectations. But as soon as you start playing you have to flip the switch to the mindset of full confidence knowing you're going to win no matter what.
 
You have to have the mindset that it is you and the table...not you and an OPPONENT.

No matter what the layout of the table, it is YOU who must do "whatever it takes" to "turn the table" to YOUR "advantage".

It doesn't matter how a ball got into a certain place...whether he played a safety or whether that just happens to be the roll of the table when you break.

You have to concentrate on "how to get out of the situation"...NOT on how you got into the situation.

That is why I like playing alone sometimes...because the rolls either way are YOURS....you can't blame them on anyone else.

It is YOU and the TABLE. Deal with it. (Easier said than done for everyone)

Aloha.
 
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