For the gamblers out there

Jay,
May you have a prosperous New Year.

Increase the bet and play him again when you regain your confidence and stamina...he may not be in his comfort zone when betting large.:thumbup:
 
Jay, the solution to getting that confidence back is pretty simple - go win the banks at the DCC. ;)

Happy New Year, my friend. :wink:
 
jay helfert said:
Anyway if anyone has any suggestions for me they would be much appreciated. By the way, my buddy Adrian watched the game and afterward he said that my banks lost a little zip after the first few games. That was a reflection of my loss in confidence I think. I'm just wondering what I need to do to get over this hump. Thanks
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Hi Jay and all,
In the same line but somewhat i had opposite results; played a guy one pocket i gave him 10-6 for $20 a game, he zipped me 1st three games straight in less than an hour; i barley made six balls, he was kind and suggested to reduce it to 9-6 instead, i agreed, zipped him six games in a raw, throw his stick on the balls last game, got me $60. In those six games he barley made 3 balls. at 1st i under estimated him did not play good safe, but i recovered and he was not able to breath. I guess playing safe for me was the way, even if i gave him 12-6 i think he would have lost then.
 
Jay, one way of regaining your confidence is to play inferior players and beat them black and blue. That is what Ear Strickland believed some 20 yeasr ago. I don`t know his current beliefs.
 
I would assume he travels....

Johnnyt said:
Where can you bet the Greyhounds in CA? Johnnyt
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Adrian said he makes his living betting on dog racing, but he did not say anything about attending races in person. I cannot imagine being able to make a living at dog bets. I was taught how to bet on horses by a wealthy woman when I was a kid, and I have never had a losing day at the horse races, but I bet minimums for entertainment. I am sure that if I bumped it up to a real bet, statistics would catch up to me. I don't know if it is the same Adrian, but he said that he used to be a super high roller and that he was a well known target for top hustlers to take down. Maybe he was trying to take me down with that line! Adrian was about 6' thin and wore a baseball cap when playing. Same guy?
 
hunger strike said:
Adrian said he makes his living betting on dog racing, but he did not say anything about attending races in person. I cannot imagine being able to make a living at dog bets. I was taught how to bet on horses by a wealthy woman when I was a kid, and I have never had a losing day at the horse races, but I bet minimums for entertainment. I am sure that if I bumped it up to a real bet, statistics would catch up to me. I don't know if it is the same Adrian, but he said that he used to be a super high roller and that he was a well known target for top hustlers to take down. Maybe he was trying to take me down with that line! Adrian was about 6' thin and wore a baseball cap when playing. Same guy?
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That is one sentence I never could write. And I have tried and tried. So, what is the secret?
 
hunger strike said:
Adrian said he makes his living betting on dog racing, but he did not say anything about attending races in person. I cannot imagine being able to make a living at dog bets. I was taught how to bet on horses by a wealthy woman when I was a kid, and I have never had a losing day at the horse races, but I bet minimums for entertainment. I am sure that if I bumped it up to a real bet, statistics would catch up to me. I don't know if it is the same Adrian, but he said that he used to be a super high roller and that he was a well known target for top hustlers to take down. Maybe he was trying to take me down with that line! Adrian was about 6' thin and wore a baseball cap when playing. Same guy?
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Sounds a lot like Adrian from South Florida area who was a great dog handicapper. He liked to roll pretty big.
 
doitforthegame said:
Hello Jay. I find the thing that holds me back is the fire doesn't burn as hot anymore. Once upon a time I would chew the legs off the table to win. Now, I know it is only money and if I lose, the sun comes up anyway. I am like you, play on and off. Practice a little here and there. I can even "feel it" once in awhile. It's just like the old days. But in the end I don't think guys our age have the focus.

There is one thing that will get the fire stoked for a short period. Playing a cocky young guy that thinks this old man is a toothless has been. Nothing is sweeter than the the look on their face when you take them down.
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+1 You hit the nail on the head. Without motivation you have nothing to work with and you are just going thru the motions!
 
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jay helfert said:
Now I'm left to wonder why my game slipped after the initial three or four games.

No question that the Gold Crown takes some adjusting to after only playing on my Diamond for so long. But that's not it. I also know I need some "conditioning" to playing in money games again, especially against a good player, who I'm told is in there every day. What I don't know is why I let down and my game slipped a notch or two, allowing him to win.
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The same thing happens to me in golf as in pool. Starting off I play like I haven't had any layoff.

In psychological terms, your were playing off the right side of your brain - mostly by feel with no thought (left brain) interference. Then, when you started to doubt yourself, you began to think about things too much and started missing shots.

IMHO, the only way to get around this is by hitting lots of practice balls until you get back into the 'feel' of your stroke....mixed in with a little competition. Learn to play using the right side of your brain and you won't have any trouble.
 
A couple tips that may help I learned from competitive golfing.

Best tip I ever got was from pro golfer Brad Faxon, widely regarded as one of the best putters ever. He said something like "I know I am going to miss some putts. It's OK. I am not afraid to miss a putt. This relieves me of self-applied pressure and undue tension."

Lock out negative thoughts by using a "mantra". When negativity tries to creep in, purge it with a statement that is personal to you. Say to yourself something like "I've made this shot/out a 1000 times before, I believe in me." Then breathe deeply to oxygenate the muscles and mind before going down on a difficult shot and follow your pre-shot routine.

And as the hours go by, eat well and hydrate constantly. I carry granola bars in my case for occasions I may need instant nourishment.
 
Hello Jay, and Happy New Year to you and family.

Now, about your game! Number one thing to do is Focus, Focus and Focus some more on shots, walk around the table and check the shot out from all angles. Take a little more time with every shot. And treat easy shots the same way you do hard shots. Never take a shot for granted under any conditions! Drink plenty of juice and water during a match and before a match! Let nothing distract your game or shots! Last but not least, Think that I can and have done this before, and I am the same person as before!!!
I hope this helps, Jay! Jay you are a pool Legend!
Many Regards,
Lock N Load.
 
Confidence

Hey Jay,Saw a TV show with Phil Hellmouth and poker.It showed him before a match at his home in preperation.Positive thinking and verbalization.He was in the home preparing for the event and verbally telling himself in the mirror how good he is,how worthy he is to win,how he was born for good things to happen for him, Bla Bla Bla.Crazy as it seems,when I am playing a shot.And it is an important shot.I will tell myself how easy the shot is,I have been here before and done this,this shot will fall with shape on the next ball,Bla Bla.I am no Jay Halfert nor Phil Hellmouth thank god,but it works for me.
Hope this helps
Craig
 
renard said:
+1 You hit the nail on the head. Without motivation you have nothing to work with and you are just going thru the motions!
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Jay didn't need the money he lost and perhaps his opponent hadn't eaten for days nor had a roof over his head at night?
 
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