Getting the most from your game

[wincardona]

Two of the most important ingredients in the recipe for success is one,knowing your capabilities,and two,where is your melting point.and improving on it. It obviously takes skills to play this game,some of us have more skills than others,but we all have skills which we developed from the very first time we picked up a cue. We also at times get nervous and dog it, usually the result of putting ourselves in a demanding situation and not being able to perform,for various reasons. But fortunately we all can improve in this area,by putting ouselves in pressure situations more often so we can familiarize ourself with all the differen't kinds of pressure that we may be confronted with.Theres a lot to be said about the players that are willing to take a chance and challenge themselves,and we all should know exactly what I am saying. In todays world there are a lot of instructional videos and instructors that we all can learn from,but remember, only we can teach ourselves how to withstand more heat when were in the kitchen.

 

[wincardona]

Getting To Know Our Game

Two of the most important ingredients in the recipe for success is one,knowing your capabilities,and two,where is your melting point.and improving on it. It obviously takes skills to play this game,some of us have more skills than others,but we all have skills which we developed from the very first time we picked up a cue. We also at times get nervous and dog it, usually the result of putting ourselves in a demanding situation and not being able to perform,for various reasons. But fortunately we all can improve in this area,by putting ouselves in pressure situations more often so we can familiarize ourself with all the differen't kinds of pressure that we may be confronted with.Theres a lot to be said about the players that are willing to take a chance and challenge themselves,and we all should know exactly what I am saying. In todays world there are a lot of instructional videos and instructors that we all can learn from,but remember, only we can teach ourselves how to withstand more heat when were in the kitchen.

A good example is to read the thread Hopkins against Chavez, and observe how cleverly Hopkins took advantage of both understanding his capabilities,and secondly refamliarizing himself with pressure and particularly,how he was able to adapt to it with success.

There was another interesting matchup when Chohan played Jeremy Jones in Mobile. Chohan beat JJ playing beautifully,but JJ had his chances. In the past year or so JJ hasn't had much action,so for him to put himself against Chohan was a very daring challenge. If JJ had been in action on a regular basis the outcome may have been differen't,but we don't know that unless they play again. Which I personally feel that it will happen,and I can't wait to see the match with both players playing their game.Point is familiarizing yourself with pressure,which obviously Chohan was better prepared for.

 

[Johnson]

hey billy, i always liked your different style with commentary and have learned a lot from the few posts you've had on here so far, and have a new found respect for u especially in how u handle personal attacks

i agree that knowing your own strengths is very important in so many different situations, i had never heard of "managing" in reference to gambling until jay used it when he was talking about u and now u are talking about how allen used it against chavez this week, i'd love to see a topic sometime about managing itself with some real-life examples
________

 

[dabarbr]

Mr. Wincardona, I'm sure that I express the thoughts of most on this forum in saying that we appreciate you taking your time to give us any insight regarding this game that we all love.

Your knowledge and experience are second to none. These two writings in this thread are good examples of what I'm talking about. Please continue to give us your thoughts and wisdom whenever you can. thanks

 

[Neil]

..............

 

[Blackjack]

Two of the most important ingredients in the recipe for success is one,knowing your capabilities,and two,where is your melting point.and improving on it. It obviously takes skills to play this game,some of us have more skills than others,but we all have skills which we developed from the very first time we picked up a cue. We also at times get nervous and dog it, usually the result of putting ourselves in a demanding situation and not being able to perform,for various reasons. But fortunately we all can improve in this area,by putting ouselves in pressure situations more often so we can familiarize ourself with all the differen't kinds of pressure that we may be confronted with.Theres a lot to be said about the players that are willing to take a chance and challenge themselves,and we all should know exactly what I am saying. In todays world there are a lot of instructional videos and instructors that we all can learn from,but remember, only we can teach ourselves how to withstand more heat when were in the kitchen.

Two great posts, Billy. As an instructor, let me say that any type of training or learning is USELESS unless it is geared towards being battle tested. It is one thing to prepare yourself to be able to make certain shots when they come up, but it is something completely different when you prepare your nerves and your guts to be able to withstand the pressure that comes from hanging your ass (and putting your money) on the line.

A pool player without goals is like a ship sailing at sea with no destination. I usually train players to prepare for tournaments. If I have two players preparing for the same event, I will usually have them play each other a few days before the event. I pay the winner's entry fee into the tournament. I wil usually have other match ups like this throughout the preparation period. It is designed to mimic the environment that they will face during competition.

It is not the same as high stakes gambling, but it trains them to have the mindset that they will need during competition, and I believe both of the players will have an advantage over the rest of the competition when they actually play in the tournament. The only way to get rid of the butterflies that come during those high pressure situations is to acclimate yourself to the environment. Thanks, this is a great topic!

 

[punter]

A good example is to read the thread Hopkins against Chavez, and observe how cleverly Hopkins took advantage of both understanding his capabilities,and secondly refamliarizing himself with pressure and particularly,how he was able to adapt to it with success.

There was another interesting matchup when Chohan played Jeremy Jones in Mobile. Chohan beat JJ playing beautifully,but JJ had his chances. In the past year or so JJ hasn't had much action,so for him to put himself against Chohan was a very daring challenge. If JJ had been in action on a regular basis the outcome may have been differen't,but we don't know that unless they play again. Which I personally feel that it will happen,and I can't wait to see the match with both players playing their game.Point is familiarizing yourself with pressure,which obviously Chohan was better prepared for.

JJ and Chohan are both at the Texas open this weekend. The poolroom is open 24 hours. So this may be happening shortly!

 

[JoeW]

True champions

Undoubtedly one needs the ability to deal with pressure. To some extent it can be learned and to some extent it is a characteristic of the person. I am not sure how this should be improved through learning. For example great ball players in all sports, baseball, golf, football, hockey, etc nearly universally state that they ignore the crowd, the importance of the shot, and the consequences of the outcome. It seems that great players learn to focus on the moment and let their body make the shot. The major component of learning to deal with pressure seems to be confidence in one's ability.

I doubt that one can learn this ability during important levels of competition. I suspect that it is learned at the practice table, in sandlot games, and when playing for small sums where one's ego is on the line. One learns just how good they are relative to others. These skills are then called upon in a serious game situation. For some it is easier to recall based on over learning and immediate past experience. So it seems that the ability to deal with pressure is to some extent dependent upon one's prior history.

Going into a match when one's wife has just filed for divorce and one has just been fired for incompetence would probably lead to a loss of match.

On the other hand a player who just won a regional event would probably do better. In this I agree with Blackjack, confidence building is a necessary part of training. However, part of the problem is probably one's perception of the competence of the opposition. Truly professional players are able to perceive themselves as able to win against anyone and are currently feeling successful in their life. Then they can play the table, not their opponent.

Top professionals in any field are self confident sometimes to the point of being perceived as arrogant by others. The ability to have this confidence and not lord it over others is also a part of the true champion who wins consistently. Jack Nichols comes to mind as well as many other true champions.

 

[JAM]

Two of the most important ingredients in the recipe for success is one,knowing your capabilities,and two,where is your melting point.and improving on it. It obviously takes skills to play this game,some of us have more skills than others,but we all have skills which we developed from the very first time we picked up a cue. We also at times get nervous and dog it, usually the result of putting ourselves in a demanding situation and not being able to perform,for various reasons. But fortunately we all can improve in this area,by putting ouselves in pressure situations more often so we can familiarize ourself with all the differen't kinds of pressure that we may be confronted with.Theres a lot to be said about the players that are willing to take a chance and challenge themselves,and we all should know exactly what I am saying. In todays world there are a lot of instructional videos and instructors that we all can learn from,but remember, only we can teach ourselves how to withstand more heat when were in the kitchen.

I like this little pearl of wisdom. Great post!

JAM

 

[Patrick Johnson]

This was my biggest problem for a long time - my "practice game" was several levels above my "competition game". Whether it was money on the line, spectators sweating the match, or just playing a friend for nothing, it was all the same to me: my game came apart like a WalMart cue.

Finally I realized what was happening - I was so used to practicing alone that any new presence around the table distracted me and I'd lose focus. I already had a technique for regaining my focus in practice, which I used whenever I felt my game "slipping away", so I tried it in competition and it worked great there too.

It's very simple and direct: just find something, anything about your game to focus on intently. It could be your pre-shot routine, your stance, your stroke, anything - choose something that's good for your game as well as good for shutting out the distractions. Anything that narrows your focus in a positive way will do.

For me best thing is usually the tip/cueball contact point. This is something I want to be more aware of anyway, so it helps my game in more ways than one. It's a way of "putting the blinders on" that not only shuts out the distractions around me but is also a good practice to have at all times.

This is also a good way for me to find my "zone" more quickly. In fact, I think "being in the zone" isn't much more than just being completely focused.

pj
chgo

 

[Terry Ardeno]

Book question

Billy,
Reading your threads, listening to your commentary, knowing your skill level, plus being well aware of your tournament and road experience leads me to ask you a question. Would you coinsider writing an autobiography or at least a book about your expolits in pooldom? Buddy Hall, Danny DiLiberto, Grady and Freddy already have books written about them. Why don't you consider such a project? If you're looking for some sort of barometer for any possible demand for such a book, take note of the amount of responses your threads here generate.

I can imagine how busy your schedule is, but please give this some thought.
Thanks.

 

[wincardona]

Billy, I do agree with you, to a point. However, I would like your opinion on another facet of the game.

First, I'm no world beater. But I have played in a few pro tourn. When I gamble, I'm sure it's not even practice to you, but to me it is high stakes. I won't gamble with what I don't have, but I have been in situations where I don't have enough for the bills, and have to get more. To me, that is HIGH pressure.

With that said, I have found that I play my best when I just play the table. When I don't think of the pressure at all. My feeling is, once the bet is made and play starts, it's set in stone that someone will win. (I know you can break even) So, to me, the pressure part is over, I took the jump and got in the water. Now, I can just have fun and play serious pool. No let ups, just try and do my best. I have always thought that this might be the key (one of them) to Efrens greatness. He just plays the table for what it is worth. No label on any shot. What do you think??

Neil, do whatever it takes to relax yourself to the point where you don't feel the pressure.It would be wonderfull if we could all have fun when we play ,and have the ability and cofidence to play our game,but 99% of the time that's just not the case.My point is that there are many differen't types of pressure in playing a competive sport that we will inevitably have to deal with in order to be successful.So knowing that I try to familiarize myself with those pressures and lessen the distraction of them.In regard to Efren he feels pressure like everyone else when he plays,it's just that he is more skilled than everyone else and has a higher confidence level than most. Tha't a pretty deadly combination of assets to have.But even he doggs it at times.

 

[wincardona]

Two great posts, Billy. As an instructor, let me say that any type of training or learning is USELESS unless it is geared towards being battle tested. It is one thing to prepare yourself to be able to make certain shots when they come up, but it is something completely different when you prepare your nerves and your guts to be able to withstand the pressure that comes from hanging your ass (and putting your money) on the line.

A pool player without goals is like a ship sailing at sea with no destination. I usually train players to prepare for tournaments. If I have two players preparing for the same event, I will usually have them play each other a few days before the event. I pay the winner's entry fee into the tournament. I wil usually have other match ups like this throughout the preparation period. It is designed to mimic the environment that they will face during competition.
l.
It is not the same as high stakes gambling, but it trains them to have the mindset that they will need during competition, and I believe both of the players will have an advantage over the rest of the competition when they actually play in the tournament. The only way to get rid of the butterflies that come during those high pressure situations is to acclimate yourself to the environment. Thanks, this is a great topic!

I totally agree with the strategy you teach your students in preparing them for tournament play. And it would be safe to say that they do have the advantage over other players with less experience in that particular area,providing they are of equal skill.Once again you have solidified your creditability as a excellent instructor.

 

[Neil]

...............

 

[wincardona]

This was my biggest problem for a long time - my "practice game" was several levels above my "competition game". Whether it was money on the line, spectators sweating the match, or just playing a friend for nothing, it was all the same to me: my game came apart like a WalMart cue.

Finally I realized what was happening - I was so used to practicing alone that any new presence around the table distracted me and I'd lose focus. I already had a technique for regaining my focus in practice, which I used whenever I felt my game "slipping away", so I tried it in competition and it worked great there too.

It's very simple and direct: just find something, anything about your game to focus on intently. It could be your pre-shot routine, your stance, your stroke, anything - choose something that's good for your game as well as good for shutting out the distractions. Anything that narrows your focus in a positive way will do.

For me best thing is usually the tip/cueball contact point. This is something I want to be more aware of anyway, so it helps my game in more ways than one. It's a way of "putting the blinders on" that not only shuts out the distractions around me but is also a good practice to have at all times.

This is also a good way for me to find my "zone" more quickly. In fact, I think "being in the zone" isn't much more than just being completely focused.

pj
chgo

Very noteworthy post. Do whatever it takes to diminish the pressures that are in front of you,use whatever techniques you have developed to deal with situations if they prove to be effective.Try to focus on something totally unrelated to the demons that are out there. I like your methods of diverting pressure,and i'm sure that it has helped you to suceed a countless number of times.
I hate the thought of going to the dentist because of the discomfort that I will inevitably experience.So I try to prepare myself with a distraction of some sort before experiencing pain,especially if it's imminent. Right before he sticks me with that very long needle I pinch my arm ,and I feel that that diminishes the pain of the long,long needle.Focusing on something else,other than the needle.

 

[JoeyA]

Frequent Exposure To Adverse Situations In Order To Handle The Pressure.

Undoubtedly one needs the ability to deal with pressure. To some extent it can be learned and to some extent it is a characteristic of the person. I am not sure how this should be improved through learning. For example great ball players in all sports, baseball, golf, football, hockey, etc nearly universally state that they ignore the crowd, the importance of the shot, and the consequences of the outcome. It seems that great players learn to focus on the moment and let their body make the shot. The major component of learning to deal with pressure seems to be confidence in one's ability.

I doubt that one can learn this ability during important levels of competition. I suspect that it is learned at the practice table, in sandlot games, and when playing for small sums where one's ego is on the line. One learns just how good they are relative to others. These skills are then called upon in a serious game situation. For some it is easier to recall based on over learning and immediate past experience. So it seems that the ability to deal with pressure is to some extent dependent upon one's prior history.

Going into a match when one's wife has just filed for divorce and one has just been fired for incompetence would probably lead to a loss of match.

On the other hand a player who just won a regional event would probably do better. In this I agree with Blackjack, confidence building is a necessary part of training. However, part of the problem is probably one's perception of the competence of the opposition. Truly professional players are able to perceive themselves as able to win against anyone and are currently feeling successful in their life. Then they can play the table, not their opponent.

Top professionals in any field are self confident sometimes to the point of being perceived as arrogant by others. The ability to have this confidence and not lord it over others is also a part of the true champion who wins consistently. Jack Nichols comes to mind as well as many other true champions.

I think players "learn" how to HANDLE pressure by becoming more frequently exposed to it far more than simply having confidence i ntheir abilities or skills. EVERYONE that plays at a decent level has confidence at some time. It is when that confidence is unsettled and what that person does to regain that confidence that allows a player to "handle" the pressure.

You want to be able to gamble high-gamble high at every opportunity.
You want to be able to play in professional pool tournaments- play in them at every opportunity.
You want to be a good league player- play two or three nights per week and go to all of the regional and national events.
You want to be the best player in town- play all of the best players in town for a small stake, REGULARLY.
You want to be the best practice partner in town- practice with competitive practice partners regularly.
JoeyA

 

[Flex]

Very noteworthy post. Do whatever it takes to diminish the pressures that are in front of you,use whatever techniques you have developed to deal with situations if they prove to be effective.Try to focus on something totally unrelated to the demons that are out there. I like your methods of diverting pressure,and i'm sure that it has helped you to suceed a countless number of times.
I hate the thought of going to the dentist because of the discomfort that I will inevitably experience.So I try to prepare myself with a distaction of some sort before experiencing pain,especially if it's imminent. Right before he sticks me with that very long needle I pinch my arm ,and I feel that that diminishes the pain of the long,long needle.Focusing on something else,other than the needle.

Recently, I figured out something about potting balls under pressure that goes along with your advice about "diminishing the pressures that are in front of you."

I do my best to groove the feel of a perfect lag shot. Then I find where I need to aim the cue ball for cut shots using that speed of shot with the same degree of follow or tips above center on the cue ball to accomplish that.

When I sight the shot in standing position, I'll have already made that calculation. And when I get down on the shot, I focus exclusively on delivering a pure stroke at lag speed. That focus on the stroke and speed has proven to help me pot easy, tough and really tough cut shots in pressure situations.

It has to be the focus that goes into delivering a perfectly smooth lag stroke and the execution of the same that works, at least for me.

Flex

 

[wincardona]

Recently, I figured out something about potting balls under pressure that goes along with your advice about "diminishing the pressures that are in front of you."

I do my best to groove the feel of a perfect lag shot. Then I find where I need to aim the cue ball for cut shots using that speed of shot with the same degree of follow or tips above center on the cue ball to accomplish that.

When I sight the shot in standing position, I'll have already made that calculation. And when I get down on the shot, I focus exclusively on delivering a pure stroke at lag speed. That focus on the stroke and speed has proven to help me pot easy, tough and really tough cut shots in pressure situations.

It has to be the focus that goes into delivering a perfectly smooth lag stroke and the execution of the same that works, at least for me.

Flex

Exactly,you have developed the skill to execute certain types of shots, which now you are confident you can execute. Focusing on your technique will divert the pressure of negative thoughts,and you will have double crossed the demons.

 

[wincardona]

I find this to be a very interesting topic and an area of major concern in all competive sports. If everyone would share their techniques,and methods of dealing with pressure,a lot will be learned in this thread.

 

[Flex]

I find this to be a very interesting topic and an area of major concern in all competive sports. If everyone would share their techniques,and methods of dealing with pressure,a lot will be learned in this thread.

There's another aspect to really high pressure shots, the kind that turn your stomach into knots. If I find I can't make the knots go away, I try to psych myself out, and repeat to myself over and over, "This is it! This is the moment you've been waiting for! Make it happen, buddy! Pot that ball!!" Learn to relish that pent up, knotty feeling, learn to love the shakes, learn to know when and how to positively power the cue ball into the object ball and pot the sucker. Sometimes, no matter how much one tries, the butterflies and knots won't go away, and all feeling and sense of your stroke leaves the arm and brain. At that moment, it sure pays to know how to aim when slamming the cue ball, because like it or not, that may be what happens. At least it sure does to me. So I practice shooting like that, too. It can be a life saver...

Flex