My worst happened last night... want to hear others stories...
Give me a story of the worst time you dogged it/choked...
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Played a banger last night bar rules 8 ball... my balls were tough, his were in the hole. Came down to him missing the 8ball and leaving me with three easy shots plus the 8. Missed my last striped which was a straight in stop shot at only half table length and near a rail. Rattled it on a ****ing valley.
Pressure got to me. it was one rack of 8ball for 25 bucks. My buddy put me in as I didnt want to get hit with a ATM surchage if/when I lost. Before the rack they said it would probably only be one game. Sure enough he quit a winner...
Not pissed about the money... just pissed about missing that easy shot and letting the pressure get to me like that and losing to such a shit caliber of player...
I just legitimately choked, for a shit amount of money against a shit player...
There are too many to articulate an actual story. I dogged so many on my APA 8 ball Wednesday that I lost the match, even though my opponent shot as bad if not worse. My 8 ball NAPA was close to the same but this time I did slightly better and dogged less and won 4/2.
I had 3 easy cut shots Wednesday that I completely should have got in, one was an 8 ball side pocket CB was down by foot left pocket and I was attempting to draw off it to not scratch and not give him a shot in case I did miss but I completely stroked off and missed by a wide margin. That would have given me the match but that shot ruined the next 2 games for my opponent to win.
I had 3 easy cut shots Wednesday that I completely should have got in, one was an 8 ball side pocket CB was down by foot left pocket and I was attempting to draw off it to not scratch and not give him a shot in case I did miss but I completely stroked off and missed by a wide margin. That would have given me the match but that shot ruined the next 2 games for my opponent to win.
There aren't enough electrons in the internet universe to list even "the worst."
But my mind has a wonderful habit of quickly forgetting unpleasant memories, so I'll give you the most recent:
9-ball, broke and ran 1-7. Easy stun shot on the 8 to sit in position for the 9. I took the shot on the 8 for granted and rattled it in the pocket.
The toughest part of this situation is that I'm not a very good player and a break-n-run is an achievement for me...and I let it slip through my fingers!
Taking a shot for granted, not giving it the full PSR, is my most frequent mistake.
But my mind has a wonderful habit of quickly forgetting unpleasant memories, so I'll give you the most recent:
9-ball, broke and ran 1-7. Easy stun shot on the 8 to sit in position for the 9. I took the shot on the 8 for granted and rattled it in the pocket.
The toughest part of this situation is that I'm not a very good player and a break-n-run is an achievement for me...and I let it slip through my fingers!
Taking a shot for granted, not giving it the full PSR, is my most frequent mistake.
8-ball Tournament, pays top 2 spots only. I am in the match right before getting in the money (1 and 2). Hill -Hill. ends up into an intense safety battle. I lock him up in jail pretty damm good. He kicks, hits his ball so no ball in hand but left me a shot pretty close to BIH position with only one object ball left and then 8. All I needed to do was send the object ball into the corner and follow 2 feet for the 8 which was maybe a 8 inches up from the bottom rail (middle) or follow down to the bottom rail and back up 8 -12 inches. Nope. I follow down and leave the CB on the bottom rail with to severe of a cut on the 8. I miss. Lose match. that one hurt and cost me 150 bucks, but lost more in pride.
It was 1964 and I convinced the pool room owner to let me play Willie Mosconi an exhibition match.
I was 17 at the time and had already run over a 100 balls playing straight pool and thought I could at least put up a little competition with him.
I was very calm on the way to the room
Then I walked in and saw a crowd of spectators and Willie. Willie was perfectly groomed wearing a suit.
Then it hit me ,it's Willie Mosconi in person!!!!!!!
Yup you guessed it, I dogged it pretty good.
But I turned it a world class performance as a rack boy.:thumbup:
I was 17 at the time and had already run over a 100 balls playing straight pool and thought I could at least put up a little competition with him.
I was very calm on the way to the room
Then I walked in and saw a crowd of spectators and Willie. Willie was perfectly groomed wearing a suit.
Then it hit me ,it's Willie Mosconi in person!!!!!!!
Yup you guessed it, I dogged it pretty good.
But I turned it a world class performance as a rack boy.:thumbup:
Too many to count!
Let's see, one story was when I was up 4-1 vs a 6 in 8 ball (I was a 7) APA at Masters and lost 4-4 after literally giving back the next 3 racks. Our team came back in the losers to play that same team in the finals but we lost 3-1. If our 4th person would have won I would have gotten a chance to play the same guy I lost to for revenge but it didn't happen. I was not happy about my closing performance there.
Another one was back when I was 19 at VNEA in Mankato, MN. Doctor Cue and Dave Pearson were both there doing artistic and speed pool contests. I made it to the finals in speed pool (having never tried it before) so we did a playoff between me and another guy. He went first and did not do well getting a bit over 2 minutes. After he was done Dave came up to me, put his hand on my shoulder, and with his Canadian accent said "Matt, take your time and you got this"! I slammed the break, broke dry/clustered, panicked, and choked losing.
Years later I can still hear that voice in my head, especially when my friends say that phrase to me while hanging out at the bar reminding me of this epic choke.
Let's see, one story was when I was up 4-1 vs a 6 in 8 ball (I was a 7) APA at Masters and lost 4-4 after literally giving back the next 3 racks. Our team came back in the losers to play that same team in the finals but we lost 3-1. If our 4th person would have won I would have gotten a chance to play the same guy I lost to for revenge but it didn't happen. I was not happy about my closing performance there.
Another one was back when I was 19 at VNEA in Mankato, MN. Doctor Cue and Dave Pearson were both there doing artistic and speed pool contests. I made it to the finals in speed pool (having never tried it before) so we did a playoff between me and another guy. He went first and did not do well getting a bit over 2 minutes. After he was done Dave came up to me, put his hand on my shoulder, and with his Canadian accent said "Matt, take your time and you got this"! I slammed the break, broke dry/clustered, panicked, and choked losing.
Years later I can still hear that voice in my head, especially when my friends say that phrase to me while hanging out at the bar reminding me of this epic choke.
snooker
Like most I can remember many chokes. Lost two pistol matches on the last shot. One I relaxed after the shot and found that yes you can affect where the shot goes between the time the trigger breaks and the bullet leaves the barrel! A ten point shot moved me from first to also ran. That actually happened twice several years apart on the scores, final shot moved me from first to also ran.
With a cue stick, I had ran the reds and sevens on a snooker table and was running the routine "drill" on the numbered balls I had ran many times. Shooting the three ball it hit me that I was running for a perfect break. Got the three and four down but ran a little long getting to the five ball. Just a little off angle on the wrong side. Options to go to the head rail and back or low inside and hold it enough for the six which is a pretty easy pocket in either corner. Decided to hold it and kept the cue ball in good shape. The five popped back out the pocket . . . .
Hu
Like most I can remember many chokes. Lost two pistol matches on the last shot. One I relaxed after the shot and found that yes you can affect where the shot goes between the time the trigger breaks and the bullet leaves the barrel! A ten point shot moved me from first to also ran. That actually happened twice several years apart on the scores, final shot moved me from first to also ran.
With a cue stick, I had ran the reds and sevens on a snooker table and was running the routine "drill" on the numbered balls I had ran many times. Shooting the three ball it hit me that I was running for a perfect break. Got the three and four down but ran a little long getting to the five ball. Just a little off angle on the wrong side. Options to go to the head rail and back or low inside and hold it enough for the six which is a pretty easy pocket in either corner. Decided to hold it and kept the cue ball in good shape. The five popped back out the pocket . . . .
Hu
The worst story I have is from singles nationals in 2012 for APA. I was playing 9ball and the winner advanced to the semifinals for our bracket. I'm not sure how much money was involved for the next match but the total for first place was $15,000. I needed 2 points and my opponent needed two points. The table had the 8ball and the 9ball on it for a total of 3 points.
Both balls were hanging by the pocket but the cueball was on the end rail opposite side of the table from the 8ball and the angle made it so I had to slightly cut the 8ball in to make it. I ended up rattling the 8ball and as luck would have it the leave I gave my opponent was nothing less than straight in which they promptly made followed by the 9ball for the win.
Both balls were hanging by the pocket but the cueball was on the end rail opposite side of the table from the 8ball and the angle made it so I had to slightly cut the 8ball in to make it. I ended up rattling the 8ball and as luck would have it the leave I gave my opponent was nothing less than straight in which they promptly made followed by the 9ball for the win.
Not my personal story because there are probably too many to list but seen my brother shooting a team match 8 ball come down to the last game his opponent runs 5 balls n misses my brother gets to the table runs 6 balls has the stripe left and the 8 easy he gets down and starts stroking for the 8 with the stripe litterally rite next to his bridge hand he makes the 8 and his so estatic of his victory only to be told he forgot a stripe the one rite by his bridge hand and the team loses IDIOT LOL
It was 1982 and Richie Florence hired me to be his TD at the Caesars Tahoe Billiard Classic. Part of my pay was a free $500 entry into the tournament. I actually thought I could play back then!
BIG MISTAKE! I was so overwhelmed with my duties as the TD that I didn't have time to practice or to prepare for my match. Worst of all I drew Pete Margo in the first round, at the time one of the best players in the world. I hit a rack of two and did my best to look ready for play when they called our match. Then the games began and it was as if I forgot how to play pool! Every time I came to the table I was stymied with no clear shot and no idea what to do. I was lost at the table, in a total funk.
Mercifully Pete put me out of my misery quickly, running rack after rack, the final score something like 11-2 or 3. How I won a game I don't know. He must have left me an open nine ball. I never again tried to play in an event that I was working. Lesson learned! :thumbup:
BIG MISTAKE! I was so overwhelmed with my duties as the TD that I didn't have time to practice or to prepare for my match. Worst of all I drew Pete Margo in the first round, at the time one of the best players in the world. I hit a rack of two and did my best to look ready for play when they called our match. Then the games began and it was as if I forgot how to play pool! Every time I came to the table I was stymied with no clear shot and no idea what to do. I was lost at the table, in a total funk.
Mercifully Pete put me out of my misery quickly, running rack after rack, the final score something like 11-2 or 3. How I won a game I don't know. He must have left me an open nine ball. I never again tried to play in an event that I was working. Lesson learned! :thumbup:
I watched somone miss a ball in hand 10 ball in the NJ State Championship this year against my son when my son (he's 14) was on the hill on the losers side so the guy got knocked out.
I remember missing a ball in hand on the streaming table at Snookers during a Joss Tour stop because I was watching for position though a couple of balls and took making the shot for granted. The only good part about that set was that I was the only one to break and run a rack and the guy made 3 9 balls on the break (with the 9 ball not counting in the lower 2 pockets, he kicked it in the side all 3 times) so I still felt pretty good even though I lost and missed a ball in hand on the stream LOL
I remember missing a ball in hand on the streaming table at Snookers during a Joss Tour stop because I was watching for position though a couple of balls and took making the shot for granted. The only good part about that set was that I was the only one to break and run a rack and the guy made 3 9 balls on the break (with the 9 ball not counting in the lower 2 pockets, he kicked it in the side all 3 times) so I still felt pretty good even though I lost and missed a ball in hand on the stream LOL
6 up race to 7 - lost 6-7
This has and will NEVER happen again... :thumb up:
This has and will NEVER happen again... :thumb up:
My opponent played safe and left the cue ball behind the 9-ball, and I had to kick at the 3. I lined it up, went over to look at the angle it was going to come off the rail, came back and cued a perfect stroke on the 9-ball rather than the cue ball. But it was a good hit on the 3.
As a long time lurker who has never posted, I expect describing my biggest choke is probably as good a place as any for a first-time post, so here it goes...
First, I don't see a single missed shot as a choke. It's only a missed shot. To choke, you've got to feel it as its happening. It happens over time, where you can watch it unfold minute by minute, inning by inning, game by game. Hell, everybody misses a shot every now and then. It takes a real choker to do this: APA Individual Regionals in Nashville this past Fall, I'm an SL 6 and up 4-0 in a race to 5 and... you guessed it, I blow the lead and lose, 4-5.
I could not, to this day, describe any single error. Just one little, unremarkable mistake after another and I could feel the noose getting tighter and tighter and I blew a 4-0 lead.
And that is the definition of "choke."
First, I don't see a single missed shot as a choke. It's only a missed shot. To choke, you've got to feel it as its happening. It happens over time, where you can watch it unfold minute by minute, inning by inning, game by game. Hell, everybody misses a shot every now and then. It takes a real choker to do this: APA Individual Regionals in Nashville this past Fall, I'm an SL 6 and up 4-0 in a race to 5 and... you guessed it, I blow the lead and lose, 4-5.
I could not, to this day, describe any single error. Just one little, unremarkable mistake after another and I could feel the noose getting tighter and tighter and I blew a 4-0 lead.
And that is the definition of "choke."
Hm. Probably my only ever choke in recent memory -- got 4th in the Capital City 10-Ball in NC this year and outlasted several good players (Mike Fuller, Keith Bennett, Danny Mastermaker, Chris Bruner, etc), only to lose to Norris Brady 9-8. Had a great out to get on the hill first, then completely dogged a 6-ball that was straight in from about 3 feet away with every other ball hanging. Brady got out and then 3-fouled me in the hill-hill game. I would've went on to play Stevie Moore/Mike Davis.
Shameful and embarrassing, but it happened. Learn from the mental mistakes and try not to repeat the same ones next time! Always a work in progress. I've won several tournaments this year since, so I'm back on the correct path.
Shameful and embarrassing, but it happened. Learn from the mental mistakes and try not to repeat the same ones next time! Always a work in progress. I've won several tournaments this year since, so I'm back on the correct path.
Choked
My worst time turned into one of the best things that ever happened to me.
1960 and I was a wannabee pool player with $20 in my pocket and a pregnant wife at home. I went down to The Wonder Bowl in Anaheim, CA that had a 24 hour pool room inside. I had this young guy stuck 18 games for $10 a game playing three red ball snooker on a 5 x 10. I wanted him to quit, I needed the $$ so bad, and he kept asking me to raise it. I finally gave in and we jacked it to $20 and I started dogging it. He beat me ten in a row and I was busted. The young guy was 17 year old Richie Florence.
It upset me so much I went out and got a job and worked until I retired a few years ago.
I played Richie again around 30 years after he put me to work. I told him he was one of the best friends I had and he never even knew it.:grin-square:
My worst time turned into one of the best things that ever happened to me.
1960 and I was a wannabee pool player with $20 in my pocket and a pregnant wife at home. I went down to The Wonder Bowl in Anaheim, CA that had a 24 hour pool room inside. I had this young guy stuck 18 games for $10 a game playing three red ball snooker on a 5 x 10. I wanted him to quit, I needed the $$ so bad, and he kept asking me to raise it. I finally gave in and we jacked it to $20 and I started dogging it. He beat me ten in a row and I was busted. The young guy was 17 year old Richie Florence.
It upset me so much I went out and got a job and worked until I retired a few years ago.
I played Richie again around 30 years after he put me to work. I told him he was one of the best friends I had and he never even knew it.:grin-square: