Have you ever felt this way.

[dr9ball]

I don't understand how you can just practice and not compete.

If you don't compete, why are you practicing?

Where is the motivation to improve your game and test it underfire?

You can can get all the ingrediants together in a bowl and do it over and over, but it isn't a baked cake until you put it into an oven and bake it.

Competition is the only test of how well you succeed in practice.

Now, and I hope this doesn't ruffle anyone's twinkies, maybe competition is being avoided because that is when the opportunity for failure exists. Fear of Failure is a powerful emotion and can keep players at the practice table for the rest of their life, content like an old retired bull, just grazing and not looking twice at the heffers.

IMO, I want to keep testing and even if I fail, I will not because of 'ring rust', or fear of failure.

Practicing is more fun than playing in league. For the most part you don't have to listen to all the noise. You don't have to deal with the people trying to distract or otherwise shark you or worry whether or not you have enough people on your team show up so you don't have to forfeit.

I don't think it's fear of failure, I've thrown away many games and matches out of boredom, frustration and felt fine about it. I just don't feel competitive. That bothers me sometimes but I don't have a cure for it.

It seems that winning means something to you and that's probably a good thing. For me win or lose it's the same emotion.

 

[jwpretd]

... If you don't compete, why are you practicing?
Where is the motivation to improve your game and test it underfire? ....

Some people practice yoga, some people practice Zen archery... I practice pool and pistols. I do those things for the same reason I once surfed and skied: for the pleasure inherent in doing them. The motivation to improve comes from the pleasure I derive from doing them better over time.

Competition is the only test of how well you succeed in practice.

No, it's not. How close together the holes are in the target; how fast I can knock the plates down; how many balls I run; how many shots it takes to finish a drill.... All of those things are objective measures of how well I perform at any given time. Much more important, however, is the pleasure I get from the act of playing pool (and shooting pistols) itself.

Now, and I hope this doesn't ruffle anyone's twinkies, maybe competition is being avoided because that is when the opportunity for failure exists....

If you define "failure" as losing a competition to another individual, then you will assuredly fail in the long run. I don't avoid competition, per se. I do avoid playing pool in places and under conditions (and too often with people) that I don't particularly like. But even when I could play at good locations with good conditions and I enjoyed the people I was with, my pleasure, or lack thereof, didn't come from winning or losing (i.e., it was not determined by other people's performance). My pleasure came from the playing itself; from selecting patterns and executing shots as well as I possibly could; and from watching those abilities improve over time, albeit slowly and not to a particularly high level.

By the way, twinkies are bad enough in their normal state. The thought of ruffled twinkies is absolutely disgusting and is undoubtedly a sign of a very sick mind.

 

[14oneman]

Yep, I like to practice Straight by myself, rather than play 8 or 9 ball with someone, mainly because I very much dis-like both 8 and 9 ball.
Trying to find a game of 14.1 is like trying to find a needle in a haystack around here. Nobody seems to play it any more.

The only other game I enjoy playing, is Chicago, partners 1 & 5, IF you have 4 guys that are all around the same speed, but nobody evens knows what the hell I'm talking about when I mention it. They look at me like I have three heads. LOL!!!

I'll just stick to practicing Straight Pool by myself. At least I enjoy it.

 

[Tom In Cincy]

It seems that winning means something to you and that's probably a good thing. For me win or lose it's the same emotion.

To each his own. I can respect that. But for me it is the competion. I still love to practice, but I also love to compete.

Thanks for your response, I think I understand a little better than I did before.

 

[Tom In Cincy]

I respect the person that strives for achieving the beauty of the game even while doing it in a solitary practice session. Being able to run 100 balls doesn't take an opponent.

Some people practice yoga, some people practice Zen archery... I practice pool and pistols. I do those things for the same reason I once surfed and skied: for the pleasure inherent in doing them. The motivation to improve comes from the pleasure I derive from doing them better over time.

No, it's not. How close together the holes are in the target; how fast I can knock the plates down; how many balls I run; how many shots it takes to finish a drill.... All of those things are objective measures of how well I perform at any given time. Much more important, however, is the pleasure I get from the act of playing pool (and shooting pistols) itself.

If you define "failure" as losing a competition to another individual, then you will assuredly fail in the long run. I don't avoid competition, per se. I do avoid playing pool in places and under conditions (and too often with people) that I don't particularly like. But even when I could play at good locations with good conditions and I enjoyed the people I was with, my pleasure, or lack thereof, didn't come from winning or losing (i.e., it was not determined by other people's performance). My pleasure came from the playing itself; from selecting patterns and executing shots as well as I possibly could; and from watching those abilities improve over time, albeit slowly and not to a particularly high level.

By the way, twinkies are bad enough in their normal state. The thought of ruffled twinkies is absolutely disgusting and is undoubtedly a sign of a very sick mind.

 

[3andstop]

I respect the person that strives for achieving the beauty of the game even while doing it in a solitary practice session. Being able to run 100 balls doesn't take an opponent.

I agree with you Tom. I think that is a noble trait. I only wish I could muster that desire. As much as I love the game, I've tried a few times to find a way to bare down while practicing to no avail, so I just don't do it. I think that for me, it promotes bad habits.

I find if I try to practice alone, after a few minutes I'm bored and getting sloppy. I need someone shooting back at me, forcing me not to be lackadaisical.

 

[okinawa77]

boredom

I agree with you Tom. I think that is a noble trait. I only wish I could muster that desire. As much as I love the game, I've tried a few times to find a way to bare down while practicing to no avail, so I just don't do it. I think that for me, it promotes bad habits.

I find if I try to practice alone, after a few minutes I'm bored and getting sloppy. I need someone shooting back at me, forcing me not to be lackadaisical.

I think you nailed it on the head. The lack of desire comes from boredom.
I try to find the challenges in everything, and sometimes relate them to life experiences.

The noise in the pool hall, all the distractions, the poor equipment....these are challenges that I strive to overcome...because I feel good about myself when I overcome challenges.

I've always been this way...defiant. Whenever someone told me I couldn't do something...I felt compelled to prove them wrong...and I felt great. My mentality is that I can do it...whether no one else believes in me or not. I can do it.... or die trying.

Playing on a team in league isn't just an obligation to show up. You are part of team. You should strive to contribute to the success of the team. If you win every match, and your team loses....you can take comfort, knowing, that you did all you could do.

Sometimes, when I get that lull type feeling. I will just sit and watch other players play pool. Something about watching there errors...makes me want to play.

Even when I'm mismatched against low skill level players, I strive to push my envelope. I will attempt high difficulty shots and/or attempt difficult safeties. I have found that if you play against someone...and they don't get to shoot much...they have the feeling that they are wasting their time racking....so, I will think more strategically. Sometimes, I will focus of finding their biggest weakness. I might leave them a bank shot, and see what their success percentages are. Or leave the CB on the rail and see if that is difficult for them.

You will only get out of pool, what you put into it.
And playing against other players should help you learn more about them, yourself, and the game.

 

[sausage]

I find if I try to practice alone, after a few minutes I'm bored and getting sloppy. I need someone shooting back at me, forcing me not to be lackadaisical.

no offense, but straight pool is probably not for you. i think that most serious 14.1 players spend countless hours by themselves practicing.

some people prefer to play the ghost rather than an opponent. that's fine. i, like you, prefer an opponent. for 24 years, i played the 14.1 ghost on my GC1 in my country home in texass but only because there were no pool players around.

 

[lfigueroa]

Have any of you ever arrived at a point in your lives where you would rather just practice playing patterns or games against yourself than play with other people?

I seem to have hit that point in my life where all I really want to do is be alone and enjoy my solo practice. I have no desire to be competitive and yet it bothers me because the "heart" "eye of the tiger" has disappeared.

It isn't a sudden occurrence and has manifested over the last year or two.

More so over the last 7 months since our straight pool league has been on hold awaiting the renovation of our pool room. I have been left with playing 8 ball in league. Perhaps that is it, 8-ball is my least favorite game. I am unsure as to why I feel this way.

I'm curious to hear if any of you have experienced something similar.

Thanks for your replies.

I do find that over the years I have become more selective about the conditions under which I will play pool in public. I won't play bar tables; I won't play at a pool hall with bad equipment; I won't even go to the pool hall if there's a bar tournament or league going on because of all the mayhem. But, I will drive five hours up to Chicago to play in a nice room with good equipment and a well run tournament. So, in my old age, I've gotten picky that way.

I think to play good pool you do have to practice a lot to learn about the CB and OB and how they interact and to gain the skill to execute all the little moments you need to run a lot of balls. Of course you also have to use that time to learn about your pool stroke, because honestly, when you miss it can only be one of two things: a gap in your knowledge or the imperfect delivery of your pool tip to the CB. All that takes time, unless of course you are the one in a million natural.

Over the years I have often heard the old saw, "I can't practice; don't have the patience; get bored; etc. etc." The other day someone at the pool hall remarked to me as I was paying time for a four hour practice session, "I don't know how you can practice that long -- I don't have the patience." And I replied, "It's not a matter of patience -- it is a matter of knowing how to concentrate. Patience has nothing to do with it -- being able to stay focused does." (They love me at the pool hall

I'm not quite exactly sure what is so boring about approaching a pool table.

There it sits, balls racked, with a break shot at hand and silently, confidently, almost insolently it beckons, "Com' on, big boy. Show me what you got. Run 100... if you can." See, to me, that is totally compelling. It is Man vs Mountain -- come try your damndest anytime and give me your best shot. It is too easy to say you get bored when practicing because to me that is just a way to divert attention from the fact that you can't do it. (And that is not directed at anyone in this thread, it's just a general observation.)

Now, having said all that, IMO it is imperative that you also get out and compete -- they are two different but related animals and believe me: you can convince yourself of some amazing things locked up practicing in your basement, or on your favorite practice table, that has nothing to do with how you'll actually perform in combat. And so you need to create balance and harmony between the fantasy world of the practice table and the harsh reality of the tournament or money table.

It's good for you

Lou Figueroa

 

[3andstop]

no offense, but straight pool is probably not for you. i think that most serious 14.1 players spend countless hours by themselves practicing.

some people prefer to play the ghost rather than an opponent. that's fine. i, like you, prefer an opponent. for 24 years, i played the 14.1 ghost on my GC1 in my country home in texass but only because there were no pool players around.

LOL, maybe so, but on the other hand, I have been playing it for 50yrs or so, never enjoyed any other pool game except 1 pocket now and then. Hate 9 ball with a passion. My high run is 78. I've run many 40s and 50s and a hand full of 60s.

Never had a desire to try to run 100 in a practice session, but I'd enjoy the hell out of doing it in a game, should I be so fortunate. For me, I think I'm just one of those people who don't enjoy practicing.

It is strange, I could play all day with friends or competition. I could put on one of the many 14.1 DVDs I have and watch them for hours and enjoy every minute of them, even watching them over and over. I just can't bring myself to go in the basement and shoot balls alone. I get bored. In fact, I wish I could get enjoyment from hitting balls, I've tried on occasions, but they are short lived. I do envy those who find enjoyment with practice, I don't fully understand myself, why I don't. :shrug:


edit: Hmm, so now I've been thinking, I like playing cards, but I don't like solitaire. I love playing chess, but I'd never sit in front of a chess board and try to solve chess problems on my own. I even like going to the movies, but I never went alone. ....... Well, wait a minute, there was that one time, but it was a small theater and that's when I wore a hat.

 

[Ratta]

Tom in Cincy:

You re for sure right with your sense of competition vs practice. But how you said,, too: each for his own-
I played like many others many many tournaments, league-games etc- now that i know that will not be able to be in necessary healthy condition to play the game like i know i could do it...i try just to have fun. And further just being happy to spend some time at the table without too much trouble. But i enjoy it a lot-even without competition. I sure would still play team-league if i could without problems-but it wouldn t make sense because if i have a bad day im tired after a short time. And then i say to myself: " enjoy the game when it s possible"--

Again- i understand your sense of competition 100%.

lg
Ingo

 

[BobTfromIL]

This seems to be the same situation I'm in. I prefer practise to competition, just like the pace and lack of pressure. this all could be due to the place I play at in the winter. It's a retirement area and the games are really not all that serious. I do match up with one guy for some 14.1 and it's fun and challenging. But since we only play about once a week it's hard to get into a good 14.1 frame of mind.

Either way I think my biggest problem is I play for too long, get tired and then get down on myself because I start making more errors.

All in all though it's still my favorite thing to do.