HELP!!!League play versus Tournament play

NINEBALLART

NINEBALLART

NINEBALLART
Silver Member
Where I am from I play 3 leagues. Two bca and one tavern league. All 8 ball. I also play three tournaments a week. I have been playing pool for 7 years now.
My problem is this. I win a good majority of the tournaments. If not winning, I am almost always cashing. I am feared in these tournaments.
But. When I play league, I make too many mistakes and don't do very well. People will comment on how I shoot lights out in tournament play but look entirely differwent in league play.
I am really frustrated. What can be the problem????
Like tonight during league I missed the 8 ball twice in 1 game. I never do that in tournment play. What is my problem???? :confused:
 
It could be that with the tournaments that you have something you are trying to achieve...like cash prize. League play, especially tavern league, it slightly more relaxed, so your game is more relaxed. You're not stepping it up, because there is nothing to strive for at the immediate moment. I have had the same problem...most recently in my 9 Ball League. I did okay, placing up towards the top for the women in the league during regular season. Played really hard during the playoff with the women becuase I was trying to win a trip to Reno. Played a second chance playoff two days later for another chance at the trip...this time with the guys. I damn near took the top spot against one of the best players in the league, til my nerves got the better of me. Point is....I shot THE best pool of my life! I didn't know I had it in me...Lol. But there was a carrot dangling to push me. There just isn't that during a regular league match.

Lisa
 
Your not the only one who has this problem lol

I am the type of person who seems to shoot above my skill level when tournaments come around, but in league or gambling, i suck azz.

I guess its more of playing smart and taking more time on the shot, or whatever it maybe but, i always seem to play better in tournaments.

dave
 
When you play in a tournament, you're basically alone. In league play, whole team depends on your results. Your teammates are watching and evaluating you. It's even worse if you're the strongest player on your team. Everyone expects you to win, even your opponent! That just brings extra pressure meaning it becomes very difficult to play at your normal speed. But then there are some who excel at league play. I myself suck at it.
 
I played in traveling leagues for a few years, and had alot of fun doing it, but I never felt so much pressure as I did then. I've played in Pro events without that level of tension. Our team was very strong, and expected to win, maybe that was part of it.

In tournamnets I usually start off nervous, then get into a rhythem, and relax.

Now gambling, that's where I'm most comfortable, I can make a game, I'm not in a hurry, and settle in to play well...

Gerry
 
I know the feeling. I've played on several different teams over the last 20 yrs. It is not because I'm a team player but rather in my area of the country if you don't play league/team pool you pretty much don't play. I have been the best player on all but one of those teams. The first time I played on a team I was shocked by how much pressure this team play was putting on my game and how it was changing the way I played the game(8ball). The second year I played I told the guys my conditions for me returning to play with the team: I will be first out in the line up and I will do nothing but try and runout the rack *(unless there is one of those rare games where it is so blatantly obvious that a safety would be the winning move...dahhhh) second, I don't care what the score is so don't tell me( unless the team needs x amount of balls to win the round/match etc....dahhhhhhh these two simple conditions allowed me to play my natural run and gun offensive style of play that I would use playing tournament or gambling.
I think Predator busted it with his post so add what he said...LOL
 
kind of the same issues here.
we only have leagues where i live,there are money games but no tourneys.

i have been playing almost a year.this is my second cycle in league play.

last night i warmed up with a member of my team who is regarded as one of the best in the area in league but probably the best in money games.

it was my first time shooting with him and i shot him good.had to play safe alot but i played good.

shot third last night and lost to in a row to a lesser player and shot poorly.
 
A friend of mine told me that he always feels more pressure in a league play because every game counts and you cannot get it back. You lose and it goes against your record and lets the team down.

He said he had no problems in tournaments or playing for money because you could always get another game or tournament if you had the money.
 
I think I'm the opposite of yall. When I play in a tourney, I really feel the pressure to play my "A" game. I enter tournaments to win.

On the other hand, I enter leagues to have fun. Since I'm just trying to have fun, I sometimes let myself get out of shape, play a shot I usually wouldn't, and etc. Leagues are for fun, tourneys are not for fun.

People pay league dues and want to win, but perhaps that's not the bottom line. In tourneys, you pay your entry fee and only want to win IMO.

Perhaps this is the reason the original poster's league play is suffering?
 
predator said:
When you play in a tournament, you're basically alone. In league play, whole team depends on your results. Your teammates are watching and evaluating you. It's even worse if you're the strongest player on your team. Everyone expects you to win, even your opponent! That just brings extra pressure meaning it becomes very difficult to play at your normal speed. But then there are some who excel at league play. I myself suck at it.
Click to expand...

Sounds like the same problem Im having.. Im by far the best player on my league team. In tourneys, I play loose but for some reason I tense up during league play and make stupid mistakes/decisions. Mistakes I make really bothers me on league play but not tourny play. Maybe its because it matters so much on league play. And after league, I will run racks one the practice table. Go figure!! :confused:
 
It's tough to play on a team. You feel like you have to hold the team up, especially if you are the best one on the team. They are counting on you.

Another reason could be the way the league is structured. BCA rewards you for making as many balls as possible (ball count), when actually, the best pattern is to break out trouble balls early. I have seen so many take the easy hangers first, just to make the amount of balls they need to win, rather than playing the game the correct way.

And an APA league...well, a lot of times you are not rewarded for playing your best game. :rolleyes:
 
The weird thing, I'm the *opposite*. I generally do well in league play, but when it comes to tournaments, I'm usually one of the first people out.

I suspect, with me, that I feel less pressure with league than with a tournament. I'm my team's captain, and one of the two best players on our team (I'm steadily gaining on the other guy, skill-wise). Half the time, I'm playing folks my handicap or less that I *know* I can beat. Tournaments, however, I'm put up against (more often than not) strangers who I have *no* idea about how they play, whether I can beat them or not.

I think I need to adjust my thinking in those situations - just go in and tell myself to play MY best game and not worry about the other guy. And maybe that's what you (Nineballart) need to do when it comes to league. Don't worry 'bout the other guy - just worry about yourself and your own game.

The more I try and do this, the more I've been also trying to, when not at the table, to not even *watch* what's going on on the table. I miss a shot, I go away, stare at the wall or whatever 'til it's my shot again - and then assess that situation and go from there. Watching the other guy pocket balls = more stress on me (even if it's a tiny bit).
 
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