Everytime I gamble heads up with someone I shouldn't ever lose to I break even. I always, I mean always get up on them early and then start to lose my lead. I match up pretty conservitively, I know who I can and can't beat. So I always play players I should consistently beat, but I seem to always give up the lead. I was playing a guy races to 5 for 20. All night and ended up 5 sets ahead. Then we bump it to 7 for 50 and I lose 2 in a row. I just didn't have the killer instinct to stomp on him while he was down. I do this alot in races to. I get up 3-1 in a race to 5 and I end up losing because I just coast and i don't play my hardest. What are some things I can do to get that killer instinct?
How do I get that killer instinct???
- Thread starter Mystick Cue Fan
- Start date
easy
Bet the money you planned to use to pay bills and eat on. When it really costs you something to lose you will have no problem with finding the killer instinct.
Hu
Bet the money you planned to use to pay bills and eat on. When it really costs you something to lose you will have no problem with finding the killer instinct.
Hu
Mystick Cue Fan said:
Mystick Cue Fan said:
Reread your post! You answered the question for yourself.
You always play players you can beat. You got beaten a lot then you'll have a killer instinct because someone gave it to you without mercy you give it back the same way. I don't think money is that important to you so you can afford to lose what you play for. Youre a fun player and probably a fun guy. Killers are serious. They laugh afterwards. When nobody can see them.
I think Killer Instinct is a distraction.
What you need to do is to focus on playing your best game, and maintaining that focus.
What you need to do is to focus on playing your best game, and maintaining that focus.
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Colin Colenso said:
I think that is well worth repeating! Make one ball at a time to hold the table....this leads to winning games and holding the break...which leads to winning more matches. Remember, the shot is the same whether is is in the first game of the match or the last. If the shot doesn't change, the only change is in your attitude....which takes us right back to making one shot at a time...
Steve
Focus, Shot making and....
I agree with the other posts that indicate that shot making and focus is important. What I would add to that is to continue to playing safes at the appropriate times.
Sometimes we get to a point where we feel we have our man and start to take chances that are not high percentage shots. Keep your safe game intertwined with your shots that are intended to pocket balls. That, along with a high regard for each ball played, and I think you will move past that problem in a short time. Good luck,
Gene
I agree with the other posts that indicate that shot making and focus is important. What I would add to that is to continue to playing safes at the appropriate times.
Sometimes we get to a point where we feel we have our man and start to take chances that are not high percentage shots. Keep your safe game intertwined with your shots that are intended to pocket balls. That, along with a high regard for each ball played, and I think you will move past that problem in a short time. Good luck,
Gene
Money VS. skill
I may be wrong, but what I read is that you play people whom you feel you should beat. There is your problem. You go into the match confident. Maybe a little over confident, and your play suffers for it. Maybe you miss a shot you've made a thousand times and there goes your confidence out the window.
You need to play people whom you think are as good or better than you. This makes you work harder and concentrate more. When you play people that you should beat, there is no self motivation to win because you know you can. Then when you lose to these people, you're devastated. Play the higher skilled players. You will play better yourself and probably win more when you are pushed. Don't try to take the easy way. After all, I was told 45 years ago that you learn from the rack end of the table.
Dave
I may be wrong, but what I read is that you play people whom you feel you should beat. There is your problem. You go into the match confident. Maybe a little over confident, and your play suffers for it. Maybe you miss a shot you've made a thousand times and there goes your confidence out the window.
You need to play people whom you think are as good or better than you. This makes you work harder and concentrate more. When you play people that you should beat, there is no self motivation to win because you know you can. Then when you lose to these people, you're devastated. Play the higher skilled players. You will play better yourself and probably win more when you are pushed. Don't try to take the easy way. After all, I was told 45 years ago that you learn from the rack end of the table.
Dave
cuebuilder said:
And i'm saying it again; that's one of the biggest mysteries in pool (or in any other game/sports). If you only play with someone who is better than you how in the hell any game begins? So play with all kinds of players and focus on your own game and learn not only from your mistakes but also from success and mistakes from your opponent.
cuebuilder said:
This tendancy to let up a bit when playing someone thought to be weaker was one of my (many) problems. I solved it by setting a goal prior to the match, and it's working so far (knock on maple) . When I match up against one of the lower players in our league I try to achieve a 'score', say a 9-3 win. Then if I get a few bad rolls or strokes and/or my opponent wins a few there is additional motivation to play better and win, I want to achieve or at least come close to my objective.
another Dave
I like all these ideas. I do agree with the over confident part. I do kinda walk in expecting just to walk over all those I match up with. I do beat alot of players I am not "supposed" to beat in tournies but I am too scared to get bitten by the big dog 
I woof at all the young pups who can't play a lick up to those I can spot a ball to. I never bark out for a game when a much stronger player than me is there. I guess I'll have to try. 
Tony
I woof at all the young pups who can't play a lick up to those I can spot a ball to. I never bark out for a game when a much stronger player than me is there. I guess I'll have to try. Tony
i think you have to play so better players. it will make you try harder. that is not to say you have to play even, make what you think is a good game, then consintrate on your game.
Johnnyt
champions/great teams have killer instinct,,,everyone else doesn't. that's why everyone else can only play to the level of their competition. it's not that great players love to win,,,it's that they HATE losing. that's why their personalities are so impossible to deal with on many levels.
you also have to be a great player. "killer instinct" and "only good" players are mutually exclusive terms because how can one have a killer instinct if one cannot execute a good game. if you are "only good" then you can only expect to do the best you can.
visualizing a win to where you will not be denied and executing your plan to achieve it, is left to the very few. champions also have great pride in their game, and this supercedes any thoughts of merely playing well enough to win.
you also have to be a great player. "killer instinct" and "only good" players are mutually exclusive terms because how can one have a killer instinct if one cannot execute a good game. if you are "only good" then you can only expect to do the best you can.
visualizing a win to where you will not be denied and executing your plan to achieve it, is left to the very few. champions also have great pride in their game, and this supercedes any thoughts of merely playing well enough to win.
bruin70 said:
I absolutely despise losing in anything. BUt I am actually going to take one of your guy's advice and match up with players I believe to be better than me. I keep playing these bums and losing because I think I've sunken down to their level. maybe I'll start matching up higher. Money won't matter when I play them. I don't want that weighing on my conscience. Well I'll tell you guys how I do.
Tony
Mystick Cue Fan said:
on the one hand, you despise losing,,,,yet on the other, you are,,,and to lessers.
you're not placing enough importance of one over the other. might i suggest playing every shot as if it's the last....make every shot important. maybe focusing on one shot will take your mind off everything else.
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