How do you expect to get better, if you're afraid to play better opposition.

[jrt30004]

i agree you have to play better opponents to get better but i don't think avoiding handicapped tourneys is a way of doing that. if you're playing for cash against someone better don't you ask for a spot? i know i do. and my line i use all the time is - "sure i'll play. but i am not donating to you. you want my money you have to give me a chance".

 

[Aaron_S]

I agree that you shouldn't be afraid to play better players. You have to be careful, though, not to decide to emulate someone just because they play better than you. They may have some serious flaws in their game that are preventing them from attaining an even higher level. You can most certainly pick up some things in the way of shot selection, strategy, and other areas like that, however.

Probably the best learning situation I can think of would be a short race, handicapped tournament with strong players in it. Odds are that the good players won't be messing around in a situation like that, because there's simply not time to mess around; they will try to hit their highest gear right out of the gate if they really want to take it down. That's when you can learn something.

Gambling with better players for money just to learn from them is not as good of an idea as some would lead you to believe. There is no equivalency between money lost and pool knowledge gained.

Aaron

 

[Pete]

A little bit of the both is neccessary I think. Playing stronger competition serves as an incentive and a guide to use in order to improve your game. However, if you play out of you league too much it is very possible that you will start trying not to lose, rather than trying to win. In otherwords you may get too tentative or too aggressive.

A balance of both is necessary, if for no other reason to maintain your confidence level. It's tough to feel good about your game when your losing 96% of the time, even if it's to the best players in town.

Very well written, I am in agreement with you. I know to many players that always play out of their league and only learn better ways to loose and make excuses why they lost.

I think you need to play about 25% out of your league, 25% where they are out of your league, and 50% with even up players.

Just my personal formula...

Pete

 

[SK Custom Cues]

How many times do you hear people say, play the table and not your opponent. Saying
it and doing it is not the same. The intimidation factor kicks in if you play somebody well
known and the only way to get rid of it, is to play as much as you can.

There's so much truth to this short and simple statement, it's not even funny. Lemme give something to consider.

In essence, we should learn to be mindful of our thoughts which control our actions and habits. We should be familiar with the emotions that creep into our zone upon pressured moments. To deal with those emotions or negative thoughts takes a real master of the self and is something you should train yourself in until you have it mastered.

We should also realize that it is easy to say something, and it is something totally different to actually do it. The one's with true ability actually do much less talking and do more action because actions are very powerful and convince other people do the talking for them. Talk is cheap. Act.

There is also no substitute for repetitive practice and time well spent on the table. You should learn how to play correctly from an experienced instructor and practice those correct principles. Pool is not all that difficult. What is hard is the recall of muscle memory if you don't play eight hours a day.

Many people out there are looking for a short cut by buying or depending on an LD shaft or other equipment issues, or even looking for secrets to the stroke or other short cuts to the game. All those secrets are revealed through trial and error, proper consistent practice and making many, many mistakes over and over. It is the quest to be the best that will drive you to recover from your mistakes and help you to overcome them. That journey of self improvement is the journey of life and is best experienced when you make these discoveries on your own after going through hell to figure it out. The more painful the journey, the sweeter the reward, and more you remember what it took to get there. Many people are looking for someone to hold their hand and lead the way and that is called the 'now generation' or 'instant gratification' which is very common these days.

The simplest things are most often the best things to work on as we often overlook the fact that we are deficient in them. Many of us also would rather act as if we are much better than we really are making our ego one of the biggest obstacles to overcome. So, to become skilled and to have ability, you must become a master of yourself.

 

[grindz]

Maybe.........

If I have a choice to play in either handicapped or open tourney,guess
what, I always chose an open. A lot of people tell me, I'm crazy, your
chance of making money is much less. I say, is money the biggest reason
for you to play? For me, it isn't. Yes. I have a better chance to make some
money playing in a handicapped event, but the experiance I can gain from
the open is priceless.

People, there is no shortcut to getting better, unless you play better
people and learn from it. I know it will cost you frustration and cash, but
this is the only way to do it. I have spoken to many pros, and they all
said the same thing, they got their ass beat to the pulp at their beginning.
In the long run, you will benefit from it. I'll say it again, don't be afraid and
go for it as much as you can.

You've probably got the best intentions and are trying to give some good advice. I don't want to stomp on your toes here, but anyone who tells someone else that the ONLY way to do something is THEIR way is usually full of sh.t (I'm sure you're the exception :wink

Everyone plays the game for their OWN reasons...... It is a GAME... that means FUN should be involved....if it's not FUN... then it's not a game to me. I would say it's fair to say that 80-90% of the people who play pool are happy to just play and don't care much about getting to a high speed.
Telling them that donating is to their benefit is just like a gambler woofing to get someone to DONATE by calling them names.

If the better players always force the lesser players to DONATE in some fashion it will forever keep the mass appeal of the game low. Handicaps are the only way to level the chances and get more players into the game.
JMNSHO .... Sorry, but your post must have struck a cord. No disrespect intended.

td

 

[12310bch]

Bass ackwards

[/COLOR]


Hit her on the head brother, if people are ducking better competition because they wont make as much money, then they are only playing to see how much money they can win. Which has nothing to do with getting any better, remember the old saying a good hustler never shows his true speed.

Grey Ghost

Grey ghost, you got it backwards man. We duck better competition because we don't want to see a cash OUTFLOW. Not because we want a higher cash INFLOW.:duck:
You hit the nail on the head when you're never quite sure of
a hustler's speed. But the more the bet or the higher the handicap(weight) the closer he will play balls to the wall. :banghead:
Thus, the better " lesson." you get.

 

[Island Drive]

i agree they have a Bar Box Tournament down here on 11-12 in lakecharles BUT! i.m going to bogies billiards in TX becuz there more competition an theres alot of pro.s there i wanna learn don.t get me wrong i wanna make money but i wrather go there then a bar box tournament

Your losses and your misses are your teachers. By improving on those areas that caused you to lose/miss, you'll become a better player quicker.

 

[Andrew Manning]

Very well written, I am in agreement with you. I know to many players that always play out of their league and only learn better ways to loose and make excuses why they lost.

I think you need to play about 25% out of your league, 25% where they are out of your league, and 50% with even up players.

Just my personal formula...

Pete

You formula is a little off IMO (although I recognize that mileage may vary and it may be the best for YOU).

I don't see any reason to spend ANY of your time on players where you are out of their league, so I'd reclaim that 25%. Also, I'd split up your category of "even up" players, into players that you truly play even, and players that are better than you, but on a good day you do stand a chance.

I'd say for maximum improvement, you should play maybe 15% of the time with players out of your league, maybe 50% with players that are better than you (but you can compete when you're playing your best game), and then maybe 35% with players who you're truly even with.

-Andrew

 

[Celtic]

If an open player is playing you for money do you really believe he got his pedal to the metal to beat you? Hell no. He'll play just a good as necessary.

What if after you played the guy straight up you are busy counting his money after he quit you and paid?

 

[12310bch]

Eureka!

What if after you played the guy straight up you are busy counting his money after he quit you and paid?

Then you Know!:idea2:

 

[poolmaster]

You've probably got the best intentions and are trying to give some good advice. I don't want to stomp on your toes here, but anyone who tells someone else that the ONLY way to do something is THEIR way is usually full of sh.t (I'm sure you're the exception :wink

Everyone plays the game for their OWN reasons...... It is a GAME... that means FUN should be involved....if it's not FUN... then it's not a game to me. I would say it's fair to say that 80-90% of the people who play pool are happy to just play and don't care much about getting to a high speed.
Telling them that donating is to their benefit is just like a gambler woofing to get someone to DONATE by calling them names.

If the better players always force the lesser players to DONATE in some fashion it will forever keep the mass appeal of the game low. Handicaps are the only way to level the chances and get more players into the game.
JMNSHO .... Sorry, but your post must have struck a cord. No disrespect intended.

td

None taken. All I did was stated my opinion. Having said that, I didn't come up with this
opinion out of the blue. Over the years, I had a chance to talk with many world beaters.
I've always asked them, how they did it, and what does it take to make it. They all gave
me the same answer. I know , that different things work for different people, but the
basics stay the same

 

[Pete]

You formula is a little off IMO (although I recognize that mileage may vary and it may be the best for YOU).

I don't see any reason to spend ANY of your time on players where you are out of their league, so I'd reclaim that 25%. Also, I'd split up your category of "even up" players, into players that you truly play even, and players that are better than you, but on a good day you do stand a chance.

I'd say for maximum improvement, you should play maybe 15% of the time with players out of your league, maybe 50% with players that are better than you (but you can compete when you're playing your best game), and then maybe 35% with players who you're truly even with.

-Andrew

My formula is more so my response and feelings about the statement, the only way to get better is playing the best. I feel that one thing people forget is that winning is a habit, but so is loosing. If all you do is loose and rack, it's hard to get better.

On the flip side if you only play those you dominate then you game might not raise as you would like.

And the other reason why I think it's important to play with the lower lever players is giving back to the game of pool. Kind of a Karma thing with me...

My percents aren't what I do, but are in the direction I think will work. But I could be wrong...

Thanks for your input.

Pete