How do you instill fear in opponents?
- Thread starter Flex
- Start date
Flex said:
You do whatever it takes to make sure you opponent gets NO AIR.
Mostly I just stop now and then to listen to "the voices"
Stopping now and then and cocking your head while listening intently and then voicing agreement or arguing with "the voices" opinion of what you should do is usually enough to make casual challengers break off in midgame and leave.
More seriously, running out or leaving your opponent thoroughly buried without a shot at the end of your run works best. If playing a set with a stranger that is likely to be the only set, hammer them into the ground like a tent peg if you can for the first couple of games. Only the most mentally tough don't start feeling defeatist after a few games without a real shot.
Hu
Stopping now and then and cocking your head while listening intently and then voicing agreement or arguing with "the voices" opinion of what you should do is usually enough to make casual challengers break off in midgame and leave.
More seriously, running out or leaving your opponent thoroughly buried without a shot at the end of your run works best. If playing a set with a stranger that is likely to be the only set, hammer them into the ground like a tent peg if you can for the first couple of games. Only the most mentally tough don't start feeling defeatist after a few games without a real shot.
Hu
Flex said:
I always felt that extreme confidence (not cockiness) is the most effective instiller of fear and doubt. Even at the top level, you could see players just melt a little when Efren, Buddy Hall, Mike Sigel, etc, got into the box with that max confidence just oozing out of them. That kind of confidence normally only comes with exceptional achievement, but can be replicated to a degree by a mental approach of telling yourself "I'm SUPPOSED to win this game/match, I'm GONNA win this game/match, and NOTHING is going to stop me". If that doesn't work, have a T-shirt made that says "The last player that beat me is recovering nicely and getting used to his shiny new kneecap".
Appear fearless and play strong.
Win. Pure and simple.
I am a firm believer than being a Known Name.
I have several friends who are A - Open rated players and everytime i play against them, i tend to get that short stroke problem where i dont play my game, and am very cautious about my shots.
Because i know that if i miss a shot, they are going to run out.
Now if i am playing someone i dont know, And i notice they are running out from everywhere, and playing lockup safes and kicking out and getting out when i play safe against them, then it makes me really dig to figure out how to beat them.
dave
I have several friends who are A - Open rated players and everytime i play against them, i tend to get that short stroke problem where i dont play my game, and am very cautious about my shots.
Because i know that if i miss a shot, they are going to run out.
Now if i am playing someone i dont know, And i notice they are running out from everywhere, and playing lockup safes and kicking out and getting out when i play safe against them, then it makes me really dig to figure out how to beat them.
dave
The BEST WAY!!!
Dude,
The best way to instill fear in an opponent is to not show ANY EMOTION over any miss or position error your incur on yourself while playing. Walking up to a table and not showing emotion as to the layout will really help.
Fun players fear serious-looking players.
For the serious players playing a "fun" player, taking a few low percentage shots and making them will take all the joy out of a match. For them.
Trust me.
Barbara
Barbara
Flex said:
Dude,
The best way to instill fear in an opponent is to not show ANY EMOTION over any miss or position error your incur on yourself while playing. Walking up to a table and not showing emotion as to the layout will really help.
Fun players fear serious-looking players.
For the serious players playing a "fun" player, taking a few low percentage shots and making them will take all the joy out of a match. For them.
Trust me.
Barbara
Barbara
Last edited:
Barbara said:Dude,
The best way to instill fear in an opponent is to not show ANY EMOTION over any miss or position error your incur on yourself while playing. Walking up to a table and not showing emotion as to the layout will really help.
Fun players fear serious-looking players.
For the serious players playing a "fun" player, taking a few low percentage shots and making them will take all the joy out of a match. For them.
Trust me.
Barbara
Barbara
Soooo true, Barbara. Irving Crane felt the same way, but his somewhat more comprehensive way of putting it was "never show weakness to your opponent." He always believed that good opponents fed off it if you showed them even the slightest sign that you've lost either your confidence or your composure.
Of course, in Irving's case, it helped that he looked like he could be the dean of Harvard Law School.
Colin Colenso said:
Great advice. Last real money game I had with a vastly superior player who offered me the breaks; plus the 4,5,7 and 8 balls ended after the very first game in a race to 7. Why? Well, once he realized I was going to beat him, and beat him big, he started sharking me non-stop. Even though we were only playing for a dime, he must have had a lot of sidebets going, for there were about 20 watching. He saw I had no fear, and I really didn't, and that I was probably going to cream him. Since that game, he hasn't spoken to me. Not that I want to speak with him either, by the way.
Flex
cuejoey said:Instill fear in an opponent ? just look at the pic of Donovan .if you think he's all mean/scarey in the pic you oughta see him in person !
Ennit, reminds me of Niels the facial expression, solid and determined.
Donovan said:
My preferred method is to get ball in hand and gently run the balls perfectly, with touch and finesse shots, perhaps one big shot that zings the cue ball 3 or 4 rails for perfect shape on the money ball. After that, those big boys who thought they'd have you for lunch might have second thoughts
Plus, one never knows what else somebody has up their sleeve
Flex