Huh? Is this normal?

[JimmyWhite]

Been playing seriously (with my own cue and several hours of practice per week etc.) for about a year now. Had entered like 4-5 tournaments and left with 2 defeats on most of them. After each defeat I always got a bit frustrated about my performance but then on the next day I would start working even harder to go to the next level and not do the same mistakes again.
I entered a big tournament recently (with some pros and some very respectable players) and I did very well with 3 victories over people who would normally beat me. I was concentrated and played very efficiently without any big mistakes in all 3 games. I then lost to a pro, and went back to the losers bracket for my game that would get me to the final 8 which would earn me cash as well (first money earned). My opponent was slightly better than me but if I played like I did on the the previous days, I was going to beat him. But I was terrible, I missed an easy 9 and an easy 8, I played bad safeties, I missed balls and positions I shouldn't have. It was like I went back 6 months in my game. After the tournament everyone was like "congratulations you did very well", "you should be proud of yourself" etc. etc. but I still feel I want to snap my cue and eat it. I don't remember being so angry with my game for a long time. I think about it and say to myself that I performed very well overall and shouldn't be that angry but then I think about the money I almost won and still feel I want to never touch my cue again...and it's not like I needed the money.
Am I a freak or something?

 

[BlackMamba]

If you are thinking about how much money you could have won, don't. Its great to win and everything but it seems like you started out doing it for the experience. You started out getting smoked at these tournaments, then you played good. Maybe next time you'll play better. A huge part of getting stronger in your game is being more consistent with that game. Work on your consistency and jump back in the saddle.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using Tapatalk

 

[bullshot]

Perfectly normal in my opinion. The problem is as your abilities go up so do your expectations. It can be so frustrating to be in dead stroke and know what you are capable of, only to fall back down to your normal every day game. It's like you know you have done it before but for some reason now you can't. Personally I don't have any problem with losing a tough match if i believe i played to the best of my abilities, but losing when i knew i could have won if i had just played to my potential is a different story.

The way i figure it is the day that I'm satisfied with my game and no longer care to improve is the day that I'm the best pool player on earth.

 

[dom_poppa]

no..you are not crazy.

It happens to all of us. I guess players weren't expecting you to win but once you got close to winning, then you are almost expected to have a chance.

I am the same way as you are but we can't always play our best. You can say you beat so and so because you can play better but this game isn't about peak performance. It's more of consistent game.

 

[JimmyWhite]

Personally I don't have any problem with losing a tough match if i believe i played to the best of my abilities, but losing when i knew i could have won if i had just played to my potential is a different story.

Exactly. I remember in a tournament match a few months ago, I was behind 8-1 on a race to 9 and managed to fight back at 8-8. I lost 9-8 though but I wasn't frustrated at all as I enjoyed the game very much.

I guess players weren't expecting you to win but once you got close to winning, then you are almost expected to have a chance.

Yes, that pretty sums up the whole situation

 

[JoeyA]

I don't think you're a freak or anything else. I think you're just human.


Excelling at this game is tough, very tough.

There are many obstacles to overcome and it is frustrating when we think we prepared ourselves, gave our best effort and it still isn't good enough.

It's happened too many times to me but it's part of the journey and that's just the way it is.

Can you imagine what it would feel like if you had to win at pool for a living and came up short of even your average play? I think the pro pool players have an undesirable and incredible amount of pressure on them to win.
JoeyA

 

[paksat]

hey at least you weren't left on the 50 yard line on 85-90% of your shots for the last 5 hours like someone here posting under paksat.

I shot more safes then I did actual shots. It was like the table had its' mind made up that it was going to piss me off no matter how controlled I was.


:angry::angry:

 

[onepocketron]

I think it is pretty normal. For me the main thing is not to put too much pressure on myself during play. I had a good friend that was having an awful time and I just told him to get up there, do the best you can, have fun, and most of all, RELAX. Quit putting that mental pressure on yourself. He started to perform better almost immediately. His expectations were so high he had stopped having fun and was tense as hell.
I know when I'm playing guys that have a higher skill level than myself (which is often) I don't think about whom I am playing, but rather try stay within my limitations, and do my best to beat them by using strategy and safes. I know I can't beat them if I try to run out every rack. I know my limitations and try to play to my strengths. Sometimes I win, and sometimes I don't, but I always try to stay relaxed and have fun.