I'm Sick of Beating Myself... Are You?

Mikey Town

Mikey Town

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
It's really frustrating when I beat myself out of a tournament. This doesn't happen to me so much when I play a weaker player, but mostly when I'm matched up against a stronger one.

It seems like I can play my game and do just fine, until I play someone that I'm not "supposed to beat." Regardless if they are 2 levels above me or if they are a pro, anyone can win a rack here and there. So why is it that I feel like I almost sabotage myself into losing racks and matches, even when I should win.

In an 8-ball tournament last week I was up against a player that was far better than me. There was an easy spread on the table with no trouble balls and I hooked him into giving me ball in hand 2 times. Still, I managed to loose the rack and, in turn, the match. I didn't even feel like myself... rattling straight in shots, not getting far enough on easy shape shots, etc...

Don't get me wrong, better players are just that... better. If I get beat, I get beat... that's all well and fine. I'll never get better if I don't play players that are above my level. It's just really frustrating giving games away to those better players just because I'm used to losing to them.

No doubt that it's a mental thing, but why? I'm usually pretty good about not letting my opponent into my head, but this has come up more than once in the past month.

Has anyone else ever had this happen to them? If so, what kind of thoughts (or lack there of) helped you through this?


Cheers,

Mike
 
Here's a goofy response someone better than me told me a long time ago. Those mistakes you think only happen against the better players happen all the time, just the better players almost always capitalize on them. If you didn't make those mistakes afterall, who would be the better player?

Sounds weird but think about it and next time you play someone weaker, try to notice all the stuff you get away with and still win versus the things you think only happen when you play the better players. If you play close to the same that's a good thing. If you only dog it against better players, that's psychological...much harder to correct.
 
Mikeyfrost's 2nd paragraph is dead on, imo.

I finally realized I wasn't as savvy as I originally thought after playing some higher caliber players. lol It was a little ego-crushing, since I had been winning for weeks against the other regulars... of course, those players are all people I "should" beat anyway, so no wonder I can give them weight and still get out.

I finally realized that I only win because I take advantage of my opponent's mistakes; not because I played smarter than they did. Sometimes, sure that's the case, if I'm constantly squeezing them in 1p, and they shoot at a flyer, I set a trap and they took it; but I also get away with a lot of things because they don't have the shot-making ability to make me pay for my own mistakes.
 
Mikey Town said:
Has anyone else ever had this happen to them? If so, what kind of thoughts (or lack there of) helped you through this?
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Yes. A couple of years back I came home from a 2-and-out tournament and immediately went to Amazon and ordered Inner Game of Tennis , Pleasures of Small Motions , and A Mind for Pool. They all have some thoughts and techniques for the game inside your head, and I believe they helped me.

Dave
 
It is a very difficult thing to do, but try your best to only play the table. The other player is going to do what he does so there is no sense sweating it. Play your level best regardless of the opponent's skill, the table is pretty much always the same.
 
Am I sick of beating myself? Yeah, but I don't get to see my wife a lot because of my work schedule.
 
9BallMarksman said:
Am I sick of beating myself? Yeah, but I don't get to see my wife a lot because of my work schedule.
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Sometimes it scares me how similar we think. Sometimes I read a title, open the thread and you have already written my response, even if its a joke.
 
zy112 said:
Sometimes it scares me how similar we think. Sometimes I read a title, open the thread and you have already written my response, even if its a joke.
Click to expand...

Brothers from other mothers? I won't rule it out. I'll call my dad and ask if he's ever been to Indy.
 
mikeyfrost said:
...Sounds weird but think about it and next time you play someone weaker, try to notice all the stuff you get away with and still win versus the things you think only happen when you play the better players. If you play close to the same that's a good thing. If you only dog it against better players, that's psychological...much harder to correct.
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As a corollary to that, notice when playing a weaker player the instances when they make a mistake and you, as the better player, make them pay dearly for it. It's kind of the same thing only the roles are reversed.

If indeed you so only seem to "choke" when playing above your level I can only say just keep getting in the box until it stops happening.
 
Underclocked said:
It is a very difficult thing to do, but try your best to only play the table. The other player is going to do what he does so there is no sense sweating it. Play your level best regardless of the opponent's skill, the table is pretty much always the same.
Click to expand...


But the truth is...
Pool is not just about playing the table...
If it was, the more talented player would make more balls and win everytime.
Pool is most definitely a game where you can get inside your opponents head.
AND.. Unfortunately, inside your own, its so easy to beat yourself :smile:
 
I have a similar problem and just as frustrating. I tend to play to the level of my competition unless there is something on the game. I had a local guy "try" to hustle me last night for $20 sets. He was a slammer and had not entirely grasped the concept of shape. I easily took the three sets we played. Afterwards him and his friends all played me and beat me. I think if I know I will have another shot I just don't try as hard. I have tried working on this for some time now with little results.
 
I'm just plain weird. When I play my level or a lower level player I detonate and play like do-do. When I play a higher ranked player I play smart and careful. I make them pay for every mistake. But I let lower level players beat me up.

I guess it's just a mental thing. I'm working on it. The damn thing is the league team captains have learned this. They keep giving me the worst, sloppyest player on their team. I have trouble with clusters. I am working on it. I just need some more seasoning. Need to shoot more of these matches. I'll overcome it.

Mark Shuman
 
DaveK said:
Yes. A couple of years back I came home from a 2-and-out tournament and immediately went to Amazon and ordered Inner Game of Tennis , Pleasures of Small Motions , and A Mind for Pool. They all have some thoughts and techniques for the game inside your head, and I believe they helped me.

Dave
Click to expand...

In essence, what do these books teach you? How do you teach someone not to choke?
 
TheThaiger said:
In essence, what do these books teach you? How do you teach someone not to choke?
Click to expand...


To an extent they teach you what choking is .... it can be trying too hard, it can be thinking too much, it can be trying to play outside your confort level (taking on wrong shots), etc., etc. Once you understand the mental dynamics of choking and high performance pool it is easier to recognise and control these activities. The books have techniques for handling negative self-talk as one example. Negative self-talk is a big-time performance killer.

Dave <-- said what renard said, but used more words :)
 
Playing above your level

You need to embrace playing better competition, because it's the only way to really improve. Remember how you "gave away a set" and vow never to do it that way again. Sometimes it's more than just missing a ball. Maybe a weak saftey, sometimes forgetting to play the best pattern to runout, a weak pre shot routine, not eating correctly. Mental stress is physically exhausting, learn to play with as little emotion as required to stay motivated.

If it's mentally breaking down when it matterred, remember losing is the easiest thing to do. Your mind, unless properly motivated and trained chooses the easiest pathway. You need relish the opportunity to show what you know against better players. Eventually winning can become a habit.

The best thing to do is play these stronger individuals for time or small wagers and get used to being in the pit. Pressure is what makes you feel like anything you may do will backfire. Learn to play under it and your game will improve immediately without learning another skill on the table. Some of these better guys unravel when a lesser players shows heart. Their egos are often very fragile.

And if you run into a monster who's on his best game, know that they have put in the mental work and practice time to deserve whatever they win.
 
mikeyfrost nailed it. when u lose to a plyr who punishes u for those mistakes th e errors are more memorable, they stand out. if u win the match, u tend to forget all the mistakes.
 
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