Granted I'm a poor loser second is the "first" loser---been going to two weekly local tournaments and normally do well. A few friends have been telling me that I need to change my attitude and enjoy the game (which I enjoy dearly) more. So last night I decided to do that and am out in two games--no "killer" instinct at all--so next Sunday I am reverting back to my normal self. Am I wrong??????
Is it just me?
- Thread starter phishman
- Start date
I think playing the game with killer instinct is independent of being a poor loser. Losing implies you are done with your match and came out on the short end. When you lose, you can choose to get pissed off or choose to learn from it.
Ask yourself, "Why did I lose?":
1. Was my opponent better? Give him credit, he usually is better than you believe.
2. Was I off? If you were off, what was off? How do you fix it so it does not happen again?
3. Did I make a logic or shooting mistake? If so, how can you fix it.
The questions go on forever, but you should get the point.
The other option:
You can throw a fit when you lose and blame everyone else. This way you don't have to analyze anything and show up next week to make the same errors.
Ask yourself, "Why did I lose?":
1. Was my opponent better? Give him credit, he usually is better than you believe.
2. Was I off? If you were off, what was off? How do you fix it so it does not happen again?
3. Did I make a logic or shooting mistake? If so, how can you fix it.
The questions go on forever, but you should get the point.
The other option:
You can throw a fit when you lose and blame everyone else. This way you don't have to analyze anything and show up next week to make the same errors.
attitude
It may be that you are projecting a negative or overly aggressive attitude. Nothing wrong with being focused on winning but if folks are talking to you about your attitude you are probably projecting more than you want to.
Keep the attitude, internalize it better.
Hu
It may be that you are projecting a negative or overly aggressive attitude. Nothing wrong with being focused on winning but if folks are talking to you about your attitude you are probably projecting more than you want to.
Keep the attitude, internalize it better.
Hu
Vince lombardi said once. Winning isn't everything,,,It's the only thing.
There is also another phrase , you show me a good loser and I'll show you a loser.....
Nobody likes to lose. this is why it's a good idea to keep your mouth shut right after you lose. Wait at least 5 or 10 minutes and then say your peace after your emotions have repaired a little and common sense kicks back in.
But when your at that table be as competitive as you can be especially for the cash or a tournament.
But on the other hand if you are playing with a friend and not trying very hard you can develope bad habits. When you get down on a shot you have to always mean business.
It's too hard to turn the heat on and off. You need to keep it on all the time.
Just like a prize fighter. When you get to the table the bell goes off and your ready to go.
You can't stay in stroke just punching Judys. Bear down all the time.....
There is also another phrase , you show me a good loser and I'll show you a loser.....
Nobody likes to lose. this is why it's a good idea to keep your mouth shut right after you lose. Wait at least 5 or 10 minutes and then say your peace after your emotions have repaired a little and common sense kicks back in.
But when your at that table be as competitive as you can be especially for the cash or a tournament.
But on the other hand if you are playing with a friend and not trying very hard you can develope bad habits. When you get down on a shot you have to always mean business.
It's too hard to turn the heat on and off. You need to keep it on all the time.
Just like a prize fighter. When you get to the table the bell goes off and your ready to go.
You can't stay in stroke just punching Judys. Bear down all the time.....
I have always heard the loser is the real winner. Second and third place finishers learn more than the winner.
Good Luck.
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Keep the attitude, internalize it better.
Hu
What he said! I H-A-T-E to lose and I have acted like a JA on more than one occasion after doing so. BUT.... learning to control that instinct and keeping yourself focused on doing everything you can do to get the win (rather than pouting and throwing tantrums), will result in....more wins. You will be amazed how many times the other guy will fail when he KNOWS the guy he is playing has fire in his eyes.
Bob
Hu
What he said! I H-A-T-E to lose and I have acted like a JA on more than one occasion after doing so. BUT.... learning to control that instinct and keeping yourself focused on doing everything you can do to get the win (rather than pouting and throwing tantrums), will result in....more wins. You will be amazed how many times the other guy will fail when he KNOWS the guy he is playing has fire in his eyes.
Bob
I have this problem sometimes :angry:. I am very competitive and I hate losing. However, I get the most upset when I lose due to my own screw-ups. I don't mind losing to someone who is clearly better than I am. I try to learn from the experience.
I played a 9-ball match the other day in APA (sorry, I know) against a guy who is 2 skill levels above me. The last time I played this guy he beat me by easily a 30 point spread so I was determined to bring my best game to the table and pound him into the dirt. Well, it came down to both of us needing about 4 points to win and I have ball in hand. Needless to say, I screwed up and he beat me by 2 points. I was PISSED!!! However, looking back on the game the next day I realized that I actually played an awesome match and the fact that he only beat me by 2 points instead of 30 was really satisfying.
I guess the moral of the story is that it doesn't matter if you win, just play your best game.
I played a 9-ball match the other day in APA (sorry, I know) against a guy who is 2 skill levels above me. The last time I played this guy he beat me by easily a 30 point spread so I was determined to bring my best game to the table and pound him into the dirt. Well, it came down to both of us needing about 4 points to win and I have ball in hand. Needless to say, I screwed up and he beat me by 2 points. I was PISSED!!! However, looking back on the game the next day I realized that I actually played an awesome match and the fact that he only beat me by 2 points instead of 30 was really satisfying.
I guess the moral of the story is that it doesn't matter if you win, just play your best game.
Vince lombardi said once. Winning isn't everything,,,It's the only thing.
Lombardi was repeating UCLA football coach Henry Russell Sanders:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_..._isn.27t_every_thing.2C_it.27s_the_only_thing
Lombardi was repeating UCLA football coach Henry Russell Sanders:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_..._isn.27t_every_thing.2C_it.27s_the_only_thing
Years ago the USA and USSR played a basketball game against each other. Naturally the USA team won.
The paper for the USSR reported that over the weekend the USSR competed in a international basketball tournament. The USSR did real well as they came in 2nd place while the USA really suffered as they came in next to last.
It all depends on how you look at it.
The paper for the USSR reported that over the weekend the USSR competed in a international basketball tournament. The USSR did real well as they came in 2nd place while the USA really suffered as they came in next to last.
It all depends on how you look at it.
phish, just remember this. You gotta be you. You can't be somebody else. If you were somebody else you wouldn't even be where you are right now because you would be somewhere else. And if you were somewhere else you would probably be lost and people would be out looking for you but they could never find you because you were someone else. You wouldn't want that.
And you certainly wouldn't look the same if you weren't you. What if you had a pencil-thin mustache and talked with a lisp. You wouldn't want that either.
Just be yourself phish. Everything else will take care of itself. :wink:
P.S. I can't for the life me figure out what Trigger means by 'the loser is the real winner'. I certainly wouldn't want to come in second place in a gunfight. If I did that I'd rather be someone else.
And you certainly wouldn't look the same if you weren't you. What if you had a pencil-thin mustache and talked with a lisp. You wouldn't want that either.
Just be yourself phish. Everything else will take care of itself. :wink:
P.S. I can't for the life me figure out what Trigger means by 'the loser is the real winner'. I certainly wouldn't want to come in second place in a gunfight. If I did that I'd rather be someone else.
to the quote about a good loser being a loser, i'll disagree with that (and yes, i admire what Lombardi was able to do, and i suspect the UCLA guy was probably pretty good too) in an individual sport, some of the greatest champions are gracious in defeat. there is no shame in giving your all on a particular day and getting beat, the shame is in being afraid to try... if you are confident in your abilities and give your all, you can stand back and admire that the other guy was just a bit better this time, without thinking he was the better player or doubting yourself in any way. even Jack Nicklaus or Michael Jordan or Wayne Gretzky miss sometimes, it's their determination to come back harder than ever next time that make them a champion... i have heard all three of those great champions be gracious in defeat, if it's good enough for them...
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I think it largely depends on what you want out of the game of pool.
If it is a social occasion for you, then you might be right to just hang loose and bang balls.
If you want to play the best you can and try to improve your game then you should bear down and not leave the table unless you have locked your opponent up with a good safe.
Only you can answer that question of Why do you play pool?
What is your purpose on that occasion?
Good Luck