Killer instinct

Myk

Myk

dorkfish
Silver Member
Question for all you pool players:

Can you turn your "killer instinct" at the table on and off at will?

The reason I ask is, this evening, I went out to play a little 8 ball with a female friend and some of her friends. When I was playing her, I couldn't manage to play well at all. I was missing dozens of shots I can usually make in my sleep.

Then one of the men in the group stepped up to play a few with me, and I was back on instantly, playing top gear. After that, my female friend said I must have been laying off on her, but if I was, it wasn't intentional, because I have always believed if I was playing my grandma a race to 9, I don't want her to get to 1.

Wonder why this happens?
 
Ditto,

Personally I'm only as serious at the table as my opponent and the situation. Besides if your playing a young lady who isn't a serious player and is only out to have fun, stone faced serious play won't impress her unless you can conjure up a 9 pack or a 100 ball run.
 
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off and on like a light switch

I always had a social gear. In my mind it was ridiculous to play wide open with friends and dates that didn't play pool seriously. To play wide open with these people would just be stroking my ego at the expense of everyone else's, not cool at all. At least that is the way I saw it.

Because of this, I would be happily batting balls around in places where it was sometimes acceptable to challenge the table. It was just a given that I was going to win the game I was playing and trounce the interloper so we could go back to banging.

Everyone that knew me knew I had gears I rarely used. Even when I gambled with people in my local bar I was playing a gear or two down from when a road player came in looking for a game. It was a given that I would be the one playing them and the regulars seemed to quickly forget the speed I showed if I had to.

I had three ranges of speeds and the real killer only came out in the highest range, when I was angry or facing a serious challenge. I was embarrassed a couple of times when I cranked it into high gear to face a challenge and then played the next few games with friends or a date wide open. No fun for them.

My opinion is that serious players that also play socially should have at least a couple of gears.

Hu



Myk said:
Question for all you pool players:

Can you turn your "killer instinct" at the table on and off at will?

The reason I ask is, this evening, I went out to play a little 8 ball with a female friend and some of her friends. When I was playing her, I couldn't manage to play well at all. I was missing dozens of shots I can usually make in my sleep.

Then one of the men in the group stepped up to play a few with me, and I was back on instantly, playing top gear. After that, my female friend said I must have been laying off on her, but if I was, it wasn't intentional, because I have always believed if I was playing my grandma a race to 9, I don't want her to get to 1.

Wonder why this happens?
Click to expand...
 
Hu said it well, in my opinion. When I'm out banging balls with my wife, I wouldn't say I'm sandbagging...it's more like I just don't concentrate well...sorta on purpose?

(edit) Why do I get the feeling that my bear down gear is probably worse play than Hu's "social gear"?
 
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ShootingArts said:
I always had a social gear. In my mind it was ridiculous to play wide open with friends and dates that didn't play pool seriously. To play wide open with these people would just be stroking my ego at the expense of everyone else's, not cool at all. At least that is the way I saw it.

Because of this, I would be happily batting balls around in places where it was sometimes acceptable to challenge the table. It was just a given that I was going to win the game I was playing and trounce the interloper so we could go back to banging.

Everyone that knew me knew I had gears I rarely used. Even when I gambled with people in my local bar I was playing a gear or two down from when a road player came in looking for a game. It was a given that I would be the one playing them and the regulars seemed to quickly forget the speed I showed if I had to.

I had three ranges of speeds and the real killer only came out in the highest range, when I was angry or facing a serious challenge. I was embarrassed a couple of times when I cranked it into high gear to face a challenge and then played the next few games with friends or a date wide open. No fun for them.

My opinion is that serious players that also play socially should have at least a couple of gears.

Hu
Click to expand...

That is an excellent description of what happens with a lot of players I suspect. I know it fairly accurately describes what happens with me in different situations.

Great post.
 
I have fought a similar problem if my warm up time or early matches in a tournament are against weaker players, and I get "stuck" in that lower gear.

I wish I could say that I can move up a couple gears at will, but sometimes less competition lowers my game incurably. On the short term is what I mean.
 
Cameron Smith said:
Ditto,

Personally I'm only as serious at the table as my opponent and the situation. Besides if your playing a young lady who isn't a serious player and is only out to have fun, stone faced serious play won't impress her unless you can conjure up a 9 pack or a 100 ball run.
Click to expand...

Nail on the head! I seem to only play just well enough to win.
 
I hate playing Armatures because with one shot they can mess up a perfect table and leave you behind the 8 ball every time.

The Mental part of the Game is BIG. This weeks League night I lost my games against the two worst player on the other team, But but beat the best players. It has to do with your perception of the competition.
 
Ball Banger said:
I hate playing Armatures because with one shot they can mess up a perfect table and leave you behind the 8 ball every time.

The Mental part of the Game is BIG. This weeks League night I lost my games against the two worst player on the other team, But but beat the best players. It has to do with your perception of the competition.
Click to expand...

LOL This guy should change his name to world beater!!
 
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