losing easy tournaments

Jimbojim

Jimbojim

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I have a problem, I have been playing seriously for about 9 months. When I go practice before a tournament, I also analyse the other players around and usually I do very good in practice...so much that I'm not nervous.

But when I play against them, I'm always in awkward position or I just don't know how to win against unknown people. I was sinking 5 or 6 balls (9-ball) consistently in practice (I even broke and ran out) but not in the tournaments matches.

is there something mentally I have to fix...I'm asking the question because I'm clueless
 
You just need to keep on practicing and playing in tournaments. Tournament play is a whole different animal than practice play. Though it may seem like there isn't any pressure while you are playing in the tournament, it's there. It clouds your thoughts and takes away from your focus. Once you have started to play in more and more tournaments you'll begin to notice improvement, you just need to train your mind to handle those tournament atmospheres. Just keep playing in them and keep practicing.
 
I think the more tournaments you play in the better you will get at handling the pressure you put on yourself. Remember to "play the balls" and not the person. Tournaments and cheap sets are a great way to improve your game.
 
someone more experienced told me that I need one good tournament and things will go fine afterwards.
 
The title of this thread suggest to me that you are losing tournaments full of players who aren't as good as you. If this is the case there may be the added pressure of "I can't lose to these guys". I feel I have to win every game against players who aren't as good as me. So there is added pressure and I don't always play my best.

On the other hand that pressure goes away when playing agaisnt AAA and pro players. I'm not supposed to win so I might as well give my best crack at it.
 
Cameron Smith said:
The title of this thread suggest to me that you are losing tournaments full of players who aren't as good as you. If this is the case there may be the added pressure of "I can't lose to these guys". I feel I have to win every game against players who aren't as good as me. So there is added pressure and I don't always play my best.

On the other hand that pressure goes away when playing agaisnt AAA and pro players. I'm not supposed to win so I might as well give my best crack at it.
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wow that is exactly IT!!

I have been rated B but because of bad tournaments and temporary class(I'm new) I have been downed to C.
I played against a AA player this weekend(not in a tournament) and I lost 26-20( not so bad for a C rated)....I didn't feel any pressure, I was focusing to beat him
 
Maybe your overestimating your own abilities?

If you truly believe you are better, then prove it when it counts.

Otherwise, your not as good as the players you speak of.


Sounds harsh, but I hope this may inspire you competitive juices.

Good luck!
 
Gregg said:
Maybe your overestimating your own abilities?

If you truly believe you are better, then prove it when it counts.

Otherwise, your not as good as the players you speak of.


Sounds harsh, but I hope this may inspire you competitive juices.

Good luck!
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that is a good point you have there but I go from what the more experienced players have been saying about my playing.

but I fully understand your state of view( I really consider it) but it seems I just don't have the same attitude as them. They never try safeties, they always want to make the ultra hard 'something+9' instead of trying to improve their game and run out.
 
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I think there is a bit more to it than pressure. People try to play at a higher level in competition which can be bad in pool. Pool is a skill game and its pretty impossible to just "play better" all the sudden. Either you know what you are doing or you are hoping things work out. You can't fake or luck skill and I think alot of people think they will step it up, out of nowhere, in a tournament.

Add pressure to the fact that they are trying to play over their head, they are going to screw up and give the other guy an easy 4 ball run. In 9 ball, you can get beat real easy by a lesser player if you leave him a nice table...


I discovered I was not playing my practice game because I thought I had to play better to win. Something that helped me was to realize when I could not get out. My problem was giving up control of the table more than I usually do and it was costing me games.

If you try to get out of every rack even when you don't have what it takes to get out, you will end up letting your opponant have a real chance at winning. I see lots of players just go for it every time and most of the time their run ends short and leaves a problem free table for the taking. But in practice, they play smarter and more realistic.


Once I decided to play at my speed and make the decisions I know are best for my abilities, I stopped losing to people that are not as good as me. If the race is long enough, and I play at my speed, I almost always win against a lesser player.


trying to play over your head costs alot of tournament players games, IMO. At least it was a big problem for me and I see it in others and believe it is costing them as well.

I say if you are not 100% sure of all aspects of the shot you are about to take, you are taking the wrong shot and are leaving your game up to luck. Luck will only get you so far in tournament. Using your skill will get you to the end...


Don't know if you do this as well. Most people do...
 
Jimbojim said:
someone more experienced told me that I need one good tournament and things will go fine afterwards.
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LMAO! That's as dishonest as telling a virgin, "You need one good woman and things will go fine afterwards." :rolleyes:

Try reading this thread about "playing the table", especially the good stuff written by me. ;)
 
Jimbojim said:
I have a problem, I have been playing seriously for about 9 months. When I go practice before a tournament, I also analyse the other players around and usually I do very good in practice...so much that I'm not nervous.

But when I play against them, I'm always in awkward position or I just don't know how to win against unknown people. I was sinking 5 or 6 balls (9-ball) consistently in practice (I even broke and ran out) but not in the tournaments matches.

is there something mentally I have to fix...I'm asking the question because I'm clueless
Click to expand...

jimbo, there are great practice players in every sport, but there's also something called "tournament tough" that only comes with a certain amount of tournament play and the amount of time and experience differs with everyone. Everyone experiences it, don't let anyone tell you different.
 
Umm.. a few things..

First, are you playing down to their level? I mean, are you still trying to execute defensive shots and so on the same way you would against one of the better players? You give a guy enough chances and they're going to win eventually if they know anything.

Secondly, do you play for money very often? It sounds like you do play BCA or something, too. I've found my game is better when there's something riding on it (especially if it's my something). My league game has been kinda shoddy lately, but I'm doing just fine for tournaments and money games. Some people just have a mental advantage/disadvantage with certain situations (some money players can't do will in tourneys and vice versa).

Lastly.. take no shot for granted, always go for a leave or something that will help out your focus on the shot at hand. Instead of going for the really tough shots, play defensively or do something for yourself that will make your next turn into the win.
 
Banks said:
Umm.. a few things..

First, are you playing down to their level? I mean, are you still trying to execute defensive shots and so on the same way you would against one of the better players? You give a guy enough chances and they're going to win eventually if they know anything.

Secondly, do you play for money very often? It sounds like you do play BCA or something, too. I've found my game is better when there's something riding on it (especially if it's my something). My league game has been kinda shoddy lately, but I'm doing just fine for tournaments and money games. Some people just have a mental advantage/disadvantage with certain situations (some money players can't do will in tourneys and vice versa).

Lastly.. take no shot for granted, always go for a leave or something that will help out your focus on the shot at hand. Instead of going for the really tough shots, play defensively or do something for yourself that will make your next turn into the win.
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here is how I play regardless of my opponent: If I feel I can't pocket the ball, I play safe(If I can pocket the ball but find it too hard, I would play safe as well). If I feel I can't get in position for the next shot, I play safe.

I don't play in BCA...I play in FQSB.
 
Jimbojim said:
I have a problem, I have been playing seriously for about 9 months. When I go practice before a tournament, I also analyse the other players around and usually I do very good in practice...so much that I'm not nervous.

But when I play against them, I'm always in awkward position or I just don't know how to win against unknown people. I was sinking 5 or 6 balls (9-ball) consistently in practice (I even broke and ran out) but not in the tournaments matches.

is there something mentally I have to fix...I'm asking the question because I'm clueless
Click to expand...

First, there are no easy tournaments. Even if you're a 70-30% favorite to win against every opponent, you're still a drastic underdog to win the tourney. Say there are 16 players, single elem. You would have to win 4 matches to win the tourney. Your odds of winning the tourney are roughly (.7)^4 or roughly 24% Meaning that to have a statistical probability to win the tournament, you'd need to play in about 6 tournaments. (I know it seems like it should be 4, but it really isn't, over the long haul, it'll be one in four, but to have odds to win, it really is more like 6)

So, playing in tournaments requires a little more focus against equal or lesser opponents that other forms of competing at pool. When I've had success in tournaments, it was because I was trying to beat lesser players so bad they might just quit pool. That was the only way I could really assure myself of those easy matches.

The most important thing to improve your odds in tournaments is to focus more on controlling the match and controlling your opponent and the table than trying to make balls. From your post it sounds like some of your frustration is that you're in positions where you're unable to pocket a ball. In that case, don't look around for something hard to do, try to find something easy to do that will turn the game in your favor. It could be tying up some of his balls or playing a safety or even just putting one or more of your balls in a better spot. If it's nine-ball, start looking for ways to make his runout tougher if you can't get a legal hit.

Keep at it and soon you'll be in the winner's circle. Once you win the first one, it gets addictive.

Cheer,
RC
 
Jimbojim said:
I have a problem, I have been playing seriously for about 9 months. When I go practice before a tournament, I also analyse the other players around and usually I do very good in practice...so much that I'm not nervous.

But when I play against them, I'm always in awkward position or I just don't know how to win against unknown people. I was sinking 5 or 6 balls (9-ball) consistently in practice (I even broke and ran out) but not in the tournaments matches.

is there something mentally I have to fix...I'm asking the question because I'm clueless
Click to expand...
Practice is practice. Tournament play is tournament play. Don't confuse the two by trying to equate them.

Question: if you're playing 9-ball, and you consistentaly make 5 or 6 balls in practice, aren't you supposed to lose in the tournament? Their are 9 balls!

Fred
 
Cornerman said:
Practice is practice. Tournament play is tournament play. Don't confuse the two by trying to equate them.

Question: if you're playing 9-ball, and you consistentaly make 5 or 6 balls in practice, aren't you supposed to lose in the tournament? Their are 9 balls!

Fred
Click to expand...


that is 5 or 6 balls in a row.
 
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