lost hill hill match. again. any ideas?
- Thread starter krlk
- Start date
i wish i had an answer for you but i've been experiencing the same thing.
the last 10 or 12 hill/hill matches (i'm spotting the last three btw) dating back to mid-last year, the following happens...
-my opponent breaks...runs out
-i break, nothing falls...my opponent runs out
-i break,make ball(s)...hooked on the lowest #'d ball
-i break,make ball(s) and have a shot...but late balls are tied up
-i get to the problem area and play safe...opponent kicks safe OR lucks in the ball...runs out from there
-my opponent misses and always,and i mean ALWAYS lucks a safe or sh*ts one in :angry:
i never,ever break and run on the hill...never.
FWIW: Last time I played the 10 ball ghost, i won 13-6.
Why? Do you want to know why it drive you nuts, OR why do you keep losing hill-hill?
How are you losing the case games? Through his good shooting (which you can do nothing about), or from you playing sub-par to your normal ability?
I once had a teammate who shot well through most of his match, stroking shots in beautifully until he got to the moneyball. Then, he'd let up on his stroke and try to "guide" the ball in and often miss. I finally saw enough frustration from him that I told him to quit trying to guide the moneyball in and just stroke the ball in same way as you do the rest of the rack.
Hang in there. Your day will come too.
Maniac
That's pretty strong. On what kind of table?
i wish i had an answer for you but i've been experiencing the same thing.
the last 10 or 12 hill/hill matches (i'm spotting the last three btw) dating back to mid-last year, the following happens...
-my opponent breaks...runs out
-i break, nothing falls...my opponent runs out
-i break,make ball(s)...hooked on the lowest #'d ball
-i break,make ball(s) and have a shot...but late balls are tied up
-i get to the problem area and play safe...opponent kicks safe OR lucks in the ball...runs out from there
-my opponent misses and always,and i mean ALWAYS lucks a safe or sh*ts one in :angry:
i never,ever break and run on the hill...never.
FWIW: Last time I played the 10 ball ghost, i won 13-6.
Well, you're only going to B/R 20% of the time at the most in 10 ball anyway(and that's at pro speed). So mathematically speaking you should have run out maybe a little more than 2 times on your last 12 or so hill matches at BEST.
And that's only on average, meaning sometimes the 20% will hold up and sometimes it won't. In your case, it just hasn't yet. Doesn't sound like you're experiencing anything unusual.
So.....just keep playing and it will even out. Orrrrr.....just spot the last 2 instead of the last 3 and don't worry about them getting on the hill :thumbup:
!
You are beating yourself to hard - "Drives my Nuts" is just the start.
Stay relaxed - the very fact that you reach the hill first shows your stregnth in getting out the block first. Try to focus on the match as being 0-0 and play your strongest game.
The player coming back at you is a very confident player by time it is hill-hill as they have fought their way back and are now the strongest favourite to take the match.
STAY FOCUSED and in the ZONE, all the time.
PLAY only the table and what she offers you.
Sometimes the balls just don't roll. That's the game; start to love that and embrace it - it will make you the stronger player.
DON'T - drive your nuts about it all.
The very fact you are in regular hill-hill matches shows the stregnth of your game. You are on the verge of something great! :thumbup:
Keep on cruising...
Stay relaxed - the very fact that you reach the hill first shows your stregnth in getting out the block first. Try to focus on the match as being 0-0 and play your strongest game.
The player coming back at you is a very confident player by time it is hill-hill as they have fought their way back and are now the strongest favourite to take the match.
STAY FOCUSED and in the ZONE, all the time.
PLAY only the table and what she offers you.
Sometimes the balls just don't roll. That's the game; start to love that and embrace it - it will make you the stronger player.
DON'T - drive your nuts about it all.
The very fact you are in regular hill-hill matches shows the stregnth of your game. You are on the verge of something great! :thumbup:
Keep on cruising...
Sorry to hear that. Let's fix it! Here's how I think about it.
Consider a single game as a microcosm of a match.
Have you ever heard the advice to play shape while shooting the money ball? For example, if you're playing 10-ball, PLAY SHAPE for the imaginary 11-ball. If you don't, you might slack off on your stroke, or you may send the cue ball into the hole. This happens because all through the rack, you are planning everything thoroughly: speed, spin, contact, etc. Then when you get to the money ball, if you ONLY plan to make the ball, all that other stuff goes out the window, and you change the way you shoot, which can sometimes make you miss the game ball and/or scratch.
So let's expand that to the match situation. Let's say you're racing to 9. If you're anything like me, you start feeling safe once you get close to the hill. You're sitting at 7-5, thinking, "Oh yeah, I got this. I'm winning. I just need a couple more."
Quit thinking that! That wasn't your attitude when it was 0-0! Your attitude then was, "I have to win some games and get ahead!"
As you know, being on the hill is no guarantee of winning. So why do we let ourselves believe that being on the hill is actually a goal? I think that's the problem. There should be no mental reward for being on the hill. If anything, being on the hill puts the responsibility on you to FINISH IT. NOW.
Your opponent will certainly notice you're on the hill. If they're a few games back, they may start playing very aggressively, taking shots they normally wouldn't take, just because you are on the hill. Combos, caroms, ridiculous safeties, etc. They all seem to come out when you're on the hill. I've often seen players change their own game in response to their opponent's sudden change of style.
In fact, sometimes it's only when my opponent is on the hill that I realize that I have been playing way too passively! Then my game suddenly shows up and I can make a comeback.
Put another way, sitting on the hill can sometimes take the pressure off. If the pressure is off (i.e. "I can afford to give up a game - I'm on the hill"), you won't play your best - but that was what got you to the hill to begin with!
In an important match, you may be exhausted, nervous, excited, whatever... For many people, myself included, getting to the hill feels like a milestone. Hitting that milestone can change the way you play (maybe from aggressively to defensively). So don't allow yourself to hit the milestone! There is no milestone on the hill. MAKE YOURSELF KEEP FIGHTING as if you need a few more to get on the hill.
Think about your last few matches where you got to the hill. How well did you play in the game that GOT you to the hill? Probably pretty good. You need to keep that frame of mind when you're playing the hill game(s).
I hope you rock em next time!
To the Hill, and Out!
-Blake
look carefully
Well... the first thing to do would be to stop going Hill-Hill with people (exactly). So let's move on to number two.
Most of us know exactly where the fail came from, but stubbornness and ego clouds our minds and judgement. The key or keys to getting this percentage down (cause like someone else mentioned) cause someone has to win, is accepting that you have a problem "when you're down/behind, on the money ball, on the hill or hill-hill and then calculate why. It usually boils down to practice, but most don't do this well also, so i've come up with ways to trick the mind.
try this:
Deep down in you heart you must set a harsh goal (1) to not let your opponent reach a certain score (2) treat tied games as Hill-Hill starting from 0-0. The goal of this is to get you mind set to be the same and as aggressive as when you first took the lead, and reduce the "nerves" part of the pressure and thus reducing the "YOU" factor aka choking.
or, and this is the practice part:
like i mentioned most of us know where the fail happened, failed safe, failed kick or shot execution, failed PSR, failed to walk around the table or take enough time on the shot. If you are able to identify the moment that cost you the match, then that is what you practice the very next time you hit the table.
Tooooo often we tell our self's that we'll get it right the next time with out ever practicing that shot.
THIS IS MY OPINION BASED ON OBSERVATION AND EXPERIENCE TAKE IT HOW YOU SEE FIT.
Well... the first thing to do would be to stop going Hill-Hill with people (exactly). So let's move on to number two.
Most of us know exactly where the fail came from, but stubbornness and ego clouds our minds and judgement. The key or keys to getting this percentage down (cause like someone else mentioned) cause someone has to win, is accepting that you have a problem "when you're down/behind, on the money ball, on the hill or hill-hill and then calculate why. It usually boils down to practice, but most don't do this well also, so i've come up with ways to trick the mind.
try this:
Deep down in you heart you must set a harsh goal (1) to not let your opponent reach a certain score (2) treat tied games as Hill-Hill starting from 0-0. The goal of this is to get you mind set to be the same and as aggressive as when you first took the lead, and reduce the "nerves" part of the pressure and thus reducing the "YOU" factor aka choking.
or, and this is the practice part:
like i mentioned most of us know where the fail happened, failed safe, failed kick or shot execution, failed PSR, failed to walk around the table or take enough time on the shot. If you are able to identify the moment that cost you the match, then that is what you practice the very next time you hit the table.
Tooooo often we tell our self's that we'll get it right the next time with out ever practicing that shot.
THIS IS MY OPINION BASED ON OBSERVATION AND EXPERIENCE TAKE IT HOW YOU SEE FIT.
You are playing not to lose and have quit playing to win.
I know that sounds dumb but alot of truth in that statement.--Smitty
I know that sounds dumb but alot of truth in that statement.--Smitty
You have to first off figure out why you're having a hill-hill match so often...you're not finishing. You have to KNOW you're going to put it away, every time you step up to the shot. The fact you're frustrated over the fact that it's hill-hill and you can't seem to close says a lot about your mental approach to the game. Just bear down and do it like you've been there before...which you have, several times in the set you're playing. It happens to everyone. You're strong enough to have beaten him 8 times, what's one more? 
the problem is with the cue
it is a dog
it can not win the big game
before you ignore this out of hand listen
i play plenty of high stakes games
i have played almost all the great players
when ever i lose or dog it i always sell my cue and buy another one
i simply can not afford to play with a loser
this keeps me away from debilitating introspection
and allows me to get back in action
the good news is
i do have some great cues for sale and i might even take that junk lumber in trade
you simply must discipline the cue that can not take down the cheese
it is a dog
it can not win the big game
before you ignore this out of hand listen
i play plenty of high stakes games
i have played almost all the great players
when ever i lose or dog it i always sell my cue and buy another one
i simply can not afford to play with a loser
this keeps me away from debilitating introspection
and allows me to get back in action
the good news is
i do have some great cues for sale and i might even take that junk lumber in trade
you simply must discipline the cue that can not take down the cheese
About 2 weeks ago, I fell behind in a race to 5 against a super strong player. I managed to take it to the hill. Dry broke and he ran out.
I considered it a small victory! I shot my butt off!
Maybe you just have to play me and your problem will be solved!
I considered it a small victory! I shot my butt off!
Maybe you just have to play me and your problem will be solved!
If it is happening often and in matches you know you should be winning,,,well then,,,you are not mentally prepared to win. You are not ready to win and don't know how to handle it!!!
Sounds harsh ,,right??? But it's the truth.
That little voice in your head,,as you are shooting,,,missing a ball,,,,says you can't make this ,,because "we" can't win!!! If you don't think it's there,,I say you are wrong.lol
Or the lack of ,,looking hard,,searching,,working,,,,,, to find a way to make the money ball.
All you can do is keep plugging away. After awhile you should win a few and get some confidence.
And when you start winning,,,,it then becomes hard to lose.(you don't want to,,and find a way to win,,opposite of now) Complete different mental attitude though.
Go get the book ,by the Monk,,,"Point the Way" .. Read it all. It's a thin book with some great info. Really!!!! Do this and you will see.
And right before your match. Tie your shoe laces really tight!!!! That's my tip.lol It works,,,just remember to loosen them after.
Good Luck.
Sounds harsh ,,right??? But it's the truth.
That little voice in your head,,as you are shooting,,,missing a ball,,,,says you can't make this ,,because "we" can't win!!! If you don't think it's there,,I say you are wrong.lol
Or the lack of ,,looking hard,,searching,,working,,,,,, to find a way to make the money ball.
All you can do is keep plugging away. After awhile you should win a few and get some confidence.
And when you start winning,,,,it then becomes hard to lose.(you don't want to,,and find a way to win,,opposite of now) Complete different mental attitude though.
Go get the book ,by the Monk,,,"Point the Way" .. Read it all. It's a thin book with some great info. Really!!!! Do this and you will see.
And right before your match. Tie your shoe laces really tight!!!! That's my tip.lol It works,,,just remember to loosen them after.
Good Luck.