Mentally should you....

Harvywallbanger

Harvywallbanger

Josh Eisert
Silver Member
Mentally should you look at this game as easy or hard when under pressure for the money? Heres what I mean. How much confidence should you have mentally? Heres the problem. Too much confidence puts me into a position to question myself once I start studying. If its so easy why am I standing here pondering what to do? If I have so much confidence why am I not stroking the cue instead of standing here? If I have so much confidence why have I not pulle dthe trigger yet. About this time is when I just shoot because I don't want to betray my confidence. BAD IDEA! My point is, is that I think its OK to be confident but at the same time understanding the compexity of the game. Its time to stand up, realize the difficulty of the shot and approach it with confidence. BUT realizing the shot is hard AND having confidence is something that is hard to grasp. Basically should I look at a hard shot as easy?:confused:
 
That's why I don't like the word confidence. If I'm forced to shoot a low-percentage shot I'm not going to shoot it with confidence that I'll make it, but I can shoot with DECISIVENESS, which works better for me.

Anyway, I don't approach a match or the game in general as hard or easy. But I do try to look at easy shots as tough, and tough shots as easy. It's helped me not do dumb mistakes, and give it my best execution on the tough ones...
 
As soon as you think this game is easy....the pool gods will show you why it is not.

There are a few statements that should never be made lest you be struck down by the pool gods.

  • I've got it!
  • This is easy!
  • I will never make THAT mistake again
  • I never miss this shot

Confidence is a must to be a great player...But the players that are respected most for thier greatness also blend Humblness into thier persona.

(Efren / Buddy / Nick are perfect examples of that blend)

Confidence without the Humblness = Arrogance

(I think you can decide who this type of player is)

As for me...I am Confident.......that this game is difficult...;)
 
I really like "lewdo26"s response about "decisiveness". We ALL "pressure up" at times. Why? Fear of failure. If we knew why maybe we could do something about it. Everybody feels it at one time or another... some people more than others, but EVERYBODY feels it and reacts to it.

I've seen "players" dog the easiest shots imaginable... not every time... not a lot... but enough to realize "everyone feels the pressure".

What I try to do is "just play the table". Easier said than done. However, after deciding what I want to do, I try to commit to the shot and try not to worry about the consequences of failure. Many, many times we are faced with situations on the table that without proper execution will cost us the game/match/money if we fail. Sometimes we succeed... sometimes we fail. I guess what I'm trying to say is,"Don't dwell on the failures... they are going to happen". Try to feel confident in your decisions. It is so easy to second guess ourselves, but if we are confident in our decisions, we will be comfortable with the outcomes.

If it was easy, it wouldn't be any fun.
 
Harvywallbanger said:
Mentally should you look at this game as easy or hard when under pressure for the money? Heres what I mean. How much confidence should you have mentally? Heres the problem. Too much confidence puts me into a position to question myself once I start studying. If its so easy why am I standing here pondering what to do? If I have so much confidence why am I not stroking the cue instead of standing here? If I have so much confidence why have I not pulle dthe trigger yet. About this time is when I just shoot because I don't want to betray my confidence. BAD IDEA! My point is, is that I think its OK to be confident but at the same time understanding the compexity of the game. Its time to stand up, realize the difficulty of the shot and approach it with confidence. BUT realizing the shot is hard AND having confidence is something that is hard to grasp. Basically should I look at a hard shot as easy?:confused:
Click to expand...

Personally I believe you are thinking too much. That said you shouldn't look at any shot as easy. I don't think you should even see it as hard either. Just do what you gotta do to make the ball and set up for the next.

As for confidence, you need a lot of that. Our game is very demanding. To play at top levels we have to play near perfect. Imagine playing golf and you weren't allowed to hit a golf ball anywhere but the fairway.

Next time you have the opportunity to see a top player play just look at their demeaner, the way they stand, the look in their eyes. They are the picture of confidence, so much so that they almost look cocky. On the other hand when I watch the league players, they look like fishes out of water. Sure some of them can play pretty good, but not too many of them look like they are anywhere near at home on the pool table.

The trick is to be confident enough with the shots that your not thinking about missing the ball. Why would you consider it, if it is a foregone conclusion that the ball is going in the hole?

At the same time you don't want to get complacent and rush shots. Stay within your rythm and go through your routine.
 
OK OK So is it alright to recognize that you COULD miss this shot and certain measures are going to be needed to insure that you don't. Because I have hit the zone before but I can't figure out my mindset when I was in it. It just happens. As far as I know when I can't miss I KNOW I can't miss and missing isn't even an option. BUT I also think that when I hit that level, even though I know I can't miss, I am thinking about missing. I am thinking about it first and then I totally desinigrate that thought by thinking like a pro. After that I have the thought of missing but my confidence tells me I can't miss even though I know I can.:confused: :mad: Jesus #@##@ I dont know what I am trying to say.

I think my game is to a point that now all I have to do is have it mentally. I am a B player I guess. I can play A speed on a good day. I can play 3 or 4 racks with perfect persision so that means for those 3 or 4 racks I was playing pro speed. If its perfect its PRO SPEED! I honestly think we need a seperate forum dedicated to the mental game. Once I start running racks I start to shake. Litterly shake like a coward. I'll just keep shooting balls I guess.:mad:
 
Harvywallbanger said:
Mentally should you look at this game as easy or hard when under pressure for the money? Heres what I mean. How much confidence should you have mentally? Heres the problem. Too much confidence puts me into a position to question myself once I start studying. If its so easy why am I standing here pondering what to do? If I have so much confidence why am I not stroking the cue instead of standing here? If I have so much confidence why have I not pulle dthe trigger yet. About this time is when I just shoot because I don't want to betray my confidence. BAD IDEA! My point is, is that I think its OK to be confident but at the same time understanding the compexity of the game. Its time to stand up, realize the difficulty of the shot and approach it with confidence. BUT realizing the shot is hard AND having confidence is something that is hard to grasp. Basically should I look at a hard shot as easy?:confused:
Click to expand...

If I think that I'm playing good or bad while I am playing, it affects my game b/c I'm thinking too much about non-shot routine things. My confidence is built b/c I have practiced, so I carry that into my tournaments/league/gambling/whatever.

Furthermore, don't think about shots as easy or hard. If you are thinking it's easy, it could make you miss. If you are thinking it's a hard shot, you could miss b/c of the pressure in your mind. Instead, I have found if I put all my effort in my shot routine (from chalking my cue to the ball falling in the pocket), that allows me to focus on mechanics and executing the shot to my best ability. That makes me confident and that in turn keeps me from thinking about tough or easy shots.

Melinda
 
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Melinda said:
If I think that I'm playing good or bad while I am playing, it affects my game b/c I'm thinking too much about non-shot routine things. My confidence is built b/c I have practiced, so I carry that into my tournaments/league/gambling/whatever.

Furthermore, don't think about shots as easy or hard. If you are thinking it's easy, if could make you miss. If you are thinking it's a hard shot, you could miss b/c of the pressure in your mind. Instead, I have found if I put all my effort in my shot routine (from chalking my cue to the ball falling in the pocket), that allows me to focus on mechanics and executing the shot to my best ability. That makes me confident and that in turn keeps me from thinking about tough or easy shots.

Melinda
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Very well said.
 
I tell myself that this is an easy shot for me IF, AND ONLY IF I take it seriously, concentrate, and follow my routine. I never look at the whole game as easy, and always take it one shot at a time. I feel that confidence is neccesary, but it is more important to remember to treat ALL shots with the same respect.
 
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Harvywallbanger said:
Mentally should you look at this game as easy or hard when under pressure for the money? Heres what I mean. How much confidence should you have mentally? Heres the problem. Too much confidence puts me into a position to question myself once I start studying. If its so easy why am I standing here pondering what to do? If I have so much confidence why am I not stroking the cue instead of standing here? If I have so much confidence why have I not pulle dthe trigger yet. About this time is when I just shoot because I don't want to betray my confidence. BAD IDEA! My point is, is that I think its OK to be confident but at the same time understanding the compexity of the game. Its time to stand up, realize the difficulty of the shot and approach it with confidence. BUT realizing the shot is hard AND having confidence is something that is hard to grasp. Basically should I look at a hard shot as easy?:confused:
Click to expand...

At that given time you have a decision to make. What is the best shot, and am I prepared for the consequences of my choice? Only you can forgive yourself of your choices. You know your abilities better than anyone and what the % of success or failure is. Stick by your decisions and take the lumps with the glory.

This goes with any present confidence level. I think you should ask yourself at that givin time where is my confidence level? Why does it pose a negative thought in my mind at this time? Then answer yourself honestly. This situation will never go away unless you resolve it in your mind before the shot or the decision to shoot it.
 
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