Hate to say it but this is definitely a problem. It gets shaken quickly after a couple missed shots.
My Mental game killed my team AGAIN
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Hate to say it but this is definitely a problem. It gets shaken quickly after a couple missed shots.
mental Game
If you know you have trouble under pressure , why did you set yourself up to play last and put it all on yourself ?
Also I agree with the others not to use your 7 first, the other team will always put their best 2 rated or sandbagger against them.
If you know you have trouble under pressure , why did you set yourself up to play last and put it all on yourself ?
Also I agree with the others not to use your 7 first, the other team will always put their best 2 rated or sandbagger against them.
They had nothing left but a 2. The key is the team only played 9 games of the session and the 2's had only 4 or 5 games each losing the first 1 or 2. then show up as a 2.
Agreed
Now as for my game I think I am over rated. I have ran a rack a couple of times which usually had some dumb luck involved somewhere. I run 4 or 5 balls often. Bank shots I avoid because I am just guessing and the same with kicks but with a little better results. I feel I lack understanding of the CB path after hitting the object ball and as a result end up scratching or running into balls by accident. My eye's tangent line seems to be off often. Maybe its rolling cb vs stun that throws me I don't know. Straight in and any cut I can see I expect to fall and tend to get upset when they don't drop.
I have no pre shot routine and not really sure about what my stance is doing. I live 30 minutes from the pool hall so I only get to play a better player on league night. I do have a descent table to practice on just no one to tell me when I am doing something wrong.
Thanks to all that responded
Let me say straight up that in 8 ball I'm an APA3. My biggest problems are inconsistancys in my mechanics. And I really don't play well against like or lower ranked shooters. Having said that I am you're 5,6 or 7's worst nightmare. I play very well against higher ranked shooters. For some reason it mentally jacks my game up to shoot a 6 or 7. I get in the groove and play very well.
Make 1 mistake and I'll nab a game from them. Then for me it is a race to 1. Make that mistake because now you have to play conservativly to stay in the game. All it takes is 1 good safety from me to get BIH and it's over. There are several like me in the local league. Unfortunatly word has gotten around. I never see more than a 4 anymore. Oh well I keep practicing. My mental game is getting better.
You are just like me in many ways. I do not do well under pressure. I'll fight for every point always. But when the pressure is on my mechanics fall apart. I'll bet you had the same problem. I'm trying to focus on the basics when under the gun. I take time to feel my grip and adjust. Feel the way my arm is swinging. Adjust my footing if it feels wrong. I try to check the shot from several angles before setting up for the shot. And last but most effective is to look at the contact point on the OB during the stroke! That has helped me the most. Deep breaths and a few steps back to settle down also helps.
I hope this helps you some. Oh yea just like others have said lead with a strong 3 or 4. I'm very effective as a lead off hitter(so to speak). I damn well bet you are too! Try starting if you have to put in first. It helps me. It should help you.
Mark Shuman
Make 1 mistake and I'll nab a game from them. Then for me it is a race to 1. Make that mistake because now you have to play conservativly to stay in the game. All it takes is 1 good safety from me to get BIH and it's over. There are several like me in the local league. Unfortunatly word has gotten around. I never see more than a 4 anymore. Oh well I keep practicing. My mental game is getting better.
You are just like me in many ways. I do not do well under pressure. I'll fight for every point always. But when the pressure is on my mechanics fall apart. I'll bet you had the same problem. I'm trying to focus on the basics when under the gun. I take time to feel my grip and adjust. Feel the way my arm is swinging. Adjust my footing if it feels wrong. I try to check the shot from several angles before setting up for the shot. And last but most effective is to look at the contact point on the OB during the stroke! That has helped me the most. Deep breaths and a few steps back to settle down also helps.
I hope this helps you some. Oh yea just like others have said lead with a strong 3 or 4. I'm very effective as a lead off hitter(so to speak). I damn well bet you are too! Try starting if you have to put in first. It helps me. It should help you.
Mark Shuman
I have to also agree, unless your SL7 have a no loss record and clearly beyond the scale of the handicap, why would you put up your highest ranked player on a blind,, knowing that the other team's weakest player is a SL2?
Why not put up a mid-range player, and wait for 2 or 3rd match to put up your SL7?
I may be naive in my thinking. If the other player is sharking you, make a comment to your teammate, loud enough for the other player to hear, that you're waiting for him/her to finish sharking, so you can take your shot. Acknowledge bad sportsmanship. If you haven't used up your coaches, call for a time out. If he/she continues, call over the league director. This being your critical shot, take all the time you need to get it right. If the other team complain, point out you will extend the courtesy, or lack of courtesy as well. Or call over the league director to put a shot clock on both players.
I once got a snide remark to the effect that couldn't believe I called for a coach on a 9-ball hanger shot. I made the mistake of listening, and scratch pocketing the 9. Never again.
Why not put up a mid-range player, and wait for 2 or 3rd match to put up your SL7?
I may be naive in my thinking. If the other player is sharking you, make a comment to your teammate, loud enough for the other player to hear, that you're waiting for him/her to finish sharking, so you can take your shot. Acknowledge bad sportsmanship. If you haven't used up your coaches, call for a time out. If he/she continues, call over the league director. This being your critical shot, take all the time you need to get it right. If the other team complain, point out you will extend the courtesy, or lack of courtesy as well. Or call over the league director to put a shot clock on both players.
I once got a snide remark to the effect that couldn't believe I called for a coach on a 9-ball hanger shot. I made the mistake of listening, and scratch pocketing the 9. Never again.
Good advice. When somebody says something "you got this" you can either make it to show them they look like a** or go sit down and when they say something say to the effect of "Oh I thought you conceded". That also lets them know you think they are a a** without you saying it.
The best way to combat dogging easy and/or makeable shots is to tighten up your mechanics. Although external factors play a factor for sure, the end result is a breakdown in your fundamentals. Make it so your dog stroke is still pretty solid.
It's a tougher solution than picturing kittens and corn fields, but it's the most effective and longest lasting.
It's a tougher solution than picturing kittens and corn fields, but it's the most effective and longest lasting.
Lance Link
Banned
Most of the time, if you're shooting well, those distractions disappear. That being said...
If I'm at the table, lining up a shot, and my opponent (or thier teammate) is A) close enough to the table, and/or B) purposely in my line of vision, I simply ask, "Excuse me, would you mind stepping out of my line of sight for a moment ?"
Most players will not hesitate to move, and the majority will politely respond with, "Oh, I'm sorry" or the like.
But every now and again you're bound to run into the player that "shouldn't have to move 'cause of you" or, "get used to it". I counter that with, "Seriously ?? I've seen some ugly people in my life, and most of them I want to turn away from. But for some reason, your lack of ANY attractive features is very distracting."
Usually does the trick...
If I'm at the table, lining up a shot, and my opponent (or thier teammate) is A) close enough to the table, and/or B) purposely in my line of vision, I simply ask, "Excuse me, would you mind stepping out of my line of sight for a moment ?"
Most players will not hesitate to move, and the majority will politely respond with, "Oh, I'm sorry" or the like.
But every now and again you're bound to run into the player that "shouldn't have to move 'cause of you" or, "get used to it". I counter that with, "Seriously ?? I've seen some ugly people in my life, and most of them I want to turn away from. But for some reason, your lack of ANY attractive features is very distracting."
Usually does the trick...
When you have to put up first you generally have the advantage of controlling the 4th and 5th matches, assuming you need them since it is the playoffs.
Therefore, in this situation, it is smart to save your 7 so that you can match him/her up against the person you want to based on how the other matches are going.
For example, if you win 2 of the first 3 matches, you can make sure you have the 7 play the most advantageous player to get the win. If you lose the first 2 out of 3 you can make sure that the 7 plays their toughest player.
That is why I concur with everyone else that said you should not put your 7 up first. In addition, since you know you have a problem with your nerves, you should have never played the final match that meant winning or losing.
In the future, I would recommend you going up first where there is the least pressure. Then based on how that match goes you can decide how you should play the rest.
Personally, I love putting up first in a match. When I win the flip, I always choose to put up first because I want to ensure that I control the 4th and 5th matches (or 2nd and 3rd in Masters).
No 2 should be able to run 5 balls ever.....something smells....
This is what really pisses me off about the APA.....a good LO should raise that guy to a 4 immediately....the sad thing is, IMHO, the system is a GREAT idea in theory to really promote pool and get people playing, especially new players....unfortunately, too many LO's simply don't have the balls or intelligence to correctly take care of sandbagging.....it really isn't that hard to correctly rate lower players that you've seen for years.....it's just stupid....
Join us over on the darkside.....BCA baby
Well it is league, I don't recall you saying which one but there are many many posts here that talk about leagues. Some are better than others and that varies by region and host location.
I"ve found the APA Masters to have one of the best formats to play. There's no handicap just a straight up race to 7. Not too much sharking from my experience. BCAPL wasn't bad either. The TAP league rarely has sharking that you speak of in your post here but I have seen some of it.
It's easy for us to blame our poor performance on a SL 2 that runs 5 balls etc. but in reality we are most often the reason that that SL2 or SL7 for that matter gets a good shot at the table.
It is very tough for us to do, but once we realize that it is most often our lack of skill and consistency that are the real reasons we lose we can make great strides in our game.
It's easier said than done. Either you (meaning anyone) can bring their game or they can't. It's a tough pill to swallow, to admit that we are the real reason we lost not unfair handicaps or sharking. I've said it many times, pool played well is a mental discipline much like a martial art.
My suggestion is to develop an accurate and repeatable stroke and solid Pre-shot routines. Practice your fundamentals and build your confidence. Just playing games by yourself or with your friends doesn't count as the type of practice I am talking about. That in my opinion is playing.
That's my 2 cents take it for what it's worth: One man's opinion. Good Luck.
Thanks for everyone's input.
NO LO was there. Nashville is where they stick our league with and we have a guy that works as a go between. He is on the other division in our city. Our division ended with just 4 teams and the other division has 8 teams in which the go between plays on.
I was admitting it was my poor play that cost me in my OP but the sharking didn't help. I know practice is what I need. I also need some instruction. I shoot by feel and have no idea what part of my fundamentals has flaws.
Some how the other team had permission to practice on the other tables while the matches were being played. That was not allowed in the past.
Last session I started tried saving my 7 and ended up putting him in on the 3rd match with us down 2-0 he won and I played next and lost.
This time I was honestly hoping I would not have to play and that we would have won our 3 in the first 4 matches.
I will try playing first.
NO LO was there. Nashville is where they stick our league with and we have a guy that works as a go between. He is on the other division in our city. Our division ended with just 4 teams and the other division has 8 teams in which the go between plays on.
I was admitting it was my poor play that cost me in my OP but the sharking didn't help. I know practice is what I need. I also need some instruction. I shoot by feel and have no idea what part of my fundamentals has flaws.
Some how the other team had permission to practice on the other tables while the matches were being played. That was not allowed in the past.
Last session I started tried saving my 7 and ended up putting him in on the 3rd match with us down 2-0 he won and I played next and lost.
This time I was honestly hoping I would not have to play and that we would have won our 3 in the first 4 matches.
I will try playing first.
You're not alone
I had a six foot mostly straight in shot on the 8 for the match last night, and followed the damned thing in. We all brain-cramp at one time or another. It's how we minimize that stuff that matters... (Like the fact that the next time I'm at the room I'll be shooting 6 foot stop shots for 30 minutes!)
I know it doesn't make you (or I) feel any better when it happens. Sometimes it's gonna happen. Don't beat yourself up too much. Figure it out, and beat that guy next time!
I had a six foot mostly straight in shot on the 8 for the match last night, and followed the damned thing in. We all brain-cramp at one time or another. It's how we minimize that stuff that matters... (Like the fact that the next time I'm at the room I'll be shooting 6 foot stop shots for 30 minutes!)
I know it doesn't make you (or I) feel any better when it happens. Sometimes it's gonna happen. Don't beat yourself up too much. Figure it out, and beat that guy next time!
In my division APA 8 ball men can only go as low as a sl3, only women can be an sl2 in 8 ball.
Definite tactical error tossing the 7 first, as others have said. Did you lose the toss or elect to put up first?
If you are an sl5, believe you are a 5 and shoot like one. It wasn't an accident that you got to be a 5. You had to do something right for a long time to get moved up. You just need to bear down and focus on what you're doing. Until you are up to par, do not put yourself into positions of perceived additional pressure. Get back to a solid game. You're a 5. You're going to make mistakes. You're going to miss. The difference between a 5 and a 4 should be your ability to capitalize on the other guys mistake.
When you're playing forget about all that team stuff and focus on what you're there to do. Each rack is a separate event, unconnected to the one prior. Each one a chance to run out or take advantage when your opponent doesn't.
Lighten up, it's just the APA
Definite tactical error tossing the 7 first, as others have said. Did you lose the toss or elect to put up first?
If you are an sl5, believe you are a 5 and shoot like one. It wasn't an accident that you got to be a 5. You had to do something right for a long time to get moved up. You just need to bear down and focus on what you're doing. Until you are up to par, do not put yourself into positions of perceived additional pressure. Get back to a solid game. You're a 5. You're going to make mistakes. You're going to miss. The difference between a 5 and a 4 should be your ability to capitalize on the other guys mistake.
When you're playing forget about all that team stuff and focus on what you're there to do. Each rack is a separate event, unconnected to the one prior. Each one a chance to run out or take advantage when your opponent doesn't.
Lighten up, it's just the APA
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There should be many, and I mean MANY qualified poolplayers in your area that SHOULD be able to help with simplicities of stance, pre-shot routine and other basic fundamentals. Even more, you SHOULD be able to find someone qualified to teach these things for NO CHARGE. This is part of the problem with our beloved sport, too many people looking for a payout, many times for things as simple as teaching simple things. Now, if we're moving on up to advanced shotmaking, reading squirt, diamond systems, and things of that nature, then yes, I would advocate the services of a CERTIFIED instructor. But for fundamentals??? No way. 8up, If you were closer to my area, I'd help you for free.
Maniac