??Number 6 in the Room??

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Williebetmore

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Sarah,
I saw a thread in the Main Forum where you claimed to be the #5 or #6 player in your home room. What kind of room is this????? Are there really that many better players than you (Geez, at the DCC it looked like you were probably #5 or #6 in that room)? Who are these people? Sounds like a good place to lose money.

This sort of brings up another issue, and that is what separates the very top players from everyone else? At the DCC I saw 100 players that all looked fabulous, all looked as if they could run out at any time. I personally am not skillful enough to tell what separates them (there must however, be some difference since the same group seems to always finish at the top - e.g. Karen, Allison, etc.). What is it, and how do you develop it? (if you can answer this, then perhaps you can also tackle the meaning of life and world peace).
 
Ok, maybe I was being a bit modest. There are some good players in that room but sometimes it is a toss up who will win. There is one player who is above the rest in the room. The rest of us can beat each other so it is a toss up. Maybe I should change that to possibly #2-#6? That question also changes when gambling is thrown into it. The order changes dramatically.

As for the difference between the top and those under them...I think it is consistancy. Allison and Karen are consistantly good. Plus they have put a certain fear in everyone else. Yes, we all want to beat them, but it is such a huge pressure playing them. Nearly everyone is rooting for the underdog and then if you are close to beating them you are thinking "wow, I'm keeping up" and then you start missing. Everyone takes pressure differently. Maybe this is just me that thinks like that. Another thing is their fundamentals. They have such strong, perfect fundamentals. I don't think they have anything else over anyone. Knowledge wise Jeanette is extremely knowledgable. Shotmaking and kicking, Ga Young Kim is incredible. It is just a matter of time for her. Consistancy is the only thing everyone is lacking.

Just my opinion.
Sarah
 
sarahrousey said:
Ok, maybe I was being a bit modest. There are some good players in that room but sometimes it is a toss up who will win. There is one player who is above the rest in the room. The rest of us can beat each other so it is a toss up. Maybe I should change that to possibly #2-#6? That question also changes when gambling is thrown into it. The order changes dramatically.

As for the difference between the top and those under them...I think it is consistancy. Allison and Karen are consistantly good. Plus they have put a certain fear in everyone else. Yes, we all want to beat them, but it is such a huge pressure playing them. Nearly everyone is rooting for the underdog and then if you are close to beating them you are thinking "wow, I'm keeping up" and then you start missing. Everyone takes pressure differently. Maybe this is just me that thinks like that. Another thing is their fundamentals. They have such strong, perfect fundamentals. I don't think they have anything else over anyone. Knowledge wise Jeanette is extremely knowledgable. Shotmaking and kicking, Ga Young Kim is incredible. It is just a matter of time for her. Consistancy is the only thing everyone is lacking.

Just my opinion.
Sarah
Click to expand...

In every city there is a Billiards Player that beats most people before they ever step to the Table. In my city the Player is Bobby. He is older now and has lost some of Greatness. But still yet the "Fear Factor" remains strong as ever. Most people lose the Game before they play. Then take it to your level......WOW.........lol......That would be crazy & insane. :p
 
Sarah,
Thanks for the response. You said the pecking order changes when gambling is involved, does your place in the ranking go up or down?

I think it is very interesting to hear your views on playing the top players. I know that the most successful golfers must force themselves to be very process oriented during competition - focusing on the shot at hand and delivering the proper swing each time. Jack Nicklaus felt one of his biggest advantages (other than the huge talent and intimidation factor), was that he could usually focus only on shotmaking, never thinking of the possible outcome of the tournament, or of the possible consequences of a missed shot. He felt that his swings on the final hole of the Master's were exactly the same as his swings in a friendly match with his friends. Do you try to avoid those thoughts of winning or losing during a match? How do you cope with the pressure?
 
Well, lets see, my order goes up if not staying the same (depending on how I rank myself to start) There is one player who one day might play anyone there for anything not caring who it is or if he has a chance. The next day he might not play anyone. Another person is always ready to gamble, good game or bad. I'm usually trying to make a game and I am willing to bet. The person who might be ranked #1 in the room usually just tries to steal money, no fair games. Some of the others on the original list do not gamble at all, so if money is on the line they tend to choke. I think this happens in every room.

As for playing in the tournaments and dealing with the pressure of playing the top players, I would be lying if I said I didn't feel any pressure or that I was calm as can be. The first time I had to play Karen Corr I was confident and really thought I was going to beat her. That was before the match started. Then when they announced our names at the beginning of the match and I heard all of her accomplishments, my whole body began shaking. I got a shot every single game and only won 1 game. The pressure becomes easier to deal with after time. The "seasoning" that everyone is talking about. Now if I play Karen or Allison I give them respect while playing them, not admiration. I don't think.."hey, if I beat them it is a huge upset and I'm going to win the tournament." I think "This is one of the best players in the world. I have to play good and stay strong, not getting discouraged. If I do that I have a chance to win" People handle pressure differently. Some people rise to the occassion, others do not. I think the key is to realize that everyone in the tournament has a chance to beat you and you have a chance to beat everyone there. Respect everyone's game and potential.

Sarah
 
Sarah,
You are so right, all pool rooms must be the same. In "The Pleasures of Small Motions", Fancher divides players into the ones that appreciate and enjoy the game for its aesthetics, and the ones that use it as a gambling tool, and couldn't care less about the game. Your #1 player sounds like the latter (I do not like those people if they are especially obnoxious), hopefully you are somewhat in the former category. My primary teacher (a former top road player) does not even like pool, and will go long periods without touching a cue - he enjoyed the pool only as a means to gamble (though he is not one of the obnoxious ones). If there was more money in the game these guys would be coming out of the woodwork.
 
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I agree Willie, I myself love the game and enjoy the gambling aspect. The only difference was that I learned to love the game before I even thought about gambling. (I am somewhat new to gambling...I just started about 3 years ago) I think you are right about the money bringing somewhat of a bad element. I think the bad element only begins because the people do not love the game and it has become their job. Hopefully I will be smart enough to quit as soon as it is no longer fun. After all that is what this game is all about.

Sarah
 
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