OK, What Do I Do Now (Long Winded)

I think you should attache a small GPS devise to his case, and find a tournament located away from where he is!

You must play really well to even get in a few games on him. Good luck. Sooner or later he will catch a stomach virus and have to bow out for you!
 
I guess the obvious answer for the OP is NEVER BREAK DRY!! A dry break against a seasoned pro is equivalent to signing your own death warrant.
 
tom mcgonagle said:
You might condider playing pool and not thinking about your opponent. No easy task when it comes to players of Dennis' caliber.

He also owned me for years. So don't think your special.

________________________________

http://tommcgonaglerightoncue.com
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Hi Tom,

Thanks for the post. I've always tried to play the balls on the table not my opponent. Only if I know the guy can't bank, faints on long straight shots or kicks poorly will I alter my decision making process. If I played my opponent, I might play DOWN to his speed instead of UP to mine! Hope to see you next week. Incidentally, Dennis "owns" a lot of players. All around the World!

Lyn
 
Lyn,you got a project

Look forward to playing Dennis.Every shot you take in practise envision
it putting Dennis on the b-side.
This will increase your skill and courage to snatch that win when it's your
turn.
Remember,if you're an 8 to 1 underdog,you should still win one in nine tries.
It's why players come from players.A great player should elevate everyone's game.

And when you take that win,buy Dennis a drink and propose a toast....
...down the hatch!...
 
a few things

First you can focus on cue ball control in practice. Obviously you can pocket balls pretty fair and have decent cue ball control but 99% of us can improve our cue ball control after the hit if we really work at it. I spent several years focusing primarily on improving cue ball control. It paid huge dividends.

The other thing is purely mental. I 100% agree to play the other player's strengths and weaknesses. However be very careful that you aren't playing them based on their name or ranking in the pool world. Once we get to a certain level, a level it sounds like you are at now, we can beat anyone in a short tournament match-up on a given day. No question that over many hours or many battles the stronger player will win more often than the one that isn't quite to that level but isolate each match-up to just that match-up. It doesn't matter what happened in the past, it doesn't matter what may happen in the future. All that matters is the moment.

Reminds me, there again is a big thing. Stay in the moment when at the table. If you are thinking in the down position, stand up and regroup every time. I have missed some incredibly easy shots on the money ball because a major conversation was going on in my head. I think we all do it sometimes but you do have to play very close to your best game to beat Dennis it sounds like. Don't beat yourself and you will beat Dennis sooner or later. Make it sooner!

Hu
 
Celebrate a great weekend

Lyn,
I played in the event at MSB back in Feb and watched you play this past weekend there too. Had to leave Sunday during the hot seat match, but wish I had been able to stay and watch you beat Spencer on the one-loss side. After the way he came back on Sossei and beat up on DD I thought he was headed for the final. You must have played well to beat him 9-2. Celebrate a great weekend. 9-7 and 9-6 to Dennis is still an impressive showing!
 
Factor said:
Lyn,
I played in the event at MSB back in Feb and watched you play this past weekend there too. Had to leave Sunday during the hot seat match, but wish I had been able to stay and watch you beat Spencer on the one-loss side. After the way he came back on Sossei and beat up on DD I thought he was headed for the final. You must have played well to beat him 9-2. Celebrate a great weekend. 9-7 and 9-6 to Dennis is still an impressive showing!
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Factor,

Thanks for the kind words. Wish I could take all the credit. Spencer scratched on a nine and missed a hanging eight. Four game swing!!!! Got to admit. After watching him beat Sossei, he had my attention too.

Lyn
 
Well look at it this way, when you beat him it's just going to make it that much sweeter. Good luck to you, you must be a helluva player.
 
The Zone! Max Eberle....C J Wiley

Lyn,
If you really want to beat Hatch, you are going to have to stay in your own little world, you know, the one where you are playing your best pool, the one where the outcome doesn't matter. What matters is what is in the present, what matters is what you do with this particular shot in front of you, AND NOTHING MORE.

You are developing experience and character. You have very good talent and you have an example of how much you want to improve right in front of you. Try to learn what he does better than you and be specific and work on that aspect of your game.

I predict that if you truly want to beat Dennis, there will be a match where you'll continue playing your best pool and you will break well, run out well and beat him. I think your mind must stay in a very current moment. CJ Wiley was telling me about an AMAZING match that he once had against a really good friend and how he "popped out of the zone" after making what was the best match of his life. It happens but the longer you can make yourself stay in the moment, the longer your runs will be and the longer your opponent will sit in his chair.

Give ALL of your mental effort to playing pool in the "PRESENT", looking not at the past, nor to the future.

Another great player, Max Eberle once told me a secret about how to win a tournament. If he gives me permission to let his secret out, I will share it at a later date. Max knows stuff that a lot of players don't. Max knows how to articulate a lot of stuff that a lot of pool players can't. Max has an abundance of talent and teaches well.
 
Lyn,
I went through the same process years ago when I worked at the best little pool room in PA. I worked my way up the ladder, and at each step there was a guy I couldn't beat.....for a while.

For me the toughest part was getting rid of the constant conversation in my head about everything BUT playing pool....

oh crap, everyone is watching..

I'm up a couple games....I shouldn't be?!

don't play safe....go for the dumb low % shot wimp

hey look at that nice cue over there.....

whats for lunch?......:)


once I was able to just play pool and enjoy it..... whatever happens is fine.....as long as I can just get out of my own way and play my game.

NOW!....the conversation is simple.....

1. what do I have to do from here to win?

2. go back and re-read #1


all that, and if you can play lefty....that would help too! :)

good luck!

G.
 
Hi Gerry and JoeyA,

Thanks for the posts guys. I really appreciate the suggestions and advice. My nine ball mentor, Ron "Julio" Casanzio, has me thinking only about the next ball on the table for several years. Get the right angles. Use the correct route. Play the percentages. Have to admit, once in a while I too play that low percentage shot not wanting to give up contol of the table. Usually, that is exactly what happens:bash:!!! Regardless, with every trip to the table, there is a potential to win. That is what I need to remember!

Lyn
 
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