Over comming playing down to your opponent

[StormHotRod300]

Ok, so for the past few weeks, I've been practicing with a friend who is a BB rated player and I know i can hang with him when playing.

So today my friend, another friend who is an "A" player and myself head to our first tourny of the season....

Well so myself and the "A" player are warming up and I am holding my own since I am a "C" player. Well tourny time comes and I get to play another "C" player and its like i just dont shoot the same.....

I did end up winning the match 7-4.

The next match I am getting the last two from a C+ player and end up dogging a few money balls and lose 7-4......

Next match I destroy my opponent when getting the same spot 5-1....

Next match I am giving up the last two against a guy who doesnt shoot for position he just shoots, and I lose 5-3..... Against this guy I had the same issues dogged a few money balls that I should make 90% of the time.

It's like i just dont have the same fire when playing someone of lower caliber.

Any suggestions for how to deal with this??????

 

[tattoosbyjay]

Ok, so for the past few weeks, I've been practicing with a friend who is a BB rated player and I know i can hang with him when playing.

So today my friend, another friend who is an "A" player and myself head to our first tourny of the season....

Well so myself and the "A" player are warming up and I am holding my own since I am a "C" player. Well tourny time comes and I get to play another "C" player and its like i just dont shoot the same.....

I did end up winning the match 7-4.

The next match I am getting the last two from a C+ player and end up dogging a few money balls and lose 7-4......

Next match I destroy my opponent when getting the same spot 5-1....

Next match I am giving up the last two against a guy who doesnt shoot for position he just shoots, and I lose 5-3..... Against this guy I had the same issues dogged a few money balls that I should make 90% of the time.

It's like i just dont have the same fire when playing someone of lower caliber.

Any suggestions for how to deal with this??????

i wish i couls figure this out myself

 

[Voodoo Daddy]

Its nothing your doing wrong...its all seasoning and table management. Your a self-admitted C player, but you have moments of brilliance against A/B opponents yet you play marginal against players of your rated speed.

Time is your friend, play hard all the time like your life depends on every shot, like your car payment or the light bill depends on crucial table decisions...you might see a difference. Just my 2 pennys.

 

[Cameron Smith]

Ok, so for the past few weeks, I've been practicing with a friend who is a BB rated player and I know i can hang with him when playing.

So today my friend, another friend who is an "A" player and myself head to our first tourny of the season....

Well so myself and the "A" player are warming up and I am holding my own since I am a "C" player. Well tourny time comes and I get to play another "C" player and its like i just dont shoot the same.....

I did end up winning the match 7-4.

The next match I am getting the last two from a C+ player and end up dogging a few money balls and lose 7-4......

Next match I destroy my opponent when getting the same spot 5-1....

Next match I am giving up the last two against a guy who doesnt shoot for position he just shoots, and I lose 5-3..... Against this guy I had the same issues dogged a few money balls that I should make 90% of the time.

It's like i just dont have the same fire when playing someone of lower caliber.

Any suggestions for how to deal with this??????

There are a number of reasons for this, most of them in your head.

I think that when we play over our heads we tend to relax a bit more because we don't expect to win, so sometimes we tend to play better. Furthermore since you are "expected to lose" there is a bit of pressure removed from your shoulders, as opposed to when playing lower ranked players. This isn't neccessarily true for everyone though.

Of course concentration plays a factor as well. If you don't feel there are any consequences for missing then the motivation for ensuring you do everything properly just isn't there sometimes. Though I found that as I improved this started to work in my favor, in that without any consequence I am able to play the way I do in practice because I know there is another chance around the corner if I blow this one.

Now keep in mind that stronger players tend to leave more when they miss I find. For example, the cue ball is usually in an open position, (ie. not on the rail or unintentionally snookered on everything) and the missed ball usually wobbles and stays close to pocket because they didn't miss by much. So I find playing against stronger opposition I usually get more clear cut run out opportunities out of errors even if there are less mistakes.

Lower ranked players have little control so the position of the cue ball and object balls are very much up in the air. A lay out can be re-arranged in one shot which can lead to some scrappy games. Some times they will give great opening opportunities other days you always seem to have a tough opener. This of course becomes less of a problem as your shot making develops.

I know how you feel though. There is a snooker player I will match up with on occassion if I have no one else to play or don't feel like solo practice. He is incredibly frusterating to play against, as he never plays position unless it is an easy follow shot, he just does what he needs to pocket the ball. On the one hand it means that a mistake will never cost me more than 8-12 points (sometimes he makes a few), but the cue ball is usually left in the most awkward positions (I assure you he isn't playing a shot to nothing). Since I'm playing safe so much every game is a scrappy one which sucks considering I just want to pot balls. Now the last number of times I played him I won in the realm of 4-0 and 5-0 but I do remember a particularily embarrassing 3-1 loss. That one taught me to be more patient and wait for my opportunities.

 

[Neil]

..............

 

[eastcoast_chris]

Now keep in mind that stronger players tend to leave more when they miss I find. For example, the cue ball is usually in an open position, (ie. not on the rail or unintentionally snookered on everything) and the missed ball usually wobbles and stays close to pocket because they didn't miss by much. So I find playing against stronger opposition I usually get more clear cut run out opportunities out of errors even if there are less mistakes.

That statement is SO true! Happened to me this past weekend.

I've become fustrated numerous times because I playing really well and then miss a hard shot (but not by much)... and then the weaker player gets out because I left it perfect.... while later in the match, they'll be missing by miles and constantly leaving you nothing.

9 Ball can be a difficult game to play against someone who is a lot weaker. So many things can go their way if you're having a slightly off day.

A trick I do to try to make myself focus when player a weaker player is set a goal (or side bet) for how badly your going to beat them.... i.e. 7-3 ... that way you can focus when your up 4-1, 6-2 etc.... and not just play loose because you think you're in complete control.

 

[Ball Banger]

Cameron

You hit the nail on the head.

I agree 100% that a C player can have a table run break and mess it up with the first shot. Besides the lack of shooting skill they have no Idea of ball selection or pattern. I would rather play a strong safety player than a Ball Banger (oops that is my Screen Name). BTW How many times have I been beat by lesser players with the Kiss of death run in 8 ball and leave none or one of my balls on the table? If you can't get out, then leave a few balls on the table and play safe.

I find I don't take the time to practices drills and only play games. IMHO I feel drills can do more for both your game and HEAD game than anything else. Watching the WPA open 9 ball on TV, The point was made that the Texas Tornado practices kicking at balls for 45 minutes each day. Some Instructional Videos might be better than others, But they all stress Drills.