Overcoming A Mental Block

[Baxter]

I have a player here in town who I play on a regular basis. When I play in local tournaments, I'll run through most of the field relatively easily, break and run here break and run there. Then I get matched up with this certain player, and my game drops several balls. I go from making nearly everything to not making nearly anything.

Last night I went 3-0, 3-0, and 3-0 with a couple break and runs thrown in playing in a little 8-ball tournament. When it came time to play this certain player, I was hitting balls straight into the rail and missing shots I can make with my eyes closed. I used to think I was dogging it under the pressure of the stakes, considering when we usually meet up it's in the finals. But I realized when this player is absent, I take it down in usual fashion without a problem, leading me to believe I turn into a dog just playing this guy, not because of anything on the line (I usually play well for the cash too).

I know this player is an overall better player than I am, but not by a whole lot, and I believe I have the skills to beat just about anybody if given the opportunity. I am usually the kind of player to capitalize on mistakes and catch a gear when my opponent shows any weakness, especially mental weakness. But I just can't do it against this guy. It's extremely frustrating. Anybody have any advice on how to work through it and overcome this block?

 

[rrick33]

Your problem is not unusual. We execute much of our performance on a subconscious level based on years of programming and repetition. When you're confident in your abilities, your subconscious programming has no interference but when you allow your opponent to get into your head or the belief that your opponent has influence upon your game....then you have disrupted the natural flow of your internal programming.

I would suggest that for this particular player, you take your opponent out of the equation. Instead of playing the opponent....play the table. Focus strictly on what the table offers and make the most of the game. Remove this opponent from your thoughts altogether as if he's not even in the room. If you can get him off your mind, your programming and subsequently your performance will fall back in line with your expectations.

 

[ac11]

Your problem is not unusual. We execute much of our performance on a subconscious level based on years of programming and repetition. When you're confident in your abilities, your subconscious programming has no interference but when you allow your opponent to get into your head or the belief that your opponent has influence upon your game....then you have disrupted the natural flow of your internal programming.

I would suggest that for this particular player, you take your opponent out of the equation. Instead of playing the opponent....play the table. Focus strictly on what the table offers and make the most of the game. Remove this opponent from your thoughts altogether as if he's not even in the room. If you can get him off your mind, your programming and subsequently your performance will fall back in line with your expectations.

great advice...could have used that last night...

 

[Tramp Steamer]

You didn't say whether you liked, or disliked, this fellow, but I believe that playing someone that one strongly dislikes can have a negative impact upon ones game.
I don't know whether it's an all out desire to completely annihilate them at the table, fueled by this dislike, or maybe a simple matter of just trying too hard to defeat them.
Frustrating.

 

[backplaying]

If he's a better player, get enough weight from him to make it a even game and after you beat him once or twice you will get over this hump.

 

[DanielDeTinne]

I have had a similar problem. I got beat by the same player over and over. The last time I played him I had a break thru. I played him with a friends cue. As I focused on the differences in my friends cue and my own. I forgot about who I was playing. I killed him. Just had to make mental change. Played him later that same night with my own cue and was able to win again. Block gone.

 

[Baxter]

You didn't say whether you liked, or disliked, this fellow, but I believe that playing someone that one strongly dislikes can have a negative impact upon ones game.
I don't know whether it's an all out desire to completely annihilate them at the table, fueled by this dislike, or maybe a simple matter of just trying too hard to defeat them.
Frustrating.

He's actually one of my closest friends. Both us and our girlfriends all barbecue together and hang out outside of the pool hall.

I am as good a player as I am today because of playing him and getting my ass kicked over and over for the last 3 years. I think he's up on some kind of pedestal in my mind as a good player that I've learned a lot from and I subconsciously try to emulate. I need to get that out of my head and realize that he's just another player, one that isn't a lot better than me at this point, and someone that I can reasonably expect to beat when I'm playing well.

I realize all this, but it's all still easier said than done. I appreciate everybody's advice on the matter. Thank you.