performing under pressure

[Gmanpoke]

When do you feel the most pressure:

1) when you are the favorite and suppose to win

2) when you are playing a top level player and you are a long shot to snap it off

When I'm playing James Walden and he is kicking my teeth in, I really don't feel that much pressure. Its not that I've given up and not trying because I think I've played some of my best pool when playing James.

This weekend I was playing a young guy one pocket and he really could not defend himself. We played a race to 3 and he only made 2 balls in 3 games. But my heart was racing and I could feel the adrenalin. Wow what a great feeling.

Maybe what this is saying is I'm more motivated by ego than money, which I think is true.

Maybe I need to give up the nuts to this young man and try to chase it down. How about 13 to 2 and his fouls don't count. No that would be stupid.

Steven

 

[Mr Slate]

I'd say definitely when I'm favored to win.
I was in a league match a couple weeks ago and at least 3 people came up to me right before the match and said to kick my opponent's a$$ because they felt he was to cocky of a player. Now I was thinking to myself that I have to win or else I'll be the goat. I beat him but he was a fair shot and he had his chances. I just put together runs better than he could and kept him in his chair most of the time. I still didn't like the feeling of being expected to win but I guess that's the way it is sometimes.

 

[mm4pool]

i would have to say that i feel more pressure when playing a lower skilled player who i am "supposed" to beat. i am totally at ease playing higher ranked players and have beaten a few.

Mike

 

[12310bch]

Braggin' rights are a pretty powerful motivator.

 

[ShootingArts]

playing equals

On a pool table the most pressure is with a near equal. No real pressure to beat somebody well below me, if I use my head playing no spot is likely to be big enough. No real pressure to beat someone that is a much better player in a tournament either. I'll lay my best game down but if I lose it doesn't surprise anyone including myself. I have always liked competing with the best competition I can find because from an ego standpoint there is no way to lose. If I lose, no big deal. If I win I have surprised most people.

Hu

When do you feel the most pressure:

1) when you are the favorite and suppose to win

2) when you are playing a top level player and you are a long shot to snap it off

When I'm playing James Walden and he is kicking my teeth in, I really don't feel that much pressure. Its not that I've given up and not trying because I think I've played some of my best pool when playing James.

This weekend I was playing a young guy one pocket and he really could not defend himself. We played a race to 3 and he only made 2 balls in 3 games. But my heart was racing and I could feel the adrenalin. Wow what a great feeling.

Maybe what this is saying is I'm more motivated by ego than money, which I think is true.

Maybe I need to give up the nuts to this young man and try to chase it down. How about 13 to 2 and his fouls don't count. No that would be stupid.

Steven

 

[Junkyarddog]

When do you feel the most pressure:

1) when you are the favorite and suppose to win

2) when you are playing a top level player and you are a long shot to snap it off

When I'm playing James Walden and he is kicking my teeth in, I really don't feel that much pressure. Its not that I've given up and not trying because I think I've played some of my best pool when playing James.

This weekend I was playing a young guy one pocket and he really could not defend himself. We played a race to 3 and he only made 2 balls in 3 games. But my heart was racing and I could feel the adrenalin. Wow what a great feeling.

Maybe what this is saying is I'm more motivated by ego than money, which I think is true.

Maybe I need to give up the nuts to this young man and try to chase it down. How about 13 to 2 and his fouls don't count. No that would be stupid.

Steven

All pressure does is turn coal into diamonds...for some people. I usually feel it when I am supposed to win a match. If I am playing a match I am not favored in all that can happen is a surprise in my favor or the expected so I usually relax.