Play or be a rail bird ?

[macguy]

The pressure is always there, but it's not always the same. If you're an average player, then you are going to feel less pressure against another average player then you would against someone much better than you.

The only way to learn to deal with that pressure is to play against better players.

I hate to make this a debate but I want to give what is a perspective. An argument can be made that there is less pressure playing a top player because the expectations are not as high. You just do the best you can. I have played in tournaments back to the days of the US Opens straight pool tournaments and playing a Miz or an Irving Crane was a thrill.

I was not only not pressured I felt a high playing players like that I literally had nothing to lose. Any good showing was a win regardless of the score. The biggest pressure was the crowd. Everyone has an ego and no one wants to feel like a dog. I do agree with you I think "ALL" players should compete and there is much to be gained.

I was just making the point that playing in tournaments well beyond ones skill level may be less then a learning experience and can be a bit demoralizing. It is up the person but there is no shame in not wanting to be a Piniata for some champion who will dismissively treat you like a piece of dirt. I have seen it happen. Some of those guys are real pr^^ks.

 

[DaveM]

Life begins just outside your comfort zone.

I like that one a lot!

 

[trustyrusty]

My take is playing in any tournament or competition is good. There is a huge difference in playing for fun or practicing than being in a formal competition. That said, I'm not entering something that I'm going 2 and out. That, in my view, is not really helping my game. If I have a 40/60 or 30/70 chance, I'm game, if I have a 5/95 chance, I'm not interested. In the latter, (5/95) I'm dead money and have no chance at all.

I don't have the ego need to let the world know I play Shane, Cory, or the like and got smoked 10-0. Big deal so I played them, so what. This kind of thing impresses me not. Someone wants to "donate" be my guest, I choose not to do so.

I have ZERO chance of winning the DCC 1P....ZERO, the field is way too strong. That said, playing in it versus the typical local tourney is a huge difference. Has nothing to do with EGO at all. Playing someone like Corey instead of lil Tommy from across town makes you focus more. The better the competition you play, the better you HAVE to play. Everyone makes mistakes, but they are magnified 100 times against top players, and IMO, that kind of penalty forces you to make less mistakes. How is that not good for your game?

I understand the other side of the coin, but HATE when players ask, "is so and so going to be there?"; and won't play in a tourney unless they are a lock to at least cash....if everyone had that attitude you'd never field a 32 player field or bigger.....:sorry:

 

[BeiberLvr]

I have ZERO chance of winning the DCC 1P....ZERO, the field is way too strong. That said, playing in it versus the typical local tourney is a huge difference. Has nothing to do with EGO at all. Playing someone like Corey instead of lil Tommy from across town makes you focus more. The better the competition you play, the better you HAVE to play. Everyone makes mistakes, but they are magnified 100 times against top players, and IMO, that kind of penalty forces you to make less mistakes. How is that not good for your game?

I understand the other side of the coin, but HATE when players ask, "is so and so going to be there?"; and won't play in a tourney unless they are a lock to at least cash....if everyone had that attitude you'd never field a 32 player field or bigger.....:sorry:

That's one of the biggest problems with pool players today. Never willing to step up against better players for fear of being embarrassed.

The thing those players need to remember is that almost every single professional pool player started at the bottom of the totem pole, and worked their way to the top by playing better players. Donating money along the way.

Half this forum hangs on every word of any pro that posts here, and I guarantee you they'll all agree that they didn't get to where they are/were by playing guys like me.