Playing a women/lower level player

[DelaWho???]

1. Women: You either feel they are inferior, or are bending over the pool table for your gratification. They aren't. If you want to look wait until after the match. If she is flirting or using her sexuality to shark you, focus on the green and look at her when you have won the match.
2. Lesser Players: You either feel sorry for them or allow them to drag you down to their level. They might be dogging every shot, but trying to make it. Your brain says they aren't any threat so you slack off and start dogging them too. That's when the lesser player will get you. You have stopped trying to play your best pool, while they (though playing poorly) are trying their hardest. sooner or later they will catch whatever gear they have and put a beating on you.

Stop feeling sorry for your opponent and take care of business on the table. Don't worry about who your opponent is or whether you think you are the more/less skilled player. Bring your best effort and you will get the best result. IE Play the table...

B

 

[IYAH]

hey Cory do they play out of Hollywoods I went there last yr. great place and I saw a couple of fine looking women players there . there was this 1 girl small tiny Asian girl that was definatly a shooter maybe ya know her? If ya do I don't mind handing her a few bux while we play LOL

 

[lodini]

This thread is making me wonder... As a female, would I rather really be good enough at pool to beat any guy in the room? Or would I prefer to be so blindingly hot that no guy can beat me due to lack of concentration?

I honestly have no idea which I would prefer... both options sound good to me!! :grin-square: :grin: :wink:

 

[Siz]

playing down to your opponent's level

Iyah,

I know the problem - when you are playing someone who you know you can beat easily (male or female) it can be very difficult to concentrate. And when you lose concentration in those circumstances, it can be impossible to get it back.

Your thinking part of your brain is saying "for heaven's sake concentrate - you can't loose to this guy!". But the part of your brain that matters, the part that coordinates your movements, just ain't interested.

This reminds me vividly of handicap snooker competition that I was playing in about 20 years ago. I was doing ok but got to a round where I had drawn the resident aggressive alcoholic boxer (male as i happens). I decided that rather than humiliate him, and risk being beaten to a pulp, I would let him win a frame or two. Baaaaad move. Having let my concentration go, when I tried to switch it back on nothing happened - couldn't pocket a ball.

I then realised the truth behind the expression "when you hustle, the balls never forgive you"

Anyway (and I know I am rambling, but I have been waiting for months for my az account to be activated!) as I see it the point is this: When you are playing a lesser opponent, you need to set yourself some goal other than simply beating him (or her). For example, you could try to make sure that you beat them as heavily as possible. If that is not in your nature (and it doesn't work for me) try something else - try to win without running more than 3 balls. Try to win without using english - or rails. It doesn't really matter as long as you can come up with a goal that makes sense for you and that you can concentrate on.

Or you could just ask her out for a date.

Siz

 

[soulcatcher]

This thread is making me wonder... As a female, would I rather really be good enough at pool to beat any guy in the room? Or would I prefer to be so blindingly hot that no guy can beat me due to lack of concentration?

I honestly have no idea which I would prefer... both options sound good to me!! :grin-square: :grin: :wink:

What about both? Good looking and a great shooter. Every guy in the bar would be thinking of you for a week, minimum.

 

[lodini]

What about both? Good looking and a great shooter. Every guy in the bar would be thinking of you for a week, minimum.

Well, yeah... that's true... but I was trying not to be greedy! :grin:

 

[pooltchr]

whe I am playing a... player who I should beat handidly. my concentration is not where it should be and I find myself either getting beat or just squeaking by.

I think that phrase alone indicates the core of your problem. Your ego is getting in the way of doing what you are supposed to be doing. Anytime you go into a match assuming You know what happens when you ass-u-me something you are supposed to beat someone, you can be pretty sure it won't be that easy. If you want to assume something, assume that everyone you play is capable of running out if they get the chance....then don't give them the chance!
Steve

 

[tpdtom]

I'm going to make a few admissions here. First of all I know women that can beat me on any given day. In most cases, I have to play sub-standard and they have to bring their "A" game, but not all. I normally know all the women in the state that play at that level. That being said, anyone can win in Bar Box league. The sets are so short and Eight Ball being what it is any dog can have their day, men or women.

I know what the poster feels. A man often feels like he will be humiliated if he loses to a woman. If you allow it to, it'll throw you off just enough to tip the scales. Like take you from a "B" player to a C or from a 5 or 6 to a 4. To further complicate things, many women use their looks and sexuality as a weapon and men have to be aware of it and overcome that. When I know a woman is trying to do that I am motivated to destroy her, just like if I know a guy is subtly trying to shark me.

I know a middle aged woman who plays a lot of bar leagues. She dresses sexily and hugs and flirts with every guy there, especially her opponents. She openly asks them to "take it easy on me". Then, given the chance, she'll play the toughest lock-em right up in jail safeties and brutalize them. I just laugh and expect the guys to know what's going on. This tactic works for her in many cases and the guys that are defeated by it deserve what they get. I liken it to a woman in a bar who jumps into a fight and expects nobody to punch her, and usually men don't. Such a woman does deserve to get hurt IMHO.

Play your best game against each and every opponent. Show no quarter. You can't ever afford to let up. Don't ever apologise. Be a gentleman but be a tough competitor always...Tom

 

[Pushout]

To further complicate things, many women use their looks and sexuality as a weapon and men have to be aware of it and overcome that. When I know a woman is trying to do that I am motivated to destroy her, just like if I know a guy is subtly trying to shark me.

Play your best game against each and every opponent. Show no quarter. You can't ever afford to let up. Don't ever apologise. Be a gentleman but be a tough competitor always...Tom

I wasn't going to respond to this thread 'til I saw this one. Been there and done that. Several years ago, when I was still playing in tournaments every week, I drew a very attractive young lady in the later rounds. I had watched her play earlier, and most of her opponents let her win, based on her looks and her flirting with them. She tried it with me and it didn't work. While she was racking, she whispered to me that she wanted to win one more game. My reply was that then she should have been playing somebody else. I never lay down for anybody. She didn't win a game and didn't speak to me for over two years. So be it.

 

[lodini]

I wasn't going to respond to this thread 'til I saw this one. Been there and done that. Several years ago, when I was still playing in tournaments every week, I drew a very attractive young lady in the later rounds. I had watched her play earlier, and most of her opponents let her win, based on her looks and her flirting with them. She tried it with me and it didn't work. While she was racking, she whispered to me that she wanted to win one more game. My reply was that then she should have been playing somebody else. I never lay down for anybody. She didn't win a game and didn't speak to me for over two years. So be it.

I'd like to meet that girl and smack her... that's how lady pool players get a bad rep. Good for you being immune to her feminine wiles. What kind of a person asks someone to let them win? Ugh...

 

[Johnnyt]

First let me say that I've played many women over the years including over 20 pros. Only one I would never play again. She will remain nameless as she is still is on the tour and doing well.

Women can shark with the best of us. One night my wife joined me at the poolhall. I can count on one hand the times she has been in a poolroom. Anyhow this reginal player asked me to play some 9-ball giving her the 7 and the 8 wild. I said alright. Just before I broke she says to me loud enough for my wife to hear, we playing the same as usual? Race to 9 for $50. You lose you give me $50, I lose I give you a BJ?

Between the dirty looks I was getting from my wife and the thought of trying to explain when we left that I never played this woman for that type of bet and she was using my wife to shark me, I lost two sets and left. Johnnyt

 

[akaTrigger]

Good Day to you all I am 1st time AZ poster and have enjoyed reading the other AZ coments over the last few months
My question is this ..I am an above avg. league player on most nights. I run into problems whe I am playing a woman ( attractive) or a lower level player who I should beat handidly. my concentration is not where it should be and I find myself either getting beat or just squeaking by. put up against someone of higher skill or about par with mine and i'm fine. All comments welcome.Now get me over this mental hump

First, welcome to the forums!!

Second, you are going through what we have all been through. It takes time to get over this interesting stumbling block, and then you will eventually be playing the table, not your opponent. Although this will still occasionally surface, for the most part, you will be able to focus on your game after many, many tournaments and many, many league nights. Experience and seasoning. Good luck!

 

[hejests]

First, welcome to the forums!!

Second, you are going through what we have all been through. It takes time to get over this interesting stumbling block, and then you will eventually be playing the table, not your opponent. Although this will still occasionally surface, for the most part, you will be able to focus on your game after many, many tournaments and many, many league nights. Experience and seasoning. Good luck!

about the playing women part...
The first reasonably sized tournament I ever played in about 16 yrs ago... I thought I was pretty good (it was all in my head, i was just a banger). I drew a girl about my age in the first round. She knocked me out 7-0, a massacre. Lesson learnt, I make no distinction whatsoever between male and female players. Anyone has equal opportunity to massacre me on the table

About the playing down part...
I'm not a very good ahead player. I play a lot stronger from behind. I'm a bit of slow starter and I guess I need to feel the threat in order to really get into gear. When I'm playing weaker players, if the spot doesn't normalize things, I get ahead too quickly and never really catch my gear. For good or for bad, what I end up doing is playing a lot looser and going for lower percentage plays just to keep it interesting for me, get the adrenaline going and hopefully get into gear. It works for me sometimes but not always. I'd rather just give a bigger spot...

 

[Bigdogbret]

I used to have that problem until my instructor told me I owe them my best game so when they do win they can feel good about it instead of knowing I didn't take them seriously or let up on them.

 

[JoeyA]

:nono:

This thread is making me wonder... As a female, would I rather really be good enough at pool to beat any guy in the room? Or would I prefer to be so blindingly hot that no guy can beat me due to lack of concentration?

I honestly have no idea which I would prefer... both options sound good to me!! :grin-square: :grin: :wink:

Let's see......
As a male, would I rather be really good enough at pool to beat any girl in the room? Or would I prefer to be so blindingly hot that no girl can beat me due to lack of concentration?:


OK, I've thought about it and I'm sure of it. I would rather be good enough to beat any girl in the pool room.

I haven't seen many girls coming to the pool hall to pick up guys. Now if it's the bars then my answer might be a little different. In the bars, everybody gets hit on as the night stretches out.

JoeyA

 

[lodini]

:nono:

Let's see......
As a male, would I rather be really good enough at pool to beat any girl in the room? Or would I prefer to be so blindingly hot that no girl can beat me due to lack of concentration?:


OK, I've thought about it and I'm sure of it. I would rather be good enough to beat any girl in the pool room.

I haven't seen many girls coming to the pool hall to pick up guys. Now if it's the bars then my answer might be a little different. In the bars, everybody gets hit on as the night stretches out.

JoeyA

I, on the other hand, have made my decision on the other side of the fence. I officially wish to be so blindingly hot that no man can concentrate on pool long enough to beat me (I don't care if that means I can't run two balls) LOL

 

[chicagomike]

Welcome IYAH! Try focusing on the shot at hand using that as the challenge instead of who your opponent may be at the time...I know what you're saying about not playing your best when u feel you maybe able to slip by at half throttle, but that's not how a champion thinks.

 

[JoeyA]

I, on the other hand, have made my decision on the other side of the fence. I officially wish to be so blindingly hot that no man can concentrate on pool long enough to beat me (I don't care if that means I can't run two balls) LOL

That shows us right where you stand. :smile: All along we thought you were a pool player.....I'll send you some REP for your honesty.

JoeyA

 

[lodini]

That shows us right where you stand. :smile: All along we thought you were a pool player.....I'll send you some REP for your honesty.

JoeyA

It's just a pipedream! I'm still a pool player

 

[IYAH]

Thank you all for your replys and I will take notice to them when I play my oppents