playing seriously vs. playing for money

[Thecoats]

You're thinking about the money, and not the pool. Stick to tournaments and leave the money games alone. It's not for you. You want to be a money player, then you must have a gambler's mentality. And you don't. It did sting, didn't it? More than you would like to admit.

Maybe some day when you have more money, and it doesn't matter anymore, you will be able to overcome this. For right now, if you want to gamble, play CHEAP! At some level, the money is insignificant to you. That is how much you should be playing for now.

I agree with Jay, it also really helps to have no respect for money, do not confuse this with not caring if you win or lose. I hate like hell to lose to anyone but that is more important to me than what the stakes were for. I have played my heart out against stronger opponents and lost several thousnd dollars and it bothered me much less than losing 100.00 to someone I should easily beat.

Some people cannot quit focusing on what they could have done with that money, since I started playing golf for money as a teenager I never thought about what I could have done with money I lost, I always looked it as I had a shot to double my money if I played good enough to win.

But remember as many here have already said, never gamble money you cannot afford to lose or are not comfortable losing. Nothing wrong with being a really good tournament player, I wish I could play tournaments better but I have found that I am just a long session grinder. Always enjoy pool for the game it is, good luck.

-don

 

[pletho]

Renewing the Mind

The mind is much like a computer. Garbage in garbage out. It is just as easy to think positively as it is negatively. The only problem is that we are surrounded by waves of negatives.

In order to change your thinking patterns it requires learning to discipline the mind, one way that I have found that works for me when I remember to do it, is to replace every negative thought with 3 positive thoughts,

for example "you are on a crucial shot a key ball or the money ball and your mind says to you what if I miss, or something along those lines,

you automatically have to recognize these thoughts and isolate them then barrage them with thoughts that counteract or are just the opposite of these thoughts, I can make this ball, I will make this ball, I am going to make this ball".

You have to understand this principle "the introduction of light dispells all darkness" think of the negative thoughts as darkness and the positives as light.

The more light you put on the more the darkness has to go.

If you were in a pitch black room and lit a small match it would dispell a certain amount of darkness in that room, well think of your mind as a room and introduce more light "positive thoughts that fit the situation and negative at hand" and this is essentially how you conquer this.

It is an art to learn to master the mind and it takes vigilence and effort and dicipline to keep your mind stayed on positives but it is available to do.

One thing to remember is that while you are renewing your mind in a game or shot situation is that you cannot think of two things at once, you are always thinking positively or negatively, you are the determining factor as to what you think about, stay vigilent and on top of your thoughts by having a memorized practiced routine of positve thought patterns during your shot processes.

This may sound like a bunch of bull to some but Words are powerful, all of the greatest accomplishments in life started in the mind of someone, who had an idea, a thought and they believed and acted according to those thoughts, and as you all know thoughts consist of a long group of words.

Enough for now, if I have confused anyone I apologize.

I can definetly relate,and I think it's safe to say that all others also can relate to your summarization on what winners,and losers are thinking about when in action. In regard to the the way losers think,your unravelment suggestions are wonderfull,but if you or anyone else are willing to share their methods,and techniques to doublecross negative thoughts ,I think that would definetly be worthy of anyones time.I'm all ears. And by the way ,everone dogs it,every one,including Grady Mathews

 

[wayne]

"Remember This...
No matter what the level of negativity, no matter how bad the situation looks, even if your down 10-0 in a race to 11, and your opponent's got the 9 ball hanging in the corner pocket, and no matter how much negative bull crap your mind throws at you while your sitting in that chair, that next thought can be a positive one - if you want it to be!" Blackjack


Yup, I would be POSITIVE I was going to lose 11-0!!!!

 

[crawfish]

Think of what ever you are betting as an investment. For example, say you're playing a five ahead for a hundred. That should be money you can afford to spend to better yourself, and your game, and your ability to be pressured. If you win, however, that much better. After continually playing for the cash, it becomes easier, and a part of you. IT DOES GET EASIER. Continue to play for what you can afford until it's second nature. If you find it's not getting easier after six months or so, don't continue to punish yourself. Stick to tourneys. Nothing wrong with that. You almost have to have a F you attitude to play for the big cash ($300 up). I've lost thousands at two and five a game until it started coming back to me. However...... just the other day, almost all of the money came back in one day. Get my drift?