Curious to what you mean by pick your spots only because he is stating that he is playing better players. Are you saying he should work on his negotiating skills?
Playing up against better players-advice please
- Thread starter TeddyKGB
- Start date
Just curious if you’re playing way over your head or just players a little above your skill level.
A couple of suggestions:
(1) Keep getting your "ass kicked" against the superior players, remember your unforced errors and your opponent's safety/quality play. Then practice them.
(2) Treat all shots the same -- hard or easy, in practice or in competition. Same pre-shot routine, tempo, etc. I find this takes the edge off the hard shots in competition and when I do make unforced errors, I try to figure out what I did wrong before I sit back down in my chair (raised my head, stroked off center, hit a safety too hard, ...) versus getting mad or beating myself up. File that info away for the next practice session, vow to not repeat that same mistake again during the competition you're currently in and go back to step #1 above.
You absolutely need to come into any match thinking you can win. Even if you know you very likely won't. Starting a game saying "well, I lost already" is worse than starting it "I am going to run 7 racks on Strickland and he won't shoot once". I know one person that is so negative they can be used in an atom as a electron. At the start of the match if it's a worse player they always say "they are still better than me just not ranked properly" and expect to loose, if it's a better player, they automatically assume they can't win. Every time they leave the table they say "well that game is over" even if playing not a good player that everyone knows can't run out. No-one can expect to play good doing that. Those are the players that stay a C player for 30 years.
WobblyStroke
Well-known member
A realistic expectation is to lose. No use getting upset over the reality of the situation. You aren't playing these guys to compete yet, you are playing them to see what you can pick up from watching them operate.
One of the benefits of playing a better player is that they will punish your mistakes and seer them into your mind. They expose what you need to work on at the practice table. Giving away games? Go ahead and be pissed off with yourself and use that fire to focus you in your practice sessions.
Different people prefer different ratios of play to practice and a lot can go into deciding what fits you just right but if you are questioning playing as a dog vs just practicing, you are probably playing too much and not practicing enough for ur current goals.
SL5/6 is a solid level of play and one some people are content to stay at for the rest of their playing lives. These guys will def play a lot more than practice. For guys aspiring to be better players who see SL6 as a pitstop on their way up, there will be more of a priority on practice and plugging up the holes in their games that get exposed when playing against better players.
softer action.
George the Greek
Well-known member
I would just keep playing the league/tournament play like your doing and trying your best. More importantly is using practice time to work on what your struggling the most with and get better at it. There are plateus for every level you get to and once you recognize a level push harder to get to the next one. You should be able to pick up on what the better players are doing better than you and work on that.
In your original post you stated your opponents were "much better than me" and "much more experienced".
In this post you are saying "just over my skill level".
Your winning 1 out of 3. Not bad
If you were winning 2 out 3 this wouldn't be an issue.
In his original post he didn't state that he was gambling and then said he was playing league/tournaments in post 22 so he can't pick his spots.
Now if he was gambling there's nothing wrong with taking a shot at a better players knowing you're taking the worst of it. You're old school and I'm sure you've seen plenty of that.
After all doesn't everyone say you need to play better players to get better?
As for how it relates to getting better the goal needs to be within grasp otherwise it seems futile which doesn't really make sense because the OP stated that his batting average against better players is .333 which isn't all too shabby.
TeddyKGB
Active member
Thats why its a bit frustrating..I know im right there, improving, and not far off from being competitive with them..
Honestly, I usually lose due to lack of cue ball control resulting in a bad leave and not being very good at safety play when theres say 4 or less balls left on the table
Honestly, I usually lose due to lack of cue ball control resulting in a bad leave and not being very good at safety play when theres say 4 or less balls left on the table
Against much better opponents, I take the mindset of accepting that I'm an underdog and looking for a way to win. That means taking care to give them nothing when they come to the table, and trying to take my chances when I can get out. (Obviously we should be doing these things anyway, but the 'looking for a way to win' situation seems to give me more focus on them.) It works for me (in terms of playing well, not always winning - although I seem to win more than I 'should'), whether it works for you too might depend on your temperament.
Another thought: Instead of thinking of success as beating the guy and failure as losing, it's worth recognizing that success can mean playing well and giving the guy a hard time. In your situation, this is just objectively true, I think.
I once played an exhibition game against the UK's #1 ranked player, and though I lost, I played great. One shot in particular I was very proud of. I consider that experience overall a big success (albeit tinged with regret for blowing a chance to win).
Another thought: Instead of thinking of success as beating the guy and failure as losing, it's worth recognizing that success can mean playing well and giving the guy a hard time. In your situation, this is just objectively true, I think.
I once played an exhibition game against the UK's #1 ranked player, and though I lost, I played great. One shot in particular I was very proud of. I consider that experience overall a big success (albeit tinged with regret for blowing a chance to win).
You can be mad at yourself for making a mistake... you are not allowed to be mad at your opponent for not.
That would be a quick way to get on my "do not play" list. Ask me for weight, and then ask for more if I agree?
Playing against a better player, all the pressure is on them, particularly if you are able to keep the match close. Try not to sell out and opt to play safeties when you have a low percentage shot, forcing the better player to earn the win by making tough shots.