Proud of myself.

Jaden

"no buds chill"
Silver Member
This weekend I played for the first time in months and competed for the first time in a long time.

While i didn't win the tourney, I did cash but that's not why I'm proud of myself.

I've had a problem that is two fold. I tend to pay at the level of my opponent and I tend to have a problem closing out.

I started out the tournament doing both of those things. Well actually I started out simply not being able to easily close out. I'd play perfect and then let my opponent get to the hill before I closed it out.

I won my first match this way then lost my second match by playing at my opponents level.

Then I got on the stream table and started playing, well not bad but not at the level I should. I got down 4 to 0 in alternating break ten ball race to 6.

Iow, not looking good for me. I stopped, focused, disciplined myself and played perfect to get to the hill first.

Did the same thing on day two, got down 4 to 1. Stopped focused and disciplined myself and won 6 to 4.

I ending up averaging 2 to 3bnrs in an alternating break race to 6 for the tournament.

Now I just need to discipline myself to do it from the start and not wait till I'm down 4 games to do it lol...

Especially true since I got knocked out by a player who I was spotting two games and he only had to go to 4. Lol

Jaden
 
I do the same at times. Instead of playing against the table (your TRUE opponent), I found myself playing my opponent's game instead of my own. When I start a match I now have it in my mind I'm going to play my own game... and it works.

Even if you have a shot, sometimes it's better to play the safe and go for that ball-in-hand. Even when the shot is easy, position for the next ball (or two) is sometimes questionable.

Play to YOUR strengths.... not your opponents.
 
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This weekend I played for the first time in months and competed for the first time in a long time.

While i didn't win the tourney, I did cash but that's not why I'm proud of myself.

I've had a problem that is two fold. I tend to pay at the level of my opponent and I tend to have a problem closing out.

I started out the tournament doing both of those things. Well actually I started out simply not being able to easily close out. I'd play perfect and then let my opponent get to the hill before I closed it out.

I won my first match this way then lost my second match by playing at my opponents level.

Then I got on the stream table and started playing, well not bad but not at the level I should. I got down 4 to 0 in alternating break ten ball race to 6.

Iow, not looking good for me. I stopped, focused, disciplined myself and played perfect to get to the hill first.

Did the same thing on day two, got down 4 to 1. Stopped focused and disciplined myself and won 6 to 4.

I ending up averaging 2 to 3bnrs in an alternating break race to 6 for the tournament.

Now I just need to discipline myself to do it from the start and not wait till I'm down 4 games to do it lol...

Especially true since I got knocked out by a player who I was spotting two games and he only had to go to 4. Lol

Jaden
Was this at the Bullshooters 625 and under event? I caught some of the stream, looked like a fun tourney!
 
This weekend I played for the first time in months and competed for the first time in a long time.

While i didn't win the tourney, I did cash but that's not why I'm proud of myself.

I've had a problem that is two fold. I tend to pay at the level of my opponent and I tend to have a problem closing out.

I started out the tournament doing both of those things. Well actually I started out simply not being able to easily close out. I'd play perfect and then let my opponent get to the hill before I closed it out.

I won my first match this way then lost my second match by playing at my opponents level.

Then I got on the stream table and started playing, well not bad but not at the level I should. I got down 4 to 0 in alternating break ten ball race to 6.

Iow, not looking good for me. I stopped, focused, disciplined myself and played perfect to get to the hill first.

Did the same thing on day two, got down 4 to 1. Stopped focused and disciplined myself and won 6 to 4.

I ending up averaging 2 to 3bnrs in an alternating break race to 6 for the tournament.

Now I just need to discipline myself to do it from the start and not wait till I'm down 4 games to do it lol...

Especially true since I got knocked out by a player who I was spotting two games and he only had to go to 4. Lol

Jaden
I like that you are honest with yourself. It takes a strong person to be so critical of ones game. I appreciate your strength, Thanks for makin a solid post on Monday morning. I always can use some positive reading at the start of the business week!
Keep fighting the good fight! Thanks again and Congrats on getting in the CA$$$$$H!!

TFT
 
You display an admirable level of introspection, and you're wise to be thinking about this now.

The best time to get your attitude, mental game and competitive mindset in proper order is between tournaments, not during them. During tournaments, you only have time to remind yourself. Even world champions can tell you about the time(s) they played down to the level of an opponent and it cost them a match, but they learned from it. It seems that you are doing the same.

Stay the course!
 
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