Putting in the Dagger!

[Roll-Off]

I must lack killer instinct. There's been countless times where I've blown racks to concede to a better player. Why is this!!! Last night I was playing a good local player in a tournament and totally butchered two games. I play great the first 7 balls, but when it comes time to "put the dagger in", more often than not I'll screw it up. This is especially true when I play a player who I percieve is better than me. Anyone have any advice on how to get over this?

 

[Cane]

I must lack killer instinct. There's been countless times where I've blown racks to concede to a better player. Why is this!!! Last night I was playing a good local player in a tournament and totally butchered two games. I play great the first 7 balls, but when it comes time to "put the dagger in", more often than not I'll screw it up. This is especially true when I play a player who I percieve is better than me. Anyone have any advice on how to get over this?

Roll Off, it sounds more like mental attitude rather than an ability problem. If you can run 7, you can run 9. This used to happen to me a LOT and what I was doing was getting down to the last ball or two and I'd do something that really screwed my chances of winning... I'd start THINKING! Things would start creeping into my mind like "Damn, I'm not supposed to beat this guy, but all I have to do is not miss the 8 and not get too close to the nine." Your barin is a funny thing... all your subconcious mind is likely to hear out of that sentence is "not, not and not". It will THRIVE on those negatives. Your concious brain does everything it can to put doubt in your mind or to make you doubt a shot. If you doubt it, you'll probably miss it. There is no magic wand to wave to make these thoughts stay out of your mind. The way I did it was to focus on my preshot and shooting routine and shoot the balls just like they were the any other ball on the table. Once you start thinking of them as the "money ball" or the "winning ball", then those evil thoughts start getting in. They're just plastic spheres and they go in the hole just the same whether they're blue or white with a yellow stripe.

Later,
Bob

 

[vapoolplayer]

I must lack killer instinct. There's been countless times where I've blown racks to concede to a better player. Why is this!!! Last night I was playing a good local player in a tournament and totally butchered two games. I play great the first 7 balls, but when it comes time to "put the dagger in", more often than not I'll screw it up. This is especially true when I play a player who I percieve is better than me. Anyone have any advice on how to get over this?

Start gambling, and if you are already gambling, bet MORE. you'll do one of three things.........

1.Get better
2.Get broke
3.Quit pool

either way, your problem will be solved.

VAP

 

[Black-Balled]

Just do it. WTF are you comin in the pool hall for...to kick some ass.

 

[mapman72]

Mental Attitude

Don't get me wrong, I like VAP and Black Ball's ra ra ra, but I think that this is definitely a mental issue. You have to start viewing the people you're playing as people you will beat or people you can beat. There is no other category. Never think of these "better" shooters as people who will beat you. Once you notch a couple victories over these folks, then they start coming more and more frequently. In the DC area, there are some tough players that I play on the regular. I used to view them as "tough to beat" or "supposed to beat me". Once I changed my attitude and told myself that I'm going to win these tough matches, it started happening more often. And it's such a good feeling to beat one of the cocky champions and watch them try to save their ego by shouting throughout the pool hall, "I'll give you the 7 whenever you want it!" Then you just say, "That's ok, I have a tournament to finish " By the way Black Balled, "I'LL GIVE YOU THE 7!" Just kidding, but I should have got you last night

 

[Black-Balled]

...By the way Black Balled, "I'LL GIVE YOU THE 7!" Just kidding, but I should have got you last night

Blah blah blah...just hope I didn't use this weekend's victory over you last night...

Are you challenging me to a dew-ell?!

 

[mapman72]

I tell you one thing, you beating me isn't an upset, but I do expect some serious upsets this weekend with those buckets for pockets. Maybe guys like us could even win it

 

[ceebee]

..... sounds more like mental attitude, rather than an ability problem. Bob

Right on there Cane... since your mind is controlling your game, negativity is the wrong catalyst for winning.

I had that problem for years, I finally escaped the clutches of negative thinking & now I have it again. Funny thing, I can still play well in a "Ring Game", but do NOT match up "1 on 1" very well. Sometimes in the same evening, even after I have "won the cash in a ring game", I can't get around the table.

I haven't run 2 racks in months. Maybe the 8 months I spent writing & not practicing has taken it's severe toll. My glasses may need changing too. I am way too busy for "Coaching & Strict Practice".

I do know one thing... each new level of play, that a player attains, it is a mandatory requirement they adopt a new "mindset", in order to maintain that level. Practice & Competition are the keys to success.

Gambling is an added level of stress, that can mold you or break you. Never gamble on short money. Stay away from possible losses & negative thoughts, because of short money (i.e. "a have to win" scenari). Save your "throw away cash" for a good match. Develop your mind for WINNING.

Good Luck

 

[Billy_Bob]

Here are some crazy ideas - might just work...

Lose on purpose!

The idea is to always be in control of the table. Practice doing so. Start by intentionally missing the 9-ball. Then you are controlling what is happening to the 9-ball and practicing doing so. It will then be an easy step to switch to making the 9 - same thing!

-or-

Intentionally miss on the 1 ball, let opponent run table and miss on the 9-ball because he thinks you are the better player, then *YOU* shoot in the 9.

-or-

Practice safeties. Play a safety each time on the 9. If your opponent can't make the shot, then maybe they are not so good?

-or-

Practice just pocketing the 9. Pocket it again and again 100 times. Cut shots, straight shots, kick shots, bank shots. Then practice intentionally missing on the 9. Over and over. Then the next time you have a shot on the 9, you will think... I know this shot. I can either make it or miss it if I want to. I think I will make it this time.

Note: What do these guys say or do when you shoot in the 9 and win? Maybe someone does or says something nasty to you when you win, and you want to avoid that nastiness? I know some people will not play me anymore if I beat them several times. Or will play me once, then if I win, will walk away and refuse to play me anymore. So I have learned to not win when playing certain people. (If I want to keep playing that person.) Personally I would rather play and lose than not play at all if that is the case.

 

[ShootingArts]

Here are some crazy ideas - might just work...


Note: What do these guys say or do when you shoot in the 9 and win? Maybe someone does or says something nasty to you when you win, and you want to avoid that nastiness? I know some people will not play me anymore if I beat them several times. Or will play me once, then if I win, will walk away and refuse to play me anymore. So I have learned to not win when playing certain people. (If I want to keep playing that person.) Personally I would rather play and lose than not play at all if that is the case.

BB,

Sounds like you are winning with too much style! You have to make it look like you really worked hard at it or were lucky.

Hu

 

[davidhop]

I must lack killer instinct. There's been countless times where I've blown racks to concede to a better player. Why is this!!! Last night I was playing a good local player in a tournament and totally butchered two games. I play great the first 7 balls, but when it comes time to "put the dagger in", more often than not I'll screw it up. This is especially true when I play a player who I percieve is better than me. Anyone have any advice on how to get over this?

Believe it or not, I think that everyone goes through this same problem at a certain point. I think that you just have to learn to win. Keep at it until it happens, and once it does, it will get easier and easier to repeat. I used to go to a tournament every week, and I always placed in the money, but it took me at least a year to actually win one of them. The one thing that helped me the most was to go to different places and play some players that I did not really know that well. After I beat some of them and then realized that they were just as good as if not better than the players from the first room, it became much easier for me to beat any and all of these players. JMHO,FWIW

 

[Snapshot9]

The money ball phobia ...

One way is to NOT get in a hurry on the money ball.
It pays the same whether you make in 2 seconds or 20.

Stop, stand up. Go take a drink of water (calms you down).
Take 1 or 2 big breaths and let them out slowly.

Then when you feel settled, then shoot the money ball in.

 

[mapman72]

Scott,
I can tell by your posts that you're a good player and very knowledgeable about the game, but in this case I have to disagree with the specifics of your idea while agreeing with the general premise. I agree that you must be certain you pocket the 9 ball and I have always told younger players to concentrate twice as hard on pocketing the 9 than any other shot. This often means slowing down and I like that approach to an extent. I was watching a match at this year's SBE between Ryan McCreesh and Tony Robles and Ryan was on the hill with Tony one game back. Ryan's running out and comes up to the 9. It wasn't a hard shot by any means, but it wasn't a chippy either. Ryan takes a minute to walk over, get a drink of water, and towel off his cue. By the way his run was going, and the normal way that Ryan plays, I said to myself, "this is a mistake. He's going to dog this ball." Sure enough, dog city, and Robles comes back to win the match. In talking with McCreesh after the event, he seemed to agree that taking that long break before the 9 ball really hurt him because it broke his rhythm. I think that example is a common one for folks that play with a nice tempo and a steady rhythm. So, I believe that while you should concentrate more and slow down slightly on the 9 ball, taking too much time, or doing things that would tend to be out of your normal rhythm like getting a drink of water, may be more detrimental to the accuracy of your shot. But, if it works for you, cool. I just know I would get thrown out of rhythm.

 

[Black-Balled]

I was watching a match at this year's SBE between Ryan McCreesh and Tony Robles ...Sure enough, dog city...he seemed to agree that taking that long break before the 9 ball really hurt him because it broke his rhythm...

Are you 2 sure it wasn't that 27" long bridge he uses?!?!

 

[SPetty]

I'm not discounting the mental aspects, but is it possible that you're getting just a little bit more out of line with each shot? Each shot just gets a little more out of line, and after six or seven balls, you're a lot out of line, and the shots are harder.

 

[Roll-Off]

I'm not discounting the mental aspects, but is it possible that you're getting just a little bit more out of line with each shot? Each shot just gets a little more out of line, and after six or seven balls, you're a lot out of line, and the shots are harder.

It's usually not the shape that gets me into trouble, it's the thinking. As I started running the balls last night, I was thinking to myself "I've got it now". The very next shots were chunked. One miss and one very poor position for the nine which lead to a miss. As I sat down and watched my opponent beat me, I kept thinking "Why would you do that?". I must be afraid to win or something. Pathetic. If that was a weaker opponent, I would've been out, no question. Maybe I just need to take off my dress and play pool. (no offense to the ladies).

 

[Razor_Blade]

it's the thinking.

It sounds to me like you may have answered your own question. Try staying in the present. You will never play your best if you are preoccupied with the outcome.