So now I'm an "underachiever"!

[Billy_Bob]

To my surprise, someone called me an "underachiever" last night. This takes the cake.

I just can't win! (By not winning as often as I could that is...)

I frequently play in small local money tournaments. Sometimes I could get in the money, possibly win 1st or 2nd, but choose not to.

Why would I *not* win or get into the money when I could?

-Because sometimes I need to get up early the next morning and playing until after midnight plus an hour drive home will not cut it. But I want to go and play a few games anyway.

-Or because I won 1st/2nd/3rd place the week before. There is sort of an unwritten rule in my area that if you win one week, you let others win the next week. And I agree with this. Spread the cheer! Keeps them coming back to the tournaments. (As opposed to the same people winning the tournament every week.)

-Or maybe I had a highly stressful "battle to the death" tournament the night before. In this case, I just want to go out and have fun, relax, not care if I win or lose, shoot low percentage silly shots, don't take any time lining up shots, etc. Doing this sort of "re-energizes" me or builds my batteries back up.

-Or practice some specific shot in a tournament situation. I could care less about winning in the short term. I will work for months on some specific shot I am having difficulty with or learning. So I will see an opportunity for such a shot and will always take these over other easier shots. And I know doing this will probably cost me the match because I'm not good at that shot. (Of course doing this makes it a whole lot easier to win when I want to and is best in the long run. So this will help me to win matches in the future. The tournaments I win these days are because of the time I took in the past [and many lost matches] where I have practiced various shots. I know what works and what does not work. )

-And then there is the player who is trying so hard, but never wins anything. So sometimes I'll not play my best game or give them a few extra shots, if they win, I'm happy for them.

Anyway if this is being an "underachiever", then so be it...

 

[vapoolplayer]

-And then there is the player who is trying so hard, but never wins anything. So sometimes I'll not play my best game or give them a few extra shots, if they win, I'm happy for them.

Anyway if this is being an "underachiever", then so be it...

get a killer instinct man...........crush'em........its the best way for them to learn.........LOL

VAP

 

[chefjeff]

Based on what I've read of your efforts, whoever called you an "underacheiver" is blind to what you're doing.

You explained exactly why you do certain things that could be seen as underacheiving, but are not. You take a really big picture look at this game and that requires more acheivement than most "good" players ever give it.

Your leaps and bounds are an inspiration to anyone here who is paying attention. As for killer instinct, there's no such thing, so don't worry about that. As for a killer attitude, you've already got that. You're killing the unhappiness in your game and that overcomes anybody's misplaced opinion of it.

Jeff Livingston

 

[drivermaker]

Have you ever been pysched up for a weenend tournament, you go there, and before it starts you ask yourself what the hell are you doing here? Don't want to be here. Etc.

Happened to me this weekend. Must be getting too old or something.

Or, after seeing everyone warming up you just knew that you were going to get your ass smoked in record time......

 

[Billy_Bob]

Thanks Jeff for the kind words.

As for...
"Have you ever been pysched up for a weenend tournament, you go there, and before it starts you ask yourself what the hell are you doing here?"

Sometimes I have obligations elsewhere, don't get enough sleep, etc. Then try to take care of my obligations *and* play a tournament. (Burning the candle at both ends.) Does not work, I'm too tired or my mind is elsewhere. Then I hope I will lose so I can go home and get some sleep or whatever. Should not have showed up to the tournament in the first place. Of course then I can't lose to save my soul...

 

[Billy_Bob]

Or, after seeing everyone warming up you just knew that you were going to get your ass smoked in record time....

Oh I like those "best players" tournaments the best. I'm like this little "ant" showing up (just two years serious playing) and everyone else there is a big time "just below pro level" - "15 years or more playing" player. I am the worst player there. I say to myself "What am I doing here?"

So they "squish" this little ant with a quickness! Many times I'm two and out. But once I surprised myself and took 4th - just out of the money. The next week they really worked me over to get me out the door. Two and out again!

But I learn the most at these tournaments and look forward to them the most.

 

[drivermaker]

So they "squish" this little ant with a quickness! Many times I'm two and out. The next week they really worked me over to get me out the door. Two and out again!

But I learn the most at these tournaments and look forward to them the most.

Yeh, one never knows when a major fire could break out in the room and you'll know immediately where the quickest and safest exit door is.