The killer instinct

Straightpool_99

Straightpool_99

I see dead balls
Silver Member
How do you keep it?

I play decent when playing by myself and not too bad in tournaments either, but I have a problem: I tend to let up when I'm ahead. I think I sometimes subconsciously feel sorry for my opponent or something. It's very frustrating, especially when playing tournament rotation games, where the match can turn around very quickly. Short races are a nightmare for me.

In larger tournaments you usually have to plough through a lot of mediocre players to get to the money and it's very tough to not let the focus slide a bit. The tournaments here have a lot of mediocre players and some super strong ones that you usually meet in the end, some of which are at near pro speed. At that time you will have played a long string of mediocre players and it's easy to get caught in a relaxed mindset, when you finally meet the killers in the end. I've recently gone back to playing tournaments and while I have played ok overall, I think I need to work on my mental game, if I'm to become a more consistent winner against the toughest opponents.

What do you guys do to stay strong, mentally?
 
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Straightpool_99 said:
How do you keep it?

I play decent when playing by myself and not too bad in tournaments either, but I have a problem: I tend to let up when I'm ahead. I think I sometimes subconsciously feel sorry for my opponent or something. It's very frustrating, especially when playing tournament rotation games, where the match can turn around very quickly. Short races are a nightmare for me.

In larger tournaments you usually have to plough through a lot of mediocre players to get to the money and it's very tough to not let the focus slide a bit. The tournaments here have a lot of mediocre players and some super strong ones that you usually meet in the end, some of which are at near pro speed. At that time you will have played a long string of mediocre players and it's easy to get caught in a relaxed mindset, when you finally meet the killers in the end. I've recently gone back to playing tournaments and while I have played ok overall, I think I need to work on my mental game, if I'm to become a more consistent winner against the toughest opponents.

What do you guys do to stay strong, mentally?
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I have always had the same problem.....that along with playing down to my opponents level.

Here lately what has helped me is getting down in a match and then coming from behind to win. It seems to help.me maintain my focus playing catchup..thing js you cant get too far behind cause anything can happen.
 
First, everyone does this to a degree, you don't eliminate it, you just manage it. Don't compare yourself to perfection, it doesn't exist. Just strive.

Second, experience is a good teacher. When you lose matches a few times you'll remember to bear down. That is why it's easy to get rusty when you fall out of competition. You have to be reminded the hard way.

Third, you need to find goals beyond 'winning the match'. If you are trying to just win the match, then the truth is you probably can slack off and win most of the time. That's just a fact. But if you set your goals as 'improving as a player', and you use every stroke of your cue as taking a step towards becoming a stronger player that is capable of breaking through to new levels, then that can help. Instead of thinking "I can miss this and still win", you'll follow that up with "but while I may win this match here, that won't get me to the finals where I want to be, the only way I'll get all the way is if I give it my all every shot, because that's what winners do"...

Keep driving.
 
Straightpool_99 said:
How do you keep it?

I play decent when playing by myself and not too bad in tournaments either, but I have a problem: I tend to let up when I'm ahead. I think I sometimes subconsciously feel sorry for my opponent or something. It's very frustrating, especially when playing tournament rotation games, where the match can turn around very quickly. Short races are a nightmare for me.

In larger tournaments you usually have to plough through a lot of mediocre players to get to the money and it's very tough to not let the focus slide a bit. The tournaments here have a lot of mediocre players and some super strong ones that you usually meet in the end, some of which are at near pro speed. At that time you will have played a long string of mediocre players and it's easy to get caught in a relaxed mindset, when you finally meet the killers in the end. I've recently gone back to playing tournaments and while I have played ok overall, I think I need to work on my mental game, if I'm to become a more consistent winner against the toughest opponents.

What do you guys do to stay strong, mentally?
Click to expand...
I have the exact same problem. I find it gets worse when I am ahead playing someone who is barking about how terrible they are playing.

Losing my focus was always my crutch. I let up when I am ahead and have a mind that wanders. Middle of a run and the brain starts "chicken sounds nice for supper" followed by a rattled 6 ball

Sent from my SM-G900W8 using Tapatalk
 
caff3in3 said:
I have the exact same problem. I find it gets worse when I am ahead playing someone who is barking about how terrible they are playing.

Losing my focus was always my crutch. I let up when I am ahead and have a mind that wanders. Middle of a run and the brain starts "chicken sounds nice for supper" followed by a rattled 6 ball

Sent from my SM-G900W8 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
And no I don't want to play any of you for big money lol

Sent from my SM-G900W8 using Tapatalk
 
Divided into two sides

Straightpool_99 said:
How do you keep it?

I play decent when playing by myself and not too bad in tournaments either, but I have a problem: I tend to let up when I'm ahead. I think I sometimes subconsciously feel sorry for my opponent or something. It's very frustrating, especially when playing tournament rotation games, where the match can turn around very quickly. Short races are a nightmare for me.

In larger tournaments you usually have to plough through a lot of mediocre players to get to the money and it's very tough to not let the focus slide a bit. The tournaments here have a lot of mediocre players and some super strong ones that you usually meet in the end, some of which are at near pro speed. At that time you will have played a long string of mediocre players and it's easy to get caught in a relaxed mindset, when you finally meet the killers in the end. I've recently gone back to playing tournaments and while I have played ok overall, I think I need to work on my mental game, if I'm to become a more consistent winner against the toughest opponents.

What do you guys do to stay strong, mentally?
Click to expand...

I think you have to play progressively better people to keep and develop it. I got behind 4 -0 once in a race to 5 and something clicked and I managed to win that race. I shot two way shots the entire game and did so perfectly and cut in an impossible 9 ball to win.

My life has me doing different things quite often but I think you have to get deep inside the game and stay there for a good bit to get the good out of it at that level.
 
caff3in3 said:
I have the exact same problem.

Losing my focus was always my crutch. I let up when I am ahead and have a mind that wanders. Middle of a run and the brain starts "chicken sounds nice for supper" followed by a rattled 6 ball

Sent from my SM-G900W8 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

You are not alone my friends. Concentration is everything. Sometimes mine is on a Milk Carton.
 
I do not have the so-called 'killer instinct', and I'm not so sure I would want it.
Don't get me wrong, I like to win, but winning to me is more in beating myself than anything. Defeating those things that keep me from being successful, be it a game of pool, a shooting match, or getting my money's worth at a Golden Corral.
A touch of narcissism is fine, but too much? Not so good. :)
 
Tramp Steamer said:
I do not have the so-called 'killer instinct', and I'm not so sure I would want it.
Don't get me wrong, I like to win, but winning to me is more in beating myself than anything. Defeating those things that keep me from being successful, be it a game of pool, a shooting match, or getting my money's worth at a Golden Corral.
A touch of narcissism is fine, but too much? Not so good. :)
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The belly buster at the buffet is my nemesis as well lol

All you can eat sushi.....need a nap afterwards

Sent from my SM-G900W8 using Tapatalk
 
336Robin said:
I think you have to play progressively better people to keep and develop it. I got behind 4 -0 once in a race to 5 and something clicked and I managed to win that race. I shot two way shots the entire game and did so perfectly and cut in an impossible 9 ball to win.

My life has me doing different things quite often but I think you have to get deep inside the game and stay there for a good bit to get the good out of it at that level.
Click to expand...

I totally agree with Robin. You need to constantly learn from better players and nothing is a better teacher than firsthand experience. Pay close attention to what and they shoot and how they shoot and you will learn even while you are losing. This was the ONLY way to learn to play pool years ago. There was no internet, very few books, virtually no magazines so the only way to learn was to play players slightly better than yourself every chance you got. Getting way over your head and being throttled can be devastating mentally and will inhibit your desire to play. Graet post by Robin!!
 
I've always been competitive, and I hate to loose. That said, I'd rather get my butt kicked than have someone "go easy" on me. It's just a sign of respect to give an opponent your absolute best game.

Anytime I feel like I'm loosing focus, or even heaven forbid feeling a little bad for a weaker opponent, I remind myself that I owe him my absolute best game, and anything less is akin to saying, "You suck so badly that I don't even have to try." Pound'em into the ground as badly as you possibly can. My dream is to woop someone 150-0, and I'd do it against my own grandmother if she was still alive!
 
Straightpool_99 said:
How do you keep it?

I play decent when playing by myself and not too bad in tournaments either, but I have a problem: I tend to let up when I'm ahead. I think I sometimes subconsciously feel sorry for my opponent or something. It's very frustrating, especially when playing tournament rotation games, where the match can turn around very quickly. Short races are a nightmare for me.

In larger tournaments you usually have to plough through a lot of mediocre players to get to the money and it's very tough to not let the focus slide a bit. The tournaments here have a lot of mediocre players and some super strong ones that you usually meet in the end, some of which are at near pro speed. At that time you will have played a long string of mediocre players and it's easy to get caught in a relaxed mindset, when you finally meet the killers in the end. I've recently gone back to playing tournaments and while I have played ok overall, I think I need to work on my mental game, if I'm to become a more consistent winner against the toughest opponents.

What do you guys do to stay strong, mentally?
Click to expand...


An opponent coming back from the grave a few times will do it.

When I started learning to play 1pocket I'd sometimes play a guy named Bill, late at night, getting something like 10-7. Some games I'd get on the hill with what I thought was a big lead... and let up. Bill put so many seven, eight, and 9 and outs on me over the months I learned my lesson.

Lou Figueroa
 
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