Thought on playing up to better competition.

mnorwood

mnorwood

Moon
Silver Member
I know that it is a pool cliche' that the better the player you play, the better you tend to play yourself. Over the last few weeks I have been playing c or worse players and found myself missing easy shots and blowing position plays, but still winning easily. The same holds true during league and b tournament play.

Today I had a 6 hour session with a guy that has to be the best player I have ever faced. I found myself breaking and running, playing much stronger safeties and generally playing lights out pool. I did this because I knew that if I made an error he would win. I ended up edging him out and had to play my guts out to do so.

I am not claiming to be a pro but I beleive that for the first time in my pool life I played strong A+ pool. I found that the cliche' is much more meaningful now that it has clearly happened to me. BTW although I came out ahead I think the other guy is still the superior player.

Just some thoughts.

Cheers,
Marcus
 
mnorwood said:
I know that it is a pool cliche' that the better the player you play, the better you tend to play yourself. Over the last few weeks I have been playing c or worse players and found myself missing easy shots and blowing position plays, but still winning easily. The same holds true during league and b tournament play.

Today I had a 6 hour session with a guy that has to be the best player I have ever faced. I found myself breaking and running, playing much stronger safeties and generally playing lights out pool. I did this because I knew that if I made an error he would win. I ended up edging him out and had to play my guts out to do so.

I am not claiming to be a pro but I beleive that for the first time in my pool life I played strong A+ pool. I found that the cliche' is much more meaningful now that it has clearly happened to me. BTW although I came out ahead I think the other guy is still the superior player.

Just some thoughts.

Cheers,
Marcus
Click to expand...

It's not a cliche' this holds true with every sport. I know people who play other sports who say this.

I try to play the best players I can find, and I usually don't take a game against B player and below very seriously unless it is for money.
 
i agree about the level of opponent you face. and you should always use the opportunity to learn from him. but you'll notice only the very best players/teams play well against ANYONE.
 
I will say that when i do play against guys/girls who are better than me, i tend to play better and smarter.

I think its because i know if i mess up, they will run out. So i look at shots better and play safe when a iffy shot comes up.

Where if i was playing someone of a lower level, i would be more inclinded to just shoot at everything.
 
mnorwood said:
I know that it is a pool cliche' that the better the player you play, the better you tend to play yourself. Over the last few weeks I have been playing c or worse players and found myself missing easy shots and blowing position plays, but still winning easily. The same holds true during league and b tournament play.

Today I had a 6 hour session with a guy that has to be the best player I have ever faced. I found myself breaking and running, playing much stronger safeties and generally playing lights out pool. I did this because I knew that if I made an error he would win. I ended up edging him out and had to play my guts out to do so.

I am not claiming to be a pro but I beleive that for the first time in my pool life I played strong A+ pool. I found that the cliche' is much more meaningful now that it has clearly happened to me. BTW although I came out ahead I think the other guy is still the superior player.

Just some thoughts.

Cheers,
Marcus
Click to expand...

Hey, the fact is, when you play a stronger player, you pay closer attention to the finer points of the game. It's instinct that you want to try and make the rack as easy as possible on yourself. You'll take a moment to notice what the correct position is and try and attain it. If all pistons are firing away, you're going to get out more often.

I think a lot of people give professionals a little too much credit. For the most part, they are taking routine situations and making sure they remain routine. This isn't a difficult concept to fathom but in spite of that, we amateurs have a tendency to lighten-up a little, especially when we play lower-ranked players.

I know, as you get better it becomes more and more difficult to find better competition on a regular basis but you should always be in search of it. The best is when you finally come across a player who is better than you and refuses to ever lose to you, for money or not. The jump is almost automatic if you can find someone like that.
 
Its been a while since you've been posting. Good to see you back.

I am constantly looking for better players than myself. The problem is I am not a big gambler. The only players I have ever faced that can beat me on a regular basis are A and shortstop level. They don't play a mere mortal like me for nothing. A lot of guys I played even with quit playing pool when the holdem fad kicked off. The race to 3 tournaments are not adequate challenges, that's more like shooting dice. With the lack of long match play like I got today I have devoted more time to solitaire straight pool.
 
mnorwood said:
I know that it is a pool cliche' that the better the player you play, the better you tend to play yourself. Over the last few weeks I have been playing c or worse players and found myself missing easy shots and blowing position plays, but still winning easily. The same holds true during league and b tournament play.

Today I had a 6 hour session with a guy that has to be the best player I have ever faced. I found myself breaking and running, playing much stronger safeties and generally playing lights out pool. I did this because I knew that if I made an error he would win. I ended up edging him out and had to play my guts out to do so.

I am not claiming to be a pro but I beleive that for the first time in my pool life I played strong A+ pool. I found that the cliche' is much more meaningful now that it has clearly happened to me. BTW although I came out ahead I think the other guy is still the superior player.

Just some thoughts.

Cheers,
Marcus
Click to expand...

It's been my experience that the cliche holds true. It happens for me in both my pool and golf game.
 
I think the idea is to play players at all levels. It's not good just to get beat up. Sometimes it's nice to just wail away on someone :-) And, it gives you a chance to try things out with little to no penalty.

I guess it boils down to what you can afford. But, if better players are willing to play you for cheap, or the time, or free, you should play them all you can. I don't think you can get enough of that kind of education, at that price.

When you're playing the better players you certainly try to win, but don't get fed up because you're losing -- PAY ATTENTION! The better players are showing you everything they know right there in front of your little peepers -- stance, grip, bridges, head position, alignment, rhythm, eye movement, cue tip placement, stroking, position play, strategy -- it's all out there waiting for you to soak up. Play them and set realistic goals, like taking a certain number of games off them in a set. Or, if you're playing for something, get a spot that gives you a chance. But whatever you do: pay attention and learn.

Here's what I think is one of the biggest mistakes many players make: thinking that good players are just that: good players with more talent. Yes, there's talent involved, but there's also a huge amount of knowledge that anyone with enough discipline can observe, learn, and incorporate into their game. Playing better players is the ideal opportunity to pick up all kinds of knowledge.

In some ways pool is like a series of magic tricks. It all happens so fast, better players make it look effortless. And, if you don't know what to watch for, it looks absolutely amazing -- something you could never do.

But when you're playing a good player, you're getting a chance to see the magic tricks over and over again, way up close. This is your opportunity to study and learn how the trick is done, instead of just sitting there in amazement like some rube at the fair.

Lou Figueroa


mnorwood said:
I know that it is a pool cliche' that the better the player you play, the better you tend to play yourself. Over the last few weeks I have been playing c or worse players and found myself missing easy shots and blowing position plays, but still winning easily. The same holds true during league and b tournament play.

Today I had a 6 hour session with a guy that has to be the best player I have ever faced. I found myself breaking and running, playing much stronger safeties and generally playing lights out pool. I did this because I knew that if I made an error he would win. I ended up edging him out and had to play my guts out to do so.

I am not claiming to be a pro but I beleive that for the first time in my pool life I played strong A+ pool. I found that the cliche' is much more meaningful now that it has clearly happened to me. BTW although I came out ahead I think the other guy is still the superior player.

Just some thoughts.

Cheers,
Marcus
Click to expand...
 
I'm lucky in the sense that I get to match up every weekend (for fun) with a guy whom, in my opinion, could have been a pro. The guy is so damn consistant. That's my major weakness. Consistancy and concentration.
The guy plays intelligently at all times. Plus he is nice and rather humble. I live in a place called Ashland, WI. If any AZers are ever passing through let me know and we'll play and hang out.
 
i find when playing a weaker player then myself i tend not play as good especially when i get done watching ball bangers play for about a good 20 minutes LOL, cause i know i can get away with things. Playing stronger players is what really helped my game, this tournaments and playing for money. Also getting my butt handed to me from stronger players. But its what makes a champion huh, you must take a beating and learn from your mistakes.
 
when I work with smarter people sometimes I feel like I understand more of the topics we talk about. But when they are gone I feel like I am unsure of the material.

On the bball courts growing up I was the weakest player but I had to play up my strengths of what I could do against the better players.

If I had better cue ball control I would totally play awesome safes.
 
Here are some things to think about. If you don't play as hard against an easy opponent. Who's to say a better opponent is playing his best against you? This adds a little mystery to the whole issue.

For me, when I play a better player, my ego is on the line. I am playing my heart out to improve and finally overcome an obstacle. At the same time he is trying new things with little chance of losing.

A few times a year I get back to my home state, Ohio. My brother lives there still. The last few times I was there, I played way above my head, if that is really possible. I don't believe it is, by the way.

When we play, I play my best, no doubt about it. When I leave, he goes back to the wood shed and practices even more. He is already much better than me. Every time I go home, he feels he must prove himself. If you learn anything from this let it be, "you never have to prove yourself", because as soon as you try, your game will go to sh!t.

So why do I play so well against him? It is because my concentration is peaked. I know I can not mess up or I am toast. Why does he not play up to par? Because he is trying to prove something.

I know what you are thinking, 'what if he reads this, then he will be one up on you'. I am not worried about this, because if he does, it will make him want to prove me wrong. The mental side of the game can never be over emphasized, it is HUGE.

Tracy
 
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i tend to play better when I am trying to impress my girlfriend
 
Guaging one's own abilities is always challenging. Never be afraid of the knowledge gained. Only fear what you haven't learned yet.

All the reading, watching, absorbing, of the drills practiced became second nature when you decided to "Step Up". They wheren't part of your thought process, nor should they be, when you're playing.

If you're not challenging yourself to beat personal goals on a daily basis, then you're not playing up to better competition.

Keep up the good work Mr. mnorwood, only time will tell.
 
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