Tough loss to swallow

Gregg

Gregg

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
First off, I have perspective on this, but it still stings a bit...

I played in a league playoff match, and, for my skill level on a big table, really played my butt off. People were really impressed with my play. I shot against someone who was really a good shot, someone who I am impressed by. I was in it for the win, and got it to hill hill in a handicapped match. I shot the eight ball on a tough shot for the match win, and it just rattled slowly inside the pocket, laying it up. My esteemed opponent shot two tough shots and then the eight for the win.

It kind of stinks when you can say if I made the eight ball, I can forget about all of the missed opportunities, but when you lose, all of the opportunities seem to be staring at you in the face!

Anyway, it was a fun match, I'm not complaining, but wonder if anybody else has any barn burring bitter grinding losses to share.
 
Gregg said:
Anyway, it was a fun match, I'm not complaining, but wonder if anybody else has any barn burring bitter grinding losses to share.
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Sounds like one of the best performances I have had in league and still lost.
I was a 6 playing a 7 and it literally went hill-hill in about 10 minutes.
He was up 3-0 before I could blink with 2, 8 on the breaks right out of the gate.
He missed at 3-0 and I ran out the rack and then broke and ran to make it 3-2. This is how it went until hill-hill when I lost the only safety battle of the match. Funny, even though I lost, I still consider it one of my top 5 performances.

Koop
 
Koop said:
Sounds like one of the best performances I have had in league and still lost.
I was a 6 playing a 7 and it literally went hill-hill in about 10 minutes.
He was up 3-0 before I could blink with 2, 8 on the breaks right out of the gate.
He missed at 3-0 and I ran out the rack and then broke and ran to make it 3-2. This is how it went until hill-hill when I lost the only safety battle of the match. Funny, even though I lost, I still consider it one of my top 5 performances.

Koop
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Yea, come to think of it, my two proudest moments came from recent losses over the past few months have been against some good competition who were on the attack with cross corner banks, combos, caroms, etc.

I think I have to "learn" how to beat these types of players, as opposed to playing with them. It takes a lot of experience, and is not only about potting balls when it comes to beating a better shooter.
 
Gregg said:
I think I have to "learn" how to beat these types of players, as opposed to playing with them. It takes a lot of experience, and is not only about potting balls when it comes to beating a better shooter.
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There is no doubt man.

Speaking of, last Sunday I played in a local tournament which, prior to this past weekend my high finish was third. It's open to anyone and there are usually at least 5 or 6 guys there who are a solid speed better than me.
Well, I made the finals and even though I didn't do it consciously, I think I resigned myself to second place before the match even started. I knew my opponent was a better player but I feel like I didn't even give him a match.

Mental can kill you, no doubt.

Koop
 
Koop said:
There is no doubt man.

Speaking of, last Sunday I played in a local tournament which, prior to this past weekend my high finish was third. It's open to anyone and there are usually at least 5 or 6 guys there who are a solid speed better than me.
Well, I made the finals and even though I didn't do it consciously, I think I resigned myself to second place before the match even started. I knew my opponent was a better player but I feel like I didn't even give him a match.

Mental can kill you, no doubt.

Koop
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The worst, the WORST way to lose to to accept a loss before it happens, only to find out for yourself after the game that you were in the game the whole way.

I've done this too many times, not only with a pool cue in hand, but other sports as well.

Nothing is more discouraging than letting yourself down.
 
Koop said:
Speaking of, last Sunday I played in a local tournament which, prior to this past weekend my high finish was third. It's open to anyone and there are usually at least 5 or 6 guys there who are a solid speed better than me.
Well, I made the finals and even though I didn't do it consciously, I think I resigned myself to second place before the match even started. I knew my opponent was a better player but I feel like I didn't even give him a match.
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I know *exactly* what you're talking about. I had this same thing happen to me this past weekend.

Here in Denver, there's a series of APA-handicapped tournaments (not APA operated, just using handicap/races and rulesets), that are bracketed - 2/3, 4/5, 6/7 together. I'm a strong six, gunning to be a seven by year's end.

Usually in these I'll win one or two matches and end up out. This time I cranked past a strong six and two sevens to be right at the end of the winner's bracket, playing for the hotseat.

Both following matches, that I lost (ended up taking third), I did that to myself - I had it in my head that I wasn't going to advance. And despite getting to the hill before my opponents both times - and they're both sevens - I managed to blow opportunities to close the deal and win the match. Grr!

Pool really does require a significant level of mental discipline when you get to a certain level. It's something I know I need to work on.
 
ScottW said:
Pool really does require a significant level of mental discipline when you get to a certain level. It's something I know I need to work on.
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You and me both man. Those mental hurdles seem tougher to overcome than just pocketing balls.
 
Everyone know of how many Home Run Babe Ruth, Barry Bonds, Mickey Mantlr, Roger Maris, and other Baseball Greats have hit. but few know how many times at Bat these GREATS STRUCK OUT.

If everytime you played Pool you Won the Game would become BORING. Think some of the Pool Great, even lose one in a while...
 
Funny how we remember our great wins, BUT, we remember our heartbreaker losses that much more!!
Too bad our memories werren't like a computer's and just hit "delete" for the bad ones.
 
Gregg said:
Tough loss to swallow.
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If you don't mind me saying so, that is really bad. But don't loose heart. He'll be gone by winter I assure you. In the meantime restore your battered confidence against a few sparrows.

Boro Nut
 
Our local tourney runs from Sept. through April and there are some fine shooters in the bunch. I managed to lose several tough matches through the course of the season and I remember every one of them. Those loses stuck in my head because they were usually a matter of me screwing up. The good news is I took the final tourney where the season trophies were handed out, I played my butt off and I can't remember any of the shots I made on the final weekend but I sure remember those tough loses I took during the season. Now I have the ugliest trophy you have ever seen and look forward to defending it this year.

BK
 
Cheez Dawg said:
Funny how we remember our great wins, BUT, we remember our heartbreaker losses that much more!!
Too bad our memories werren't like a computer's and just hit "delete" for the bad ones.
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All of use are who were are becaue of our Positive & Negatives Life Experences. The People we mee, the place we have been, and the roads we travel in life.
 
Boro Nut said:
If you don't mind me saying so, that is really bad. But don't loose heart. He'll be gone by winter I assure you. In the meantime restore your battered confidence against a few sparrows.

Boro Nut
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Thanks, but again, I'm upbeat, not killing myself. I'm both positive and upbeat about it.
 
Gregg said:
First off, I have perspective on this, but it still stings a bit...

I played in a league playoff match, and, for my skill level on a big table, really played my butt off. People were really impressed with my play. I shot against someone who was really a good shot, someone who I am impressed by. I was in it for the win, and got it to hill hill in a handicapped match. I shot the eight ball on a tough shot for the match win, and it just rattled slowly inside the pocket, laying it up. My esteemed opponent shot two tough shots and then the eight for the win.

It kind of stinks when you can say if I made the eight ball, I can forget about all of the missed opportunities, but when you lose, all of the opportunities seem to be staring at you in the face!

Anyway, it was a fun match, I'm not complaining, but wonder if anybody else has any barn burring bitter grinding losses to share.
Click to expand...

Hundreds of them.

I noticed you said that you were impressed by your oppponent. Thinking that is a sure fire way to get beat. If in your match, you are sitting watching your opponent and "being impressed" then you are not focused on "your game".

Just my $0.02 but, stay focused on "your game" and next time, I think the 8 goes.
 
Sorry about the loss but you have to look at your match as a whole.

Just curious what was the shot that you hung up?


I have two losses that really stand out in my mind. Both are APA matches and both bother me worse than any gambling loss I have ever had.
Both were my fault and no one elses. I try to remind myself about these
all the time and not to repeat them.
Tough losses happen on all levels from beginner to Pro Level.

good luck in the future
 
Gregg said:
Tough Loss to Swallow......
....Thanks, but again, I'm upbeat, not killing myself. I'm both positive and upbeat about it.
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I admire you then. If a swallow ever beat me I think I'd wrap it all in.

Boro Nut
 
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