watch a hack, instantly play like one

[IplayBAD]

So where in the mental portion of the game does it exist that whenever I got to a tournament of lesser skilled players I automatically feel the sense of entitlement to win and therefore can never bring my best game to the table??? I am in no way a freak of nature or some dominating force on the pool table but on the bar box i have the ability to string some 3s and 4s together but yet still have the common newbie flaws in my fundamentals (biggest being not respecting every shot and hitting each ball like its the 9 ball hill-hill). I guess my point is this I am a player that is in between skill levels meaning I can beat most league players and most people who take the game seriously but i am not yet at the level of winning big tournaments local to the area (good example would be the no master event in beloit wisconsin for those who know that tourney) or beating great players. So with all that being said what do all of you do to correct such a situation that is purely mental, as far as the fundamentals that is practice and a mindset that i know how to change and am working on correcting. I'd love to hear all solutions and any relevent stories of this.]

Thanks in advance

 

[PhilosopherKing]

So where in the mental portion of the game does it exist that whenever I got to a tournament of lesser skilled players I automatically feel the sense of entitlement to win and therefore can never bring my best game to the table??? I am in no way a freak of nature or some dominating force on the pool table but on the bar box i have the ability to string some 3s and 4s together but yet still have the common newbie flaws in my fundamentals (biggest being not respecting every shot and hitting each ball like its the 9 ball hill-hill). I guess my point is this I am a player that is in between skill levels meaning I can beat most league players and most people who take the game seriously but i am not yet at the level of winning big tournaments local to the area (good example would be the no master event in beloit wisconsin for those who know that tourney) or beating great players. So with all that being said what do all of you do to correct such a situation that is purely mental, as far as the fundamentals that is practice and a mindset that i know how to change and am working on correcting. I'd love to hear all solutions and any relevent stories of this.]

Thanks in advance

Try reading these books:

http://www.amazon.com/Pleasures-Sma...r_1_1?s=gateway&ie=UTF8&qid=1285444435&sr=8-1

http://www.amazon.com/Inner-Game-Te...r_1_1?s=gateway&ie=UTF8&qid=1285444463&sr=8-1

http://www.amazon.com/Zen-Art-Arche...=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1285444557&sr=1-1

 

[ridinda9]

You've already identified your own problem .
"not respecting every shot and hitting each ball like it's the 9ball hill-hill"
All you have to do is buckle down and man up.
EVERY ball is the money ball , because if you don't make it , you don't get to shoot at the next one - and you'll never get to the 9 !
Nine ball racks are too short to count on getting a second chance at the table.
When you say you can beat most league players , do you mean in ball-count 9ball (total BS - means nothing if you can win matches without ever winning a rack ! ) or in Texas Express ?
Lotta league players think success playing APA style translates to 9ball ability. They're way off base .
You're only a 9ball player if you can consistently run racks !
You say you can string together some 3s &4s - your opponents must love you - now they're coming to the table playing 5ball !

 

[IplayBAD]

You've already identified your own problem .
"not respecting every shot and hitting each ball like it's the 9ball hill-hill"
All you have to do is buckle down and man up.
EVERY ball is the money ball , because if you don't make it , you don't get to shoot at the next one - and you'll never get to the 9 !
Nine ball racks are too short to count on getting a second chance at the table.
When you say you can beat most league players , do you mean in ball-count 9ball (total BS - means nothing if you can win matches without ever winning a rack ! ) or in Texas Express ?
Lotta league players think success playing APA style translates to 9ball ability. They're way off base .
You're only a 9ball player if you can consistently run racks !
You say you can string together some 3s &4s - your opponents must love you - now they're coming to the table playing 5ball !

I should have clarified, I dont play APA as you are right the scoring system is just flat out wrong. I am speaking of texas express rules, Im from the quad cities which has alot of really tough players, also when i said I can string together 3s and 4s I ment I can break and run 3 and 4 packs not just 3 and 4 balls.

 

[ridinda9]

Ok , so keep the first six lines of advice , and ignore the last 5 !

 

[MitchAlsup]

"Drifting" is to "racing" as a "hack" is to "Efren".

 

[pfduser]

I should have clarified, I dont play APA as you are right the scoring system is just flat out wrong. I am speaking of texas express rules, Im from the quad cities which has alot of really tough players, also when i said I can string together 3s and 4s I ment I can break and run 3 and 4 packs not just 3 and 4 balls.

You should have the mental aspect under control if your putting together
3 and 4 rack runs.

 

[book collector]

Watch a hack

I think it's pretty common for lower players to take opponents for granted and get lazy, it's a bit more unusual for people who run 3 or 4 racks . Maybe you need to score yourself during all matches so it doesn't matter who you are playing whether they play worse or better. I have been thinking of learning Pat Flemings system. I think it's a real good gauge. I seem to be the opposite, I think my problem is I outthink myself playing better players instead of just playing my game.

 

[JDB]

So where in the mental portion of the game does it exist that whenever I got to a tournament of lesser skilled players I automatically feel the sense of entitlement to win and therefore can never bring my best game to the table??? I am in no way a freak of nature or some dominating force on the pool table but on the bar box i have the ability to string some 3s and 4s together but yet still have the common newbie flaws in my fundamentals (biggest being not respecting every shot and hitting each ball like its the 9 ball hill-hill). I guess my point is this I am a player that is in between skill levels meaning I can beat most league players and most people who take the game seriously but i am not yet at the level of winning big tournaments local to the area (good example would be the no master event in beloit wisconsin for those who know that tourney) or beating great players. So with all that being said what do all of you do to correct such a situation that is purely mental, as far as the fundamentals that is practice and a mindset that i know how to change and am working on correcting. I'd love to hear all solutions and any relevent stories of this.]

Thanks in advance

Sorry, but it is very simple; you are not as good as you think you are.

 

[poolplayer2093]

are you talking only barbox play or on the 9 footers too?

 

[IplayBAD]

are you talking only barbox play or on the 9 footers too?

I really dont play much on the big table this time of year because everything in this area in on the bar table.

Sorry, but it is very simple; you are not as good as you think you are.

Last I checked I asked for advice or relevent information so if you have neither of those go for a walk.

 

[The Schwartz]

I outthink myself playing better players instead of just playing my game.

I feel the same way

 

[Georgia Boy]

I have seen many pretty good players lose to lesser players simply because IMO they take them too lightly. The right shot is, the right shot whoever the opponent is. I see too many people try to pot balls that are not really there to be potted. If a safety shot is the percentage shot play it! The shot may come off a small percentage of the time but those other times will kill you. I have been guilty of it in the past and have been trying to correct that, I find that just taking that extra second to weigh my options and percentages really does help. Never play the handicap always play the table.

Try to play every game as if you were playing one of the top pro's if you wouldn't give them an oppurtunity by playing stupid shots, don't do it against others!

 

[RunoutJJ]

You should have the mental aspect under control if your putting together
3 and 4 rack runs.

Thats what i was thinking

 

[GetMeThere]

Good post, IplayBAD (geez, I hate even TYPING that name!).

You hit on a deep and fundamental reality of being human: We are FAR more directed by social forces than we normally realize. IMO, people who excel in ANYTHING are able to "filter out" an enormous amount of that social force, and make their actions and attitudes truly their own.

I take a great interest in seeing that fact represented by two great players who have diametrically opposed personalities: Efren Reyes and Earl Strickland.

Efren is jolly all the time--only possible if people aren't "getting to you" in any manner. He effortlessly floats above the social sphere he is in, and is not affected by it at all.

Earl hates people and keeps himself psychological separate from them (and when he FAILS at that, he has one of his meltdowns and his game turns to shit). Can anyone even IMAGINE how great Earl would have been if he had Efren's personality?

Still, it's obvious in both cases that a central part of what made them great players is their ability to disconnect from the masses and stand alone (stand out) on their individual efforts and ego.

Doing ANYTHING far better than 99% of others IS--in a subtle psychological way--a social rejection of others; a setting of yourself as apart from others. In fact, there is a GREAT, GNAWING power within us that tends to REJECT that condition, and want to just be part of the crowd. IMO, that's why women only extremely rarely play as well as men: women don't like to "stand out" from others, and instead tend to just want to be accepted as part of the group. There's certainly no physical or cognitive reasons that women can't play as well as men.

 

[RunoutJJ]

Doing ANYTHING far better than 99% of others IS--in a subtle psychological way--a social rejection of others; a setting of yourself as apart from others. In fact, there is a GREAT, GNAWING power within us that tends to REJECT that condition, and want to just be part of the crowd. IMO, that's why women only extremely rarely play as well as men: women don't like to "stand out" from others, and instead tend to just want to be accepted as part of the group. There's certainly no physical or cognitive reasons that women can't play as well as men.


Ive noticed a lot of league guys keeping their distances from me more and more. Ive jumped a ball or two about 2 weeks ago (SL 9) and i feel that they dont wanna challenge me anymore. Huh?? Very odd indeed.