Only the winners have even a clue.
Why Your Skill Doesn’t Matter in Matches - Just in Practice
- Thread starter Sharivari
- Start date
All players miss, so what do you do when you miss? When I miss when playing league I try to solve why I missed, I can usually attribute it to not focusing on delivering the cue in a straight line properly during the shot, trying to change my aim while down on the shot, and thinking about the results of the shot, the only thing I can truly control is delivering the cue along the proper shot line, sometimes I use the wrong English, I don't beat myself up, I keep my head in the game and take advantage of my next opportunity to shoot.
I also believe this IS a skill !!!! If you keep your mind on the last shot you missed that there is nothing you can do about you can't be focusing on what you CAN do on your next shot, as you play better you will be playing better players who will play great safeties against you, it's not just about shotmaking at least in 8 ball, you can learn even in a loss.
Main reason I'm not a player is I can't bring myself to GAF about beating anyone. Last ten years or so, if I missed at King of the Table, TS BFD. The small 8 ball tourneys it was easy enough to go into player mode and crawl through. Just rifling through random memories, misses/mistakes were probably all due to indecision. It's this junction that hardens players. (don't want to be that guy anymore) Anyway what I do is keep working the method.
I 100% agree with you. Unfortunately, the guys that have all day to read all of these posts and reply aren’t on the road slaying pool rooms for cash. As a matter of fact, I would imagine most leagues have a rule about showing up on time for a match, because people have lives outside of pool leagues and/or wives and kids to raise. Many older writings are not a 1:1 translation within modern society or even 1 stoplight towns.
To me it's like the guys playing basketball at the schoolyard, no one mistakes them for NBA players, but they still enjoy playing as hard as they can for their skill level, it's not different in any sport, I will never play at a pro level but every year I get a little better, we are playing for our league championship next Monday, it won't matter to anyone but our little circle but sharing this sport with friends and bragging rights for the year are something money cannot buy......
from what I understood from the video, practice and article, it is not about the skill itself but rather the mindset. you have the skill but during matches, there are times that you doubt or second-guess yourself with certain shots or what to do next. what I've noticed is that if you already have a certain mindset on what to do for certain preparations, the less you make mistakes. I think that the title should be how confidence make your game better.
I understand what you are saying and I am going to guess you are over 55 by your use of schoolyard. I get it, but basketball and pool are so very different. Basketball requires a whole different level of physical fitness and 2, 3, 4 other players. I would argue pool takes the edge in mental toughness due to fewer mistakes can cost you a game vs basketball is so many shot attempts and running up and down the court for a set time. But, I mostly get it. You and your crew are putting forth effort while playing pool w/ mostly self imposed pressure and win or lose are still content with your slice of life. Who can argue with that. No one. Good luck on your championship game.
I think you have the right take on the article but I would argue that preparing to face adversity during a match is a skill that can and should be learned, some people never quit and fight till they win or lose, a loss doesn't make them doubt themselves, they learn from it while others won't admit that there were opportunities they didn't take advantage of, like Tennis or Golf YOU are the team during a match, the only way to learn to compete is to do it.....
I played at Super Billiards Expo a few years ago in the amateur tourney, 2 races to 5, First set I'm up 3-0 and lose 5-3 second set I'm down 3-0 in the second set and come back to win 5-3, and then go on to win the last set, it would have been easy to give up, I have been on the other side as well, love it, win or lose, love to compete.......
They all skirt the looney issues - understandably so. I think you can improve just by experiencing how much context a competition can put on you. Things like how much weight is a group of heavies who just want you out the way so they can get to more cash.
There's a possibility of that one and sort of a trap. I see some guys do that and you can see it from a mile away if you experienced it enough. But then again, that's another story.They all skirt the looney issues - understandably so. I think you can improve just by experiencing how much context a competition can put on you. Things like how much weight is a group of heavies who just want you out the way so they can get to more cash.
The difference between a competitor and a gambler of a sport. Plainly, what is at stake.
That is if you can spot it. Most times the only way to tell is what's on the table after your shot.
Gamblers only want to play people they believe they can beat, their interest is money not becoming a great player
I struggled with choking for years. I decided that I needed to create the same condition somehow in practice that I was under in tournaments. I came up with this idea. I made a wager in my mind that if I didn’t run fifty balls in, say, ten attempts, I would send a contribution to some political organization that I detested. I would pick one I really, really hated, and I did pick one. The first time I tried it, I failed. At home I sat down at my desk to write the check. I simply couldn’t do it. I confess. I have welshed on a bet.
Steve Cook said he couldn’t practice pool because his practice stroke was completely different from his tournament stroke. He had to get into the first round for his tournament stroke to appear.
Steve Cook said he couldn’t practice pool because his practice stroke was completely different from his tournament stroke. He had to get into the first round for his tournament stroke to appear.