Winning tips

[Roger Illinois]

I return to play in January of this year, as therapy.
I have played in a few tournaments lately, but I am lacking the killer instinct.
In a tournament just yesterday, 4-25-09, my first match I beat someone that had won this tournament 2-3 times. I was not supposed to win. I was not able to play well the rest of the tournament. Was it because I felt that I had just accomplished what I set out to do?

My game is starting to come back, but I do not feel like I am mentally prepared to win.

Can anyone help me?
Give me some winning advice!

 

[softshot]

for me a big breakthrough came when I quit trying to win

seriously...

the win=money= pressure= peer acceptance= a bunch of crap you don't need in your head to make a shot

I have finally begun to take each shot as it's own entity

play the shot .....give everything you have to executing THIS shot..

don't worry about the results...

just accept that you will give THIS shot the best effort you can.... then DO IT!

and soon you begin to become disappointed that the rack is over..

sad that there are no more balls to shoot..

the win is just gravy..

IMO

 

[Eddie Robin]

I return to play in January of this year, as therapy.
I have played in a few tournaments lately, but I am lacking the killer instinct.
In a tournament just yesterday, 4-25-09, my first match I beat someone that had won this tournament 2-3 times. I was not supposed to win. I was not able to play well the rest of the tournament. Was it because I felt that I had just accomplished what I set out to do?

My game is starting to come back, but I do not feel like I am mentally prepared to win.

Can anyone help me?
Give me some winning advice!

My advice to you is to stop introverting and trying to figure out things from feelings. If you think my advice helps you, that is great, however, the main person that can help you is you. Just do what you consider is best without pondering upon it; that's all anybody can do.

Increased awareness is the way towards increased abilities whereas introversion is the way towards decreased abilites (resulting from decreased awareness). One is only alive to the degree he or she is aware. When you or any other life form loses all awareness, they or it is dead!

What happened is what happened. I'll guess you looked at what happened in the tournament to see if you could learn something from the experience. If so, and you noticed something that may help you in the future, fine. If not, that's fine also. Just move on and stop with the figure, figure, figure on how you feel about this or that or you will gradually decrease in awareness of just about everything and anything in your environment and cave yourself in.

For the playing of a better game,
Eddie Robin

 

[PegLeg]

I am in a similar situation, I returned to playing in late December after a 20 year break. I also feel like I am just starting to get my game back.

I have approached it from this perspective. There is nothing I can do when the other guy is shooting. If he/she runs 5 or 6 balls so be it. My job is to keep the other guy away from the table.

Lag/Break - Practice lagging. Nothing like winning the lag and breaking to start on the correct foot. For me I always feel more in control and positive if I can break right up front. Especially if you can put one or more in on the break. Sets the tempo for you immediately and in some cases depending on the other person can cause them to be intimidated which gives you the edge early.

Execute the shots. I always look over the table and find my next 3 shots (if they are there). I try and pick shots I know I can execute. I don't go for for high difficulty shots. I am more concerned with making the shot than where I leave the cue ball. If I don't make the shot it does not matter where the cue ball ends up. After each shot re-evaluate the table and move forward. I don't worry about the other guy. This is my time to shoot and execute. The other guy has no control of the situation so mentally block them out.

Also don't beat yourself up when you don't execute. Let it go and start fresh next round. Once you start winning some then it becomes easier. I had a good run last Friday night against a guy and beat him. That gave me a good boost. Last night I played this guy Mike who has consistently beat me in the past I and I took 2 out 3 9 ball games. It was nice to win but it happened because I could control my emotions, stay cool and I was able to execute the shots I needed because I KNEW I could make them.

 

[tom mcgonagle]

It's nice to know you have the talent to beat the stronger players. The problem is until you take advantage of the fact you beat one of the stronger players all you have done is a favor for the rest of the people in the tournament. Take advantage, beat the next guy, and the next guy,etc. That's when the other players will start to notice you and your game. Don't celebrate one good win.