stress

[justme]

OK, seeing as how there isn't alot happening here post-wise, I need to try to pick things up...So here' goes. I've noticed in MY playing that I can play lights-out for little or no money against most people, but as soon as I step up to the table with our city's BEST player, Dan M., I play fine for a set or two...Maybe three, but after that, my better judgement gets the better of me and I start playing poorly. I know what needs to be done and how to get from point A to point B etc...But for some reason I begin thinking about him being able to run out on me if I miss, so eventually I do, and he does. I have tried playing him MANY times, especially recently, and its ALWAYS the same outcome. I LOSE!!!! Now, normally this wouldn't be a problem, but he's the only one in this city with the "heart" to play me...Nobody else takes the chance. When I was beginning to play, I wanted to play anyone, and did for the most part...Where has all the pride gone in this game? You'd think someone would at least want the "bragging rights" for beating me a couple games even though they're probably gonna lose most games. I just don't get it, has NOBODY got any "heart" anymore? Has this game gotten so low to where someone will ONLY play you if they KNOW they're going to win? That's pathetic! Opinions?

[ccn7]

Well Justme, i'll give you my perspective from an Ole Timers point of view.
First off that problem with the other player beating you, when in fact you can probably take him. This has happened to all of us at one time or another, what i usually do is start playing the person and not the table. Stop thinking about the fact, THAT HE SHOOTS NEXT AND IF YOU MISS HE'LL RUN OUT AND YOU'LL LOSE. Let you opponent be a ghost, dont think about the past, if you cant run out, safety his butt up. When i start playing smart i start playing good and thus i will win. Relax have fun and play like you practice.

I always seem to have a game going, not because i'M THAT GOOD BUT PEOPLE HAVE FUN when they play me. You need to have two speeds one for gambling and tournaments and another for friendly games and having fun. If you have to win every game no matter what then you will never have fun in this sport. To be able to control you emotions and turn it on and turn it off is the is the power some seem to lack.

[shark3149]

Originally Posted by ccn7

Well Justme, i'll give you my perspective from an Ole Timers point of view.
First off that problem with the other player beating you, when in fact you can probably take him. This has happened to all of us at one time or another, what i usually do is start playing the person and not the table. Stop thinking about the fact, THAT HE SHOOTS NEXT AND IF YOU MISS HE'LL RUN OUT AND YOU'LL LOSE. Let you opponent be a ghost, dont think about the past, if you cant run out, safety his butt up. When i start playing smart i start playing good and thus i will win. Relax have fun and play like you practice.

I always seem to have a game going, not because i'M THAT GOOD BUT PEOPLE HAVE FUN when they play me. You need to have two speeds one for gambling and tournaments and another for friendly games and having fun. If you have to win every game no matter what then you will never have fun in this sport. To be able to control you emotions and turn it on and turn it off is the is the power some seem to lack.

TAP,TAP,TAP
I have to say you said it the best I have ever heard it put.

[Bishop]

Great points guys.

I'll give you the devils advocate point of view just for the sake of the agruement. For those of you that have read Pleasures of Small Motions this will be thoughts of mine formulated from that book.

Stress, pressure, tension should all be recognized and registered as real feeling and emotions not to be ignored. Rather than put it all on the backburner simply idetify what your feeling. You can't trick your body and your mind and your memory of what to do by ignoring your surroundings and sub-conciously trying to put yourself in another place.

Give your sub-concious a chance to accept and digest the pressure shot. Once you identify what your bodies feeling you can begin to accept the emotion internally and allow it to work with your body so it becomes a productive and registered emotion within your sub-conscious memory.

To simply pretend your somewhere else or not playing someone would potentially crossfire what your eyes are really seeing thus taking you out of your element and real time surrounds and diminishing your play because you simply aren't feeling your same ole self. Just add these emotions and feeling to part of your game. So they can function propery together.

I could go on and expand but thats the basics of it.

[stick8]

Originally Posted by justme

OK, seeing as how there isn't alot happening here post-wise, I need to try to pick things up...So here' goes. I've noticed in MY playing that I can play lights-out for little or no money against most people, but as soon as I step up to the table with our city's BEST player, Dan M., I play fine for a set or two...Maybe three, but after that, my better judgement gets the better of me and I start playing poorly. I know what needs to be done and how to get from point A to point B etc...But for some reason I begin thinking about him being able to run out on me if I miss, so eventually I do, and he does. I have tried playing him MANY times, especially recently, and its ALWAYS the same outcome. I LOSE!!!! Now, normally this wouldn't be a problem, but he's the only one in this city with the "heart" to play me...Nobody else takes the chance. When I was beginning to play, I wanted to play anyone, and did for the most part...Where has all the pride gone in this game? You'd think someone would at least want the "bragging rights" for beating me a couple games even though they're probably gonna lose most games. I just don't get it, has NOBODY got any "heart" anymore? Has this game gotten so low to where someone will ONLY play you if they KNOW they're going to win? That's pathetic! Opinions?

Born lose[CHOKE] cant handle pressure, take up marithone racing!!!!