[IROCK]

I think it can be very critical when it comes down to being too nice or just polite when playing in a tournament.

[Pin]

By polite, I assume you mean more than just your shot selection, and how you play to give the other guy nothing?

What kinds of things would you avoid doing?

[Pelican]

I like nice. I hate playing someone that has a sour expression on their face and act like it is an effort to shake hands before the match. I think some folks want to win so bad they can't enjoy the game itself.

Pel

[IROCK]

I was in a eight ball tournament last weekend. I was shooting pretty good and won my first few matches. The guy I played shot pretty well but I figured I could take care of him easy enough. I could tell he was nervous and he made several mistakes and I easily won those games. I got a few games ahead of him, but then for some reason I started talking to him like we were old friends and not competitors. It went to a hill hill game, and I had a chance to win it, but blew it and lost. I had him on the ropes early but didnt stay focused and finish him off and paid the price. I will give him credit for hanging in there, he did what he was suppose to do, but I didn't. Next time I will be polite but not over friendly until after we are done playing.

[headmuses]

IROCK, on Dec 13 2007, 03:00 PM, said:

I was in a eight ball tournament last weekend. I was shooting pretty good and won my first few matches. The guy I played shot pretty well but I figured I could take care of him easy enough. I could tell he was nervous and he made several mistakes and I easily won those games. I got a few games ahead of him, but then for some reason I started talking to him like we were old friends and not competitors. It went to a hill hill game, and I had a chance to win it, but blew it and lost. I had him on the ropes early but didnt stay focused and finish him off and paid the price. I will give him credit for hanging in there, he did what he was suppose to do, but I didn't. Next time I will be polite but not over friendly until after we are done playing.

IROCK
Our singles eight-ball league plays Wednesday nights. I was matched up against someone I have been frends with for a long time. The night was very serious as both teams were undefeated at this point in the season, so the game was very important. We play fifteen games in the night, first to eight wins. It was 7-6 for them, I was up in the fourteenth game, my friend came to the table, all smiles and very chatty, I remembered your advice of not over friendly. He broke, made 6 balls then had a bad kiss off a ball and hooked himself. He laughed at his misfortune, trying to ease the tension I suppose. I just walked up and ran the table with no expression, just concentrating on my run. Our team exploded but all the while I was thinking of your post. So thanks for the slight edge you gave me. Oh by the way, we won the next game and ended the night victorious 8-7.

Headmuses.

[GeorgeAllen]

headmuses, on Dec 13 2007, 03:47 PM, said:

IROCK
Our singles eight-ball league plays Wednesday nights. I was matched up against someone I have been frends with for a long time. The night was very serious as both teams were undefeated at this point in the season, so the game was very important. We play fifteen games in the night, first to eight wins. It was 7-6 for them, I was up in the fourteenth game, my friend came to the table, all smiles and very chatty, I remembered your advice of not over friendly. He broke, made 6 balls then had a bad kiss off a ball and hooked himself. He laughed at his misfortune, trying to ease the tension I suppose. I just walked up and ran the table with no expression, just concentrating on my run. Our team exploded but all the while I was thinking of your post. So thanks for the slight edge you gave me. Oh by the way, we won the next game and ended the night victorious 8-7.

Headmuses.

I try to be friendly to everyone, and sometimes that works and sometimes it does not. Walk up to 10 people tomorrow and smile at them on the street. Notice now many return your smile. If they don't, then that is their problem, not mine. I do not let an angry or hostile person change my attitude. I just ignore them when they are ugly or rude.

[IROCK]

Good job Headmuses, winning is so fun, and it can be contagious for fellow team members and make a team a lot stronger. I am always finding little tidbits to try from our regular posters. Some don't work for me, but I must admit, a lot do.

[IROCK]

I know what you mean, at work I try to associate mostly with the friendly upbeat people. Some of them are so negative, they really hate being there, and when you work with them they make the shift seem like it lasts forever. I am kind of upbeat so thats the kind of peopl I like to hang with.