There is No Opponent... Only The Table

[Byrom]

Watch the bit where Ronnie interviews Robertson, goes hand in hand with what Byrom was saying.

Yeah 28 30

Good find that - spooky - people more likely to listen when he says it-

[rimmer10]

Yeah 28 30

Good find that - spooky - people more likely to listen when he says it-

Don't put yourself down mate. Your contributions on here are absolute gold

[robertmac]

I struggled before as I played to win and I played
players of all skill levels. I found it frustrating to
lose which of course is silly because everyone will
win or lose at snooker regardless of your opponents
skill level most times.
Today I play to do my best to play well and to also
try and improve my skill level. I would rather play
well and lose than play terrible and win.
I also play my own game regardless of the skill of
my opponent. I either win or lose but I enjoy the
game more that way.

[SnookeredYou]

I struggled before as I played to win and I played
players of all skill levels. I found it frustrating to
lose which of course is silly because everyone will
win or lose at snooker regardless of your opponents
skill level most times.
Today I play to do my best to play well and to also
try and improve my skill level. I would rather play
well and lose than play terrible and win.
I also play my own game regardless of the skill of
my opponent. I either win or lose but I enjoy the
game more that way.

I have tried to work on mastering my anger levels. Just yesterday I was practicing for a couple hours and I kept getting incredibly frustrated with myself. I just have to keep telling myself to stay calm and focused. I have only played on a snooker table about 10 times now, so I just need to get used to the table and the pockets. I am more of a straight pool player myself actually, but love snooker and want to get better at it.

[Wayne G]

I struggled before as I played to win and I played
players of all skill levels. I found it frustrating to
lose which of course is silly because everyone will
win or lose at snooker regardless of your opponents
skill level most times.
Today I play to do my best to play well and to also
try and improve my skill level. I would rather play
well and lose than play terrible and win.
I also play my own game regardless of the skill of
my opponent. I either win or lose but I enjoy the
game more that way.

I could say the same thing, word for word. I beat myself up for years. I finally convinced myself to just do my best and enjoy the game for what it is. It's a hobby, not a job. This year I joined a very large, competitive snooker league in Ontario with a lot of top amateurs. I knew that I didn't have a chance in hell but I'd try and win a few frames maybe. While, wrong. In 5 outings so far I have not won a frame. I'm not the least bit upset because I have played well at times and I know I'm much out-classed in terms of talent. There are no handicaps and all rules are played including the miss rule. Love the game, love the challenge.

[rimmer10]

I could say the same thing, word for word. I beat myself up for years. I finally convinced myself to just do my best and enjoy the game for what it is. It's a hobby, not a job. This year I joined a very large, competitive snooker league in Ontario with a lot of top amateurs. I knew that I didn't have a chance in hell but I'd try and win a few frames maybe. While, wrong. In 5 outings so far I have not won a frame. I'm not the least bit upset because I have played well at times and I know I'm much out-classed in terms of talent. There are no handicaps and all rules are played including the miss rule. Love the game, love the challenge.

I salute you Wayne!

[tedisbill]

Three hours and fifteen minutes for 5 frames in my local pro-am Sunday morning. Timing, the will to win, the will to live, enjoyment, all just completely gone.

[SnookeredYou]

I could say the same thing, word for word. I beat myself up for years. I finally convinced myself to just do my best and enjoy the game for what it is. It's a hobby, not a job. This year I joined a very large, competitive snooker league in Ontario with a lot of top amateurs. I knew that I didn't have a chance in hell but I'd try and win a few frames maybe. While, wrong. In 5 outings so far I have not won a frame. I'm not the least bit upset because I have played well at times and I know I'm much out-classed in terms of talent. There are no handicaps and all rules are played including the miss rule. Love the game, love the challenge.

I wish we had a snooker league here so I could actually play against some opponents but that just not the case. It's damn near impossible just to find anyone that knows what snooker is yet alone how to play the game and what the rules are......Ugh (sigh). :hurt:

[jrc750]

Three hours and fifteen minutes for 5 frames in my local pro-am Sunday morning. Timing, the will to win, the will to live, enjoyment, all just completely gone.

Did you at least win ??

[tedisbill]

Did you at least win ??

Did I hell. I though my temperament was good until today. My head just walked off and left the building.

[CoachGavin]

There is No Opponent... Only The Table

yes. Some games in the league or in handicap tournaments are like going through hell. However on a personal note if i give it 100 percent and actually win those games they are the games i am most proud of myself and that i remember the best. I just focus on trying my best because that's the only thing you have control of.

[Byrom]

I struggled before as I played to win and I played
players of all skill levels. I found it frustrating to
lose which of course is silly because everyone will
win or lose at snooker regardless of your opponents
skill level most times.
Today I play to do my best to play well and to also
try and improve my skill level. I would rather play
well and lose than play terrible and win.
I also play my own game regardless of the skill of
my opponent. I either win or lose but I enjoy the
game more that way.

That is interesting - I used to think like that until I played a certain really good player a number of years back and I realised that even in a friendly he would try and rip my soul out.

I asked why he had not given me a sniff and he replied he would not give his mother a shot if he could help it - I liked that wining mentality so I changed mine - now I try and be ultra competitive especially if someone makes a comment or has a swagger around the table. This goes against my happy go lucky nature and occasionally I do go soft on people and friends but I remember what this one player said to me and I tell myself off. Now my mind says this - I don't mind if I play well or bad as long as I win. I have a very decent B game which you need - as you very rarely play your A game if you are just a club player like me. I can't give up I try my tits off every time I play and will do my utmost to make it happen - I enjoy being in front and dictating a frame and making my opponent spit feathers after I make 40 and roll him behind the brown just as much as I enjoy the challenge of being 40 behind and needing to clear up to win or occasionally when seeing it when making a 80 90 100+ break.

Good guys finish last rimmer said and he is correct - I am always nice win or loose before or after the game and always compliment the other guy if he wins but that is after the game not during it - I flick a switch I try my utmost on the table and treat the game with absolute respect you have to. I think if you don't mind loosing you are missing the one major thing that can motivate improvement, You should hate loosing. Don't show it to the other fella and don't give him any advantage the next time you meet - keep it bubbling and use it as a motivator for improvement in practice - it works.

[alabadi]

I hate losing because i am ultra competitive, however i hate playing bad too, if i win and play bad although pleased to win i feel like i cheated or i won by luck rather than skill.

i have lost games and played really well, and after the game been disappointing with the loss but at the same time happy with how i played. i understand what Byrom was on about when he played that good player, i have my self played some pros and they truly don't give you an inch, the play as if the are playing in a tournament and that i guess is what separates them from us.

they play to win and try to play their best no matter what, a friendly game or in competition. this is what i want to be like, because at the moment i'm too friendly

[ace man]

Tournament or not, I play ultra tight especially against weak opponents. Alway try to keep as many colours on spot as possible.
Why would anyone want to play ultra tight against weak below 30 break guys?
Well, you go for a difficult black, miss it, it ends up on a cushion. You let your weak opponent have a shot on a high colour, he will miss it, and not only that, he will also put two other colours on the cushion all in one shot, as well as few reds. Count on it.
And before you know it, frame will come down to final few colours with you leading by only a few points. Suddenly, your weak opponent pots a few very low percentage pots, and then you begin to wander...how can this guy get even close to me?

[alabadi]

Tournament or not, I play ultra tight especially against weak opponents. Alway try to keep as many colours on spot as possible.
Why would anyone want to play ultra tight against weak below 30 break guys?
Well, you go for a difficult black, miss it, it ends up on a cushion. You let your weak opponent have a shot on a high colour, he will miss it, and not only that, he will also put two other colours on the cushion all in one shot, as well as few reds. Count on it.
And before you know it, frame will come down to final few colours with you leading by only a few points. Suddenly, your weak opponent pots a few very low percentage pots, and then you begin to wander...how can this guy get even close to me?

spot on analysis, i have had many matches with opponents who can't make a 16 break and yet it came down to the colours before i won.
not anymore i play the same way now even if i am 40+ points ahead with just colours left. obviously the lower skilled player can still ruin a game by going for outrageous shots and putting reds and colours on the cushions.

i have learned now when games go this way, i know i am not going to make any big breaks so i will just pick off what i can without pushing the boat out and then play good safety to get back in. this way i have found in no time i can be 30-40 points ahead.