Inside Secrets: Part 4
By NYC Grind Contributor, Mark Finkelstein
As much as I hate to admit this, I lost a game last night. Not a match mind you but one game. But in that loss were a few lessons that I learned and I want to share with you. One of the givens in the pool world, is that you will lose. Everyone misses, makes mistakes and loses. What separates the champions from the other is how much you can learn from your misses and losses and apply to your next match.
Of course after the loss I felt angry and a little bitter. But, on the drive home, I was able to put the whole thing in perspective and learn the lessons given to me. I will share those lessons with you and hope you can learn from my errors.
First let me set the scene. I was playing in a Country Club running a tournament and giving some lessons on small 4 x 8 table with dim lighting. Everyone was playing 8 ball and I hadn’t played much 8 ball in the last 10 years or so. Most of the people at this club were golfers, had a few drinks and were having a good time. My job was to teach them a few tricks, play some games and run a tournament. I never expected to get into any action.
As we were playing around, one of the members wanted to play me a game for $20. Now I don’t usually bet when I am working, but the crowd encouraged us. The big picture is I won the first game, but lost the second game and that is what I want to look at. How I lost that second game and what I will do with the loss is the lesson I want to share with you today.
First, I underestimated my opponent. I didn’t bring my A game to the table. I was careless and didn’t really think he could run out or out move me. This is a classic mistake! Never just play for fun. Always bring your A game because once you let up, you will have a hard time bringing it back when you need it. I had chances in this game, but never really focused on what I was doing. I was depending on my opponent to make mistakes rather than running out or forcing him to make mistakes. I assumed he would make a mistake. He didn’t, and with three lucky shots, a good roll and two bank shots, he ran out. Learn this lesson well.
Next, I was playing an unfamiliar game on an unfamiliar table. I play a lot of rotation games on 9 foot tables. I depend on my pocketing skills, position play, and patterns to give me an advantage. Playing on a smaller table, changed the game in a subtle way that I didn’t pick up on fast enough. I tried to run out all the time, and didn’t figure my opponent could do that. I actually made it easy for him as I took off all the blockers for him. I didn’t play smart pool. I didn’t hide enough! I figured my offensive ability would carry over to a smaller table, with more clusters and blocked balls. I was wrong.
Third was how he played the game. The set up was very dark, so on my break, he put the 4 ball up front, gave me a loose rack, and had the rack an inch or so below the spot. Since I was “entertaining” and being paid to be there, I let this slide. Again, I didn’t bring my A game. Normally, I would have a re-rack, change the balls and demand he give me tight rack.
Fourth, was the sharking. Every time I got down to shoot, he kept asking me questions, talking to me or generally trying to get in to my head. In a real match I would have called him on it and got in his face a little. Again, I just shrugged it off because I was working. But I was annoyed and I didn’t get into my playing zone. I interacted with him and was social. This is not my A game as when I play seriously, I never take my eyes off the table. My total focus is on the table and the game. Talking to my opponent isn’t part of my mental game.
Probably the best lesson I learned is to never let up on any opponent!
Now here is a shot I almost made that I want to share with you. It is a clever use of the 3 rail spot on the wall banking system that I have written about previously. Take a look at this diagram:
Inside Secrets: Part 4 Diagram
I had a few good safes here, but I went all out trying to win. The slow table got me as I hit the 14, but the one ball didn’t quite make the pocket and I broke up his balls. I know, I know, not very smart, but… remember, I was entertaining, didn’t bring my A game, and underestimated my opponent–mistakes that I won’t forget!
Good luck and see you on the road.
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Mark Finkelstein is the House Pro at Slate Billiards on 21st Street in Manhattan.If you have questions, or would like to see a particular topic addressed, you can email Mark at mfinkelstein3@verizon.net.
