thanks guys... most of you know I have retired... I spend an inordinate amount of time now practicing... especially shots that I know that I am weak or less than 50% to make...
Over the past three days I have played three different people, all who play different styles... all of the match's I have gotten them down 4 to 5 games early in the match... first 4 or 5 hours... then for some reason, I seem to break down... they get back even... all three of the match's have lasted over 9 hours...playing 40 or 50 a game...
I am trying to learn how to close the match's out yet seem to have difficulty doing that... I don't know if it is lack of concentration... or just a my own lack of ability to play solid one pocket that long...or if they see something in my game that they take advantage of later in the match... frustrating to get to the next level...but rest assured I am definitely trying to learn...
B
Billi,
Maybe you are too much of a sweetheart! No, seriously, you are very personable and, after/during a long session you may not bare down as much as early on. I have noticed that many killer players seem to get more vicious (in a good sense) the longer they play. Artie was always said to be that way and wear most folks down. As well, I think a guy has to make sure he takes care of himself during long matches,; have a comfortable place to stand or sit, learn to re-focus each turn at the table. Some concentrate every minute of a long match, great players can " take a break" each few innings without losing the ability to get their mind right back in the game. Bernie, it seems to me, has a great skill of turning it on and off without letting himself out of the game as does Big John and our Ghost as well.
So, you may need to play as you do for the first few hours, then mentally back off, have a sandwich wash your face like Fats in the movie and go back in like you are starting the match anew!
DeeMan