Demeanor Take 3

A friend on my Monday night league told me he noticed that I don't show emotion when I lose a match, and that he respected that.

He asked me why.

Hmm, no one had ever asked me why.

Seriously.

I wrote in late October how I was a statue during a gambling match.  And earlier that month I wrote how people like my demeanor at the table.

But I never really said WHY.

No one ever asked; so I hadn't really thought about it, lol.

Why DO I do that? 

Well, I told him people look up to me and that's one reason.  Even though he laughed at that (gosh!), it was true (from what I've heard from others on the Ladies League I am on). 

Also, I am a representative of the Omega Billiards Tour, and before that the OB Cues Ladies Tour.  I think it's important to not be an ass if you run a business with sponsors for the players.  That's just me.

But honestly, the main reason is:  I see the way some people act when they lose, or miss a shot, or get a bad roll, and I just don't want to be that person or act that way:  childish or a sore loser.  I don't want to be that type of person at all when I play;  I want to show respect to my opponents.

Sure I show emotion at times, sure, but I wont throw tantrums or act disgusted or act childish.  It ain't me!

A Statue

I mentioned earlier this month that people have told me they like my demeanor around the table and they appreciate that about my style of play.

I try to show no emotions - especially anger or upsetness. No negative body language or those "disgust" facial expressions we want to make when someone shits in a ball or something.

Well, I did this non-emotion A LOT the other night.

A LOT

I was a freaking statue!  

I was very proud of myself!

On Saturday night, I got a few hours of practice in on the 9 foot table and then was headed with some friends to a local hangout.  Right as we left the pool room, tho, we heard that "T" (the guy I gambled with back in April) was at another pool hall, so we all went over there to see if he wanted to play me some more.

Long story short, we played again! 

It was funny, because my friend asked him if he wanted to play me and he replies looking at me, "I've only been beat by one girl and I'm going to beat you.  You sure you want to play?" 

Yep, I do!

He didn't know I was the same girl!!  lol.

T was playing better this night, though, and he won the first set for $100.

Then I won the second set hill-hill for $100.

Even.

Whew.

T is the type of player who tries to cheese the 9ball a lot.  He would fire at the 9ball so many times and I would just be standing there solid, holding my cue, not even flinching when he went for them. 

As he fired at all those 9balls, I stood still:  like a statue.  I didn't move at all.  I just waited for my turn.

I didn't act like a child or throw my hands in the air in disgust, or shift my body, nothing.  Not even facial expressions.  You would have thought we were practicing, lol! 

I just let him fire at the 9ball. Most the time he would miss, but that 9ball would travel 3-5 rails and knock other balls in!  I just stood there non-affected, holding my cue, even tho he was getting "lucky." SO proud of myself for not showing emotions or making gestures.

BTW, we played a 3rd set for $300.  I was down 0-2, then up 6-3, then it was tied 6-6.  I was down 7-6, but then won 9-7 for the cash.  :)

Statue baby!

Do You Hold Your Cue, Or Put It Down?

Because my hands sweat a little, I could never hold my cue while I sat in my chair.  I felt like if I held my cue, then the shaft would get dirtier and also my hands would get more sweaty.  So, I would lean my cue on the side table or chair, or maybe someone had a cue holder I could use.

Then one day a few years ago, a friend at the pool room told me to hold my cue when I was in my chair.

"Huh?"

I expressed to him I couldn't hold my cue while sitting in my chair every time.  I felt like it made my hands more sweaty! 

In return to my stance, he explained why I should seriously reconsider.

He suggested that it's a deterrent for my opponent.  It's also mental - on both sides.  He said that when your opponent sees that cue on your hand, even subliminally it looks like you are ready for them to miss and/or ready for for your next turn at the table. It also tells your own mind and body YOU are ready for your next shot at the table.

I thought it was hogwash.  I really did.

"Whatever, Dude."

He then shared he had told one of my fellow female colleagues this same thing and now she does it all the time.

Hmm, really?

Being one of my competitors, that made me more interested in it, lol. 

It did make sense.  Can you recall those times you were at the table and in your peripheral vision, you see your opponent put down their cue?  That was a tell-tale sign they knew you were about to run out, and they weren't expecting another chance at the table.

So, maybe he was a little right.

I don't recall exactly how many years ago this was and I can't recall exactly when I started to utilize his suggestion, but now I canNOT put my cue down when playing in a match.  I got used to holding the cue.  I got used to "being ready to play" by NOT putting my cue down.

I still wont technically hold the shaft of the cue in my hands b/c I think the wood against my palms creates extra sweat (at lest it feels that way), but I lean my cue against my lap or legs when I'm sitting down, waiting for my turn.  I now have to have the cue leaned up against me, or my arms kinda wrapped around it, or sometimes holding it if I am standing. 

If I'm sharing a cue and my partner puts our cue down, I will grab it and hold it near my persons.  I just can't not be holding my cue anymore.

I've been doing this for years now. 

I don't know how much affect it has on my opponents, but I like how holding my cue makes me feel ready for my next shot.  And secretly I hope this small action has a small effect on my opponent, too.  (Is that bad?)

Either way, it works for me now.

If you decide to try this, please let me know if it helps!