INTIMIDATION - Viking Cues Tip of the Week with Mike Roque author of Build Your Game.

Intimidation

“I used to think, I’ve gotta play Earl or Efren. But now I think, they have to play me.”

-Rodney Morris

Never be intimidated by another player. When you are competing against a top player, you have nothing to lose and everything to gain. The pressure is on them to prove their superiority.

When two people compete, their mental makeup often determines who will win or lose. And this can take place long before the match begins.

If you take the attitude that you will play your best, then it doesn’t matter who you play. However, that doesn’t mean that you ignore your opponent. Competition by definition involves another. It’s true that you are playing the table, but you are also playing a person, and like it or not, your opponent’s play and demeanor will elicit emotional responses from you that can directly affect your game.

Note in the opening quote, Rodney Morris knew who he was playing, but he chose not to be intimidated by it.

Even great athletes tend to play to their opponent’s skill level. There’s not a basketball coach in the country that wants to play a push over team just before the finals. It simply won’t prepare them to play tough enough against a stronger team. Learn to enjoy tough competition.