Being Clutch

[Morning Wood]

There's something I wish I could be, but I've come to realize I'm not... being Clutch.

I define being clutch as performing beyond your expected or realistic capabilities to achieve something ridiculously awesome. In other words, I'm not talking about guys who are so talented that they lap their competition. I'm talking about guys who maybe are not the superstars of the world, but do things at superstar levels when push comes to shove. An example close to home would be Martin Gelinas' knack for scoring 3 (could've been 4...) series winning goals en route to the 2004 finals. He's also closed out other series before in the past while he was with Canes. Another example would be how Tiger Woods (in his god state before his scandal) has been caught from behind by Y.E Yang not once, but twice (!!) in the final round of tournaments. At the time, catching Tiger was next to impossible when he was playing in the same group with you on championship sunday. Robert Horry in the NBA playoffs was always pure money in crunch time. But in the regular season, he was never anything special. No one is saying Horry, Gelinas or Yang are superstars, but they have achieved feats that are incredible to say the least.

Why is it that some people can just turn on a switch when the pressure is on and become gods when they want to?

For example, I have a golf buddy who I grew up playing golf with and he's not the best player, but he ALWAYS plays ridiculous near the end of a round. He cruises around the first 11 holes of a round at 18 over par, and then goes -1 the next 7 holes to finish at 89 (doesn't finish with a 90s score). This is a typical round for him.

This happens ALL THE TIME! It's nuts! I played with him at Banff Springs a couple years ago, and he was +29 after 15 holes. After the 15th hole, he tells me that he's not going to shoot over a 100 in his inaugural visit to Banff Springs. I thought this might be tough to do but guess what, he sinks 2 20+ foot birdies and a clutch up and down par to finish at... You guessed it... 99.

And why is it that this clutch behaviour follows them around in everyday activities as well?

He never played hockey before in his life, and never played nhl video games before, but i was lonely one day and decided to invite him over to play nhl 11 (before 12 came out). We played on the same team in an online match, and it was brutal because he was trying to get accustomed to the controls, and refused to use the "baby" NHL 94 controls. Well, we were using the Flames and our opponent were the Sabres. We got scored on early, but I was able to tie the game up with a Tanguay wrister in the 3rd. With 4.8 s left in the 3rd, we got a faceoff in the offensive zone, and I thought we might be able to get a shot off if I win the draw... Too bad my newb friend would get control of the puck even if I win it... But anyway, I told him to just get a shot off before the buzzer sounds if he gets the puck. Sure enough, I win the faceoff, and the puck goes to newb Regehr instead of newb Bouwmeester. There's no chance Regehr is going to score on Miller... Buffalo winger dives in front to block the shot, but surprisingly, newb Regehr skates by him. Then he unloads a slapper low far side on Miller, and it beats him clean... with 1.7 seconds left!!!!

Anyway, I'm just wondering if you guys on CP could share your own clutch stories or comment on why you think some people are clutch. I'm under the impression you're just born with it.

[SeeBass]

Originally Posted by Morning Wood

There's something I wish I could be, but I've come to realize I'm not... being Clutch.

Why is it that some people can just turn on a switch when the pressure is on and become gods when they want to?

For example, I have a golf buddy who I grew up playing golf with and he's not the best player, but he ALWAYS plays ridiculous near the end of a round. He cruises around the first 11 holes of a round at 18 over par, and then goes -1 the next 7 holes to finish at 89 (doesn't finish with a 90s score). This is a typical round for him.

This happens ALL THE TIME! It's nuts! I played with him at Banff Springs a couple years ago, and he was +29 after 15 holes. After the 15th hole, he tells me that he's not going to shoot over a 100 in his inaugural visit to Banff Springs. I thought this might be tough to do but guess what, he sinks 2 20+ foot birdies and a clutch up and down par to finish at... You guessed it... 99.

And why is it that this clutch behaviour follows them around in everyday activities as well?

He never played hockey before in his life, and never played nhl video games before, but i was lonely one day and decided to invite him over to play nhl 11 (before 12 came out). We played on the same team in an online match, and it was brutal because he was trying to get accustomed to the controls, and refused to use the "baby" NHL 94 controls. Well, we were using the Flames and our opponent were the Sabres. We got scored on early, but I was able to tie the game up with a Tanguay wrister in the 3rd. With 4.8 s left in the 3rd, we got a faceoff in the offensive zone, and I thought we might be able to get a shot off if I win the draw... Too bad my newb friend would get control of the puck even if I win it... But anyway, I told him to just get a shot off before the buzzer sounds if he gets the puck. Sure enough, I win the faceoff, and the puck goes to newb Regehr instead of newb Bouwmeester. There's no chance Regehr is going to score on Miller... Buffalo winger dives in front to block the shot, but surprisingly, newb Regehr skates by him. Then he unloads a slapper low far side on Miller, and it beats him clean... with 1.7 seconds left!!!!

Anyway, I'm just wondering if you guys on CP could share your own clutch stories or comment on why you think some people are clutch.

Oh for crying out loud, just ask him out already!!!

[BurningYears]

Is that you option84?

[troutman]

Somewhere I saw a detailed analysis on "clutch" athletes by a statistician, and it was discovered they are no more likely to succeed in the clutch, than other times. I think they were looking specifically at NBA players.

The Myth of Clutch:

http://npinopunintended.wordpress.co...yth-of-clutch/

Derek Jeter has played in an absurd number of playoff games. The 2009 ALCS will be his 27th postseason series in 13 seasons. He has 505 playoff at-bats, or about as many as a typical season. How do his numbers compare, you ask? Well, his postseason stats are .311/.380/.477 and his regular season numbers are .317/.388/.459. Wow, those numbers are shockingly similar. Almost suspiciously similar. It almost leads one to believe that a player, given a lot of opportunities, will perform more or less the same in the postseason as he does in the regular season.

This statement is borne out again and again. Ortiz in the playoffs: .283/.388/.520. Ortiz in the regular season: .282/.377/.545. Few other players have enough playoff appearances to effectively compare, but you can also look at regular season “clutch stats.” A-Rod’s numbers in these situations (close and late, two outs and runners in scoring position, etc.) are more or less the same as his career numbers. These facts are also borne out by BP’s research. The aforementioned Click says that “Good hitters are good clutch hitters; bad hitters are bad clutch hitters.”

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clutch_%28sports%29

The explanation offered by most skeptics is that players who have several memorable hits in big games, especially early in their careers, acquire the mantle of "clutch hitter," and fans then unconsciously watch for such hits in the future from those players in particular, falsely reinforcing their beliefs over time. Despite the evidence, many people in baseball steadfastly believe in the idea of the clutch hitter.

In many cases, a simple review of statistics debunks the notion that certain players are "clutch" performers. Baseball's Reggie Jackson has long been known as "Mr. October" because of his alleged ability to elevate his game in the post-season. A look at his post-season statistics is instructive. In 281 post-season at-bats, Jackson batted .278 with 18 homers and 48 RBIs. Extrapolated, that would mean 36 homers and 96 RBIs in a full season, which is approximately what we would expect from Jackson in a typical season. The numbers suggest that Reggie Jackson was not a "clutch" performer but a very solid player who performed about the same in the regular season and the post-season.

Similarly, despite his reputation as a "money pitcher," Jack Morris had a post-season E.R.A. of 3.80, almost exactly the same as his career 3.90 E.R.A. in the regular season. And Derek Jeter, supposedly a "clutch" hitter, has batted .314 in the post-season, almost the same as his career .317 average in the regular season.

http://geniusblog.davidshenk.com/200...h-players.html

Do some players actually perform better under pressure -- make better shots under extreme, last-minute pressure than they would under merely high-pressure conditions?

The answer is no. Those reported to be clutch players are actually just great players who get more opportunities to make last minute shots, and score at the same percentages that they do in other parts of the game. Also, we tend to remember the great last-minute shots, and forget the last-minute misses.

Listen here for the explanation:

[scotty2hotty]

Choke: What the Secrets of the Brain Reveal About Getting It Right When You Have To by Sian Beilock (Sep 21, 2010)

[blankall]

For me, I'm not very clutch at sports, but am very clutch in real life situtions. I think it honestly has to do with the fact I will tense up in sports, especially ones that I am unfamiliar with, but am, for whatever reason, totally relaxed in real life situations. I can avoid disasters at work, while driving, etc... but if I'm playing a sport it takes me a while to relax and get used to it before I can perform anywhere near clutch.

[Shaggin Wagon]

I have lost 7 pound in the last two months and I think it has a lot to do with stamina. I used to sprint in sports then since I was out of breath couldn't finish. Now I can run all out and then think of what to do. I am really good in first halves but just can't make anything happen in the second half. Been running 3X a week for 8 weeks and my athletic ability has gotten considerably better. When I am not dying trying to catch my breath I can think a lot clearer.

Golf doesn't seem strenuous but I'm sure your brain knows which muscles are fatigued. The brain just doesn't tell you.

Going back to Gelinas, I believe he was in fantastic shape and that could explain. Also, see Iggy aka fittest flame in the olympics overtime.

[sclitheroe]

Drury was considered clutch too. I don't think it counts for as much as people think.

Mariano Rivera isn't clutch - the guy has been money every time he closes.

Would you rather be clutch or money?

[Morning Wood]

Originally Posted by SeeBass

Oh for crying out loud, just ask him out already!!!

You know what, I do remind him of his antics everyday, and he keeps claiming it's nothing special. He keeps lowballing how unlikely those events should be, saying stuff like "you would try too if you didn't want to shoot 100". I do admit, he's also been clutch in getting jobs and women too... He's an all-star that I'll never become

[koop]

Originally Posted by troutman

Somewhere I saw a detailed analysis on "clutch" athletes by a statistician, and it was discovered they are no more likely to succeed in the clutch, than other times. I think they were looking specifically at NBA players.

Yep, It's pretty much all BS like a lot of things in sports. Once it becomes commonly accepted that a guy is "clutch" any time he makes a big play in a big moment it will reinforce the belief, but when he fails in the same situation it will more or less be ignored.

[Vulcan]

To me being clutch isn't about having stats that are comparable or better in post season as compared to regular season. It's about the guy who can score the big goal, win the big faceoff or hit the big home run when the game is on the line.

[koop]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

To me being clutch isn't about having stats that are comparable or better in post season as compared to regular season. It's about the guy who can score the big goal, win the big faceoff or hit the big home run when the game is on the line.

No such thing, it's all in your head. Good players/athletes score the big goals, hit the big home runs, etc. when the game is on the line just as often as they do when the game isn't on the line.

[cKy]

You mean... Clutch?

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by koop

No such thing, it's all in your head. Good players/athletes score the big goals, hit the big home runs, etc. when the game is on the line just as often as they do when the game isn't on the line.

I call bull, some react better to pressure than others. I'd say an example is our old backup, McElhinney who could star in the minors but hasn't been able to cut it in the NHL. Other players are average AHL players but moving up to the big leagues doesn't faze them and they become average NHL players as well. An example could be Moss.

[CaptainCrunch]

Look, its simple, some of us are awesome, most of you are losers.

Its not about being clutch, its about you sucking.

[JayP]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

To me being clutch isn't about having stats that are comparable or better in post season as compared to regular season. It's about the guy who can score the big goal, win the big faceoff or hit the big home run when the game is on the line.

Except this relies heavily on small sample sizes and things out of a player's control.

How many chances does a player get to win the big faceoff in a playoff run? Maybe 10 maximum? If each faceoff is essentially a 50/50 chance to win or loss (which is fair seeing how both teams likely have good centres taking it) there's a still very good chance that one player is going to 7 or 8 of them and be considered clutch. That's just how probability works.

Scoring the big goal has as much to do with the defense and goaltending as it does the player itself. You could put the same perfect shot on net from the same spot a hundred times, but your clutchness is all dependent on if the goalie makes a great save or not.

And baseball is the worst for clutchness because the hitter is completely at the mercy of the pitcher. If the pitcher goes out there and hits his spots and picks the corners every pitch there's almost nothing a hitter can do except get lucky.

Clutchness is a product of sports media who needs a good narrative and the perfect narrative is always the star player clutching up and "willing his team to victory".

[JayP]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

I call bull, some react better to pressure than others. I'd say an example is our old backup, McElhinney who could star in the minors but hasn't been able to cut it in the NHL. Other players are average AHL players but moving up to the big leagues doesn't faze them and they become average NHL players as well. An example could be Moss.

Either that or his talents were good enough to work at the AHL level and not the NHL level.

Baseball is littered with AAAA guys - players who dominate in AAA, but fail in the majors. And typically there's a reason for it (ie; a soft-tossing pitcher who's breaking pitches fool young batters, but veteran MLBs are more patient and wait for him to pitch in the strike zone).

McElhinney is very similar. He's a good positional goalie who doesn't have great mobility. Those strong fundamentals work well against lesser competition, but in the NHL you need average athletic ability (relative to other NHL goalies) to survive and he just doesn't have it.

[JayP]

Originally Posted by koop

Yep, It's pretty much all BS like a lot of things in sports. Once it becomes commonly accepted that a guy is "clutch" any time he makes a big play in a big moment it will reinforce the belief, but when he fails in the same situation it will more or less be ignored.

Yeah, it's perception bias to the max.

It's funny how guys like Datsyuk and Zetterberg are so clutch now, but pre-lockout they were considered big chokers. If they "learned" to be clutch why doesn't everybody else do it?

Or how the biggest choker in the world A-Rod carried the Yankees to a World Series a few years ago.

Playoffs are notoriously bad for small sample sizes. Just look at the NHL playoffs - the players going to the conference finals or further play around an average of 20 games. Look at the NHL scoring leaders after 20 regular season games and tell me if there's not some obvious names of guys you know won't be there by season's end. The difference is that if you do it during the regular season once it's just a hot streak and you get labelled inconsistent. If you do it in the playoffs once you get labelled "clutch".

[d_phaneuf]

Kind of the opposite of clutch, choking, but a really interesting article from Malcolm Gladwell on it with a few specific examples

http://www.gladwell.com/2000/2000_08_21_a_choking.htm


I think in today's world there's a lot more chokers than people that are clutch, most people that are though of as clutch, like Jeter, basically do the same as they do normally in a high pressure situation, leading people to believe they are clutch

others choke

[Morning Wood]

Originally Posted by diane_phaneuf

Kind of the opposite of clutch, choking, but a really interesting article from Malcolm Gladwell on it with a few specific examples

http://www.gladwell.com/2000/2000_08_21_a_choking.htm


I think in today's world there's a lot more chokers than people that are clutch, most people that are though of as clutch, like Jeter, basically do the same as they do normally in a high pressure situation, leading people to believe they are clutch

others choke

Yah, I'm definitely a choker... I can't seem to deliver when something is on the line... Even my best golf rounds of my life never end with pars. My top 3 rounds of my life have been 70, 73, and 75. None ended with pars, all bogey +... That 70 round hurt, because I could've shot in the 60s!! Instead, I 3-putted from 20 feet on the 18th. that was 7 years ago, and I haven't even come close since then after university and work took over my life. Nowadays, I still choke, but I choke to a 90 instead of 89... Still feels horrible