Something all came together the last week. I've played some of the best pool in my life.
Last Tuesday I beat Rachel in a race to 7 10 ball on stream. I won 7-5. Then we went to another room and played together partners vs 2 other guys, 10 ball again, for 100 per man. We both shot lights out and got up 6-2. Somehow we lost from there. I missed a hanger 9 to get on the 10 at hill-hill. I was so embarrassed, that I payed off for both of us.
Then I played one of the guys solo 9 ball a race to 5 for 500. The whole time I was thinking about the dogged 9. I also had to play fast because we drove together, and she had to get home. So I had to win fast. I got up 4-0 before he had a shot other than a break or push. I missed 1 ball the whole set, and won 5-0. It might have been the best I ever played.
Then yesterday I drove to a backpocket tournament. I had brain farts during the tournament and shot at the wrong pocket, ha ha. But afterwards, I was just sitting doing nothing. A customer came in and got a table. Out of the corner of my eye I saw he couldn't find the rack, and the houseman showed him. (diamond barbox). I figured he was a banger and didn't give him a second thought. Then later I went to the corner of the room to make a phone call, and he was in my line of sight. He was a player. I'm thinking to myself, wtf, he didn't know where the rack is but he could play. btw, he was Asian. It didn't add up. So I walked over to him and said how could you not know where the rack is but you can play. His english was bad. I asked if he wanted to play. He said yes. I asked where he was from, he said China. I said hello to him in Mandarin and said I've been there 5 times. He had a snooker stance, so I asked if he played C8B. He said yes. It must have been his first time ever on a Diamond. I asked if he knew who Siming Chen is, and he said yes. Anyway, we played 2 hours for fun, and I swear he must have thought I was a pro. I was running out like water. I've never played that good in my life, for sure. I actually wanted to quit as I was getting tired, but didn't want it to end. I also went up the houseman and told him to make sure he welcomes this guy when he comes in again, he's a player, and wants to learn.
I finally quit and rested an hour. Then I go up to the best player in the room, and he's been one of the best players in PA for 30 years. He's a 694 now at prob age 55. I said to him: "Can you give me some lessons". He says "how much". I say "25 a set". He touches my pants wallet and laughs and says "you're wallet is too thick for that!".
I walk away and he comes finds me later and says ok. So we play races to 5 9 ball on the barbox for 25, even. I picked the same table I played the Chinese guy on, even though there was a banger on the next table, and the tables were close together, and the whole room was about empty. I wanted to keep everything the same.
Well, it worked. I won the first set 5-3. We played 5 sets total, he won 3 sets to my 2. All were close. I was getting out, breaking and running, and playing kick safeties like Efren. Kicking 2 rails to the edge of the ball and hiding it. Playing trick shot tickies to start a run, and going head to head with him on push strategies. He even said to me that I played great afterwards.
I didn't win a dime, but felt like a million bucks afterwards. Still on the high now the next day.
