James Walden is looking for a house pro job

[JB Cases]

John you ever get to MO let me Know.I think me and you would have a pretty even game..I probably wouldnt like it but i think we would have some fun.

No 8ball though.:smile: Game gives me a head ache

It would be my pleasure. I think I would be doing the racking and you the shooting but that's ok too. I admire your videos and you obviously can shoot the eyes off the balls.

I'd like to pick your brain in person about your methods. You are pretty cagey about them on here but I can see that there is some real deep understanding behind the snippets you have dropped on the forum.

 

[8pack]

I gave this spot to a guy that plays here in Dallas one time and after he lost he motioned me over to him......he looked me in the eye with a look I'll never forget and said "you won't tell anyone you gave me this spot and beat me will you?" I said "of course not, it'll be our secret".....and to this day I've never told anyone.

Anybody that gets the 2 an out and the break and loses cant play .Im not saying you didnt do it but the person has better odds winning the lottery than making a ball.:wink:
I really thought you was kidding with this offer to Scott.
This goes down I'll take a small wager on Scott.I would bet my house but money makes people do funny things.
Scott get up and rob this guy dammit.

 

[8pack]

It would be my pleasure. I think I would be doing the racking and you the shooting but that's ok too. I admire your videos and you obviously can shoot the eyes off the balls.

I'd like to pick your brain in person about your methods. You are pretty cagey about them on here but I can see that there is some real deep understanding behind the snippets you have dropped on the forum.

John it would be fun and i meant my post all in fun.Not sure I would win really but I admire your passion for the game.You got character my friend.

 

[JB Cases]

Anybody that gets the 2 an out and the break and loses cant play .Im not saying you didnt do it but the person has better odds winning the lottery than making a ball.:wink:
I really thought you was kidding with this offer to Scott.
This goes down I'll take a small wager on Scott.I would bet my house but money makes people do funny things.
Scott get up and rob this guy dammit.

All this reminds me of the time I was in Germany and talking about spots that Americans give to each other. I mentioned that sometimes people give up the break and ball in hand after the break.

Well this guy pipes up and say he would take that spot from anyone including from Efren. Now in this room they know Efren as he had been there several times.

I was feeling real good because I had just won 1400 about 20 minutes prior so I said tell you what I will give you that spot for 50 a set race to five. He says sure and away we go. First set he takes ball in hand and tries to run out and doesn't get there and I win. Second set he plays more safeties and I don't convert them and he wins. So I quit.

But I said to him, you know Efren and how well he kicks so what do you think that the odds are that he would kick and resafe you often? The guy then admitted that the spot wasn't as big as he initially thought.

The 2 out and the breaks is a huge spot but it's not necessarily as big as one thinks it should be. Imagine if CJ is playing another pro, he expects that most of the time the first player who sees a shot is out. So by giving up the 2 out and the breaks he is only really putting himself up against about the same odds as he figures to be in against another pro. With one big caveat, all the pressure to win is on the guy getting the spot since everyone figures it to be a lock anyway.

And also, we all know that after the break there isn't always a shot to be had. Pretty sure CJ isn't going to give up the wild balls on the break in that spot. Which itself presents a problem if they play with the rules that balls made on the break spot to the string.

Lastly I want to relate another story of huge spots and the better players coming out on top anyway.

I once played in a tournament in London where the spots were such that if you were getting say the five out then as soon as you were on the five you could literally shoot ANY ball in and win but the spot giver was still restricted to just shooting the lowest numbered ball. It was insane.

But week after week the better players still won because they adjusted their strategy to move the balls around and either create clusters or set up the table to be run out easily. They absolutely would not make a ball unless they could run the table from that shot. Point being that great players find ways to overcome what seems like impossible odds.

Not saying Scott can't win here but I definitely saying that it's not a lock that CJ loses in my opinion. Of course if offered this weight I would HAVE to take it. You can't be a player who has ever run a rack and not take this weight if you gamble at all.

 

[buddha162]

Of course if offered this weight I would HAVE to take it. You can't be a player who has ever run a rack and not take this weight if you gamble at all.

Exactly. Unless you're a D player and can't run 3 balls consistently, you HAVE to take this spot, from anyone alive. And the 2-out and all the breaks is orders of magnitude different from BIH and all the breaks.

In addition to the possible caveats you brought up, I wonder if there are any restrictions on the break...ie, no cut breaks/soft breaks, or breaking from the box etc. What about ball sequence in the rack? If you're allowed to cut break and control the 1 ball...I don't know. It's just a HUGE spot.

-roger

 

[Lock N Load]

Exactly. Unless you're a D player and can't run 3 balls consistently, you HAVE to take this spot, from anyone alive. And the 2-out and all the breaks is orders of magnitude different from BIH and all the breaks.

In addition to the possible caveats you brought up, I wonder if there are any restrictions on the break...ie, no cut breaks/soft breaks, or breaking from the box etc. What about ball sequence in the rack? If you're allowed to cut break and control the 1 ball...I don't know. It's just a HUGE spot.

-roger

This is not a bad spot at all. I gave this spot to a guy that did not play real well. He ask for the blue thru, and then he decided he wanted the break too. It was a race to 7 games. He made a ball on 3 breaks the cue ball jumped the table on 1 break, the other breaks were dry, he lost the set. 7/4. Now I will say this, if the guy can play well he can win. But if he breaks dry or jump the table with the cue ball he is in trouble. And James plays very well. Just my two cents!
Many Regards,
Lock N Load.

 

[8pack]

All this reminds me of the time I was in Germany and talking about spots that Americans give to each other. I mentioned that sometimes people give up the break and ball in hand after the break.

Well this guy pipes up and say he would take that spot from anyone including from Efren. Now in this room they know Efren as he had been there several times.

I was feeling real good because I had just won 1400 about 20 minutes prior so I said tell you what I will give you that spot for 50 a set race to five. He says sure and away we go. First set he takes ball in hand and tries to run out and doesn't get there and I win. Second set he plays more safeties and I don't convert them and he wins. So I quit.

But I said to him, you know Efren and how well he kicks so what do you think that the odds are that he would kick and resafe you often? The guy then admitted that the spot wasn't as big as he initially thought.

The 2 out and the breaks is a huge spot but it's not necessarily as big as one thinks it should be. Imagine if CJ is playing another pro, he expects that most of the time the first player who sees a shot is out. So by giving up the 2 out and the breaks he is only really putting himself up against about the same odds as he figures to be in against another pro. With one big caveat, all the pressure to win is on the guy getting the spot since everyone figures it to be a lock anyway.

And also, we all know that after the break there isn't always a shot to be had. Pretty sure CJ isn't going to give up the wild balls on the break in that spot. Which itself presents a problem if they play with the rules that balls made on the break spot to the string.

Lastly I want to relate another story of huge spots and the better players coming out on top anyway.

I once played in a tournament in London where the spots were such that if you were getting say the five out then as soon as you were on the five you could literally shoot ANY ball in and win but the spot giver was still restricted to just shooting the lowest numbered ball. It was insane.

But week after week the better players still won because they adjusted their strategy to move the balls around and either create clusters or set up the table to be run out easily. They absolutely would not make a ball unless they could run the table from that shot. Point being that great players find ways to overcome what seems like impossible odds.

Not saying Scott can't win here but I definitely saying that it's not a lock that CJ loses in my opinion. Of course if offered this weight I would HAVE to take it. You can't be a player who has ever run a rack and not take this weight if you gamble at all.

John that is a huge spot,the only way players give people these type of spots is because they know how the shooter plays(not to good) and they plan on controlling them.I'm not sure of Scott,s speed but he doesn't look like a banger.
The players that get beat with these spot should because they have know clue, there not even players just wanna be bangers.I was there once, got beat by a player giving me the end rail.Thought I had the nuts,come to realize i didnt know sh!t about the game.
Im still a banger though but just a tad bit smarter.

 

[firemankc]

Come on people...... The 2 and out was a joke. Scott is a good guy. I would like to meet Brett and James. Pool is a tough job. Only a few make some real money.

PS. I gave the 2 and out once and won

Jim, I remember that, and Ray Charles really got mad.

 

[JB Cases]

John that is a huge spot,the only way players give people these type of spots is because they know how the shooter plays(not to good) and they plan on controlling them.I'm not sure of Scott,s speed but he doesn't look like a banger.
The players that get beat with these spot should because they have know clue, there not even players just wanna be bangers.I was there once, got beat by a player giving me the end rail.Thought I had the nuts,come to realize i didnt know sh!t about the game.
Im still a banger though but just a tad bit smarter.

I gotta disagree slightly. The difference between top pros and decent amateurs is way bigger than decent amateurs think it is.

Scott can play, no doubt about it. And I think that he has to better than most amateurs. I really wasn't meaning to make a prediction one way or the other, just saying that CJ doesn't have to lose with that weight.

As James said, he has given up the six and the last four quite often. I know I took the last four from Jesse Bowman and didn't like it one bit and I can run a few balls.

I have seen pros give up ridiculous weight and come out on top.

Hell, when Bustamante first showed up in Germany he was spotting world class players five and six games going to 11 and winning. He gave up so much weight that they COULD NOT refuse. No one could believe that any living human could have spotted these guys that much weight and win.

My friend Ilona Bernhardt once said to me that amateurs make a huge mistake of thinking that they are as good as their best day. When in fact, she said, amateurs are only as good as their average which is generally far below their best day. We tend to overestimate our abilities while pros have made a career out of knowing exactly what theirs are in comparison to anyone they face.

One of the scariest things anyone ever said to me is when a player asked me to play some in Germany once and I asked him for the 7 out and without blinking he said ok. I didn't like it one bit as I realized I didn't have nearly enough weight to make it an even game.

As the old saying goes, I might give you what you want but I will never give you what you need.

 

[jtompilot]

Jim, I remember that, and Ray Charles really got mad.

Casey, you funny guy:thumbup:

 

[vapoolplayer]

Typical pool player stuff:

Player A barks and asks for X amount of spot

Player B agrees to X spot

Player A nowhere to be found

 

[Gerry Williams]

I don't think CJ has any shot with this spot...ridiculous woofing is all it is.

If Scott came back and offered to play for 10K CJ would go running.

Time to grow up boys - banter like this is a big part of the reason pool is the way it is.

Scott - how do you say no to this?

I gave this spot to a guy that plays here in Dallas one time and after he lost he motioned me over to him......he looked me in the eye with a look I'll never forget and said "you won't tell anyone you gave me this spot and beat me will you?" I said "of course not, it'll be our secret".....and to this day I've never told anyone.

 

[8pack]

I gotta disagree slightly. The difference between top pros and decent amateurs is way bigger than decent amateurs think it is.

Scott can play, no doubt about it. And I think that he has to better than most amateurs. I really wasn't meaning to make a prediction one way or the other, just saying that CJ doesn't have to lose with that weight.

As James said, he has given up the six and the last four quite often. I know I took the last four from Jesse Bowman and didn't like it one bit and I can run a few balls.

I have seen pros give up ridiculous weight and come out on top.Hell, when Bustamante first showed up in Germany he was spotting world class players five and six games going to 11 and winning. He gave up so much weight that they COULD NOT refuse. No one could believe that any living human could have spotted these guys that much weight and win.

My friend Ilona Bernhardt once said to me that amateurs make a huge mistake of thinking that they are as good as their best day. When in fact, she said, amateurs are only as good as their average which is generally far below their best day. We tend to overestimate our abilities while pros have made a career out of knowing exactly what theirs are in comparison to anyone they face.

One of the scariest things anyone ever said to me is when a player asked me to play some in Germany once and I asked him for the 7 out and without blinking he said ok. I didn't like it one bit as I realized I didn't have nearly enough weight to make it an even game.

As the old saying goes, I might give you what you want but I will never give you what you need.

Yes they give big spots but how many times do they give the break with it?Some players dont realize before its to late a spot isnt a spot unless you see it.In this case while the 2 an out is big what makes it huge is the break.Tall task for anyone and wouldnt take much for Scott to beat CJ at all.Cj can only run 1 in row but for Scott who knows.



As the old saying goes, I might give you what you want but I will never give you what you need.[/QUOTE]


I agree most of the time.

 

[somms69]

I don't think CJ has any shot with this spot...ridiculous woofing is all it is.

If Scott came back and offered to play for 10K CJ would go running.

Time to grow up boys - banter like this is a big part of the reason pool is the way it is.

Scott - how do you say no to this?

He has read the thread post offer and failed to accept. Nuff said.

 

[Celtic]

Anybody that gets the 2 an out and the break and loses cant play .Im not saying you didnt do it but the person has better odds winning the lottery than making a ball.:wink:
I really thought you was kidding with this offer to Scott.
This goes down I'll take a small wager on Scott.I would bet my house but money makes people do funny things.
Scott get up and rob this guy dammit.

On a tough breaking 9-foot table it is not actually that crazy for a reasonable player to.lose with that spot against a world class pro.

 

[uwate]

last four is less of a spot than the wild six and anyone who has matched up alot knows that the offer of a wild ball and then the same wild ball plus the last X is (for example ill give u the 7...ok how about the 7 and the last 3) is really not much of a difference. Same goes with the six and then the six and the last 4. Really by the time the game gets down to the six, the last four makes about as much of a difference as the six. Its more weight, yes...but barely....


Good fortune to you James on this endeavor and welcome to the board.

 

[buddha162]

On a tough breaking 9-foot table it is not actually that crazy for a reasonable player to.lose with that spot against a world class pro.

Define "reasonable player."

-roger

 

[gettnthere]

2 out and the break

Pretty sure CJ isn't going to give up the wild balls on the break in that spot.

The way he wrote it includes all balls on the break.

 

[Celtic]

Define "reasonable player."

-roger

Your average open level BCAPL player in Vegas at the nationals.

They are good players, but they are certainly amature level.

Keep in mind I said on a "tough breaking" 9-foot, the reality is this spot has heisted alot of people who thought it was a lock due to a lack of abiity to make a ball on their break and get an open makeable shot on the low ball on the table at least 50% of the time.

Most amature players cannot succesfully break to pocket a ball AND get an open makeable shot on the lowest ball at a rate even close to 50% and that is where this spot can actually get beat.

 

[buddha162]

Your average open level BCAPL player in Vegas at the nationals.

They are good players, but they are certainly amature level.

Keep in mind I said on a "tough breaking" 9-foot, the reality is this spot has heisted alot of people who thought it was a lock due to a lack of abiity to make a ball on their break and get an open makeable shot on the low ball on the table at least 50% of the time.

Most amature players cannot succesfully break to pocket a ball AND get an open makeable shot on the lowest ball at a rate even close to 50% and that is where this spot can actually get beat.

Wait, by open level do you mean shortstop? As in, the level between A and pro?

Are you telling me that the 2 out and all the breaks is not a lock for an OPEN level player? Any solid open player have beaten pros, even up. I would put the odds in favor of a solid B player, and probably even odds for a strong C. That's against a top pro. If the table is breaking hard, it's breaking hard for both players. If CJ misses at any point of his runout, every ball left is a money ball. That's 8 money balls to carom, combo, or run to in every rack.

I understand there are deceptively big spots that aren't really that big. The 2 out and all the breaks is not one of them. It's an insane spot, period, and Scott should be chomping at the bit. He is, after all, an instructor who travels the nation giving lessons. I would expect him to be at least an open class player.

-roger