Exactly how good are these professional players?

I have played

dom_poppa said:
Since we are on the subject of pool being a dying sport and pro's should consider another occupation. I would like to ask how good are they exactly? Has anyone played against a pro before?
Click to expand...

I play alot of one hole and am much more of a mover than shooter as I play bad. I had been playing Justin bergman 18-4 lately and we are dead even. I played Scott Frost that way and got dead robbed. I hardly ever got past one ball and only won a couple of games that he prob let me win to pump the bet. I thought I played the game ok till I played him. these guys are amazing. I have also played Chip, Joey, JJ, etc..

A good friend played Joey 9 ball. he would be a good B player. I asked him how he liked it. He said well I won two games. I asked if he learned anything. He said yeah if you play safe you have to freeze him on a ball and a rail or he'll just kick something in.
 
Also

Look at a pro like Chris bartram. he gets a couple balls vs the top players like Shane, Dennis, etc. He is still awesome some guys are just too freaking good, like Verlander or Cabrera in baseball, or Manning in Football.

Shortstops just don't break as well consistantly, run out as often, kick or bank quite as well, play lock down saftys when necessary. They may miss a ball just a bit more often then a pro as well which will happen as they won't be in as perfect shape as a pro as often either.
 
bmsclayton said:
I play alot of one hole and am much more of a mover than shooter as I play bad. I had been playing Justin bergman 18-4 lately and we are dead even. I played Scott Frost that way and got dead robbed. I hardly ever got past one ball and only won a couple of games that he prob let me win to pump the bet. I thought I played the game ok till I played him. these guys are amazing. I have also played Chip, Joey, JJ, etc..

A good friend played Joey 9 ball. he would be a good B player. I asked him how he liked it. He said well I won two games. I asked if he learned anything. He said yeah if you play safe you have to freeze him on a ball and a rail or he'll just kick something in.
Click to expand...

The other big fact is how differently a run out player will shoot when he knows if he misses he is gonna get it shoved ,,.............!

Mika played in a local banger plus event once-Had to give everyone the one out (not count on break). He won at least 3 rounds.
 
Last edited:
In my opinion:

A solid "B" player needs the 3,4,5,6,7,8 as a spot in nine ball to make it a close match with a world class pro ranked about 25th in the world.

A solid "A" player needs 5 games on the wire in a race to 11 to make the game close with a world class pro ranked about 25th in the world.

Of course, against a Van Boening, Orcullo or Appleton, even these spots are insufficient.
 
main difference

How many times have you been in a poolroom and heard a player say I played great. I only missed one ball the whole set, in a short race. This us the differce how many did you kick and not get safe? Play a loose safety and not freeze the cb to an ob? Miss the opportunity to shoot a two way shot or make a bad push and pay the price. The big difference is in the finer points of the game and decision making. These are the reasons why you don't get many open doors against top tier players. As far as the comment about state male champs not being able to beat top female pros consistently that is untrue. I'm in the Nashville area Karen Corr was out of jobs for quite a while. Josh O'Neal is probably the top male amateur in the state and he can spot her the 8. She has no chance even.
 
true

Gilbertfan81 said:
How many times have you been in a poolroom and heard a player say I played great. I only missed one ball the whole set, in a short race. This us the differce how many did you kick and not get safe? Play a loose safety and not freeze the cb to an ob? Miss the opportunity to shoot a two way shot or make a bad push and pay the price. The big difference is in the finer points of the game and decision making. These are the reasons why you don't get many open doors against top tier players. As far as the comment about state male champs not being able to beat top female pros consistently that is untrue. I'm in the Nashville area Karen Corr was out of jobs for quite a while. Josh O'Neal is probably the top male amateur in the state and he can spot her the 8. She has no chance even.
Click to expand...

Jeanette has come here and lost to a few shortstops and of course won a few too. I know Karen plays better but Josh plays better than our amateurs.
 
I know you, too, CJ. I went with TR and Bob and Stan from here to Melbourne with you following us for a money match. It was the first time they had dragged me with them. They called me up out of the blue and did not even say why.
I found out. I was the designated driver in the black caddy for the trip back to Tampa.
You had a young woman and what looked like a muscle man for a driver in your convertible.
 
Pro

poolguy4u said:
LOL...Dave Daya from PA is considered an amateur. He has always worked full time, but if you google his name and pool player behind it, you will see seven pages of some of his accomplishments.

With his accomplishments, some might say he is a pro. :smile:
Click to expand...

Funny that some don't consider him a pro because he hasn't suffered at it full time. In Dave's game of choice, 14.1, he plays at pro speed. Anyone with a 300+ ball run to his name unquestionably is a pro.
 
jburkm002 said:
Being a pro isn't just about running racks. You have to be able to play lock down safes. Consistently hit 2-3 rail kicks. Top players do this and play safes. You have to be able to jump while making a ball and getting position. Top pro's are proficient in all areas. Not to mention travel and playing to make a living. That's added pressure. Well the US OPEN has pro's and joes. Lets see who comes out on top. Haven't looked over everything but I have seen some blowouts in the first round.
Click to expand...

Who are the amateurs in the Open?
 
Yeah...he's good

Icon of Sin said:
Had my teeth kicked in by Mike Davis numerous times in local tournaments... but I'm terrible anyway, so that definitely isnt proof that he is good.
Click to expand...

I've been hitting em with Mike and I can tell you that he's extremely good. And I don't think I suck.

It's nothing amazing, actually, by choosing better, easier patterns, shots and leaves, he actually makes the game look easy. The beauty lies in simplicity, discipline and consistency. Also, his cue ball control is fricken unbelievable! My biggest challenge is holding him off of getting on a roll. Once he gets on his roll, he'll spin out a 6 pack on you without you taking a shot!

It's hard to compete with someone that can do that. How can you win if you aren't at the table...and if you can't reciprocate a 6 pack when you get up to bat...you are definitely on the losing side.

All it takes for him to go on a roll, is to win a couple games back to back. That's why it's critical for me to get a game in between his, to keep him from getting that super confidence turbo boost!

In short...yeah, he's pretty damn good!!!!
 
I played several top pros as well as world/european champs.
There are more differences than one reason that separate em from "strong players"

Decision: playing highest percentage shots. Almost never taking the wrong choice.

Mental game: imo by far thw biggest difference (pressure, how to avoid negatives, expurience etc)

Technical skills: pros are able to "resret" themselves" if their game is not "on". Then they re abld to just to concentrate on the process...until they get back into their "confidence".

- i had a very good friend who was imo one of the best 14-1 player i ve ever seen (seriously). He played not just strong....he played on world class level......but not under pressure. I remember when he asked me to back him up against the young oliver ortmann to gamble him 14-1
I denied. He found 3 backers.
Oliver showed him what "pushing the war-button" means.
He destroyed him in 4 games to 125.
All in all 6 innings for the 500 balls including saves!
He himself made exactly 70 balls in the fst game....ehich oli answered with 100 and our.
The next 3 games ended to zero.


Thus describes the difference: if you offer a pro a single finger he will take the complete arm.

Same guy beats buddy hall in 9b in vegas in a tournament. Later played an unknown guy for money and list everything.

The mental game is imo the biggest factor on thus level.

Have a smooth stroke.

Gesendet von meinem GT-I9100 mit Tapatalk 2
 
The top pros play so well that we can't even comprehend the ease they with which go through the majority of the pool world.

It is like a foot race between an adult and a kindergartner, the kid only wins when the adult suffers an injury or falls down.

You don't want to bet on the kid.
 
bmsclayton said:
Look at a pro like Chris bartram. he gets a couple balls vs the top players like Shane, Dennis, etc. He is still awesome some guys are just too freaking good, like Verlander or Cabrera in baseball, or Manning in Football.

Shortstops just don't break as well consistantly, run out as often, kick or bank quite as well, play lock down saftys when necessary. They may miss a ball just a bit more often then a pro as well which will happen as they won't be in as perfect shape as a pro as often either.
Click to expand...

Another important fact is that the top pros basically always turn the tabl over on their own terms, not because of an error.

That is tuff to beat, especially when they can play like that all day long
 
Black-Balled said:
The top pros play so well that we can't even comprehend the ease they with which go through the majority of the pool world.

It is like a foot race between an adult and a kindergartner, the kid only wins when the adult suffers an injury or falls down.

You don't want to bet on the kid.
Click to expand...

My dad, age 91, is an adult. I'm puttin' my money on the kindergartner kid every time in a foot race. :p

Maniac (and just hopes my dad doesn't trip over his walker :eek:)
 
nine_ball6970 said:
Depends on what aspect of the mental game needs improvement. Hypnosis helped me quite a bit with parts of the mental game I struggled with.
Click to expand...

Just experience alone should make anybody better at handling pressure. Every time you go out and play in a tournament, you learn something about the game.... and hopefully yourself.
All those woulda coulda shouldas all add up in your favor, even if you lose or play badly.
Unless of course, you let anger get the best of you. Then you learn, nothing.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top