The document of our pool related road trip across the U.S. updated daily

I would definitely agree that playing is not practicing....just like training is not the same as practicing. While playing the ghost may help with that feel good feeling when you win hill/hill 5-4...it doesn't help you correct fundamental mistakes that you may be doing by just "playing the ghost".
 
Recently I heard Ralph Eckert comment on this topic (the ghost vs. drills).
He's maybe not a top pro but he's a good pro.
And his exact words about playing the ghost is
"that's not practicing, that's playing."

For those not familiar he was #1 in the Euro Tour a while ago,
200+ ball runner, 7 pack in 9b, 8 pack in 8b.
He's the real deal, not just some instructor who can't actually play.

I guess some pros do fine without drills...
but they have a substitute. That substitute is playing thousands
of hours more than the average B player, plus natural talent (if you believe in such a thing).

Who knows, playing as good as Bartram is great...
but maybe Bartram would be Shane if he did drills regularly? I dunno.

For the rest of us without thousands of hours or natural talent,
drills are going to bring you up faster than playing around,
and that includes playing the ghost.

The problem with the ghost is, if you fail to get out, what did you really learn?
You missed, but do you know why you missed? Shitty speed control leading to a bad leave?
Stance issue causing your stroke to get crooked? A dumb choice on which pocket to play for?

And are you learning something with every shot?
When I do a speed control drill, or rail cut drill, every single shot is working
on something I suck at. When I play the ghost, half the shots might be hangers
or stop shots or soft follow, stuff I already can do well. All the time spent shooting
those shots aren't improving you as a player.

Maybe one shot in the rack will be tricky and require you to use a skill you suck at.
Wouldn't it make sense to hit THAT shot 10 times instead of a bunch of useless shots before
and after that shot?
 
Just marking my spot...

34 pages so far. I think we covered the thrill of gambling, practicing, being hustled, expenses on the road, and much more.
Keep it going, good luck to Gene and Rhea :)
 
Blue Hog ridr said:
Yer up a whole $35. That will keep you in Rotten Ronnie's Gut Bombs for a day or two.

At 35 bucks a day, what will you do for gas money and hotels.

Good stuff. Someone will probably want to make a movie soon.

They will call it: The Color of No Money.
Click to expand...

I don't earn the same exact amount everyday and some days I earn nothing, but the expenses keep coming so having me go to this bar while Gene goes somewhere else was a smart idea. Gene still does lessons some days and even if all I made was $35 that day Gene may have made $200 or more. Winning $35 is better than not doing anything and far better than losing anything. I have been on the road for over 2 months there have been a few days that I made pretty large scores as much as winning $900 and another day winning $600, although those days are rare sometimes I win over $100 on a regular day as long as I am given the opportunity to find action.
 
Rhea said:
I don't earn the same exact amount everyday and some days I earn nothing, but the expenses keep coming so having me go to this bar while Gene goes somewhere else was a smart idea. Gene still does lessons some days and even if all I made was $35 that day Gene may have made $200 or more. Winning $35 is better than not doing anything and far better than losing anything. I have been on the road for over 2 months there have been a few days that I made pretty large scores as much as winning $900 and another day winning $600, although those days are rare sometimes I win over $100 on a regular day as long as I am given the opportunity to find action.
Click to expand...

Keep in mind, Gene is your major bread winner on this trip. If you made $35, that's great, much better than losing $100 or $200. Be sure to pick your games carefully.
 
Gene is headed to the neurologist to get his nocturnal seizures under a doctors care. When he gets back we are going to play in a tournament tonight, it is a small race to 3 9-ball game on the winner and loser side with a calcutta. Its a local $12 tournament that is open to anyone. Then I have action with a guy there named AJ. He gets paid every other Friday and today is his payday! He said he was willing to play small sets races to 5 on the bar table in 9-ball for $20-$50 per set so I am pretty stoked. I watched him practice on numerous occasions over the past 2 weeks and he is a strong APA 5 or weak APA 6 at best so its going to be like stealing.
 
hope to see you guys this weekend,if you all come down here tomorrow night and play our tournament,you can pad your bankroll some more. we are loaded with "b" player and weak "a" player action for you, you can easily get action playing some $25-$50 sets,as well as our regular $5 and $5 ring game nightly.
 
Rhea said:
I don't earn the same exact amount everyday and some days I earn nothing, but the expenses keep coming so having me go to this bar while Gene goes somewhere else was a smart idea. Gene still does lessons some days and even if all I made was $35 that day Gene may have made $200 or more. Winning $35 is better than not doing anything and far better than losing anything. I have been on the road for over 2 months there have been a few days that I made pretty large scores as much as winning $900 and another day winning $600, although those days are rare sometimes I win over $100 on a regular day as long as I am given the opportunity to find action.
Click to expand...


i think their concern for you, is NET, Rhea.
because that $600 GROSS day, was after losing ($300) the previous day & N/I costs. same for winning $35 - if it cost you ($20) table time.
please ask yourself (cause it's not our business):

is your NET AVG INC @ $100/day @ ___ hrs/day @ 7 days/wk?


.
 
PINKLADY said:
i think their concern for you, is NET, Rhea.
because that $600 GROSS day, was after losing ($300) the previous day & N/I costs. same for winning $35 - if it cost you ($20) table time.
please ask yourself (cause it's not our business):

is your NET AVG INC @ $100/day @ ___ hrs/day @ 7 days/wk?


.
Click to expand...
Too much math, the only thing I know is that between what Gene and I make from tournament wins, gambling, lessons, side bets, calcuttas, break pots etc. has kept us afloat for quite some time, and although we took a massive hit when we bet on the Bergman Bartram match and more of a hit when we spent a week at the U.S. Open with no lessons booked we have more now in our bankroll than we had when the U.S. Open finished a few weeks ago.

Our bankroll is steadily climbing not very fast but we are taking in slightly over what we are spending.
 
Practice your craft!

Rhea said:
Gene is headed to the neurologist to get his nocturnal seizures under a doctors care. When he gets back we are going to play in a tournament tonight, it is a small race to 3 9-ball game on the winner and loser side with a calcutta. Its a local $12 tournament that is open to anyone. Then I have action with a guy there named AJ. He gets paid every other Friday and today is his payday! He said he was willing to play small sets races to 5 on the bar table in 9-ball for $20-$50 per set so I am pretty stoked. I watched him practice on numerous occasions over the past 2 weeks and he is a strong APA 5 or weak APA 6 at best so its going to be like stealing.
Click to expand...

Ok, I'm going to take a page from Neil to try and help :D:

When you have a match that you think you can win at, post about it, but use a little creative license. For example: "I have action with a guy at one of the local pool rooms who plays jam-up. He is at least a VERY strong 4 in the APA. I've watched him practice numerous occasions and to be quite candid, I am concerned if I will be able to bring my A game to this match because it will take everything I have to win it. Everyone knows that I will go off like a rocket. Anyway, I am up for the game and will be able to play a few sets regardless of the outcome."

People read your posts and adjust their perspectives (wallets) accordingly. And even if your opponents don't read your posts, someone from that local poolroom who knows your opponent, almost always reads your posts no matter what part of the country you are currently stationed.

JoeyA
 
Neil said:
So they aren't "real" people to you, and you feel no need to try and help them, only want to read about the drama they have. Got it.
Click to expand...

That's a huge stretch Neil. I think you broke the rubber band that time.

JoeyA
 
Rhea said:
Too much math, the only thing I know is that between what Gene and I make from tournament wins, gambling, lessons, side bets, calcuttas, break pots etc. has kept us afloat for quite some time, and although we took a massive hit when we bet on the Bergman Bartram match and more of a hit when we spent a week at the U.S. Open with no lessons booked we have more now in our bankroll than we had when the U.S. Open finished a few weeks ago.

Our bankroll is steadily climbing not very fast but we are taking in slightly over what we are spending.
Click to expand...

Don't forget to contribute to your 401k
 
Rhea said:
Then I have action with a guy there named AJ. He gets paid every other Friday and today is his payday! He said he was willing to play small sets races to 5 on the bar table in 9-ball for $20-$50 per set so I am pretty stoked. I watched him practice on numerous occasions over the past 2 weeks and he is a strong APA 5 or weak APA 6 at best so its going to be like stealing.
Click to expand...

I'm also going to take a page from Neil and Joey and try to help. :D

"I have action tonight with this chump named AJ, who is a strong APA 4. Today is his payday so he's willing to gamble in 9-ball for $20-50/set. I'm stoked as it will be like stealing candy from a child. Then I can come on AZB and tell everyone how good I am."

Bragging about how much money you made when your opponent is much weaker than you are doesn't impress anyone. Likewise, I'm not impressed when you win if your opponent has to give up a huge spot. :rolleyes:
 
PoolSharkAllen said:
I'm also going to take a page from Neil and Joey and try to help. :D

"I have action tonight with this chump named AJ, who is a strong APA 4. Today is his payday so he's willing to gamble in 9-ball for $20-50/set. I'm stoked as it will be like stealing candy from a child. Then I can come on AZB and tell everyone how good I am."

Bragging about how much money you made when your opponent is much weaker than you are doesn't impress anyone. Likewise, I'm not impressed when you win if your opponent has to give up a huge spot. :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

I agree 100%! Getting on here and talking trash about people and using their names is a NO NO!

Also, I am of the "persuasion" that "nobody" BEATS "nobody" when a SPOT is given. I'm old school in that regard...if you BEAT someone you are playing EVEN.
 
PoolSharkAllen said:
I'm also going to take a page from Neil and Joey and try to help. :D

"I have action tonight with this chump named AJ, who is a strong APA 4. Today is his payday so he's willing to gamble in 9-ball for $20-50/set. I'm stoked as it will be like stealing candy from a child. Then I can come on AZB and tell everyone how good I am."

Bragging about how much money you made when your opponent is much weaker than you are doesn't impress anyone. Likewise, I'm not impressed when you win if your opponent has to give up a huge spot. :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

I never said he was an APA 4 he is most likely a 6 in 9-ball. And I feel that since we are playing even that I am going to win but just because I think I am going to win does not mean I will win. I tend to overestimate myself at all times when it comes to pool.

I noticed you are from Albuquerque I was living in Rio Rancho for 2 years and playing in Albuquerque alot at Doc & Eddies and at Billiard Palace and Slate Street, I don't remember an Allen but maybe we have met. I used to play Tommy Tokoph all the time.
 
You and Gene should start tracking expenses in Excel instead of free-balling it all day like you say you do. It's terrible that you're on the road trying to make money and you're not tracking a single thing, even though you have many, many expenses.
 
CSykes24 said:
You and Gene should start tracking expenses in Excel instead of free-balling it all day like you say you do. It's terrible that you're on the road trying to make money and you're not tracking a single thing, even though you have many, many expenses.
Click to expand...

We are just trying to stay even maybe make a few dollars over just enough to save up for an RV with the intention of lowering our overall expenses in the long run.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top