Tired of It (A Rant)
- Thread starter Zphix
- Start date
Team atmosphere certainly can make a difference. We changed about half our 8-ball team before last session, got rid of the downers and added some fun friends. We ran the session, first place wire to wire.
Was that all it took, no. But the difference was noticeable. We always have a good time, and all enjoy each other. As well as players on the opposing teams. We take the games themselves seriously enough, as we are intent on winning. But beyond that, we are there to have a fun night.
So ya gotta find a way to enjoy yourself, certainly. Just one more little thing in the equation..
As others have said, you are a 4 until you prove that you aren't, in match conditions. Regularly. Not playing practice games, in matches that count. You say you've played about a session and a half. That's built a baseline. You start winning each week, averaging 4-6 innings, and you'll go up. Until that happens, you'll be a 4.
And there is nothing wrong with that. A 4 that can shoot like a 5 is very valuable to the team.
I get your frustration, I really do. Don't let it consume you, cuz it can. Its supposed to be fun.
The fight is won or lost far away from witnesses - behind the lines, in the gym, and out there on the road, long before I dance under those lights.
Muhammad Ali
Shoot Safe.
i'm not gonna comment much on your skill level and mental game and all that because everyone else has already told you some very useful info
but i would like to tell you definitely get on another team, if your team is uptight or if you feel they're uptight
then you're never gonna have fun in league play and when it looks like all the other teams are havin fun and you're stuck there scorekeeping for yourself
it sucks, i know because i've been there in teams i didn't like for whatever reason, my captain was a crybaby, they take it all too seriously, they lack sportsmanship...
anything that bothers you as much as you said in that one post, you need another team
form a team of like minded friends that want to improve but also want to have a good time and don't take themselves too seriously, you'll win more and they will too
but be careful with that, soon what'll happen is you'll be level 7s before you know it and you'll have to split up and make other teams because the points system doesn't allow you to stay together
happened to a bunch of my teams already
so all in all, have fun, don't take losses so hard, no one likes losing
but you have to be gracious in loss, you have to learn how to lose before you know how to win
-eddie
but i would like to tell you definitely get on another team, if your team is uptight or if you feel they're uptight
then you're never gonna have fun in league play and when it looks like all the other teams are havin fun and you're stuck there scorekeeping for yourself
it sucks, i know because i've been there in teams i didn't like for whatever reason, my captain was a crybaby, they take it all too seriously, they lack sportsmanship...
anything that bothers you as much as you said in that one post, you need another team
form a team of like minded friends that want to improve but also want to have a good time and don't take themselves too seriously, you'll win more and they will too
but be careful with that, soon what'll happen is you'll be level 7s before you know it and you'll have to split up and make other teams because the points system doesn't allow you to stay together
happened to a bunch of my teams already
so all in all, have fun, don't take losses so hard, no one likes losing
but you have to be gracious in loss, you have to learn how to lose before you know how to win
-eddie
Quite a bit of ranting about having or not having fun - booze - screwing around !!! If that's your goal fo get about pool. In my zillion matches over many years - never once did I pay attention to my opponent beyond glancing and not actually caring about their performances. Of course I occasionally lost - to many variables no one can control or anticipate. Unless you or they are into sharking - does any apponents skill or accomplishments mean anything at all. When it's your turn - don't miss or screw up - you can do nothing about their performance - forget them !!! It's a long road. A 4 can run the table and a 7 should run it much more often NOT to be happening precisely on any schedule. When you get beat so what ? If it crushes you at all - get out of the game - or any game. If your decent and getting better - start playing some of the gang races to 7 - 8 - 9 etc. The reality show will begin. You have no control over their performance !!!!!!!!!!!! Another question to ask yourself: Do you know the tables cushions, speed, rolls, pocket characteristics, HUH - a 4 who live's on the table has a definite advantage over the stranger who isn't really that fast and good table reader !!!!
Have fun HUH ??????
Have fun HUH ??????
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I used to play at a college recreation/pool room thing where there were quite a few "regulars" who believed themselves to be on a different level than the rest of the bangers. Honestly, none of those "regulars" surpassed a solid C level of play. This is obvious when we host quarterly 9 ball tournaments where a regular HARDLY ever win and will always complain that the beginners got lucky. Like most things in life, its very easy to overestimate yourself in pool.
A simple exercise to really define your level of play with some built in pressure it to play 3 ball, 4 ball, etc. and try to run it out a certain times in a row. Too many times I had guys telling me that they can "run the table," and when I challenge them to a 3 ball - run it 5 times in a row, they can't seem to do it.
A simple exercise to really define your level of play with some built in pressure it to play 3 ball, 4 ball, etc. and try to run it out a certain times in a row. Too many times I had guys telling me that they can "run the table," and when I challenge them to a 3 ball - run it 5 times in a row, they can't seem to do it.
deleted, doesn't appear to be the problem after reading full thread.
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As with anything, you have to realize what you're are looking to accomplish in anything that you set out to do. This is no different.
This whole thread with Rich has been primarily about league pool, and APA league pool in particular. Which as most here will tell you, isn't serious pool, in and of itself. Can we take it seriously, yes. Are there seriously good players that play APA, yes? But the format is league, a good time out playing pool.
The large majority of people playing APA are doing just that, going out to have a good time and to play some pool in a somewhat competitive setting. That's all it needs to be, for most. If a particular person wishes to take it more seriously, they certainly can, and should.
But if you can only play 10 hours a week like Rich (or many people playing APA) that means you can't get terribly serious about expecting to become a high level player. It also means that you probably have a lot going on in your life that means pool isn't necessarily your highest priority, no matter how much you like it and no matter how seriously you take it. (I am in this group as well.) If you have that much going on in your life, you damned sure better be having a good time when you get a chance to play pool, or its gonna be miserable. Especially if everyone else playing around you is having a good time.
I play better when people are enjoying themselves. Its been proven. We had a miserable bunch of players, and it felt like work going to league every week. If you've worked 8-10 hours that day, tried to meet some family obligations and then hurry to the pool hall only to be in a miserable environment, how are you supposed to play your best?
Anyone can take this as seriously as they want to, and I do. But I still intend to "have fun" in what little free time I have, no matter how seriously I intend to take my pool game. (And I do intend to be as serious as is possible about it.) When I'm playing my match, its not all giggles and ha-ha's. But I don't have to brood and sulk, either.
Try it. Have some fun. Life is too short.
Find a way to make your mind see the match game the same as practice. Just before your final stroke of every shot, say to yourself, "make the ball". Do this during practice and match play. It clears the mind of whatever you're thinking about at the time and gives you something that is consistent between practice and competition. See if it helps.