Playing the ghost

[gunzby]

Finally I've gotten a work schedule that allows me to practice. Since I've come back I've only had time to play at best two days a week. For the last few months I've only played 1 day a week. For some reason I've had some serious focus issues lately which is why I decided to race the ghost.

Since I haven't had much time to play I'm just not in stroke enough to play the 9 ball ghost. I decided to give the 7 ball ghost a go. I played a 5 ahead race and it was a grind with me finally reaching 5 ahead after about 2 and a half hours. It's honestly the best practice session I've had in a long time. I think I may have found a new way to practice.

I will add that I don't take BiH every time when I play the ghost. If I have a shot I go for it because I'd rather have a true B&R than winning the rack.

Something that I also found out with 7 ball is that if you use a racking template for 7 ball you make 2-3 balls on the break. I put it away and used a wooden rack because it would've been more like playing the 4-5 ball ghost.

 

[Cuebuddy]

Finally I've gotten a work schedule that allows me to practice. Since I've come back I've only had time to play at best two days a week. For the last few months I've only played 1 day a week. For some reason I've had some serious focus issues lately which is why I decided to race the ghost.

Since I haven't had much time to play I'm just not in stroke enough to play the 9 ball ghost. I decided to give the 7 ball ghost a go. I played a 5 ahead race and it was a grind with me finally reaching 5 ahead after about 2 and a half hours. It's honestly the best practice session I've had in a long time. I think I may have found a new way to practice.

I will add that I don't take BiH every time when I play the ghost. If I have a shot I go for it because I'd rather have a true B&R than winning the rack.

Something that I also found out with 7 ball is that if you use a racking template for 7 ball you make 2-3 balls on the break. I put it away and used a wooden rack because it would've been more like playing the 4-5 ball ghost.

What is the table you are playing on? 7 or 9ftr? I have been playing the seven ball ghost on a 9 ft Diamond 4.5" pockets and the Ghost is tough.

 

[gunzby]

What is the table you are playing on? 7 or 9ftr? I have been playing the seven ball ghost on a 9 ft Diamond 4.5" pockets and the Ghost is tough.

9 foot Diamond. Before I took a year and half break because of work I was beating the 9 ball ghost on a 9 foot Diamond and taking BiH less than half the time on some sets. That was in races to 7. Playing an ahead set is much more of a grind

 

[Cuebuddy]

Strong for sure. Focus is the biggest part for me. Nights when the rolls don't go my way hurts also.

 

[gunzby]

Strong for sure. Focus is the biggest part for me. Nights when the rolls don't go my way hurts also.

A lot of the games I lost were completely from lack of focus. That was really getting me for the first hour when it was going from +2 for the ghost and +2 for me. I then couldn't close the door where I would get to +4 and lose.

This is definitely how I'm going to be practicing for a while

 

[Cuebuddy]

A lot of the games I lost were completely from lack of focus. That was really getting me for the first hour when it was going from +2 for the ghost and +2 for me. I then couldn't close the door where I would get to +4 and lose.

This is definitely how I'm going to be practicing for a while

It really helps me to imagine the ghost is someone I hate to lose to. There are players that I don't like and those are the ones I will always play hardest against, I know it sounds stupid but if I hate you.....I will beat you.
I have also decided to play the ghost much more in the future. I have a match with a cross state rival(friend) and I will be BBQed if I can't raise my game. Good luck with your practice gunzby

 

[Straightpool_99]

Finally I've gotten a work schedule that allows me to practice. Since I've come back I've only had time to play at best two days a week. For the last few months I've only played 1 day a week. For some reason I've had some serious focus issues lately which is why I decided to race the ghost.

Since I haven't had much time to play I'm just not in stroke enough to play the 9 ball ghost. I decided to give the 7 ball ghost a go. I played a 5 ahead race and it was a grind with me finally reaching 5 ahead after about 2 and a half hours. It's honestly the best practice session I've had in a long time. I think I may have found a new way to practice.

I will add that I don't take BiH every time when I play the ghost. If I have a shot I go for it because I'd rather have a true B&R than winning the rack.

Something that I also found out with 7 ball is that if you use a racking template for 7 ball you make 2-3 balls on the break. I put it away and used a wooden rack because it would've been more like playing the 4-5 ball ghost.

Why not make it a "true" 7 ball ghost? Break a 9/10 ball rack (whatever you feel you need to practice the most) then remove a couple of balls if there are more than 7 left. At my poolhall, breaking with a template will yield 2 or more balls nearly every rack, playing 9 ball. I'm breaking a 12 ball rack and removing balls when I play the 9 ball ghost. I mostly play the 10 ball ghost now, and I do the same with that. The 12 ball rack is pretty similar in feel as the 10 ball rack (to me). Sometimes I practice breaking from "the box" or with the 9 on the spot, and in those cases I use a 9 ball rack and pick up any pocketed balls and randomly toss them out on the table. If you are mostly working on the break (reading the rack, pattern racking etc) then this approach may not be right for you. Of course I take care not to disturb the position of the one, as that is usually the ball I'm playing position on and I'm keeping track of wether I get a shot on it.

Personally I think the ball in hand aspect to playing the ghost is VITAL for it's instructional value. It will make you slow down and actually think before you start playing, which is an aspect that many players neglect. You can still play position on the one. Score yourself, always, when you train. Make a special box that you tick when you get good on the one.

 

[336Robin]

A good way to practice

Finally I've gotten a work schedule that allows me to practice. Since I've come back I've only had time to play at best two days a week. For the last few months I've only played 1 day a week. For some reason I've had some serious focus issues lately which is why I decided to race the ghost.

Since I haven't had much time to play I'm just not in stroke enough to play the 9 ball ghost. I decided to give the 7 ball ghost a go. I played a 5 ahead race and it was a grind with me finally reaching 5 ahead after about 2 and a half hours. It's honestly the best practice session I've had in a long time. I think I may have found a new way to practice.

I will add that I don't take BiH every time when I play the ghost. If I have a shot I go for it because I'd rather have a true B&R than winning the rack.

Something that I also found out with 7 ball is that if you use a racking template for 7 ball you make 2-3 balls on the break. I put it away and used a wooden rack because it would've been more like playing the 4-5 ball ghost.

I think I'm going to have to do the same thing. My life's been complicated recently and my usual pool friend has other things to do so this is a good idea and I think its exactly what I intend to do. Thanks for the idea!

 

[justaplayer]

I'd reccomend extending your race to 7 games. I've found you win and lose races to 5 more easily based on table layouts after the break. You get 2 breaks with tied up balls, you can't win the rsce. Then there's more impact from breaks leaving easy outs.

Going to 7, if you are down 5 to 2 you get the chance to bear down and win from behind. You know you've done something if you beat the ghost 4 out of 5 sets. Breeds a lot of confidence...real confidence in your game that makes you tough to m beat.

I think taking balls out of the rack or just pulling a few balls off the table is a good idea if it keeps playing the ghost competitive. Otherwise it breeds frustration.

 

[zeeder]

I'd reccomend extending your race to 7 games. I've found you win and lose races to 5 more easily based on table layouts after the break. You get 2 breaks with tied up balls, you can't win the rsce. Then there's more impact from breaks leaving easy outs.

Going to 7, if you are down 5 to 2 you get the chance to bear down and win from behind. You know you've done something if you beat the ghost 4 out of 5 sets. Breeds a lot of confidence...real confidence in your game that makes you tough to m beat.

I think taking balls out of the rack or just pulling a few balls off the table is a good idea if it keeps playing the ghost competitive. Otherwise it breeds frustration.

He's playing a "5 ahead" set which means that he has to get "ahead" 5 games. The coin moves forward when he wins and back when the ghost wins and he's got to get to the fifth spot to win.

 

[gunzby]

I'd reccomend extending your race to 7 games. I've found you win and lose races to 5 more easily based on table layouts after the break. You get 2 breaks with tied up balls, you can't win the rsce. Then there's more impact from breaks leaving easy outs.

Going to 7, if you are down 5 to 2 you get the chance to bear down and win from behind. You know you've done something if you beat the ghost 4 out of 5 sets. Breeds a lot of confidence...real confidence in your game that makes you tough to m beat.

I think taking balls out of the rack or just pulling a few balls off the table is a good idea if it keeps playing the ghost competitive. Otherwise it breeds frustration.

That's what I'm going to do next, but I was playing 5 ahead and not a race to five. The ghost never got better than two ahead. I'm still going to go ahead and extend it to seven ahead before moving to nine ball

 

[gunzby]

Why not make it a "true" 7 ball ghost? Break a 9/10 ball rack (whatever you feel you need to practice the most) then remove a couple of balls if there are more than 7 left. At my poolhall, breaking with a template will yield 2 or more balls nearly every rack, playing 9 ball. I'm breaking a 12 ball rack and removing balls when I play the 9 ball ghost. I mostly play the 10 ball ghost now, and I do the same with that. The 12 ball rack is pretty similar in feel as the 10 ball rack (to me). Sometimes I practice breaking from "the box" or with the 9 on the spot, and in those cases I use a 9 ball rack and pick up any pocketed balls and randomly toss them out on the table. If you are mostly working on the break (reading the rack, pattern racking etc) then this approach may not be right for you. Of course I take care not to disturb the position of the one, as that is usually the ball I'm playing position on and I'm keeping track of wether I get a shot on it.

Personally I think the ball in hand aspect to playing the ghost is VITAL for it's instructional value. It will make you slow down and actually think before you start playing, which is an aspect that many players neglect. You can still play position on the one. Score yourself, always, when you train. Make a special box that you tick when you get good on the one.

I might give that a try simply because it's a pain to rack 7 ball without a template. I'm going to race the ghost without a template just because I'm doing this to get ready to get back into playing tournaments

 

[justaplayer]

That's what I'm going to do next, but I was playing 5 ahead and not a race to five. The ghost never got better than two ahead. I'm still going to go ahead and extend it to seven ahead before moving to nine ball

Missed you said ahead sets. Those can be endless!

When I was practicing alot I'd play race to 7, first to win 3 sets. Beating the ghost I'm that let me know I was playing strong.

Anybody that can beat the 9 ball ghost with ball in hand, play good safes and break with position on the 1 is a player who can beat anybody on their best day. It takes alot of work, but if you do it just gets easier to do it in competition.

Hardest part is finding the motivation.

 

[Baxter]

When I play the 7 ball or 8 ball ghost, I rack and break 9 or 10 ball and just run out until I make my money ball. Just like getting a ball spot from another player. I don't take anything off the table or out of the rack.