APA nationals singles... few ?s

D

drv4

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Did my first singles qualifier and qualified in 9 ball. I've never been to nationals and have a few questions.

1. I play 99% of my pool on 8 and 9fters. Prob a month before I'll switch over to the barboxes. Close to my house the pool hall has 7ft diamonds. Will it be beneficial to practice on those or is the play so different that it will mess my game up? There are valleys around but most are crappy, so not sure if slow clothed valleys would be better or 7 ft simonis covered diamond pro ams.

2. I'm a 6 in 9 ball. Do 6s have a chance? Saw last year it was Brian parks and an 8 in the finals.

3. Any tips or recommendations from people with experience at APA nationals. Dos and dont's if you will. Thanks in advance.
 
drv4 said:
Did my first singles qualifier and qualified in 9 ball. I've never been to nationals and have a few questions.

1. I play 99% of my pool on 8 and 9fters. Prob a month before I'll switch over to the barboxes. Close to my house the pool hall has 7ft diamonds. Will it be beneficial to practice on those or is the play so different that it will mess my game up? There are valleys around but most are crappy, so not sure if slow clothed valleys would be better or 7 ft simonis covered diamond pro ams.

2. I'm a 6 in 9 ball. Do 6s have a chance? Saw last year it was Brian parks and an 8 in the finals.

3. Any tips or recommendations from people with experience at APA nationals. Dos and dont's if you will. Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...


1. Practice on what you will e playing on...valleys..

2. I may be wrong but I believe 6's play In their own bracket and not placed in the same bracket with higher levels.
 
lorider said:
1. Practice on what you will e playing on...valleys..

2. I may be wrong but I believe 6's play In their own bracket and not placed in the same bracket with higher levels.
Click to expand...

In 8 ball, yes the 6s have their own bracket, but in 9 it's 6-9. My league operator said they are trying to get enrollment up enough in 9 ball where there would be a 6+7 bracket and 8+9, but the numbers aren't there yet nationally.
 
drv4 said:
In 8 ball, yes the 6s have their own bracket, but in 9 it's 6-9. My league operator said they are trying to get enrollment up enough in 9 ball where there would be a 6+7 bracket and 8+9, but the numbers aren't there yet nationally.
Click to expand...

Man that's tufff getting thrown in with all the 7's ...8's and 9's .
 
Keep practicing and do your best to have fun out there.
It is awfully tough on the 6's+7's in 9 ball with the Brian Parks, Dustin Morris and about 20 others just like that playing in the same bracket. Just do your best and don't sweat the results.
To give a good example of how brutal the Black Tier is towards the bottom of the bracket: Some years back, I play my first round against a guy that shows up 10 minutes late for our first round match dragging his suitcase behind him and sweating like a dog because his flight was late and he came right from the cabstand to our match. No warm up at all and beats me 75-12. I believe he missed once or so. That was fun. Then I get a bye in the losers bracket and draw Brian Parks right away. He wins the lag and runs 7 racks, makes 2 balls on the next break and then hangs the 1 in the corner for me out of sympathy I believe. I expertly make the hanger and the next ball and then proceed to drive the next ball directly into the rail. Final tally for the event: 150-14 bad guys. Hey, but at least I got to watch some really good pool.:D
 
That's a funny story. Yeah luckily my first few matches should be against 6s and 7s and won't have to face the 9s until farther into the tourney. I'm just going to have fun and try my best for sure.
 
drv4 said:
That's a funny story. Yeah luckily my first few matches should be against 6s and 7s and won't have to face the 9s until farther into the tourney. I'm just going to have fun and try my best for sure.
Click to expand...

I have a funny 9 ball story for you..

I played in just about every board qualifier last year trying to make it to singles regionals. I either played lousy and got put out by a 4 or played great only to loss to a 7 or higher in the finals.

I was undecided about playing in the last one being held before regionals and was hum hawing around the house all morning and the finally decided to go. I got there too late for 8 ball so i hung around and waited for the to start 9 ball immediately afterwards.

I am a 5 and my 1st match was against a 6 who I had never beat. I thought...oh crap...i just wasted my time and money again. I wound up playing pretty good and won a close one with him only needing 2 points.

My next match was against an 8...again i am playing a guy who I had never beaten . I thought...oh crap....it aint getting any easier. I won that match also. I then breeze thru a 4 and 2-5's to win the qualifier.

2 weeks later my double jeapordy team faces the 8's team that I had beaten in the qualifier. The 8 plays my lo who is on my team and they are both 7's with the 8 beating my lo 5-1..

Later the 8 throws himself in 9 ball and I tell my lo who is also an 8 to play him. He says nah that I oughta play him. I say what's the matter....you dont wanna get your ask kicked again and laugh. He replied I just beat him in the qualifier and oughta do it again.

Well the 8 proceeds to give me the worst butt whipping I have ever had....dont remember the points but it was an 18-2 loss.

After he won the match and shook my hand he said.....thats payback for knocking him outa the qualifier. I replied..that's cool....i am the one that's going to nashville not you. Every one on both teams busted out laughing.
 
Nice lorider. This weekend at the regional, I couldn't buy a break and was eeking out close victory after close victory constantly kicking at balls after my opponents missed. Finals I shot really well plus the few times I missed my opponent had to kick. He hit the ball everytime but left roadmaps that even this six couldn't screw up. Won 46-12. Needless to say my opponent was pissed. I felt slightly bad about the rolls until I realized I had won a trip to Vegas.
 
Tips, oh yes, many tips.....

It can be an endurance contest. Make sure to get some rest.

Enjoy yourself, but don't over do it. A hangover can be bad for your game.

For me, going from the big tables to the bar box was always good, made the game easier.
Practice and play with what works for you.

You can get good tacos 24/7 if you know where to go. Some of the best food I had was
3 AM tacos in my room alone wathing Law and Order reruns. Best nights sleep too.

Don't get bullied by a player that has Nationals experience. If you're not sure of a call
or a rule get a referee, if they don't know wait for someone that does.

The Sports Book is a good place to sit and relax, have a beer, and take it easy if you need
to between matches.

Good luck, and don't take any shit
 
they put 6 through 9's but in the tournament I just played in it was seeded.. They had enough players for 2 brackets so in my bracket there only 8's and 9s. The 6's and 7's were in the other bracket
 
they put 6 through 9's but in the tournament I just played in it was seeded.. They had enough players for 2 brackets so in my bracket there only 8's and 9s. The 6's and 7's were in the other bracket
 
If your a 6 and play on the big boys table, barboxes will play much easier if you put in the practice. I would work on the break a lot. Guys run 7 racks because they have a good break. Not to mention being great shooters but it all starts from the break.
 
drv4 said:
Did my first singles qualifier and qualified in 9 ball. I've never been to nationals and have a few questions.

1. I play 99% of my pool on 8 and 9fters. Prob a month before I'll switch over to the barboxes. Close to my house the pool hall has 7ft diamonds. Will it be beneficial to practice on those or is the play so different that it will mess my game up? There are valleys around but most are crappy, so not sure if slow clothed valleys would be better or 7 ft simonis covered diamond pro ams.

2. I'm a 6 in 9 ball. Do 6s have a chance? Saw last year it was Brian parks and an 8 in the finals.

3. Any tips or recommendations from people with experience at APA nationals. Dos and dont's if you will. Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...


In my opinion, I would start by going to Youtube and searching for 9ball matches on barboxes. There are tons. Search for "USBTC 9ball" and that'll get you started. The key difference between barbox and 9-foot 9ball is simple. In barbox, pocketing balls is much easier so your goal is about managing your angles. Obviously you never ever want to get hooked no matter what table size you're playing on but on a barbox, the probability of getting hooked is much higher so if a stop shot gets you position, you play it. Avoid traveling around the table unless you're forced to or you have a reliable angle. Remember, all those position routes you've learned over the years are simply not as important and can only get you in trouble. Keep it simple and good things will happen.

Now, when playing higher ranked players, keep in mind that most of them will run out on you if given ball-in-hand. If you're hooked and unlikely to return the favor, consider the points on the table and see if you can limit the damage. Like, if you're safe on the 7 yet have a shot on the 8, if you don't think you can pocket that ball, pocket the 8 and give him ball-in-hand. As well, if you're hooked on the 1 and the table is wide open, consider hanging-up the 9-ball. Maybe, instead of running out the table, he'll be forced to pocket the 9 early.
 
My advise would be, just take it all in! Some guys go all the time while some guys never get another opportunity! Play your best and enjoy it, the best part is the new confidence you will bring home to smaller events!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top