how are ya'll doing in league ?

[Mkindsv]

Not so much...two of them were leaves that were left me, the shots were there, so I fired at them...the cue ball had to go two rails to scratch on each of them... I guess I shoulda layed up, but i went for it and got burned. Next time those shots come up I probably will lay up.

 

[BC21]

First time playing league in a few years. Latest local BCA stats after 5 weeks: Ranked #1 out of 100 players, 80% win ratio, 228 points out of a possible 250.

I've blown a few break-and-runs by rattling the 8 or hooking myself on the 8. We play on Diamond bar boxes and I take some shots for granted and also struggle with controlling speed. Gotta quit that!! . Those little tables just play so fast!

 

[lorider]

Had tap.league last night. Played 8 ball in a 5-3 race with me going to 3. Its the 2nd time I have had a 5-0 shutout in 8 ball this week. Cant figure it out. A team mate asked me what happened after the match was over that I shut this guy out a few weeks ago in the finals. I said i wasn't playing for 1200.00 like the last time I faced him I got a few laughs from the team bout that reply lol.

Played 9 ball next in a 4-3 race with me going to 3. It started out just like my 8 ball match and I got down 2-0 and said to myself i just gotta do something about this . I knuckled down and won 3 in a row to win the match 3-2.

Later on my captain....a very good player told me he noticed that I am just not focusing and start out flat every match and dont get serious until I am behind. He said he noticed I miss way too many easy shots early on . I dont k know what is going on with me but I need to get out of it.

 

[RFranklin]

?

Not so much...two of them were leaves that were left me, the shots were there, so I fired at them...the cue ball had to go two rails to scratch on each of them... I guess I shoulda layed up, but i went for it and got burned. Next time those shots come up I probably will lay up.

If you were left the leave, that means you already had a shot at the eight and missed. Just saying the previous runs fell short. Most likely a leave. Just take a pocket with the eight and wait it out unless the other guy is a runout player. Sounds like he wasn't and you are more skilled. I know it is boring but it scores points.

 

[jokrswylde]

Had our second match last night. We were up against the league leaders. We competed hard, it was 5-5 going into the last match, but ended up losing 8-5.
My match was infuriating.
I am playing their strongest player, a 5.

I jump out quick and am on the hill at 2-0 with a long cut on the 8 ball for the win.
Miss the shot and he runs out.

Next rack he kicks the 8 ball in on the break, nothing I could do.

Next rack he breaks and runs to the 7 ball, I make a few balls, but sell out on a tough cut and miss. He cleans it up and we are hill-hill.

Last rack seemed like it took forever with both of us playing tight, and both of us playing some good safes. He is down to the 8 ball but I play a lock down safety where he has to do a two rail kick at the ball. He misses and I have ball in hand with one ball hanging in a bottom corner, my other ball straight in the side, and the 8 ball on the head spot.

Easy run out, right?? NOT SO FAST MY FRIEND. Make the ball in the corner and drift up table for an easy cut into the side. All I have to do is play a nice cut shot in the side, go two rails for an easy game winner.

Line up- hit the shot- looks good- ball falls- hey, that cue ball is rolling fast! Too fast! STOP!!! Sh*&%#t!

Scratch. Game Over.

In two weeks of playing, I have lost hill-hill games to a apa 6 and an apa 5. BOTH while getting to the hill easily in control of the match.

When I get these big tables figured out, Watch Out!

 

[Cornerman]

We've got a SL-1 on the team, so I can play. But she won again this week, and all things point to her going up to an SL-2 next week. Maybe this will be my last week playing.

My match (APA 9-ball), I played nearly flawless pool, until I needed six balls, and he needed a miracle. And a miracle almost came... in bunches. He (SL-7) ended up missing eight shots, and left me hooked (by total accident) seven times including almost scratching and leaving me corner hooked. The one look I had, I dogged the tough out.

He outscored me 31-6 in the last five racks. It was painful, especially without being able to use a jump cue and getting luck hooked over and over.

I know... winning and still complaining.


Freddie <~~~ on to the next

 

[Mkindsv]

If you were left the leave, that means you already had a shot at the eight and missed. Just saying the previous runs fell short. Most likely a leave. Just take a pocket with the eight and wait it out unless the other guy is a runout player. Sounds like he wasn't and you are more skilled. I know it is boring but it scores points.

I get your point. Very rarely do I ever scratch on or otherwise make a mistake on the 8 ball, we only have a few run-out players on my league, though I have seen 2's run out a rack on occasion (rare but it does happen)...I have 6 Break and runs in the last 7 weeks (three in 8 ball, three in 9 ball), I would like to think that soon I will be that run-out player.

Did much better this week, rackless in 8 ball in a 4-0 win and rackless in 9 ball with another Break and run in a 5-0 win. Off next week as TAP nationals are next week.

 

[lorider]

Had our second match last night. We were up against the league leaders. We competed hard, it was 5-5 going into the last match, but ended up losing 8-5.
My match was infuriating.
I am playing their strongest player, a 5.

I jump out quick and am on the hill at 2-0 with a long cut on the 8 ball for the win.
Miss the shot and he runs out.

Next rack he kicks the 8 ball in on the break, nothing I could do.

Next rack he breaks and runs to the 7 ball, I make a few balls, but sell out on a tough cut and miss. He cleans it up and we are hill-hill.

Last rack seemed like it took forever with both of us playing tight, and both of us playing some good safes. He is down to the 8 ball but I play a lock down safety where he has to do a two rail kick at the ball. He misses and I have ball in hand with one ball hanging in a bottom corner, my other ball straight in the side, and the 8 ball on the head spot.

Easy run out, right?? NOT SO FAST MY FRIEND. Make the ball in the corner and drift up table for an easy cut into the side. All I have to do is play a nice cut shot in the side, go two rails for an easy game winner.

Line up- hit the shot- looks good- ball falls- hey, that cue ball is rolling fast! Too fast! STOP!!! Sh*&%#t!

Scratch. Game Over.

In two weeks of playing, I have lost hill-hill games to a apa 6 and an apa 5. BOTH while getting to the hill easily in control of the match.

When I get these big tables figured out, Watch Out!

I must say you.seem to be a decent player. First time ever in league going hill- hill vs a 5 and 6 and your first time playing on 9 foot tables. I am impressed .

One thing to lose to an opponent but its a bummer to beat yourself.....i have done that plenty of times lol.

I had double jeopardy Sunday night.. I played 2 different 5's in 8 and 9 ball. I won 4-2 in 8 ball after my opponent won the first 2 racks. Same old story...i just gotta face I am a slow starter most of the time lol. I won 9 ball 38-30 in a 38-38 race.

I had usapl Monday night. I faced a new player who started as a 325. I am kinda puzzled how this guy started so.low. I think my lo.was fed some false info on this guys playing ability but it is what it is. Any way on to the match.. Race was 54-38 with me going to 54. I lost 40-38. What transpired during this match can be read in my ...ever want to put a boot up your team mates azz if you are interested or bored lol.

In 9 ball I finally get a crack at a guy I lost to a while back . Only time we have ever faced each other..64-65 race with me going to 64. I jump.out winning the first 4 racks and am up 56-12. Crap happens...again outside problem arise and I lose the next 3 racks . Finally regain focus and win the last rack 14-0. I win the match 74-54. Details in that other thread mentioned above. Dont want a long drawn out post here lol..

So i started out with a 460 Fargo rate. Mostly played lower levels to.begin. Not my idea at all but I am not the captain. Finally faced a couple decent players the last 2 weeks and have managed to get my rating up to 475. Gonna shoot for 500 by the end of the year I hope . I noticed real quick that your Fargo rate dont move much beating low players....unlike apa lol.

 

[jokrswylde]

I must say you.seem to be a decent player. First time ever in league going hill- hill vs a 5 and 6 and your first time playing on 9 foot tables. I am impressed .

Thanks for the compliment, but I miss way, way too many long shots that I should make. I need to learn how to finish a match. I don't know if I let off the gas and lose some concentration when I get to the hill or if my opponent catches a gear and I don't/can't match it. Very likely it is a combination of both.

My thoughts going in to next Monday, are do I a). keep throwing myself in there against the 5's and 6's, and really focus on finishing the set, or b). try to match up with a 3 or 4, hopefully get a win, and build some momentum...

 

[justadub]

I had my 7 and two 5's away this week, so it was me, two 4's and two 3's. Their best player was away too, so they play 5-4-4-4-3.

We only lost 3 games all night (two by me). We won 13-0. Crazy. Fun stuff.

 

[Koop]

We've got a SL-1 on the team, so I can play. But she won again this week, and all things point to her going up to an SL-2 next week. Maybe this will be my last week playing.

My match (APA 9-ball), I played nearly flawless pool, until I needed six balls, and he needed a miracle. And a miracle almost came... in bunches. He (SL-7) ended up missing eight shots, and left me hooked (by total accident) seven times including almost scratching and leaving me corner hooked. The one look I had, I dogged the tough out.

He outscored me 31-6 in the last five racks. It was painful, especially without being able to use a jump cue and getting luck hooked over and over.

I know... winning and still complaining.


Freddie <~~~ on to the next

Sounds like you were curb stomping this guy before the shit luck started happening. Wins a win my friend!

 

[Coop1701]

Guys and Gals..., I am a bit confused over what's happening to my game. I can string some racks together. I have played some great nine ball this week.
But I keep losing. I know it's possible to do nothing wrong, and still lose. It's just a bit disheartening and makes me wanna quit.

A friend of mine Practiced 9-ball on Tuesday Night. He's pretty good too and we ar ethe same skill level. We always do 2 sets of 9 ball that are races to 7.
This week we started and I practiced great before we played. We start I lose the first 2 racks. I am playing great, so I am not concerned. Then I win the next 8 racks in a row.
So no only do i wini the set but the first game of the second set. Then he wins 3 in a row and I battle back. But I still lose overall so we both one a set.
We re-lag and start a 1 game tie breaker. He breaks dry and I ran the entire rack scratch on a 9.

I didn't do bad in my Wednesday Night 8 ball, but that brings me to Thursday Night 9 ball. I play a 5 and I am 6. 38 to 46 race.
I know the boy can play so I start out with a huge break and after 3 racks. I am up 27 to 3. The balls just laid out perfect every rack.

Next rack, I make a few he makes a few and I scratch on a easy 9. The next thing i know he is coming back. Not sure if it;s just bad luck or he was intentionally playing safe.
To me he looked like he was attempting to make a ball and just got lucky leaves. I ended up with a 12-8 loss. I needed 2 and he needed 3.
He broke, made 2 and ended with him having a easy shot on the next ball.

I am a better player than this. I can flat out run some racks. But it's almost like getting ahead in a match I ease up for whatever reason.
I'm struggling with finishing and I don't know why. It's just really sad that I can shoot lights out and then let people back in it.

 

[Cornerman]

Sounds like you were curb stomping this guy before the shit luck started happening. Wins a win my friend!

It was definitely one of those where the whole bar including the bartender and the smoking room patrons all stopped to watch me shoot. One guy throwing down the pints was trying to engage with me in conversation, like we were soul brothers. An SL-5 on the other team wanted to convince me that my game reminded him of his game when he was younger. I was waiting for him to tell me about his college days amd how he put himself through school.

Freddie <~~~ didnt play like this when I was younger

 

[jokrswylde]

Guys and Gals..., I am a bit confused over what's happening to my game. I can string some racks together. I have played some great nine ball this week.
But I keep losing. I know it's possible to do nothing wrong, and still lose. It's just a bit disheartening and makes me wanna quit.

A friend of mine Practiced 9-ball on Tuesday Night. He's pretty good too and we ar ethe same skill level. We always do 2 sets of 9 ball that are races to 7.
This week we started and I practiced great before we played. We start I lose the first 2 racks. I am playing great, so I am not concerned. Then I win the next 8 racks in a row.
So no only do i wini the set but the first game of the second set. Then he wins 3 in a row and I battle back. But I still lose overall so we both one a set.
We re-lag and start a 1 game tie breaker. He breaks dry and I ran the entire rack scratch on a 9.

I didn't do bad in my Wednesday Night 8 ball, but that brings me to Thursday Night 9 ball. I play a 5 and I am 6. 38 to 46 race.
I know the boy can play so I start out with a huge break and after 3 racks. I am up 27 to 3. The balls just laid out perfect every rack.

Next rack, I make a few he makes a few and I scratch on a easy 9. The next thing i know he is coming back. Not sure if it;s just bad luck or he was intentionally playing safe.
To me he looked like he was attempting to make a ball and just got lucky leaves. I ended up with a 12-8 loss. I needed 2 and he needed 3.
He broke, made 2 and ended with him having a easy shot on the next ball.

I am a better player than this. I can flat out run some racks. But it's almost like getting ahead in a match I ease up for whatever reason.
I'm struggling with finishing and I don't know why. It's just really sad that I can shoot lights out and then let people back in it.

I feel your pain brother

 

[lorider]

Guys and Gals..., I am a bit confused over what's happening to my game. I can string some racks together. I have played some great nine ball this week.
But I keep losing. I know it's possible to do nothing wrong, and still lose. It's just a bit disheartening and makes me wanna quit.

A friend of mine Practiced 9-ball on Tuesday Night. He's pretty good too and we ar ethe same skill level. We always do 2 sets of 9 ball that are races to 7.
This week we started and I practiced great before we played. We start I lose the first 2 racks. I am playing great, so I am not concerned. Then I win the next 8 racks in a row.
So no only do i wini the set but the first game of the second set. Then he wins 3 in a row and I battle back. But I still lose overall so we both one a set.
We re-lag and start a 1 game tie breaker. He breaks dry and I ran the entire rack scratch on a 9.

I didn't do bad in my Wednesday Night 8 ball, but that brings me to Thursday Night 9 ball. I play a 5 and I am 6. 38 to 46 race.
I know the boy can play so I start out with a huge break and after 3 racks. I am up 27 to 3. The balls just laid out perfect every rack.

Next rack, I make a few he makes a few and I scratch on a easy 9. The next thing i know he is coming back. Not sure if it;s just bad luck or he was intentionally playing safe.
To me he looked like he was attempting to make a ball and just got lucky leaves. I ended up with a 12-8 loss. I needed 2 and he needed 3.
He broke, made 2 and ended with him having a easy shot on the next ball.

I am a better player than this. I can flat out run some racks. But it's almost like getting ahead in a match I ease up for whatever reason.
I'm struggling with finishing and I don't know why. It's just really sad that I can shoot lights out and then let people back in it.

You have just described what I have posted on here several times. A few times o have been up and it seems like my brain says ...this aint supposed to be this easy and my opponent comes from behind

Some times the opposite happens. Just start out real sluggish like my mind would rather be some where else and when I realize I am getting a beat down put on me I come from behind.. It makes mo sense.

 

[lorider]

We have 9 ball tri cups going on and its really putting a strain on my brain.

I have 2 teams in it and the same ole same ole keeps rearing its ugly head. Hard to field a full team.

As captain I make it a point to make every player aware of the dates tri cups....or amy high level tournament is being held. When the date approaches I inform every player of the bracket schedule as soon as it is posted. Some how i always get blindsided the day the tournament starts with players telling me they cannot make it for various reasons.

My co captain on my Thursday team tells me he can make the first day but not the rest cause he will be outa town . My best 3 tells me the day it starts she can't make the first day but may can make the rest. We manage to field 5 players and win the first day in only 4 matches. Got a bye yesterday and play today.

On my Sunday team due to attrition and the addition of a couple of players just joining I only have 5 eligible players. ...including me. Well one goes to the hospital last weekend for a bulging disc on his back and is released the day before the tournament starts. Informs me he will make it bit is not 100%. I really don't want him to play and thinkin about forfeiting. He dont want that so we go. 2 hours before I starts I am informed by another player he can't make it . We play with 4 players and get beat bad. So we are in the losers bracket last night with 5 players. We are pretty far ahead after 2 matches and my player that missed thursday night informed me he can't make Saturday which will leave me with just 4 players again. I talk it over with my co captain and we decide after the 3rd match is over to forfeit the other 2 sending our opponents on to the next round .

We were not going to waste our time if we could not field a complete team and there was no use to knock this team out of the tournament when we had no intention of showing up the next day.

Upon informing the opposing captain he thanked us and and the lo.said that was very sportsman like of us.

Hope no surprises pop up today lol.

Only thing positive is that both current teams this session are a lot stronger and fuller than what I have fielded in this tri cup. As I always say during tri cups and ltc's....always next time to to win it.

Maybe my Thursday team can pull it off today. A side note about this team. I had a very good player..s/l 6 with a bad attitude quit the end of last session. He is eligible to play with is this tournament and text me the night before it started and asked me if I wanted to let him play with us ..for old times sake...his words. I replied I did not need him.

 

[Coop1701]

Lorider..., Buddy ole pal. I think I have been lucky in that regards. Hasn’t happened to me yet. But we do lose 2 on occasion. Husband Wife combo..., if they go to the beach or on another trip.

I hate that for you and that was good sportsmanship in your part. Good luck with your other team.

 

[lorider]

Lorider..., Buddy ole pal. I think I have been lucky in that regards. Hasn’t happened to me yet. But we do lose 2 on occasion. Husband Wife combo..., if they go to the beach or on another trip.

I hate that for you and that was good sportsmanship in your part. Good luck with your other team.

Thanks for the kind words my friend. We got knocked out in the semi finals last night. And as usual my motto is...always next time. On the bright side .....if my thursday team stays together we can field a stronger team than we did this time. I picked up a decent 6 and one of the better 5's around.

As for my Sunday team....same problem today as through the whole tournament. Not enough players showing to field a team tonight so i cancelled our match. Several reasons people were not showing and some were very valid.

One players sister was admitted to the hospital and it seems to be serious and I told him go....family is the most important thing we possess. Another player was the one who had just got out of the hospital and needed time fo recuperate. Again ...very valid reason. Another player... Has eyesight problems driving at night and only plays when we are at home cause she lives right down the road. We agreed on that we she joined so again no problem. 2 other players never gave a reason they could not make it tonight..i just chalked this week up to extenuating circumstances but am.skeptical of keeping the last 2 players mentioned on the team. Although I could not field a team if those 2 did show its not the first or 2nd time they have missed and not given a reason.

Well I put all teams issues aside that I am.captain of and went to play masters....thankfully I am not captain cause we had a player not show and I think i woulda lost it lol .

At the last minute I decided to grab the cue out of the closet that I play the best with. Glad I did cause I played pretty darn good with it. I played another 5/5 like me. Yea I went down in 9 ball again..we played each other twice. I won the first match 7-1. I won the 2nd match 7-3. Although I won my 2nd match pretty handily I am not quite happy with my performance. I simply got lackadaisical I guess is the best way to describe it during a couple racks and feel I should have won the 2nd match by at least 7-1 also.

Back to my cue. Its completely different than what I normally shoot with. All.my cues range in the 18-19 oz but this one is 21. Its a cheap premier sneaky Pete that I paid 20.00 for brand new 4 years ago. My best wins have come with this cue.

Don't know why I don't play with this cue all the time.

Maybe because I like something fancier most of the time .

Maybe deep down I dont want to go up in handicap which I feel would happen if I played with it all the time.

Both of those thoughts have crossed my mind . I dont know...strange aint it ? Also strange that a cue....especially like this cheap one can have such an impact on your game.

 

[Coop1701]

Both of those thoughts have crossed my mind . I dont know...strange aint it ? Also strange that a cue....especially like this cheap one can have such an impact on your game.

Maybe you should adjust the weight of a fancier cue closer to the weight of your cheaper cue. You could also put a different tip on it. I had always preferred softer tips until I changed shafts not long ago. I was missing my bread butter cuts and long up the rail shots. The tip change I made was to a Medium Quick. It's really helped me with speed (Something that can kill ya) and long shots. I had get away from what everyone at the bar was using and find something that worked for me.

Keep up the good work pal.., no matter which cue you use.

 

[jokrswylde]

Well good news and bad from last night. The good news is we played the 2nd place team in our division and only lost 8-7. I am getting a better read on my players and matching them up in good matches.

The bad news is, my losing streak continues. It is getting to be like deja vu every match. Last night I played a 5 that I should have beat. Get to the hill and catch a hanger on the 8 ball for the loss. At this point I ain't sure whether to laugh or cry. I had an off night last night, but somehow I've got to figure out how to finish a match.

I will just keep plugging away. I still like the idea of matching myself up against their strongest player, because I think playing 5's and 6's will pay off in the long run. Oh well, I guess on the bright side, as a 4 who is 0 and 3 on the season, maybe I can sneak up on some people.