Ha. In all my years of playing, me and all my pool buddies and opponents never had a single drink. We just lived and breathed pool, nothing else. I guess we were all lucky that way, not to get caught up in drinking.
My Fargorate progression
- Thread starter iusedtoberich
- Start date
Yeah, a lot of my games are from traveling. I probably spent a ton of money to get all my data. ha ha.
I will say I think I'm playing more with a purpose, to get this rating. I remember years ago I'd go to the weekly tournament every week and wouldn't even care. Now, I'm getting quite upset at myself when I lose.
DigitalPool - Bridging the gap between player and technology
Create and manage your own pool leagues and tournaments and challenge other players from around the pool world.
Tournament digitalpool link above.
I played in the PA State 10 Ball Championship this past Saturday. Most of the top current players from Philly and the surrounding cites were here. The event was at Bluegrass Billiards. I have never been to this room, I think it opened about 5 years ago. The owners and equipment are the same as Tacony Billiards, which had to close down a couple years before this one opened. I think their lease had run out after 30 some years. They put all their equipment in storage while searching for a new location. I had been to Tacony a few times, and it was the top action room in the Philly area for 30 some years. Anyway, they had about 35 GC3 tables with the black finish and they were fabulous. (also about 30 Valleys). The 16 or so tournament tables had brand new Simonis, and the tournament staff (not part of the room ownership) had brought their own new Dynasphere balls and magic racks. I was so happy playing on GC rails again, as were many of the other tournament participants. There were 35 players, 6 over 700. Highest by Fargo were Wilkie 743 and Lucas Verner 739.
Race 7 winner/6 losers, called shot 10 ball, not call safe, early 10 good, alt break. I was feeling very good during practice, and bought myself in the calcutta. I know it was a dumb move, and wasn't planing on it, but when my name was called my adrenaline went up and I jumped up to buy myself. Lucas went for the blind bid.
My first match was against one of the favorites, Brandon Sluzalis (he ended up getting 3rd). He is a 703/1391. I knew of him from 25 years ago and knew he was super strong. We never really knew each other, as our paths rarely crossed. I asked him if his dad had a pool room in Lancaster years ago. He said yes, but it was Reading. I said I remember you... The open tour in the late 90's was called the Tim Scruggs Tour. A buddy and I drove up there together. He told me to bid on Brandon in the auction, because his dad would always outbid anyone else, in order to get the calcutta higher. I told Brandon this, and he had a laugh. I think he was probably 13 at the time and I was probably 20.
Back to the game: He scratched on his first shot, and I ran out the whole rack, either 9 or 10 balls. After that, my nerves started kicking in. The second rack I broke dry, and he ran to the 7, missing it. I ran 7-10. I'm up 2-0. I'm playing perfect. But my nerves are even higher now. I'm thinking in my head I'm going to beat a super good player. That's what had me nervous. Then we go 2-2. Then I run another rack and go up 3-2. Then 3-3. Then he scratches on the break and there is a 1-10 combo possible, but I elect to go for the out, as the table was open. This whole rack my heart was pounding, I was sweating, I was shaky. I knew beating this top player was really in my grasp, and that's all I was thinking about. I run up to the 6, and it’s a tricky shot, because the 9 is right next to it on the rail. So after I cut the 6 in, the CB will double kiss the 9, and I’d have to figure out how it will land. (I’m writing this a few days later). I can’t remember if I overcut the 6, or if I made it but the 9 double kissed and blocked the cb for the next shot. He won the game from there. Then he goes up 5-3. My nerves are better now, because I'm thinking my chance is gone. There was one more notable shot. He missed the 10 to go up 6-3, and left it in a super bad spot. I didn't see a good safety, and I was looking and looking, and it was laying about similar to the Predator Teams shot that FSR played last week. So I called a 4 rail bank. It was going right in the center of the corner, and somehow the CB kissed it about 2 feet from the corner. Both of us were smiling that it was dead in before the kiss. All my nerves were now gone and I lost 7-3. I was still happy, because I did play each rack pretty good for me, especially the first half of the set.
My next opponent was probably close to my speed. I got up 3-0 on him, but we were both missing about 5 times a rack. I was a completely different person than my first match. I was kind of mad at myself for playing so bad, but there were zero nerves like the first match. He comes back on me and wins 6-4. I'm out. I looked up his rating afterwards (on the digital pool bracket, not fargo, which does not show robustness), and he was a 606. I could not believe that, he played more like a 450, as did I. I ran into him later and we chatted a bit and he was super friendly. I asked him to play some cheap 9 ball sets, and we played races to 7. I won 7-2 and 7-4, and I was playing my normal game. He was playing a bit better too. When I got home I looked him up on the fargo app, and his robustness was only 35, so that explains the high (preliminary) rating. We exchanged phone numbers and will probably play again.
Lukas ended up beating Matt Krah in the finals 9-7.
I had a good time, and was super happy to find a room with GC's in the Philly area. This one is 40 min to my dad's house where I stay when I go there. Unfortunately, this room does not have weekly fargo events, it only hosts the big open events like this one. I'll be back though as a bunch of my buddies from Drexeline Billiards (that closed 3 years ago due to the shopping center being torn down) play here now, and I caught up with a few of them.
After my first match and nerves, I told myself I have to keep putting myself in these situations playing strong players, so the nerves will lessen. The thing is, I've played strong players before and was not nervous, because I never was in a position to win. To be in this position again, I’d have to play super good (for me), and draw a strong player.
The fargo has not been updated yet with this data.
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Been to that room many times.DigitalPool - Bridging the gap between player and technology
Create and manage your own pool leagues and tournaments and challenge other players from around the pool world.digitalpool.com
Tournament digitalpool link above.
I played in the PA State 10 Ball Championship this past Saturday. Most of the top current players from Philly and the surrounding cites were here. The event was at Bluegrass Billiards. I have never been to this room, I think it opened about 5 years ago. The owners and equipment are the same as Tacony Billiards, which had to close down a couple years before this one opened. I think their lease had run out after 30 some years. They put all their equipment in storage while searching for a new location. I had been to Tacony a few times, and it was the top action room in the Philly area for 30 some years. Anyway, they had about 35 GC3 tables with the black finish and they were fabulous. (also about 30 Valleys). The 16 or so tournament tables had brand new Simonis, and the tournament staff (not part of the room ownership) had brought their own new Dynasphere balls and magic racks. I was so happy playing on GC rails again, as were many of the other tournament participants. There were 35 players, 6 over 700. Highest by Fargo were Wilkie 743 and Lucas Verner 739.
Race 7 winner/6 losers, called shot 10 ball, not call safe, early 10 good, alt break. I was feeling very good during practice, and bought myself in the calcutta. I know it was a dumb move, and wasn't planing on it, but when my name was called my adrenaline went up and I jumped up to buy myself. Lucas went for the blind bid.
My first match was against one of the favorites, Brandon Sluzalis (he ended up getting 3rd). He is a 703/1391. I knew of him from 25 years ago and knew he was super strong. We never really knew each other, as our paths rarely crossed. I asked him if his dad had a pool room in Lancaster years ago. He said yes, but it was Reading. I said I remember you... The open tour in the late 90's was called the Tim Scruggs Tour. A buddy and I drove up there together. He told me to bid on Brandon in the auction, because his dad would always outbid anyone else, in order to get the calcutta higher. I told Brandon this, and he had a laugh. I think he was probably 13 at the time and I was probably 20.
Back to the game: He scratched on his first shot, and I ran out the whole rack, either 9 or 10 balls. After that, my nerves started kicking in. The second rack I broke dry, and he ran to the 7, missing it. I ran 7-10. I'm up 2-0. I'm playing perfect. But my nerves are even higher now. I'm thinking in my head I'm going to beat a super good player. That's what had me nervous. Then we go 2-2. Then I run another rack and go up 3-2. Then 3-3. Then he scratches on the break and there is a 1-10 combo possible, but I elect to go for the out, as the table was open. This whole rack my heart was pounding, I was sweating, I was shaky. I knew beating this top player was really in my grasp, and that's all I was thinking about. I run up to the 6, and it’s a tricky shot, because the 9 is right next to it on the rail. So after I cut the 6 in, the CB will double kiss the 9, and I’d have to figure out how it will land. (I’m writing this a few days later). I can’t remember if I overcut the 6, or if I made it but the 9 double kissed and blocked the cb for the next shot. He won the game from there. Then he goes up 5-3. My nerves are better now, because I'm thinking my chance is gone. There was one more notable shot. He missed the 10 to go up 6-3, and left it in a super bad spot. I didn't see a good safety, and I was looking and looking, and it was laying about similar to the Predator Teams shot that FSR played last week. So I called a 4 rail bank. It was going right in the center of the corner, and somehow the CB kissed it about 2 feet from the corner. Both of us were smiling that it was dead in before the kiss. All my nerves were now gone and I lost 7-3. I was still happy, because I did play each rack pretty good for me, especially the first half of the set.
My next opponent was probably close to my speed. I got up 3-0 on him, but we were both missing about 5 times a rack. I was a completely different person than my first match. I was kind of mad at myself for playing so bad, but there were zero nerves like the first match. He comes back on me and wins 6-4. I'm out. I looked up his rating afterwards (on the digital pool bracket, not fargo, which does not show robustness), and he was a 606. I could not believe that, he played more like a 450, as did I. I ran into him later and we chatted a bit and he was super friendly. I asked him to play some cheap 9 ball sets, and we played races to 7. I won 7-2 and 7-4, and I was playing my normal game. He was playing a bit better too. When I got home I looked him up on the fargo app, and his robustness was only 35, so that explains the high (preliminary) rating. We exchanged phone numbers and will probably play again.
Lukas ended up beating Matt Krah in the finals 9-7.
I had a good time, and was super happy to find a room with GC's in the Philly area. This one is 40 min to my dad's house where I stay when I go there. Unfortunately, this room does not have weekly fargo events, it only hosts the big open events like this one. I'll be back though as a bunch of my buddies from Drexeline Billiards (that closed 3 years ago due to the shopping center being torn down) play here now, and I caught up with a few of them.
After my first match and nerves, I told myself I have to keep putting myself in these situations playing strong players, so the nerves will lessen. The thing is, I've played strong players before and was not nervous, because I never was in a position to win. To be in this position again, I’d have to play super good (for me), and draw a strong player.
The fargo has not been updated yet with this data.
Love that room.
Sorry they took the 3C tables out though.
Played in a couple of tournaments there and they are well run.
Tacony or Bluegrass for the carom table? I think Tacony had 3 in the 90’s? There was one carom table at Bluegrass, next to the TV table.
WobblyStroke
Well-known member
So true. There was some controversy a few years back when a team went deep in or qon nationals and everyone outplayed their regular level by quite a bit. Their excuse was that at league they had fun and got drunk so they played better sober when it counted. convenient excuse but def plausible. ur breathalizer idea would remove doubt if they were consiatently blowing .15s.
tomatoshooter
Well-known member
I can see a sub 450 player wearing out the practice table and getting his focus down, and maybe plugging a couple of leaks in his game and out preforming his fargo by a significant amount. It's not that he's playing better as a whole. He has just removed the bad decisions and dogged shots that were holding him back. I heard a saying, "you don't win marksmanship competitions by shooting small groups, you win by not shooting large groups. "
When they opened they had 2 carom tables, an Olhausen and an old Brunswick, neither heated.
The Brunswick was the better table.
They were back in the alcove next to kitchen.
If I go into a poolroom and they have a carom table I start my session at the carom table for about an hour.
I'm established! It took 10 tournaments, 4 months, 5 states, and a bunch of money. 547 at 203 robustness.
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I've had a big smile on my face since I woke up and saw the app was updated and I'm established
It really feels like a big accomplishment to me. It ties everything in my pool journey together. Nice job Mike.
It really feels like a big accomplishment to me. It ties everything in my pool journey together. Nice job Mike.
Congrats! 49% win rate and a bunch of opponents at 600+ and 700+. You've been playing some tough competition.I've had a big smile on my face since I woke up and saw the app was updated and I'm established
My robustness is 181, so fingers crossed I'll get established in the next couple months. Most of my play is not reported, unfortunately (probably < 20% of my games). Can't wait for that feeling of relief.
If your opponents in the non-reported matches also want to get more robustness, you may be able to report your matches through Salotto.
Thanks. I actually downloaded it at one point and then promptly forgot about it. I'll see if I can get folks to agree to it.
I think I played my first Fargo tournament about 4 years ago and I still haven’t made it to 200 games yet. I’m kinda indifferent to Fargo, it really doesn’t mean anything to me, but I think it’s the best rating system out there.
I play when and where I want. I have been told I can’t play in certain tournaments because I’m not established but it doesn’t bother me. I have a table at home so I can play anytime I want so if someone doesn’t want me to play in their tournament I just stay home.
CongratulationsI've had a big smile on my face since I woke up and saw the app was updated and I'm established
There’s a similar saying in golf: you don’t go low by making more birdies; you go low by avoiding bogies or worse.
Watching golf on TV really skews most viewers’ perception of birdie rate, since they tend to show mostly made birdie putts of whoever is hot that week. PGA Tour pros average only 3.7 birdies per round, which is pretty remarkable when the vast majority can reach the four par 5s in two on most setups and expect to make birdie on all four. The birdie leader for this last season was Patrick Cantlay at 4.5. But obviously they are all much, much better at bogey-or-worse avoidance than amateurs.
Sometimes lightning strikes and birdies come in bunches. Heck, it even happened to me a couple months ago when I had 8 birdies as a 3-cap. Too bad I also had a double and 3 bogies for a ho-hum 69 instead of the 64 or 65 a typical pro would have carded with 8 birdies.
So, based on your spend, what is the average dollar cost for each Fargorate point?
JKJK...nice progress and good shootin'.
Let’s just say pool cost me an extra year and half of college, being late to work and missing many days when I was an intern, and many arguments with the family. I still donkey off work 25 years later for anything pool
I completely get that. In fact, I wonder if I should have ditched work more often to go bat around balls with a stick myself.Let’s just say pool cost me an extra year and half of college, being late to work and missing many days when I was an intern, and many arguments with the family. I still donkey off work 25 years later for anything pool
That's pretty much my perspective too as another part-timer that's not established. I could see me getting my competitive juices flowing and making a run at 700. I think that's about my ceiling if I gave it my all, or more honestly -- if I just started competing a lot more. Like at least once a month. It's gotten more difficult to practice as I've gotten older unless I'm competing.