how are ya'll doing in league ?

lorider said:

tonight i started my playing in a new napa division. my opponent won the lag and chose 8 ball. i am going to 4 and him 3. again slow starting me lets him win the 1st rack before i win 4 in a row winning the match.

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Did you guys try the new online scoring app? We started using it last night. It's pretty nice except only one person can keep score of a match. That's not a big deal until the guy keeping score comes over and says, "what's the score?" So if you use it, you should also keep track on paper.

The other "problem" with it is that I didn't like not being quite sure where we were in the match score-wise. I know you're not supposed to care, but I do dammit.

So last night I lost my 6-4 10-ball match 6-3. I choose 10-ball because my opponent is much better than I am and next weekend is a 10-ball tournament in Syracuse that I'm trying to get ready for. I'm happy it went hill-hill but that was really through no effort of mine. My opponent usually ran out. When I got to the table it was usually because of a bad roll late in the rack.

On the plus side, my first foray into gambling was successful. On a side table people were playing 8-ball for five bucks/rack. I won twice and lost once, so that almost paid my league dues.

Good progress - after spending a long time letting my head game get to me I've now won three weeks in a row in 8-ball league. League isn't NAPA, but follows NAPA rules aside from some small modifications... any scratch on the 8 is game over, which I love. Can only break off the head ball... Also has much wider rating brackets which means people with far higher ratings giving fewer games to the lower rated players. I don't mind that - I like fair, and helping the lower rated players, but I also believe in the better player getting to win on skill.

Last night I played a better player for the first time in the winning run. First week was an equivalent player, second week was a far worse player, this week was a better player than me (though we were a 3-3 race). Opponent took me on the first game, running through the table after I failed to take the far easier set of balls on the opening. I came back and managed to win the second and third games, thanks in large part to some mistakes on his part. The fourth game I broke, and started well but scratched and he ran all the way around the table to win it and take it hill-hill. The final game was quick and tight - he broke, ran down to the eight. I ran my side of it down to one ball plus the eight and played a safety. He went for it and left me with a pair of easy shots for the win.

Really feels good winning three weeks in a row. I'm not sure if "comfortable" is how I'd describe how I'm playing. My heart was still racing, but my hand was steady. I've heard a lot of people say they're better players when their heart is up and they have that adrenaline flowing. Personally I like being focused but slightly dead, low heart rate. If there's music I want to be lost in that, it helps me lose track of the world around the immediate table. If I'm humming along with the song, then I'm entirely lost in the game of pool. Last night was exactly that, felt good.

Once you get rid of the adrenaline/shakes/jitters, you will be good to go!

Won my 9-ball match, last night, against a SL2. I won 15-5...
No break and runs. No big run outs. Crappy breaks.

I was 4 for 5 on combo shots. The one I missed was a pitiful attempt with BIH to make the 2/9. The rack was all cluttered up, so I figured I could always get the points and break again... FAIL

Heart rate up is definitely bad for your game.
It just ruined my shot at a Flappy Bird world record

CreeDo said:

Heart rate up is definitely bad for your game.
It just ruined my shot at a Flappy Bird world record

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noooooooooooooooooooo

DAVE_M said:

Once you get rid of the adrenaline/shakes/jitters, you will be good to go!

Won my 9-ball match, last night, against a SL2. I won 15-5...
No break and runs. No big run outs. Crappy breaks.

I was 4 for 5 on combo shots. The one I missed was a pitiful attempt with BIH to make the 2/9. The rack was all cluttered up, so I figured I could always get the points and break again... FAIL

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I guess the pressure is on me tonight then to either snap a 9 or get a 5-6 point break. Thanks 2-pack Dave. I won my last match in 9 ball so I am probably supposed to lose tonight there . 8 ball, going for the jugular to keep the streak going!

Spimp13 said:

I guess the pressure is on me tonight then to either snap a 9 or get a 5-6 point break. Thanks 2-pack Dave. I won my last match in 9 ball so I am probably supposed to lose tonight there . 8 ball, going for the jugular to keep the streak going!

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Yea I goofed! I had three 1 point breaks and one dry break.
I going for a 3 pack and a 6 point break next week.

The LO owes me my patches!!!! LOL

I'm not familiar with APA 9B scoring. Can you guys explain this 5-6 point break you guys refer to?

JBB2388 said:

I'm not familiar with APA 9B scoring. Can you guys explain this 5-6 point break you guys refer to?

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Every ball is worth 1 pt except the 9-ball which is worth 2pts.

Each match is a race to a certain number of points, based on your handicap.

APA 9-ball is more like rotation straight-pool than it is Texas Express 9-ball.

krupa said:

Every ball is worth 1 pt except the 9-ball which is worth 2pts.

Each match is a race to a certain number of points, based on your handicap.

APA 9-ball is more like rotation straight-pool than it is Texas Express 9-ball.

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Correct.

I played an SL2 and they have me ranked as an SL5. I beat her 38-11. I goofed and gave her ball in hand twice. Stupid part is, since she's a two, the way they determine that I won 15-5 is with a losers rank chart. She's a 2 and made between 11 & 12 points, so no matter what my SL is, I win 15-5. I could have beaten her 100-11 and still get 15-5.

Anotehr win - 14.1

I had a good win last night in our 14.1 league. I had to give the guy a small handicap; when he saw that I had to give him weight instead of visa-versa he acted like he couldnt believe it because he felt he was much better than me. That gave me a real incentive to hunker down and give it my very best. I started out good and got up on him but he had a nice run and got about 20 points up on me. I went into grind mode and beat him in the end. His last comment was "I'm glad thats over." That comment made my day. :grin:

BigDeal52 said:

I had a good win last night in our 14.1 league. I had to give the guy a small handicap; when he saw that I had to give him weight instead of visa-versa he acted like he couldnt believe it because he felt he was much better than me. That gave me a real incentive to hunker down and give it my very best. I started out good and got up on him but he had a nice run and got about 20 points up on me. I went into grind mode and beat him in the end. His last comment was "I'm glad thats over." That comment made my day. :grin:

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nicely done!

Yes, a couple of weeks ago I had a 5 point break (9 ball plus 3 other balls). I now have a 6 point break goal whether it is the 9 ball and 4 balls, or just 6 other balls. It is less likely to happen but you never know. I also have 2 nine ball breaks in a match so the new goal is 3 for that. 8 ball two break and runs in a set and in a different match 1 8 ball break. I don't go for 8 ball breaks so not going to try anything there, but maybe 3 break and runs in a set will be an 8 ball goal. Final one was 2 rackless wins in a row for 8 ball...almost 3. That is more luck as you have to win the lag and every single game so not sure I will be able to do 3 playing higher handicaps.

Speaking of making balls on the break, I have a funny story from last night.

I was playing 8-ball on the practice table. I broke, using the second-ball break shot and sure enough, the 8-ball went into the side pocket. Me and my opponent finished off the rack for fun, and after that, my opponent starting talking about how much he hates winning off the break like that and that games shouldn't be decided on the break.

I don't disagree with him, you should win on skill, not on luck. He's a funny guy and it was hilarious to listen to him go on and on. At one point, I was playing for $5 and got down the 8-ball and he said something that cracked me up. I had to get up and (laughingly) tell him to shut the f- up.

Ok, so he's gone on for at least 20 minutes arguing about how often you can make the money ball and he finally goes to play his match.

He's playing 10-ball and has to win 6 games.

He made the money ball 4 times on the break! :thumbup:

krupa said:

Speaking of making balls on the break, I have a funny story from last night.

I was playing 8-ball on the practice table. I broke, using the second-ball break shot and sure enough, the 8-ball went into the side pocket. Me and my opponent finished off the rack for fun, and after that, my opponent starting talking about how much he hates winning off the break like that and that games shouldn't be decided on the break.

I don't disagree with him, you should win on skill, not on luck. He's a funny guy and it was hilarious to listen to him go on and on. At one point, I was playing for $5 and got down the 8-ball and he said something that cracked me up. I had to get up and (laughingly) tell him to shut the f- up.

Ok, so he's gone on for at least 20 minutes arguing about how often you can make the money ball and he finally goes to play his match.

He's playing 10-ball and has to win 6 games.

He made the money ball 4 times on the break! :thumbup:

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I love the idea of the money ball (8/9/10) not counting on the break. I also love the idea of combos on the money ball not counting. I like the predator ten ball rules, it changes the game up a lot.

BigDeal52 said:

I had a good win last night in our 14.1 league. I had to give the guy a small handicap; when he saw that I had to give him weight instead of visa-versa he acted like he couldnt believe it because he felt he was much better than me. That gave me a real incentive to hunker down and give it my very best. I started out good and got up on him but he had a nice run and got about 20 points up on me. I went into grind mode and beat him in the end. His last comment was "I'm glad thats over." That comment made my day. :grin:

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I've played 14.1 a little bit and man, can it be mentally exhausting. I could easily see myself saying the same thing after a grinding match, win or lose!

...

I had my APA masters match last night. I didn't play all that well, but still finished 7-1. I think the opponents finished with 5 or 6 points maybe. After 5 matches, I'm 2 points behind a 5 in the Top Gun race, with 32 points. I don't think I'll be getting in enough matches to qualify for it, but we'll see.

Man I really wished someone would have punched me in my fagina yesterday. I lost to a 6 3-4 and a horribly played match by me. I missed 2 8 balls, scratched on my last 8. He also had an 8 ball break. I did have one break and run, but overall was very meh shooting. It was the first night I had some beers in about 5 weeks so I think I lost a little bit of focus and took shots for granted that were very easy (both missed 8s). Not an excuse, but one of the 8s I was straight in, that most 3s would have made. 6 out of 8 now so need to turn it around to make a run at top gun and to keep the average up. Sigh...

Spimp13 said:

Man I really wished someone would have punched me in my fagina yesterday. I lost to a 6 3-4 and a horribly played match by me. I missed 2 8 balls, scratched on my last 8. He also had an 8 ball break. I did have one break and run, but overall was very meh shooting. It was the first night I had some beers in about 5 weeks so I think I lost a little bit of focus and took shots for granted that were very easy (both missed 8s). Not an excuse, but one of the 8s I was straight in, that most 3s would have made. 6 out of 8 now so need to turn it around to make a run at top gun and to keep the average up. Sigh...

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Been there....:slap:

That's one thing I never agreed with, 8 on the break should be spotted not a win.
It's a bad way to loose a match.
And I'm with you on not making the 8 for the win. It's cost me at least 3 or 4 matches this session.