I keep seeing people mention grades of player ability but I'm confused on how a grade is assessed. Wanting to improve but first wondering how to describe my play...
I'm at retirement age. Casual player for 50 years, yikes. Have gone several years at a time when I never shot a game. Have always been a good athlete, do well at 'skill' type sports. Took up golf at age 21 and best golf handicap was +1.2, which is better than scratch. Shoulder injury killed that, haven't played in years but I might take it up again just to play every once in awhile because I do love the game and love being outdoors.
In our local bar, there is one guy who can beat me, he plays in a league. He's new to me, a couple weeks now, and we're pretty even but I'm thinking he's a notch above with better cue ball control. He wasn't at the bar recently and I beat 11 opponents that night and never lost. But there isn't great competition. I am going to play this guy more and see how we stack up, I like playing him.
I recently decided to play a week of straight pool just throwing all 15 balls out on the table randomly and ran them all out many times (but usually didn't) and the best I did was a run of 29 three times.
I do ok with vertical english, not as well with side spin. Main issue I think is cue ball control. Have watched a boatload of youtube and pro players always know where it's going and I don't. I know generally where it's going but they seem to know within inches where it will stop. I do pretty well with whitey if I am shooting softer.
Any idea what you'd call my level of play? Intermediate, "B," "C," or what? I get confused looking at various rating methods. If someone asks, I don't know what to say.
EDIT: As for what is 'good,' I don't think I'm that good. I can just hold my own in a game of 8-ball in most bars. Skilled players will beat me routinely over a set of many games. I only ask this because I wonder where I fit in. I have a long ways to go. But, based on just one thing I learned about a month ago by watching a lot of videos (and noticed something onscreen), I improved probably 5-10% from that alone. So, I think I can get a lot better.
I'm at retirement age. Casual player for 50 years, yikes. Have gone several years at a time when I never shot a game. Have always been a good athlete, do well at 'skill' type sports. Took up golf at age 21 and best golf handicap was +1.2, which is better than scratch. Shoulder injury killed that, haven't played in years but I might take it up again just to play every once in awhile because I do love the game and love being outdoors.
In our local bar, there is one guy who can beat me, he plays in a league. He's new to me, a couple weeks now, and we're pretty even but I'm thinking he's a notch above with better cue ball control. He wasn't at the bar recently and I beat 11 opponents that night and never lost. But there isn't great competition. I am going to play this guy more and see how we stack up, I like playing him.
I recently decided to play a week of straight pool just throwing all 15 balls out on the table randomly and ran them all out many times (but usually didn't) and the best I did was a run of 29 three times.
I do ok with vertical english, not as well with side spin. Main issue I think is cue ball control. Have watched a boatload of youtube and pro players always know where it's going and I don't. I know generally where it's going but they seem to know within inches where it will stop. I do pretty well with whitey if I am shooting softer.
Any idea what you'd call my level of play? Intermediate, "B," "C," or what? I get confused looking at various rating methods. If someone asks, I don't know what to say.
EDIT: As for what is 'good,' I don't think I'm that good. I can just hold my own in a game of 8-ball in most bars. Skilled players will beat me routinely over a set of many games. I only ask this because I wonder where I fit in. I have a long ways to go. But, based on just one thing I learned about a month ago by watching a lot of videos (and noticed something onscreen), I improved probably 5-10% from that alone. So, I think I can get a lot better.
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