I just wanted to share this story with you guys, because yesterday was a the most pool I've ever played in one day, the most fun I've ever had playing pool, and also the first time I've lost money playing pool. I definitely feel like I learned some lessons about pool, and overall have a made a step towards being a better player after yesterday. I know I definitely still have plenty to learn though, I'm 16 years old and have a lot of pool ahead of me:thumbup:
It all started yesterday when I got a call from a guy named Bill I'd played with a couple weeks ago. He was an excellent player, and I always give my number to players who are better than me. He's an old guy and plays in a very old school style. He reminds me of an old straight pool player in his manner of stance and stroke. We met up at the bowling alley at noon, and played a few games of 8-ball, then he wanted to play 3-5-8 bank pool(in which the third, fifth, and eighth balls you pocket are bank shots). We played that until about 3:30 and then he had to go. But man, he could really drill those banks. He ran me out once playing that game, which was pretty remarkable to me, but I know there are some seriously good bankers around.
After Bill and I had finished playing, I went into the bar section of the bowling alley, as I'd seen Bob in there. Bob and I have gambled a bit in the past, and I've won about 50 bucks off him total. But he was also with his friend Robert, whom I've never met. He was giant though, pretty tall and quite fat haha. They're both really nice guys, despite Bob being muscley and adorned with many tattoos. Well we started playing for 5 bucks a game, me and Robert. Bob was having none of it, I guess he figured out he's not that good haha. Robert and I basically just traded the same five bucks back and forth twice, and then he suggested the three of us play a round-robbin tournament thing.
First I played Robert. I was starting to lose it pool-wise, you know how that is. I was getting very upset about how poorly I was playing. Robert kicked my ass, and I lost 0-2. Then I played Bob. By this time I started not really trying. I was just getting up there and throwing the cue at the table without really thinking. Despite this, I beat Bob the first game. The second game was a little different. He ran his balls down to one solid and the 8 left, and missed. Then I promptly missed one of the 3 easy shots I had available
He hit his ball in and missed the 8, and then I ran down to the 8, and missed a very easy 8. I couldn't figure it out, I was just playing so badly, and the worse I was playing, the less I cared about playing well. I ultimately won that game, and went 2-0 on Bob. I had to beat Bob in another race to 2 to go to the finals of the 1st annual Plaza Bowl 8-Ball Championship:wink:. He played poorly too, and I beat him again.
Robert and I were set to play, but I knew he was just gonna pick me apart. So I got a some fries and a Dr.Pepper before our match. I was feeling a bit better. The first game he broke and ran. But he scratched on the same shot that he made the 8. I was relieved and hopeful, but I also felt bad for him, because he's such a nice guy, and I also know the agony of doing that. The second game he beat me, the third game I beat him, to go up 2-1, and go on the hill. He beat me the next game, to bring it hill-hill. I broke rather poorly, and had a big mess to deal with. But, amazingly, I managed to get a little breakout on every shot, and just sort of stumble my way through the rack. I knew it would easily be the most difficult runout I've ever done if I completed it. I got down to the 8 ball, a kind of mid-length, cue ball on the rail shot, bared down, focused, prayed, and missed. He ran me out. God, was I pissed. He took the $15 prize haha. Mostly though, I just wanted to beat him.
After that, it was about 6:00, and we kept playing 5 bucks a game. There was also another guy named Roy, that cycled in for 5 a game, and he was pretty bad, so that was good for our bankrolls. I remember clearly when I suddenly just hit a gear after another couple racks of this. I got into stroke out of nowhere(which I suppose is how it generally happens) and started just making things drop. I made a few hard shots, but overall I was playing well enough that I didn't have to make hard shots. One shot I'll never forget though, was when he played me safe behind the 8, with my only two balls being close to the other end rail. I don't remember all the balls he had on the table, but I'll draw it as best I can. I know the safe was the best play, but I don't recall exactly why. I think a lot of people would have opted for the one- or two-rail escape, but for some reason, I thought I could make the masse-carom. Then I did!! I was so sweet. The thing that topped it off, was that he played me safe, and I not only escaped, but made a ball, and then ran out! It was sick.
http://CueTable.com/B/?@3CYIY4DLAf3...kAms4kDbN1kCum1kByE1kAlH2kBLB2kDwq2kEux2kKBw@
Well I was enjoying the fruits of in-strokeness, I'd gone up 5 games in an hour. Then he wanted to up the bet(I know, this sounds like a joke to you real gamblers) to races to 3 for 20 bucks. I obliged, given the way I was playing. He creamed me! I mean, he just put the hammer down. He played good safes, had great strategy, and overall but worked me. I lost 3-0, two sets. Then I bet my last 15, and lost 3-1. I checked my pockets. I had a buck twenty-five in my left pocket. Of course I played him for my last 50 cents(75 cents to the table) and lost it. After I had lost all my money, he told me how he had been hustling me. How he had let me win a little, whilst studying the flaws in my game, and then upped the bet, exploited my flaws, and played his best. I was unsure if he was full of shit, and had just gotten lucky those last sets and wanted to look good by saying that he had intentionally let me win a little early on, or if he was telling the truth. Either way, it was a pleasure to lose my money. It was about ten by then, and we played the rest of his quarters out, which lasted until a bit after 11:00. We talked some more, and he gave me a ride home. As I was just getting home, I gave him my number, and told him we should play again. He asked me if I wanted to play in a tournament tomorrow, and of course I did! I went home 50 bucks poorer, a little better, 11 hours more practiced, and very happy. It was a great day in pool for me.
Kudos if you read the whole thing, I know it was a bit lengthy
It all started yesterday when I got a call from a guy named Bill I'd played with a couple weeks ago. He was an excellent player, and I always give my number to players who are better than me. He's an old guy and plays in a very old school style. He reminds me of an old straight pool player in his manner of stance and stroke. We met up at the bowling alley at noon, and played a few games of 8-ball, then he wanted to play 3-5-8 bank pool(in which the third, fifth, and eighth balls you pocket are bank shots). We played that until about 3:30 and then he had to go. But man, he could really drill those banks. He ran me out once playing that game, which was pretty remarkable to me, but I know there are some seriously good bankers around.
After Bill and I had finished playing, I went into the bar section of the bowling alley, as I'd seen Bob in there. Bob and I have gambled a bit in the past, and I've won about 50 bucks off him total. But he was also with his friend Robert, whom I've never met. He was giant though, pretty tall and quite fat haha. They're both really nice guys, despite Bob being muscley and adorned with many tattoos. Well we started playing for 5 bucks a game, me and Robert. Bob was having none of it, I guess he figured out he's not that good haha. Robert and I basically just traded the same five bucks back and forth twice, and then he suggested the three of us play a round-robbin tournament thing.
First I played Robert. I was starting to lose it pool-wise, you know how that is. I was getting very upset about how poorly I was playing. Robert kicked my ass, and I lost 0-2. Then I played Bob. By this time I started not really trying. I was just getting up there and throwing the cue at the table without really thinking. Despite this, I beat Bob the first game. The second game was a little different. He ran his balls down to one solid and the 8 left, and missed. Then I promptly missed one of the 3 easy shots I had available
He hit his ball in and missed the 8, and then I ran down to the 8, and missed a very easy 8. I couldn't figure it out, I was just playing so badly, and the worse I was playing, the less I cared about playing well. I ultimately won that game, and went 2-0 on Bob. I had to beat Bob in another race to 2 to go to the finals of the 1st annual Plaza Bowl 8-Ball Championship:wink:. He played poorly too, and I beat him again. Robert and I were set to play, but I knew he was just gonna pick me apart. So I got a some fries and a Dr.Pepper before our match. I was feeling a bit better. The first game he broke and ran. But he scratched on the same shot that he made the 8. I was relieved and hopeful, but I also felt bad for him, because he's such a nice guy, and I also know the agony of doing that. The second game he beat me, the third game I beat him, to go up 2-1, and go on the hill. He beat me the next game, to bring it hill-hill. I broke rather poorly, and had a big mess to deal with. But, amazingly, I managed to get a little breakout on every shot, and just sort of stumble my way through the rack. I knew it would easily be the most difficult runout I've ever done if I completed it. I got down to the 8 ball, a kind of mid-length, cue ball on the rail shot, bared down, focused, prayed, and missed. He ran me out. God, was I pissed. He took the $15 prize haha. Mostly though, I just wanted to beat him.
After that, it was about 6:00, and we kept playing 5 bucks a game. There was also another guy named Roy, that cycled in for 5 a game, and he was pretty bad, so that was good for our bankrolls. I remember clearly when I suddenly just hit a gear after another couple racks of this. I got into stroke out of nowhere(which I suppose is how it generally happens) and started just making things drop. I made a few hard shots, but overall I was playing well enough that I didn't have to make hard shots. One shot I'll never forget though, was when he played me safe behind the 8, with my only two balls being close to the other end rail. I don't remember all the balls he had on the table, but I'll draw it as best I can. I know the safe was the best play, but I don't recall exactly why. I think a lot of people would have opted for the one- or two-rail escape, but for some reason, I thought I could make the masse-carom. Then I did!! I was so sweet. The thing that topped it off, was that he played me safe, and I not only escaped, but made a ball, and then ran out! It was sick.
http://CueTable.com/B/?@3CYIY4DLAf3...kAms4kDbN1kCum1kByE1kAlH2kBLB2kDwq2kEux2kKBw@
Well I was enjoying the fruits of in-strokeness, I'd gone up 5 games in an hour. Then he wanted to up the bet(I know, this sounds like a joke to you real gamblers) to races to 3 for 20 bucks. I obliged, given the way I was playing. He creamed me! I mean, he just put the hammer down. He played good safes, had great strategy, and overall but worked me. I lost 3-0, two sets. Then I bet my last 15, and lost 3-1. I checked my pockets. I had a buck twenty-five in my left pocket. Of course I played him for my last 50 cents(75 cents to the table) and lost it. After I had lost all my money, he told me how he had been hustling me. How he had let me win a little, whilst studying the flaws in my game, and then upped the bet, exploited my flaws, and played his best. I was unsure if he was full of shit, and had just gotten lucky those last sets and wanted to look good by saying that he had intentionally let me win a little early on, or if he was telling the truth. Either way, it was a pleasure to lose my money. It was about ten by then, and we played the rest of his quarters out, which lasted until a bit after 11:00. We talked some more, and he gave me a ride home. As I was just getting home, I gave him my number, and told him we should play again. He asked me if I wanted to play in a tournament tomorrow, and of course I did! I went home 50 bucks poorer, a little better, 11 hours more practiced, and very happy. It was a great day in pool for me.
Kudos if you read the whole thing, I know it was a bit lengthy
