adapting to saloon noise level

berlowmj

berlowmj

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
In this small town, the local bar provides one of my few opportunities for competition. Tonight was typical. I made some impressive runs & shots & even victories, but then my concentration succumbed to Karaoke cranial concussion.

Does anyone have the same problem? Suggestions?
 
Why don't you get up and sing some Woody Guthrie tune....that's sure to clear the house out.
 
If the background noise is troubling me, I play my own tunes on an MP3 player. Sometimes I take flack for tuning everybody else out, but at least I'm not mad at myself for doggong shots or losing focus.
 
Spill your beer on the Karaoke machine. Works every time. Of course you may have other problems to concern your self with right after that. :grin: :grin: :grin: :grin:
 
Last night we had an exceptionally noisy group next to us. My friend and I both missed shots because of the din. One gal could've been a lineman in the NFL and was jumping around so much that the floor shook each time she landed. :yikes:
 
After identifying this problem I began with Jennette Lee's suggestion to see the smallest dot possible for the contact point. This requires extreme concentration. Over time I have taught myself to place all of my concentration on all of the requirements for the shot and or analysis of the table. Extreme concentration is good for your game and it turns out the high noise level actually helps me play better because a part of me is tuning it out.

Many players talk with others and laugh and joke around when they are not at the table. This makes it more difficult to get back to the level of concentration required for playing. In general, I sit in the chair and play my opponent's shot with him. This keeps me on the edge of the altered state.

The other night in an APA league I made three low balls on the break and selected the high balls (as in the TAP league) after analyzing the pattern. A team mate, in this loud country bar where the bartender breaks beer bottles in a trash can for the fun of it, hollered at me at the top of his lungs two or three times to tell me I had to shoot the low balls. I never heard him or anything else for that matter. Obviously teaching yourself to concentrate, really concentrate, can work. Of course I took it on the chin for the next hour or so but my team members already know that I am an intense player.

I think the noise can work for you if it is used appropriately.
 
JoeW said:
After identifying this problem I began with Jennette Lee's suggestion to see the smallest dot possible for the contact point. This requires extreme concentration. Over time I have taught myself to place all of my concentration on all of the requirements for the shot and or analysis of the table. Extreme concentration is good for your game and it turns out the high noise level actually helps me play better because a part of me is tuning it out.

Many players talk with others and laugh and joke around when they are not at the table. This makes it more difficult to get back to the level of concentration required for playing. In general, I sit in the chair and play my opponent's shot with him. This keeps me on the edge of the altered state.

The other night in an APA league I made three low balls on the break and selected the high balls (as in the TAP league) after analyzing the pattern. A team mate, in this loud country bar where the bartender breaks beer bottles in a trash can for the fun of it, hollered at me at the top of his lungs two or three times to tell me I had to shoot the low balls. I never heard him or anything else for that matter. Obviously teaching yourself to concentrate, really concentrate, can work. Of course I took it on the chin for the next hour or so but my team members already know that I am an intense player.

I think the noise can work for you if it is used appropriately.
Click to expand...

I don't mean to hijack this thread, but the rules say what you make is what you shoot...

4. After the Break - Various circumstances can occur
upon completion of the break. They are:
a. A foul on a legal break results in ball-in-hand
behind the head string and the incoming player
may shoot any ball outside the head string (see
diagram of table in Team Manual for explanation).
A ball that's dead center or "out" is playable. If it
is "in", the ball is not playable. It is up to the
opponent to call the cue ball "in" before it is shot.
(See Team Manual for a more complete
explanation.)
b. No balls are pocketed and it is the other player's
turn.
c. The 8-ball is pocketed. This is a win, unless the
player scratches, in which case he loses.
d. One ball is pocketed; it is still the breaker's
turn and he continues shooting the category of
balls he just made.e. One ball of each category is pocketed. The breaker
has his choice of balls. He may shoot any ball,

Dwight
 
:yes:
BigDogatLarge said:
I don't mean to hijack this thread, but the rules say what you make is what you shoot...

4. After the Break - Various circumstances can occur
upon completion of the break. They are:
a. A foul on a legal break results in ball-in-hand
behind the head string and the incoming player
may shoot any ball outside the head string (see
diagram of table in Team Manual for explanation).
A ball that's dead center or "out" is playable. If it
is "in", the ball is not playable. It is up to the
opponent to call the cue ball "in" before it is shot.
(See Team Manual for a more complete
explanation.)
b. No balls are pocketed and it is the other player's
turn.
c. The 8-ball is pocketed. This is a win, unless the
player scratches, in which case he loses.
d. One ball is pocketed; it is still the breaker's
turn and he continues shooting the category of
balls he just made.e. One ball of each category is pocketed. The breaker
has his choice of balls. He may shoot any ball,

Dwight
Click to expand...
You missed a key word APA:embarrassed2:
It is opened after the break
 
rackem said:
:yes: You missed a key word APA:embarrassed2:
It is opened after the break
Click to expand...

APA isn't open after the break, unless you made one of each. Otherwise the one that falls is the one you shoot
 
I shut my hearing aid off at the start of every match. At that point, I'm totally deaf. Noise problem solved.
 
I've got Skull Candy earphones that kill pretty much all outside noise. I'm not the type to use an iPod when I'm playing much, but on loud nights it helps.
 
Saggy said:
APA isn't open after the break, unless you made one of each. Otherwise the one that falls is the one you shoot
Click to expand...
:sorry: Maybe that's the problem with APA. Someone that plays in it told me just the other night that it was.:confused:
Not even the players know their silly rules.;)
 
rackem said:
:yes: You missed a key word APA:embarrassed2:
It is opened after the break
Click to expand...

I think it is not open after the break with APA. You are stuck with the ball you make on the break. This is 8Ball of course.:wink:
 
iPod

Another vote for the headphones and MP3 player. Not only do you get to listen to YOUR favorite songs, but it also helps to drown out the outside noise. (For cleavage and short skirts your on your own)
 
I have played APA for five years or more and I do know the rules. In APA if you make a low ball on the break you have to shoot the low balls (unless ...).

I just started playing TAP this session and in their league if the player makes a ball on the break the table is open. I prefer this rule but was so lost in the game I had even forgotten which rules we were using.

The whole point is that one can intensley concentrate, to the point of not attending to breaking beer bottles and team mates who are hollering at the top of their lungs.

I suspect that Pros are able to do this in high stakes games and that anyone who takes the game seriously can also do it. Of course not everyone can or is willing to put out this kind of effort but it can be trained.
 
Yes

mullyman said:
Oddly enough I enjoy playing when there is a lot of background noise.
MULLY
Click to expand...

Dead Silence with a guy cracking sunflower seeds with his teeth, when you're shooting, is the worst! LOL.:cool:

Ray
(winner of numerous weekly tournaments)
 
The saga continues. Tonight, I beat a guy & then on his coins, I broke & ran 5 balls. He disappeared & I stood around like a fool until the barmaid pointed out that he was lusting after some scantily clad bimbo.

Other competition came & my concentration succumbed to the huge speaker over the table. I missed a long shot on the 8 & went home & successfully replicated it numerous times in the sanctity of my basement.

I don't know if seeking to overcome the noise challenge will contribute to my development or if it is counterproductive.

Now I know what the medics felt like doing emergency procedures under fire.
 
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