Curious as to who else in here plays NAPA. Until last week, I had been playing in 3 sessions per week, since joining in early February. My very first career session just ended, so I still have 2 going per week, but I'll be wrapping up another very soon. At that point, I'll be obviously down to 1, which will allow me a bit more practice time. I plan on hitting it hard again in the Fall.
I just finished up the "14 Days: The Great Pool Experiment" with Tor Lowry recently. After continuing to play a bit inconsistently, Tor advised that I cut back on league play and focus more on the practice that it will require to execute all of the newly taught knowledge I have swimming in my head. I absolutely agree with him. I already see certain shots much better bad have been able to execute, which has opened up my game.
Some NAPA observations:
1.) The website is amazing. It's chockful of stats and updated within 24 hours of completing a match. That's very important to me. However, I'm a stat junkie and pretty obsessive compulsive in a competitive nature. This isn't necessarily a positive thing. I find myself looking at standings/stats all the time. Tying to figure out what I need to move myself up the rankings in every category. This has really put a lot of unnecessary pressure on myself.....instead of just having fun. That's MY fault. Definitely not NAPA's.
2.) I'm astonished that bar bangers have adopted the BIH format without much resistance. I'm really surprised, yet pleased by this.
3.) Every NAPA location I play in is a smoking establishment. That's unfortunate.
4.) I have a great League Owner/Operator. I've only heard one single complaint, but after everything had been explained to the player, they seem satisfied. It was more of a misunderstanding than anything else.
5.) The rating/handicap system seems to be pretty fair. I play a lot more 8B in this league as compared to 9B or 10B. I started off as a 70 in each. My high is an 85 in 8B, and as of tonight, I'm sitting on 81. My rating has started to level off, which is good and bad. It's good that I know where I'm at. It's bad, because I thought it would be in the low 90's or so. My initial ratings goal was to hit 101 in 8B. I have a ways to go, but I guess that's why they call it a goal. I've only played 2 sets of 9B and 1 of 10B, so I don't have much of a record to speak of there.
6.) This league has brought out more passion and emotion than the other organization I play in. The other is generally filled with more serious players. We observe pool etiquette for the most part, so things stay quiet. In NAPA I'm dealing with a lot more casual players. Most don't understand strict etiquette, so there's a lot more chatter, unintentional and intentional sharking. I actually find myself more nervous during NAPA matches, as I'm attempting to fade more of the environment around me. I hope that my increased mental toughness carries over into the other league.
7.) Even tho I'm only a player in the 80's, I tend to be one of the bigger fish in the sea. That's a far cry from the other league, where I have guys who can give me the 6. I've found that it's pretty tough to overcome a 6-2 or 7-3 race. It makes for dicey match-ups when you play a decent ball pocketer, as most tables play loose. Many have figured out how to slow-roll virtually every shot, even if they don't know how to play shape. So, if the balls are laying just right, you might run into a 39-rated player who gets out by running 6-7 balls, even 75% of their shots are harder than they should have been. See below.....
8.) I'd love to get the casual/bar bangers on a Diamond or anything with pockets under 4.75". That would really be a shocker for most of them. Not to mention if it was a big track or even an 8-footer. I know the name of the game is to win, but I generally try to shoot the right shot in the right manner, as I'm trying to improve as a player. Most of the casual players simply want to win.
That may be difficult to explain, but I try to run the correct patterns and move the CB around like it needs to be. So, I actually let my stroke out a bit here and there, which causes me to jaw a ball at times, even tho the pockets are big. The more experienced, yet casual player will slow roll the CB to ensure making the shot, but leave themselves tough. Sometimes they get out, sometimes they don't. I guess I treat it as a competitive practice session, if that makes any sense. I could probably win a bit more, if I played differently, but I think it might stunt my growth as a player. If I had more time, I'd practice more often and not have to treat league night like that, but I don't have a table at home.
9.) Even tho they've taken to BIH rules, when league is over.....the room immediately reverts back to "bar rules" in some locations. Frustrating. I play along, but honestly don't enjoy it. Table time beats no table time, however.
10.) NAPA league IS fun AND affordable. I'm currently under a pretty tight budget, so what little bit extra I do have goes to playing in this league and thankfully it's not much.
Anyone else have any NAPA musings?
I just finished up the "14 Days: The Great Pool Experiment" with Tor Lowry recently. After continuing to play a bit inconsistently, Tor advised that I cut back on league play and focus more on the practice that it will require to execute all of the newly taught knowledge I have swimming in my head. I absolutely agree with him. I already see certain shots much better bad have been able to execute, which has opened up my game.
Some NAPA observations:
1.) The website is amazing. It's chockful of stats and updated within 24 hours of completing a match. That's very important to me. However, I'm a stat junkie and pretty obsessive compulsive in a competitive nature. This isn't necessarily a positive thing. I find myself looking at standings/stats all the time. Tying to figure out what I need to move myself up the rankings in every category. This has really put a lot of unnecessary pressure on myself.....instead of just having fun. That's MY fault. Definitely not NAPA's.
2.) I'm astonished that bar bangers have adopted the BIH format without much resistance. I'm really surprised, yet pleased by this.
3.) Every NAPA location I play in is a smoking establishment. That's unfortunate.
4.) I have a great League Owner/Operator. I've only heard one single complaint, but after everything had been explained to the player, they seem satisfied. It was more of a misunderstanding than anything else.
5.) The rating/handicap system seems to be pretty fair. I play a lot more 8B in this league as compared to 9B or 10B. I started off as a 70 in each. My high is an 85 in 8B, and as of tonight, I'm sitting on 81. My rating has started to level off, which is good and bad. It's good that I know where I'm at. It's bad, because I thought it would be in the low 90's or so. My initial ratings goal was to hit 101 in 8B. I have a ways to go, but I guess that's why they call it a goal. I've only played 2 sets of 9B and 1 of 10B, so I don't have much of a record to speak of there.
6.) This league has brought out more passion and emotion than the other organization I play in. The other is generally filled with more serious players. We observe pool etiquette for the most part, so things stay quiet. In NAPA I'm dealing with a lot more casual players. Most don't understand strict etiquette, so there's a lot more chatter, unintentional and intentional sharking. I actually find myself more nervous during NAPA matches, as I'm attempting to fade more of the environment around me. I hope that my increased mental toughness carries over into the other league.
7.) Even tho I'm only a player in the 80's, I tend to be one of the bigger fish in the sea. That's a far cry from the other league, where I have guys who can give me the 6. I've found that it's pretty tough to overcome a 6-2 or 7-3 race. It makes for dicey match-ups when you play a decent ball pocketer, as most tables play loose. Many have figured out how to slow-roll virtually every shot, even if they don't know how to play shape. So, if the balls are laying just right, you might run into a 39-rated player who gets out by running 6-7 balls, even 75% of their shots are harder than they should have been. See below.....
8.) I'd love to get the casual/bar bangers on a Diamond or anything with pockets under 4.75". That would really be a shocker for most of them. Not to mention if it was a big track or even an 8-footer. I know the name of the game is to win, but I generally try to shoot the right shot in the right manner, as I'm trying to improve as a player. Most of the casual players simply want to win.
That may be difficult to explain, but I try to run the correct patterns and move the CB around like it needs to be. So, I actually let my stroke out a bit here and there, which causes me to jaw a ball at times, even tho the pockets are big. The more experienced, yet casual player will slow roll the CB to ensure making the shot, but leave themselves tough. Sometimes they get out, sometimes they don't. I guess I treat it as a competitive practice session, if that makes any sense. I could probably win a bit more, if I played differently, but I think it might stunt my growth as a player. If I had more time, I'd practice more often and not have to treat league night like that, but I don't have a table at home.
9.) Even tho they've taken to BIH rules, when league is over.....the room immediately reverts back to "bar rules" in some locations. Frustrating. I play along, but honestly don't enjoy it. Table time beats no table time, however.
10.) NAPA league IS fun AND affordable. I'm currently under a pretty tight budget, so what little bit extra I do have goes to playing in this league and thankfully it's not much.
Anyone else have any NAPA musings?
