Best practice for 2 friends who play together regularly.

Da Bank

Da Bank

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I have some good personal drills and enjoy playing the ghost when I am shooting by myself, but my good friend is acquiring a diamond pro and we will be shooting just the two of us on a regular basis. We do gamble on occasion, but I usually get the short end of that stick and can't afford it.

Do you guys have any good two person practice drills or suggestions for incentive to focus on improving our game. I have the tendency to just get into a banging ball groove when playing with close friends for no incentive, I'm trying to weed this part of my game out.
 
Don't play your friends mentally the battle is between you and the balls, pay close attention to your fundementals and as long as you continue to fight the balls you can more easily maintain focus with out feeling like you are going after your buddies. I use the analogy to play the balls because they will allways present a challenge, as I grow older I notice when playing my friends I really don't care what the results are but me battling those balls has been going on for a lifetime and I can ussually find focus by going back to the fight with them because I can't figure out how to beat them but when the battle with the balls is going my way my opponent spends a lot of time in the chair and it is hard to win from the chair.
 
I play a weekly match with a league team mate. We play a combination of 8-ball and 9-ball on his bar box for three hours keeping track of our wins. Who ever is ahead at the end wins $10. Won't be able to retire and it's enough to badger the other guy about. We seem to stay pretty competative and it diffinitely sharpens our games.

Just keep it friendly and simple and remember to have fun while you're doing it. You're not necessarily trying to 'bust his balls' (or maybe you are), so keep it civil.

If you are using a 9 footer, you could play different games that offer more challenge...1p, bank, 14:1, etc. Mix it up, don't get in a rut and make it fun ( think that's keey if you're shooting the same person every week). When I play with my boys, we usually play last pocket bank 8-ball. Good practice and it offers a little more challange.

Have fun...Ken
 
If money is the issue and you are truely good friends. I would suggest betting something else. Like the others clothes. Being their personal driver for a night out, with the outfit. Dress in Chicken Costume. Or any other Prop bet. It has to be embarrasement for it to make you want to win more than anything. I think you'll focus more if you know you have to do something stupid.
 
2rgrbn said:
Don't play your friends mentally the battle is between you and the balls, pay close attention to your fundementals and as long as you continue to fight the balls you can more easily maintain focus with out feeling like you are going after your buddies. I use the analogy to play the balls because they will allways present a challenge, as I grow older I notice when playing my friends I really don't care what the results are but me battling those balls has been going on for a lifetime and I can ussually find focus by going back to the fight with them because I can't figure out how to beat them but when the battle with the balls is going my way my opponent spends a lot of time in the chair and it is hard to win from the chair.
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That is the perfect way to think about practicing with any one. I agree 100%.
It is hard to do that though sometimes. It is a challenge to stay in that frame of mind all the time while practicing.
 
A friend and I played scotch doubles straight pool against no opponents. Try to get a high run cooperatively. I enjoyed it, and probably is really good for those that have a bit difference in skill between them. It really makes you focus that much more in leaving good position and advance planning.
 
OneArmed said:
A friend and I played scotch doubles straight pool against no opponents. Try to get a high run cooperatively. I enjoyed it, and probably is really good for those that have a bit difference in skill between them. It really makes you focus that much more in leaving good position and advance planning.
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This is a cool idea, if you need to add the competition or incentive play scotch and pay the pot if you leave your partner bad or play 3 way scotch the whole concept is cool and sounds like would be a good practice session for plenty of reasons
 
I would suggest playing long sets, like Races To Nine or Eleven. And play for something like who buys dinner. After the first set you can play again and if it is tied, play a third set. Now that's a lot of pool, and you will find that you will play just as hard to see who's best, especially between friends.

When Ming and I used to be room mates and good buddies, she would challenge me to play Races To Nine, just like she played on the WPBA tour. Man, did we go at it, even arguing over hits and everything. It got so intense sometimes, we had to take a break. We both really wanted to be the best in the family :smile:.

I know I got her in stroke and she did for me too. It was a very tough match for both of us, and great practice, the best! We played real close in 9-Ball. If I wasn't sharp she would rob me and if she was off, I would beat on her. Often times we played three long races in one day. That's about 4-5 hours of pool. A few sessions like that, and I was ready to take on the pool world (or at least the L.A. pool world) :smile: .
 
Scotch in ghost 9 ball or 7 ball......whatever your combined speed is a great workout. Take your time and discuss play, patterns, and all facets of the game. It will take you at least to the higher of your combined level if not way above. Have fun.

td
 
I had the same problem

Then I encased a 50 bill inside glass and my friend and I play for "the bill". Represents bragging rights. Person who wins gets possession until the next meeting.
 
my girlfriend and i wind up practicing quite a bit and we'll always bet diner, who does laundry or cleaning for the other just stuff like that. i am hyper competitive and hate to lose so even if there was no money i hate losing. we play sets and usually i spot her since she was a little below my speed, but since she has gotten better i stopped spotting her games or balls, usually now i will try to not take ball in hand or bank the last shot or sometimes i try to only play defense. things like that will help you not bang around so much and keep your head in the game.
 
play strip pool.............. I guarantee you that will get you both to play your best.........or not....;)



lol
 
Play some defensive 10 ball.
1 point for every ball you make,
you can only take 2 offensive shots in a row and then must play a safe,
balls on the break are scored and stay down but the shooter or incoming player must push out for the 1st shot after the break and all other regular rules apply. 3 fouls scores 5 points and another rack starts.
Races to 25 pts are fun.
 
GordonRamsay said:
play strip pool.............. I guarantee you that will get you both to play your best.........or not....;)



lol
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This would definitely provide some motivation to win but if your buddies are the same sex probably not good.
 
I used to play Chuckie Holyoke a lot in Mount Vernon. Chuckie's dad would leave him with me instead of taking him home when he came to pick him up at the pool hall. The owner slept there and would lock the doors, turn out all the lights except over the table and go to bed leaving Chuckie and myself to play. We had a blast. He was 14 years old and I was in my early 50's. There was no "adult-child" relationship. We were two buddies, laughing, joking and playing pool all night. the problem was we couldn't get serious. We both play so much better when we buckle down and concentrate.

I had recently read, for about the tenth time, "Playing Off the Rail". There was a section where the author and Tony Anigonni were playing together and were not serious. Tony said that they were going to play "mum Pool" for a while. Mum pool is playing the game with no talking allowed. Chuckie and I tried it and for the most part it worked great. We were able to concentrate and play some good, serious pool. There was absolutely no noise at all in the room save for the clicking of the balls. Occasionally though, it would fall apart and become a contest to see who could make the other person laugh.

Give it a try, it worked for us.


Lunchmoney
 
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