Big fish little pond... dilemma

o.g. (old guy)

o.g. (old guy)

mark
Silver Member
I live in a rural area, about 2 1/2 hrs from the
closest pool hall. I have my own pool table
that I practice on daily. Occasionally I have a
couple of buddies over to play and have a few
adult beverages, I enjoy this but it only happens
about once every couple of months due to work
schedules. I enjoy playing in tournaments but
being so remote its difficult to say the least.

A local buisness has recently started a small 8 ball
tournament, usually around 10 entrants. It's a race
to 2, single elim. basic bar rules. I don't care for the rules but it's better than nothing.

Here's the dilemma, I usually win which has caused a few of the players to drop out. I know anything can happen in a race to 2 (I actually beat Rodney Morris
in a race to 2, unfortunately it was a race to 13, didn't work out well for me) but the better player usually wins.
Most of the players are just bangers and I am a B+ maybe an A on a good day.

They have already restructured the payouts so more players get paid but there are still some dropping out.
I really enjoy playing and I like most all the people there
but they really don't seem too interested in stepping up
thier game.

Should I just forego this tornament for the betterment
all? I'm kinda leaning that way...
 
o.g. (old guy) said:
I live in a rural area, about 2 1/2 hrs from the
closest pool hall. I have my own pool table
that I practice on daily. Occasionally I have a
couple of buddies over to play and have a few
adult beverages, I enjoy this but it only happens
about once every couple of months due to work
schedules. I enjoy playing in tournaments but
being so remote its difficult to say the least.

A local buisness has recently started a small 8 ball
tournament, usually around 10 entrants. It's a race
to 2, single elim. basic bar rules. I don't care for the rules but it's better than nothing.

Here's the dilemma, I usually win which has caused a few of the players to drop out. I know anything can happen in a race to 2 (I actually beat Rodney Morris
in a race to 2, unfortunately it was a race to 13, didn't work out well for me) but the better player usually wins.
Most of the players are just bangers and I am a B+ maybe an A on a good day.

They have already restructured the payouts so more players get paid but there are still some dropping out.
I really enjoy playing and I like most all the people there
but they really don't seem too interested in stepping up
thier game.

Should I just forego this tornament for the betterment
all? I'm kinda leaning that way...
Click to expand...

Offer to go to 3?

KMRUNOUT
 
That's a pretty good idea, might give that a try. I thought about spotting them a game but I cringe thinking about a race to 1. Thanks for the suggestion!
 
Game

Double elimination would be ideal, make the winner of the last tournament start on the 1 loss side of the bracket..


Rob.M
 
Yep run the tourney like Apa handicap based off of known ability, adjust weekly until it's fair, say 6/7 go to 4, 4/5 go to 3, 2/3 go to 2 any unknown go to 4 first time. Losers side even race to 2
 
This is a one 7' table tourney, it doesn't start til
after 8pm so double elim is out of the question. Even single elim goes past midnight most of the time. It is $10.00 entry half goes for the pot that night, the other half goes to the pot at the end of a 4 week session. You get points based on how you finish, 1st=5, 2nd =4, 3rd=3 and all others get 2. After the 4 weeks point leader gets $150, second $100 and 3rd $50. The weekly pot pays 1st, 2nd & 3rd.
 
Sounds a lot like around here. A local bar here had a weekly 8 ball tourney and there were usually about 15 that would show up. I started going and for about a month it was good but then people started to quit coming. The owner said when he would ask people if they were going to play that week they started asking if I was coming.

It got so bad that we were lucky to have 6 people and after a few weeks of that the owner just quit having it. I heard they started it back now but I haven't went back.

Like you (OP) I'm no pro by any means and not even as good as I used to be but I'm probably still a solid B. I have a table at home too and try to hit a few balls daily.

The problem is most of these other guys are probably low C's or worse. Kinda funny, I always liked playing better people but it seems most don't. And won't.

About a week ago I went in another local bar and there were quite a few playing for $2 a game. Put my quarters up and when I came up I won 4 games and everybody quit. They all went and watched football.

These small ponds are nice but not the best for pool sometimes it seems.
 
I agree 100% Player. Living in the boonies isn't too compatible with competitive pool. Oh well, guess I'll offer to go to 3 games but some people take that as an insult but I'll at least give them the option.
 
o.g. (old guy) said:
I wouldn't mind living closer to a larger city. But we have kids and grand kids here, could never drag the wife away.
Click to expand...


Maybe give a spot to the rest of the players. Longer race for you might entice them to keep playing.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Start playing left handed? Jay helfert entered a strict training regimen and now he must be one of the best lefties in the world. Not as good as Shaw, but who is?
 
I have the same situation. 120 miles from the the city. I make the trek downhill as many times a year as possible, I will leave by 6:00 am so I can be at the pool room door at 8:00 am when they open. The crew I tend to hang out with when I get down to Denver are all at least ten years my senior and I am no spring chicken.

About 15 years ago there was a bar with two boxes and they would have a 10 -15 player tourney. Everyone would throw $10 in a hat and first and second place would get payed out. That lasted for about a year and I won every time I went but I made it a habit to only go every third week so I would not ruin their fun.

I also made many friends quickly and on the weeks that I showed the guys were glad I was there. These guys were mostly bangers but 4 or 5 could play fairly sporty at times.
 
o.g. (old guy) said:
Lol, I've tried playing a little left handed, I could have done as well issuing my feet!
Click to expand...

Tough shit! Man up and take the worst of it for a while, come out stronger on the other side.

Though I will admit...there are a couple tournaments in my nearby that I don't go to, coz it is cherry picking. Someone else can have that $80
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top