Broke My High Run

14-1StraightMan

14-1StraightMan

High Run 127
Silver Member
I just ran 127, breaking my high run by 6 balls. It's a start up hill.
The last rack. I was thinking so much to myself how I was going to write this up on the Forum here. I could not stop thinking about it, instead of paying attention to the table. I worked real hard making the last three balls that were in bad spots on the table. I had a good break ball right at the side of the rack & I ended up getting super straight on it. All my fault! I wanted to follow it down by the corner b/c I was going to try banking that corner ball across side. I even came up short on the follow and could not even attempt that shot. I played a Safe to end the run. The break shot to the last rack. I was messing up during that rack b/c of my thinking. Way off on my position on a break shot that was on the side of the rack. I played it off the rack & it went right in the corner.
 
Last edited:
mike great shooting! You seem to be playing real strong these days,I have
called you a few times,now I no why you havent answered.
Good luck,Jack
 
No Problem at all Mikey, the pleasure was all mine !!!

Looks like that little layoff did some wonders, it was just long enough to clear your head but not knock you out of stroke.

I agree with Marop, i think 150 is just around the corner

Congrats again
-Steve
 
Wow Mike great run. I agree with the other poster a 150 is just around the corner. That some strong shooting. Hope all is well with you.
 
14-1StraightMan said:
I just ran 127, breaking my high run by 6 balls. It's a start up hill.
The last rack. I was thinking so much to myself how I was going to write this up on the Forum here. I could not stop thinking about it, instead of paying attention to the table. I worked real hard making the last three balls that were in bad spots on the table. I had a good break ball right at the side of the rack & I ended up getting super straight on it. All my fault! I wanted to follow it down by the corner b/c I was going to try banking that corner ball across side. I even came up short on the follow and could not even attempt that shot. I played a Safe to end the run. The break shot to the last rack. I was messing up during that rack b/c of my thinking. Way off on my position on a break shot that was on the side of the rack. I played it off the rack & it went right in the corner.
Click to expand...

Congratulations! What a treat to beat one's own record!

Interesting to read what you say went through your mind. Is it that when we get older, we mentally start commenting ourselves? I wonder sometimes about all that goes through my mind. Not necessarily "crap", but it seems sometimes as if 26 years of playing experience allows me to think about multiple things at the same time - but how do I hate it if none of them seems to include what I'm currently doing, such as maybe look at the ball I'm shooting, LOL! Seriously, there are times when I watch one of my students try hard to make their next shot, so much so there can't be much else the person's thinking of that moment, that I'll say to myself "remember what that was like?" - but then I realize I hardly can…

Greetings from Switzerland, David.
_________________

„J'ai gâché vingt ans de mes plus belles années au billard. Si c'était à refaire, je recommencerais.“ – Roger Conti
 
Wow Mikey :-)


you know- i know a nice guy who told me * i wasn t much at the table in the past, sooo have much to do....whole family now here.....*
I m sure you know that guy VERY GOOD, lol^^

All those guys feeling bad, feeling sick- and don t practice..........and then breaking their High-runs.....i m doing something wrong^^Need to get sick or so :p


Congrats my dear friend- im with Bill M. here- i m sure the 150 is near :-)

lg
<your friend,

ingo
 
Mike my friend, a belated CONGRATS to you!

"One... one high run record broken... ha ha ha ha" ("Count von Count" from Sesame Street)

:thumbup:
-Sean
 
Excellent run - congrats! I try to learn something on every post in this forum.

Let me ask you a question if I may: What do you think is the reason you ran 127? You actively worked on a particular part of your game? The balls just rolled the right way? You came to the table with a different mindset than usual? In other words, do you think it is the combination of your excellent play combined with some good rolls that got you to 127, or is it something else? If you played today and could "only" get to 70 or 80 instead of 128, what would be the reason?
 
This is the Truth

Dan White said:
Excellent run - congrats! I try to learn something on every post in this forum.

Let me ask you a question if I may: What do you think is the reason you ran 127? You actively worked on a particular part of your game? The balls just rolled the right way? You came to the table with a different mindset than usual? In other words, do you think it is the combination of your excellent play combined with some good rolls that got you to 127, or is it something else? If you played today and could "only" get to 70 or 80 instead of 128, what would be the reason?
Click to expand...

The reason that I ran the 127 is b/c my table was playing 100%. The way a championship table should play. My table has been playing very poorly for a long time. It's been sluggish, racks not opening properly, balls bumping each other & not separating properly but sticking together. All causing one problem after another, and ending runs.
The night before, I polished the balls by hand. I brushed down the cloth & then went over the cloth with a damp cloth with a little joy on it. I really rubbed it down. Let it dry over night. The next day the cloth looked new.
I started playing earlier in the day & could not run a rack. I did not play in over two weeks. Put up the cue. In the evening, I started practicing again.
After two hours, I really started playing good. The table was playing great the whole time, racks were opening up properly the way they should. The weather outside could also play a part on the playing of the table. The table just played the way I know it should.
I know that I can run big runs every day, if the equipment did not fight me. This is the main reason why it is so hard to show my skill level b/c of the really poor tables that are in these so called pool room/bars down here.
I am at a point where I believe in myself & I know I can do it, if an out side force such as poor equipment does not hamper me. Someone might say:
"great players can adjust to conditions". I know this is true b/c I have seen great players like Dick Lane & Bob Vanover adjust to poor conditions & win all the time. I on the other hand, can not do it. Maybe b/c I do not play in pool rooms all the time & in tournament after tournament. I play once a week in a league (which is 5 games of 8 ball). Pool is a wonderful hobby of mine. I can not take it any further b/c I am not willing to take the time away from my family life.
One other thing. On days that the table plays properly. I run 60, & 70+ balls. It is the same as the 127 except on those days I lose interest and my mind starts to wonder. Just a little lack of concentration & bad things happen. That is what happened with the 127.
 
Last edited:
14-1StraightMan said:
Pool is a wonderful hobby of mine. I can not take it any further b/c I am not willing to take the time away from my family life.
Click to expand...

Congratulations on your high run. You're an amazing guy. Retired after a successful career, fine family, enjoying the game and managing to preserve that all important life balance. Kudos for not letting the game disillusion you, instead respecting the game for what it is while showing the cue ball who's da boss. ;)

Poolmouse
 
Great run! And I totally agree with all your comments about how the table plays greatly affecting your ability to run bigger numbers. I am in a similar position of only expecting so much of myself given the time I have to devote to this game as I have two young girls, busy job, etc. I just try and enjoy the moments I get each week to pursue finer execution and higher states of concentration and discipline. Again, great shooting!
 
Last edited:
congrats, that is a lot of balls. I think I will add

"I was thinking so much to myself how I was going to write this up on the Forum here"

to my list of the many ways to mess up a run. It has happened to me as well. Maybe the number 2 spot right under "sharked by the cat".

How long did it take to break your previous record? I am going on three years to get past 87.
steven
 
My mind wonders

driven said:
congrats, that is a lot of balls. I think I will add

"I was thinking so much to myself how I was going to write this up on the Forum here"

to my list of the many ways to mess up a run. It has happened to me as well. Maybe the number 2 spot right under "sharked by the cat".

How long did it take to break your previous record? I am going on three years to get past 87.
steven
Click to expand...


Last year I had set a new high run of 121. So it's been a little less then a year.
 
14-1StraightMan said:
The reason that I ran the 127 is b/c my table was playing 100%.
.
.
.
One other thing. On days that the table plays properly. I run 60, & 70+ balls. It is the same as the 127 except on those days I lose interest and my mind starts to wonder. Just a little lack of concentration & bad things happen. That is what happened with the 127.
Click to expand...


Thanks for the detailed reply. I've often felt that my runs were hampered by table conditions, but was always hesitant to blame the equipment. It's interesting and helpful to see other people prove out that the table is very important.

I've also learned more recently that there's concentrating on running balls and then there "thinking" that you're concentrating on running balls. There's a subtle difference, but it seems to be important. When I'm really concentrating, I can pretty much tell when I'm going to miss a shot (or position) because it's the one where I'm thinking "I'm not giving this shot enough attention" just as I'm contacting the cue ball. :rolleyes:

Thanks!
 
Into my mind........

Dan White said:
Thanks for the detailed reply. I've often felt that my runs were hampered by table conditions, but was always hesitant to blame the equipment. It's interesting and helpful to see other people prove out that the table is very important.

I've also learned more recently that there's concentrating on running balls and then there "thinking" that you're concentrating on running balls. There's a subtle difference, but it seems to be important. When I'm really concentrating, I can pretty much tell when I'm going to miss a shot (or position) because it's the one where I'm thinking "I'm not giving this shot enough attention" just as I'm contacting the cue ball. :rolleyes:

Thanks!
Click to expand...

There are times in the past & very recently where I have played in a tournament or a 14.1 match in the DFW area where my mind is on everything else instead of the game at hand. The equipment is very poor & the surrounding get on my nerves. Recently, I played a 14.1 match on a poor table of course & at the same time there was a APA league in there, playing on all the other tables. Young kids were running all over the place & playing on a table next to my match.There were men (their fathers) playing league matches. when they missed a shot, every curse word would come loudly out of their mouths. Not one guy did this but many of them. It was so hard to play my match. The only thing that I had on my mind was "what the f... am I doing here"...
I hardly could play.
I have won a good share of important tournaments. All have been in other States held in real "pool rooms". Now, that I am thinking about it, all the rooms had Gold Crowns in them. I have also won the BCA TX State Senior 8 ball championship played on excellent Diamond 7' tables.
During those tournaments, I have found myself in a state of mind that I do not know that there are people in the building. I can't even hear people talking when I am in the zone.
Under the conditions that I stated in the first paragraph. I will hear conversations all the way across the room. I don't even mine losing just to get out of the situation. I use to get upset with myself when I was younger and these things affected me. Now as I am older. I understand my feelings & don't mine talking about them. It's just the way I am.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top