I have a dilemma I need your advice . I live in a place where very little pool is played and very few average players and no one pocket players . No public 9 footers and the tables that are available aren’t in good condition. My true love is one pocket and I have to drive 5 hours one way to the city where most of the players are very good and they spend lots of time playing and gambling. I find that playing on crappy equipment against people who just aren’t good is a negative thing for my game in many ways . How do I use what I have available to my advantage. I feel when I go to the city and play tough opponents who play more than me I do very well for someone who gets almost no real table time . I only go to the city once a month for tournaments. Anybody have good suggestions? Thanks in advance... If there any questions please feel free to respond.
Dilemma.. What to do ?
- Thread starter 4railer
- Start date
I feel for you here. Thanks for posting on AZB.
The first thing would be some type of home table. This isn't easy as tables are expensive, take up a lot of room, and aren't practical if you aren't in a long term residence. This seems like the best bet for your situation though. You can log practice hours and play different games by yourself. Maybe even invite some people to your place and learn the game together. Since COVID many players have a stream set up, so if you get a high quality web cam you can set up virtual competitions and could become sparring buddies with someone on this forum. Playing a ghost set one night a week, then reviewing those ghost sets another night and studying. There are even tournaments for this you can partake in. So a home table would be the best solution.
Moving would be another as mentioned. Obviously many people can't up and leave whimsically.
I don't see a lot of other options. You can overcome a lot of adversity, but if someone has no access to a pool table or an opponent that is pretty hard to overcome. I also know there are many people that have a table but between work and family have no time and energy left over. Like a plant that requires soil, water, and sunlight, a pool game requires time, energy, and competition. If your life prohibits the required ingredients then you might have to put pool on the back burner for a while. I know many people that had to lay off the game for a while, and I have even had to put the cue down for the bulk of a few years during some harder times in my life.
Keep us posted on what your options would be for a home table. Maybe I could play you a ghost challenge match some night.
The first thing would be some type of home table. This isn't easy as tables are expensive, take up a lot of room, and aren't practical if you aren't in a long term residence. This seems like the best bet for your situation though. You can log practice hours and play different games by yourself. Maybe even invite some people to your place and learn the game together. Since COVID many players have a stream set up, so if you get a high quality web cam you can set up virtual competitions and could become sparring buddies with someone on this forum. Playing a ghost set one night a week, then reviewing those ghost sets another night and studying. There are even tournaments for this you can partake in. So a home table would be the best solution.
Moving would be another as mentioned. Obviously many people can't up and leave whimsically.
I don't see a lot of other options. You can overcome a lot of adversity, but if someone has no access to a pool table or an opponent that is pretty hard to overcome. I also know there are many people that have a table but between work and family have no time and energy left over. Like a plant that requires soil, water, and sunlight, a pool game requires time, energy, and competition. If your life prohibits the required ingredients then you might have to put pool on the back burner for a while. I know many people that had to lay off the game for a while, and I have even had to put the cue down for the bulk of a few years during some harder times in my life.
Keep us posted on what your options would be for a home table. Maybe I could play you a ghost challenge match some night.
You might post your general location.
Could be an AZB'r same area thinks he is in the same situation.
Longshot, but i've been surprised how many AZB'rs are within 1/2 to 1hr of me, and i'm in the boonies of a primarily agricultural location.
OTOH unlike some of us, not that many check every forum every day.
Could be an AZB'r same area thinks he is in the same situation.
Longshot, but i've been surprised how many AZB'rs are within 1/2 to 1hr of me, and i'm in the boonies of a primarily agricultural location.
OTOH unlike some of us, not that many check every forum every day.
I live in northern Humboldt County California the city I have to drive to is Sacramento or Medford Or. I have no room for a home table and cannot pick up and move . Thanks for your replies. Anybody somewhat close ?You might post your general location.
Could be an AZB'r same area thinks he is in the same situation.
Longshot, but i've been surprised how many AZB'rs are within 1/2 to 1hr of me, and i'm in the boonies of a primarily agricultural location.
OTOH unlike some of us, not that many check every forum every day.
Some people with that problem start a small private club of two or three tables. If you can find the right building at the right price and you have a few serious players, it can work.
^^ I like this, find a way to make the local games challenging for you.
Biloxi Boy
Man With A Golden Arm
I believe that this is the future of "real pool" in many small markets. If you want to get away from bar boxes and alcohol, play on quality, well-maintained tables, and play against serious pool players of all calibers, this is going to be your best opportunity. What it is going to take is a good, well functioning, model, and it will all take off from there.
Try to get those around you interested in the games you like,
Or move
Or move
Well this may sound crazy...Find a church in your area that has a social room of sorts. Ask them if you could start a youth pool team. If there other fathers, chip in for a table. That is a start. Now get some interested in One Pocket to learn different skills.
A lot depends on your true skill level.
At your level , giving big spots is ok for a couple dollars a game or race to 3 for 5.00 or something , but all it will bring, is an endless trail of dead broke creeps, to your table.
I would set a goal to try to improve 3 balls in the next 6 months.
There is plenty of info out there to get you there if you are a B player or lower like I think you are. Then go back to the big city and try some of the guys who were barely beating you before , if they weren't hustling you , you should be beating them.
Find some one pocket specific drills, practice cross corner banks and force follow take outs{ with cue ball control}! , Learn to get above the balls , it makes them much easier to run ,and watch your game improve. Learn to make a ball for them or take an intentional scratch when it is called for. {These 2 cost lower level players more games than anything else}, trying to take out a tough ball in the pocket, and instead of giving up 1 ball , they sell out the game. Good luck
At your level , giving big spots is ok for a couple dollars a game or race to 3 for 5.00 or something , but all it will bring, is an endless trail of dead broke creeps, to your table.
I would set a goal to try to improve 3 balls in the next 6 months.
There is plenty of info out there to get you there if you are a B player or lower like I think you are. Then go back to the big city and try some of the guys who were barely beating you before , if they weren't hustling you , you should be beating them.
Find some one pocket specific drills, practice cross corner banks and force follow take outs{ with cue ball control}! , Learn to get above the balls , it makes them much easier to run ,and watch your game improve. Learn to make a ball for them or take an intentional scratch when it is called for. {These 2 cost lower level players more games than anything else}, trying to take out a tough ball in the pocket, and instead of giving up 1 ball , they sell out the game. Good luck
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