Dirtypool40 - Pool Journal

dirtypool40

dirtypool40

I love this freakin' game
Silver Member
I am just coming back to pool after about 15 years. I've spent at least the last ten as a competitive shooter, and am active on www.brianenos.com/forums shooting forums.

On of the things I've done over there is keep a range diary as a way to track goals and improvement. I figured to do the same thing here.

Just ignore this thread; I'll use it as a way to keep track as I try to find a stroke again. This thread will have nothing to do with woofing, politics, or how great a Predator shafts makes you play. It's just about a guy trying to get back in stroke.

more to come...
 
I think it's a great idea.

Actually I have been thinking about doing something similar myself -- posting goals publicly and then periodically updated the thread with any progress that has been made toward reaching the posted goals.

Seems like it might provide a little extra incentive to put in the work to get better.

Anyway, best of luck.
 
You might want to just create your own web blog... You can do it for free and just post a link for those who may be interested.

Just an idea! Peace, Joe
 
dirtypool40 said:
I am just coming back to pool after about 15 years. I've spent at least the last ten as a competitive shooter, and am active on www.brianenos.com/forums shooting forums.

On of the things I've done over there is keep a range diary as a way to track goals and improvement. I figured to do the same thing here.

Just ignore this thread; I'll use it as a way to keep track as I try to find a stroke again. This thread will have nothing to do with woofing, politics, or how great a Predator shafts makes you play. It's just about a guy trying to get back in stroke.

more to come...
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Seeing as how you are an IPSC guy I expect to see your times for a break and run to keep getting faster as you progress. :D

Maybe pool needs an El Prez/Play the ghost hybrid.
 
I have to agree,a blog is the way to go,I made my one and its listed in my sig. :wink:
 
JCIN said:
Seeing as how you are an IPSC guy I expect to see your times for a break and run to keep getting faster as you progress. :D

Maybe pool needs an El Prez/Play the ghost hybrid.
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You'll be the only one who understands it, but I hit a 3.53 in Bolivia with a 32 ounce, bushing barreled "standard" gun. And even cold, I break 4.70's off pretty cleanly.

As to pool practice lately, it's been sketchy.

I am STILL waiting on a cue, or four.

I got out to hit some at Click's today. As I am not really up to speed, I play the ghost, but with a variation; I take ball in hand and drop one ball, so I have to run the rack in my head and figure the tough spot I'd like to remove. Most days on average equipment (9') I'm 50/50 or better even out of practice.

Today, it was rough. I was making balls really cleanly, but the cloth (860) was playing REALLY slow, and I had to change completely how I moved. Stunning or following balls almost always left me short, but I was soft drawing the ball WAY past where I intended to get. It was weird and kept me off balance for the 90 minutes I played.

Even worse, as well as I was making balls I would lose focuse towards the end of the rack. I ran to the nine and missed the first SIX racks in a row!!! Talk about ready to give up the sport!!!

I started to move around better but was still stuck 1-2 when I quit. (run outs for every miss).

As a frame of reference, I ran 13 of 15 racks I played and 10 in a row like this back about a dozen years ago the last time I had a mini-comeback. I missed two balls in about an hour, both for lack of focus, they jawed and left me cussing. This is the same table at the same room, so it's a pretty good comparison.

Clearly today was not my best day.

More on the cues I am waiting for soon, maybe in their own thread.
 
I've played a few times since my last entry.

I got tired of waiting, and after 16 years I bought myself a new cue. I have always like the points Adams / Helmstetter does, and they have a new line out, a Southwest knock off, and I really like the AA-3.

So, for less than $400 I got the cue, two shafts, joint protectors and everything shipped overnight to me. The cue hits nice and looks great. I am going to have a local buddy or Harry Richards tweak it for me; leather wrap, harder ferrules, thin and retaper the shafts, maybe a new shaft. BUT! I will not go cueless again!!!

I played some straight pool with it the first day I got it, just practicing with a buddy and ran an easy little 45. I know that's not a great big run, but I am not a straight pool player and that's the most I've run in 10-15 years.

I also played my league match last night, we're in the playoffs. Warming up I played with an "8" and he didn't have to like it. My team needed "all the points" so thjey said if I beat my opponent, a "1", so that we got all the points they would pay my dues that week. She only needed 3 balls to get her team some points, but I beat her 38-0, running some good chunks when I needed to.

I know neither of these are huge accomplishments, but I am improving. Having the new cue has sparked interest, both in playing more / better and in getting the rest of my cues built.
 
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smart move....?

I haven't posted in a few weeks in here, haven't really been playing.

I am sick over the cue thing, I am waiting on four cues I've been owed forever. They should be coming soon and in the meantime I am still playing with the new cheapy I bought.

Quick story, (my journal :cool: so I can waste time...) I bumped into some guys while practicing with my Dad the other day and won a quick buck.

We're horsing around, my dad enjoys the game, but never took it seriously, even in my "weakened" state I give him the 7&8. So the ball jumps the table, and the guy who picks it up asks nicely if we want to play some $5 a game.

OK, sure. I plan on moving to his 8' where I make balls 50% better than on the 9'. That's always the last thing to come back, making balls. Anyway, so I haven't played for any money in about 15 years, so even for $5 my heart rate picks up. Still I figure on an 8' I can run out pretty good, and the guy will have to show something, if he has it, to beat me.

I break, make two balls and I'm straight in on the one. Without thinking I spank it in, and play shape. I can hear the guy making a partners game with someone else in the room.

As I get to the last four, still in line, the guy announces, this is the ONLY 9-ball game and then we're going to play partners 8-ball. I get a guy I know as my partner.

Now if I run the rack, I know they will probably quit and the $5 will be all I ever see, not to mention knocking me in the room I've been so careful in. Yes, for running one rack. :sorry:

So, I dog the seven, hand it straight in for him, he gets out and we play partners. After losing 2 @ $5 a man, and 2@10 a man, my 9-ball opponent quits, saying he'll go back to playing me 9-ball singles. The 8-baller wants to play some $20 a game singles so I do (splitting the action with my doubles partner).

I win 4 in a row, playing boring defensive 8-ball, never running more than three balls. They pull up, but I am sure I made a good "sale" and that the 9-baller will play me more next time he sees me.

I gotta admit, as an ego stroke, coming from the 9 footer I felt solid on that little box, and it felt even better to be totally in control for $20 a game, making smart moves and getting out when the time was right.

My Dad, after all this time, had never seen me play for $$ an was coaching and trying to console me every shot. :thumbup: It was hysterical "Aw, come one, that's an easy one, you make those on me all day." He would whisper, and then I would explain, sotto voce, that I didn't want to get out, that was bad for business, I wanted to plant that stripe in front of the pocket so the other guy could not get out. It only looked like I was trying to make it. :wink:
 
I feel like I am close to finding my stroke again.

Within a month I should be able to get back to about 90% of where I used to be. I am trying to take this as a re-learning of the sport, so I move right past where I used to play.

Headed to Harry's tomorrow to pick up my tweaked Adams. League starts tomorrow night. I'm not a big fan of league play, but it gets me free practice time in this room, and a chance to horse around on an 8 footer once a week. I am really hoping HR will come through with my cues. I am still playing with an old piece of junk, and can't wait to have the confidence of a solid new cue.

I'm not sure how much to post in here. I did have a conversation last night, one I had been planning after seeing a couple guys match up for bigger action than I've seen around in a while. Nothing huge, no one is going to buy a house off it, but it's not the average $10 set either. Anyway, I think I have an angle on it, maybe both sides, if I can find my stroke (and a stake!). It's rare to find action like this around here, where you could realisticly win over a grand in an evening, and have a chance at both players. I'm not sure I do, but it's possible. More to come on that subject.

I've also started practicing 10-ball. I break pretty well in 9-ball, but I think 10-ball is a tougher break, and I like learning to run straight through the 9-balll on your way out. I've only gotten out from the break a couple times, and I see how it's tougher. Betweem making balls on the break and having clusters, and more balls to negotiate, I'd guess something like maybe 35% tougher than breaking and running out a 9-ball rack.

Well, that's all for now.....
 
Weel, it's six weeks later and life has gotten in the way of my hobbies again.

I spent a lot of September and early October studying and staying away from the game, but I've been back playing about a week.

Last night I played a local $10 tourney, and after getting dumped 0-4 into the loser's bracket on a frozen combo, and two snapper-heads, I fought back through to split first & second after winning the first set 4-1.

While I waited on my matches I played the ghost. These are 8' tables, with medium pockets (2 balls + 1/4") and slow cloth. I was able to stay ahead of the ghost as long as I focused. I would run 3-4 racks, then something would cluster.

My arm is still "slowing down" later in the night, or on tough balls, but it's getting better. I'd say I am 80% speed right now.

Gotta run. Next tourney starts in an hour....
 
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Thanks!!

It's been fun and frustrating trying to come back up to speed after fifteen years away.
 
finally had a decent practice session, first one. Just four hours of 10-ball with a buddy. We finished up by playing three sets, I won 9-4, then spotted him the last 3, and won 9-4 and a final set of 7-6. Just some weight to pay attention and make shot selection more important.

Each set I had one break and run. I know that's not world speed, but it was on 9-footers with jumpy rails and pockets and it was 10-ball.

I didn't play great, but in stretches I did "cruise" out in line like I am supposed to and the break was consistently solid.

Damn. 10-ball is tough.
 
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dirtypool40 said:
finally had a decent practice session, first one. Just a four hour 10-ball session with a buddy. We ended up playing three sets, I won 9-4, then spotted him the last 3, and won 9-4 and a final set of 7-6.

Each set I had one break and run. I know that's not world speed, but it was on 9-footers with jumpy rails and pockets and it was 10-ball.

I didn'tplay great, but in stretches I did "cruise" out in line like I am supposed to and the break was consistently solid.

Damn. 10-ball is tough.
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You stalling for a bet? :grin: :wink: All you got to do is ask!
 
swami4u said:
You stalling for a bet? :grin: :wink: All you got to do is ask!
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huh?

Just keeping tabs on my practice as I try to find a stroke again.

Right now things are ssssssssssslowly getting better, and we were just horsing around, but there were short periods where I played "better" than I have lately.

I've been hitting the local Clicks $10 tournaments on the weekends. It's been very up and down. No consistency, and making the ball is still the biggest hurdle.
 
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I still think there needs to be a section here for it, but looks like I am the only one.

Ok...

..... ok....

.................ok....



I get it. let it die.
 
dirtypool40 said:
I still think there needs to be a section here for it, but looks like I am the only one.

Ok...

..... ok....

.................ok....



I get it. let it die.
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I'm not saying you shouldn't do it - it's actually a good idea what you are doing! But it would be better in a blog; that's all.

I think you would really enjoy the blog, too. Try the blogspot link from Supergreenman - that's what I use for my blogs.
 
Nice Blogs

akaTrigger said:
I'm not saying you shouldn't do it - it's actually a good idea what you are doing! But it would be better in a blog; that's all.

I think you would really enjoy the blog, too. Try the blogspot link from Supergreenman - that's what I use for my blogs.
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And might I add after looking at your avator, what nice blogs you have.:rolleyes:
 
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