Does anyone want to improve their game?

CJ Wiley said:
Pool players aren't the only ones with a "sense of entilement," many Americans want to actually be paid every day for the work they've done.

I'm fine with handicap tournaments, just not if they give the lesser players the advantage, they should at least be have an incentive to get better. imho
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Exactly! I don't know of any other competitive tournament where a person can walk in the door and have an EXPECTATION of being handicapped so they have a better chance to win! The younger generation never grew up in an environment where you had to earn it. APA wasn't established until 1981 and it took a few years to gain popularity. Prior to that handicaps were almost unheard of in a tournament.
 
Jaden said:
Maybe it's cause these are player's that play in TAP instead of APA or whatever, but the guys that I've played in handicapped tourneys have said that they don't mind losing to me.

One guy recently said (after looking at his stats for the match) "I played good and you still ran over me, but I like that. It forces me to play better".

I don't mind giving up weight. Sometimes I run over the tournament and sometimes I don't, sometimes I go two and out. Fading 7-2 playing bar box eightball can be tough, but I like it. It doesn't let me get away with slouching on the job and it gives players coming up in the game a chance.

Jaden
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I think this is a good attitude because the reality is not all areas can consistently fill tournaments if they divide the players up according to their speed. What I mean is there are not enough players to fill a beginners tournament, an intermediate tournament, an expert tournament, and a pro tournament so the TD is forced to combine them and in order to do this there has to be some handicapping going on. But even if you were forced to play in a tournament filled with players your speed you would still have to play near flawless to win.

I do think the better players should have a slight advantage though and sandbagging should not result in more than two places in the money max.
 
Doug the horse said:
Exactly! I don't know of any other competitive tournament where a person can walk in the door and have an EXPECTATION of being handicapped so they have a better chance to win! The younger generation never grew up in an environment where you had to earn it. APA wasn't established until 1981 and it took a few years to gain popularity. Prior to that handicaps were almost unheard of in a tournament.
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Handicapped tournaments are common in darts, bowling, and golf.......
 
nine_ball6970 said:
Handicapped tournaments are common in darts, bowling, and golf.......
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And your game doesn't affect your opponents game in any way in those sports. Try and get a lucky roll in golf or bowling that leaves your opponent without a shot. In those spots you can't duck and duck you have to score to win! Instead of a pool tourney we could all draw straws or pills from a shaker. It wouldn't require talent and it would be"fair". Sometimes this game is like being surrounded by pole vaulting midgets who want to complain because I'm 6'6.
 
I am really trying to do my worst

I am really trying to do my worst, missing everything I can, intentionally, why on earth would I try to get any better? No one wants to play someone that beats them all the time, and I get action, sure the stakes are affecting my retirement account, but who cares, Im the worst I can be, and that's just me. So don't try to tell me how to shoot a shot, or give me pointers on chalking after every shot, that's so over rated, lessons, Id rather buy beer, I am a scratch master, can miss a duck every time, I use unorthodox techniques that help me miss, like shooting with my eyes closed, I always revert to this method after making a ball , Think Im dumb, how about the question to this post?
 
Doug the horse said:
And your game doesn't affect your opponents game in any way in those sports. Try and get a lucky roll in golf or bowling that leaves your opponent without a shot. In those spots you can't duck and duck you have to score to win! Instead of a pool tourney we could all draw straws or pills from a shaker. It wouldn't require talent and it would be"fair". Sometimes this game is like being surrounded by pole vaulting midgets who want to complain because I'm 6'6.
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Lol. More like a group of midgets encountering a 6'6" giant that expects them to allow him in their basketball game. You could always start your own game.. by yourself.. with your money. I think it's much more profitable and enjoyable for all involved when it's a tournament for recreational players, because the first order or business is to have fun and play.

I asked recently about a bar hosting a stronger tournament than the one they've got going on, which is handicapped. The owner says those other tournaments pull in headache players that don't spend money. Short and to the point.

So, Doug.. you've made a few of these kinds of posts now. How do you play?
 
Just because someone is a higher caliper player does not mean they are trying to or ever will be a better players. Probably a very high percentage of players play pretty close to the same level for all their lives. No matter how much they play. Not many players actually do more than play and never work on their weaknesses.
 
Banks said:
Lol. More like a group of midgets encountering a 6'6" giant that expects them to allow him in their basketball game. You could always start your own game.. by yourself.. with your money. I think it's much more profitable and enjoyable for all involved when it's a tournament for recreational players, because the first order or business is to have fun and play.

I asked recently about a bar hosting a stronger tournament than the one they've got going on, which is handicapped. The owner says those other tournaments pull in headache players that don't spend money. Short and to the point.

So, Doug.. you've made a few of these kinds of posts now. How do you play?
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So Banks, are ya broke or what? Every post you you make is about some non-player and his money. I'll bet you can't hit the end rail! You sound like a real nit! I'm surprised you haven't found a tournament that doesn't have an entry fee. If the fear of losing $10 is why need a handicap maybe you should spend more time at work!
 
Doug the horse said:
So Banks, are ya broke or what? Every post you you make is about some non-player and his money. I'll bet you can't hit the end rail! You sound like a real nit! I'm surprised you haven't found a tournament that doesn't have an entry fee. If the fear of losing $10 is why need a handicap maybe you should spend more time at work!
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You're right, I'm a real banger. You still didn't answer my question, whiner.
 
Applying this for 20 minutes a day for a week will do wonders

jburkm002 said:
Just because someone is a higher caliper player does not mean they are trying to or ever will be a better players. Probably a very high percentage of players play pretty close to the same level for all their lives. No matter how much they play. Not many players actually do more than play and never work on their weaknesses.
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I find it helpful to isolate certain "trouble shots" and practice them 20 minutes. For example, I like to take "break, ball in hand" and run out racks of 9-ball shooting ALL shots off the rail. Still trying to get shape on the next ball, then take ball in hand and put it on the rail again......etc.

Applying this for 20 minutes a day for a week will do wonders for your rail shots, and also carry over to shots that don't even seem to be similar. 'The Game is our Teacher'
 
Banks said:
Still ignoring the question, i see. Guess it's because you can't read well.

How do you play, Champ? You remind me of a former poster with the same attitude, whom definitely needed a spot.
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I'm not into bragging. Get your cheese up and come on down! I'm not opposed to playing someone who is mentally challenged!
 
Doug the horse said:
I'm not into bragging. Get your cheese up and come on down! I'm not opposed to playing someone who is mentally challenged!
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Just into whining, eh? Well, i guess you stick to what you're good at.

Have fun not gambling, not improving and, most of all, not saying anything worth a damn.
 
Banks said:
Just into whining, eh? Well, i guess you stick to what you're good at.

Have fun not gambling, not improving and, most of all, not saying anything worth a damn.
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Thought you might want to know. I've had other AZBers send me PMs to let me know what a classless POS you really are. So be aware! You can't even make friends on here, where you can hide behind your mouse. Next time you want to hijack someone's post talk to your friends about it. Oops, I forgot you don't have any. Get a life. Take some lessons. Put your purse down and grow up!
 
Doug the horse said:
Thought you might want to know. I've had other AZBers send me PMs to let me know what a classless POS you really are. So be aware! You can't even make friends on here, where you can hide behind your mouse. Next time you want to hijack someone's post talk to your friends about it. Oops, I forgot you don't have any. Get a life. Take some lessons. Put your purse down and grow up!
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Blah blah blah blah.

Nope, don't give a flying fornication. :)

You're just another keyboard pro, like Champ. Somebody who cries about handicaps, but needs one from half the players out there.

Happy for you that you can find some friends on the internet. Aren't you special.

Buh-bye. (Good riddance.)

Edit: In one post you've made, you say it's good that people play for the love of the game. In another post, better players are entitled to donations. Which is it?
 
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CJ Wiley said:
I find it helpful to isolate certain "trouble shots" and practice them 20 minutes. For example, I like to take "break, ball in hand" and run out racks of 9-ball shooting ALL shots off the rail. Still trying to get shape on the next ball, then take ball in hand and put it on the rail again......etc.

Applying this for 20 minutes a day for a week will do wonders for your rail shots, and also carry over to shots that don't even seem to be similar. 'The Game is our Teacher'
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You probably have as good of view as anyone when it comes to a players level of commitment to improvement. I have tried to impress on some newer players the difference between winning with a handicap and winning without one. It's a hard sell to people who feel that everything in life should be fair. Any advice would always be appreciated!
 
I do and am making an effort but time is my biggest issue. I work nights mostly min-fri sometimes sat. I've always loved practice and could put hours in, now I'm trying to play more or split the time. Getting the zeroX to reinvent what I know and what I do/did. Playing more heads up games now, gamble when I can and for those who say "I don't gamble" I still say "well ok, I'll pay you $10 for each set you win" that way I still get the best game out of them and still have to play hard myself.
 
Doug the horse said:
Thought you might want to know. I've had other AZBers send me PMs to let me know what a classless POS you really are. So be aware! You can't even make friends on here, where you can hide behind your mouse. Next time you want to hijack someone's post talk to your friends about it. Oops, I forgot you don't have any. Get a life. Take some lessons. Put your purse down and grow up!
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i used to think kind of like you...note ..i said kind of. i thought a lesser skilled player should never beat me ...ever. the reasons why ?

1. shot making ...advantage me
2.cue ball control...advantage me
3. mental game...advantage me.

however i learned 2 things in pool i do not have an advantage over lesser skilled players.
slop and luck...they go hand in hand a lot of times and always seems to favor the lesser skilled.

i assume you were playing 9 ball which is a slop game. i play double jeapordy ..which is both 8 and 9 ball the same night.

i cant tell you the times a lesser skilled player gave me fits in 9 ball but i shut them out in 8 ball. the biggest reason for the difference is ...a lesser skilled player will take flyers at every ball at warp speed in 9 ball and cant do that in 8 due to fear of making an early 8.

case in point was yesterday in my master league. in case you are not aware , apa masters is the closest thing to real pool in any amateur league. race to 7 even up.

you are allowed up to 8 racks of 9 ball and 5 racks of 8 ball and the 1st one to win 7 racks total wins.

we started out 9 ball yesterday. i break the 1st rack and make the 1... i can make the 2 but can not get on the 3 so i play safe. he fires warp speed at the 2... the cue ball hits the top rail and flies back down table. hits the 5 , which hits the 6...which hits the 9...which hits the side rail...flies accross table and falls into the corner pocket.

my opponent says...wow ! did you see that shot. i said ...yea and i am glad i did. he says huh ? i said i would have hated to miss seeing the most unbelievable , amazing ...lucky ass shot ever made in the history of pool. he started laughing. next rack he makes the 9 on the break. after 8 racks we are tied 4-4 . all 4 of his were due to luck...slop. he made 2 more lucky early 9's but not as unbelievable as the 1st one.

so we switch to 8 ball and i win 3 in a row to win the match 7-4. think im gonna start a thread about this.:grin-square:
 
I hear ya on the slop and luck. Happens to us all I'm sure. It's not that I expect to never lose to a lower handicapped player. We are playing a race to 3, it's gonna happen. I remember when I first started playing and there were players who were just out of my reach. After a lot of practice and hard work I started occasionally beating them and over time I would beat them more often than not. Today I will play with a person give them the 4 and the last 3 and if they win they feel good about that. I'm glad you are enjoying your league. The format sounds like fun.
 
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