fargo and the ghost

I started playing pool when I randomly bought a used table. I wanted to get decent at the game before playing anyone else so I spent tons of time practicing alone.

I did build up my skills but what got me the most when I first went to play real people was that I had to freakin wait while they were shooting! Lol. It sucks and can really get you out of your rhythm.

For a while I started making myself wait 20 seconds per ball on the table whenever I missed during practice 9 ball games. Always being able to get right back to the table and wipe away your mistakes is a huge advantage that you don’t get in real life play.
 
Shuddy said:
I think one of the biggest problems playing alone ALL the time is losing the ability to focus. There’s never any pressure. I try to create pressure situations with little scoring goals etc, but it’s not the same as exercising your focus in real match situations.
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Ya this is the reason I've almost completely migrated to 14.1 play at home.

I find the 100% aggressive play necessary to play the ghost almost annoying. So much more to the game then simply potting balls.
 
The_JV said:
Based on the above, I'd say we are equal players. ~650 with random peaks of near 700.

Can you beat a 700 player...? Sure if aligns with one of your peaks. It has for me on occassion.

You should add some vids of your 10b ghost attempts to the Challenge Thread, if you're outfitted to do so.
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I think you are a bit better than 650 unless your safety and kicking game are almost nonexistent. I always assumed you were closer to 675-700
 
Shuddy said:
This is interesting, as someone who lives on a small island and plays in complete isolation. I have never had a Fargo rating. I played 10 racks against the ghost last night; 5 break and runs, 1 no ball in hand run (dry break), 2 ball in hand, 2 losses. I don’t bother playing a full set of ball in hand against the 9 ghost, and while I haven’t played it much, and it’s been a while, I don’t recall having too many issue with BiH 10 ball ghost. And I’ve run 140 in 14.1. This discussion would suggest I’m somewhere around 700 based purely on playing the ghost. However, I have zero confidence I could beat a 700 rated player. Maybe I’d go alright? I have no idea 😂
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You got pretty good without playing with others, running 50+ balls in straight pool takes some skill, never mind going over 100. I don't know any players that are not an A level at least that have run 100 balls, aside from doing the 9 ball ghost. Even 50 balls in straight pool probably takes an A player.
 
Cameron Smith said:
I think you are a bit better than 650 unless your safety and kicking game are almost nonexistent. I always assumed you were closer to 675-700
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Although I'll proclaim it differently around my buddies, I prefer to be conservative when gauging my own game. However yes, based on my lack of robustness in the fargo system, and the strong robustness rating of those I complete against. I think it fair to put me in the tight 680 range.

On the right day I can hold my own against 700 players, but I wouldn't rank myself near them.
 
The_JV said:
Although I'll proclaim it differently around my buddies, I prefer to be conservative when gauging my own game. However yes, based on my lack of robustness in the fargo system, and the strong robustness rating of those I complete against. I think it fair to put me in the tight 680 range.

On the right day I can hold my own against 700 players, but I wouldn't rank myself near them.
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Out of curiosity, what would you say is keeping you from beating the 700 guys more regularly?
 
Cameron Smith said:
Out of curiosity, what would you say is keeping you from beating the 700 guys more regularly?
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Life choices...

The >=700 guys play a ton of pool and compete regularly. I'm simply not in a place in life that allows such dedication.

Pretending that I had more of a natural ability that allowed me to be even keel with the 700's, without the necessary table time. I still wouldn't be willing to put the other aspects of my life on hold to travel to tournaments every weekend. 20yrs ago..?..., sure.

Now I'm content just being one of those guys that isn't likely to win a tourney filled with 700's but still has to be taken seriously when you draw my name.
 
The_JV said:
Ya this is the reason I've almost completely migrated to 14.1 play at home.
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I've only played 14.1 a bit - how do you play it at home? I used to start with a ball in the middle of the table and pot that and smash into the pack and go from there.

Do you just try to count high runs, do you stop when you miss?
 
The_JV said:
Life choices...

The >=700 guys play a ton of pool and compete regularly. I'm simply not in a place in life that allows such dedication.

Pretending that I had more of a natural ability that allowed me to be even keel with the 700's, without the necessary table time. I still wouldn't be willing to put the other aspects of my life on hold to travel to tournaments every weekend. 20yrs ago..?..., sure.

Now I'm content just being one of those guys that isn't likely to win a tourney filled with 700's but still has to be taken seriously when you draw my name.
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Thanks for that and this is a nice perspective.
 
Hoogaar said:
I've only played 14.1 a bit - how do you play it at home? I used to start with a ball in the middle of the table and pot that and smash into the pack and go from there.

Do you just try to count high runs, do you stop when you miss?
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Yep, just like that...

Just like playing the ghost in the other games, it only excercises pure offence. However there's a clear goal to achieve (personal high run), and benchmarks of great play, (100, 200... 626)
 
The_JV said:
... Just like playing the ghost in the other games, it only exercises pure offence. However there's a clear goal to achieve (personal high run), and benchmarks of great play, (100, 200... 626)
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But imagine the tremendous disappointment if he gets exactly 626. Try for 627, Hoogaar.

Bob <-- let's not do the 309 thing again
 
Bob Jewett said:
But imagine the tremendous disappointment if he gets exactly 626. Try for 627, Hoogaar.

Bob <-- let's not do the 309 thing again
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Bah - got distracted on 599, just missed 600...

I'll be happy to regularly shoot my age. I'm fine potting 14/15 most of the time, but am terrible at leaving a break shot, or when I do have a good one I miss it trying to obliterate the pack. :)
 
Shuddy said:
EDIT: To be clear, this is not me saying, “YO MAH MAD SKILLZ BRO!” 😂 Just a response with some video. And I do think I’d make an interesting test case, as a person who basically never plays tournaments, and in fact, never plays anyone (DOUBLE EDIT: People are always confused by this. I live on a small island in South Korea). If I ever have the opportunity to be around Fargo rated players, it would be interesting to see what playing the ghost actually means when it comes to a real match because rated players earned that through real blood, sweat and the proverbial. Does your ability against the ghost actual translate to something?

I don’t have any 10 ball ghost videos, but here’s some 9 ball. My mates, who all live in different cities, do a little scoring thing, like one pool, which is what I’m tracking on the phone. 1 point per ball, +5 if you run without BiH:


And here’s some 14.1:

I’ll play some 10 ball on the weekend.
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I get so tired of being crushed by someone on every little island I stop in at to hustle............
 
I like to compare pool to physical sports like football. So the Kansas City Chiefs have a killer offense and don’t even need a defense to beat other professional teams and get to the playoffs. But as the saying goes defense wins Super bowls.

And how many of the best coaches never played in the NFL. Some have. Some haven’t.

There’s 2 metaphors for you guys. One about the ghost and one on knowledge of the game.
 
Hoogaar said:
I've only played 14.1 a bit - how do you play it at home? I used to start with a ball in the middle of the table and pot that and smash into the pack and go from there.

Do you just try to count high runs, do you stop when you miss?
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There is a separate sub-forum for discussing 14.1. You might find some of the old posts interesting, and getting on a break ball is being discussed now. Here it is:

 
Hoogaar said:
You beat the 10 ball ghost no problem? Post up a live stream - would love to see it.
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Some 10 ball ghost for you. I played it to 7 but had a little extra time, so played a few more racks. Starting around 27 min after the race to 7 I start talking while playing (how I started playing pool, how clueless I am re. Fargo, etc 😂).

FYI: The table is a Min (Korean company), corner pockets about 4.25/4.3 inches, reclothed about 6 months ago so playing quite nicely atm.

 
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