First Post - Advice Needed

JAM said:
I guess that would be difficult to play at home on the boat! :D

I can't remember how far Kent Island is from Cambridge, MD, but there's a pretty nice place there called "Great Slates," right on Route 50. They have great food, bar tables and big tables.

I like TXPoolnut's suggestion of playing straight pool, trying to best your highest score each time.

I haven't been to Annapolis in quite sometime. I live in D.C. That sure is a beautiful area of the country you live in. :smile:
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You can't beat the $99 rate at the Hyatt Resort around the corner from Great Slates. Absolutely wonderful place. There is also a Bald Eagle santuary close by. The hotel has two tables, three restaurants, a Starbucks, a spa, the nicest swimming pool (inside and out) you have ever seen, a gym , and indoor/outdoor hot tub. I am thinking about doing Christmas there this year. :) I have also had the best crabs in my life on Kent Island. You folks have it all.
Purd

http://chesapeakebay.hyatt.com/hyatt/hotels/index.jsp
 
YOLO said:
Interesting you would say that. I was going to start a new post on this. With my new found "excitement" I decided it was time to work on the basics. To move forward I need to have a solid foundation so I altered my grip, stroke (better follow through), etc.. I'm missing so many shots that my wife is getting upset with me. Last night after we came home she said go back to what worked before "you moron!" LOL

On the flip side SHE was pocketing balls! Her stance, bridge and stroke are pretty ugly but she had 4 - 5 ball runs last night. A friend was there that is a bit above her level and she crushed him in every game. Big confidence boost for her!
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My wife has been playing for 9 years now. I usually play her 7-3. She has broke and ran several times and makes a lot of banks these days. We play everyday. Last January she too 33 out of 100 games of ten ball. It just takes time my friend.
Purd
 
Two ideas...

Shoot your balls in numeric order and bank the 8. Then if she beats you too consistently play your balls 8 no count - if you dont run out they spot up . EACH of these spots will give you practice in doing the right thing to win. And give you both practice simultaneously.

YOLO said:
First a big thanks to everyone and the free advice given on this forum! Invaluable to people like me...

A little back ground... I've played on and off for about 30 years... never a good player but always loved the game. Gave away my McDermott cue about 3 years ago... hadn't played in over 5 years and figured odds were pretty good that I would never get into the game like I had wanted to given the way life was going.

As usual, life takes twists and turns... I picked up a cue about a year ago and started playing and a local bar with friends. After about 6 months something click and my game went to it's next level... what a great feeling! Suddenly I could see the whole table. They players in the area are starting to seek me out and I am being recruited for a few teams. Sadly, I'm not able to join a league at this point. Based on the people I've played I'm probably a APA 6ish. I haven't found anyone in the area that I can't beat on a regular basis... yet.

I finally convinced my wife to play. If I was ever going to get table time she would have to get on board. She's doing pretty well but needs some one other than me to teach her at this point (but that's for a different thread).

On to the problem... most of my table time is playing with my wife. I am running the rack on a regular basis on her and she's getting very little play time (this makes here very unhappy and when mommas unhappy....) SO I started attempting to bank every shot while she plays straight. Since then my game has gone in the crapper, my banks suck and my focus has gone out the window.

I'm looking for ideas on how to make things interesting/challenging for me while at the same time getting her cue time.

Sorry for the first post... I promise to get straight to the point next time :)
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8ball spots...

That is an interesting spot....and a great idea!!
rayjay said:
No matter what the game, if you miss she gets ball in hand and two misses/turns. Also, when I play 8-ball with my wife, after I run my group I have to run her group in rotation before I can shoot the 8. In 9-ball, she gets the orange crush.
:p
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Play Her Left Handed. When She Gets Better Play Her Every Other Shot Left Handed. It Will Help You Remember What It Feels Like To Just Start Out In Pool Again. Also, You Will Never Have To Use The Rake Again. And Dont Push Her Too Hard Or She Might Quit. Try Not To Get To Angry With Her, No Matter How Much Its Seems That She Not Improving. The More Balls She Hits The Better She Will Get. So Always Try And Make It Fun.

When You Do Start To Play In Tournaments With Her Just Tell Yourself That Im Lucky That My Wife Is Playing Pool With Me.

It's Funny Scotch Doubles Tournaments Bring Out The Worst In Couples (someone Is Always Fighting). It's Mean, But It's Entertaining Just Watching Couples Getting Mad At Each Other.
 
If you can try comming into Sharkeys tonight or tommorow, they have a big league night every Mon. and Tue.( 12-15 teams each night of 8 people each team =100+ players) of all levels. Your wife would find many other couples therewith the same issues, You can look me up if you want, I get there around 9pm -I'm a TAP 6, we could play a couple of games if you want.
Craig
 
Scott Lee said:
Yolo...My advice would be to take the b-i-h concept a step farther. Give her ball in hand on EVERY shot. That way she has a decent chance to beat you (which I GUARANTEE will make her much happier, and want to play more with you). Even with ball in hand on every shot, she still may not run out...but when she does, it will give her a measure of joy and satisfaction that will leave her wanting more. It also "evens" things out, for when you run the table on her. As she gets a little better, you can adjust to other spots. You can also explain to her, what you're doing, and why, when you run the table. This is how we teach kids (or anyone), who have no interest in watching the better players just run the table.

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
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As she improves you could giver her BIH on every other shot or every third one to get her thinking about position and patterns.

pj
chgo
 
To make her game better and make your game better, call your position and then you have to shoot it. If you get too many shots then call two shots ahead and you have to shoot as called.

I also like giving her ball in hand on every other shot. Makes her game more challenging and helps her to learn to play position.

As stated before Playing your balls in rotation while she plays straight eight also improves. As she get better you have to bank the eight or bank the eight to a designated pocket that changes for each game.
 
A big thanks to everyone who chimed in... some really great ideas!

I suggested many of them to her and she's not keen and most, like where she would get BIH. We tried some straight pool but my first attempt was a 25 ball run and whilst watching me she said "well, this is fun :angry: " LOL

Play Her Left Handed.
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I tried that a few months ago and I sucked badly, but it is something I need to work on so...

You can't beat the $99 rate at the Hyatt Resort around the corner from Great Slates. Absolutely wonderful place. There is also a Bald Eagle santuary close by. The hotel has two tables, three restaurants, a Starbucks, a spa, the nicest swimming pool (inside and out) you have ever seen, a gym , and indoor/outdoor hot tub. I am thinking about doing Christmas there this year. I have also had the best crabs in my life on Kent Island. You folks have it all.
Purd
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We haven't been to the Hyatt yet, we have a couple of boat trips panned for next year though.

Breakshot: I was off the net most of the day yesterday. Sounds like fun... where can I get more info? There website doesn't even mention it.
 
That rate is only good for the winter YOLO. Try 4 or 5 hundred in season.:rolleyes: I can't do that.
Purd
I think it is only 30 miles down the road from you.


YOLO said:
A big thanks to everyone who chimed in... some really great ideas!

I suggested many of them to her and she's not keen and most, like where she would get BIH. We tried some straight pool but my first attempt was a 25 ball run and whilst watching me she said "well, this is fun :angry: " LOL


I tried that a few months ago and I sucked badly, but it is something I need to work on so...


We haven't been to the Hyatt yet, we have a couple of boat trips panned for next year though.

Breakshot: I was off the net most of the day yesterday. Sounds like fun... where can I get more info? There website doesn't even mention it.
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I have a simialar situation at home my wife likes to play but if I win to much she gets bored and quits. If I ease up she gets made because I am not shooting my best. something I have tried is playing games like 99, or equal offense, or bowliards, where everyone plays a frame and competets against there own best scores.
 
Yolo,

Very interesting problem you have here. I have a couple of ideas to add to the great list you've already gotten, but I have a request, too. If you can tell us what it is about the previous suggestions she doesn't like, we may be better able to come up with more acceptable alternatives.

My guess is that she wants/needs to feel like she's playing the real game, and giving her BIH makes it too obvious that she's not. She might feel like you're looking down on her (I know you're not).

My suggestions, then, all revolve around making your game more difficult while having her play by the standard rules. Here are some options:

1) You must make the 8 ball in the same pocket as your last ball.
2) You have to shoot your balls in rotation
3) You can only shoot into a subset of the pockets
.....A) Only pockets on one side of the table
.....B) Only the sides and the head corners
.....C) One head corner and one foot corner
.....D) Both foot corners
.....E) One foot corner
4) Your cue ball can't hit a rail
5) You're not allowed to use draw
6) You're not allowed to use english

Each of these except #4 would look to an observer who hadn't heard the rules like an ordinary game, and even #4 would except for when you gave up the table after making a ball only because the CB hit a rail.

Also, each of these restrictions allows you to work on building up your skills as well. If you pick the right spot you'll have to work to beat her.

Good luck with this. Having a spouse who shares your passion for pool (even a little) would be a wonderful thing.
 
Great post Grampa! You pretty much hit the nail on the head. BIH for her makes her feel like she's not playing a real game. If I give here certain liberties and add heavy restrictions on myself she feels that A) I'm playing down to her. B) I'm not playing to my fullest potential C) I get frustrated and loose interest. She gets really upset when I miss shots she knows I should make. I LOVE THIS GIRL!

We played together a little last night before the regulars arrived. I shot in rotation, which is a tough one after an 8 ball break, and it worked out pretty well. Needless to say at the start of the games she got a lot of play time.... until I got down to 3-4 plus the 8. I played the 8 on a bank. All in all it wasn't bad although the start of the game was a little frustrating for me :)

Next time I'll throw your 1) and 3) into the mix and see if I can come up with a mix that's good for both of us. She is starting to pocket balls on a regular basis so things are moving forward!

In general, I am starting to play with a little more patience and purpose, with her and others. I held the table in every game I played (about 25), this includes 4 games played with some I consider a very accurate and smart player. Others tell me he's a great player but I have yet to see prove it on the table. He also has a swagger about him that rubs me the wrong way so, even though there was no money on the games, I had sufficient motivation to to kick his @ss :)

It's pretty cool to see the crowd gather for the match up!
 
Great suggestions - all of 'em!
Bookmarked this for fuuture games
with my kids! And I kid you not!

:)
 
YOLO said:
Interesting you would say that. I was going to start a new post on this. With my new found "excitement" I decided it was time to work on the basics. To move forward I need to have a solid foundation so I altered my grip, stroke (better follow through), etc.. I'm missing so many shots that my wife is getting upset with me. Last night after we came home she said go back to what worked before "you moron!" LOL

On the flip side SHE was pocketing balls! Her stance, bridge and stroke are pretty ugly but she had 4 - 5 ball runs last night. A friend was there that is a bit above her level and she crushed him in every game. Big confidence boost for her!
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Start the thread. Because I'm having major conflicts trying to incorporate what Kelly Fisher taught me... my game is GONE.
 
Surly said:
Start the thread. Because I'm having major conflicts trying to incorporate what Kelly Fisher taught me... my game is GONE.
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Done.... give me a few minutes though :)
 
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