From APA SL7 to SL6

oshua86

oshua86

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Hello guys, I usually read the forum but never post. I think this will be my first and starts with a question. Let me just give you a little bit of back ground. I started playing pool for the first time around Jan 2010, the pool hall where I was playing at recruted me to play league, during that time I was a SL3 at which time I thought improving my game to SL5 was the only thing that I wanted, which I acomplished by the end of that season. I took the summer and fall season off from pool since I had no more interest for it anymore, but on Jan 2011 I started playing again and the love for the game increased in me realizing how far away I was from any decent level of play, so my goal was to play as a SL7 and I thought at that time if I ever got to be a SL7 I would be a great player (what a mistake lol). Anyways, ended the spring season as a SL6 and by mid-summer I got bumped to SL7 in 8 and 9-ball, this was almost a year ago. For the past year I have take pool really serious specially since my schedule allows me to, my goal; to play at pro or close to pro level of play in 2 years time. So I think I have done everything right, read the books, watched the dvds, play the local and open tournaments, get lessons from different schools and pros and put 40+ hours of play a week.
The thing is, I feel like I am in a limbo right now, I feel like my game maxed out at a certain point and I cant break throught. Several pros have told me at this point my mechanics are pretty much flawless, my break is great. I know so much more than I did back when I first turned a SL7 almost a year ago, however, specially in 9-ball league my win ratio was a lot higher (around 80%) when I first became a SL7 than it is now. Last season I took a really good beating, usually by low-mid rank players at league, my win ration went down to about 40%. Now this week I got destroyed my two other SL7. 18-2 and 19-1, they did tell me its the best they have ever played against someone, they both put 4packs against me, they used to be SL9s that went down to SL7. So I found out now that I went down to SL6 in 9-ball (still SL7 in 8ball).

My question is, has any of you gone through the same thing that I am going through, if so how do you deal with it?

I do fairly good in the tournaments and I know league play is not great and honestly it doesnt interest me as much anymore, but for me it is a method of measurement of my own personal level of play, if I cant beat most peple as SL9 then there is no way I can compete or get to a semi-pro or pro level of play eventually.
 
oshua86 said:
Hello guys, I usually read the forum but never post. I think this will be my first and starts with a question. Let me just give you a little bit of back ground. I started playing pool for the first time around Jan 2010, the pool hall where I was playing at recruted me to play league, during that time I was a SL3 at which time I thought improving my game to SL5 was the only thing that I wanted, which I acomplished by the end of that season. I took the summer and fall season off from pool since I had no more interest for it anymore, but on Jan 2011 I started playing again and the love for the game increased in me realizing how far away I was from any decent level of play, so my goal was to play as a SL7 and I thought at that time if I ever got to be a SL7 I would be a great player (what a mistake lol). Anyways, ended the spring season as a SL6 and by mid-summer I got bumped to SL7 in 8 and 9-ball, this was almost a year ago. For the past year I have take pool really serious specially since my schedule allows me to, my goal; to play at pro or close to pro level of play in 2 years time. So I think I have done everything right, read the books, watched the dvds, play the local and open tournaments, get lessons from different schools and pros and put 40+ hours of play a week.
The thing is, I feel like I am in a limbo right now, I feel like my game maxed out at a certain point and I cant break throught. Several pros have told me at this point my mechanics are pretty much flawless, my break is great. I know so much more than I did back when I first turned a SL7 almost a year ago, however, specially in 9-ball league my win ratio was a lot higher (around 80%) when I first became a SL7 than it is now. Last season I took a really good beating, usually by low-mid rank players at league, my win ration went down to about 40%. Now this week I got destroyed my two other SL7. 18-2 and 19-1, they did tell me its the best they have ever played against someone, they both put 4packs against me, they used to be SL9s that went down to SL7. So I found out now that I went down to SL6 in 9-ball (still SL7 in 8ball).

My question is, has any of you gone through the same thing that I am going through, if so how do you deal with it?

I do fairly good in the tournaments and I know league play is not great and honestly it doesnt interest me as much anymore, but for me it is a method of measurement of my own personal level of play, if I cant beat most peple as SL9 then there is no way I can compete or get to a semi-pro or pro level of play eventually.
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I don't remember how many points a SL7 needs in APA 9ball but I do know that a 4 pack = 40 points. That is the majority of points in one inning. You aren't going to win many matches if you opponent is dumping that many points on you without getting a chance at the table. Don't let it discourage you. Play the game and forget the winning percent. APA was designed to keep the race even-ish. A player that is rated a SL7 but really playing as SL9 is going to be super tough.
 
a SL7 needs 55 point. Yeah in those two matches I couldnt do much, I wasnt even upset, they played great and deserved to win. Any thoughts on what to do when you feel your game has stalled? Its like the brain keeps learning and seeing things but the body just is not able to duplicate.
 
oshua86 said:
a SL7 needs 55 point. Yeah in those two matches I couldnt do much, I wasnt even upset, they played great and deserved to win. Any thoughts on what to do when you feel your game has stalled? Its like the brain keeps learning and seeing things but the body just is not able to duplicate.
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Take a break and let everything soak in. I play pretty much everyday and for the most part have done so for the past couple of years. I have my own personal goals I want to acheive in pool (not there yet).

For about a month, I was not able to play as much as I wanted to. When I came back to playing everyday, I have been playing at least a ball better and it has stuck around for a while. It's almost as if I was putting too much pressure on myself and taking a little time off allowed some of the information to sink in my head.

If you don't want to quit playing completely, just compete and don't practice for a couple of weeks. Stop thinking and just play. If it doesn't work, you didn't waste more than a few weeks.
 
My tip for you? If you're only a 7 in 9 ball, keep the pro idea a goal and don't consider yourself a pro yet. The one and only APA tournament I ever played was a 9 ball tournament on big tables, and I was made an 8 and did fairly well in the tournament, however, I don't think I am anywhere close to a pro level yet. My advice would be to play every tournament you can and if your a gambler, play the tough games, even if you lose a little money, the experience is priceless. If a big name pro happens to come through your town, play them! You don't have to play for several hundred or thousands of dollars. Play some $50 dollar sets and get the experience of playing them and see what it really takes to be out on the tour.
 
master_cueist said:
My tip for you? If you're only a 7 in 9 ball, keep the pro idea a goal and don't consider yourself a pro yet. The one and only APA tournament I ever played was a 9 ball tournament on big tables, and I was made an 8 and did fairly well in the tournament, however, I don't think I am anywhere close to a pro level yet. My advice would be to play every tournament you can and if your a gambler, play the tough games, even if you lose a little money, the experience is priceless. If a big name pro happens to come through your town, play them! You don't have to play for several hundred or thousands of dollars. Play some $50 dollar sets and get the experience of playing them and see what it really takes to be out on the tour.
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No way in hell I consider myself a pro just because I am a SL7, I meant, my goal to play at that level in 2 more years. I am fortunate that where am I from here in NC all we play in big tables, I dont think ive ever played in barbox. Theres lots of really good players around Mike Fuller, BJ Ussery, ive even gotten to play Earl in tournaments and even gotten lessons from him.
 
I find it pretty hard to judge how well someone plays by playing league.Since it's not real 9ball it's more like straight pool,there is no 3 foul rule,and you can actually win without having made a single 9ball
 
Yeah, APA 9 ball isn't a 'game ball' game, it is a points game. So, it needs to be played that way. Take what you can get off the table and then play safe.

If you play straight up, its a game that can really bite you because as a points game it is a far better handicapping game and the lower SL player can just beat you by attrition. Their biggest weakness will usually come in the form of both playing good safeties and getting out of good safeties.

8 ball is still a 'game ball' game in the APA and as such isn't nearly as forgiving to the lower handicaps. It isn't uncommon at all for a player to be better ranked in 8 ball than 9 ball.

If your mechanics are that sound, then strategy is where you'll take the next big step.
 
Where do you play in NC? I see Fuller every week .... I play in Raleigh ...

George Crawford
 
AcuraHeel said:
Where do you play in NC? I see Fuller every week .... I play in Raleigh ...

George Crawford
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Yeah I play out of Raleigh too George, I have actually played you before, I think we played that vegas qualifier at HHB a couple of months back. My name is Joshua Padron, I dont think you know who I am though. PM your contact info, maybe we can shoot together some time and you can show me a couple of things, you are a hell of a player. :D
 
oshua86 said:
No way in hell I consider myself a pro just because I am a SL7, I meant, my goal to play at that level in 2 more years. I am fortunate that where am I from here in NC all we play in big tables, I dont think ive ever played in barbox. Theres lots of really good players around Mike Fuller, BJ Ussery, ive even gotten to play Earl in tournaments and even gotten lessons from him.
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Everyone has their opinions on the APA and mine is that there are too many sandbaggers to realisitcally measure yourself. Once you get higher than a SL7, the APA make it impossible for your team to compete.

If i'm reading your post correctly, when I was where you are now I was working on a ton of safety play and learning about patterns. Are you running tables due to being a good shotmaker or always getting the correct leave or both?

I just moved to another state last year. After taking some time off from pool, I decided to join the APA for a fun night out. Just like you, I got back into it. I went from a SL3 to a SL8 (9ball) in 3 seasons. I'm back to only playing 2 times a week due to work. I play in a local tourney whenever I can and use that as a good measuring tool. Its rare that I make it past 4 matches in a double elimination. Just showing how you can't use APA SL# as a measuring tool accurately. I'm probabaly a C+ at best.
 
Up here in the North East,it's hard to use APA SL too really judge a persons speed.We have a few rather large tournament tours,such as The Tri State Tour,Blaze 9Ball,Joss Tour,New England A/B Tour,and a few others.That all use the standard;OPEN,A,B,C,D rating scale.I know a few open class players that still maintain an APA S/L 7...yup 7 these guys are true OPEN Class players!
I also know 7s that could not play competitively in a C class tournament!They would get absolutely tortured in an A/B tournament
up here!And I know 5s that currently win B class tournaments!
There is too much going on in the APA to use it as a reliable gauge for speed.At least that's how it is here in the Northeast.
 
oshua86 said:
No way in hell I consider myself a pro just because I am a SL7, I meant, my goal to play at that level in 2 more years.
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Nice goal. I still think it's a bit of stretch. My opinion is that if you were going to get to a pro level and you've been playing 40 hours a week for a year, you'd be an SL-9 today

Just for some perspective, I'm an SL-9. There's about two moon's distance between me and any lower level pro.

Freddie <~~~ 3rd worst SL-9 in the universe
 
oshua86 said:
Any thoughts on what to do when you feel your game has stalled? Its like the brain keeps learning and seeing things but the body just is not able to duplicate.
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Your game never stalls, but the learning rate will eventually slow down. You may not think so nor realize it, but with every game you play and every missed shot you have you are learning something. Going from a SL3 to a SL7 in two years in both 8 & 9-ball is quite a remarkable feat. It stands to reason that the learning process is going to slow down somewhat. Be patient and keep setting goals for yourself and you may very well get there someday. Heck, you've already got the most important aspect of great poolshooting in your arsenal, the perfect stroke!

I envy you!!!

Maniac
 
Maniac said:
Your game never stalls, but the learning rate will eventually slow down. You may not think so nor realize it, but with every game you play and every missed shot you have you are learning something. Going from a SL3 to a SL7 in two years in both 8 & 9-ball is quite a remarkable feat. It stands to reason that the learning process is going to slow down somewhat. Be patient and keep setting goals for yourself and you may very well get there someday. Heck, you've already got the most important aspect of great poolshooting in your arsenal, the perfect stroke!

I envy you!!!

Maniac
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^^^ This. +1

Congrats on the rapid rise. Continued good luck. (Stalled at SL5 for 2 years now :p)
 
play,play and play some more....... The time you put in will definitely show at your league play and in tournaments...
 
One way

Try playing a single player game (like Fargo)
where you can keep records of your progress.

I play 10 games of Fargo per set. Then 10 sets.
That equals 100 games. That takes me about
three weeks.I take the average of that hundred
games and keep that as my record by date.

If there isn't any progress in 8 to 12 months I
start looking for a problem and a solution.

I like to play the ghost in nine ball or ten ball.
Those games keep my arm loose.

Good Luck!
 
oshua86 said:
The thing is, I feel like I am in a limbo right now, I feel like my game maxed out at a certain point and I cant break throught.
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The difference between being a SL7 and bering ready to be an SL8 has almost nothing to do with the mechanicals of the game, and has everything to do with desire (heart,...).

Also note, as one reaches higher levels of play, advancement plateaus for a while until you figure out what element of your game is holding you back.
 
Thank you all for the good advise and the kind words. I'm going to work hard and regroup for the next couple of months and I'll let you all know how am I doing.
 
Well, I'm certainly no pro either, but IMO practicing the same thing over and over sort of closes to door to new revelations about your stance, stroke, sighting, aim and so forth.

You may have to dive deeper into the mental game, finding dead stroke and staying in it longer.

I suggest practice sessions of straight pool with 50 ball runs as your goal.

Also a read of the Inner Game of Tennis and Pleasures of Small Motions if you have not already. :smile:
 
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