Frustrated with my league play

T

TheProfessor

Gettin schooled
Last night was my second session in the local league that I have joined. I was pretty pissed when it was all over, so here's my story. I would like to hear from others on here who are in leagues and who might have gone through a similar thing.

I feel like I am a good pool player. I can regularly break and run out on my home table, I feel like I can make almost any shot on the table if I want to. I have a nice, level 8 foot Connelly at home, covered with Simonis 860.

Then I go to play in league on these little 7 foot barboxes. Now I thought that practicing on an 8 foot would be awesome for playing on 7 foot tables, but so far I am wrong. The heavy cue ball makes position play difficult, the tables have varying cloth speeds, and I can't run out for the life of me. To add insult to injury, last night we played one of the worst teams in the league and I got beat 3 out of my 5 matches. Most of these people are bangers who don't play position at all, but when they missed the continued to leave me some awful shots. I would rarely get a chance to make a shot and get in good shape for the next one. It was very frustrating, and I ended up losing a couple of matches to players that I could easily take in a best of 10 matchup. Playing just one game against each player on the other team is frustrating, because all it takes is for them to have a great game and you to have crap leaves and they win. So I play the last match of the evening against a decent player, he misses and gives me no shot at all, and then he runs out next turn. This made the difference and we lose the session. Makes me feel like crap because my whole team is watching and I have just met these guys, and they probably think I am just banging the balls around, while the truth is that I broke and ran 3 eight-ball racks earlier that day on my home table.

I am just upset because I feel like I let down the team. The league is, of course, for fun, but the final placing of a team can be anywhere from a couple $100 to a $1000, so playing well does make a difference.
 
Hey baby, we all have our days. It is just a game. The most important thing is enjoying it. I played 3 games of 8 ball with my wife at home and ran out 2 out of 3 on her. I went to league and missed the 8 ball four times in a row. Go Figure man. Only difference is I won!
Purdman
 
no practice adapting to conditions

You sound like you play little pool anywhere but on your home table. Without playing on many different tables you will have trouble adapting to conditions. Playing on larger tables only helps your small table play if you also practice on the small tables regularly too, that old adapt thing I mentioned earlier.

Sounds like the competition might have been a bit better than you thought too. Back when I gambled I was one of the "luckiest" shooters around.

Hu


TheProfessor said:
Last night was my second session in the local league that I have joined. I was pretty pissed when it was all over, so here's my story. I would like to hear from others on here who are in leagues and who might have gone through a similar thing.

I feel like I am a good pool player. I can regularly break and run out on my home table, I feel like I can make almost any shot on the table if I want to. I have a nice, level 8 foot Connelly at home, covered with Simonis 860.

Then I go to play in league on these little 7 foot barboxes. Now I thought that practicing on an 8 foot would be awesome for playing on 7 foot tables, but so far I am wrong. The heavy cue ball makes position play difficult, the tables have varying cloth speeds, and I can't run out for the life of me. To add insult to injury, last night we played one of the worst teams in the league and I got beat 3 out of my 5 matches. Most of these people are bangers who don't play position at all, but when they missed the continued to leave me some awful shots. I would rarely get a chance to make a shot and get in good shape for the next one. It was very frustrating, and I ended up losing a couple of matches to players that I could easily take in a best of 10 matchup. Playing just one game against each player on the other team is frustrating, because all it takes is for them to have a great game and you to have crap leaves and they win. So I play the last match of the evening against a decent player, he misses and gives me no shot at all, and then he runs out next turn. This made the difference and we lose the session. Makes me feel like crap because my whole team is watching and I have just met these guys, and they probably think I am just banging the balls around, while the truth is that I broke and ran 3 eight-ball racks earlier that day on my home table.

I am just upset because I feel like I let down the team. The league is, of course, for fun, but the final placing of a team can be anywhere from a couple $100 to a $1000, so playing well does make a difference.
Click to expand...
 
I also recently began playing in a similar league. I have always played primarily 9 ball on 9' tables so 8 ball on small tables is a big change. It can be frustrating playing on barboxes because each one plays differently, they are less likely to bo well maintained, and on 7' tables you get a lot more clusters or blocked holes. I am certainly one of the better players in our league but my fist couple weeks I was only winning about 50% of my matches. The past few weeks I have won 90% of my matches. I think the difference is I have been making better selections for which group is layed out better and playing more safeties. Keep with it and you will get better at the conditions you face in your league.
 
same here

I find myself in the same position, however I normally practice on 9' tables. I find the transition to the barbox very difficult. Mainly the added cluster on the smaller table. But the barboxes bank different and the big cue ball takes a bit to get used to. I have started showing up an hour before our scheduled practice time to knock balls around and get a feel for the table. I have left many a night pissed at the world cause I played like hell in league. I even go as far as being in dead stroke during warmup, then totally botching things during the league.
 
I could be wrong but it sounds like you need to learn to play a smarter game instead of going for those tough shots you should play safe and force them to make the mistakes so you can run out. If you are playing people that aren't that good it just makes playing safeties easier. There aren't many games that I've lost and actually got to shoot that I've felt like I couldn't have won if I had done something different whether it be playing a safe instead of going for a shot, missing position, etc. Usually if they get lucky to win its because I gave them to opportunity.
 
Professor:

You are going to have to practice more on the barboxes. Remember that the game is a little different... But don't let the table and the big ball and the felt, etc. become a cop-out or excuse for you.

Here is my suggestion: take a new attitude when you go to play. Stop complaining about the table conditions! Never complain or cry around your teammates! Complaining is a sign of weakness. Just work hard at the table, realizing that you are going to have to overcome the table as well as your opponent... and thrive on that challenge. You are going to have to concentrate on using brains, brawn, safeties, and great pattern play to become a champ on the barbox. Also keep your eyes open... watch what is successful for other players...

Get together with your teammates or a tough opponent and spend some hours working together on the barbox... beating eachother down and talking about the game... working through it. It is just like riding a bike too... once you have the hang of it... you will always have it. You just gotta find the right mentality. Be tough with the table. Finesse oftentimes is not going to work.

Also: Carry yourself like a winner and you will be a winner. It will come to you and stick after a while....

And yes, I have some years of top-of-my-league experience backing my advice.
 
Last edited:
TheProfessor said:
Last night was my second session in the local league that I have joined. I was pretty pissed when it was all over, so here's my story. I would like to hear from others on here who are in leagues and who might have gone through a similar thing.

I feel like I am a good pool player. I can regularly break and run out on my home table, I feel like I can make almost any shot on the table if I want to. I have a nice, level 8 foot Connelly at home, covered with Simonis 860.

Then I go to play in league on these little 7 foot barboxes. Now I thought that practicing on an 8 foot would be awesome for playing on 7 foot tables, but so far I am wrong. The heavy cue ball makes position play difficult, the tables have varying cloth speeds, and I can't run out for the life of me. To add insult to injury, last night we played one of the worst teams in the league and I got beat 3 out of my 5 matches. Most of these people are bangers who don't play position at all, but when they missed the continued to leave me some awful shots. I would rarely get a chance to make a shot and get in good shape for the next one. It was very frustrating, and I ended up losing a couple of matches to players that I could easily take in a best of 10 matchup. Playing just one game against each player on the other team is frustrating, because all it takes is for them to have a great game and you to have crap leaves and they win. So I play the last match of the evening against a decent player, he misses and gives me no shot at all, and then he runs out next turn. This made the difference and we lose the session. Makes me feel like crap because my whole team is watching and I have just met these guys, and they probably think I am just banging the balls around, while the truth is that I broke and ran 3 eight-ball racks earlier that day on my home table.

I am just upset because I feel like I let down the team. The league is, of course, for fun, but the final placing of a team can be anywhere from a couple $100 to a $1000, so playing well does make a difference.
Click to expand...

Once again somebody has proved it's easier to run out a 9foot than a barbox.

Cheer up prof. you'll get the roll on those little tables soon enough, my league plays on all sizes of tables depending on the room we play on that night, and I always have an easier time on the 9footers(that being said, the pub I play out of only has bar boxes so I'm proficient at them as well)

You also mentioned that this was only your second night playing in this league, is it possible you're suffering from performance anxiety? (Try Red Bull energy drink, it makes you more alert and focused in addition to giving you a feeling of well being)

It's important to get table time on all the different equipment you expect to be playing on in order to do your best.

Good Luck!!!!!
 
Join the crowd. I have a decent game on the 9 footers, but playing APA 9-ball on 7 and 8 footers is killing me! Plus, no push-out after my opponent leaves me hooked is just all wrong.

Barbara

TheProfessor said:
Last night was my second session in the local league that I have joined. I was pretty pissed when it was all over, so here's my story. I would like to hear from others on here who are in leagues and who might have gone through a similar thing.

I feel like I am a good pool player. I can regularly break and run out on my home table, I feel like I can make almost any shot on the table if I want to. I have a nice, level 8 foot Connelly at home, covered with Simonis 860.

Then I go to play in league on these little 7 foot barboxes. Now I thought that practicing on an 8 foot would be awesome for playing on 7 foot tables, but so far I am wrong. The heavy cue ball makes position play difficult, the tables have varying cloth speeds, and I can't run out for the life of me. To add insult to injury, last night we played one of the worst teams in the league and I got beat 3 out of my 5 matches. Most of these people are bangers who don't play position at all, but when they missed the continued to leave me some awful shots. I would rarely get a chance to make a shot and get in good shape for the next one. It was very frustrating, and I ended up losing a couple of matches to players that I could easily take in a best of 10 matchup. Playing just one game against each player on the other team is frustrating, because all it takes is for them to have a great game and you to have crap leaves and they win. So I play the last match of the evening against a decent player, he misses and gives me no shot at all, and then he runs out next turn. This made the difference and we lose the session. Makes me feel like crap because my whole team is watching and I have just met these guys, and they probably think I am just banging the balls around, while the truth is that I broke and ran 3 eight-ball racks earlier that day on my home table.

I am just upset because I feel like I let down the team. The league is, of course, for fun, but the final placing of a team can be anywhere from a couple $100 to a $1000, so playing well does make a difference.
Click to expand...
 
thanks for the advice so far. I don't complain to my teammates, I saved that for you all :) I guess the biggest frustration I have right now is playing with all of these new guys who are probably forming an opinion that I suck, when I really don't. I have a pretty good understanding of the game, I started playing when I was 3 and I just love the game.

I guess I should start playing on some barboxes, that is a good idea. I totally agree with the notion that the balls cluster more and you don't have a good chance to runout. Twice last night I made 3 balls on the break, but I couldn't run out during either of those games because of some clusters.
 
BillYards said:
Professor:

You are going to have to practice more on the barboxes. Remember that the game is a little different... But don't let the table and the big ball and the felt, etc. become a cop-out or excuse for you.

Here is my suggestion: take a new attitude when you go to play. Stop complaining about the table conditions! Never complain or cry around your teammates! Complaining is a sign of weakness. Just work hard at the table, realizing that you are going to have to overcome the table as well as your opponent... and thrive on that challenge. You are going to have to concentrate on using brains, brawn, safeties, and great pattern play to become a champ on the barbox. Also keep your eyes open... watch what is successful for other players...

Get together with your teammates or a tough opponent and spend some hours working together on the barbox... beating eachother down and talking about the game... working through it. It is just like riding a bike too... once you have the hang of it... you will always have it. You just gotta find the right mentality. Be tough with the table. Finesse oftentimes is not going to work.

Also: Carry yourself like a winner and you will be a winner. It will come to you and stick after a while....

And yes, I have some years of top-of-my-league experience backing my advice.
Click to expand...

This is really good advice, and I normally will not complain about table conditions because my opponent is playing on the same table, but some of the tables in my league are just plain awful!!

Barbara
 
TheProfessor said:
:) I guess the biggest frustration I have right now is playing with all of these new guys who are probably forming an opinion that I suck, when I really don't.
Click to expand...

Do you think that you did anything wrong in those games, or are you saying they simply got lucky?

How many times did you let them get back at the table?

Did they run out well, or did they fall luckily on every ball? That is, are you sure you're not giving your opponents enough credit (as bar pool players)?

I think your desire to win and impress your new team might be clouding your thinking. Impressing your teammates shouldn't be a concern, although I completely understand the feeling. BTDT.

Bar tables are different. Expect them to be different. If you're truly a good player, you'll get used to them. But, it's not automatic. They're simply different.

Fred
 
I posted on this last time, but I will post it again because I feel it is very good info for people trying to adjust to barboxes (I have learned this stuff the hard way as I was used to playing on 9 foot tables).
1. On a big table, let your stroke out, but on a barbox, have a little stroke, or the cueball will be all over the place. The cue ball is heavier, the table is smaller, so it doesn't take as much to move it around.
2. Try not to draw very much. The weight or the cue ball or something will cause you to miscue more often.
3. If you clear all your balls of the table and miss on the last ball or the eight, even a not-so-hot player can run out especially with the huge pockets and short shot length. If you don't have a good out, play defense and wait for ball in hand.
4. Use stun for breakout shots--the tangent line is pretty easy to visualize and it works very well, especially since bar tables tend to get very clustered and crowded. Also good to try and leave an easy ball to make in case you screw up the breakout. Nothing sucks worse than just barely missing the breakout that would win the game for you.

Ok that's all I can think of right now, but that is the stuff that really helped my game on the barbox. Don't feel bad, I went through the same thing. It's all about adjusting your game to the table, you can't move the cue ball around like you can on a big table. Trust me.
 
TheProfessor said:
Last night was my second session in the local league that I have joined. I was pretty pissed when it was all over, so here's my story.
Click to expand...

Professor...

First, remember that you're playing single games against each opponent. That's nothing like playing a set against someone. In single games, anthing can happen and a D player might beat an A players brains out for ONE GAME. I don't know the format for your league, but if you have 3 players that night that have a little luck and get a few rolls, even if they're firing the CB 50 MPH at everything, then you're just going to lose, plain and simple. I've lost single games to players that I'd give the 5 and out in a long set... just nothing you can do about s#!t luck.

Second, you need to be able to adjust your speed control from table to table, cloth to cloth. Devise some method of measureing your speed besides "soft, medium, hard"... use a numbering system for how far the ball travels, like a Lag is a ONE or something like that, then adjust that numbered speed control to the table. It only takes a couple of shots before the session starts to get the speed control down, that way.

Third. Use different cue balls at home. I have 9 different cue balls. Aramith red logo, aramith green logo, red circle, blue circle, black circle, cheap magnetic, an old magnetic that feels like hitting a bowling ball, an oversized cue ball and an old ivory cue ball. Every one of them plays a little bit different... tangent lines change, natural roll lines change, everything changes ever so slightly. You have to get to know many kinds of cue balls to play top shelf pool.

Fourth, I got the same impression Hu did, that you play mostly at home. Get out and get on different kinds of tables. I have an 8' table with super tight pockets and 760 Simonis at home. If I strictly shot on that table, I'd be a phenom on THAT table, but I play on everything from junky bar boxes at our local tavern, to very nice Diamond Smart tables in Tulsa, to super tight 9' GC's that you can't cheat a pocket on. You have to make sure your game can be carried from one table to another, and you can't do that if you shoot 90% of your shots on your home table. Get out there, get on different tables under pressure situations.

Finally. Just have fun. That's the whole purpose of league! Have fun with it, relax, shoot your game and the balls will fall much more easily.

Later,
Bob
 
TheProfessor said:
I am just upset because I feel like I let down the team. The league is, of course, for fun, but the final placing of a team can be anywhere from a couple $100 to a $1000, so playing well does make a difference.
Click to expand...

I always felt the same way regarding team play. There seems to be more pressure on you than playing singles. You need to remember that is a game and not work. Take some of the pressure off and enjoy the game.
 
THEPROFESSOR,
With only two nights of league under your belt I think you should cut yourself some slack. Someone mentioned preformance anxiety and we all feel that dread when we wish to do impress our teammates(old or new) but the pool gods just won't let it happen. It is hard to remain patient during those times. A good sign is that none of your fellow team members made comment one way or another about your play, they probably understand the situation. If they are an OK bunch of guys and have experience playing in leagues they will let you find your comfort zone. I don't know how you became a member of this team but most of the time one regular team member has recommend you because he knows your game is suitable and that you will make a good fit on the team. I would be interested to know how you became a member of the team. Where you asked or placed?
Adjusting to poor conditions on the barboxes is something you just have to deal with but there is something you can do as team that will give your team an advantage. Simply take the time to clean the table and balls on the table your match will be played on. Have your own little kit for doing the cleaning because we all know the bar is not going to have one handy, they don't care. I've been doing this for years, it only takes a few minutes to give your team this slight advantage. With clean balls and a relatively clean playing surface the balls will at the very least separate when gone into softly by another ball, this knowledge alone is an advantage to your team because you will trust going into clusters with the proper speed. It may be a small thing but over a season it may put your team in first place.
Not making excuses was a good move on your part. Your teammates should appreciate this as it shows your confidence in your game. You'll show your colors in time and all will be well. Good luck and have fun with your new team.
 
Prof: Just enjoy the competition... and the camaraderie... don't worry so much about what your teammates think right now. You will improve and show your stuff soon. And get Medieval on those clusters... move stuff around (only if you have to!) early in the game (when your opponents are less likely to take advantage if you have a problem) and let your shooting ability get you back into a nice pattern. Get mean and get out!
 
BillYards said:
Prof: Just enjoy the competition... and the camaraderie... don't worry so much about what your teammates think right now. You will improve and show your stuff soon. And get Medieval on those clusters... move stuff around (only if you have to!) early in the game (when your opponents are less likely to take advantage if you have a problem) and let your shooting ability get you back into a nice pattern. Get mean and get out!
Click to expand...

Bill is %100 right here too, bar tables are meant to be brutalized. Take advantage of the fact that you can cheat a pocket halfway up a rail, that you can fit 2 balls in the mouth of the pocket, even the fact that the CB is heavier can go to your advantage if you know how to use it. If you haven't broken out your clusters by your 3rd ball you'd better be looking for a safety.
 
Hi Professor,

Not sure if this has been mentioned but what I would do is, if they have weekly tournaments, try to play maybe one a week. This way you'll not only get better on the barboxes but at least if you are not doing well in the beginning you're only hurting your chances at cashing, and not the teams outcome for the night.

I've been doing this on 9' Diamonds and found that the Gold Crowns seem like buckets to me now. Not saying I run out everytime I should but my confidence level is very high.

Regards,
Koop
 
thanks again everyone. I was placed on this team...I am new in the area and I don't know a soul in the league, so every session I will meet new players. The leagues is ACS, so 5 players on one team play all 5 players on the other team; at the end of the night I will have played each of the 5 players on the other team. I am one of the only league newbies, so everyone else has been playing a while.

I will take the advice from this forum and move on with my game, practicing at home every night and trying to get to the barboxes as well. I did miss a couple of shots that I should have made, I am just not used to having to hit the cue ball so hard to play position. Of course, next week the tables could be fast as hell and I will have to change my speed again.

I joined the league to have fun and meet people, but I am competitive by nature so when I get beat I don't like it a whole lot :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top