Got talked into my first league night

9andout said:
We rode together and he shot last. It was a loooong night of just watching. The team was pretty bad. Some players didn't even know what a push out was.
Even worse, one player got pissed when someone tried to explain it to him.
Overall it was a pretty dull night.
I got 4 hrs sleep and went to work.
*It would be nice if these places had an extra (non league table) that you could shoot on while waiting.
This was a local league. The experience definitely didn't make me want to return. They asked me to come back! haha
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Yeah that sounds like my local league. Shoot 5 racks in 5 hours and sit around bored out of my mind. You don't want to watch too many matches either because some play so bad it will effect my game. I can't play good if it's not worth spending my focus. I'd rather go in with no idea and play as if I were playing the best player in the world. The sanctioned one brings out better players, but it's still slow as molasses.
APA Operator said:
If you don't get enough from the social aspect of league play to make things like wait times or unknowledgeable players tolerable, you probably shouldn't play leagues.
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I'd rather play pool where I can beat my opponent's brains out quickly (or get mine beat out quickly). We have an unsanctioned league that can be fun for socializing. Each team member pays $5 at the start of the night, and the winning team gets the other team's $5. I'd rather play a race to 5 for $5 and get it over with. :LOL:

League is a great way to learn competition and socialize/network.
 
I have played TAP 8B for a few years. I was never an 8B player and have found it to be more challenging than I anticipated. From my perspective, a break and run in 8B is more difficult than either 9B or 10B.
 
I started on a real team the night that MASH ended. The bars were packed so no room to shoot.

I still play leagueS twice a week. My play is still improving after all these years. And so is the quality of competition now....much higher than in the 80's.

Yea, shit happens, but no big deal.



Jeff Livingston
 
Fatboy said:
I’ve been playing 40 years, 36 in pool rooms. I’m not sure I’m clear on the rules of 8B 😂😂

League play isn’t my cup of tea, but it puts cues in peoples hands and they have fun, can’t be bad. I’m just not a team player-why I played pool in the first place.

best
Fatboy😀
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You know I played lots of team sports in high school. Pool doesn't seem to translate to team play as well.
Only Scotch or Mosconi style for me!
 
APA Operator said:
If you don't get enough from the social aspect of league play to make things like wait times or unknowledgeable players tolerable, you probably shouldn't play leagues.
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Wait time was bad.
Unknowledgeable is fine.
Incorrigible is not. In my book.
 
9andout said:
You know I played lots of team sports in high school. Pool doesn't seem to translate to team play as well.
Only Scotch or Mosconi style for me!
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I do like playing scotch doubles with a very strong partner. I can make that work great. I play my best in that situation. It brings out the best in me and I’m always in line lol. I do enjoy that game a lot. Ring games 4 handed 9B are fun with lots of $ balls on the table. Otherwise I like to play alone.

I’m never going to knock league players-some play MUCH stronger than I ever did. And as long as people are having fun-wonderful. I encourage beginners to give league a try. I figure that’s the easiest entry into pool in the last 15-20 years.

best
Fatboy
 
9andout said:
I don't think so lol.
Now I'm probably the "trouble maker" to one guy for trying to help him and others with the push out. *Different thread
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Don't worry about that. Shit happens all the time.

The thing to do is to help add to the party overall. A team is as fun as its players want it to be. Show up on time, have your money, equipment ready, practiced, etc. is the foundation for all team players.

I've learned over my 35 years of league that a team who has fun creates a better motivation to also be good. It's a package deal, iow. And each player has to be in on it or it won't work for the team. One guy can ruin the team's motivation and fun by CHRONIC behaviors, not an occasional slip-up. One guy can help save it, too. A good Captain is essential.

fwiw,


Jeff Livingston
 
chefjeff said:
Don't worry about that. Shit happens all the time.

The thing to do is to help add to the party overall. A team is as fun as its players want it to be. Show up on time, have your money, equipment ready, practiced, etc. is the foundation for all team players.

I've learned over my 35 years of league that a team who has fun creates a better motivation to also be good. It's a package deal, iow. And each player has to be in on it or it won't work for the team. One guy can ruin the team's motivation and fun by CHRONIC behaviors, not an occasional slip-up. One guy can help save it, too. A good Captain is essential.

fwiw,


Jeff Livingston
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Might give it one more night.
*Since my neighbor paid my entry to get me in the first night.
..
What I am going to do is go to the next spot right from work to save some driving.
I'm going to let the team know, and see if anyone wants to shoot for a few hrs before the match. Maybe I'll be pleasantly surprised!
 
Another chunk of advice then I'll stop:

Also think long-term about the whole season. I want to be the best shooter for the league, not just my team. Not just the highest average a great thing, but the best player qua player for the league and team. That takes a different attitude about each shot, believe it or not. Small stuff just fades away.


Jeff Livingston
 
Somebody got mad when you tried to explain what a push out is. Yep, that's league.

My best league experience was playing on a team that tried to shark our own teammates. We had a lot of fun and finished second for the session. Banger leagues where people take it too seriously are a turn off. You are a banger either way, might as well have fun.
 
League is a personal choice, some love, some hate, other have no opinion.

My preference is Tournaments with entry fee under $8.00-$10.00, with no additional green fees.

Color me frugal.🤔
 
I played league when I was 10 or 12 with a bunch of older guys at a hall every weekend for 6months or so. Now I refuse to play league because if I’m shooting, I’m putting up the best shot I can, and not everyone else is…So yeah league is good til you hit puberty. Or if you are a casual player. I just know too many people that dump. I’d rather just forfeit than have someone dump on my time. No one else speaking the truth here.

oh and not to brag, but I was a 5 back then on 7 point scale. 8 ball. I don’t know how they go now but if it’s a 7 scale it should go to 10. If the scale is/was a 10 scale I’d be all in on leagueplay. Theyd be more fun.
 
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