Has Allison Fisher peaked as a player?

[Snapshot9]

I know this will draw lots of comments, but I have been thinking about posting this for some time.

Allison is still a great player, but has she peaked as a player? Will her tournament wins be fewer in the future? Is her age catching up with her a little, or the competition?

Lately, I have always noticed a couple of flaws in her game, and have often wondered why some of the other women players, besides Karen, haven't captilized on them. Lately, the flaws seem to show up more often.

Is her spotlight going to be dimmed in the future?

 

[PoolSharkAllen]

Allison has had a great career so far that most other players would envy. She may be slowing down but she's certainly not over the hill yet.

What are the flaws you noticed in her game?

 

[VIProfessor]

I know this will draw lots of comments, but I have been thinking about posting this for some time.

Allison is still a great player, but has she peaked as a player? Will her tournament wins be fewer in the future? Is her age catching up with her a little, or the competition?

Lately, I have always noticed a couple of flaws in her game, and have often wondered why some of the other women players, besides Karen, haven't captilized on them. Lately, the flaws seem to show up more often.

Is her spotlight going to be dimmed in the future?

I agree that Allison is looking more human these days, and I predict that she will not continue to dominate the tour the way she has in the past. These factors have more to do with the rising level of play in the WPBA than with Allison herself. The way that Jasmin, Xiao-Ting Pan and Ga Young Kim are breaking the balls, its bound to tighten up any players stroke. The truth is that they are putting Allison under pressure in a way that few players have been able to in the past, and it shows.

 

[thrasher789]

I agree that Allison is looking more human these days, and I predict that she will not continue to dominate the tour the way she has in the past. These factors have more to do with the rising level of play in the WPBA than with Allison herself. The way that Jasmin, Xiao-Ting Pan and Ga Young Kim are breaking the balls, its bound to tighten up any players stroke. The truth is that they are putting Allison under pressure in a way that few players have been able to in the past, and it shows.

I gotta agree with this post, I don't think her dominance will continue but I don't think it's soley because she is slipping, I think it has more to do with a higher level of woman play than there was in the past.

 

[Pushout]

I gotta agree with this post, I don't think her dominance will continue but I don't think it's soley because she is slipping, I think it has more to do with a higher level of woman play than there was in the past.

Me also. Look at Balukas, LoreeJon, there comes a time when the talent begins to step up, new blood, improved players, etc. She may be losing a bit over time, but the new, young players coming up are probably what's doing it. As someone already said, there are girls who break better than Allison, and in 9 ball today, that can be a HUGE factor.

 

[Maniac]

She's had a great run. Nobody stays on top forever. Especially in pool. Look at all the past champions in men's and women's pool/billiards. It seems like an awful lot of them are on top for about 10 years before some new face emerges to take the throne away. Allison has been the best women's player for over ten years now (at least here in the States, even longer if you count Europe).
Like the other posters said, to which I totally agree, there's a lot of up-and-coming young women beginning to emerge from abroad that's going to be challenging one another for the women's pool titles. So, it's not that Allison is flawed (she still has one of the best pool strokes in the game), it's just that, finally, the competition is getting stronger.

And.....I bet she'll still win a tournament every now and then !!!

Maniac

 

[smashmouth]

the same thing was said about Efren a few years ago

she needs to adjust a little, maybe take a break

Allison Fisher is one of the the most accomplished players in the history of Cue Sports, male or female

 

[Southpaw]

I agree that Allison is looking more human these days, and I predict that she will not continue to dominate the tour the way she has in the past. These factors have more to do with the rising level of play in the WPBA than with Allison herself. The way that Jasmin, Xiao-Ting Pan and Ga Young Kim are breaking the balls, its bound to tighten up any players stroke. The truth is that they are putting Allison under pressure in a way that few players have been able to in the past, and it shows.

I agree with this also. Since Allison "revived" the WPBA and helped make it as popular as it is today (on TV, etc.), the up and coming talent has come a long way also. Women are starting at an earlier age and they have coaches now. I think the talent has improved, not Allison falling off her game.

Southpaw

 

[rayjay]

Peaked? Maybe, but she's still at the top of the hill with very few others, and has a lot of game left. Allison responds well to pressure and she's a very intelligent and talented player, maybe the most talented female player ever. She'll be around for a while. I also agree that the younger talent has arrived...keep your eye on Anna Kostanian, too, along with Jasmin, Ga Young, Xiao-Ting Pan. Also, don't count out Karen Corr just yet.

 

[PROG8R]

I dont think she has peaked or that she is playing weaker than before. The girls are just getting better and this damn modified single elimination is taking some of the better players out of the money. They have got to squash that format.

 

[cuechick]

As others have said, it is more about the talent rising up then any decline on Allison's part. She is by no means over the hill, she is not even 40 yet! This may be just the fire she needed to move her game to the next level, I bet we have not even seen the best from Allison yet.

 

[matcase]

Agree that the improvement or the competition is the biggest reason Allison is winning less frequently. I think I remember Eric Dickerson being quoted as having said "even if I have lost a step, it was a step those other guys never had in the first place".

 

[sjm]

To consider the matter of whether Allison Fisher, the greatest woman’s nine ball player ever by far, has fallen off the pedestal which she has occupied for a decade seems almost sacrilege, and yet, in the life of every great champion, there is a moment when their ability to compete at the highest level becomes diminished.

Surely, some will be inclined to conclude that Xiaoting Pan, Kelly Fisher, Ga Young Kim and Jasmin Ouschan, have already stolen the show in women’s pro pool. The 2007 results to this point would seem to support this conclusion. Through three events of the WPBA Schedule and the World Championships:

Xiaoting Pan: 4 events played, 2 titles, reached TV round in all 3 of 3 WPBA events played
Ga Young Kim: 4 events played, 1 title, reached TV round in 2 of 3 WPBA events played
Kelly Fisher: 4 events played, 1 title, reached TV round in 2 of three WPBA events played
Jasmin Ouschan: 2 events played, no titles, reached TV round in 1 of 1 WPBA events played

Allison Fisher: 4 events played, no titles, reached TV round in 1 of 3 WPBA events played

There can be no denying that evidence seems to be mounting that Allison has fallen off the pedestal. But has she? After all, Allison won the WPBA Nationals just five months ago, beating Kelly Fisher in the semis and Ga Young Kim in the final, so she can still give these ladies a thumping.

I think it’s too early to say whether Allison can mass produce titles the way she always has, but I’m betting against, simply because it’s no longer a two–horse race in women’s pro pool, as it was from 2001-2005. The level of play on the WPBA is phenomenal right now, and each event is looking like at least a six horse race.

Incidentally, I do not believe that the change in format, which I certainly do not like, has had much to do with the change in the balance of power. It’s a simple as this: Xiaoting Pan, Ga Young Kim, Kelly Fisher and Jasmin Ouschan are playing well enough to win, and I believe they would be winning titles no matter what the format.

All this speculation is getting me even more revved up for Vegas in 2 weeks. I can’t wait to watch these great champions perform, but let’s not lose sight of the fact that Allison, with over 50 WPBA titles, is the greatest champion of them all, and we should all delight in it when she wins her next one.

 

[Southpaw]

To consider the matter of whether Allison Fisher, the greatest woman’s nine ball player ever by far, has fallen off the pedestal which she has occupied for a decade seems almost sacrilege, and yet, in the life of every great champion, there is a moment when their ability to compete at the highest level becomes diminished.

Surely, some will be inclined to conclude that Xiaoting Pan, Kelly Fisher, Ga Young Kim and Jasmin Ouschan, have already stolen the show in women’s pro pool. The 2007 results to this point would seem to support this conclusion. Through three events of the WPBA Schedule and the World Championships:

Xiaoting Pan: 4 events played, 2 titles, reached TV round in all 3 of 3 WPBA events played
Ga Young Kim: 4 events played, 1 title, reached TV round in 2 of 3 WPBA events played
Kelly Fisher: 4 events played, 1 title, reached TV round in 2 of three WPBA events played
Jasmin Ouschan: 2 events played, no titles, reached TV round in 1 of 1 WPBA events played

Allison Fisher: 4 events played, no titles, reached TV round in 1 of 3 WPBA events played

There can be no denying that evidence seems to be mounting that Allison has fallen off the pedestal. But has she? After all, Allison won the WPBA Nationals just five months ago, beating Kelly Fisher in the semis and Ga Young Kim in the final, so she can still give these ladies a thumping.

I think it’s too early to say whether Allison can mass produce titles the way she always has, but I’m betting against, simply because it’s no longer a two–horse race in women’s pro pool, as it was from 2001-2005. The level of play on the WPBA is phenomenal right now, and each event is looking like at least a six horse race.

Incidentally, I do not believe that the change in format, which I certainly do not like, has had much to do with the change in the balance of power. It’s a simple as this: Xiaoting Pan, Ga Young Kim, Kelly Fisher and Jasmin Ouschan are playing well enough to win, and I believe they would be winning titles no matter what the format.

All this speculation is getting me even more revved up for Vegas in 2 weeks. I can’t wait to watch these great champions perform, but let’s not lose sight of the fact that Allison, with over 50 WPBA titles, is the greatest champion of them all, and we should all delight in it when she wins her next one.

Jasmin has a title doesnt she? Didnt she beat Allison in the finals recently?

Southpaw

 

[sjm]

Jasmin has a title doesnt she? Didnt she beat Allison in the finals recently?

Southpaw

No, that was in May 2006 at the BCA Pro Event in Las Vegas, called the Enjoypool.com Open. Of course, that event was televised very recently, so maybe that's what is throwing you.

 

[Jude Rosenstock]

Let me just start off by saying I don't think such a thread like this is fair. Has Allison Fisher peaked? Um, world dominance isn't enough? I think it would be a little more fair to ask if the rest of the field has caught up and the answer to that is no. Fisher/Corr are still the favorites in every event and to suggest otherwise would be foolish. The WPBA is doing a number of things different (single elim rounds, shorter races) that are obv going to hurt the Corr/Fisher duo. I mean, c'mon. If someone said, "Let's travel around the country and play races to 7, single elim, alternating breaks," I would politely tell them they were insane.

 

[Barbara]

I would like to think that these "young whipper-snappers" are coming into the WPBA with both barrels loaded and unsettling the old guns. Hey, they're young and fearless and have time on their side. I can only guess that Allison and Karen are regrouping for a forward march.

I also think that the new WPBA format is wrong. Double elim is double elim. At least give the undefeated players an advantage and go to a "modified" race to nine in these final matches. That is, if the player from the right side of the chart playing a player drawn from the left side reaches seven games first, the match is over. If the player from the left side of the chart reaches 7 games first, they must play out to 9. Then, if there are two players from the right side of the chart playing each other, they play to 7. Two players from the left side playing each other must play to 9. Finals should be a race to 9.

Barbara

To consider the matter of whether Allison Fisher, the greatest woman’s nine ball player ever by far, has fallen off the pedestal which she has occupied for a decade seems almost sacrilege, and yet, in the life of every great champion, there is a moment when their ability to compete at the highest level becomes diminished.

Surely, some will be inclined to conclude that Xiaoting Pan, Kelly Fisher, Ga Young Kim and Jasmin Ouschan, have already stolen the show in women’s pro pool. The 2007 results to this point would seem to support this conclusion. Through three events of the WPBA Schedule and the World Championships:

Xiaoting Pan: 4 events played, 2 titles, reached TV round in all 3 of 3 WPBA events played
Ga Young Kim: 4 events played, 1 title, reached TV round in 2 of 3 WPBA events played
Kelly Fisher: 4 events played, 1 title, reached TV round in 2 of three WPBA events played
Jasmin Ouschan: 2 events played, no titles, reached TV round in 1 of 1 WPBA events played

Allison Fisher: 4 events played, no titles, reached TV round in 1 of 3 WPBA events played

There can be no denying that evidence seems to be mounting that Allison has fallen off the pedestal. But has she? After all, Allison won the WPBA Nationals just five months ago, beating Kelly Fisher in the semis and Ga Young Kim in the final, so she can still give these ladies a thumping.

I think it’s too early to say whether Allison can mass produce titles the way she always has, but I’m betting against, simply because it’s no longer a two–horse race in women’s pro pool, as it was from 2001-2005. The level of play on the WPBA is phenomenal right now, and each event is looking like at least a six horse race.

Incidentally, I do not believe that the change in format, which I certainly do not like, has had much to do with the change in the balance of power. It’s a simple as this: Xiaoting Pan, Ga Young Kim, Kelly Fisher and Jasmin Ouschan are playing well enough to win, and I believe they would be winning titles no matter what the format.

All this speculation is getting me even more revved up for Vegas in 2 weeks. I can’t wait to watch these great champions perform, but let’s not lose sight of the fact that Allison, with over 50 WPBA titles, is the greatest champion of them all, and we should all delight in it when she wins her next one.

 

[ShootingArts]

mental game

I don't think that Allison's physical game has fallen off any. However, she seems to not have that rock solid confidence that she will win every match now, whether things are going her way at the moment or not.

She has been the leader of the pack for a lot of years and I think she still is, however she has shown vulnerability and I think that gives all challengers new heart.

She is no longer bulletproof and I think the entire pack knows it. Look for everyone to battle her with much more heart, even the people whom she has thrashed regularly in the past.

I feel she still holds the physical edge over her competitors. I no longer feel she has a substantial mental edge. That mental edge won many matches for her in the past so I think that the races are wide open now.

Allison has been a great and pretty much undisputed queen for a long time. Sad to see one so great becoming almost human but at the same time the battle for the throne will provide a super show for the rest of us.

Hu

 

[hardknox222]

I don't know whether or not Allison has peaked or not but I hope she makes another great effort to retain her dominance in the women's field. Maybe this is just the "push" she needs to make her try even harder. I remember a few years ago when Karen joined the women's tour and overtook Allison as the #1 player... there was a brief moment there when people thought Allison was over the hill too but she came back with a vengeance. Sure, there are a lot of great young players now but I wouldn't count Allison out just yet.

 

[mnorwood]

Let me just start off by saying I don't think such a thread like this is fair. Has Allison Fisher peaked? Um, world dominance isn't enough? I think it would be a little more fair to ask if the rest of the field has caught up and the answer to that is no. Fisher/Corr are still the favorites in every event and to suggest otherwise would be foolish. The WPBA is doing a number of things different (single elim rounds, shorter races) that are obv going to hurt the Corr/Fisher duo. I mean, c'mon. If someone said, "Let's travel around the country and play races to 7, single elim, alternating breaks," I would politely tell them they were insane.

Jude I am in total agreement with your viewpoint.

Occassionally tiger woods looses a tournament and every time that happens the press starts saying that tiger is going down hill. Tiger always comes back. Allison will be fine. I wouldn't bet any vcash against allison unless the other player was given some games on the wire. Its hard to dominate any sport.