Help for Leagues!

[sixpack]

Okay, here's the situation.

I've been playing in a bar table league since September. I started out playing very well, but the last two months have been travel, work and some family emergencies that have kept me away. We're in the finals this week. We're playing a team with 5 champions, luckily we have 5 too -- except that I didn't play well last week because I'm rusty from the travel and everything. Normally I would say I'm the top shooter on our team and one or two guys on both teams are right there. I had one stretch where I won 19 games in a row. Including against the team we're playing this week. Now I don't feel so confident.

So, Tuesday night is the finals. Everything on the line. Everybody's a champion (pretty much)...and I don't want to be the one to blow it.

I know I'm rusty and I will probably be able to spend about 6 hours on the table between now and Tuesday. How would you spend that 6 hours to get your game back in shape. Mental? Pocketing? CB Control?

My game's not far out of shape, I rarely miss a ball, but my position play has been more challenging lately. And some longer shots have been jarring.

The finals are bar table, big cue ball.

Thank you!
RC

 

[TheBook]

Wish I could help but I am not a champion. The champions that I know don't ever get very rusty. A few hours at the table puts them right back into top form.

Good luck in the finals.

 

[Shortside K]

everybody's a champion...

Wish I could help but I am not a champion. The champions that I know don't ever get very rusty. A few hours at the table puts them right back into top form.

Good luck in the finals.

I agree...
Methinks something is amiss...
I have to think that if you were indeed a "champion" you wouldn't be asking your questions...

Good luck tho'

 

[sixpack]

Wish I could help but I am not a champion. The champions that I know don't ever get very rusty. A few hours at the table puts them right back into top form.

Good luck in the finals.

Yes, the whole question is what do they do for those few hours. I've never had much trouble getting back into form with a few hours, but the problem the last few months is I literally haven't even put in any hours other than competition. That's where the rust comes from.

Since no one else has posted, I'll share what I usually do:
1) I go back to a big table. To pocket balls on a big table, I need to be stroking right and aligning right. By shooting a few long straight shots and then a few long medium cut shots, I can tell if my alignment is wonky or not. Then I just pocket balls for an hour or two to get in stroke.

2) I spend an hour or so on the equipment we'll be using. In this case, we're playing on a bar table with a big cue ball. Not my usual equipment, so I'll try to head to the bar we're playing at and get a few games in just to get a feel for the ball, cloth etc. I've played thousands of matches on bar tables with big CB, so I don't need to over think it, I just need to get the feel and "remember" where whitey goes.

Today I went to a pool hall and shot some balls on a big table with fairly tight pockets. Jarred a few long shots, realized my head was too high, got down and started making everything again. Problem with the CB movement, not crisp enough so I spent a lot of time thinking through the angles and keeping in the path for position.

Practiced 8-ball patterns and ran out most, but had some problems getting the CB to travel far enough for position. Coming up short a lot. Then played some against the 9-ball ghost. Didn't win, but not terrible. Mostly need to take a touch more time making sure I make the shot and thinking out the runout better.

All in all, pretty good session for part 1. On Monday I'll go to the bar and get a few games in just to get dialed in.

Cheers,
RC

 

[BillyKoda]

It sounds like you need to work on the brain part of the game and not the physical part. I'll use golf as an example here, if I need to play a good round the next day, say for money or in competition, the night before I will play the course in my head. I picture all my shots and setups. This instills some confidence in me because I have already experienced it (in my brain). You can't see all the variables of the game but in your brain you have a sense of what to expect, I usually play a lot better when I do this. I would take some time and lay down somewhere and visualize your perfect game of pool. You will be surprised with the results when you actually play the game.

 

[sixpack]

I agree...
Methinks something is amiss...
I have to think that if you were indeed a "champion" you wouldn't be asking your questions...

Good luck tho'

Were you planning to offer anything helpful or just make vaguely insulting comments?

Just because someone plays at a high level doesn't mean they aren't trying to improve and learn what other folks do. One of the best players I know approached me after a tournament because they admired my break and wanted me to show them how I was doing it. This guy is a well-known champion and he was asking me. I was a B player at the time (C- player by the ranking system widely referenced on here B on the C-AAA ranking they use in Colorado).

By the way, what do you think the proper definition of a 'Champion' is. I think of it in terms of medieval knights. A champion was a ranking, meaning someone who had won several battles and contests and paid his dues to reach a certain stature. He was considered a champion. In pool terms, I view a champion as slightly below or equal to a shortstop. A "named champion" is someone whose name you would probably recognize like Melvin Sharpe, Tony Piazza or Tony Chohan. Although Tony C. is probably a little better than that. Then of course there's "Stone Champion" which is among best of all time, such as Buddy Hall, Efren, Earl, etc...

So when I say champion in the context I used it, I'm talking about one of the best in an area or on a league, but not necessarily a pro or even a shortstop. As for me, Since you're calling me out on it. I've won hundreds or maybe thousands of tournaments, I've won thousands of league matches and thousands of money matches. I've lost less than I've won, but I've lost a lot too. Under the right conditions I'll play almost anybody and compete with them. Winning sometimes when I'm not "supposed to." I've won open tournaments with active touring pros in them, both on the barbox and the big box. I've gambled and won with numerous shortstops, pros and named champions. So when I say both teams are full of champions, I include myself in the list, not as an ego thing, but as a description of my experience and ability because I'm looking for what other people of similar skill might do in the same situation. If that bothers you, I don't know what to tell you except that maybe there are better things for you to spend your time on.

I know I gave your post much more respect than it warranted and tried to offer an honest response to a sarcstic quip, but I hope it is taken in the spirit it is given, which is to further explain my post and give you a chance to further explain yours.

Cheers,
RC

Oh yeah, and I almost forgot - you got the 8-ball...FOR LIFE.

 

[sixpack]

It sounds like you need to work on the brain part of the game and not the physical part. I'll use golf as an example here, if I need to play a good round the next day, say for money or in competition, the night before I will play the course in my head. I picture all my shots and setups. This instills some confidence in me because I have already experienced it (in my brain). You can't see all the variables of the game but in your brain you have a sense of what to expect, I usually play a lot better when I do this. I would take some time and lay down somewhere and visualize your perfect game of pool. You will be surprised with the results when you actually play the game.

Billy,

Great suggestion. I play golf and read one time that Jack Nicklaus visualizes every shot from the beginning of the swing until it comes to rest before he plays it. I tried that a few times and had good results with it so I continue to use it in golf when I have the discipline.

With pool, I think it's an excellent tool as well. I'm going to spend some time today away from the table visualizing balls going in, the CB moving around to perfect position and the positive feelings of winning.

Thanks!
RC

 

[Pushout]

Hit the basics, because they are what gets "rusty" from not playing for a while. Start hitting balls at just pocket speed and work your way up to your regular speed, position play, etc.

 

[BillyKoda]

Let me know how it works sixpack? Mind over matter is a powerful tool.

 

[sixpack]

Hit the basics, because they are what gets "rusty" from not playing for a while. Start hitting balls at just pocket speed and work your way up to your regular speed, position play, etc.

Pushout,

Great post. This is usually exactly what I do. Just focus on making the shots first and then when I "see" right, then I start working up to full speed. Thanks for the post!

RC

 

[sixpack]

Let me know how it works sixpack? Mind over matter is a powerful tool.

Signed up for a golf tournament next weekend too - haven't played much the past two years as I recover from an injury, but the one time I played was (8 months ago - 9 holes) triple bogey - first hole, 6 pars in a row, then a double bogey, triple bogey finish LOL. I'll be using the mind over matter visualization for that too. Otherwise I won't play anywhere near my hcp. (7, but that's outdated because I haven't been playing)

I'll keep you posted on that as well.

Cheers,
RC

 

[sixpack]

The results:

Let me know how it works sixpack? Mind over matter is a powerful tool.

I spent 3 hours practicing, mostly just getting the feel back and then I spent a lot of time visualizing. My wife and I watched "the secret" last night. I thought it was going to be bunk, but it was amazingly close to the magic I've performed in the past and continue to perform. Sometimes it helps me and sometimes it hurts me.

Anyway, the visualization helped and tonight I won all four of my matches and never went over two innings. Two were one inning and two were two inning games. We won the league tournament and it was great, smiles all around.

On an aside, everyone plays at the level they see themselves at, never any higher, so if you want to play better, the first thing to change is your mind.

Also, people say a lot that they "wished" they played at such and such a level...the truth is, everybody plays at EXACTLY the level they want to. If they wanted to play at a higher level, they would.

Anyway, thanks to all for the helpful suggestions and thoughts.

RC

p.s. The first round of five had 3 1-inning games....two BRO and on runout from the opponent's break (that was me) hence the word "champions" to describe both teams. The entire night had similar statistics. Really a well played match.

 

[BillyKoda]

Good job sixpack, glad I could help. In my opinion the mental part of the game will make you or break you.

I was playing with a very good player last Firday night and I saw him miss a dozen shots he should have made in his sleep. After that many misses he threw his hands up and sat out the rest of the night. Later on I talked to him a little (we are pretty good friends) and found out he had some short term financial problems. It all made sense after that, his mind was elsewhere.

BK

 

[Snapshot9]

Well played

The entire night had similar statistics. Really a well played match.

Well played, well played is when you can go 16 innings and still win the game, getting leaves after missing takes talent .... LOL

(Sounded like a really good match, congrats on the win)

 

[Williebetmore]

I know I'm rusty and I will probably be able to spend about 6 hours on the table between now and Tuesday. How would you spend that 6 hours to get your game back in shape. Mental? Pocketing? CB Control?
Thank you!
RC

RC,
Good luck, make sure to report here.

I am no champion (well...we did win the city Master's division VNEA tournament; but that's no big deal ), but I do know one who rarely plays. When he is faced with a tournament after a long layoff, he will "get in stroke" by playing the 9-ball ghost until he is 5 ahead. Then the 10-ball ghost until he is 5-ahead. He does this until he beats the 12 or 13 ball ghost (on a super tight, 9-footer). This is just to get the stroke back. Remember that competition is not the same as practice (you don't shoot continuously in competition, there is sitting involved); so follow your stroke work with at least one short competitive money match; it is GREAT preparation for your tournament.

 

[rackmsuckr]

I think when you are in the game, try to alleviate pressure by not focusing on how important the match is to you. Instead, think of tighter patterns for the bar box as opposed to the 9 footer. Since it's your speed that is giving you problems, what I mean is make sure you are thinking it through as to which side of the ball you want to be on. Commit to that side, like missing on the pro side (if it's 9 ball) or if there's a chance of a miss, go pocket speed and block the hole.

I lost an easy game last Friday because I had broke and run down to where I was on the ball before the 8 dead on. All I had to do was draw straight back about 2 feet and put the 8 in the side. Because I didn't commit to staying low (I could have just drawn it a foot, but I was trying for a 2 and got 2 1/2), I overdrew it, making it impossible to cut it in the side. The 1 rail bank and the other cut shots were blocked by his balls. So were multiple rail banks and kicks. I couldn't even put it near a hole to block anything. I was dead. All he had to do was play safe (after I played safe) and eventually get BIH and run out. All because I rushed the shot, and didn't commit to staying on the low side of the ball.

If speed is your main concern, then just make sure you at least get on the correct side of the ball.

Let us know how it goes!

 

[sixpack]

Thanks for the suggestions guys! I like the progressive ghost thing Willee mentioned. I played the 9-ball ghost on a 9' for this match and it really forced me to dial my stroke in a little. I lost to the ghost, but it was pretty close so I felt good.

Linda, you're absolutely right, speed control is very important on the barbox and this match is played with a big CB, so even more so. I spent some time practicing that and also really taking time to make sure I was going to the 'big areas' for position and keeping my angles tight. Nothing is more frustrating on a barbox than bumping into balls you're trying to miss and having the CB stick to them.

Another update that I debated about bringing up...

Before the match, a seasoned player on my team, veteran of many gambling sessions and road trips, was playing a guy on their team. I jumped in to warm up and beat the other guy by running out after he missed his out from the break...

My teammate says "...is this the first time you've played Bucktooth?"

Suddenly it made sense. Name Richard, real good player, looks just like the pictures of Bucktooth posted on AZB... ...He's been playing on their team since their top player got switched to a night schedule. Here I was keeping my eyes open for the famous 'tooth and didn't even know I'd played him several times already My teammates told me he was a good player, but never once called him Bucktooth before. The player who asked me was a sub and didn't play the other weeks we played them, so he didn't know if I had been there or not.

Anyway, you guys (Linda and Willee) are a bit late. (though I appreciate the chance to give the update again ) I played great (4-0) as did most everyone else, especially on my team, and my teammate that followed me broke and ran the match game to win 11-7. Most games did not go over two innings, but we had a couple of safety battle.


All in all though, I spent 3 hours practicing, probably about 4 hours visualizing and remembering past matches when I played really good. It put me in a great spot mentally and I was able to come through. Only problem was twice I was running out from the break and hooked myself at the end. Once I kicked it in and the other time I played safe.

Other than that, I didn't miss a shot.