I'm a 19-year-old from just outside of the DC-metro area. I gamble sometimes, but never for over $100 a set 9-ball or $50-per-game one pocket. I consider myself to have a lot of heart, and I will gamble with just about anyone except for road warriors or people who are ridiculously shady. The table I usually practice on is a double-shimmed Gold Crown III at Hagerstown Billiards in Maryland, and if I bear down and seriously try to run out in 9-ball, I can run out a rack or more from the break, and from other positions, including difficult ones, I can run out and break and go decently far (like to the 7) before I make a mistake. On that double-shimmed table, the best I have done is break and run three racks in a row in 9-ball, and I have ran 9 and out (I owed a ball) twice in one pocket with the stack intact. I practice almost daily and match up regularly, but I have only been playing seriously for just over a year. I consider myself to understand positional play very well, and can bank and cut balls from "almost" anywhere. I have had no formal training except for the occaisonal late night one pocket games and minimal instruction that occurs during these games with an older man (who is VERY knowledgable) who works behind the counter. We do not gamble during these sessions. I am not trying to brag, but I would appreciate an honest opinion about my level of play, where I am at now, and what I could become.
How am I doing?
- Thread starter MaskedMan
- Start date
MaskedMan said:
There is no mention of the quality of your defense and moves game. It always bothers me when people try to make or ask for an an assessment of their game without weighing in evidence their proficiency in these areas.
Still, these points aside, sounds like your game is developing well. I wish you continued success.
I am 21 and have been playing for about 3 years. Sounds like you are progressing well.. You must have alot of heart if you have gotten this good in only a year. What kind of stuff do you practice?MaskedMan said:
T
Timberly
Guest
Have you played in any of the Tiger Planet Pool events? They have a wide variety of players...many different levels of play are represented in their tournaments and could be a great way for you to really size up your game.
Sorry about that. My defensive skills are also progressing well. If the percentages of make or miss are 50/50, I will lock up instead of fire away. Most of the time, my leaves can be kicked or jumped at, but not easily. I sometimes have difficulty in creating a lock up like "Alcatraz", in 9-ball, but in one pocket, from what I have personally seen from others playing and my rare, small lessons, I can lock up pretty damn well. Other than that, I DESPISE using a jump cue, but I've been told that sometimes I "kick like a mule."
I don't want to sound harsh, and hear me out to the end, but I think that asking a bunch of strangers about the quality of your game, without seeing or knowing anything about you is next to worthless.
Worse yet, you do nothing to detail your own personal goals.
Do you have skills? Well, if you are half the player you describe yourself as, I would get smoked if we played a few games. That means you sound like a strong player, but that's just my opinion.
My point is that I don't think anybody, be it a top pro, instructor, or anybody else is qualified to tell you what level your game should be at. Only you can do that for yourself.
Worse yet, you do nothing to detail your own personal goals.
Do you have skills? Well, if you are half the player you describe yourself as, I would get smoked if we played a few games. That means you sound like a strong player, but that's just my opinion.
My point is that I don't think anybody, be it a top pro, instructor, or anybody else is qualified to tell you what level your game should be at. Only you can do that for yourself.
Gregg, I can see your point, but I'm asking these people what they consider me to be since I don't know because I don't shoot leagues and haven't played in a tournament yet. I ask these people because as posters on a pool and billiards forum, they should have at least some interest in the game, and would be able to at least give me some idea of where I am. I started this thread because where I play, the equipment is awesome, but there are very few great players there to give me a correct evaluation. To answer your question about goals, I know where I want to get in pool, and I do not care about being a champion. All I care about is becoming a road warrior and doing it old school.
Like the others say, there's no way to really tell just how good or not so good you are simply based on your descriptions. If you're really interested in finding out where you stand, I would suggest to just sit tight, because anouncing where you play, and the fact that you appear fairly confident of your game, I would imagine a couple of folks will be paying you some visits in the near future. If they come, play 'em all. Even the shady road players you mentioned. You need to find out how you stack up against some of the better players, so play who ever comes your way, and play in tournaments. Then you'll have a really good idea of how you stand currently, and what you might need to work on in order to improve.
Sounds like you're off to a good start, and I admire your youth and desire. But instead of asking people you don't know via a forum, you should go out and find out on your own by seeing who you can and can't play with.
Good luck,
dave
Sounds like you're off to a good start, and I admire your youth and desire. But instead of asking people you don't know via a forum, you should go out and find out on your own by seeing who you can and can't play with.
Good luck,
dave
I guess that I will be the ass.
You are not asking for information, your fishing for compliments.
Your saying that you can string racks together. Play safe well. Great position. So how do I play?
I think you described your game as Efren would is asked. Except he would have a higher run.
I also know people who play in APA as a 5 who like to think they have the same description.
Your fishing. What bothers me is that you didn't tell what your weaknesses are. If you don't have none. Well, then why are you asking how you play?
You are not asking for information, your fishing for compliments.
Your saying that you can string racks together. Play safe well. Great position. So how do I play?
I think you described your game as Efren would is asked. Except he would have a higher run.
I also know people who play in APA as a 5 who like to think they have the same description.
Your fishing. What bothers me is that you didn't tell what your weaknesses are. If you don't have none. Well, then why are you asking how you play?
One night while on the road, I checked out where you play, came in and asked about the rates, got my cue and asked if there were any tight pocketed tables. Fellow behind the counter said no, they are all the same, and sent me to a table quite a distance away from the counter. Shortly after I'd spread the balls on the table, someone appeared and told me there was a table with tight pockets up front, but that there would be leagues that evening and I might have to give the table up, but that if I wanted to take it for the time being that I was welcome to. That must be the table you're referring to. Well, I shot around for about half an hour and this fellow comes over and asks if I'd like to shoot some 9 ball, sure says I, and quickly added that I don't gamble. No problem. Then this fellow, who shall remain nameless but no doubt you know who I'm talking about, proceeded to run out from all over. One of the shots he took, a long oblique, cut into the distant corner pocket, he just zinged into the pocket like it was nothing. I was seriously outclassed, which isn't hard to do at all, but what he did on the table was great. He sure wasn't holding back at all. You know who I'm talking about, ask him about your game...
Flex
Flex
T
Timberly
Guest
I'm sorry to hear that.MaskedMan said:
Timberly said:
Why?.....if that's what he wants to do......he should do it.
Where would we be if Lassiter, Ronnie Allen, Efren, Parica, Grady, DiLiberto, Bugs, Fats, Sigel, Rempe, Varner, McCready and all the other greats never "hit the road"?
We all can't fit into someone else's mold of what should be.......
Gerry
Flex said:
The Geeeenie MAn?!? Yah- a solid player for sure. He will tell you how well you are playing.
That front table, btw, plays reall soft. The pockets are small, but forgiving.
And, that said, I wish I had played as good as you after such a short time, but, if yoiu think about it, it really is a silly thing to know how to do (pool).
Crap! I wanna say one more thing- to be successful ($) at pool, you don't need to play well, you just need to match up well.
And, about that one more thing!- Timberly is right. Play a couple of Planet Pool events.
Very good point daveTokyo-dave said:
skills
OK, Your pool skills are plenty adequate now to be an "old school" road player! How are your hustling skills, lying, cheating, conning? How about your survival skills? Using whatever weapon at hand or item that can be used as a weapon? Guns, knives, clubs? Do you have what it takes to fight for your life against bad odds when you can't run? Keeping an avenue of escape open over 90% of the time is a skill an "old school" road player needs too. How are you at talking your way out of fights or an arrest? How about hauling ass ASAP when the poop hits the fan? Do you have a fast car and a partner available?
Pool skills are a very small part of the skills an old school road player needed to survive. Being a super salesman and getting along well with people could be added to the other things I mentioned too as well as being able to hold your alcohol well.
Hu
OK, Your pool skills are plenty adequate now to be an "old school" road player! How are your hustling skills, lying, cheating, conning? How about your survival skills? Using whatever weapon at hand or item that can be used as a weapon? Guns, knives, clubs? Do you have what it takes to fight for your life against bad odds when you can't run? Keeping an avenue of escape open over 90% of the time is a skill an "old school" road player needs too. How are you at talking your way out of fights or an arrest? How about hauling ass ASAP when the poop hits the fan? Do you have a fast car and a partner available?
Pool skills are a very small part of the skills an old school road player needed to survive. Being a super salesman and getting along well with people could be added to the other things I mentioned too as well as being able to hold your alcohol well.
Hu
MaskedMan said:
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Timberly
Guest
I have no mold that I think anyone should fit into. I simply said that I'm sorry to hear thats the path he has chosen. It's a rough life. I've got a couple of friends that did this... I'm saddend when I see them today....remembering how they were when we were teens and seeing what has become of them now.Gerry said:
I didn't & won't try to talk him out of it. All I said is that I'm sorry to hear it.
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different world now
Gerry,
There are different avenues to pool greatness now and how many dead or broken "could have been great pool players" are out there for every Lassiter, Fats, and the other "greats" that have hit the road? As I pointed out in my post there are a hell of a lot of things needed to be an old school road player besides shooting skills. I didn't even mention luck or brains and they are needed much more off the pool table than on.
Hu
Gerry,
There are different avenues to pool greatness now and how many dead or broken "could have been great pool players" are out there for every Lassiter, Fats, and the other "greats" that have hit the road? As I pointed out in my post there are a hell of a lot of things needed to be an old school road player besides shooting skills. I didn't even mention luck or brains and they are needed much more off the pool table than on.
Hu
Gerry said: