I appreciate all the replies. Thank you to everyone for the advice. When I get home tonight I will give this drill a shot and post back with how it goes.
How bad are the people in your league?
- Thread starter Break and One
- Start date
I appreciate all the replies. Thank you to everyone for the advice. When I get home tonight I will give this drill a shot and post back with how it goes.
ctyhntr's link is the right place to go. I visit Dr. Dave's site quite a bit.
This ranking list is pulled from his site.
total score
for 10 racks.......Rating
0-16.....1
17-28....2
29-38....3
39-46....4
47-54....5
55-62....6
63-70....7
71-78....8
79-88....9
89-100....10
It also helps to keep track of the type of shots you miss the most often.
Hey once again thank you everyone for the responses and encouraging words. I was able to take the test and see how I would do.
I played on an 8 foot american heritage table, not sure of pocket sizes but I would guess they are oversized. I played 2 sets of 10. Followed all rules and also no slop.
---------- Set 1 Set 2
Game 1 -- 5 -- 3
Game 2 -- 7 -- 6
Game 3 -- 4 -- 1
Game 4 -- 5 -- 2
Game 5 -- 7 -- 8
Game 6 -- 4 -- 3
Game 7 -- 6 -- 7
Game 8 -- 1 -- 7
Game 9 -- 5 -- 3
Game 10 - 3 -- 2
Totals ----- 47 -- 42
I played on an 8 foot american heritage table, not sure of pocket sizes but I would guess they are oversized. I played 2 sets of 10. Followed all rules and also no slop.
---------- Set 1 Set 2
Game 1 -- 5 -- 3
Game 2 -- 7 -- 6
Game 3 -- 4 -- 1
Game 4 -- 5 -- 2
Game 5 -- 7 -- 8
Game 6 -- 4 -- 3
Game 7 -- 6 -- 7
Game 8 -- 1 -- 7
Game 9 -- 5 -- 3
Game 10 - 3 -- 2
Totals ----- 47 -- 42
That's great!
You would definitely have fun in a league!
Remember those numbers, in a year, take it again and see how much you have improved.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I was just thinking about this tonight while watching my sister's APA team. I try to keep a level-head about things, and maintain a perspective; in this case, it's "We've all started out here!" but it's a tough one to maintain here.
In this league, the players are all roughly 1 skill level higher than they actually are. The 6s are actual 5s, etc. and tonight alone I've seen:
2-3s complaining about "how did that not go in"
2-3s complaining about "how do I not have a shot at the next ball?"
6-7s playing horrible 9-ball patterns, obviously not seeing a few balls ahead.
Stuff like that.
Ordinarily, this stuff doesn't bother me. But, just 2 years and 3-4 moths ago I picked up a pool cue and got serious about improving - at that time, all of these players had been playing for a few years. In 2 years time I've improved far beyond them and it's both exciting and depressing stepping into a room knowing you're the best player in there.
All in all, I'm upset that many of these players want to improve but don't want to put the time in to improving. Many of them know far more than they think they do (a lesson I had drilled into me, I thank the person who instilled this in me) and it's hard to be around.
It really drives home the fact that a small minority of people are actively looking to improve - I, at 20-21, cannot find people who are focused on improving and it's a pretty lonely feeling.
Yeah, the leagues by me are not that great. There is too much black and white of players who simply play, and players who are monsters and can't be caught by many of the other players. I'm one of, and probably, THE only person actively crossing the gray in-between to become a monster myself.
In this league, the players are all roughly 1 skill level higher than they actually are. The 6s are actual 5s, etc. and tonight alone I've seen:
2-3s complaining about "how did that not go in"
2-3s complaining about "how do I not have a shot at the next ball?"
6-7s playing horrible 9-ball patterns, obviously not seeing a few balls ahead.
Stuff like that.
Ordinarily, this stuff doesn't bother me. But, just 2 years and 3-4 moths ago I picked up a pool cue and got serious about improving - at that time, all of these players had been playing for a few years. In 2 years time I've improved far beyond them and it's both exciting and depressing stepping into a room knowing you're the best player in there.
All in all, I'm upset that many of these players want to improve but don't want to put the time in to improving. Many of them know far more than they think they do (a lesson I had drilled into me, I thank the person who instilled this in me) and it's hard to be around.
It really drives home the fact that a small minority of people are actively looking to improve - I, at 20-21, cannot find people who are focused on improving and it's a pretty lonely feeling.
Yeah, the leagues by me are not that great. There is too much black and white of players who simply play, and players who are monsters and can't be caught by many of the other players. I'm one of, and probably, THE only person actively crossing the gray in-between to become a monster myself.
It's one thing to come into league as an untalented players, it's a-whole-nother thing to not want to improve your ability to play or not be willing to improve upon your skill level.
I've had some players come onto a team, show up once a week late, kinda just play their match by hitting balls and that's good enough for them. I've also had players who come onto a team, ask for advice on how to improve, and then take the advice and ACTUALLY improve. If you see yourself as being the latter kind of player then you'd be welcomed on any team that shoots pool.
-Richard
I have a friend who had two strokes already, and he recently quit Team 8-ball, a beginner/intermediate level league. He was complaining about his teammates who only comes once a week, and ignore his coaching.
I pointed out that they're social/casual players who have no intention of getting better. Never the less, they are a financially important segment of the pool population to the league and poolhall. What they spend on drinks in one night is probably equal to what the A level spends on table time for the week.
In the end I told my friend to re-join Team 9-ball. His excuse was his stamina, players in Team 9-ball are too highly skilled and competitive.
I pointed out that they're social/casual players who have no intention of getting better. Never the less, they are a financially important segment of the pool population to the league and poolhall. What they spend on drinks in one night is probably equal to what the A level spends on table time for the week.
In the end I told my friend to re-join Team 9-ball. His excuse was his stamina, players in Team 9-ball are too highly skilled and competitive.
I don't disagree with anything you wrote. I dislike the social players who think they're better than they are; the same ones who complain about not getting better. My reason for this is purely selfish as well.
Because I'm always grinding to get better, and I'm always hungry to improve I prefer to be around players who are also getting better, and who are hungry to improve. Social players don't fit that bill for me.
In the end I see them as a necessary evil but I'm not happy about it.
Banks
Banned
There are plenty of serious players that could be described as above. Similarly, ive met tons of low apa players with lots of hunger, but a bad digestive system. :embarrassed2:
I just like watching good play and people enjoying the game. The two don't always happen at the same time.
Unfortunately, I've also met strong players who hold themselves back by having an over inflated idea of themselves. It's usually broken over time, or that player stalls out and plateaus.
I also think I prefer to watch better players because I want to compare what they do to what I would do and maybe I can learn something. I get nothing from watching 4s and 5s play anymore.
Banks
Banned
I like watching both, sometimes for different reasons. The lower players can do some interesting things, while the better players can do some expected things.
I just like to knock the balks around.
you could learn how playing bad position keeps you from running out :thumbup:
Hey everyone I appreciate all of your replies. I have a new question for you.
Does anyone know anything about the NAPA league?
A lot of you commented on how some league are much more competitive than others and some being more social So just seeing where this ranked. I couldn't find much information on this league in the forums except for some older threads.
As always appreciate any advice.
Does anyone know anything about the NAPA league?
A lot of you commented on how some league are much more competitive than others and some being more social So just seeing where this ranked. I couldn't find much information on this league in the forums except for some older threads.
As always appreciate any advice.
I played Napa for 2 years before it folded in my area.
I cannot say any thing negative about it other than I am not crazy about the no limit team handicap .
I am not sure what you mean about more competitive. If you mean playing against higher level players...yes there were some pretty sporty players in that league but the majority of players were also apa players who were playing both leagues at the same time.....including me.
The rules favor higher level players more than apa does also so I guess you can cal it a league geared more towards the serious player.
What's ironic is people complain about the sandbagging that is supposedly prevalent and exclusive to spa also goes on in this league.....according to a few posters on here who had attended nationals.
I will have to admit I met some darn strong players in my class at nationals. I guess its all a matter of perspective . I blew away some opponents and barely beat a few and my losses went hill hill.
I'm sure the ones I blew away thought I was a sandbagger but then again I have been accused of being a sandbagger in apa several times.
The latest accusation happened just this past weekend at cities. My team mate over heard my opponent complaining to his team mates about my handicap.
This happens to be the craziest accusation yet. Get this. We are both 5's. I win by 2 points. Wtf ? He is the same level as mw and loses by 2 points and complains about my handicap ?
I think most accusations of sandbagging comes fro. Sore losers who can not admit defeat at their own hands. They always blame the other person or equipment or environment....etc.
Got side tracked :embarrassed2: But yea Napa is a great league . Just don't expect all the players to be perfect gentleman and the greatest players you ever faced.
Those qualities belong exclusively to bcapl members....well according to people who post on here. Sorry guys...i just could not resist that jab. :grin-square:
Hey once again thanks for all the help and just wanted to give an update. I joined my local NAPA league. Played my first match last night.
Did it get your heart racing?
Did you feel like you didn't play to your potential because you felt nervous in the match?
Did you win?
If you felt nervous, don't worry about. Many good players who join a league for the first time struggle at the beginning. I know I did many years ago. You'll become more accustomed to the "pressure". And, believe it or not, that pressure only comes from within us, when you realize that, you can handle it better, and hence "Shoot your game"!
It did get my heart racing but that's probably because I embarrassed myself pretty good in the first minute of the match.
I met my opponent and he says we have to lag for the break which I am familiar with. I got to the table and at this point I am pretty nervous. None of my teammates came over to my game and my opponent and all of his teammates plus the league operator are watching my game. So we shoot the lag. I hit it perfectly straight but with a decent amount of right English so the ball comes back and hits my opponents ball. My opponents asks his team mates and league operator what do we do in that situation. The LO was a nice guy and you could tell he didn't want to laugh at my but he was ready to giggle. He stated that has never happened before. I told my opponent we could play it however he wants, if he wanted to break or wanted me to l, it was my mistake.
At this point my nerves were shot. I lost the first game pretty quickly. We were playing a race to 4. At the first game I got my bearings and we both ended up at 3-3. I ended up losing but it was a close game. I had a chance to win it. On the final game he missed a shot on the 8 and I had one ball left. I ended up rattling it in the pocket but leaving great position on the 8. So I lost. But it was a great experience. Even with the loss I was happy because my final shot was almost spot on and I left myself with good position( cue ball control is was I am really trying to work on).
In the end I only have one complaint and I bet a lot of people have the same complaint. I wanted to play more.
I met my opponent and he says we have to lag for the break which I am familiar with. I got to the table and at this point I am pretty nervous. None of my teammates came over to my game and my opponent and all of his teammates plus the league operator are watching my game. So we shoot the lag. I hit it perfectly straight but with a decent amount of right English so the ball comes back and hits my opponents ball. My opponents asks his team mates and league operator what do we do in that situation. The LO was a nice guy and you could tell he didn't want to laugh at my but he was ready to giggle. He stated that has never happened before. I told my opponent we could play it however he wants, if he wanted to break or wanted me to l, it was my mistake.
At this point my nerves were shot. I lost the first game pretty quickly. We were playing a race to 4. At the first game I got my bearings and we both ended up at 3-3. I ended up losing but it was a close game. I had a chance to win it. On the final game he missed a shot on the 8 and I had one ball left. I ended up rattling it in the pocket but leaving great position on the 8. So I lost. But it was a great experience. Even with the loss I was happy because my final shot was almost spot on and I left myself with good position( cue ball control is was I am really trying to work on).
In the end I only have one complaint and I bet a lot of people have the same complaint. I wanted to play more.