How important are milestones in your game?

Flex

Flex

Banger
Silver Member
Besides guaging one's game by seeing how one fares against a much superior player, and improves over time against that player, what milestones are important to your game?

Some time ago I broke and ran my first rack of 9 ball. What a great feeling. I'll never forget it.

Another one was besting a much better 9 ball player in a straight up race to 7 on a very tight pocketed and unforgiving table.

Last night, while playing one pocket with a fellow who blew me away a few years ago, he started complaining that I was getting all the rolls. Surprise, surprise, there's a reason for that. At one point he said he was getting so frustrated that it would be our last game. I lightened up a bit, and shot a few fliers that didn't work out and he got some shots, ran some balls, and eventually he won that game. One more? Ok...

That next game would become a major milestone for me. He broke the balls well, they spread out normally, but he shot a bit too hard, and the cue ball came way back up table. There was a shot on one ball that was medium in difficulty. Taking a chance, I shot it, and drilled it into the heart of my pocket, the cue ball drifting forward about two feet for shape on another shot. In the end, I ran all 8 balls in that one inning, with no bank shots. I was elated, and he probably thinks I was hiding my speed all along, until the end. He got upset and ended up leaving, forgetting his cap and jacket, which he came back for half an hour later. Wow.

What are some of your milestones?

Flex
 
My first break and run during league night, beating players that I used to look up to is a good feeling

basically any kind of accolades from my peers, who I know understand the game, and can accurately access my level of play
 
Flex said:
What are some of your milestones?

Flex
Click to expand...

FlexibleOne,
I enjoyed hearing about your milestone.

As one who has never met any of his long term goals, my "milestone" may seem insignificant; but it was the high point of my pool career so far (playing 4 1/2 years).

For the past 2 years I have had a fairly regular weekly game of straight pool with a top professional player, super-tight Diamond, now with IPT cloth. I receive 80 balls in a game to 150; and had NEVER won until 2 weeks ago. On 2 occasions in the past I got to 149 and STILL LOST.

Two weeks ago, our game started; the pro missed a few balls early, and I was able to win 150-105; playing the best pool of my life. It doesn't sound like much of an achievement; but I can guarantee you it was a thrill to do it with an expert player watching. I was soundly thumped in the next game (we usually play multiple games per session), but the smile stayed plastered on my face for several days (oh, hell, it's still there).
 
Last edited:
i had one just this past sunday night. Walked into my local room and saw a guy i hadnt seen in some time. Hes considered probably the 2nd best player in our area, superstrong barbox player (family has a bar and he grew up playing on them, and he just went to the big tourney in vegas this past year with his team). So anyway the last time i played this guy was sometime last year, before Id gone to pool school and he got me pretty good........seems like he ran over me even then gave me a spot and ran over me again.
So he sees me and hasnt seen me shoot since last year...offers me the called 8 and the breaks and I jump on it, if nothing else to just gauge how my game has grown. We get 4 sets in.......he wins 5-4 5-4.....i win 5-4 5-3. I have to say im pretty stoked........the called 8 really isnt that much of a spot........I think one time i combo'd it but the rest of the times i had to shoot it in sequence. My defense and my ability to control the table and keep him off balance was really what kept me winning, although I wasnt missing much either.:cool:
 
Although

I have other milestones, for some reason, I always remember this one that i consider something of a milestone. I was a teenager working highway construction during off months from school, and playing other cities and towns while 'on the road'. I was doing okay, nothing 4 figure or above, but okay, and I had 3 guys about 40 that would back me plus be my bodyguards.

We went to Liberal, Ks., found out where the hottest Pool place was in town, which was a bar with some tables in it, and I played in a challenge game, and held the table for awhile. We asked around about action, told them we would play $20 a game, and a couple of guys went and got 'the best player in town'. Well, I primed a couple of games with him, asked him to gamble, and he declined, but finally agreed to a $1 a game, which I considered sort of an insult considering he was suppose to be 'the man' in town. He also would not play 9 ball.

So I proceeded to beat him 25 straight games of 8 ball, not losing once.
Sweetest $25 I ever won.
 
Passing 50 at Straight Pool was a milestone for me from a personal achievement point of view (and it was even sweeter to do it again the following week). But I've learnt that stats for Straight Pool are not as important as learning the game, and making sure I keep learning what is the right shot in each situation, especially those little pieces of detail that are so important, but so easy to overlook. Then the numbers will flow from that. However, I admit to a failing when I asked Steve Lipsky (on the next table) if there was a 'trick shot' I could use to continue my run currently on 51, and Steve rightly scolded me!! "Tim, the run is OVER man!!!" :)

From an achievement point of view, getting to Vegas with my APA team was a target, and two years of hard work was rewarded when we qualified. Winning our local Open tournament for the last two years was definitely the most rewarding tournament I have won.

Going forward, I would love to qualify for the US Amateur next weekend at the third attempt. I was so close last year losing in the final qualification round. Unfortunately my 9-ball game is not where it should be at the moment so my chances are definitely less than last year, but with a good draw and 100% focus, anything is possible.
 
Williebetmore said:
For the past 2 years I have had a fairly regular weekly game of straight pool with a top professional player, super-tight Diamond, now with IPT cloth. I receive 80 balls in a game to 150; and had NEVER won until 2 weeks ago. On 2 occasions in the past I got to 149 and STILL LOST.

Two weeks ago, our game started; the pro missed a few balls early, and I was able to win 150-105; playing the best pool of my life. It doesn't sound like much of an achievement; but I can guarantee you it was a thrill to do it with an expert player watching. I was soundly thumped in the next game (we usually play multiple games per session), but the smile stayed plastered on my face for several days (oh, hell, it's still there).
Click to expand...

Doc,

Great story! And very significant, too!

I've a question about the IPT cloth. Doesn't it make running balls in straight pool easier than on fast Simonis? Do you think it helped you in your recent run?

As for that smile on your face, I've got one too. But that fellow last night left with a scowl. Sheesh...

Flex
 
scottycoyote said:
i had one just this past sunday night. Walked into my local room and saw a guy i hadnt seen in some time. Hes considered probably the 2nd best player in our area, superstrong barbox player (family has a bar and he grew up playing on them, and he just went to the big tourney in vegas this past year with his team). So anyway the last time i played this guy was sometime last year, before Id gone to pool school and he got me pretty good........seems like he ran over me even then gave me a spot and ran over me again.
So he sees me and hasnt seen me shoot since last year...offers me the called 8 and the breaks and I jump on it, if nothing else to just gauge how my game has grown. We get 4 sets in.......he wins 5-4 5-4.....i win 5-4 5-3. I have to say im pretty stoked........the called 8 really isnt that much of a spot........I think one time i combo'd it but the rest of the times i had to shoot it in sequence. My defense and my ability to control the table and keep him off balance was really what kept me winning, although I wasnt missing much either.:cool:
Click to expand...

Great story, especially the part about keeping him off balance. Sometimes, just the smallest advantage, real or imagined, that goes through someone's head will adversely influence their game. Running a few balls never hurt either!
 
Snapshot9 said:
I have other milestones, for some reason, I always remember this one that i consider something of a milestone. I was a teenager working highway construction during off months from school, and playing other cities and towns while 'on the road'. I was doing okay, nothing 4 figure or above, but okay, and I had 3 guys about 40 that would back me plus be my bodyguards.

We went to Liberal, Ks., found out where the hottest Pool place was in town, which was a bar with some tables in it, and I played in a challenge game, and held the table for awhile. We asked around about action, told them we would play $20 a game, and a couple of guys went and got 'the best player in town'. Well, I primed a couple of games with him, asked him to gamble, and he declined, but finally agreed to a $1 a game, which I considered sort of an insult considering he was suppose to be 'the man' in town. He also would not play 9 ball.

So I proceeded to beat him 25 straight games of 8 ball, not losing once.
Sweetest $25 I ever won.
Click to expand...

Sounds to me that fellow you whupped figured out you were a ringer, and $1 a game was all he wanted to lose. Pretty awesome feat to win 25 straight!
 
hobokenapa said:
From an achievement point of view ( . . . ) Winning our local Open tournament for the last two years was definitely the most rewarding tournament I have won.
Click to expand...

I hear ya! And the players there aren't slouches either. Congrats!
 
Tim's not even being fair with you all... he's not telling you he had a totally closed rack of 14 balls, lol! He was asking for advice on how to continue the run from there!!

Tim, I can't believe you posted this and reminded me of this ugly incident in our past ;). I will try to forget it again :).

- Steve
 
I've had a few milestones...
The first being able to beat my mentor so to speak. When we first met, he would run racks left and right. He then started showing me different 8 ball strategies using safes. After about 2 years, I was finally able to beat him consistently and not just have him running out anymore.
Second, would have to be this past June. It was my 2nd time playing in the nationals (ACS) and was playing in the standard considering I had NEVER placed in the money. The trip started off bad with my and my dad, mom, and my g/f all missing our flight to Vegas. After being on standby at the airport all day long I thought I wouldn't make it to Vegas until the next day, therefore forfeiting my singles matches. I ended up buying another ticket (1-way) just to go out there. On the whole flight, I couldn't stop thinking about my grandfather who past away, but he was the one that started showing how to play pool. When I start play, I made it to the finals of the winners bracket and finally end up in 4th place. I know it's the standard division of the ACS, but I still overcame some pretty good shooting players. That has to be the biggest milestone for me.
 
Beating Keith McCready 2 weeks in a row at a weekly tournament many years ago. Races to five 9-ball on 9 footers. The look on his face was priceless. The boost to my mental game enormous. I consider those victories as my starting point on the long and never ending journey to pro-level. I still do not classify myself as being no where near that level yet, but feel the door getting closer to opening.
 
My milestones:

When I played in one of my first tournament I ran 2 racks in a row against one of the favourites. Lost the match, of course, but hey!

Another one was when I run 4 racks in a row in a local tournament, just to miss the 4 9 combination for the next one. The player missed the next shot, and I got that rack and 4 more in a row!!! With that 4 9 combination I would have got 9 B&R in a row! Not bad for a player who normally is happy with a run out now and then...

My last one was when I was playing another AZB, Pooladdict, on a tightpocket table just six months ago. He is a former Norwegian Champion, and we played race to 7 with no handicap. I won 7 - 5 with two B&R, and was so happy that I had to scream ;) First and only time I have won without handicap against him. He has by the way the record for most B&R in a row at the poolhall, with 7. Niels Feijen ended at 6 :)
 
I had only been playing somewhat seriously for less than a year and was still having problems controlling the cue ball. My opponent was a guy named Mike that was consistently in the top 3 players in out 60+ person league.

I win the coin flip and we shake hands, good luck, yada, yada. I asked him to be gentle and go easy on me, with a smile. I turned around and broke and starting running balls. Before I knew it, I was on the 8-ball and that's when it hit me. I was about to break and run!

After the 8 dropped, I went over to him to shake hands again and told him that was the first time I had ever B&R in league. He looks at me and says, "You popped your cherry? You need a cigarette?" I kinda stood there for a moment and everyone around us starting bursting out laughing.

Ever since then, I've been waiting for someone to B&R on me for their first time because I know exactly what I'm gonna say. A memorable milestone for sure.:)
 
I would have to say that the milestones that mean the most to me are when players I think are better than me acknowledge and respect the way I shoot. That is when I beat a player that use to beat me acknowledges how far I have come. I did not buy my first pool cue until I started playing in a local bar league. That was two years ago.
 
My greatest milestone that I care to discuss was running 3 consecutive 9 ball racks a few months ago. That same week I had run a 2-pack in practice. Some things just started to click.

Hell, it's never happened since, but I'm also not playing much lately because of other priorities. I hardly remember running my first rack because I guess with all the concentration, I forgot I had done it. It was only afterwards that the whole rack came back to my memory.
 
My milestones are kinda wierd. Although I am proud of my high runs, I don't feel like they mean anything in the end since I don't do them everyday. I am more concerned about averages, especially averages during off days.

For me I feel like I am getting better when I am able to accomplish more on my worst days. For instance noticing that even though I am not playing well and feeling uncomfortable at the table, I am still running out.
 
Flex said:
Doc,

I've a question about the IPT cloth. Doesn't it make running balls in straight pool easier than on fast Simonis? Do you think it helped you in your recent run?

Flex
Click to expand...

Flex,
I think that the IPT cloth is DEFINITELY NOT a help in 14.1. The cloth wears very unevenly, so that balls will wobble back and forth on slow rollers; and even worse, the cue will slowly roll up against an object ball, which starts to roll away as it should, and then rocks backwards and rests against the cue ball, or sideways into an unexpected place. It's goofy.

In addition, heavy inside English does not "take" as well so it is difficult to force the cue ball to take an unnatural reverse even with heavy inside (not that you want to be using it all that often, but sometimes you paint yourself into a corner).


To TheVeryThinInteger,
Have I mentioned the table was very tight???? Really.

Actually, in my defense, I mention it only because it is quite different than the usual Diamonds in town (which are fairly tight themselves). (it's also a better excuse than "I suck" which I might otherwise be forced to use)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top