How quickly can you gauge a player's speed?

David Marcus said:
Alright then, you get 20 minutes and I'll give you all the facts. The following is a scheduled, planned practice session where the player is working on a couple of aspects of his game. No stalling, just focused practice.The game is 9-Ball against yourself, no BIH, no safeties, you are playing to runout in as few innings as possible.

http://youtu.be/vNZILBHPYO4
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Couple of problems. Because there is no safety play, shots are being taken without regard to resulting positions. 'B' player pocketing, 'C' player stroke. As far as planned practice, 'D' player in that regard. I don't think any true 'B' player would end up hooked behind that 4.

DAVE_M said:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cgDrJcCQSBE

Judge away lol

I don't think watching someone play two games is enough to judge their speed.
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Specially two games of soft breaking 9-ball. On top of that you were lucky to even make a ball. 'B' player choice of routes, 'B' level stroke.

If either of these players are hiding something, they hid it well.
 
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jay helfert said:
That's about right if he isn't stalling. I just want to see his stroke and how he pockets a ball and moves the cue ball. You can find out a lot just by watching one good shot! :cool:

I was never afraid to gamble with a stranger when I was playing my best. I KNEW they had to show me something to beat me. It they tried stalling with me I would get ahead and refuse to raise the bet. That made a few guys mad because now they had to let it all out to get even...
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This (except the part about never being afraid to gamble with a stranger). ;)
 
David Marcus said:
Alright then, you get 20 minutes and I'll give you all the facts. The following is a scheduled, planned practice session where the player is working on a couple of aspects of his game. No stalling, just focused practice.The game is 9-Ball against yourself, no BIH, no safeties, you are playing to runout in as few innings as possible.

http://youtu.be/vNZILBHPYO4
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David, I watched two games. That was enough for me to see everything I wanted to see. I'm wondering if this is you shooting and are just looking for an evaluation of your own game.

Now this guy is probably a very nice guy and all that, but as a pool player he is only fair. He is what I call an average player. He has a grasp of the game and how to play 9-Ball, is a decent shot maker and understands proper position. But that's about as far as I will go with the accolades. His break is weak (he changed it from game one to game two), there is no power or fluidity in his stroke, he has no rhythm to his play and he hesitates a lot when getting ready to shoot, looking kind of herky jerky in the process.

He missed a couple of relatively easy shots and even got hooked on an easy position shot, kicked only fair (missing two kicks in two games), got out of line several times, shot the wrong shot (wrong pocket), and struggled to get out with open racks (and he didn't). I'm certain he couldn't run out a tough rack, and would probably get weak under pressure playing against a decent player.

Guys like this are the ones pool players look for. A good shortstop would chew him up and spit him out. In my rating system a B player is the same as a shortstop. This guy could not beat a B player! He is maybe a C+ at best. Again, probably a nice guy, and still a decent player, good enough to win in the local bar and against guys who can't really play that well. That's where I would rate him David.
 
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Yea.. This guy Has Got me.. Lol.
If he can beat me it will be worth his while.
 
Here we go again..."how would you rate this guy, what letter do you give this guy, yada yada yada"

If it's YOU in the video, just asks us what we think of your game. Cut the crap and all the false start up threads.
 
Charlie Hustle said:
Here we go again..."how would you rate this guy, what letter do you give this guy, yada yada yada"

If it's YOU in the video, just asks us what we think of your game. Cut the crap and all the false start up threads.
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Charlie he may even be an unheard of pro from another country. I think I'll make some speed judgement videos soon.
 
BeiberLvr said:
If they spin the rack in their hands before putting it below the table/above the light.

I can probably beat them :thumbup:
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If they twirl their Budweiser cue with the red flashing light in the butt like an airplane propeller..... if they have painted their ferrule bright orange....if their pool glove says Master Mechanic on it.....if they pull out their own red chalk.......if their girlfriend has one tooth, and dips snuff......I'd rather not play them.
 
Speed

Well how well they run balls never getting on the wrong side of the ball is major, and if they do how do they get back in line, but is only 75%.

One thing I think is key is how smart are they if see them shoot long bad shots then they are bad. If they play the game right and are smart enough to invent how to get out of situations. Then are pretty good.if they can shoot to then they are a top player.

I never go by practice, you never know if they are wailing away or what.

It also depends on the game one pocket player vs a 9 ball player I will take the one pocket player in the beginning because the 9 ball player won't know what to do, but eventually he will get smarter from losing and probably start to win.

It's honestly
Pocketing balls
Knowledge of the game
And speed control
 
Charlie Hustle said:
Allen, from your previous posts, me and you play about the same speed. Make your way down to Houston and lets play some! :)
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Sounds like it would be fun. If I ever do get down that way the tab for the weekend is on me. I'll have to swing by St. Louis on the way home.:thumbup:
 
David Marcus said:
I'm interested to know how much time is needed for any of you to approximate a player's speed ? Do you need to see him/her in a gambling situation? Can you judge it just as well in a tournament match? Is it possible to do it simply by observing a short practice session ? How much observation time do you need to make your initial determination in each scenario or is it impossible to do without additional information?
I'll be curious to hear your opinions, thanks
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In terms of can I beat the guy, pretty quick, no more then a few racks. I am not guessing at this, in like more the 40 years of playing people I was rarely wrong.
A few instances come to mind where I was wrong were Freddy the beard, Little Truman and The Gump. Steve really fooled me, he busted the whole room that were betting on me.
 
Hits 'em Hard said:
Specially two games of soft breaking 9-ball. On top of that you were lucky to even make a ball. 'B' player choice of routes, 'B' level stroke.

If either of these players are hiding something, they hid it well.
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That is exactly my point :thumbup:

That was at our weekly APA 9-ball match. Soft breaking and getting out of line in two games won't show anyone's speed. If I had never seen any pro play and I watched Rob Saez break and run a six pack and I watched Shane break and run a six pack, one would assume they both play the same speed, but it's not that simple.
 
David Marcus said:
I'm interested to know how much time is needed for any of you to approximate a player's speed ? Do you need to see him/her in a gambling situation?Of course. Can you judge it just as well in a tournament match?Nope Is it possible to do it simply by observing a short practice session ?Nope How much observation time do you need to make your initial determination in each scenario or is it impossible to do without additional information?
I'll be curious to hear your opinions, thanks
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Usually, by the time I'm stuck about $500 I know how he plays and if I can beat him:D.

Playing two-foul 9-ball I would need maybe 3-5 games to see his speed.

Playing 1Pocket I may need two games to determine.

Playing full-rack banks one game would do.

ONB
 
"I'm interested to know how much time is needed for any of you to approximate a player's speed ?"


-Radar gun is generally considered the best way to figure out a players speed..imo

:)
 
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