How to play the sharks when you're a guppy...

[12310bch]

9 ball, 9 ball, 9 ball, 9 ball ......... The reduction of a once wonderful game of pocket billiards is also known as 9 ball.

When a baseball player gets to the on deck circle he swings a weighted bat so that the actual bat will feel so much more effortless to swing.

Try playing straight pool, day after day. Run yourself some consistent 20s and 30s, who knows you may even fall into dead punch and get a few 50s and 60s.

Now your brain, your touch, your concentration and focus is being practiced and experienced the right way, and for a longer period of time. Now when you smash open that mickey mouse rack of nine ball, its gonna look a lot easier.

I play and enjoy virtually all Billiard games including 3C (except Snooker, which I feel akin to soccer) Some better than others. One of the unique
and enjoyable things about Billiards et al is the variety of games you can play.

You sound like a man who has lost too much money trying fitfully to run balls in rotation rather that being able to pocket any innocent ball which
may be near a pocket. Bitter , bitter. I'll play you straight pool. When you get up ready to run a hundred I'll go out for a cheeseburger and coffee. I'll leave you my cell # . You can call me when your done and I'll come back for my turn. That's how exciting that game is.

 

[nancewayne]

Playing with Sharks in a tournament

Most games lost are lost missing either the object ball or position on the object ball DURING THE LAST FEW BALLS on the table. TATE's advise is right on, practice running out the last 4 or 5 balls EVERYTIME...always conscious of where the money ball is so as to not miss and leave an easy out for your opponent. Good Luck!

The Swanson has all range of players in there, so nobody is saying that, believe me. I hate to see people feel bad when they lose, but we all do and if you're going to play in tournaments, don't give losing a second thought. Really. There are a lot of B players - I would say more than half the field are B players. And when you get knocked out of the tournament, stick around and watch the matches.

Let me just tell you the most difficult thing about playing in tournaments is being self-concious, or rather, trying not to be self-concious. I've watched really great players play bad and seen people who have tons of courage shake like a leaf.

I guarantee you if I am playing self-concious you will get my absolutely worst game. So, forget about it and go out there and just do your best.

As far as advice goes - here is my advice. Toss four or five or six balls out on the table and take ball in hand and try to get out every single time. After you do this five hundred to a thousand times, you will be really good at getting out on those four or five or six ball tables - and that's the bulk of winning in tournaments right there. Then when you see an open table you'll know what to do - it will become habit.

Chris

 

[GMAC]

I've been trying to find a way to approach this without sounding defeatist, or like I'm asking for a miracle, so I guess I'll just throw it out there.

First off, I love pool. I've been playing seriously for about 2 years, and I feel like I am making a pretty fair amount of progress. That being said, I'm well aware of my limitations and my standing in the hierarchy of ability. Mid-B level player, at best.

What I'm faced with is this. I finish my MBA program in December, and I've decided that I'm going to reward myself for all of the hard work that I have put into it by entering the Jay Swanson Memorial at Hard Times in February. Like Corey Harper I have been spotting the top players in the world 40(+) hours a week, two semesters (sometimes 3 when I was feeling especially masochistic and decided to take interterm courses) and a drinking problem that has ranged from mild to moderate (I don't have a wife. Maybe this could be why?). The difference is, I don't have any thoughts on making the cash. I just don't want to stick out as someone who doesn't belong on the same table as the great players that will be there.

My question to the forum dwellers is this: What would you recommend as being what I should work on in order to accomplish this? Safety play and ball pocketing are the strongest parts of my game, although I've never played on 4" pockets like the tournament room at Hard Times, so that could change. I kick ok, my patterns are ok, and cue ball control is probably my biggest weakness. I've been working on my break a little more, but it's still pretty inconsistent. I'll break and run maybe 1 out of 20 9 ball racks. That number goes up if we're only talking about breaks where I make a ball.

My constraints are that I am starting my last semester next week, and odds are pretty good that I will only be able to really practice one or two days a week until the end of the year. Starting in January, I will have significantly more time to practice (unless, god willing, I get a new job that I actually enjoy, then I might not have quite as much time), and will be able to go up to Hard Times a few times a week, but since the event is in February, that is not a whole lot of dedicated practice time.

All rambling aside, I'm really looking forward to this, and no matter what I intend to have a good time. If people run out a set on me, I'll have a story to tell, a heartfelt handshake for them and a smile on my face. I've won plenty of times, and lost plenty of times, so I'm not setting goals related to games won or how far I advance. This will be my baseline run in a truly open, unhandicapped event. At the next Swanee, or similar tourney, then I can worry about doing better than this time. This time is just for fun, to be able to say I did it, meet some new people, and play against the best that living in Southern California allows me to play against. I just don't want the people in the bleachers looking down and saying "What the heck is THAT guy doing down there? He should have saved the $80 and paid for lessons instead".Any advice that you can offer would be greatly appreciated.

Johnny

My best advice: F-ck the people in the crowd. Remember you aren't required to worry about other people's opinion of you. Good luck and congrats on the MBA.

 

[ridinda9]

I've been trying to find a way to approach this without sounding defeatist,
What I'm faced with is this.
a drinking problem that has ranged from mild to moderate

Johnny

took out all the superfluous words . This explains your shakes . The shakes will get worse when you quit . But they will stop. If drinking is effecting your game , it's got to go .
Don't blame it on not having a wife.
Blame not having a wife on it.
Sermon over. pool advice to follow under separate cover.

 

[ridinda9]

My question to the forum dwellers is this: What would you recommend as being what I should work on in order to accomplish this? Safety play and ball pocketing are the strongest parts of my game, although I've never played on 4" pockets like the tournament room at Hard Times, so that could change.

Johnny

like you , I don't have a 9' table with 4" pockets to practice on . My home table is an 8' , but I get most of my practice on 7' Valleys during slow times at the bar I work at .
They're a little pricey for a set of six (probably $150) but one of the best training aids I have is Practice Pro pocket reducers . Convert any table to tight pockets in two minutes . Shoot into them all day , and when they come out the pockets seem like the buckets that they truly are.

 

[Black-Balled]

.... This explains your shakes ...Don't blame it on not having a wife.
Blame not having a wife ... under separate cover.

Depends on what kind of shakes he got goin on!

But really, you can't really plan for what kind of experience you will have. Just go do the tourney and enjoy beating and being beaten.

Everybody's got a plan to follow until they get hit!

 

[justnum]

When I finished my BS I didn't have clear goals for myself. I just knew I had finished an undergraduate degree and had good reasoning and thinking skills, what I lacked was an ambition on how I would apply those skills to the world. During the BS I did attend the Derby and NJ 14.1 World.

My mindset changed after the BS because I felt the things I learned were just to pass a test. I decided to enroll for the MS and spent a great deal of time working with my peers and professors to understand what I can do better. Most of the time I spent thinking about the way I think about things and why I think a certain way.

The whole time I enjoyed shooting pool, but was trying to determine the ways pool can be helpful in my life. There was a time when I just wanted to win tournaments and defeat top players but that was short-lived.

If your going to be a guppy than remember guppies don't eat as well as sharks. The game guppies go after is less attractive and most likely stale.

As a hobby project I am programming a billiards simulation. It fills the time during unemployment periods and makes me think my time in school can help me accomplish something.

 

[JohnnyShakes]

like you , I don't have a 9' table with 4" pockets to practice on . My home table is an 8' , but I get most of my practice on 7' Valleys during slow times at the bar I work at .
They're a little pricey for a set of six (probably $150) but one of the best training aids I have is Practice Pro pocket reducers . Convert any table to tight pockets in two minutes . Shoot into them all day , and when they come out the pockets seem like the buckets that they truly are.

Ridinda9,

While I appreciate your thoughts on my drinking, and its effects on my motor skills, it is not the cause of my shakes. I have had mild shakes since well before I had ever taken a sip of alcohol. And I drink alcohol maybe twice a week on average. It's far from a problem for me, and nowhere near the level that will give me delirium tremens if I go an extended period without drinking. In fact, I just finished a week without drinking with no adverse effects. The drinking comment was made because I was trying to do a tongue in cheek remake of Corey Harper's signature. He says he spots the world 40 hours a week, two semesters a year, a wife, and he still cashes. I have the 40 hours a week, two semesters a year, but not the wife, so I replaced it with a drinking problem, and then inferred that the drinking problem was why I didn't have a wife. Patently untrue, of course, and a tad insensitive to those who really do have a problem, but that's how I roll sometimes.

Back to the pool related stuff. Where can I find these pocket reducing miracles? And what are they made out of? I ask because my table at home has facing that make the Olhausen rattle seem tame, so if I'm putting something in front of the facing to reduce the pocket opening, maybe it will stop the facing from causing the rattle of death, and I won't have to perform an exorcism on the evil pockets.

Johnny

 

[JohnnyShakes]

Your playing in it . end of discussion lol. If I can make a fool of myself so can you. So lets just have fun and gain the expierence.

You're gonna play in it, too? Kick a$$. Someone else taking their lumps. Looking forward to it.

Johnny

 

[BRKNRUN]

Honestly if you know you can not beat a Shark, why provide them with food? If you can play a "better player", and you don't have to give the contents of you wallet for the experience do it.

I play One Pocket with a gentleman a couple of afternoons a week, who plays better then me, he beats me a lot, and I do not care, and am not embarrassed.

Each time we play I learn from what he does, and how he does it. I have been know to drive across town to watch better players one on one. If you sit there you can learn, I say can, as you must want to learn, have an open mind before you can learn.

To your first comment....I cashed in the Swanee last year...and I qualify as a guppy in that tournament....and I went away from the tournament feeling like I could have done better than what I did....I let me last match get away from me.

To your second comment....you must care at least a little since you are paying attention and "learn from what he does"

 

[JohnnyShakes]

To your first comment....I cashed in the Swanee last year...and I qualify as a guppy in that tournament....and I went away from the tournament feeling like I could have done better than what I did....I let me last match get away from me.

To your second comment....you must care at least a little since you are paying attention and "learn from what he does"

Ken,

First off, congratulations on cashing. In response to the Cowboys question of why provide the sharks with food, you know, sharks gotta eat too. And this is what I meant originally by not wanting to sound defeatist. I never feel like I can't win. Just saying my odds in one rack against a top pro in a one game race might be 10%, and multiplying that over a 9 game race gives very little odds, but not small enough to be discouraged. People win the lottery with way smaller odds. The difference is, they don't learn how to improve their chances next time by playing the lotto like I will playing the Swanee. I'm really just soliciting advice on how best to try to improve my odds before February. And I've gotten some good advice for that. Who knows, maybe this guppy will grow some teeth by then and Polaris Breach some unsuspecting shark who is hanging out too close to the surface. Either way, I'm looking forward to learning and enjoying.

Johnny

 

[midstroke]

Pull up your skirt sally and jump in head first. Honestly 80 bucks to play with top players would be worth it IMO. I would get killed but if i could be there i would.

 

[BRKNRUN]

Ken,

First off, congratulations on cashing. In response to the Cowboys question of why provide the sharks with food, you know, sharks gotta eat too. And this is what I meant originally by not wanting to sound defeatist. I never feel like I can't win. Just saying my odds in one rack against a top pro in a one game race might be 10%, and multiplying that over a 9 game race gives very little odds, but not small enough to be discouraged. People win the lottery with way smaller odds. The difference is, they don't learn how to improve their chances next time by playing the lotto like I will playing the Swanee. I'm really just soliciting advice on how best to try to improve my odds before February. And I've gotten some good advice for that. Who knows, maybe this guppy will grow some teeth by then and Polaris Breach some unsuspecting shark who is hanging out too close to the surface. Either way, I'm looking forward to learning and enjoying.

Johnny

Well perhaps here is a couple tips that may help topple those so called "better" players....sometimes 1 game can make a difference in the whole match.

1 - No matter what anyone did in the past does not matter "in this match"...the same goes for you.

2 - No matter how good they are there is "nothing" legal they can do while you are in controle of the table.

3 - Feed off of the confidence of making a good shot.

4 - (this one is hard to do) - IF you miss....do not show ANY outward frustration...no slapping the chalk on the table....or nothing...walk back to your seat and remind yourself of #3

5 - NEVER play the "rack".... play each individual shot...1 shot/safe/kick etc. at a time....In otherwords....never assume or put your focus on that you are going to lose that rack...just because your opponent just put you in jail.......put your focus into looking for a hidden way out of your predicament..........ESPECIALLY against better players.

6 - Don't use any of these tips when you play me....:wink:

 

[Tbeaux]

Well perhaps here is a couple tips that may help topple those so called "better" players....sometimes 1 game can make a difference in the whole match.

1 - No matter what anyone did in the past does not matter "in this match"...the same goes for you.

2 - No matter how good they are there is "nothing" legal they can do while you are in controle of the table.

3 - Feed off of the confidence of making a good shot.

4 - (this one is hard to do) - IF you miss....do not show ANY outward frustration...no slapping the chalk on the table....or nothing...walk back to your seat and remind yourself of #3

5 - NEVER play the "rack".... play each individual shot...1 shot/safe/kick etc. at a time....In otherwords....never assume or put your focus on that you are going to lose that rack...just because your opponent just put you in jail.......put your focus into looking for a hidden way out of your predicament..........ESPECIALLY against better players.

6 - Don't use any of these tips when you play me....:wink:

Not sure about #5. He stated his strong point is safety play and big weak point is cueball control so maybe he should make sure to play two shots, the current shot and the next shot so he is concentrating on his strength and over coming his weakness.

 

[Neil]

..............

 

[BigDaddyInc.]

Work on your safety game. If you can keep a champ in jail you will have a shot at not goin down easy at least. Not sure how well you play but from what you said i woud'nt go for an out unless i was at least 95 percent sure i would get out. Otherwise keep some pressure on them by playin safe most champs will start to crack if you keep them hiddin behind something enough. Hope this helps.

 

[3andstop]

I'll play you straight pool. When you get up ready to run a hundred I'll go out for a cheeseburger and coffee. I'll leave you my cell # . You can call me when your done and I'll come back for my turn. That's how exciting that game is.

Fair enough, and then after that we can play a race to 9 in 9 ball. We'll get nine coins, you can choose heads or tails, we'll throw the coins up over the table, count the heads, and count the tails when they land, and that will be the final score of the game. It won't be time consuming at all like straight pool. :wink:

 

[BRKNRUN]

Not sure about #5. He stated his strong point is safety play and big weak point is cueball control so maybe he should make sure to play two shots, the current shot and the next shot so he is concentrating on his strength and over coming his weakness.

Huh???....I missed something....

I am not saying not to plan for the out...which standard 9-ball play is actually 3 balls at a time....The shot you are on...where you can get on the table on the next ball so that you will then have a easy pattern to the third...

Of course there is always the inital view of the entire rack to look for trouble balls, break out balls...key balls etc.

What I meant (and this also assists his weakness of CB controle) is not to abandon a rack (as a loss) if he does not run out a runnable rack...or finds himself in trouble.....

I think can happen to B level players is they fall into the trap of "feeling" like they are playing the ghost........saying to themselves...."If I don't get out here I will lose this rack for sure"....Then...if they shoot themselves a bit out of line they lose site of the next shot at hand and only see that they are not going to get out....they then take a "flyer" at the next off angle shot and thier fear comes true...they sell out......Yet...had they stayed in the moment of the next shot they might have seen a lock down safety play that would have kept them in controle of the table.

Hopefully that makes more sense...:smile:

 

[Tbeaux]

Huh???....I missed something....

I am not saying not to plan for the out...which standard 9-ball play is actually 3 balls at a time....The shot you are on...where you can get on the table on the next ball so that you will then have a easy pattern to the third...

Of course there is always the inital view of the entire rack to look for trouble balls, break out balls...key balls etc.

What I meant (and this also assists his weakness of CB controle) is not to abandon a rack (as a loss) if he does not run out a runnable rack...or finds himself in trouble.....

I think can happen to B level players is they fall into the trap of "feeling" like they are playing the ghost........saying to themselves...."If I don't get out here I will lose this rack for sure"....Then...if they shoot themselves a bit out of line they lose site of the next shot at hand and only see that they are not going to get out....they then take a "flyer" at the next off angle shot and thier fear comes true...they sell out......Yet...had they stayed in the moment of the next shot they might have seen a lock down safety play that would have kept them in controle of the table.

Hopefully that makes more sense...:smile:

Ok..my bad. I misunderstood. That does work. :smile:

 

[ShootingArts]

Neil's post brings up the most important thing

Neil's great post brings up the most important thing, nobody in the world can beat you while they are sitting down.

I don't really like the rolling three ball ahead concept, I learned to read patterns all the way through pocketing the money ball or a very strong safety when I first stepped to the table. Have a plan, execute the plan. Once I started shooting balls it was all one part of a continuing action unless I got out of line. Most innings involved no conscious thought at all.

As has been said over and over, go and play your game. No shame or embarrassment in being beaten by a better player on that day if that happens, it is embarrassing to come unraveled. I have had great days a couple of times and pushed somebody else to a career day, leaving me sucking hind tit. It happens. Much more fun, I have had some unexpected victories leaving most folks asking "who the hell is Hu?" Play your best game and let the chips fall where they may. You may be very pleasantly surprised.

Hu