Maybe it's just your area, but there is no way on average a 7 in the APA 8 ball is a C+ player, that would be maybe a 5 or 6 at most. You're probably a B- at worst.
How would you rate my speed based on this video?
- Thread starter nineballsafety8
- Start date
Maybe it's just your area, but there is no way on average a 7 in the APA 8 ball is a C+ player, that would be maybe a 5 or 6 at most. You're probably a B- at worst.
I agree. He'd be a strong 5 around these parts. Hope that is not an insult Jay, just means you have room to improve, just like everyone else
It depends on the grading scale used. I was basing mine off of if I recall one Dr. Dave posted a while back. Add to it every state is different (i.e. a B in one state could be a C in another and so forth) and I think my label of myself is spot on as a whole. I'm not tearing my game down, but I think putting me as a B is not correct. Where do you put short stops? If you start going A++ etc then maybe ok B or B- tops...but if it is just A, B, C, D, E and so forth I stand by my statement
No, the ABCD scale is constant since you are rating it basically how you play the ghost, for some reason people keep thinking it's relative. The only relative ranks are league ratings and maybe local room ratings.
If you can average 5-6-7 balls in 9 ball with ball in hand, that is a B- through B+. It does not matter if you play that in Texas or California or Alaska, unless you go to a 3.8" pocket table or something crazy. Similar table, similar equipment quality, your rating is your rating no matter where you go.
If you are a B player and you go to a place where "their" B player can run 7-8-9 balls on average, their B is really an A.
A Shortstop that is bellow a Pro would be at an A+ or over.
My rating goes from D- to A+ then shortstop then pro that's how I've always looked at things. Some use the AA and AAA for those or maybe AAA for shortstop then Pro speed which is basically the top pros that go far in events, not those borderline ones that can run out racks but would get the 7 from a guy like Duel.
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I am definitely in this range on a barbox, BUT not there is a good chance I am not in this range on a 9' which is what the pros play. I can runout like a champ "sometimes" on a barbox with a high gear, but I will pretty much almost always struggle on the big box. Since I struggle on the big box (where I consider the rankings to be more accurate since it is more difficult) I am definitely going to stick with my C ranking of myself. I see players on the big box that are not even short stops shoot better than me on the big box. I rate them anywhere from a B- to B+. I see short stops play on the big box to which I will rate A- to A and then the pros being A+ basically...we will have to agree to disagree on this one my friend.
Matt
The ratings should be done on a 9 footer with proper equipment (no dead rails, no funny pockets, no dinged up balls), as an average over time. If you run 3-4 balls in 9 ball with ball in hand on a 9 footer that would make you a C average. I honestly don't even think about ratings for someone that only plays on small tables or very easy pockets, that is a false sense of how well you can play, like someone playing golf on a short course with holes double the standard all the time, or those guys that are killers among family and friends on their basement tables but are actually C or worse players when going to a pool hall with 4.5" pockets.
A D player is pretty much a beginner, they have no idea how to use angles to play position, not much speed control and can't make simple shots consistently. D player will make 1-2, maybe 3 balls with ball in hand.
C players can pocket balls better and are starting to get playing position, but usually end their turn on a miss or bad shape off a pretty simple shot. Which is why this particular video shows a C player, can pocket balls but not much concept of position or correct shot selection past pocking the ball in front of you. 3-4, maybe 5 balls for a C+ with ball in hand.
B players have position down pretty well, can pocket simple shots almost 100% and can play tougher shots with shape more than 50%, can break and run a rack here and there. Will probably either mess up a tough shot and miss, or get a bit out of line and miss or play a decent safe, where a C player would end the turn a lot often on a simple mistake rather than a deliberate safe. Average 5-6 balls with ball in hand, a B+ can maybe get to 7 balls (basically will beat the 7 ball ghost, which is what I can do. I can't quite get to beating the 8 ball ghost, but I can bet the 7 ball ghost more than half the time).
A players can make tough shots and get position, and most of the time will run out with ball in hand 7-8-9 balls, will not likely end a turn on an unforced error.
That is a solid rating system, and is totally independent of which state or country you play in. A player may be horrible at some games like one pocket, but still be an good B player if they can play position and make balls well, but may not know strategy for specific shots.
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I knows you play better then this... seeing you shoot IRL and combined with the video I would say B.
Only thing that ''jumped'' out was you NEVER walk up to the shot the same way every time, your like a pilot coming in for a landing from all different directions. Next....practice a little more 
It strikes me in your video that most things I saw were undisciplined and sloppy in your approach to the game.
If you had a coach for one hour, you would have the words "Be Disciplined And Consistent" incorporated in everything you do.
Approach your shots the same way, in a manner that helps with stance and approach.
Stroke in a consistent manner.
Think several shots ahead at all times (3 shots at least).
Dress properly. If you gamble with shoes on, practice with shoes on.
I could go on, but generally you must slow down, develop a rhythm, be consistent.
Practice drills would help you.
People spend many years learning how to make the difficult shots, then spend the rest of their life learning how to make the easy ones.
If you aren't careful, the previous sentence could define your entire life in pool. You improved to a certain level, then stuck there for years (forever).
I would hate to tell you how many easy shots you missed, that with better fundamentals you would jump ahead some, quickly to a better level.
You are not a bad player, but still can improve quite a bit.
Good luck.
WP
If you had a coach for one hour, you would have the words "Be Disciplined And Consistent" incorporated in everything you do.
Approach your shots the same way, in a manner that helps with stance and approach.
Stroke in a consistent manner.
Think several shots ahead at all times (3 shots at least).
Dress properly. If you gamble with shoes on, practice with shoes on.
I could go on, but generally you must slow down, develop a rhythm, be consistent.
Practice drills would help you.
People spend many years learning how to make the difficult shots, then spend the rest of their life learning how to make the easy ones.
If you aren't careful, the previous sentence could define your entire life in pool. You improved to a certain level, then stuck there for years (forever).
I would hate to tell you how many easy shots you missed, that with better fundamentals you would jump ahead some, quickly to a better level.
You are not a bad player, but still can improve quite a bit.
Good luck.
WP
Finally, some one who has actually seen me play. Please vouch this is not my actual speed.
This is how I knock the rust off and keep my stroke familiar
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But, then why post the video to rate your speed based on this? Confusing this is. If you asked us to watch the video to rate how you play, then you must have though that video was a good representation of how you play. If it was not, rating you based on a banging around no trying session is like testing the 0-60 of a car on flat tires. Yep, our car was slow today, but wait till you see it on inflated tires and without those 400lb guys in the back seat!
I broke a rack last night, made 2 balls, all spread out, cueball center table, ran out the rack. If I posted that everyone would rate me an A. If I posted another game that same night where I missed a few simple shots, I may be rated a C.
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All I'll say is...you'll be hard pressed to find a C player who's high run in straight pool is in the 120's. Maybe I'm wrong though, lol.
Jesse, I love you sometimes LOL
Thanx brotha!
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So is your high run over 100? Was this thread a ruse?
Then why post a video asking AZBers what they think your speed is based on this video if you are not playing to full potential????
No ruse... Thats how I practice most of the time.
But I have run 122 before
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But I have run 122 before
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Then why post a video asking AZBers what they think your speed is based on this video if you are not playing to full potential????
Curious what the consensus on some that does actually play like that would be.
I have also runa 6 pack before, and several 3 packs in 10 ball
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You should post a serious race to 5 with the ghost and ask for a rating based on that.
I'd agree with this too. The information you hope to achieve can only be as good as the information you put into it.
Plus, there's a huge gray area in your real speed because a rating system against the ghost doesn't capture your defensive capilities at all, which is a huge part of the game. Are you a lock-down, offensive safety player, or just an average one? It really affects your true speed so....just tossing that comment in there.