A while ago, there were lots of threads about playing the ghost with several posters even posting videos of their beating the ghost as proof. I have always ducked the ghost simply because I was pretty sure that any attempt would only serve as nothing as a rude awakening as to just how much game I don't have. My reasoning was this: In match play, tournaments and/or money games, I tried to honestly evaluate just exactly how many times I actually break and run the whole set out, compared to how many times I fail......................and my memory tells me that the times I have failed to finish the rack far outnumber the times I actually get out. Knowing this, I've always just ducked the ghost because based simply on my playing record, I've always known I just wouldn't stand a chance.
Yesterday I started to practice against the ghost, but at the start, no intentions of playing a race, or trying to beat him. I was just playing the ghost the way I've heard others do it by breaking the balls, then taking ball in hand and trying to run out. Before I knew it, I had run three sets and thought to myself that on a good day like today, I might be able to make a good game of it, so I decided from that point on, with the score 3-0 in my favor, to try to beat him in a race to 7. To make a long story short, I ended up beating the ghost in a score of 7-5, and I'm pretty happy!! Didn't think I could ever come close, let alone beat him!! I must admit however, that I didn't start really keeping score with the intentions of actually beating him until I had already run the first 3 sets. The first 3 sets, although played straight up with no cheating, were played with a 'messing' around mentality, so I'd have to say that there was no pressure. So to some, I may have beaten the ghost 7-5, but I had 3 on the wire to start with. But I'm still satisfied!
Another note I must mention is that the table I played on, a Bruns 9 footer with average size pockets is in great condition with the cloth fairly quick and very consistent. But, I have the break on that particular table nailed! I was soft breaking from the right side of the table with a touch of right draw. Nailing the wing ball every time, and playing for the one ball in the opposite corner. One last note, I ran the first 3 sets with my Gilbert 3 piece. I've always played the set out with my Gilbert jump/break when I've come up with a pretty easy lay after the break simply because the trip back to my chair to get my play cue, in that state of mind/zone, can sometimes break my rhythm
. I'm still pretty sure that as a result of this, I can honestly say that I've run more racks of 9 ball with my Gilbert jump/break cue than I have with my main playing cue!!!
None the less, I finally quit ducking the ghost, and I'm pretty happy with the results. Some might consider that I had 3 on the wire to start with, and I won't dispute that (call it what you want). Still pretty satisfied. However, do I think I could do it again starting from zero in a race to seven? I'd never bet any of my own money on it!!!
dave
Yesterday I started to practice against the ghost, but at the start, no intentions of playing a race, or trying to beat him. I was just playing the ghost the way I've heard others do it by breaking the balls, then taking ball in hand and trying to run out. Before I knew it, I had run three sets and thought to myself that on a good day like today, I might be able to make a good game of it, so I decided from that point on, with the score 3-0 in my favor, to try to beat him in a race to 7. To make a long story short, I ended up beating the ghost in a score of 7-5, and I'm pretty happy!! Didn't think I could ever come close, let alone beat him!! I must admit however, that I didn't start really keeping score with the intentions of actually beating him until I had already run the first 3 sets. The first 3 sets, although played straight up with no cheating, were played with a 'messing' around mentality, so I'd have to say that there was no pressure. So to some, I may have beaten the ghost 7-5, but I had 3 on the wire to start with. But I'm still satisfied!
Another note I must mention is that the table I played on, a Bruns 9 footer with average size pockets is in great condition with the cloth fairly quick and very consistent. But, I have the break on that particular table nailed! I was soft breaking from the right side of the table with a touch of right draw. Nailing the wing ball every time, and playing for the one ball in the opposite corner. One last note, I ran the first 3 sets with my Gilbert 3 piece. I've always played the set out with my Gilbert jump/break when I've come up with a pretty easy lay after the break simply because the trip back to my chair to get my play cue, in that state of mind/zone, can sometimes break my rhythm
. I'm still pretty sure that as a result of this, I can honestly say that I've run more racks of 9 ball with my Gilbert jump/break cue than I have with my main playing cue!!!
None the less, I finally quit ducking the ghost, and I'm pretty happy with the results. Some might consider that I had 3 on the wire to start with, and I won't dispute that (call it what you want). Still pretty satisfied. However, do I think I could do it again starting from zero in a race to seven? I'd never bet any of my own money on it!!!
dave
