I Need Help!!!!

[dmgwalsh]

I need some help (no, not the psychiatric kind - well, maybe that wouldn't hurt, but that's not the purpose of this thread). I need some competition.
Straight pool league has begun, and in 3 weeks I have my biggest match of the season.

My problem is that I almost NEVER get to play competitively with anyone near my speed. I practice religiously, but almost never get to compete. I have a semi-regular game with a top pro; but that is more like racking practice than competitive practice. I would love to get together for a day and just play some pool - friendly competition (can always bet v-cash if you have to).

So this is just a call-out for all of the AZB'ers who keep threatening to visit "Betmore's Basement" - Woody, Wally, Vagabond, zeeder, Satman, StraightPoolIU, ManEc, and any others who might be interested. I'm free the next 3 weekends (all day and night Saturdays, Sundays til 5 P.M.), drop me a line if you want to play. Free food, beverages, pool, and room. Straight pool, 9-ball, 8-ball, one-pocket, banks, Irish billiards - I never played a game I didn't like. See you soon.

Willie: Hope you get your games. Why don't you see if someone in your league who plays pretty good wants to get together on a regular basis on a non-league night. I have two 14.1 league nights and one guy comes over most Sundays for two games to 100. On some other weekdays, I occasionally hook up with a very good player for another 4 or 5 hours. Maybe you could find some competition at a different pool hall by asking the houseman if there's anyone there who plays 14.1.

 

[Williebetmore]

Willie: Hope you get your games. Why don't you see if someone in your league who plays pretty good wants to get together on a regular basis on a non-league night. I have two 14.1 league nights and one guy comes over most Sundays for two games to 100. On some other weekdays, I occasionally hook up with a very good player for another 4 or 5 hours. Maybe you could find some competition at a different pool hall by asking the houseman if there's anyone there who plays 14.1.

DMG,
Excellent suggestions. I have had the top 3 players in our league over several times, and have visited one of them several times - I think we all enjoy the heck out of it. The problem is that we live on opposite sides of town, so the drive is significant. Ditto driving to a pool hall hoping for a game - significant drive, poor chance of a good game.

 

[BRKNRUN]

Ken,
Great advice; but do you really think 4 minutes of shooting and 150 minutes of watching will really get me to that "next level"?????

P.S. - I have a regular weekly game against a top professional, and misses may actually result in a 30 - 40 minute wait. Still, its fun and educational to see 14.1 played on such a level - very elegant is the only way to describe it.

Yeah...I doubt anyone would actually do that for practice..You can do it once in a while to simulate a game situation...If your playing someone that sits you for 30 min. once a week, your already getting that practice.

I think that the ability to come to the table "in stoke" after a stretch of sitting is a learned ability that separates the good from the great...I know a few players that play well, but if you sit them or even just slow play one rack, it completely disrupts their rhythm….

The great players can step to the table after sitting and shoot as if they had been at the table the whole time..


BTW – I am not sure what town your in or the skill level of your area, but it sounds to me like you need to take a road trip and seek out some competition.