I played Mark Hadaad some 1 hole...

Alex Kanapilly

Alex Kanapilly

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
...and I got drilled.

Let me set this up a bit, a while back I asked what kind of spot I'd need to have a chance against him, after reading the thread and considering everything, I thought 10-5 would be a fair starting point. I still think that's a good number, but that's not what I played him with.

I was playing good and had a few runouts against a much weaker player that day and I was up for the week (it was a short work week so I got to play a bit more pool than normal for me) so I figured I'd take a shot at Mark on Friday.

I told him I'd play 9-7 and I get the breaks for 10/game. I figured that's a 3-4 ball spot overall. He said ok but for 20. I said ok, broke the balls and lost in two innings. He made one move and ran out. Right away I knew I was in big trouble, his banks are so strong, he makes them from everywhere and gets where he needs to afterwords.

The next game, I break well and he finds a bank into the stack that goes into his hole and runs out.

The next break I get too much 2nd ball and scratch, guess what happened.

The next two games I mangaged to make a couple of balls each but he was relentless and I lost. I played a bit better but I still make too many mistakes. His level of exectution is so much higher than mine, I really don't think I would win at 10-5 unless he was off a bit and I was at my best.

All said it took about 45 mins. I appreciated the fact that he didn't string me along, every chance he had to get out he did.

I found out he gives lessons for $50/hr. and while I'm no genius, I'm smart enough to know that that's a bargain compared to the rate I was going gambling with him. He also gives 1 pocket clinics and said he's going to have one still this year. I'll sign up for that too.
 
Heck you let me beat you in 1-hole at Tollefson's house... what'd you expect out of Haddad?

:D

I kid, I kid!
 
Alex,

View this as a cheap assesment of your game against this level of player.

It's good of you to let the other members here know what happened. It's not easy to match up against such a strong player. I guess you both knew you were the underdog, and that does matter. For one, he might play a little better than usual and you might play a little worse than usual.

You can't afford to make any mistakes, much less "unforced errors" against this level of a player. To make a positive thing out of this, just remember that you WILL get better. Then you will look back and recognize what really happened in this case. Anyway, it's good that you did what you did. Be positive about your own game, practice a lot, take a few lessons if you feel the need, and be a much better player as a result.

By the way, if you see Mark again please let him know I have his dad's old Rambow cue now.

Chris
 
Njhustler1 said:
Note to self....Don't play someone for money in 1-hole if my opponent also teaches 1-hole. ;)
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LOL. Reminds me of a 9-ball tournament I was at one time. The strongest player in the tournament (we'll call him Snooker Bill) had a break between matches and went to hit some balls on the 10' snooker table over in the corner. A few minutes later, some guy sweating the matches got up and said "Well, I'm gonna go see if Bill wants to play some snooker". My buddy was sitting there and said "You dumbass, don't you know to never play snooker with a guy who has the word snooker in his name!" The dude sat back down, and we all died laughing.
 
ScottW said:
Heck you let me beat you in 1-hole at Tollefson's house... what'd you expect out of Haddad?

:D

I kid, I kid!
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Let being the operatvie word! Just kidding, you did beat me that one game lol.

What did I expect? About what I got, but having it happen to me is different than simply thinking that would be the outcome. Since I started playing this game, my cueball controll and banking ability has gotten a lot better but it's not anywhere near where it needs to be to play this game at a high level, I guess I just needed that proven to me.

Oh and sorry for spelling Mark's name wrong.
 
Eh, I know you're a better shot than I am most days. But I'm catchin' up.

Four tournaments this past week of varying sizes, got one 1st, two 2nds, and should have done better on the fourth but gave it up early. Not too bad. :D
 
Mark was stealing in that game, and he knew it. Between a player of Mark's level (you did know he was in one of Eddie Robin's books, right?) and a One Pocket amateur, a spot of 5 balls should be the start of negotiations. I would have asked him for 12-5 personally, and negotiated from there. He's not gonna give you that for $10 though, and most probably not for $20 a game either.

9-7 and the breaks? He upped the bet to $20 to see if you would go for it, because he knew he was stealing.

Seriously, no offence to you, but the difference of 9-7 and the breaks from the lesser player's perspective is not much. If you don't consistently run all the way out the first time he leaves you a bank, then you have no chance. Mark's ability to consistently freeze you to a ball is worth two balls in and of itself. Probably more.

At $10 a game, you'll just have to take your lumps. At $20 a game, he shoulda been giving you tips if he was interested in developing your game.

For the cost of 6 or 7 games, you could buy 4 or 5 top quality One Pocket Accu-Stats videos, and learn much more than what he "showed" you.

At this point, you need to concentrate on staying alive until you get a shot. You're not learning anything by watching him run 9 and out. I'm sure you've seen poolplayers play position from one shot to the next before...:D

Pogue
 
Russ Chewning said:
Mark was stealing in that game, and he knew it. Between a player of Mark's level (you did know he was in one of Eddie Robin's books, right?) and a One Pocket amateur, a spot of 5 balls should be the start of negotiations. I would have asked him for 12-5 personally, and negotiated from there. He's not gonna give you that for $10 though, and most probably not for $20 a game either.

9-7 and the breaks? He upped the bet to $20 to see if you would go for it, because he knew he was stealing.

Seriously, no offence to you, but the difference of 9-7 and the breaks from the lesser player's perspective is not much. If you don't consistently run all the way out the first time he leaves you a bank, then you have no chance. Mark's ability to consistently freeze you to a ball is worth two balls in and of itself. Probably more.

At $10 a game, you'll just have to take your lumps. At $20 a game, he shoulda been giving you tips if he was interested in developing your game.

For the cost of 6 or 7 games, you could buy 4 or 5 top quality One Pocket Accu-Stats videos, and learn much more than what he "showed" you.

At this point, you need to concentrate on staying alive until you get a shot. You're not learning anything by watching him run 9 and out. I'm sure you've seen poolplayers play position from one shot to the next before...:D

Pogue
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I lost 5 games, probably quicker than I'd hoped but I knew what I was getting into. I had some money to burn and I burned it.

I doubt he's going to give me 12-5 for anything less than 50 or 100 a game and I'm not willing to get into a game like that with him.

Sure I've seen guys play position before but not very often like he did, he did it differently than I would have attempted. His break outs were masterful. At this point in my learning curve, I try to pick off the open shots, not disect racks like he did. When I do try to open balls up, I'm not as surgical as he seemed to be. I'm sure that's due to the fact that I don't play straight pool.

Anyway, he stuck around for about 15 minutes answering questions I had about some of his shots and a few "what should I have done" type questions from me. That's why I'm planning on taking some lessons and attending his clinics.
 
Hey Alex,

What's Mark charge for his 1p clinics, how long are they, any idea when he's doing his next one?
 
Russ Chewning said:
At $10 a game, you'll just have to take your lumps. At $20 a game, he shoulda been giving you tips if he was interested in developing your game.
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Interesting statements. Some players are always happy to do this (sometimes whether you are interested in their critique or not!) but others have little interest and feel offended if you dare to waste their time with such questions.

For me the my preference (unless I know the player very well) is to state right up front that I don't mind losing but would you mind giving me a few tips afterwards? That way everyone is on the same page.

And Alex, I know you shoot good but I can't believe you fell for that old illusion that beating on a weak player meant you were shooting good that day. For me that is the biggest problem in my game; consistently playing weaker people so all I have to do is wait for them to miss with an easy run left on the table. It quickly lulls me into thinking I'm much better than I actually am. Then when a good player steps up who doesn't miss the easy outs I'm in big trouble. I find playing the Ghost is the best way to sober me up.

Still kudos to you for stepping up.

BTW WHY don't you play Straight Pool? This is something I really find beneficial to mix into my practice routine, and it is much better practice for One Pocket.
 
AuntyDan said:
BTW WHY don't you play Straight Pool? This is something I really find beneficial to mix into my practice routine, and it is much better practice for One Pocket.
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Hey Alex I absolutely agree with AuntyDan here...straight pool will bump your 1-H game up a notch, you'll play the racks much better and you will prolly run out more consistently. Like you said, playing Mark or a player like him, you get one chance, and you'd better run out!
 
AuntyDan said:
And Alex, I know you shoot good but I can't believe you fell for that old illusion that beating on a weak player meant you were shooting good that day. For me that is the biggest problem in my game; consistently playing weaker people so all I have to do is wait for them to miss with an easy run left on the table. It quickly lulls me into thinking I'm much better than I actually am. Then when a good player steps up who doesn't miss the easy outs I'm in big trouble. I find playing the Ghost is the best way to sober me up.

Still kudos to you for stepping up.

BTW WHY don't you play Straight Pool? This is something I really find beneficial to mix into my practice routine, and it is much better practice for One Pocket.
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Dan,

What I meant by saying that I was playing good was that I was running out 1p tables against him, so I felt like I was on my game. Trust me, if I'm off my game, I'm not running out in 1p. To me it didn't matter who the guy was, I was making balls and getting shape, so I figured I was playing pretty good (for me). I didn't want to go into the match with Mark knowing I was off my game at all. Hope that explains what I meant.

Regarding straight pool, good question. I think this is my biggest flaw and why I will always be limited as a pool player, I'm no good at practicing. I mean I can play another player for free and practice that way but just sitting there hitting balls is boring to me, it always has been. I wish it were different, but that's how it is for me.

I'm getting better at it now that I play the ghost occasionally, but even then I get bored after about an hour or so. I need competition.

Are you playing 1p yet? If so let's play at Danny K's sometime when I'm out that way again.
 
Alex Kanapilly said:
What I meant by saying that I was playing good was that I was running out 1p tables against him, so I felt like I was on my game. Trust me, if I'm off my game, I'm not running out in 1p. To me it didn't matter who the guy was, I was making balls and getting shape, so I figured I was playing pretty good (for me). I didn't want to go into the match with Mark knowing I was off my game at all. Hope that explains what I meant.
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Running out from a miss and an easy leave by a weak player is great, but it is vital to recognize the difference between that and when you play a good player who will hardly ever leave anything easy when they miss. If you cannot consistently return their safes until THEY leave you something, or are capable of making something out of nothing then you have a big problem in 1P.

Alex Kanapilly said:
Regarding straight pool, good question. I think this is my biggest flaw and why I will always be limited as a pool player, I'm no good at practicing. I mean I can play another player for free and practice that way but just sitting there hitting balls is boring to me, it always has been. I wish it were different, but that's how it is for me.
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Curious, I find the opposite, Straight Pool is one of the easiest games to play for practice, you just setup a break shot and go for it.

Alex Kanapilly said:
Are you playing 1p yet? If so let's play at Danny K's sometime when I'm out that way again.
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I've only ever played 1IP a few times but I'm happy to play almost anything with anyone if that's what they want to play. Just let me know when you are in town again.
 
The scary part is that there are some players that can spot Mark Haddad playing 1-hole. After what you saw, it's hard to register anyone being able to beat someone like him, but believe me, there are guys out there that can give him 2 or 3 balls and like it. And this is not talking down on Mark's game, because he is a great player. I'm just pointing out that no matter how good you get at this game, there is always someone better.
 
cuetechasaurus said:
The scary part is that there are some players that can spot Mark Haddad playing 1-hole. After what you saw, it's hard to register anyone being able to beat someone like him, but believe me, there are guys out there that can give him 2 or 3 balls and like it. And this is not talking down on Mark's game, because he is a great player. I'm just pointing out that no matter how good you get at this game, there is always someone better.
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Nope. That's wrong. In every endeavor, there is always one BEST. It may change from day to day, but there is always ONE.

This is what I tell anyone who says "It doesn't matter how good you are, there is always someone better." Of course not only is this defeatist thinking, it is also wrong.

Russ
 
There are not too many that can spot Haddad in one pocket. he is very good. I'd like to know who would spot Haddad 3 balls in one pocket?

Alex, if you get the moves down, then you might play him better. Until then, come on up to Boulder and I'll give you a more gentle introduction.

Regards,

Doug
 
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