I didn't want to post this in the "how are ya'll doing in league" thread as it's not a slam on league play at all but... it's more "how am I doing out of league".
Let me begin by saying something happened to my game during the last two seasons of league play. I went from shooting like an 8 to shooting like a 4 (sometimes worse). 2 straight seasons without a single break and run... unbelievable. Aside from some health issues, I felt that there was always something else that was causing my game to fall off so badly. It had gotten so bad that I was even making arrangements to sell my GC-IV. After I left league (for other reasons) I began to realize the what and the why.
Over the past 6-7 weeks I've seen my game pick back up to where it should be and the runs are there about every day of the week. I'm now seeing and making shots so thin that there's little more than the thickness of a sheet of paper to get into the pocket.
So why the big change in my game?
First off the UPA league in this area is mismanaged beyond belief. There is always some kind of chaos going on as soon as you walk in the door and the LO doesn't even seem to know the rules of play. Excuses and lies are most of what seemed to be the rule. Too distracting but that wasn't my main problem.
So after I gave up league play, I went back old school. Playing on my schedule and deciding when and who I would play. Also I just can't adapt to playing in a money league on a team level. There's something in my head that thinks on a one-on-one basis when it comes to gambling and the money gets laid out on the table. That's the only way I've ever known how to compete... either single or in pairs.
So now I've been playing almost every Wednesday night with the guys (on my table). We have a good time (just like in league), but eventually the money always comes out and that's when I stop drinking and start shooting. It's such a totally different mindset than league... no ranking handicaps or score sheets. Just keep the guy in his chair because there's money on the table... I can see it.
Just like golf... most of billiards is played within the space between our ears.
Let me begin by saying something happened to my game during the last two seasons of league play. I went from shooting like an 8 to shooting like a 4 (sometimes worse). 2 straight seasons without a single break and run... unbelievable. Aside from some health issues, I felt that there was always something else that was causing my game to fall off so badly. It had gotten so bad that I was even making arrangements to sell my GC-IV. After I left league (for other reasons) I began to realize the what and the why.
Over the past 6-7 weeks I've seen my game pick back up to where it should be and the runs are there about every day of the week. I'm now seeing and making shots so thin that there's little more than the thickness of a sheet of paper to get into the pocket.
So why the big change in my game?
First off the UPA league in this area is mismanaged beyond belief. There is always some kind of chaos going on as soon as you walk in the door and the LO doesn't even seem to know the rules of play. Excuses and lies are most of what seemed to be the rule. Too distracting but that wasn't my main problem.
So after I gave up league play, I went back old school. Playing on my schedule and deciding when and who I would play. Also I just can't adapt to playing in a money league on a team level. There's something in my head that thinks on a one-on-one basis when it comes to gambling and the money gets laid out on the table. That's the only way I've ever known how to compete... either single or in pairs.
So now I've been playing almost every Wednesday night with the guys (on my table). We have a good time (just like in league), but eventually the money always comes out and that's when I stop drinking and start shooting. It's such a totally different mindset than league... no ranking handicaps or score sheets. Just keep the guy in his chair because there's money on the table... I can see it.
Just like golf... most of billiards is played within the space between our ears.