I saw a pro 8-ball tournament! Wow!

Billy_Bob

Billy_Bob

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I went up to Seattle to watch the pro IPT 8-ball qualifier (on 9-ft. tables).

I did not see all the pros playing, but those I saw all had several things in common...

-They would take their time to think about each and every shot before shooting. Look at the shot from different angles, look at other possible shots, plan their run in advance and take their time. (I suppose I would too if I paid $1000.00 to enter the tournament!)

-They as a rule would run out if given a shot at the table. (Miss once with these sharks, and that's all she wrote!)

-They all had excellent strokes. Their arms were precision instruments which almost never missed a shot. More warm-up strokes than I see with other players. Would many times do warm-up strokes, not shoot, but get up and examine the shot once again.

-Tons and tons of patience! I don't think I would have the patience to sit there an examine each and every shot before shooting (or watch my opponent do this) for 19 games in a row or whatever. I think it was race to 10...

-Quite, well behaved, would sit in their chairs without a peep. Best behaved players I have ever seen. Shake hands at end of match, etc.

FYI - IPT qualifiers...
http://www.internationalpooltour.com/ipt_content/event_qualifiers/na_06_open_default.asp

IPT TV schedule...
http://www.internationalpooltour.com/ipt_content/tv/default.asp
 
No ball-bangers? :)

About how long did they take between shots on average?

Did you detect any method to their madness?

Jim
 
Billy_Bob said:
I went up to Seattle to watch the pro IPT 8-ball qualifier (on 9-ft. tables).
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You were there? Did you sit with anybody? I'm trying to place a Billy or a Bob.

I got to meet 1PRoscoe there.

They would take their time to think about each and every shot before shooting. Look at the shot from different angles, look at other possible shots, plan their run in advance and take their time. (I suppose I would too if I paid $1000.00 to enter the tournament!)
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-Tons and tons of patience! I don't think I would have the patience to sit there an examine each and every shot before shooting (or watch my opponent do this) for 19 games in a row or whatever. I think it was race to 10...
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Yeah, it was like a chess match.

Congratulations on Mike Vidas and Gandy Valle for winning a slot at the main tourney.
 
Good for you BB,
About the best thing an aspiring player can do is attend tournaments with top players competing. Watching the games and imagining what shots you'd play and seeing how they go about things provides a ton of lessons.

Watching in real life you see and learn a lot more than watching a video.
 
Colin Colenso said:
Good for you BB,
About the best thing an aspiring player can do is attend tournaments with top players competing. Watching the games and imagining what shots you'd play and seeing how they go about things provides a ton of lessons.

Watching in real life you see and learn a lot more than watching a video.
Click to expand...

I feel that watching a match live or on video can both be beneficial, in different ways.

Live, you get to experience the atmosphere, and are able to see the pace, the stroke, stance, grip, bridge, and things like that of the pro shooters much easier.

On video, the greatest thing is that you have a rewind and slow motion button. And, sometimes, it can be easier to see the table layout.
 
Billy_Bob said:
I went up to Seattle to watch the pro IPT 8-ball qualifier (on 9-ft. tables).

(snip)
-Tons and tons of patience! I don't think I would have the patience to sit there an examine each and every shot before shooting (or watch my opponent do this) for 19 games in a row or whatever. I think it was race to 10...

(snip)
That is THE difference between losers and winners, imho. I can't think of a time I've seen a pro just whack a ball for the hell of it, and I think this discipline extends itself into competitive play...for the winners, anyway.

We each only have THIS shot to play, right? No other shot exists in reality.

Jeff Livingston
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chefjeff said:
Billy_Bob said:
I went up to Seattle to watch the pro IPT 8-ball qualifier (on 9-ft. tables).

(snip)
-Tons and tons of patience! I don't think I would have the patience to sit there an examine each and every shot before shooting (or watch my opponent do this) for 19 games in a row or whatever. I think it was race to 10...

(snip)
That is THE difference between losers and winners, imho. I can't think of a time I've seen a pro just whack a ball for the hell of it, and I think this discipline extends itself into competitive play...for the winners, anyway.

We each only have THIS shot to play, right? No other shot exists in reality.

Jeff Livingston
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Just for the sake of argument :D most pros KNOW if they don't make the most of their turn at the table, good chance that their opponent will. A mistake, foul or error can cost them the game, and sometimes more.
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Gregg said:
I feel that watching a match live or on video can both be beneficial, in different ways.

Live, you get to experience the atmosphere, and are able to see the pace, the stroke, stance, grip, bridge, and things like that of the pro shooters much easier.

On video, the greatest thing is that you have a rewind and slow motion button. And, sometimes, it can be easier to see the table layout.
Click to expand...
True, both can be very beneficial in different ways.

With pool on tv, often times the viewer doesn't see the forest for the trees. But when they see a pro-level player right in front of them, the deliberateness, accuracy, planning, smoothness etc they see is in stark contrast to what they are used to experiencing when watching normal players.

I'm sure this is part of the reason so many great players learned their trade among the company of great players.
 
Thanks Billy Bob for giving us your observations. I recently read a article where Vivian lost a match because she tried to live up to her reputation of being the fastest shooting player.

2 weeks ago a player told me that he notices that I never miss at the beginning of the game when I take my time and analyze every shot but then I start to miss. I thanked him and realized that I was rushing the shots and getting sloppy. My game has really turned to the better since as I make a real effort to focus on each and every shot.
 
JUst in...

Saw this on the IPT site:
During the match between Brady Gollan and Rob Saez, Rob called for a ref. I approached the table and was immediately questioned about my ability to judge a shot by Rob. He wanted me to explain the definition and conditions of a foul. I let him know that I could not explain without coaching his shot. If I had told him he could not push through the shot without fouling or explained the speeds of the cue ball after the contact with the object ball, it would have been considered coaching, creating an unfair situation to the opponent. Rob reacted in anger, this caused disruption to the other matches being played. I called the other tournament director to Ref the shot. Arguing with the ref is considered a violation and he should have been docked a game. I chose to continue the match with no penalties. After
the match, Rob lost 10-6, I spoke with him outside the venue about the violation, unsportsman like conduct, and the definition of coaching. He was not receptive to any explanation, accused me of not knowing anything about the game, and said I was not old enough or knowledgeable enough to be the tournament director. I handed him a list of IPT rules and he refused to read them, then tossed them back to me. I do understand his concern, he has never met me before this weekend, but his conduct was completely out of line."

Tiffany Taylor, Tournament Director


That is a new one- question the Ref's knowledge!
 
Black-Balled said:
Saw this on the IPT site:
During the match between Brady Gollan and Rob Saez, Rob called for a ref. I approached the table and was immediately questioned about my ability to judge a shot by Rob. He wanted me to explain the definition and conditions of a foul. I let him know that I could not explain without coaching his shot. If I had told him he could not push through the shot without fouling or explained the speeds of the cue ball after the contact with the object ball, it would have been considered coaching, creating an unfair situation to the opponent. Rob reacted in anger, this caused disruption to the other matches being played. I called the other tournament director to Ref the shot. Arguing with the ref is considered a violation and he should have been docked a game. I chose to continue the match with no penalties. After
the match, Rob lost 10-6, I spoke with him outside the venue about the violation, unsportsman like conduct, and the definition of coaching. He was not receptive to any explanation, accused me of not knowing anything about the game, and said I was not old enough or knowledgeable enough to be the tournament director. I handed him a list of IPT rules and he refused to read them, then tossed them back to me. I do understand his concern, he has never met me before this weekend, but his conduct was completely out of line."

Tiffany Taylor, Tournament Director


That is a new one- question the Ref's knowledge!
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I was sitting 5ft away from this, and it happened exactly as written above....
 
1pRoscoe said:
I was sitting 5ft away from this, and it happened exactly as written above....
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He's lucky that he only got a talking to. It wouldn't be unheardof for an organization to use the opportunity to discourage other potential prima-donnas from engaging in such behavior...
 
Black-Balled said:
Saw this on the IPT site:
During the match between Brady Gollan and Rob Saez, Rob called for a ref. I approached the table and was immediately questioned about my ability to judge a shot by Rob. He wanted me to explain the definition and conditions of a foul. I let him know that I could not explain without coaching his shot. If I had told him he could not push through the shot without fouling or explained the speeds of the cue ball after the contact with the object ball, it would have been considered coaching, creating an unfair situation to the opponent. Rob reacted in anger, this caused disruption to the other matches being played. I called the other tournament director to Ref the shot. Arguing with the ref is considered a violation and he should have been docked a game. I chose to continue the match with no penalties. After
the match, Rob lost 10-6, I spoke with him outside the venue about the violation, unsportsman like conduct, and the definition of coaching. He was not receptive to any explanation, accused me of not knowing anything about the game, and said I was not old enough or knowledgeable enough to be the tournament director. I handed him a list of IPT rules and he refused to read them, then tossed them back to me. I do understand his concern, he has never met me before this weekend, but his conduct was completely out of line."

Tiffany Taylor, Tournament Director


That is a new one- question the Ref's knowledge!
Click to expand...

Most any league player worth his salt knows that rule---the ref can't tell you the rules before you shoot a particular shot, but will call it after the violation---the players are to have read and understand the rules before starting play. It's happened to most of us, I'd say. It was simply Rod's time to learn it...the hard way, apparently. :eek:

I'm sure it'll work out to everybody's satisfaction in the long run.

Jeff Livingston
 
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