Some people at the poolhall will only play people of their level and below. They completely avoid stronger players, even with appropriate weight. I've seen these people play for the last few years and none of them have improved by any marginal difference. My game didn't start improving until I played against good players, and when they all stopped coming to the old poolhall I went into a very long slump. What I learned is that when you play someone who is really good, most of the time the mistakes you make are magnified. This doesn't even come down to just missing balls or missing a safe. It comes down to not playing a GOOD ENOUGH safe. If a strong player is not running racks but he is beating you, it's because he is controlling the table. When you play weak players you get used to getting a chance to control the table often. Against strong players you will quickly learn that even them getting a lucky safe after missing a ball or hitting a kick is HUGE. This simple factor can reflect the outcome of a few games, or even the entire match. This is also where the break becomes so important in 9-ball. People hear that pro players break and run out 15 or 20% of the time, so they think "What's the big deal about the break then?" If someone is consistently making a ball on the break, even if they don't get a shot, if they can see the low ball they can control the table, and you may not get an open shot. You've got to make the best out of your trips to the table with kicks or across the table frozen to the rail. Against weak players nobody cares about kicking at the 1-ball, you are almost guaranteed another chance to return to the table. If you play against weak players long enough and you get used to this, your game will never improve, because you will never have the initiative to really bear down on EVERY SINGLE SHOT. People don't want to play strong players because they don't like getting beaten into a pulp, which is understandable, but they don't realize how important those beatings are in the long run. If you get drilled enough you are going to start wondering what was the shot that could have turned it around for you.
Importance In Playing Strong Players
- Thread starter LastTwo
- Start date
jjinfla said:
I learned that probably 2 or 3 years after I started playing the game seriously. At that time alot of strong players played at the poolhall and other local poolhalls, and I wasn't scared to play anyone for my last 20$. Although money was tight for me then and 20$ was alot, I always considered it money well spent if I lost it playing someone that I wished I could play like.
Here is a different way to think about it also. In every pool hall 10% of the players are great, 30% are very good, 40% are good and the last 20% are newbies. A good player can make some money and have matches to play everyday if he doesn't improve. While one of the great players may hardly ever get to match up. The problem with improving your game is that you may lose opponents to play with.
I know many players who don't even try to improve because they are very content playing with C players. I am an A/B player and I find it more difficult to find games than I did when I was a strong C player. When I practice a lot I become a solid A player and I can only get a game if I travel. Not everyone wants to be an A player.
I remember the best player in New England, Nick Vhlaos going into a Boston pool room and the only game I ever saw him get was spotting a C player with the following: Nick could only win the game if he 3 safed his opponent and he still barely lost 5-4.
Sometimes, it's lonely at the top.
I know many players who don't even try to improve because they are very content playing with C players. I am an A/B player and I find it more difficult to find games than I did when I was a strong C player. When I practice a lot I become a solid A player and I can only get a game if I travel. Not everyone wants to be an A player.
I remember the best player in New England, Nick Vhlaos going into a Boston pool room and the only game I ever saw him get was spotting a C player with the following: Nick could only win the game if he 3 safed his opponent and he still barely lost 5-4.
Sometimes, it's lonely at the top.
B
Bruce S. de Lis
Guest
I personally function poorly when playing poor player. I like playing, and learning from BETTER PLAYERS. My loose, but observe what they do in situations, game strategy, and how they make shots. 
Last edited:
I only have time for league play but I will always try to match up with the opposing teams strongest players.
Even when it means playing near perfect pool and still losing (Thanks a lot Paul D.)
You see lot of ducking in the league, whether it be in fear of moving up in handicap or my favorite, making the best of the best tourament.
I kind of went off on one of my guys last Monday because his concern was keeping his win-loss % high. I told him, who the hell cares if you make it by beating up on 2's and 3's? The second you get down there and have to play a 5 or better, you're toast. Happy to see he took it to heart and won his match.
Even though I am as competetive as anyone, I would rather play a strong player and lose than beat up on a weaker player. Different in tournaments I realize, but in leagues that is how I feel.
JMO,
Koop
Even when it means playing near perfect pool and still losing (Thanks a lot Paul D.)
You see lot of ducking in the league, whether it be in fear of moving up in handicap or my favorite, making the best of the best tourament.
I kind of went off on one of my guys last Monday because his concern was keeping his win-loss % high. I told him, who the hell cares if you make it by beating up on 2's and 3's? The second you get down there and have to play a 5 or better, you're toast. Happy to see he took it to heart and won his match.
Even though I am as competetive as anyone, I would rather play a strong player and lose than beat up on a weaker player. Different in tournaments I realize, but in leagues that is how I feel.
JMO,
Koop
simple really
No matter what you compete at, few people get better than just good enough to beat their competition, if they manage to get that good.
If you want to get good, match against people that should beat you, no spot. It is best to shoot against someone a step or two above but shooting against the best you can find never hurts. My game was the best it has ever been when I shot regularly with the best player I have ever encountered. Incidentally, that was a no-name barroom player nobody has ever heard of.
Hu
No matter what you compete at, few people get better than just good enough to beat their competition, if they manage to get that good.
If you want to get good, match against people that should beat you, no spot. It is best to shoot against someone a step or two above but shooting against the best you can find never hurts. My game was the best it has ever been when I shot regularly with the best player I have ever encountered. Incidentally, that was a no-name barroom player nobody has ever heard of.
Hu