Made it to a 7

D

drv4

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I started playing pool 2 years ago in a Wednesday night APA league. I remember starting off as a 4, moving to a 5 mainly because I shot smart, not straight. Only playing one night a week and maybe getting in some time one other day a week I made it to a 7 with this week's updated standings. When I started, I never thought I would be a 7, because all of the 7s seemed so good, so it feels good to accomplish this goal I've had. The bad thing is I know I'm the weakest 7 right now in our bar. I've beaten other 7s as a 4,5, and 6, but the high level 7s usually roll me up.

I'll never sandbag, although I know I'm a strong 6, and it just gives me fuel to keep improving and eventually try to be the best in my league. Thinking about moving over to BCA and getting some "lessons" from the chair from A and master level players. Learn the hard way, because beating up on 4,5, and 6s isn't really gonna improve my game much more. Anyways, love that my one league night of APA led me to this site, and YouTube matches and streams, and knowing who SVB, Orcullo, Appleton, and other pros are. Wish I had started at 18 instead of 30. Love pool, and thanks for all the advice from this forum, it's def helped my game improve faster than expected!
 
Congratulations!

There is absolutely nothing wrong with wanting to improve and being proud of your accomplishments.
 
DAVE_M said:
Congratulations!

There is absolutely nothing wrong with wanting to improve and being proud of your accomplishments.
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Thanks! I appreciate it. I've never dropped in rank in 8, so I'm gonna have to step my game up to keep that trend. Just prob won't shoot as much though because we have a 7 on our team who is a little better than me.
 
drv4 said:
I started playing pool 2 years ago in a Wednesday night APA league. I remember starting off as a 4, moving to a 5 mainly because I shot smart, not straight. Only playing one night a week and maybe getting in some time one other day a week I made it to a 7 with this week's updated standings. When I started, I never thought I would be a 7, because all of the 7s seemed so good, so it feels good to accomplish this goal I've had. The bad thing is I know I'm the weakest 7 right now in our bar. I've beaten other 7s as a 4,5, and 6, but the high level 7s usually roll me up.

I'll never sandbag, although I know I'm a strong 6, and it just gives me fuel to keep improving and eventually try to be the best in my league. Thinking about moving over to BCA and getting some "lessons" from the chair from A and master level players. Learn the hard way, because beating up on 4,5, and 6s isn't really gonna improve my game much more. Anyways, love that my one league night of APA led me to this site, and YouTube matches and streams, and knowing who SVB, Orcullo, Appleton, and other pros are. Wish I had started at 18 instead of 30. Love pool, and thanks for all the advice from this forum, it's def helped my game improve faster than expected!
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Nice job, especially after 2 years of playing.
 
Sl7

Congrats. You made a comment about beating lower ranked players not helping but I don't think that is the case. One thing that keeps me going (because you cant always control who you play) is HOW you win. When you play the lower ranks concentrate on break and runs, number of inning less safeties and see how many rackless you can get each session. It is nice when your team can rely on you to get them at least 2 if not 3 points. Beating the better 7's will come with time. You obviously play well enough if you have graduated to a 7. I have lifer 4's and 5's on my team that I don't think will ever move up.
 
RFranklin said:
Congrats. You made a comment about beating lower ranked players not helping but I don't think that is the case. One thing that keeps me going (because you cant always control who you play) is HOW you win. When you play the lower ranks concentrate on break and runs, number of inning less safeties and see how many rackless you can get each session. It is nice when your team can rely on you to get them at least 2 if not 3 points. Beating the better 7's will come with time. You obviously play well enough if you have graduated to a 7. I have lifer 4's and 5's on my team that I don't think will ever move up.
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Thanks Ron, yeah I shoot on beebop at FE with Thang on Wednesdays and the new Thursday team the stooges to help them out. You steam rolled me earlier this session. I def agree with what you're saying. I'm really trying to work on runout pool when possible, or finding early lockup safeties that will help me get BIH. I feel really confident against 5s and lower in having a chance to shut them out or at worst 2-0 them, I just don't have the consistency yet to compete with you and P. hill and Chris H. on an even playing field yet. Hopefully sooner than later though.
 
Sl7

I was being sincere and certainly wasn't calling you out. You shoot really well and your improvement is somthing to be proud of. You'll be terrorizing Austin APA for a long time. Keep Thang on his toes for me. See you in tri cups.
 
Congrats on meeting your goals! I made it to a 7 in APA 8-ball about 2 years ago after going through a really hot streak. It felt good but I was almost in the same boat as you; most of the other SL 7's in the league I considered to be better than me and I would not do well against them. Then I realized that you have to play the table in front of you, not your opponent. After that sunk in, I started winning much more against players of the same skill level, although there were some "super" 7's who played better than me even on their off days. :)
 
RFranklin said:
I was being sincere and certainly wasn't calling you out. You shoot really well and your improvement is somthing to be proud of. You'll be terrorizing Austin APA for a long time. Keep Thang on his toes for me. See you in tri cups.
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Didn't think you were calling me out at all and def appreciate the kind words. Def have learned a lot watching you and other good players play. Keep shooting well!
 
bazkook said:
Congrats on meeting your goals! I made it to a 7 in APA 8-ball about 2 years ago after going through a really hot streak. It felt good but I was almost in the same boat as you; most of the other SL 7's in the league I considered to be better than me and I would not do well against them. Then I realized that you have to play the table in front of you, not your opponent. After that sunk in, I started winning much more against players of the same skill level, although there were some "super" 7's who played better than me even on their off days. :)
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Thanks! Trying to take the same approach, just work on my consistency and pattern play. As long as I get out when I should I feel like I have a puncher's chance against the "super" 7s. Just love playing in general and look forward to the challenge.
 
drv4 said:
Thinking about moving over to BCA and getting some "lessons" from the chair from A and master level players. Learn the hard way, because beating up on 4,5, and 6s isn't really gonna improve my game much more.
Click to expand...

Congratulations!

I would not totally agree with your assessment here. You don't get better just watching, which you will be doing more of shooting top flight players. Sure you may pick up a few things here and there, like racking well, playing safe better or shooting better under pressure knowing if you miss you are done. However, ultimately you will have less opportunity to do those things because you will be watching and racking more.

Ultimately what you need to do, regardless of the league and the quality of players you play, is practice better because it is that time when you are stroking the ball, working on control and training your "mind's eye" that is going to make you the best you can be. Surely someone like yourself that has improved so much over the 2 years knows that when I say practice I don't mean play actual games, but to do drills over and over and over.
 
Congratulations!

I would be very proud too.

I will be if I ever make it to SL6, I've stalled....
 
Congrats! Your progress is way better than mine. Got back into pool in 2012 with a 6 month break in .2014 playing 2x a week and I'm a 3/5

Sent from my HTCONE using Tapatalk
 
bazkook said:
Congrats on meeting your goals! I made it to a 7 in APA 8-ball about 2 years ago after going through a really hot streak. It felt good but I was almost in the same boat as you; most of the other SL 7's in the league I considered to be better than me and I would not do well against them. Then I realized that you have to play the table in front of you, not your opponent. After that sunk in, I started winning much more against players of the same skill level, although there were some "super" 7's who played better than me even on their off days. :)
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No small accomplishment. And this sums up why the other 7's are better then you (or you just THINK thy are better). Play the table....play safes when you can really screw them over (you alread said play smart). One thing you failed to mention is the predator spirit inside you. That is also a valuable asset to have.
 
Skippy27 said:
Congratulations!

I would not totally agree with your assessment here. You don't get better just watching, which you will be doing more of shooting top flight players. Sure you may pick up a few things here and there, like racking well, playing safe better or shooting better under pressure knowing if you miss you are done. However, ultimately you will have less opportunity to do those things because you will be watching and racking more.

Ultimately what you need to do, regardless of the league and the quality of players you play, is practice better because it is that time when you are stroking the ball, working on control and training your "mind's eye" that is going to make you the best you can be. Surely someone like yourself that has improved so much over the 2 years knows that when I say practice I don't mean play actual games, but to do drills over and over and over.
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It's time to start playing one pocket! I mean in addition to continuing to play regular league. First, it's fun. Second, it will open up some new patterns and safeties for you, and I bet many or most of the 7s you rank as ahead of you for now play it a lot.

Some will say the bunting in 1P is contrary to a 9-ball stroke (and even 8-ball), but I don't think that's the case as long as you play a fair amount of both.
 
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