New Pool Player survey... your game.

[Icon of Sin]

1. Have you ever had a break and run?
2. What was your largest pack (Practice or against an opponent)?
3. Do you gamble? If so, cheap or expensive or both?
4. How much have you ever won in one night?
5. Have you ever read a book to help you improve your game and has it helped?
6. Do you think gambling will help/hurt/do nothing to your game?
7. Have you won a singles tournament before?
8. What was your best moment shooting pool?
9. Can you describe your first break and run against an opponent. if so, lets hear it.

Just thought these few questions would be fun.

 

[TX Poolnut]

1. Have you ever had a break and run?
2. What was your largest pack (Practice or against an opponent)?
3. Do you gamble? If so, cheap or expensive or both?
4. How much have you ever won in one night?
5. Have you ever read a book to help you improve your game and has it helped?
6. Do you think gambling will help/hurt/do nothing to your game?
7. Have you won a singles tournament before?
8. What was your best moment shooting pool?
9. Can you describe your first break and run against an opponent. if so, lets hear it.

Just thought these few questions would be fun.

1. yes
2. 5 packed the 9-ball ghost without ball in hand
3. yes. cheap
4. 375.00
5. yes. yes.
6. helps
7. yes
8. running 8 and out playing 1P from the break or running 59 in 14.1.
9. cant remember.

 

[bomber]

1. Yes
2. 4 pack
3. Yes (cheap to mid level: $100 sets or less)
4. 300-500 (i dont remember the wins, i remember the losses)
5. Yes (shots, moves, and strategies) & Yes
6. Help your game
7. Yes (several local tournaments)
8. Break and Run short rack bank of all nine balls. Made one on the break, spotted it up, and nailed it cross side to run nine in row from the break.
9. No

 

[nyjoe14.1]

1) yes
2) 6 balls
3) yes, both
4) 1500 range
5) yes, it helped but not as much as expected
6) its the only wat to get better, i still can't believe that is up for debate
7) yes
8) winning my first tournament, or my first run over 50 in 14.1
9) ???

 

[Icon of Sin]

1. Have you ever had a break and run?
2. What was your largest pack (Practice or against an opponent)?
3. Do you gamble? If so, cheap or expensive or both?
4. How much have you ever won in one night?
5. Have you ever read a book to help you improve your game and has it helped?
6. Do you think gambling will help/hurt/do nothing to your game?
7. Have you won a singles tournament before?
8. What was your best moment shooting pool?
9. Can you describe your first break and run against an opponent. if so, lets hear it.

Just thought these few questions would be fun.

1. Yes
2. 2
3. Yes, normally cheap.
4. 40 bucks playing 8-ball 10 a rack.
5. Yes and Yes
6. Help
7. Yes, couple of local ones.
8. A few weeks ago playing on league night, had 2 break and runs on a 9 footer in a race 6 in 9-ball. Plus I player pretty good all around.
9. My first break and run against an opponent happened when I was on APA league and back when I was a SL4. I snapped 4 balls in on the break and ran 2 balls and slopped the 6 ball and and ran the other 2. I was pretty happy.

 

[Cameron Smith]

1. Have you ever had a break and run? Yes
2. What was your largest pack (Practice or against an opponent)? 6 racks 9 ball in practice, 4 racks 9 ball in a match
3. Do you gamble? If so, cheap or expensive or both? Define expensive, lol. I think most would define me as cheap.
4. How much have you ever won in one night? $175
5. Have you ever read a book to help you improve your game and has it helped? Yes I have read a few books, and I feel as though everyone of them have contributed something
6. Do you think gambling will help/hurt/do nothing to your game? It helps the mental game for sure
7. Have you won a singles tournament before? No never played tournaments. Strictly a back room player at the moment
8. What was your best moment shooting pool? 99 and out playing straight pool, then shooting one more ball for a 100 ball run.
9. Can you describe your first break and run against an opponent. if so, lets hear it. Not much to it. I was a casual player for about a few months before I managed the feat. I was playing 8 ball, I broke and played every shot without any semblance of position play, and was lucky enough to land on the 8. After I shot the ball I was sure I missed it, but sure enough it went in.
My first 9 ball break and run was in practice about a month after I ran the 8 ball rack. I had just watched pool on tv for the first time and I was determined to get a break and out. I showed up at the pool hall with my friends at around 6:00, they left at 11:00 and I continued at it. At 2:00 AM after a few almosts I managed the feat. Soon after my friends lost interest in pool and I started practicing and became a more serious player, and bought a cue four months later.

 

[CrownCityCorey]

1. Have you ever had a break and run?
2. What was your largest pack (Practice or against an opponent)?
3. Do you gamble? If so, cheap or expensive or both?
4. How much have you ever won in one night?
5. Have you ever read a book to help you improve your game and has it helped?
6. Do you think gambling will help/hurt/do nothing to your game?
7. Have you won a singles tournament before?
8. What was your best moment shooting pool?
9. Can you describe your first break and run against an opponent. if so, lets hear it.

Just thought these few questions would be fun.

1. Yes, many.
2. 9-Ball I have no clue. I always believed it was 5, however I have been down really far in matches to 7, 9 or 11 where I just ran the set from somewhere. I can never remember those (zone?). Playing 8-ball, I ran a 7 Pack about a year ago.
3. I used to quite a bit. Now as a working stiff, I will only play super cheap. I work to hard for my little money now.
4. Like $4k.
5. I have read many books in an effort to improve my game. No complete book really helped much. Just little bits and pieces from several (it takes a library).
6. With the limited number of tough tournaments to play in, gambling is the best way for an intermediate to advanced player to improve their game. The future of the sport may prove different though.
7. Yessir. Quite a lot of them over the years. Many, many, many local events. Several regional/semi-pro events. I am still pushing for my 1st Pro event win.
8. Man, can there be a tougher question than that one? This will take me a while. Now I remember, beating Efren Reyes playing even 9-Ball cheap sets!!! We played for about 6-7 hours.
9. That was so long ago I have no clue.

 

[Black Cat 5791]

1. Have you ever had a break and run? YES
2. What was your largest pack (Practice or against an opponent)? 2 (8 BALL)
3. Do you gamble? If so, cheap or expensive or both? YES, CHEAP SETS
4. How much have you ever won in one night? $100.00
5. Have you ever read a book to help you improve your game and has it helped? YES, YES
6. Do you think gambling will help/hurt/do nothing to your game? HELPS, EXCEPT LAST NIGHT
7. Have you won a singles tournament before? YES
8. What was your best moment shooting pool? IT WASN'T LAST NIGHT
9. Can you describe your first break and run against an opponent. if so, lets hear it. I REMEBER IT ABOUT 4 YEARS AGO LEAGUE MATCH, THE LAST TIME MY GIRL FRIEND ACTUALLY CAME TO SEE ME PLAY, AND I FEEL GOOD WAS PLAYING ON THE JUKEBOX.

 

[Brentboy]

1. Have you ever had a break and run?
2. What was your largest pack (Practice or against an opponent)?
3. Do you gamble? If so, cheap or expensive or both?
4. How much have you ever won in one night?
5. Have you ever read a book to help you improve your game and has it helped?
6. Do you think gambling will help/hurt/do nothing to your game?
7. Have you won a singles tournament before?
8. What was your best moment shooting pool?
9. Can you describe your first break and run against an opponent. if so, lets hear it.

1) Yes
2) 3 racks in 8 and 9-ball
3) Yes. Almost as cheap as possible
4) 125$
5) Yes and yes it helped
6) Good for the mental game
7) Not yet, but many second and third places
8) Winning an opponent at the European Champs in 2005
9) Cant remember the first unfortunately

 

[Jude Rosenstock]

1. Have you ever had a break and run?
2. What was your largest pack (Practice or against an opponent)?
3. Do you gamble? If so, cheap or expensive or both?
4. How much have you ever won in one night?
5. Have you ever read a book to help you improve your game and has it helped?
6. Do you think gambling will help/hurt/do nothing to your game?
7. Have you won a singles tournament before?
8. What was your best moment shooting pool?
9. Can you describe your first break and run against an opponent. if so, lets hear it.

Just thought these few questions would be fun.

1. Yes
2. 5, did it twice
3. Yes. Relatively cheap. $20-$100 Rarely more or less
4. Gambling? $600
5. Yes, several.
6. Depends on the person
7. Yes
8. Beating Mika Immonen even in a race to 9.
9. I honestly cannot remember.

 

[ATH]

1: Yes
2: About 5 in a money game
3: From low low to high high
4: Maybe a couple thousand
5: I have read a lot of books and watched a lot of games on dvd, i think it helps a little, not so much on technique but on patterns and it gives me insight in possible ways to play the balls.
6: I would say it helps, but what do i know..
7: Dont play tournaments, but i beat a lot of the players on the tour
8: Playing a guy 9ball race to 5, and he did not shoot at all.
9: I broke and ran out, not much more to it. Except i sank four balls on the break and got a kiss on the nine.

 

[NotYou]

1. Have you ever had a break and run? -> Yes
2. What was your largest pack (Practice or against an opponent)? -> 4-5
3. Do you gamble? If so, cheap or expensive or both? -> yes, relatively cheap
4. How much have you ever won in one night? -> few hundred
5. Have you ever read a book to help you improve your game and has it helped? -> Play Your Best Pool by Philip B. Capelle, got me from a C player to A player
6. Do you think gambling will help/hurt/do nothing to your game? -> It helps my game as it's the only way I can get enough pressure on me to make myself perform.
7. Have you won a singles tournament before? -> Yes
8. What was your best moment shooting pool? -> 1. Winning a set in 9 ball 7-1 straight up against an opponent that normally spots me. 2. Beating an A player while still a C player in a tournament, race to 4, alternate break. Made the 9 on my first three breaks, combo the 9 for the fourth.
9. Can you describe your first break and run against an opponent. if so, lets hear it. -> don't remember, too many drugs between now and then....

 

[gromulan]

1. Have you ever had a break and run?
2. What was your largest pack (Practice or against an opponent)?
3. Do you gamble? If so, cheap or expensive or both?
4. How much have you ever won in one night?
5. Have you ever read a book to help you improve your game and has it helped?
6. Do you think gambling will help/hurt/do nothing to your game?
7. Have you won a singles tournament before?
8. What was your best moment shooting pool?
9. Can you describe your first break and run against an opponent. if so, lets hear it.

Just thought these few questions would be fun.

1. Yes
2. 10 against an opponent. In practice I have no idea.
3. Yes - both
4. $4000+
5. Yes, when I was first starting. I took it out of the library and it helped a lot at the time. I can't remember what it was called, though.
6. It will help if you let it.
7. Yes
8. Having 3000+ people cheer and applaud when I was introduced at a tournament.
9. No, but I can remember my first 100+ run at snooker. It was a very open table and I ran a total '15 red' clearance of 127 without shooting the black until the very end. I think i was about 18.

 

[Koop]

1. Have you ever had a break and run?
2. What was your largest pack (Practice or against an opponent)?
3. Do you gamble? If so, cheap or expensive or both?
4. How much have you ever won in one night?
5. Have you ever read a book to help you improve your game and has it helped?
6. Do you think gambling will help/hurt/do nothing to your game?
7. Have you won a singles tournament before?
8. What was your best moment shooting pool?
9. Can you describe your first break and run against an opponent. if so, lets hear it.

1. Yes
2. 2(8-Ball), 3(9-Ball)
3. Not usually but cheap sets if I do.
4. $500 playing partners
5. Robert Byrne books / Accu-Stats videos and yes, it has helped.
6. Help
7. Yes
8. Going undefeated in Vegas and running my only 3-pack on my opponent.
9. Absolutely. It was the first singles tournament I ever won and it came against my best friend.

 

[laser2507]

1. Have you ever had a break and run?
2. What was your largest pack (Practice or against an opponent)?
3. Do you gamble? If so, cheap or expensive or both?
4. How much have you ever won in one night?
5. Have you ever read a book to help you improve your game and has it helped?
6. Do you think gambling will help/hurt/do nothing to your game?
7. Have you won a singles tournament before?
8. What was your best moment shooting pool?
9. Can you describe your first break and run against an opponent. if so, lets hear it.

Just thought these few questions would be fun.

Answers to the Q's

1) - Yes
2) - 5 pack in practise, 2 pack in comp... something about comps eh?
3) not really
4) £1,000
5) Yes, many books, Yes
6) Help
7) Yes
8) Amazing 4pack at 8ball in practise, very good shots etc
9) Felt like losing that special thing on the beach!

 

[Blackjack]

1. Have you ever had a break and run? Yes. Many.

2. What was your largest pack (Practice or against an opponent)? I think it was 8. Short racks in there, and a few 9's on the snap.

3. Do you gamble? If so, cheap or expensive or both? Not anymore. Expensive.

4. How much have you ever won in one night? I plead the 5th.

5. Have you ever read a book to help you improve your game and has it helped? Yes and I have also written a few.

6. Do you think gambling will help/hurt/do nothing to your game?Depends. I think its a combination of rising to the occasion and believing in yourself and in your abilities deep down in your heart.If you don't believe in yourself, nobody else will, not even the cue ball.

7. Have you won a singles tournament before? Yes.

8. What was your best moment shooting pool? My best moment shooting pool... actually it was a combination of shooting and sitting in the chair... I was shooting straight pool with the late Cowboy Jimmy Moore. I ran a hundred or so on him, got stuck and played safe. Jimmy (75 or 76 years old at the time) gets up and proceeds to run 120 and out. I felt great that I smacked in a hundred on a legend, but at the same time I felt great for getting the ass whooping and having the opportunity to watch a master at work.

9. Can you describe your first break and run against an opponent. if so, lets hear it.
I cant remember that far back.

 

[Williebetmore]

1. Have you ever had a break and run?
2. What was your largest pack (Practice or against an opponent)?
3. Do you gamble? If so, cheap or expensive or both?
4. How much have you ever won in one night?
5. Have you ever read a book to help you improve your game and has it helped?
6. Do you think gambling will help/hurt/do nothing to your game?
7. Have you won a singles tournament before?
8. What was your best moment shooting pool?
9. Can you describe your first break and run against an opponent. if so, lets hear it.

.

I've run a 5 pack in 9-ball on a tight table (total luck, 2 9's on the break, 1 early combo, 2 B & R's). My high run in straight pool is 45 against a better player on a tight table.

I gamble whenever necessary to get a game with a good player, and whenever anyone challenges me sight unseen. If I feel I have any chance at all, then I try to double the bet just to put a seed of doubt in their mind - I don't care about the money (please don't tell my wife I said that).

I've won $400 in one session (lost 2/3 at 9-ball for $100 a set, then got challenged to straight pool for $500 and won that set handily - against a better player who didn't know straight pool).

I have bought, read, and studied almost every book in print (and many out of print) on pool. Every little bit of knowledge helps; you never know when you will recognize something that will freak out an opponent when you use it.

I hope gambling helps your game, because my main instructor is INSISTING that I do it to get better. It's DEFINITELY one good way to learn to play under pressure (which of course is absolutely essential to competitive pool).

I've played in 4, 9-ball tournaments in my life (only been playing 4 1/2 years), have won 2 of them (2 and out in the other 2 - go figure). I did win a 10-ball ring game at Mark Wilson's room (4 players, I doubt that counts, but damn it was fun).

I have a regular straight pool game with a former #1 player; after 3 years of losses, I FINALLY won a game (please don't mention that I get a large spot). I also beat Jennifer Barretta a race to 5 in 9-ball, spotting her the break (zeeder was using my break cue) - yes, I was very lucky. By the way; the joy of these victories was NOT in any way related to any thoughts of superiority; it was just a fabulous experience to play half-decently against far superior players - a real joy, and one not always readily available to afficionado's in other sports.

Of course, my greatest accomplishment will be pulverizing that no-good, know-nothing, nit breakup at the 2007 DCC for one large bag of sand (assuming that sniveling dog can get a leave-of-absence from the Anchorage Delicatessen and Home for the Criminally Insane).

 

[sniper]

1. Have you ever had a break and run?
2. What was your largest pack (Practice or against an opponent)?
3. Do you gamble? If so, cheap or expensive or both?
4. How much have you ever won in one night?
5. Have you ever read a book to help you improve your game and has it helped?
6. Do you think gambling will help/hurt/do nothing to your game?
7. Have you won a singles tournament before?
8. What was your best moment shooting pool?
9. Can you describe your first break and run against an opponent. if so, lets hear it.

Just thought these few questions would be fun.

1. Yes
2. 3pack (9ball)
3. Yes, quite cheap
4. $250 (just an estimate)
5. Yes, it helped alot with my basics.
6. Definitely help my game.
7. No, rarely play tournaments however.
8. Winning a $200 pot playing three ball, that game is so addicting!
9. My memory isn't that good

 

[Gregg]

1. Have you ever had a break and run? Yes
2. What was your largest pack (Practice or against an opponent)? N/A
3. Do you gamble? If so, cheap or expensive or both? No, but I would cheap
4. How much have you ever won in one night? N/A
5. Have you ever read a book to help you improve your game and has it helped? Yes, I have a small DVD, VHS and book library
6. Do you think gambling will help/hurt/do nothing to your game? N/A (don't know)
7. Have you won a singles tournament before? NO
8. What was your best moment shooting pool? Some of my loses where I played very well vs. much better shooters
9. Can you describe your first break and run against an opponent. if so, lets hear it. I broke, and ran out. I got a small APA patch to show for it. I wear it on my jean jacket vest to big matches. (just kidding).

Just thought these few questions would be fun.

--------------------------

 

[LostShootinStar]

1. Have you ever had a break and run?
2. What was your largest pack (Practice or against an opponent)?
3. Do you gamble? If so, cheap or expensive or both?
4. How much have you ever won in one night?
5. Have you ever read a book to help you improve your game and has it helped?
6. Do you think gambling will help/hurt/do nothing to your game?
7. Have you won a singles tournament before?
8. What was your best moment shooting pool?
9. Can you describe your first break and run against an opponent. if so, lets hear it.

Just thought these few questions would be fun.

Since everyone here seems to be fairly experienced. ill start one from a beginners perspective (approx. 3 months of play)

1. No
2. 0.9
3. havnt gambled yet.
4. i won a free coke once
5. no books, but a TON of forum and internet articles. it has helped a lot
6. help!
7. never played singles. wish i could find a local singles tourny. i hate team play
8. I ran all 8 balls in an 8 ball game (i didnt break though, so i dont count it as a BAR)
9. Like i said, i didnt break, but i did run the balls. it was the coolest feeling ever and i cant wait to do it again!