New thread idea- a how did you do

[prewarhero]

I hope this one takes cause I like the idea behind it and i don't think it is as dumb as a silencer post (but if I am wrong let me know).

We all play in tournements and most of us are not at the levels of Keith, sarah and grady. We should do a thread where we discuss how we did at our local tourneys. I posted last week that I finally placed and what I did wrong. And people were very supportive. If we discuss it, the conversation will lead to things like stradegy and mental game as well. And the best place to show your ability is at a tourney.

So, I will start with todays tournement.
I placed fourth. In the first semi final round it went hill hill. I just got out played. But, it was 8 ball and I will be dammed if just about every game turned into a chess match with saftey after safety. It seemed like each game we each had a ball or two left and we had to play safe since neither one of us seemed to have a high percentage shot with a shot on the 8 or our next ball. Looking back, there were some shots I should have made, and i didn't because of the pressure (mental game), but I don't think I made any bad choices in my selections. I also missed shape a few times by not juding the speed of the table well enough.

So there ya go, let's see if this thread idea works and we can all support and teach each other.
Jordan
BTW fourth in this tournement paid diddly.......

 

[Kevin]

I'll bite.

I'm a fairly strong B player, in the running to win some of the monthly B&C player 9-ball tournaments locally here in Japan, with about 40 entrants average. Over the last year out of say 15 B&C tournaments entered, I won 4, placed 2nd, 3rd twice, and 4th once, knocked out sometimes first or third match (single elimination) other times.

Strong safety play, banking, and shot selection with an element of defense (2-way shots) so if I miss I leave them long and hooked, and me with shape on the next ball, is my forte. If I miss on the 8-ball, you can be pretty confident the 9 will be blocking your view with a hung-up 8 in the corner. Pure offense I don't have, lacking the consistency to break and run-out more than say 15% of the time on average. Aiming accuracy suffers when spinning whitey around the table on almost every shot.

Usually in tournaments if I don't watch the flow chart and just get up and play, having fun, it goes well and the final match comes as a surprise. I have come to realize that if I look at the chart, and notice that the next opponent closed out his previous matches with scores like 4-0, 4-1 and such, I get a little voice upstairs saying "this guys a shooter!" and I get tight, tentative, and am looking for early safeties to try and cool him off, get him frustrated and wondering why his stroke is now off and generally break his confidence early. It often works, but sometimes if I choose a safety and execute a couple poorly, I'm the one who's confidence breaks.

Two weeks ago, I had a tough opening match and was down 3-0 in a race to 4, brought it back to hill-hill 3-3, then started looking for a fast win by carom-nudging the 9 twice, finally into the jaws of the corner pocket. I misjudged my opponent a bit, thinking he would try the run-out, but who instead coolly banked the deuce into the 9 for the match. Live and learn.

Recently in another open tournament, an "A" player gave me fits, noticing I did not appreciate the cue frozen to the foot rail one diamond from the pocket, and the object ball diagonally on the head rail one diamond out. I would normally try a spin shot off the bottom cushion if the cue-ball was off the rail, but jacked-up... yuck. Missed it. Naturally, he did it again to me, identical leave. Smart player, he noticed the weakness and pounced. Later I practiced the shot some trying half-ball hits, 4-rail banking, etc. but there is simply little to no cue-ball control from there. I found the shot I liked best was a semi-masse, jacking up with low inside english aiming about two balls away from the hit, and just accepting that the ball will curve with a power stroke got me to about 50-60% slicing it in, not great but better than other options I tried out.

Good luck~