Playing Advice Needed?

SCCues

SCCues

< Searing Twins
Silver Member
I need some advice and opinions from some of the forum members.

I play in a weekly 9 ball league and the league rated me to play as an AA handicap which is where the top players play. I would have to rate myself as a lower end AA or maybe a good A player, but I’ve asked about being lowered to play A players and the league refuses to lower my handicap.

Our weekly matches are a race to 9 games with winner breaks on a Valley Bar Box. I was winning about 50% of my matches at best and I decided to work on my game and I tried to practice a little every day if possible. I improved and won 9 matches in a row prior to Labor Day. We took a week off for Labor Day and I was feeling good about my game because I’d won against all but one of the top players in the league in my 9 week winning streak. Well we came back after the two week break for Labor Day and I haven’t won a match since. How could I go from winning 9 weeks straight to losing every week. I should have won a few of the matches during my losing streak due to just plain bad luck with players getting good rolls off missed shots and making 9 balls on the break, but those are the rules.

I’ve lost my confidence and to be frank I’m not enjoying playing like I use to. After losing so much I’m questioning whether I want to keep playing. I’ve asked the league operators about lowering me to an A level, but because they think I’m a top level player they won’t hear of it. One problem is my age and I don’t have the strength and stamina I used to have. I can’t play as well because I just can’t break like I used to and I have aches and pains I never knew you could have.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.
 
Tuff call, not knowing details about the league dynamics or the deciosion/ consideration process.

Hopefully, the determination is made through the analysis of statistical and non subjective metrics.
 
Focus on what you can control and be positive.

The game can be brutal, no doubt about it. The rolls, good and bad are something you cannot control. Focus on what you do have control over and stay in the positive mindset. Don't worry about losing because it's a trap. Play the game one shot at a time. Be realistic about the layout of the table. You need to decide if you can run out or not and if you can't run out, plan to play safe until the table turns in your favor. Play to your strengths, then work on your weaknesses in practice. Like Fast Eddie Felson said, "the balls roll funny for everybody."
 
Big C said:
The game can be brutal, no doubt about it. The rolls, good and bad are something you cannot control. Focus on what you do have control over and stay in the positive mindset. Don't worry about losing because it's a trap. Play the game one shot at a time. Be realistic about the layout of the table. You need to decide if you can run out or not and if you can't run out, plan to play safe until the table turns in your favor. Play to your strengths, then work on your weaknesses in practice. Like Fast Eddie Felson said, "the balls roll funny for everybody."
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Great post and it reminds me of something i've heard for years, but I tend to forget and it's "Play the Balls and not your opponent". Don't worry about who your playing or how good they are just go to the table and make the right decision based on the layout.
 
Like Black-balled said I don't know the structure of this league, but I played an in-house league for years that handicapped by AA-A-B-C. I was an A, giving the 7 & 8 to C-players who could actually play.
Before I figured out how to win giving up the 7 & 8 to guys that can run 4 or 5 balls, I complained and was told "you're not supposed to win".

When you get ranked high in these leagues, sometimes overrated, you are just not supposed to win all the time.
One thing I would look into is what you are doing for a "warm-up" before these matches.
 
If you are playing under your level, lowering your handicap will not suddenly make you play better. I would suggest forgetting about the ranking and your win/loss column and figure out why you were able to win so many games before the Labor Day break but aren't able to win now.

For what it is worth, I agree with the league operator about not lowering your handicap. If they lower your handicap and you get into stroke again you will be destroying the competition. You've proven you can play at that level, now figure out why you are in a slump.
 
Bummer. Try to keep positive about it. We've all had stretches of losses and we all know how just a few unlucky rolls can cost a match or two. Sounds like you are getting screwed by a subjective handicap system to me though. Say what you want about the APA but their handicap system has no subjectivity to it whatsoever. If you lost 9 straight weeks in APA you definitely would have been lowered by now. Good luck.
 
That is the beauty of leagues....eventually your speed will be leveled out just a hair too high. Try playing giving up more weight than you have to in leagues to push you a little harder. If you train to win harder games then the easier ones get even easier.
 
PaulieB said:
If you are playing under your level, lowering your handicap will not suddenly make you play better. I would suggest forgetting about the ranking and your win/loss column and figure out why you were able to win so many games before the Labor Day break but aren't able to win now.

For what it is worth, I agree with the league operator about not lowering your handicap. If they lower your handicap and you get into stroke again you will be destroying the competition. You've proven you can play at that level, now figure out why you are in a slump.
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I agree. I was wondering how the OP won so many games in a row against the leagues best players...was HE getting the lucky rolls...or was he just shooting lights-out? If it was his shooting that was the reason for the 9 matches won in a row...then there is no reason to move him down a level...as he has already proved that he can hang with the big boys.

I think the OP is confusing the won-lost record...equating it with shooting bad pool...when in fact, he probably is still shooting good enough pool to be playing even with the AA players. I remember one 8-ball league that I played in one session where I was shooting some of the best pool I've ever played...but only won one match that session. This past session...I lost my first match when I couldn't outrun the spot...then I won 10 straight matches. Pool can be like that....winning/losing runs in cycles.

Maniac
 
Maniac said:
I agree. I was wondering how the OP won so many games in a row against the leagues best players...was HE getting the lucky rolls...or was he just shooting lights-out? If it was his shooting that was the reason for the 9 matches won in a row...then there is no reason to move him down a level...as he has already proved that he can hang with the big boys.

I think the OP is confusing the won-lost record...equating it with shooting bad pool...when in fact, he probably is still shooting good enough pool to be playing even with the AA players. I remember one 8-ball league that I played in one session where I was shooting some of the best pool I've ever played...but only won one match that session. This past session...I lost my first match when I couldn't outrun the spot...then I won 10 straight matches. Pool can be like that....winning/losing runs in cycles.

Maniac
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The matches are a straight race to nine games with no spot. We flip a coin for the first break and see what happens.

I like yours and PaulieB's posts and you have some great thoughts.
 
Johnnyt said:
We all go through this in pool. Get back on the horse. Johnnyt
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You're right Johnny and i've been through slumps before, but this slump is lasting longer than I remember some of the other dark days of my pool career.

Thanks for the input.
 
JBB2388 said:
Bummer. Try to keep positive about it. We've all had stretches of losses and we all know how just a few unlucky rolls can cost a match or two. Sounds like you are getting screwed by a subjective handicap system to me though. Say what you want about the APA but their handicap system has no subjectivity to it whatsoever. If you lost 9 straight weeks in APA you definitely would have been lowered by now. Good luck.
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You're right about the APA handicap system spotting and adjusting someone's handicap up or down when they lose like i'm describing. Since our league is a local league run by two local players (they are great guys by the way and friends of mine) they determine a players speed from what they know and have seen of the player. They have moved players up and down, but they won't budge on my handicap. I started as an AA player and that's where they think I should be. I'm not getting any younger and my age is hurting my game with aches and pains and a weaker break than I used to have.
 
So you had the 9 win streak, took a week off, then lost... something like 17 weeks in a row?
Damn man.
That is a hell of a long time to go without a win.

Obviously you don't feel the handicapping is fair.
That's easy to confirm if your league keeps stats like win rate.
The goal of any handicapping system is to get everyone around 50%.
Like in our APA league, my teammates lifetime win rates are 51%, 55%, 52%, 49%, 53%.

You should see if other A / AA players have losing records.
Maybe the system is unbalanced and asks good players to give up too much weight.

Obviously you have other issues too, I'm just saying to keep this in mind...
If the system's fair, you were "supposed" to lose about 9 matches to make up for that 9 match win streak.
Losing them all in a row, and then some, makes it feel worse than it is.

Don't get too superstitious about streaks, instead just honestly ask yourself why you aren't
able to play your best game in league. I can think of a few possibilities.

- Bored with it?
- Feel like the handicap is an impossible mountain to climb, esp. vs weaker players?
- Feels like work or a chore, isn't fun, stresses you out, too much pressure?
- Don't like the room or atmosphere, would rather be doing something else?
- Hate barbox 9b, it's too easy, too much luck, inferior players are beating you cuz of the format?
 
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cuesblues said:
Like Black-balled said I don't know the structure of this league,
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3 man teams
AA, A, & B make up each team
3 matches are played each week (each player plays one match)
Each match is a race to 9 games with no spot, flip a coin for the break and the first player to reach 9 games ends the match.
The winner gets 10 points and the loser gets a point for each game they won.
At the end of the third match the scores are totaled to see which team won and the each weeks totals are added at the end of the session (usually 14 weeks) to see who finishes first through fourth place.

One thing I would look into is what you are doing for a "warm-up" before these matches.
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That's one of my problems, I haven't been warming up enough before the matches.
 
Every pool player has experienced this "slump" feeling, I call this a feeling because its also a sign of mental weakness. Even top players experience this from time to time, but that's the nature of the beast.
Here are some of the pointers that I will suggest a friend who is going through a "slump" : -
1). Make your pre-shot routine strong. Watch out for the things you are doing different when you are not at your best.
2). Take some time and go back to your fundamentals and work on them.
3). Think about the past when you were playing great try to remember those moments. You are the same guy right ?? You did it once so you can do this again.
4). If your opponent is getting "lucky" or balls are rolling good for them don't get disappointed. All you need is one shot and you know that. Just wait for your turn.

Always remember that everyone misses and that you can't win everything. Just try to enjoy the game that you love.
 
SCCues said:
3 man teams
AA, A, & B make up each team
3 matches are played each week (each player plays one match)
Each match is a race to 9 games with no spot, flip a coin for the break and the first player to reach 9 games ends the match.
The winner gets 10 points and the loser gets a point for each game they won.
At the end of the third match the scores are totaled to see which team won and the each weeks totals are added at the end of the session (usually 14 weeks) to see who finishes first through fourth place.


That's one of my problems, I haven't been warming up enough before the matches.
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If there is no handicap or spot, what difference does it make what your rating is?
Do you match the AA's, A's, B's against each other every week?
That takes all the fun out of it, they may as well just schedule the matches.
 
cuesblues said:
If there is no handicap or spot, what difference does it make what your rating is?
Do you match the AA's, A's, B's against each other every week?
That takes all the fun out of it, they may as well just schedule the matches.
Click to expand...

All the matches are even races AA against AA, A against A, etc. I know before I get there that I'm going to play a top player a race to 9 games even race no spot.
 
prad said:
Every pool player has experienced this "slump" feeling, I call this a feeling because its also a sign of mental weakness. Even top players experience this from time to time, but that's the nature of the beast.
Here are some of the pointers that I will suggest a friend who is going through a "slump" : -
1). Make your pre-shot routine strong. Watch out for the things you are doing different when you are not at your best.
2). Take some time and go back to your fundamentals and work on them.
3). Think about the past when you were playing great try to remember those moments. You are the same guy right ?? You did it once so you can do this again.
4). If your opponent is getting "lucky" or balls are rolling good for them don't get disappointed. All you need is one shot and you know that. Just wait for your turn.

Always remember that everyone misses and that you can't win everything. Just try to enjoy the game that you love.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the tips and everyone of them makes perfect sense in order to play your best.
 
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