Playing better players

SpiderWebComm

SpiderWebComm

HelpImBeingOppressed
Silver Member
I just moved into a new area and started to play a few guys who are way better than me (a few consistent 100 ball runners, state champs and pros). I have to admit, I haven't won a 14.1 game in a while and my 1hole wins are pretty sparse as well. That said, I can't remember having more fun playing. It almost feels like I got a new PlayStation/XBOX game and haven't beaten the level yet (although I may never).

How much of your playing time is split between people you can't beat and people you can? Is it important to "win?"

I think I'd honestly rather lose to someone while playing well than beat someone I should. Maybe it's like knowing you can always get the ugly girl and have no chance w/ the hot one.

What I've come to realize is it forces me to play within my ability. If you lie to yourself, you sit forever. Playing w/in your ability (statistically) I think is one of the hardest skills to learn unless you're getting destroyed.
 
As with any sport, competing against stronger competition will only make you better. I would keep playing with those guys until you start beating them on a semi-regular basis.
 
I wish there was better players in my area. I'm not saying I'm the best, but everyone around here is pretty close. There is no one that really stands out above the group.

Phil Burford was here for a while. It was good to see someone play at a high level. Other than that, the closest real strong players are about an hour away.
 
Many years ago I used to play a guy straight pool and beat his brains out consistantly.As time went on he became harder to beat. And finally he was very hard to beat. Did he get better on his own or did he learn from me? I don't know but something happened.
 
Dave,

I know you are a great conversationalist, with a wide range of interests, have a good sense of humor, are well-educated, that you are interesting, play pool well, have your own dough and are just a great guy to hang out with, but..............besides that.

What are you doing to get these better players to play?

Are you gambling with them?

Or do they simply enjoy practicing with new opponents to test the new competition and/or do they just like practicing for free?

Keep us posted on your new journey. It sounds like fun.
 
Winning isn't important if you are just playing for a few dollars and can afford to pay for the lesson.


Now watching someone run 100 balls is okay if you are watching an exhibition. If you are in the game and watching, it is a little frustrating racking and not shooting. It will definitely make you try harder, but it could also get you frustrated to make you want to give up.


I know the difference between a 40 ball runner and a 100 ball runner could be just a couple misses away, but hopefully after a while you may get into a routine and stop missing and start making the balls.


Hopefully good things will rub off and you'll be the 100 ball man.:smile:
 
SpiderWebComm said:
How much of your playing time is split between people you can't beat and people you can? Is it important to "win?"

I think I'd honestly rather lose to someone while playing well than beat someone I should.
Click to expand...

I find myself playing more people that I can beat (I say this because I usually come out of a league session or a tournament with a winning record), but my preference is to play people my speed or better. Winning has never been important to me. Shooting well is my main goal. I'm not saying I don't want to win because obviously winning is satisfying, I'm just saying that playing well and just plain PLAYING is the reason why I do it. I just love the game. Never see the same table layout twice. Many complexities. It's wonderful!!!

I too had rather lose to someone while playing well than beat someone I should. I always tell my league Captains that I prefer to "play up" than down. I had much rather give a better player fits than best a player a level or two below me.

Maniac
 
I'm jealous. I always prefer to have regular playing partners who are better than me. There are better players in my league but I'm just getting to know people there and haven't played any of them outside of league. I've risen above the guys I used to play with regularly and it's hard to elevate my game further practicing by myself all the time or with people who aren't as knowledgeable or as serious about their game (or as good) as me. Nothing against that because we all have time constraints and different interests, but it is about time for me to look for some new people to play with outside of tournaments and league play.

And of course I'd always rather play well and lose than play poorly and win. It might be different if I played for significant money, but I don't.
 
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JoeyA said:
Dave,

I know you are a great conversationalist, with a wide range of interests, have a good sense of humor, are well-educated, that you are interesting, play pool well, have your own dough and are just a great guy to hang out with, but..............besides that.

What are you doing to get these better players to play?

Are you gambling with them?

Or do they simply enjoy practicing with new opponents to test the new competition and/or do they just like practicing for free?

Keep us posted on your new journey. It sounds like fun.
Click to expand...

I just show them lots of respect. I don't usually gamble because it's hard to gauge your true level when getting weight. However, I do buy table time often w/ better players (and sometimes lots of cigarettes).
 
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there is a difference between playing and sitting. i believe everyone could agree that we all like to test our skills against better and stiffer opponents, but 100 ball runs ... i believe most of us would call that sitting.
 
SpiderWebComm said:
What I've come to realize is it forces me to play within my ability. If you lie to yourself, you sit forever. Playing w/in your ability (statistically) I think is one of the hardest skills to learn unless you're getting destroyed.
Click to expand...

This, my friend, is the Brass ring/holy grail/hot chick that you seek. No chit.

I know you are a solid amateur player. Short of playing top tier, world class players, you have the skills to win a few against these guys, just not the consistency to do it often. IMO, the bottom line is controlling the table. You control the table by staying within your abilities. Playing better players forces you to make your shotmaking more consistent, your safety play tighter and your kicking more reliable (these are the major points). These are the areas that will get tested most. If anything, you'll get instant feedback on the areas you're a lil weak in. One example might be what you thought was a good safety (in the past) turns out to not be that strong of a safe.

I hope your game jumps from playing these guys. BTW, where did you move to?


Eric >send me a PM
 
SpiderWebComm said:
I just moved into a new area and started to play a few guys who are way better than me (a few consistent 100 ball runners, state champs and pros). I have to admit, I haven't won a 14.1 game in a while and my 1hole wins are pretty sparse as well. That said, I can't remember having more fun playing. It almost feels like I got a new PlayStation/XBOX game and haven't beaten the level yet (although I may never).

How much of your playing time is split between people you can't beat and people you can? Is it important to "win?"

I think I'd honestly rather lose to someone while playing well than beat someone I should. Maybe it's like knowing you can always get the ugly girl and have no chance w/ the hot one.

What I've come to realize is it forces me to play within my ability. If you lie to yourself, you sit forever. Playing w/in your ability (statistically) I think is one of the hardest skills to learn unless you're getting destroyed.
Click to expand...

It makes you recognize weaknesses in your game and hopefully allows you to appreciate the fine skills and decision making a better player has developed.

The intelligent thing to take away from a beating is the desire to improve and some specific knowledge of what to improve.
 
SpiderWebComm said:
I just moved into a new area and started to play a few guys who are way better than me (a few consistent 100 ball runners, state champs and pros). I have to admit, I haven't won a 14.1 game in a while and my 1hole wins are pretty sparse as well. That said, I can't remember having more fun playing. It almost feels like I got a new PlayStation/XBOX game and haven't beaten the level yet (although I may never).

How much of your playing time is split between people you can't beat and people you can? Is it important to "win?"

I think I'd honestly rather lose to someone while playing well than beat someone I should. Maybe it's like knowing you can always get the ugly girl and have no chance w/ the hot one.

What I've come to realize is it forces me to play within my ability. If you lie to yourself, you sit forever. Playing w/in your ability (statistically) I think is one of the hardest skills to learn unless you're getting destroyed.
Click to expand...
That is what spots are for. I used to play my wife left handed and I became a good left handed player. As long as the two are not trying to rob each other you have to make games. Otherwise how can you play, people play at different levels.
I get nuts when I hear people say they never accept a spot and won't ever give one.
"IT MAKES NO SENSE"".
 
SpiderWebComm said:
I just moved into a new area and started to play a few guys who are way better than me (a few consistent 100 ball runners, state champs and pros). I have to admit, I haven't won a 14.1 game in a while and my 1hole wins are pretty sparse as well. That said, I can't remember having more fun playing. It almost feels like I got a new PlayStation/XBOX game and haven't beaten the level yet (although I may never).

How much of your playing time is split between people you can't beat and people you can? Is it important to "win?"

I think I'd honestly rather lose to someone while playing well than beat someone I should. Maybe it's like knowing you can always get the ugly girl and have no chance w/ the hot one.

What I've come to realize is it forces me to play within my ability. If you lie to yourself, you sit forever. Playing w/in your ability (statistically) I think is one of the hardest skills to learn unless you're getting destroyed.
Click to expand...

Consistent 100 ball runners are few and far between. If you have several you play regularly I would quit the game. Play something that gives you a chance to participate more. You can watch people run balls on youtube if that's what you want to do. Like I said, consistent 100 ball runners are few and far between. Perhaps a tiny exaggeration to make your main point?

JC
 
I think getting weight ruins my game and especially my mindset. I like to play the best people possible for experience. I never agreed that playing for cash adds pressure unless you're betting enough to really mean anything. If I'm betting enough to actually mean something, I want to be stealing. If I want to truly gamble, I'd go to the casino or buy Facebook stock. I like to make money...not gamble. Some call that nitty...I just call it smart. Playing for small amounts is like playing for free...and I'd rather try my heart out even for free and buy cigs and time. If I had extra money to blow, donating in a pool match is near the bottom of my list.

Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk 2
 
JC said:
Consistent 100 ball runners are few and far between. If you have several you play regularly I would quit the game. Play something that gives you a chance to participate more. You can watch people run balls on youtube if that's what you want to do. Like I said, consistent 100 ball runners are few and far between. Perhaps a tiny exaggeration to make your main point?

JC
Click to expand...

I actually underestimated. One guy used to bet he'd run 100 from a break shot. Unlike Lou, I don't drop names to make myself feel like I'm a champion.

Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk 2
 
measureman said:
Many years ago I used to play a guy straight pool and beat his brains out consistantly.As time went on he became harder to beat. And finally he was very hard to beat. Did he get better on his own or did he learn from me? I don't know but something happened.
Click to expand...

I took a couple young'ens an showed them a few things...now I have a hard time beating them...but their 25yrs younger...with better eyes..still enjoy explaining the game...now if I could just get them to park their egos a little...their not ready for deep water yet..but they do know who the big guns in town are...lol.
There are times I wonder what happend too..lol
 
We actually have 2 top tier girls here in town. I like playing with 1 of them. The other girl is a tad too arrogant. Both win the tournaments with really high frequency. I met a top tier 9 ball player, who plays close to flawless and awesome. But I feel bad because I don't feel I'm a challenge to him. We've played about 30 games together and I won 1. WOO! but it was a great feeling. Now I feel a little less bad. I do enjoy playing with most people, but I'm basically intermediate. David the 9 ball player thought he'd put me down as a 5 in 9 ball. Which sounded insane at first. But I suppose it's about right for intermediate???:o
 
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