Playing the Ghost, A Better way.

[christopheradam]

I have played the ghost in many of the games to improve my play but recently I found something that has really helped me and wanted to share it with everyone.

Play with another pool stick when you are playing as the ghost. So when its your turn you play with your normal cue and when its the ghost's turn you play with your break cue or a house cue. This has helped me keep track of how I'm doing and keeps me more focused on the game. Its like I am playing another player.
When you are playing the ghost you can have the ghost have a more aggressive game or more of a safety game. You could even play opposite handed when you are the ghost to simulate playing a beginning player. Unless your Efren Reyes and can play just as good opposite handed.

Another thing I thought of is wearing a hat when its the ghosts turn. This may be taking it a bit far but I will try it out. If I do it at my local pool hall I'll really look like a nut case.

I also found playing with another stick when your playing as the ghosts gives you some feedback on how you play with a certain stick. If you are playing better on a regular basis with a house cue or your break stick, chances are your playing cue may have too much deflection or my not suit you.

Playing as the ghost you can do things that you may never do in your own game. If your playing aggresive you can get to shoot some crazy shots you would never try in your normal game.

This may sound crazy to some people, but don't knock it till you try it. It has really helped me to keep focus on long practice sessions. I also found this helps me to keep track of who is who. Sometimes when I just play with my playing cue I tend to just play and by the end of the game I am thinking, how did I do and how did the opponent I was playing against do with no real feed back.

Let me know what you think of this and if you try it out let me know how it works for you. Any other suggestions for playing the ghost?

Heres a few I brainstormed:
1. Playing with the bridge as the ghost
2. Playing opposite handed(all ready mentioned but like the idea)
3. Putting all shots up against the rail
4. Banking all shot
5. Playing safties on all shots except last 2 balls on table.
6. playing all shots one handed
7. Playing all shots with eyes closed after lining up shot(excellent stroke builder)
8. The ghost gets to get ball in hand on every first shot in their inning.

Well thats all I got for now.

 

[CaptainJR]

I like it! I always have trouble remembering who is who. I'll be trying this and let you know. Actually I'm feel rather stupid for not thinking of it myself. LOL

Thank you
JR


Now to see if this old brain can remember to change sticks after each inning.

 

[Perk]

Play with another pool stick when you are playing as the ghost. .

Last time I checked, the Ghost if played correct wins on any miss you make, therefore the game is over. The Ghost plays like God and never has to shoot!

Interesting points just not the same as playing the ghost.

 

[CaptainJR]

Last time I checked, the Ghost if played correct wins on any miss you make, therefore the game is over. The Ghost plays like God and never has to shoot!

Interesting points just not the same as playing the ghost.

So I was wrong about how to play the ghost. Someone explain it please. Or is there several ways to play him? You lose on any miss sounds very severe. Just not realistic. How can I learn anything from or compete against God?

 

[chefjeff]

Last time I checked, the Ghost if played correct wins on any miss you make, therefore the game is over. The Ghost plays like God and never has to shoot!

Interesting points just not the same as playing the ghost.

It depends on what role the ghost is to play.

I either play the best player in the world where he can't escape from a really good hook...or I play the best player in the universe where he never misses or fails to win after my miss, no matter how good my safety. My best against the best in the universe in a race to 4, 8-ball, was hill-hill. I only did that once. He won 4-3, of course.

The best in the world (vs. the best in the universe) is a good one to play imho, as practicing safeties is important in the real world of pool.

Here's another thing I do when playing the ghost...When I miss, I do what I do in actual play: I go to my spot, put my cue in Chef Jeff's Cue Nook (available soon at a dealer near you) and stand and "watch" him runout.
I wait until he's done before I rerack. I "watch" each shot as he flawlessly works his way around the table. This helps me see the patterns for getting out and makes me be patient while he does it. I get to practice my self control, my thought control, and my acceptance of his win. This really mimicks what happens during real competition, especially the part we don't like.

Jeff Livingston

 

[GeraldG]

To play the ghost:

1. Rack for whatever game you're playing (usually 9-ball, 10-ball or 7-ball)

2. Break

3. Take ball-in-hand on the first shot after the break

4. run out.

If you fail to run out, the ghost wins.

 

[TheOne]

So I was wrong about how to play the ghost. Someone explain it please. Or is there several ways to play him? You lose on any miss sounds very severe. Just not realistic. How can I learn anything from or compete against God?

The only way I know is to to break and take the ball in hand afterwards. Then if you run out you win the frame but if you miss you lose (eg the ghost (god) would run out). I ahven't played this much but I usualy start off racing to a 5:0 lead or something, then think this is easy and end up dropping racks all over the place lol

But I'm sure there's various ways to "play the ghost"

 

[CaptainJR]

I get it now. The part I was missing was the 'ball in hand' part. Playing against God doesn't seem so severe if you start with Ball in Hand. OK, here we go agian.

 

[GeraldG]

So I was wrong about how to play the ghost. Someone explain it please. Or is there several ways to play him? You lose on any miss sounds very severe. Just not realistic. How can I learn anything from or compete against God?

Playing the ghost is a gambling proposition. You see a lot of good road players playing the ghost and railbirds betting either for the ghost or for the player. Most of the time they will do this when they can't get a game with someone else. It would be counter-productive to play the ghost if there is still some action to be had, because you have to show some speed to win. The player (or his stakehorse) will have a bet with some (or all) of the railbirds. It's not a game for beginners because one the prerequisite to winning is that you have to be able to run out with some consistency.

 

[chefjeff]

Another thing about playing the ghost is I NEVER play the table myself after a miss. Once I miss, the ghost gets out. There are NO do-overs for me....none! I always rerack or rearrange the table after the ghost has his turn. I NEVER replay my miss or never finish running the existing layout, because in the real world I can't either. I lost, I live with that fact.

The ghost is to practice competing, not to practice practicing.

Jeff Livingston

 

[mjantti]

I get it now. The part I was missing was the 'ball in hand' part. Playing against God doesn't seem so severe if you start with Ball in Hand. OK, here we go agian.

It seems reasonable that God gives some weight to any player.

Anyway, I like playing the ghost. It's a good way to create a competitive feeling even though you're practising alone.

 

[hustlefinger]

So I was wrong about how to play the ghost. Someone explain it please. Or is there several ways to play him? You lose on any miss sounds very severe. Just not realistic. How can I learn anything from or compete against God?

I suppose there are several ways to play the ghost. The way I was taught is to break a rack of 9 ball, take BIH and run out (no combos on the nine or short game wins). If you scratch off the break respot all pocketed balls with BIH. If at any time you miss – you lose, no safeties – no mulligans. Last week I played the ghost two sets to 10, I lost the first one 1:10, and lost the second 9:10. The ghost is tough.

Rick

 

[Kevin Lindstrom]

I have played the ghost in many of the games to improve my play but recently I found something that has really helped me and wanted to share it with everyone.

Play with another pool stick when you are playing as the ghost. So when its your turn you play with your normal cue and when its the ghost's turn you play with your break cue or a house cue. This has helped me keep track of how I'm doing and keeps me more focused on the game. Its like I am playing another player.
When you are playing the ghost you can have the ghost have a more aggressive game or more of a safety game. You could even play opposite handed when you are the ghost to simulate playing a beginning player. Unless your Efren Reyes and can play just as good opposite handed.

Another thing I thought of is wearing a hat when its the ghosts turn. This may be taking it a bit far but I will try it out. If I do it at my local pool hall I'll really look like a nut case.

I also found playing with another stick when your playing as the ghosts gives you some feedback on how you play with a certain stick. If you are playing better on a regular basis with a house cue or your break stick, chances are your playing cue may have too much deflection or my not suit you.

Playing as the ghost you can do things that you may never do in your own game. If your playing aggresive you can get to shoot some crazy shots you would never try in your normal game.

This may sound crazy to some people, but don't knock it till you try it. It has really helped me to keep focus on long practice sessions. I also found this helps me to keep track of who is who. Sometimes when I just play with my playing cue I tend to just play and by the end of the game I am thinking, how did I do and how did the opponent I was playing against do with no real feed back.

Let me know what you think of this and if you try it out let me know how it works for you. Any other suggestions for playing the ghost?

Heres a few I brainstormed:
1. Playing with the bridge as the ghost
2. Playing opposite handed(all ready mentioned but like the idea)
3. Putting all shots up against the rail
4. Banking all shot
5. Playing safties on all shots except last 2 balls on table.
6. playing all shots one handed
7. Playing all shots with eyes closed after lining up shot(excellent stroke builder)
8. The ghost gets to get ball in hand on every first shot in their inning.

Well thats all I got for now.

I'm not sure I agree with changing sticks to play as the ghost. You should have a stick that you are used to playing with when you are playing or practicing. Playing with a different stick between player and ghost player seems as though you would be creating confusing situations with muscle memory, part of becoming a good player is having the familiararity of how your stick plays.

 

[scottycoyote]

I suppose there are several ways to play the ghost. The way I was taught is to break a rack of 9 ball, take BIH and run out (no combos on the nine or short game wins). If you scratch off the break respot all pocketed balls with BIH. If at any time you miss – you lose, no safeties – no mulligans. Last week I played the ghost two sets to 10, I lost the first one 1:10, and lost the second 9:10. The ghost is tough.

Rick

this is the only way ive ever heard of the ghost being played

 

[cheemagun]

yup. only one way to play the ghost. break, ball in hand. run out. you get one. you miss the ghost gets one.

another game i play is. i break and play a regular game but CANNOT miss..... wether it be pocketing a ball, a saftey or kick (i dont have to pocket the kick). IF i make it i continue. if i miss any of those. i lose.

 

[drivermaker]

I think for a beginner to average player that playing the ghost can get old real quick and somewhat depressing because they're always losing to the ghost and getting their asses kicked. It can still happen to a damn good player.

I think there are better ways to practice 9 ball whereby you can keep score, however it's more of a confidence builder to see that you're improving incrementally in stages as you continue to work on various aspects of the game. Just keep your dated scorecards around to measure your success.

Here are the sites for the rules and explanations of how to play:

http://members.aol.com/blkbeltbilliards/printqs9.html

or, another version:

http://www.poolmag.com/player/rules.htm http:www.poolmag.com/player/faq.htm
http:www.poolmag.com/player/class.htm

 

[pharaoh68]

From what I remember, GeraldG is right. Although I'm not 100% on ball-in-hand after then break. Then again, my memory is worth next to nothing. Too much partying in my college days I guess. But yeah, you run as high as youcan. Miss once and the ghost wins.

 

[christopheradam]

To play the ghost:

1. Rack for whatever game you're playing (usually 9-ball, 10-ball or 7-ball)

2. Break

3. Take ball-in-hand on the first shot after the break

Seems rather easy on yourself, do you get ball in hand when you play a real game

4. run out.

Seems like forcing a run out can be counter productive, when a safety is in order that is the shot that should be played.

If you fail to run out, the ghost wins.

Maybe it's not everyones normal definition for "playing the ghost" but it is mine. When I play the ghost I am in an actual game situation. I think my definition of the "playing the ghost" is more like actually playing a ghost. Taking ball and hand and trying to run out should be called "ball in hand pool" or "the run out drill". Whatever it is called, how about "simulated competition" I find is great practice and has really helped me.
And I only take ball in hand after the break when someone scratches off the break.

 

[christopheradam]

Playing the ghost is a gambling proposition. You see a lot of good road players playing the ghost and railbirds betting either for the ghost or for the player. Most of the time they will do this when they can't get a game with someone else. It would be counter-productive to play the ghost if there is still some action to be had, because you have to show some speed to win. The player (or his stakehorse) will have a bet with some (or all) of the railbirds. It's not a game for beginners because one the prerequisite to winning is that you have to be able to run out with some consistency.

It is a gambling proposition but its also a training technique. We are kinda getting hung up on exact terms here. I've never been formally taught to "play the ghost" or given a set of rules. I just play like I am playing another player and using another stick helps to keep the players seperate.

 

[christopheradam]

Another thing about playing the ghost is I NEVER play the table myself after a miss. Once I miss, the ghost gets out. There are NO do-overs for me....none! I always rerack or rearrange the table after the ghost has his turn. I NEVER replay my miss or never finish running the existing layout, because in the real world I can't either. I lost, I live with that fact.

The ghost is to practice competing, not to practice practicing.

Jeff Livingston

Is that a realistic game situation? You miss and the ghost gets out. Sure, if its an open table with no clusters but isn't it better to play the table and learn what safety is in order, learn your kicks, and play the balls.