Poll: How long did it take you to become an "A" player

[TSW]

And, presumably, race to 9?

The length of the race doesn't matter. I'm assuming the long run, or a standing bet if you will. To me, someone can "beat the ghost" consistently if, in the long run, their winning percentage against the ghost is over 50.0%. I think that is a lot harder than most people here make it out to be.

If I saw someone consistently beating the ghost, without any gaffes, I'd call them an "open" player.

 

[TSW]

I'm at the dcc and they have a 10 ball ghost challenge. You get 1 point for each ball you pocket, and if you run the whole rack, it gets scored just like a spare in bowling, with the next racks points being added to the current rack. they have 11 racks total, for a possible 210 total points.

Anyway, some top "regional" players that are consistent in cashing high and winning some open regional stops like the joss tour or mezz tour, have cashed several tines in us open and all dcc disciplines, were trying the challenge. They were scoring between 70 and 110 out of a possible 210. I was watching them play and they were not beating the ghost even in the traditional sense of win/loss of game.

These are super high quality players I'd put at open level.

This is what I would expect given a large sample size.

 

[SUPERSTAR]

Cool this thread I started was brought back.

The "gambling" ratings I'm used to go:
Pro
Open
A
B
C
D

I'm at the dcc and they have a 10 ball ghost challenge. You get 1 point for each ball you pocket, and if you run the whole rack, it gets scored just like a spare in bowling, with the next racks points being added to the current rack. they have 11 racks total, for a possible 210 total points.

Anyway, some top "regional" players that are consistent in cashing high and winning some open regional stops like the joss tour or mezz tour, have cashed several tines in us open and all dcc disciplines, were trying the challenge. They were scoring between 70 and 110 out of a possible 210. I was watching them play and they were not beating the ghost even in the traditional sense of win/loss of game.

These are super high quality players I'd put at open level.

They need to learn the 10ball pattern from Joe Tucker, and pop them medium speed.
They would run out from everywhere.

Most likely, they are crushing the balls trying to make some on the break, and putting everything on the rail, with clusters.

If you know the pattern, it's almost a gaff.

If they don't know the pattern, why bother trying? LOL

 

[TSW]

They need to learn the 10ball pattern from Joe Tucker, and pop them medium speed.
They would run out from everywhere.

Most likely, they are crushing the balls trying to make some on the break, and putting everything on the rail, with clusters.

If you know the pattern, it's almost a gaff.

If they don't know the pattern, why bother trying? LOL

That's a lot easier. I don't consider pattern racking part of a true "ghost" game.

 

[SUPERSTAR]

That's a lot easier. I don't consider pattern racking part of a true "ghost" game.

I agree, but if there are no rules against it, people are missing the boat if they don't do it.

Regardless of patterns, anyone who is absolutely crushing the break is in for a long day.

 

[TheThaiger]

I agree, but if there are no rules against it, people are missing the boat if they don't do it.

Regardless of patterns, anyone who is absolutely crushing the break is in for a long day.

Why is that? I've only played 9 ball seriously for a year or so and have only played 10 ball twice, and have only recently started to take the break seriously, but I've noticed a better or more even spread with a softer break - absolutely whacking them tends to see a lot of balls clustered on rails, and I can't figure out why.

 

[Cameron Smith]

Why is that? I've only played 9 ball seriously for a year or so and have only played 10 ball twice, and have only recently started to take the break seriously, but I've noticed a better or more even spread with a softer break - absolutely whacking them tends to see a lot of balls clustered on rails, and I can't figure out why.

With a consistent tight rack the balls have fairly reliable paths often with the balls all going in their own directions. If you hit it harder the balls are moving longer and have a better chance of getting clustered somewhere, or leaving awkward layouts (but that has more to do with the pattern). However the tendency for a lot of balls to get clustered on the rail has more to do with where you are breaking from and where you are hitting the one ball. That's my understanding of it at least.

I find with the 9 ball ghost a medium-soft break works excellent. I can get the wing ball and maybe one more and a good spread over 60% of the table with no clusters. Because I'm rarely getting balls on the top rail (and if there is, it's only one) I don't have to travel up and down table which simplifies the game significantly. Though recently I've been powering the break so that I can, A. practice my power break and B. practice trickier layouts.

 

[measureman]

Cool this thread I started was brought back.

The "gambling" ratings I'm used to go:
Pro
Open
A
B
C
D

I'm at the dcc and they have a 10 ball ghost challenge. You get 1 point for each ball you pocket, and if you run the whole rack, it gets scored just like a spare in bowling, with the next racks points being added to the current rack. they have 11 racks total, for a possible 210 total points.

Anyway, some top "regional" players that are consistent in cashing high and winning some open regional stops like the joss tour or mezz tour, have cashed several tines in us open and all dcc disciplines, were trying the challenge. They were scoring between 70 and 110 out of a possible 210. I was watching them play and they were not beating the ghost even in the traditional sense of win/loss of game.

These are super high quality players I'd put at open level.

Rating systems are different around the country.
Here in Colorado we use the following:
Pro
AAA
AA
B
C
I have been described as a high AA and a low AAA. When I play in tournaments I go in as a AA because I know I can't consistently play at the AAA level.

 

[Perk]

This is what I would expect given a large sample size.

10ball ghost is way harder than the 9ball ghost. I bet alot of the same folks you mentioned would be heavy favorites in 9ball vs ghost...

 

[Fatboy]

according to this poll 40% of the players are A players, wow I never seen a room anywhere where 40% of the field were A players. I think there is a disconnect between reality and self perception, i suppose thats why there is action.

Too bad 80% of the world believes themselfs to be A players, fishing would be easier.


I'm a C player, just a beginner trying to get better

 

[Cameron Smith]

according to this poll 40% of the players are A players, wow I never seen a room anywhere where 40% of the field were A players. I think there is a disconnect between reality and self perception, i suppose thats why there is action.

Too bad 80% of the world believes themselfs to be A players, fishing would be easier.


I'm a C player, just a beginner trying to get better

There are a number of factors to take into consideration, first being the sample is from a grouping of players who can be qualified as conosieurs, which likely leads to higher level of play due to increased amount of interest than the average pool room patron. I think most of the respondents were also regular contributors as well. So by cutting out the people with only a passing interest in the game, those who play in leagues but primarily for the social value of it, it would increase the average level of play I should think. But that should only account for a slightly higher percentage of A players.

The list of supposed A players also includes people at a higher level currently, but they are answering for the length of time they required to achieve the milestone in question. Furthermore the 170 or so respondents are only the people who chose to respond, there are plenty of members I'm sure that didn't see any benefit to publicly indicate that they are not A players considering the entire point of the poll was only to find some consistency in the time frame required to achieve A levels status. For whatever the reason, not everyone responded and players who are A players are more likely to respond given the topic of the thread, thus leading to a higher percentage.

The skill level in question is fairly arbitrary anyhow and means different things to different people. In my area an A player equates to a B player in New York as I understand it. Not because our A players are any worse but due to a different ranking system. I suspect that accounts for a certain portion of the respondents.

And of course there are always going to be people who aren't as good as they think they are and maybe one or two that want to pretend to be a better player than they are.

Just killing time at work trying to make sense of an admittedly interesting statistic.

 

[ronscuba]

Looks like the poll calls for A player status to be 4 years plus or never.

How about B level or C level ?

Maybe 1-2 years for C level and 3-4 years for B ?

 

[Bambu]

Beating the 9 ball ghost on a 9 footer without buckets better than 50% of the time is a pretty high standard for an A player. I don't think most people realize how difficult it really is (or just ignore that part of the OP).

I am considered an A just about everywhere I go, but wouldn't jump into the box against the ghost with my own money.

Tap tap, I was thinking the same. I dont know too many A's that would bet their own money against the ghost. Last time I saw any ghost betting it was a pro level guy getting 5-6 on the money.

 

[D WEATHERSBY II]

25 years and counting. But I'm still trying! :smile: