Practice practice practice

Ships log 7-30-22:
Storm damage took out my handcrafted pool table light. Huge blow from the east. Probably why I have an affinity for Eastern religion.😉
The fact that my most recent complaint was bad lighting. The Sunday tournament 🤷. Well the pool God's must be messing with me.
The poor light practice is on!🤪
Hope they work after they dry.
 
Ships log 7-31-22:
Yesterday was Scotch partners 8 ball, paired by Fargo rates. A fun league event with canned goods entry fee. My partner was my age and probably in the bottom 3 as I was probably #2 with my sub 600 Fargo. We drew a bye as there were 4 absent for the 16 spot rsvp expected. We got a little time to get aquinted. It worked well. The chemistry is a big factor in Scotch. Not only did we have a good time, we got #2. Coming from the whinners side, in the finals. We won the first set 3-?. The second set was to 2 and was an epic battle down to the final ball at 1-1.
I attribute our success to......8 ball is the old man's game and a little bit of luck at the right moment.
Ok the luck story: Every match was a battle.
I was put in a position that my opponents were thrilled to see. My partner had shot and made the key ball leaving me dead hooked. I had put him on the right angle to get around the 3 opponent balls for the 8 which was mid table. It was straightish but needed power to get around. In order to make the shot he slow rolled it. Perfect, right in the heart leaving me 8 inches off the foot rail and dead hooked. We had already had the no apology agreement. Either "I made mine" or "take that!"
The survey tells me that the up and back is my best bet as my cue ball is closer to the right hand rail with the 8 favoring the left side. I can't quite use the line from pocket through 8 to head rail for the aim point.(a favorite in 8 ball eliminate the chance of miss and go straight in) Just too extreme for my time on this wet cloth(monsoon season and drips on cloth). Called the left bottom corner and gave my best estimate and drained it. Like a 40 foot putt. Validation of my method and forced wait for the ring finger. Plus the luck.
 
All natural day. No table light. It's revival seems complet but still have the potential for a leak.
3 ball caroms is my choice of the day. Foot spot mid spot head spot. Pocket a ball and make a carom on another for a point. Pocket with out the carom gets to shoot again.
 
Mike Danner taught me Scotch Double strategy. It works.
The tournament strategy really wore me out. That is what got us the earliest success. By the end my partner had come to life and was making 8 balls! What fun.
Ok my Mike story; After hours in the Rustead uh maybe Rich Rustsomething, game room on a Gold Crown. $5 a stick scotch 9 ball. I was the only B player in the game. Mike didn't speak unless I asked. He just walked to his position for the next shot. Giving me the target zone he had set me for nicely. We prevailed 🤷
 
Finding the target zone was challenging in the early games. Blocking balls and pockets. And silent watching my partner eyeing my blocker...,.pray......whew
Strategic games are so sublime.
 
The analysis:
In competition, When I sit, it goes something like this.
What happened? With the computer accept ing a + or -. do you know what happened? Covers my comp-sci 101, was it good or bad with the good going to exit program and relax. So then it drops to Physical or Mental.
One goal for my program is through practice to eliminate the physical. Which can take a big part of the load off the mental.
 
Avoiding the Flair is a nugget from Barry Stark. Even after the ball is long gone, trying to maintain the path straightly.
 
Which ever hand the cue is in: My favorite mode. It means I am centered and focused.
Rerun: At the handshake he exclaimed,"you shot that left handed!" I had to look down to see the cue in my left as I extended my right. 🤷"I guess I did" was my reply.
 
The changed rhythm of scotch can be off-putting. Going Scotch for the opening straight kiss. Record set at 11 most likely mixed but not regimented. 7 was the run.🤷
 
Ships Log: Backlight practice is the flavor of the day. Light has recovered and replaced. Low light practice is showing me some things.
 
Slow kiss and under the skirt were initially for my physical therapy:
Seems to be working. Even with the left getting stronger now, I prefer the slow kiss. Head spot to foot spot and try to leave them frozen together. I can stay amused with the challenge for a long time.👍
The skirt on the cue is proving to be a terrific tool.(that's what she said)🤷 I expect a challenge (as to rules) if and when I use the skirt like the forward grip on a tactical weapon. I had a protest using the jump bridge with the loop. Used it to perfect. My opponent wanted an opinion from the ref.😁
 
The physical therapy is coming slow but hopefully sure. I can raise 12 ounces with the bum wing now. The beer lift could become a part of the regimen.🤷
 
The numbers and the daily audits:
Finally totaled the numbers that show Right 63 and Left 35. So the Right is stronger in the long run but not significant.
Ronnie breaks off Left hand. Said it is just luckiest. Any given shot I have the luxury of selecting hand by the comfort of the foundation. Even just comfort of the mind. "Can you feel the bank?" My Captain asked.
Extreme shots are fun! The Left has shown me some incredible things on missed shots. Lefty definitely has the record for funny/lucky results.🤷
 
Another tool:
The abandoned Walmart cue, with no tip and loose ferule. I have named it... Center punch. Using it for the Slow Kiss and Tail Chase is therapeutic..... And hones a sharp scalpel.
 
Ships log 8-6-22:
Still feeling a little glow from the fun we had playing scotch . "I'll do better", still making me smile. The second quote, escape me but it was to the effect of, "I am Really going to try" as he approached the table. Which meant he was slowing and focused.
My forced removal of power due to the physical therapy, has brought me to slow motion practice. Very enlightened by the slow motion focus on the impact then path. Observation while watching is a favorite Yogi-ism. I feel enlightened.👍
Minute control can be attained because the path through the cue ball is slower .
 
Sunday funday, ships Log:
The slow chase has unexpected benefits. The rules change to make a hanger double, has introduced the practice of taking balls out of the Jaws. Before a double can be recorded the opposite hand gets the chance to take it out. Good one pocket skill.
 
Gramps is so slow. The next thing you know.... like the Anaconda. Mark Selby earned the name with his overwhelming safety play.
His Shot selection leaning towards the caution. My theory is along the lines of..... leaving them a tester until they make one. Then I understand that my shot making could decide the match.
The safety play can be just as dangerous as offense. The speed control is paramount.
 
The big two for me attaining the best cue ball control is attention to the ring finger and the precise path of the tip through the ball. The finger eye co-ordinator says.... practice practice practice but be sure to do it right.
 
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