After reading Fast's theory of how to win at 9-ball which is in his can I make 3 friggin balls thread I realized that it all made a lot of sense. There were no earth shattering revelations. I knew all of what he stated. I just never really put it to practice. So this weekend I decided to give it a test.
I played in a 9-ball tourny on Saturday, race to 3 and went 2 and 2. But in doing so I did notice that the theory did have possibilities. Race to three sucks because I dogged the 9 and got stupid shape playing an 8 and a 7 giving away games and matches. But I could see that there is a time to go for the runout and a time to play safe. It does no good to run 7/8 balls and miss the 9.
Sunday I went to my club and practiced a couple of hours and I was really shooting good. I am comfortable with 4 or 5 ball runouts and maybe 6 but for some reason 7 or more is a mental block.
I was feeling really good all day Sunday looking forward to winning that night. I really felt confident. So Sunday evening I went to the tourny where it is a race to your handicap. Mine is 5. During the night I played one 3, two 5's and the rest 6's. Everything went well. I never played to make a ball if I didn't feel confident I could make it and get shape on the next ball. I played a lot of safes. When I had a 5 or 6 ball runout I would see all the shots before I started and if I got out of line I would stop and play safe rather than try and take the low percentage shot.
I would play my opponent as well as the table. Remembering that none of us are pros I didn't expect him to play like a pro so I would wait for him to make the mistake. And they all did. And the funny thing is that the more frustrated they got, the harder they shot. And the more they missed. That's when I knew I had them. A terrific feeling.
My concentration was perfect. When at the table I never heard anything. Not the chatter, not the jukebox - a train could have come through and I wouldn't have known it. And even the girl I played who would be a welcome addition to the Amberbock commercial didn't upset me when she bent over to shoot. (Don't know if that's a good sign or not - old age probably).
Didn't dog any shots. When thoughts of of dogging a shot came to mind I would just ask myself, "where do sheep go to get a haircut?" And that would get my concentration back inline.
So it was a great night and I went through the field undefeated.
Of course the answer to the question is "the baa baa shop" It's a stupid ploy, but it does work for me. Gets my mind away from negative thoughts.
So a big thanks to Larry for getting my head together. And of course I owe a lot to Steve Campana for his great book - blackbelt billiards. I have learned so much from it and I am only just a little over half way through.
Too bad I am not 36 with a lot of time to keep learning instead of the other way around.
Jake---Still not ready to take Earl on but at least I can appreciate how great he and the other pros are.
But it is fun while it lasts.
I played in a 9-ball tourny on Saturday, race to 3 and went 2 and 2. But in doing so I did notice that the theory did have possibilities. Race to three sucks because I dogged the 9 and got stupid shape playing an 8 and a 7 giving away games and matches. But I could see that there is a time to go for the runout and a time to play safe. It does no good to run 7/8 balls and miss the 9.
Sunday I went to my club and practiced a couple of hours and I was really shooting good. I am comfortable with 4 or 5 ball runouts and maybe 6 but for some reason 7 or more is a mental block.
I was feeling really good all day Sunday looking forward to winning that night. I really felt confident. So Sunday evening I went to the tourny where it is a race to your handicap. Mine is 5. During the night I played one 3, two 5's and the rest 6's. Everything went well. I never played to make a ball if I didn't feel confident I could make it and get shape on the next ball. I played a lot of safes. When I had a 5 or 6 ball runout I would see all the shots before I started and if I got out of line I would stop and play safe rather than try and take the low percentage shot.
I would play my opponent as well as the table. Remembering that none of us are pros I didn't expect him to play like a pro so I would wait for him to make the mistake. And they all did. And the funny thing is that the more frustrated they got, the harder they shot. And the more they missed. That's when I knew I had them. A terrific feeling.
My concentration was perfect. When at the table I never heard anything. Not the chatter, not the jukebox - a train could have come through and I wouldn't have known it. And even the girl I played who would be a welcome addition to the Amberbock commercial didn't upset me when she bent over to shoot. (Don't know if that's a good sign or not - old age probably).
Didn't dog any shots. When thoughts of of dogging a shot came to mind I would just ask myself, "where do sheep go to get a haircut?" And that would get my concentration back inline.
So it was a great night and I went through the field undefeated.
Of course the answer to the question is "the baa baa shop" It's a stupid ploy, but it does work for me. Gets my mind away from negative thoughts.
So a big thanks to Larry for getting my head together. And of course I owe a lot to Steve Campana for his great book - blackbelt billiards. I have learned so much from it and I am only just a little over half way through.
Too bad I am not 36 with a lot of time to keep learning instead of the other way around.
Jake---Still not ready to take Earl on but at least I can appreciate how great he and the other pros are.
But it is fun while it lasts.