Shooting in a dive changed my ability

Scott Lee said:
mvp...I was not dissing your ability. I merely pointed out that sometimes having an experience like that is a stimulous (some might call it a wake up call) to making improvements in what you do. You're right, it was only 4 games. You'll probably win all 4 the next time you play there. Teaching people how to adjust quickly is one of the foundations of SPF teaching.

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com
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Scott I really am a decent player, last time I played apa 16yrs ago I was a 7in 8ball 9in 9ball, and now I'm in a acs league (no handicap) I do think it was my attitude that made me slam balls. As you might pickup on in some of my post I'm usually not the most friendly guy, lol Skill gets trumped by negative thoughts always

I think I need a shrink instead of a pool instructor lol
 
mvp said:
Recently joined a league to qualify for state championship this winter which I haven't been involved with ether this decade. Anyhow I'm a fairly good player cruzing through my matches this season with ease (6weeks without a loss of a single game) Anyway we played a dive gravel road bar last night with the worst table I've ever seen. Rips,dirt,chipped balls, unlevel etc. needless to say I couldn't play more than 2balls in a row. English not working, slow touch shots not working etc. but for these, let's call them "good ole boys" they were Truely unaffected by this nasty set up! Firing balls in all night, lol Long story short I lost all my games and was glad to put my stick away, met some cool guys (the bangers that beat me) and plan to ride Harley's with them in the future.

My question is this: does poor equipment make a great equalizer in ability for others? i was forced to shoot hard and become a banger!
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Shooting hard is not what a banger is. Yes, bangers usually shoot hard, but they are called bangers for the reason they shoot hard. Which is, if it doesn't go where I want it to, which it probably won't, it might go somewhere else.

I spent decades playing in various bars. Rarely on decent equipment. Yes, you learn quickly that you should shoot harder. It helps eliminate table roll. It also makes it easier to get around the table on slow tables. It's just the smarter way to play on less than good equipment. Instead of just rolling balls in, you have to learn how to actually stroke the ball to get it to do what you want it to.
 
mvp said:
i even tried the SPF method they teach, set,pause& fire it as hard as you can approach! But I really did hate every second of it!
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:shakehead:



Nope...wrong method. You need to use "Hit 'em in the hole" as seen on YouTube.



:rolleyes:



.
 
I have a feeling some of you think you know what the OP is talking about, but really don't.

Four leagues games, not back-to-back (like BCAPL and VNEA), on the worst tables. Not just some bad dive bar tables, but the worst.

And some of you will say in four games you're suppose to adjust? Bullshit. You survive. You get lucky. And if you win, it's lucky. "Both Playing on the same table" is a bullshit saying. The worse player isn't playing position, so nothing is different about his game. If you have to change your game drastically as the better position player, that's a disadvantage. And I'm not talking about "adjusting."

The cue ball has to slow down at some point, so "shoot harder" is about the most naive saying.

To the OP, you've put your effort into playing the game beautifully. You got smoked on a bar table in league on one of the worst tables. Been there, done that. It sucks. You have a choice. But you already knew that. Visit me in San Diego. We can compare sucky tables.

Freddie <~~~ knows most can't fade these tables
 
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Chopdoc said:
I think that is very true.

You know a lot more than me...

But when the table is really bad with dead spots, crooked rails, divots, leveling issues, beat up balls, and other such anomalies I think that a person who knows that table well has an advantage that takes a little more time for an unfamiliar opponent to adjust to.

With "normal" variations in tables a really good (experienced) player can adjust in a game or two. But with serious tables issues it would take longer.

There are always exceptions. I think those PI boys have a lot of experience playing on some bad tables in high humidity. Probably adjust quicker.


In the case of the OP. I would like to give him the benefit of the doubt. He may actually have the technical skill to adjust better than he did. But not liking the table and starting out rough may have compromised his psychological game and done him in for the rest of the time.


I would recommend going back alone or with a shooting buddy and trying that table again. See what happens. Personally, if you are serious about playing, I think it's important.

Don't just write it off. Go figure it out. :smile:




.
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Couple of comments on an excellent post.

We have a bar in my area that all four tables would qualify for the worst table, and one of them is the worst of the worst. Four Filipino friends played on that table. They didn't like it. Nobody does. But they were laughing. Reminds me of Steve Martin's Cruel Shoes (YouTube).

And I quit the league I was playing because the two main bars was this one above and another that apparently is competition for the worst tables ever. We have choices. In are the choice to not play those tables. It's not worth it for anyone who loves this game to play on dismal equipment where the owner doesn't give a shit.

Freddie
 
I've been experiencing something similar. I had played in a competitive BCA league on Gold Crowns for 10 years or so and could hold my own. After an 8 year absence from pool I was asked to sub in a traveling VNEA league last year and this year I'm on a team. Having not spending a great deal of time on Valley's, I've had a hard time adjusting to them and the various conditions and environments. I find I try playing them like they are a 9' table with Simonis and need to play them for what they are. I've clearly lost some games I should have won. Even though I'm in the top 10(this league isn't full of world beaters), I hope next session I can be in the top 4 or better. I do find I play better on a 7' Diamond and still prefer a 9' table.
The other issue is not being able to get into a rhythm with only playing one game and then sitting. Makes it harder to adjust.
 
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garczar said:
On crummy tables you gotta ditch the finesse. Center,follow,and stop. Firm everything to avoid the inevitable roll-off. Look at your night as a major learning experience.
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I agree totally with your description. Firm everything, no slow rolling is huge.
 
Sometimes I play the roll off. But that's at a table that doesn't get moved much and I know the rolls.
 
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