Should I stop playing league

G

Gmanpoke

Banned
Ok, I'm not trying to start another thread on whether leagues are bad or sandbagging or anything like that. The question is really about allocating limited resources (time) to achieve the best results.

I'm currently a B player. I've been playing for many years. I moved back to OKC about year and half ago. I joined the local BCA league and play 2 night a week.

So, I guess what I'm saying is, setting around the table eating a chicken strip basket, drinking a couple beers, and playing 5 games a night is not really helping my game get better. Or, a least I don't think so. I like the people I play with and there are some good players in the league, but I want to get betters.

I've started getting into some cheap action with strong players and some not so strong players. I think my time might be better served matching up or just practicing rather than playing league.

I appreciate anyone's thoughts or insight.

Steven
 
Steven...I think you get out of something what you put into it. If you're not getting anything out of playing league, then play more tournaments. Matching up is good, as long as you're not getting robbed. A lot of gamblers know how to 'lay down' to get you to bet. In a tournament at least it's heads up pool. Hope your game has improved since our time together!:grin:

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
 
which nights are you playing in OKC? Depending on the teams you play it may also help you develope a little more. I know my game stepped up when I started to play the monday night no handicap. I don't think there is anything wrong with playing league, but you learn more and play harder when there is cash on the line for sure. just my two cents.
 
The best times I've had playing leagues were ususally after the league was over. Matching up with teammates an playing/practicing is valuable. Five games a week will never do much for your game.

Find people who love to play. Play as much as you can with them and then keep hitting them until you just can't play anymore. There is almost always someone who will play with you.

Boxers spend one hell of a lot of time in the gym and have a couple of handfuls of career fights. I think the same is for pool. Find a good sparing partner.
 
yes yes yes lessons ,and quality practice.

League in my OP, is a waste of time,except for the yr.end tournaments in the masters!!. All that beer , chicken strips,and the women- are taking all the drive and attention. 9ft tables,or ten foot table for practice- the league bar boxes are childs play. Have you learned all Scott taught you? If so its time for advanced lesson.or keep practicing til perfect I just came home from UK and I practiced on the 6-12ft Riley snooker tables ,and they rolled so,so sweet. Put your pants on and play with the AA or masters plays,who are playing and practicing!!! play tournaments like Neil suggested. Its all about the cash.
 
To me, leagues are for fun. You might pick up something here and there in a league but the best way to improve spending more time at the table and every league I've been in involves a lot more time sitting and watching than playing.

The positive thing about leagues is it gives you a reason to practice, something to look forward to. But helping you improve your game, not so much.

But then, I'm just a banger.
 
Scott Lee said:
Steven...I think you get out of something what you put into it. If you're not getting anything out of playing league, then play more tournaments. Matching up is good, as long as you're not getting robbed. A lot of gamblers know how to 'lay down' to get you to bet. In a tournament at least it's heads up pool. Hope your game has improved since our time together!:grin:

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
Click to expand...

Scott,

I've been doing my Mother drills. Everyone, has been saying my game is getting better. I'm currently ranked second in our Sunday night 8-ball BCA league and 7th in our Wednesday night 9-ball league.

I think in some of my match up, I've been getting robbed but I'm ok with that as long as it cheap and I get something out of it. And, what I think I getting out of it is I have to bear down and play as hard as I can. I'm putting myself under a lot of pressure and trying to not grip too tight and finish my stroke.

The problem is I have a limited amount of time I can devote to my goal, which is to become an A play within the next 18 months. I may not achieve it but I'm going to try hard.

I think I've made up my mind that after this session, I'm going to focus on practice, matching up, and tournaments. However, I don't really like these $5 race to 1 tournaments.

I'll keep you updated on my progress.

Steven
 
At your speed, league is likely just a time to get out the house and spend some time at the bar. Pool-wise I cant see league challenging a B speed player enough and being engaging enough to provide an outlet to improve your game.
 
Gmanpoke said:
So, I guess what I'm saying is, setting around the table eating a chicken strip basket, drinking a couple beers, and playing 5 games a night is not really helping my game get better.
Click to expand...

I don't think anyone would argue with this.

If you want to get better, you have to put in your practice time, and also compete (gambling, tournament, league, or otherwise) with good players. If you don't have time to do this and also play in the league, then maybe you have to quit the league. If you have time for both, then maybe you can do both.

-Andrew
 
The bottom line is enjoyment of pool, so it boils down to how much fun are you giving up now vs. future 'fun' being an A player. If you truly enjoy league you might miss it and find the tradeoff isn't worth playing 2 speeds better. But if you're asking about giving it up, you aren't having so much fun that giving it up is unthinkable.

In fact, maybe you're asking cuz you're just bored with league and want to do something else anyway? In which case it's a no-brainer.
 
Steven,
We can't tell you what is best for you. You've worked with Scott, so you already have the tools you need to improve your game. Competition, whether it is league, tournaments or just matching up, gives you a simple way to measure your progress against other players. The question you need to ask yourself is what is your motivation to play, and are you getting satisfaction from what you are doing.
If you enjoy league, then continue. Keep doing your drills, and working on the things Scott showed you, then use your league time to let it take over and see how well you are progressing. Same thing for tournaments and matching up.

Your improvement comes from your practice time. All the rest just allows you to see the results of your work. If it's fun, keep doing it!

Steve
 
Steven, you pose a really good question....IMHO, to be an A player or better, you need to be hitting balls 4 hours a day, 5 days a week.....the players I know that play A speed always have a cue in their hand......they are always either in league, tournaments, matching up, or practicing....the best I ever played to consistently was a B+ of sorts.....at the time, I played 4 days a week....2 nights of league, with practice before and after....tournament every Sunday....and at least one day of just practice.....I practiced all games and worked on all facets....

Are you making the most of your league time? If league is from 8-10, are you there at 7pm practicing? After league is over, do you stay an hour or two to work on your game/match up? Again, it's just my opinion, but to take the next step, you need to put in at least 20 hours a week to be an A player....

I wish you all the best.....here recently, I've been playing 3 hours a week and it's killing me, game is going backwards, LOL
 
pooltchr said:
Steven,
We can't tell you what is best for you. You've worked with Scott, so you already have the tools you need to improve your game. Competition, whether it is league, tournaments or just matching up, gives you a simple way to measure your progress against other players. The question you need to ask yourself is what is your motivation to play, and are you getting satisfaction from what you are doing.
If you enjoy league, then continue. Keep doing your drills, and working on the things Scott showed you, then use your league time to let it take over and see how well you are progressing. Same thing for tournaments and matching up.

Your improvement comes from your practice time. All the rest just allows you to see the results of your work. If it's fun, keep doing it!

Steve
Click to expand...

Thanks for your comments Steve.

Motivation is a good topic and one I think about quit a bit. Why do I play? I'm not going to be the next world champion and I'm not really a gambler. The only reason I gamble now is because a lot of the better players will not play unless we gamble (again must be cheap for me to play).

I started playing when I was 12. I've stopped playing for a couple of years at a time because I would be frustrated. I was not getting better. I think my real motivation is I want to be the best I can be with the skills and talent I have. It maybe real difficult to determine where the top is or even more frustrating once I get there (because my top may not be acceptable to me). But, I guess I will just have to deal with that as it come up.

Thanks again for your input.

Steven
 
League play itself will probably not help your game but you have to make the best of your options.

I play league and generally hate playing the matches. But , I'm not sitting there eating chicken wings waiting for someone to call my name either. I'm in league because of the free table time we get for it , that's the only way I can afford spend 3/4 days a week on a table. Even during actual league night tho , I'm practicing the whole time. If I have a practice table to myself I run drills and if not I'm trying to match up.

Like anything else , you get what you put into to it.
 
I don't see this as an "either or" thing. I mean, if you enjoy league, keep doing it. Nothing is preventing you from spending other time on game improvement in various ways...
 
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