skill level question

C

cheemagun

gettin there...
Silver Member
who here feels or felt, that they are a couple of nerves and easyly makeable misses away from their skill level jumping from a b+ player to a+/open level. safteys and kicks are around solid.

dont know if i worded the question correct. anybody know what i mean ?
 
I'd say somewhat close for me but not taking it serious enough at the right time usually end up killing me. Unconsciously using the excuse that it is "just a game" when I go for it and sell out. My Safety play needs vast improvment.
 
i know what you mean.......i feel like im right on the edge of it. At my home pool room im considered an A but I feel like im probably a b to b+, i read somewhere about the classifications, and i think an A pretty much runs out everytime its a runable table, id say I do that maybe 50 to 70% of the time, usually a position error or something stops me. Feel like all I need is time and the right kind of practice and I'll be there.
 
the difference between every level of player IS only a couple of shots or choices made. you know,,,that's all it takes to spell winning from losing.
 
cheemagun said:
who here feels or felt, that they are a couple of nerves and easyly makeable misses away from their skill level jumping from a b+ player to a+/open level. safteys and kicks are around solid.

dont know if i worded the question correct. anybody know what i mean ?
Click to expand...



Based on your terminology, I'd have to guess you're from the NYC area (A+/Open is Tri-State stuff). Well, I have to say that a B+ is significantly different than an open though at times, the two may look the same. It really depends on what could be interpreted as the B+'s deficiency and how they address it that will determine if they'll soon make that jump. Honestly, it's hard for me to answer effectively since I'm going through that jump as we speak but I can tell you one thing: Most of the players I know who played around the B+ level 3 years ago are still playing around that level. Since 2000, the only B level player to jump to Open speed in the NYC area is Nicholas Schulman (at least from what I know) and that kid was playing an awful lot and spending a great deal of time with Steve Lipsky (one of NYC's finest players).

I think it'd be fair to say that in order to be a B+ player, you can be proficient in pocketing, position or defense but not necessarily all three. In order to be an A+/Open level player, all three must be reliable. From what I've seen, it's often more than just making a few makeable shots and actually becoming more desciplined. You need to stay inline, understand exactly where the cue-ball is going and see safety opportunities when many amateur players would blast & pray. B+ is a very solid amateur player but an Open could compete with any professional . Although one or two shots might show the difference between the two in a single set, further play will show much more. Open level players simply place greater value on their opportunities at the table. They get out more often when they're supposed to and leave their opponents in tougher situations when they can't.


Jude M. Rosenstock
 
For me it's consistency. I can get up there at times and play pretty sporty and then just when my head starts to swell a little, I start playing like a C player for a little while. Very frustrating!! I'm hoping to retire from work soon and I hope I can finally devote more time to my game. Maybe I'll even get my game to be more consistent, I hope!
 
Rickw said:
For me it's consistency. I can get up there at times and play pretty sporty and then just when my head starts to swell a little, I start playing like a C player for a little while. Very frustrating!! I'm hoping to retire from work soon and I hope I can finally devote more time to my game. Maybe I'll even get my game to be more consistent, I hope!
Click to expand...


Every player in the world wishes to improve their consistency. That is the mantra of all players. If that's all you seek, miss every time. Then you'll be consistent.
 
You are wise beyond your years!

-pige

Jude Rosenstock said:
Every player in the world wishes to improve their consistency. That is the mantra of all players. If that's all you seek, miss every time. Then you'll be consistent.
Click to expand...
 
Control is the issue.

An A player can control a B player. The B player can run out, do a lot of good things but he can not control the match. He still depends on his opponent to give him another turn at the table.

An A player can control a match with a B player. He does this with many tools. Safety play, the break, kicking ability, pattern play, knowledge, etc etc. An A player maximizes his opportunities and creates new ones by putting the B player in positions he can't recover from.

Although everyone makes mistakes, A players make way less. And, most opportunities a B player gets from an A player are the shot after the break. An A player gets way more opportunities given to him by the B player.

A general rule of thumb is a B player can run out when given an opportunity. An A player can do that but can also create opportunities. B players do not create opportunities very well.
 
Last edited:
cheemagun said:
who here feels or felt, that they are a couple of nerves and easyly makeable misses away from their skill level jumping from a b+ player to a+/open level.
Click to expand...

Doesnt everybody?

G
 
cheemagun said:
who here feels or felt, that they are a couple of nerves and easyly makeable misses away from their skill level jumping from a b+ player to a+/open level. safteys and kicks are around solid.

dont know if i worded the question correct. anybody know what i mean ?
Click to expand...

I think that there's a whole lot more than a couple of nerves and a few easily makeable misses between a b+ and and a+. So, for me, that would be a, "no."

Fred
 
Teacherman said:
Control is the issue....A general rule of thumb is a B player can run out when given an opportunity. An A player can do that but can also create opportunities. B players do not create opportunities very well.
Click to expand...

I believe you've hit the nail on the head!
 
cheemagun said:
who here feels or felt, that they are a couple of nerves and easyly makeable misses away from their skill level jumping from a b+ player to a+/open level. safteys and kicks are around solid.

dont know if i worded the question correct. anybody know what i mean ?
Click to expand...

That might be the perception, but I've found that the better I get, the more I realize how truly skilled the best are.

What advantage would a player have who routinely makes shots and position they consider to be simple, that you consider to be difficult?

Chris
 
wow. thanks for everyones insight. i think this will help my game. especially teacherman and tates posts. thanks. :)
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top