skill rating for these players

Big Bad Bern

Big Bad Bern

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I just finished watching the propoolvideo.com match with Mario Cruz and Dennis Searing and I was just wondering what anybody else who watched it would rate these players A, semipro, Pro.

I am just trying to gage the speed of these players because I usually know the players in the videos, Rodney, Earl ,Cory, Rob etc. and I believe that these players closely resemble my game (they play good but make a few mistakes) and I would just like to know what speed that they are considered to play at for my own knowledge.

Bern
 
Big Bad Bern said:
I just finished watching the propoolvideo.com match with Mario Cruz and Dennis Searing and I was just wondering what anybody else who watched it would rate these players A, semipro, Pro.

I am just trying to gage the speed of these players because I usually know the players in the videos, Rodney, Earl ,Cory, Rob etc. and I believe that these players closely resemble my game (they play good but make a few mistakes) and I would just like to know what speed that they are considered to play at for my own knowledge.

Bern
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Both would be considered pros.

These guys playing against each other.. Will make a few mistakes per match. Playing against someone of a lower caliber, it won't matter.

To be perfectly honest with you, and please do not take this as an insult, but if you have to ask what level you are at, you are probably not an A player.

I was just beginning to approach the A level when I quit playing regularly, and I was always very aware of where I was on the food chain.

There was me.. Then above me was the A players.. Then the "semi-pro"/shortstop players.. Then the pros.. Then the super-pros (Reyes, Archer, Immonen, Alcano...).

Trust me, seeing a player miss 4 shots in a match and thinking "Well, I'll miss6-7 shots a match, so I must be pretty close." is really not thinking about the technical aspect of what makes pros so much better.

1 miss often translates into 2 or 3 racks at that level. At the level of the players you were watching on the video, it almost always results in 1-2 games.

So, look at it that way.. Do you make you opponents pay for every miss with 1-2 racks? The pros often make it seem so simple that we fail to realize that 2-3 mistakes per match is often enough for them to beat you by 5 games.

Russ
 
Russ Chewning said:
Both would be considered pros.

These guys playing against each other.. Will make a few mistakes per match. Playing against someone of a lower caliber, it won't matter.

To be perfectly honest with you, and please do not take this as an insult, but if you have to ask what level you are at, you are probably not an A player.

I was just beginning to approach the A level when I quit playing regularly, and I was always very aware of where I was on the food chain.

There was me.. Then above me was the A players.. Then the "semi-pro"/shortstop players.. Then the pros.. Then the super-pros (Reyes, Archer, Immonen, Alcano...).

Trust me, seeing a player miss 4 shots in a match and thinking "Well, I'll miss6-7 shots a match, so I must be pretty close." is really not thinking about the technical aspect of what makes pros so much better.

1 miss often translates into 2 or 3 racks at that level. At the level of the players you were watching on the video, it almost always results in 1-2 games.

So, look at it that way.. Do you make you opponents pay for every miss with 1-2 racks? The pros often make it seem so simple that we fail to realize that 2-3 mistakes per match is often enough for them to beat you by 5 games.
Russ
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this last part is said very well. good response.
 
Russ, thank you for your candid opinion on the subject that is what I was asking for. As far as my playing speed I have recently graduated to the A level and I know where I stand in my local area from playing against several local pros Kirkwood, Ashcraft, Wiseman and Binion to name a few.

I saw the players in the video making similar mistakes to those I make ie. missing position the odd time, missing kicks and breaking dry or not ending up with a shot after the break and not knowing either player I thought I would ask more knowledgeable people.

As far as do I punish peoples mistakes with 1-2 games, I usually win the game they make the mistake in and if I break and make a ball in the next rack with a shot at the one yes it usually is 2 games. My break is my major weakness along with kicking, my ball pocketing and position is on par with the players I saw in this particular video, hence my question.

Thanks again
Bern
 
Big Bad Bern said:
Russ, thank you for your candid opinion on the subject that is what I was asking for. As far as my playing speed I have recently graduated to the A level and I know where I stand in my local area from playing against several local pros Kirkwood, Ashcraft, Wiseman and Binion to name a few.

I saw the players in the video making similar mistakes to those I make ie. missing position the odd time, missing kicks and breaking dry or not ending up with a shot after the break and not knowing either player I thought I would ask more knowledgeable people.

As far as do I punish peoples mistakes with 1-2 games, I usually win the game they make the mistake in and if I break and make a ball in the next rack with a shot at the one yes it usually is 2 games. My break is my major weakness along with kicking, my ball pocketing and position is on par with the players I saw in this particular video, hence my question.

Thanks again
Bern
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How do you match up against the four you mentioned?

Steve
 
I play them in local tournaments, in the open tournaments I play them even and have yet to beat Kirkwood or Ashcraft(race to 5) in the handicapped tournament I get the wild 7-8 loser breaks. I have yet to gamble with any of them as I didn't feel I played well enough and didn't want to donate with alot of other action availible, but with my recent improvements I think I will try at least one and hopefully all of them by September.

I didn't want to have to ask for an outlandish spot like the six out and the break( although I'm sure they would have gladly given it for the right $$). Now I am working on my breakand when I am happy withit I will feel confident enough to step up and ask to play even (money be dammned) and find out what I am really made of. I am thinking races to 7 for $200.

Bern
 
Kirkwood is a bad MOFO!
Dennis S. is a good player, but not near JK's speed. Mario Cruz, is pretty damn good too. If you want to test your game, NC is only a 1/2 days drive to sunny FL.. Come on down and enjoy the beaches and night life in Miami. Consider it like a semi road trip / vacation.
 
Big Bad Bern said:
I play them in local tournaments, in the open tournaments I play them even and have yet to beat Kirkwood or Ashcraft(race to 5) in the handicapped tournament I get the wild 7-8 loser breaks. I have yet to gamble with any of them as I didn't feel I played well enough and didn't want to donate with alot of other action availible, but with my recent improvements I think I will try at least one and hopefully all of them by September.

I didn't want to have to ask for an outlandish spot like the six out and the break( although I'm sure they would have gladly given it for the right $$). Now I am working on my breakand when I am happy withit I will feel confident enough to step up and ask to play even (money be dammned) and find out what I am really made of. I am thinking races to 7 for $200.

Bern
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Bern,

If you haven't beat any name players in race to 5 tournaments, I seriously beg you to reconsider your plans to gamble with them. You said your position is on par with Searing and Cruz, and it really might seem that way, but I just got through watching the first 7 games of that match, and I have to say, some of the position shots they were pulling off were impressive.

I'm not talking about the straight in 7 foot shot drawing back two feet for position. I'm talking more along the lines of spinning the ball with outside english on a very thin cut shot hit very softly to end up absolutely perfect on the next shot. And Searing did this while Mario Cruz is sitting in the chair waiting to shoot. It is SO easy to make that shot and overrun your position.

I used to beat people in race to 3 tourneys back in Tacoma, WA that I had absolutely no chance against gambling with. If you can't win a race to 5, you can't gamble with these guys. Something is holding you back, and you have to figure out what that is. Work on your break until you know that particular table so well you are playing position on the 1 ball on the break, and running 3-4 racks.

Playing guys like you are talking about requires you to run out EVERY SINGLE TIME you have a chance. If playing lesser players, you miss a runout more than 1 in 4 times, you have no chance. That 1 in 4 times you miss your out against Jason Kirkwood is gonna cost you 2 games.

Why on earth are you wanting to gamble with monsters like that for $200.00 a set? They'll play you for less if you want to play even, because they know they are stealing.

Good luck, man..

Russ
 
Sligthtly OT, but this reminded me of something. I was at the KPT 2 weeks ago, and I was really amazed to see that the Pros miss a lot of the same shots I do. It was nice to see in person (as opposed to video tape). When they come up against what I consider a tough shot, it doesn't have to drop. It wasn't like watching magic. I expected it to be, but it wasn't. They didn't miss a lot of the stupid shots that I do, but the really tough ones they did. This was quite inspiring.
 
In the video Mario and Searing played like shortstops on a somewhat off day. The pockets were MASSIVE so it helped them a little bit. Pros on pockets as big as those would string rack after rack, and neither of them were doing it. I don't know their level, they might play like pros, but certainly not in that match.
 
cuetechasaurus said:
In the video Mario and Searing played like shortstops on a somewhat off day. The pockets were MASSIVE so it helped them a little bit. Pros on pockets as big as those would string rack after rack, and neither of them were doing it. I don't know their level, they might play like pros, but certainly not in that match.
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I would agree about the video and them being a little off that day. The match was alternate breaks to keep them from stringing racks together though. And as good/bad (however you want to look at it).... that Mario was playing, it was his safety game and Searings dry breaks that led to Dennis's demise...... at least thats how I saw it. Dennis was playing better run out pool, but couldnt kick his way out of several situations he found himself in...... and in alternate break format, giving an open table up on YOUR break is a hell of a hurdle to overcome.
Chuck
 
One word Russ "PRESSURE". I want to put pressure on myself and see if I fold like a cheap card table or fire back at them when my chance comes. This amount of money I believe will bring out better play from them and me, than say $5 a game.

Nobody gets anywhere by going half way!

If I get beat I'll see my weakness and work hard to fix them, so that I can try again.

I know my game is almost ready, I feel I need to get in the fire inorder to continue to improve and not level out at the"he was almost a good player" plateau.

Bern

Thanks for the wishes of luck on my journey
 
Bern?????????????

I think you're ready for action you have a positive mental attitute an you're set on go. My advice is when you play these guys, get the spot you feel comfortable with an bet high I mean real high. Then you will place real pressure on your opponent. I only wish I could be there to bet on the match.
Pinocchio
 
BERN,

If you havn't gambled much let me give you some friendly advice:

Never bet more than 10% of your bankroll/funny$,etc. on any one set. Doing so will leave you at least 9 more barrels in case you make a bad game or get trapped which will happen to everyone who gambles.

Best of luck....
 
!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have to disagree with my friend riboner. Bet you whole bankroll on the first set taking out only enough money for a beer an cabfare home pressure thats the key.
Pinocchio
 
Pinocchio said:
I have to disagree with my friend riboner. Bet you whole bankroll on the first set taking out only enough money for a beer an cabfare home pressure thats the key.
Pinocchio
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Your a GAMBLER:) ....I played pool for money;) It's all good :D
 
I was thinking the same thing, in some of those videos I think that I would have kicked both players asses lol.

Eric.A.
 
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