Stories of triumph

poolguppy

poolguppy

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I have had a lot of different moments of triumph and while trying to improve my game, talking to others has helped. What are some moments of triumph you have experienced? A Nemesis overcome or some fabulous runs pulled from the void, what (so far) has been ''your moment"?
 
poolguppy said:
I have had a lot of different moments of triumph and while trying to improve my game, talking to others has helped. What are some moments of triumph you have experienced? A Nemesis overcome or some fabulous runs pulled from the void, what (so far) has been ''your moment"?
Click to expand...
Well I just walked in and have read only this post. Can't pull just one. But I can say that there was usually a shot that was the catalyst. One that I didn't like but. I would put the do or die away and focus on the steps I have practiced. Then trust myself. Well trust my best. If that shot works..... I just know I can do it the same. Confidence can carry me through outs that I can not remember. Just the last shot. Even that I only remember I made it. At the handshake my opponent said, "you shot that left handed!" I had to look down to confirm and replied, "I guess I did?"
 
When I finally found a PSR that sets me up on the shotline in such a way that my shotmaking success% shot up tremendously. That felt like a big triumph for me, because I had spent a f**king long time on that.
 
At a CSI state championship tournament I entered the scotch doubles event with a good friend of mine. It’s capped at 1100 fargo per team. My rating was around 680 and hers around 420, so I was expected to do the heavy lifting.

Events like that should always be won by a team with two 550 rated players, IMO. So I kind of felt like we were dead money, but we have a lot of fun playing together.

We won our first two matches. In our third match, I missed a ball that cost us the match. I felt terrible, but she was very supportive. Our next match on the losers side was four hours away, so I drove to the store to get some supplies for the room. I also picked her up a sympathy card, “sorry for your loss” with a hand written apology for not carrying my weight. The card was clearly a joke, and she has a great sense of humor and loved it.

We went on to win six matches in a row from there, beating the team that pushed us to the losers side and double dipping the hot seat team! She’d never won a tournament before and I was very excited to be able to help her get there. She’s now a “state champion”. It was a great moment. She still has the card I gave her.
 
easy-e said:
At a CSI state championship tournament I entered the scotch doubles event with a good friend of mine. It’s capped at 1100 fargo per team. My rating was around 680 and hers around 420, so I was expected to do the heavy lifting.

Events like that should always be won by a team with two 550 rated players, IMO. So I kind of felt like we were dead money, but we have a lot of fun playing together.

We won our first two matches. In our third match, I missed a ball that cost us the match. I felt terrible, but she was very supportive. Our next match on the losers side was four hours away, so I drove to the store to get some supplies for the room. I also picked her up a sympathy card, “sorry for your loss” with a hand written apology for not carrying my weight. The card was clearly a joke, and she has a great sense of humor and loved it.

We went on to win six matches in a row from there, beating the team that pushed us to the losers side and double dipping the hot seat team! She’d never won a tournament before and I was very excited to be able to help her get there. She’s now a “state champion”. It was a great moment. She still has the card I gave her.
Click to expand...
That's a great story. Scotch doubles mixed is a fun game. My wife and I had our first experience with it .......on New years eve. Many years ago. It was set up to be a fun event and the men were required to shoot one handed. Probably so we didn't have to set our drinks down. 😉
We had a rough start in that I was making balls and leaving the wife good. She would in turn make her shot and leave me hooked. After many times she finally left me perfect shape...... well perfect for me to make mine and leave her dead hooked. Which I did. "I made mine" or " take that" became our motto. The proprietor mid tournament announced, " Citizens Divorce court will be held for Greg and Jackie immediately after the tournament." Not sure if we won. We did develop an affection for the game with "I am sorry" being forbidden.
 
It is impossible to pick a single thing. Other people would probably pick when I was playing a young gun bar box eight ball. He won the coin flip and called the eight. After he had made it three times in the pocket he called the eight stopped an inch away from the side pocket it had been slow rolling into. I ran out that game and a few more with break and runs then decided to let him swing a cue stick, no shot I thought. He kicked eight rails, hit every rail at least once and two twice with an eight rail "Z" kick. Hit his called ball after dodging through at least ten balls on the bar table! The ball rolled into the jaws of the corner pocket and stopped. He didn't really miss, the fifteen was perfect to fall had he hit just a touch harder. That remains the most amazing shot I have ever seen. I couldn't duplicate it on an empty table and I tried for several hours over the next few weeks.

No idea who or what I had tied into but for about an hour afterwards I tried to let him shoot once or twice a game while holding him locked down so that he was only swinging a stick. His first three shots were called eights on the break and he pocketed all three of them. He never made another ball after that. He thought he was already well known but in my little backwater I had never heard of Johnny Archer so there was no fear of playing him involved. I wasn't afraid to play anyone at that time anyway being pretty young and dumb myself!

Finding the key to beating Old Joe
Holding a table literally all night against constant challenges
A kick shot that established me as one of the A players in a low joint
Running six balls, banks, on a snooker table in normal play
Every time I left people wondering who the hell I was

Hu
 
My moment came at league.

I beat a state champion for the second time this season. He is a quiet guy, but afterward he came up to me and said, "You have no idea how good you are."

I didn't know what to say but definitely, I'm keeping it in mind for when my confidence wanes.

Happy New Year and good shootin' groovy guys, groovy gals.


Jeff Livingston
 
As a 14 year old (1961) realizing on a slightly off angle shot hitting the cue ball high and then lower in small say quarter tip adjustments to very low the cue ball would change angles.
Back then nobody would tell you these things you almost had to learn by accident.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top