The humiliation of finding out your real level

About a year ago I beat Glenn Atwell twice (9-8 & 8-6) in two Open tournaments. I did get some rolls to beat him in both tournaments but felt I could play a little. Glenn comes back from his Reno adventure and beats me 9-1 and 11-3. Absolutely ran me over and when I got off the floor I told him I wanted some more! Glenn is alot better player than me but I still want to win another match playing him. I may never win another match against him but I won't give up trying too!
 
poolplayer2093 said:
I'd have to see it to believe it. i've met real strong players that don't have to beat casper. a lot of it has to do with the equipment
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Can you define what you mean by equipment?

Those who can play the game at a world class level can play with a house cue. It's the player in my humble opinion, not the equipment, unless you're counting the player's stroke and mind as equipment. The player can adjust to the equipment.
 
Ghost is great game...........

CreeDo said:
Ever have one of those moments where you realize that no matter how well you think you play pool, you're really just a big fish in a small pond? Or maybe just a fish?

Mine happened today.

I was playing 10 ball with a buddy. I gotta be honest, I hate it. I recognize the skill in 9 and 10, but there are days where I feel like it's a coin flip who wins. If neither player can run out very often, it's usually one guy running 7 and the other guy cleaning up.

I wanted to illustrate this to him, because the coin kept coming up heads for him. I felt like he was getting a swollen head about it. So I had us alternate playing the ghost.

I swear to god in the first 10 racks, neither of us sunk the 3 ball. After 20ish, I had 2 outs and 1 near-out where I had to settle on the 10 and dogged it. He had 0 outs. About 80% of our games involved getting hooked on or missing the 3 ball. It feels like the layouts were just so tiresomely tricky. Getting from the 1 to the 2 involved moving around a maze of balls and a slight screw up and you either don't get on it, or get on it badly, or get half hidden by something.

I dunno, this makes me sound so much worse than I believe I am, I guess I'm wondering if I really could play THIS BAD. I don't know how you guys could possibly answer that. I expect to get out of, I dunno, half the racks in 10b with ball in hand to start. That's honestly where I thought I was at. Instead it's 10% or worse.

Maybe it's just how 10 ball is. The hard work is the first few tricky shots, and once a few balls are off the table, the lanes open up. If I got past the 5 I felt like I was out (though sometimes I wasn't... zzzz).

Anyone else get clobbered by that "I'm a total fish" realization?
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Hi there,
I like playing the ghost. It can be very punishing though. When I play the ghost there seems to be alot of pressure on myself. I play a race to something like 5 ahead. I've been at the table sometimes for hours at a time. If you beat the ghost to easily try this. The ghost gets 1 when he wins and you only get 1/2.

If you make this a legitimate challenge to yourself it can be just as good for you as a money game as far as concentration goes.

The ghost is always ready to practice with you. That's sweet. And he won't shark you or break your concentration.

Another important aspect of playing the ghost is it gives you some real good quality practice at concentration. If your in a tournament you need to keep your concentration all day long. The minute you lose it you lose.
If your in a money game the same thing.

You play like you practice. If you don't practice concentrating for a long period of time you have a hard time doing it. The only time you can practice concentrating shooting is when your playing.

PLAYING THE GHOST YOU CAN DO THIS FOR HOURS. THIS IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT MENTAL PARTS OF THE GAME...........

Have a great day Geno....................
 
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