The Next Level

ForumGhost516

ForumGhost516

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Hey guys, according to my friends I am a solid B Player in Nine ball and my high run in straight pool is now in the mid forties. I had a question regarding the world straight pool tournament. If i wanted to enter the tourney would it be considered in bad taste considering I am nowhere near a hundred ball runner. I know that certain females were in the tournament and did not do very well this year. im not mentioning names Im just stating a fact that is viewable via the AZB brackets. My friend and I have been kicking around the idea of going and playing.

Now here is my other question.

Should we? He plays better than me but we really want to get exposed to that level of play. Also with the round robin format we are guaranteed a certain number of matches with world class players.

Just a thought. I dont want to make an ass of myself and lose like a hundred to zero but at the same time I dont feel Im ready to make it past the round robin at all or anywhere near it. I just really want to play in that tournament with the world beaters.

Let me know what y'all think.

Thanks

P.S. I have no dissillusions about my game I am very realistic.
 
I say you should play, I routinely play in tourneys are that are out of my skill level, and I believe thats the only way you get better.

So what if you are a 40 ball runner, say you lose 150-40, so what, its the experience that matters, your not going to get to that next level overnight and just start going to tournaments, the tournaments themselves are going to help you get to that next level.
 
thank you for the great response any other insights folks. Oh also forgot to ask can you just enter the tourney or is it invite only or qualifier only.

Just curious.
 
The only way you will ever get better is playing better players. If you have the chance then go play. I played in The Texas Open last weekend. I one my first two matches and then played Shane Van Boening he beat me 9-2 but at one point in the match i missed a nine ball combo that would have made the score 4-3 me breaking. I looked back at that and wondered how the match would have went. I incourage you to go play.
 
Wow

bullshooter69 said:
The only way you will ever get better is playing better players. If you have the chance then go play. I played in The Texas Open last weekend. I one my first two matches and then played Shane Van Boening he beat me 9-2 but at one point in the match i missed a nine ball combo that would have made the score 4-3 me breaking. I looked back at that and wondered how the match would have went. I incourage you to go play.
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Thats a great story wow, the best part is no matter where you go in life you can say you stepped up. Sure you lost but how many people out there really get the chance to honestly say I stepped up.
 
ForumGhost516 said:
thank you for the great response any other insights folks. Oh also forgot to ask can you just enter the tourney or is it invite only or qualifier only.

Just curious.
Click to expand...

You have to either be invited or get in by a qualifier. There are usually 4 qualifing tournaments leading up to the main tournament with the top two finishers qualifing. I suggest you give it a try at the qualifiers. The experience of the round robin stage is priceless in my opinion.
 
If you were on a baseball team and had a chance to play in the world series despite the fact that you were big underdogs to win, would you do it?

I would.
 
ForumGhost516 said:
thank you for the great response any other insights folks. Oh also forgot to ask can you just enter the tourney or is it invite only or qualifier only.

Just curious.
Click to expand...


Its half and half. There are qualifers but they also are usually short a few players at tournament time and thus DP starts calling around asking who the local straight pool players are and invites some of them.
 
When I played my first pro event I was a fish out of water. I watched the pro players and noticed them missing hard shots like most people. Shape was/is their strength with good potting. Something seemed easier once I saw them miss. My next event I had a win and then hill/hill loss to Tony Crosby. Next event was like 3-2 or something. I had good wins and felt more comfortable/belonging there. Any chance I get to play top guys I will play them. If you get the chance, take it
 
If I had the time, money, will, and whatever else it takes to get in this tournament, I would do it without thinking twice. And I am not even on your level as far as skill goes.

While I agree that there is great value in playing better players than yourself, I somewhat disagree with the theory that it is the ONLY way to get better. However, I do think it is a great learning experience.

On top of that, you have already stated that it is a desire of yours to participate in this tournament. Further, I see no negative effects stemming from this. I say go for it!
 
go for it man! cut your teeth in the qualifiers and have a blast.

but bewarned...thats a tough field. i sat behind danny harriman and bustamante in the quarter finals race to 200. harriman looked back at the crowd after a miss and said "its going to take more than forty ball runs to beat this guy." he was right...40 ball innings wasn't enough and bustamante won.

better to do it and have no regrets.

justin.
 
For the umpteenth time

You don't get better in competition, that is when you exhibit your skills, you get better in practice. The only way you get better in competition is mentally or by seeing a shot or two you hadn't seen before.

Pool is composed of building blocks of knowledge and skill. You improve both when you practice the right drills for the level you are at at the time.

Playing better players lets you see how the game should be played, and motivates you to practice after you get your butt beat.
 
i dunno. the heat of battle can pull out some stuff you've never seen before (good and bad) and can be quite suprising. i think its more personally structured. some people may benefit from practice, some from getting in the ring. its more complicated than just drills etc. etc. i'm not saying practice doesn't help, but practice is not the heat of battle. ever dog your brains out against a guy that punishes every little goof you make? how do you practice pressure, or rather, how do you practice dealing with it?

justin.
 
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