To spot or Not to Spot...That is the Question
- Thread starter wild west
- Start date
I honestly like playing players my speed until im at an advantage and then i move on to the next tier of players,i see nothing wrong with playing someone who is a ball better even to step up your game but dont want to play someone who is pro speed getting the world and cant win,it to me is a lose-lose situation,even if i win i cant feel great about it if im getting too much. 
wild west said:
Play someone better without a spot.
With a spot: Like getting a head start in a race.
Even-even: Starting at the same time in a race.
Have you ever noticed in dog races, they have a mechanical robot that the dogs are chasing?
I think it is better to have a target in front of you to shoot for, rather than having the target out of sight....just to pass you up.
You may not over take your target, but you will run faster (play better).
Fast Lenny said:I honestly like playing players my speed until im at an advantage and then i move on to the next tier of players,i see nothing wrong with playing someone who is a ball better even to step up your game but dont want to play someone who is pro speed getting the world and cant win,it to me is a lose-lose situation,even if i win i cant feel great about it if im getting too much.
I agree. Playing a pro player even would be like trying to win a 100meter dash with me standing 100meters behind the start line, and the pro 5 meters from the finish line. It's over before it begins.
depends on the cost of the lesson. I would take games on the wire, points balls. Then play even. spoting balls with a good player isn't much of a spot more like sucker bet. Too bad that there isn't a pool game where the pro doesn't have the upper hand always where we all could compete. mark
softshot said:
Why do I think that 100% of the "better players" would agree with you???
LOL
If you want to just hand out money, then take a lesson from a top instructor.
It is GREAT to play against better players for the learning process but you don't have to just donate to them. Even TOP road players give and take weight amongst themselves all the time.
Jim
I think it's best to play both. You will learn different things, and be able to improve different parts of your game from each situation. IMHO, a great way to improve your game is to play as many different people as you can.
I found myself playing the same few people all the time, and all I was learning was how to beat them, rather than how to play better. That's one of the reasons I try to get cheap games with road players. I always learn ten times more playing someone new, than I would playing the same guys who are at the pool hall every day.
I found myself playing the same few people all the time, and all I was learning was how to beat them, rather than how to play better. That's one of the reasons I try to get cheap games with road players. I always learn ten times more playing someone new, than I would playing the same guys who are at the pool hall every day.
av84fun said:
The OP stated the goal was to get better not to win money.
If you want to be the man. you gotta beat the man. and if you didn't play him even you didn't beat him.
the best way to get better is to lose repeatedly to a better player eventually you will either rise to his level or quit.
The fear of playing better players has IMO kept many decent players from ever becoming good.
Take the money out of the equation. You want to get better.
Who do you want to play now?
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I don't advise reaching too far over your head... if you can't run 2 balls don't challange Efren for $10,000....
look for the guys just a little bit better than you.
Always look for the guys at the next level.. if you stay within your level you will remain at that level.
look for the guys just a little bit better than you.
Always look for the guys at the next level.. if you stay within your level you will remain at that level.
Jmho
A lot of good advice on this thread. What I have learned goes hand in hand with what Fast Lenny says. Playing someone a ball or so better is a good way to keep the pressure on and improve.
However, if the lesson is cheap. ie: for time or small money I would just as soon play anybody. Call me crazy but I prefer open tournaments with a few masters, world class, and all A players. I am by no means a B or probably even a C. I play a ton better with small gamble than I do in a tournament format. But how can you
get geared in and start to freewheel with out head to head combat?? After all I am only playing myself. If I run out it doesn't matter who I play as long as I get to the table.
When I get a spot something inside tells me I'm a loser everytime I approach the table. I split first the other day with an open player, (in a nine ball tourny) How is that fair when I had to go to two and he had to go to five. JMO it doesn't have to be right.
Fast Lenny said:I honestly like playing players my speed until im at an advantage and then i move on to the next tier of players,i see nothing wrong with playing someone who is a ball better even to step up your game but dont want to play someone who is pro speed getting the world and cant win,it to me is a lose-lose situation,even if i win i cant feel great about it if im getting too much.
A lot of good advice on this thread. What I have learned goes hand in hand with what Fast Lenny says. Playing someone a ball or so better is a good way to keep the pressure on and improve.
However, if the lesson is cheap. ie: for time or small money I would just as soon play anybody. Call me crazy but I prefer open tournaments with a few masters, world class, and all A players. I am by no means a B or probably even a C. I play a ton better with small gamble than I do in a tournament format. But how can you
get geared in and start to freewheel with out head to head combat?? After all I am only playing myself. If I run out it doesn't matter who I play as long as I get to the table.
When I get a spot something inside tells me I'm a loser everytime I approach the table. I split first the other day with an open player, (in a nine ball tourny) How is that fair when I had to go to two and he had to go to five. JMO it doesn't have to be right.
Southpaw said:
I disagree. This trains you to count on their weaknesses. You want to be playing people who will punish you mistakes, i.e. players better than you.
okinawa77 said:
This is the right advice. Practice and train on your own to improve your technique and your skills, and play people better than you, with no spot, to raise your level of competition.
-Andrew