What'd be my speed?

[fastone371]

Also, I gamble with the "clique" of Wisconsin shooters like Billy TheKid, Berry, Chris Bonde, John Fields, Nate, etc. etc. I absolutely love how alive the pool scene is here in Wisconsin and needless to say these guys are helping me to improve. Their ratings (AA, master, grandmaster, etc.) are all based on the tournaments they've played in over the years.
-Richard

Since you are in Wisconsin I have to assume when you speak of letter rankings you are referencing BCA. I am not sure if there are any APA leagues in WI, but everything around here is BCA, many of the area players never even heard of APA. I am only an hour south west of you and play almost exclusively in the Fox Valley (Appleton) area. Once again, start playing in local tournaments, most use the Bonde scoring system (you said you play pool with him, he should be able to rate you much better than the people here that have not seen you play) or the mypoolstats.com system which I believe is one in the same with the Bonde system but I could be mistaken. Either way, the answer you seek can accurately be had from your playing partners rather than the people here trying to guess how well you play from a paragraph of written word or two from you. Maybe you were unaware of Chris's contribution to pool player ranking systems, ask him about it next time you play, I am sure he can accurately rate you.

https://www.facebook.com/MyPoolStats
link to Chris Bonde's mypoolstats facebook page

 

[Zphix]

Since you are in Wisconsin I have to assume when you speak of letter rankings you are referencing BCA. I am not sure if there are any APA leagues in WI, but everything around here is BCA, many of the area players never even heard of APA. I am only an hour south west of you and play almost exclusively in the Fox Valley (Appleton) area. Once again, start playing in local tournaments, most use the Bonde scoring system (you said you play pool with him, he should be able to rate you much better than the people here that have not seen you play) or the mypoolstats.com system which I believe is one in the same with the Bonde system but I could be mistaken. Either way, the answer you seek can accurately be had from your playing partners rather than the people here trying to guess how well you play from a paragraph of written word or two from you. Maybe you were unaware of Chris's contribution to pool player ranking systems, ask him about it next time you play, I am sure he can accurately rate you.

https://www.facebook.com/MyPoolStats
link to Chris Bonde's mypoolstats facebook page

Awesome! I mentioned the APA because I'm from Chicago and that's the system I became accustomed to. Since transferring to UWGB I've gotten used to the letter ranking system.

I'm still new out here and many players are still strangers to me. I've played with Chris but I'm still too new to know him like you do.

Sent from my X501_USA_Cricket using Tapatalk 2

 

[sixpack]

Hey Z,

A couple of things. First, losing to a better player 7-5 or 7-6 is a lot, LOT different than beating them. Unless you are winning their money it's likely you are not getting their best game. Not that they would be intentionally playing down, but they aren't fighting for their life either.

When I played you I thought your biggest weakness was making balls. You actually thought about position much better than you pocketed balls. That was a 9' table so if you normally play on the barbox that could explain it.

So I'm more willing to believe than others who have posted here that you are playing considerably better if you've been putting that kind of time in your ball making is certainly much better. Especially on a barbox.

The only real jump for a player though, is when they learn to win by putting it all together. Finishing close to a good player only means you probably lose close to players your own ability too.

A better way to think of this is: "You are only as good as the players you beat."

You want to find out how good you are, find the weakest player that will gamble with you and beat them until they quit. Then find the next weakest. Etc...

Eventually you'll know exactly how good you are.

You have to practice winning as much as pocketing, position, strategy, etc...

And, RJ can still give you the 8. Until you prove that he can't.

 

[sixpack]

Why are you going three rails in your example? Drawing directly across the table will give the same result and shorten the cue ball movement significantly. With the conditions usually found on a Valley bar box, you probably won't end up where you diagrammed anyway!

Lyn

I know opinions vary. I play that 3-rail position on Valleys because I've rolled off into the side one too many times coming straight across. I also think making the ball is easier for me. Sometimes that outside draw can make a tight shot rattle in the corner on those Valleys too.

 

[Zphix]

Hey Z,

A couple of things. First, losing to a better player 7-5 or 7-6 is a lot, LOT different than beating them. Unless you are winning their money it's likely you are not getting their best game. Not that they would be intentionally playing down, but they aren't fighting for their life either.

When I played you I thought your biggest weakness was making balls. You actually thought about position much better than you pocketed balls. That was a 9' table so if you normally play on the barbox that could explain it.

So I'm more willing to believe than others who have posted here that you are playing considerably better if you've been putting that kind of time in your ball making is certainly much better. Especially on a barbox.

The only real jump for a player though, is when they learn to win by putting it all together. Finishing close to a good player only means you probably lose close to players your own ability too.

A better way to think of this is: "You are only as good as the players you beat."

You want to find out how good you are, find the weakest player that will gamble with you and beat them until they quit. Then find the next weakest. Etc...

Eventually you'll know exactly how good you are.

You have to practice winning as much as pocketing, position, strategy, etc...

And, RJ can still give you the 8. Until you prove that he can't.

Indeed. Pocketing balls was a weakness because of my fundamentals. ScottK can attest to the before and after of my fundamentals and stroke.

The difference between now and then is I can line up my body along the line from the contact point to the center of the CB, and stroke along that line as well.

I still have some trouble putting it all together though.

As for who I gamble with. Most WI players have their stats tracked through their tournament play and I almost always beat the B players. To date I've beaten 4 B players who've had their stats tracked across around 250 games.

Sent from my X501_USA_Cricket using Tapatalk 2

 

[Pete]

Maybe this will give you some help in knowing for yourself...

In a 9-Ball Tournament race to 7

Dec.1997 "All About Pool" magazine, article by Bob Cambell
Handicap rankings
(pardon my poor para-phrasing)

D- Player
-will not run a rack
-average run is about 3 balls
-with ball in hand, will get out from the 7, one out of 3 times
-rarely plays a successful safe

C-Player
-will probably run one rack, but usually not more than one
-avg. run is 3 to 5 balls
-with ball in hand, will get out from the 7, two out of 3 times
-mixed results when playing safe
-inning ends due to botched position, missed shot or attempting a
safe.

B-Player
-Able to run 1 to 3 racks
-avg. run is 5-7 balls
-with ball in hand will get out form the 5, 2 out of 3 times
-most of the time a "B" player will play a "safety" which maybe hit
easily 2 out of 3 times
-a typical inning will end with a missed shot, a fair safety, or a
won game

A-Player
-will string 2 to 3 racks
-avg. ball run, 7-9
-with ball in hand, will be out from the 3 ball, 2 out of 3 times
-typical inning will end with a well executed safety or a win.

OPEN-Players
-average 8+ balls
-string racks together more than once in a match
-is a threat to run out from every ball, from every position, every

 

[RFranklin]

Play Tourneys

Too many variables to weigh. At best you are a hair below with the worst being your "friend"found a cheap sparring partner that thinks he can win his money back. (you) I would say that a $20 dollar lesson is worth it for the 3 hours of play if you picked up on anything new that he was doing that you can use. No harm either way but not a good measuring stick. Tourneys are the only way to judge. Entry posted and just play.