Which AZ members got selected?
- Thread starter Rude Dog
- Start date
Jimmy M. said:Oh here we go. Go ahead all you whiners and complain how you didn't get in. You guys all make me want to vomit ... and puke too!
Good luck, it didn't work for me, LOL.
Want to play some 11 ahead whoever makes it in the bowl the most? Forget about races though, when I get beat I want to be punished.
I took some Pepto-Bismol yesterday so we might have to wait a couple of weeks.
Go Red Wings!!!
Hi Rude Dog,Rude Dog said:
I was fortunate enough to have been selected.
I'm a little weary to raise my hand as I don't want to be the target of arguments about worthiness or abilities.
Now I have an opportunity, I want to focus on preparing with enthusiam...so I want to keep out of arguments, but more than happy to share my experiences with members here.
I haven't played with dedicated practice for a few years but I can usually lift myself to near peak form with about a week or two playing a few hours a day.
A have about 3.5 months to prepare for the Jan 31st event. I am arraninging to a secure a practice table so I can begin a regular 2-3 hours morning session. In the mean time I am doing a lot of cueing drills to straighten, strengthen and smoothen my stroke. I plan to swing the cue about 5-10,000 times each handed each day.
Once onto the table I will begin a series of progressive potting drills from 10 to 80 degrees at various distances with varied english. This is to enhance memorization of potting angles.
I will progress to more and more match situations as my potting sharpens so I can more quickly calculate picking run-out plans.
Anyway, that's about where I am for now.
I just want to prepare myself best I can and try to enjoy myself at the table in practice and the competition.
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hi, bernie friend here, i have decided to re-think everything as far as practicing is concerned. i want to play as perfectly as i can in front of the t.v. camras, so i decided to take my practicing seriously. first i wanted to do drills of straight in shots, i noticed a fault in some part of my aiming. with the object ball on the foot spot, and the cue ball 5" directly in front of it aiming for one of the foot pockets, applying true pure follow as if to purposly scratch follow, my o.b. is going to the left of the pocket, and my cue ball thus travels onto the right, long cushion, now that i spotted my aiming fault, i need someone to correct it, hopefully tony robles will, i have plans to play with him later in the month. also, while doing back cuts the long way, i detected a fault with my cutting skills, i overcut to the left, and undercut to the right. i empolyed the running the table without touching cushion drill, which i ran two racks in row which i'm very proud of. i have tried breaking from the box, as the rules insist, and found my timing. i practiced roll up snookers, multiple escape routes, close stroking techniques,concious left brain slowed down thinking/experimenting. perfected shots along the rail, with english/spin/cushion first, adjusted to all side pocket angles, called tony robles on his cell to make plans for races to 9, arranged for 4 and a quarter inch pockets to be installed, and practice two hours a day, with 14 to 20 different progressive drills of only things that will relate to 8-ball. pattern play three ball ahead positional routes, intentional stale mates, etc. etc, i've also been playing 3-cushion billiards, straight pool, one pocket,and snooker, since all relate to the universal 8-ball game. so, as you can see, i'm taking this masters I.P.T. tournament very seriously. i hope to come close to breaking even with the great tony robles, then i'll really be ready for the event! p.s. i'm also buying a new elite ELP22 case, since my schmelke is falling apart, and i'm gonna have a brand new triangle tip installed, that has been pressed. i look foward to proving my skills in front of the world, and if i keep my head on straight, i hope to come in #39 or so, which considering there are 150 of the world's greatest 8-ball players, i'd be damn chuffed! (pleased)
Very well said by both of you, Colin and Bernie, and congratulations are in order. Sounds like you both are taking this very serious and doing everything in your power to make the most of it.
Colin, with the recent threads and posts about who did and did not get in, I don't blame you for feeling the way you do about trying to stay away from the spot-light. When I saw the list of who got in, I too was a little disappointed, at first. I didn't feel that I deserved a spot because I know that I'm far from being one of the top 150 players but then I found out that it wasn't based on that. So, I can understand the feelings of some who have expressed their disappointment here in the forum. You, on the other hand, should not feel ashamed for being selected, you had no control of the selection process. So don't worry about what other's have to say. Do what you're doing, practice hard, get prepared, physically and mentally, and go out and prove that you were worthy of your selection. Good luck.
Bernie, how in the hell did you get in? J/K. I had to throw that in there so Colin wouldn't feel so bad. Are you in the 43 man field with the hall of famer's too? If so,that's great, a guaranteed pay day in your first tournament. I didn't understand your goal of 39th place, if that's what it was. Sounds like you're getting some real practice time in and with the addition of Tony Robles to some sparring sessions, you have just as good a chance to win as any other player. I liked that part in your drills about following the OB into the hole to see if you're hitting it straight. I'm going to have to try that because I use so much english on every shot that I doubt I can do it on a regular basis.
Congratulations to both of you and good luck. Play well, hit 'em straight, and never let up or give up. Peace, John.
Colin, with the recent threads and posts about who did and did not get in, I don't blame you for feeling the way you do about trying to stay away from the spot-light. When I saw the list of who got in, I too was a little disappointed, at first. I didn't feel that I deserved a spot because I know that I'm far from being one of the top 150 players but then I found out that it wasn't based on that. So, I can understand the feelings of some who have expressed their disappointment here in the forum. You, on the other hand, should not feel ashamed for being selected, you had no control of the selection process. So don't worry about what other's have to say. Do what you're doing, practice hard, get prepared, physically and mentally, and go out and prove that you were worthy of your selection. Good luck.
Bernie, how in the hell did you get in? J/K. I had to throw that in there so Colin wouldn't feel so bad.
Are you in the 43 man field with the hall of famer's too? If so,that's great, a guaranteed pay day in your first tournament. I didn't understand your goal of 39th place, if that's what it was. Sounds like you're getting some real practice time in and with the addition of Tony Robles to some sparring sessions, you have just as good a chance to win as any other player. I liked that part in your drills about following the OB into the hole to see if you're hitting it straight. I'm going to have to try that because I use so much english on every shot that I doubt I can do it on a regular basis. Congratulations to both of you and good luck. Play well, hit 'em straight, and never let up or give up. Peace, John.
Hi Dog....
Well, here goes. My first mission is to get into shape (again). I seemed to have lost mine somewhere between hitting 40, having a baby and sitting down in front of a computer instead of walking around a pool table! Yup, we've renewed our YMCA membership, started dropping pounds and going to work and walk myself into shape. There has only been one other thing in my life that has made me REALLY care about getting into shape and we won't got into that, but the truth is..... I want to be ready for this.
As far as playing goes, we've contacted some "sparring" partners (8-ball and 9-ball) and will be trying to get some serious play in soon. I'm going back to practicing on the big table, something I haven't done in many years. After I left the WPBA tour there was no reason to play on the big tables.... only bar tables. All of the events that I played in were on bar tables, my customer base plays on bar tables, etc...
I will be working on strenthing my stroke for the slower cloth. I was raised and learned to play in Baton Rouge where EVERYTHING was slow...... (jk).. especially the cloth! I had played for 4 years before I went to my first tournament. When I went to that tournament (Atlantic City) and saw players going 3 rails for position I WAS SHOCKED! Players in my area at that time, didn't do that! It almost wasn't possible. After getting away from Louisiana and playing on the tour on the Simonis cloth I lost most of those "stroke" shots that I had adapted to early on. I'm going to try to locate those now!
Working on the break is going to be a priority also. I have my theories on this (which I'm not sharing!) and we'll see how it comes out.
Other than that, LOTS of practice (on and off the table), lots of "situtation" play and reviewing films.
Whatz up with you, Dog?
Tammie Wesley-Jones
Well, here goes. My first mission is to get into shape (again). I seemed to have lost mine somewhere between hitting 40, having a baby and sitting down in front of a computer instead of walking around a pool table! Yup, we've renewed our YMCA membership, started dropping pounds and going to work and walk myself into shape. There has only been one other thing in my life that has made me REALLY care about getting into shape and we won't got into that, but the truth is..... I want to be ready for this.
As far as playing goes, we've contacted some "sparring" partners (8-ball and 9-ball) and will be trying to get some serious play in soon. I'm going back to practicing on the big table, something I haven't done in many years. After I left the WPBA tour there was no reason to play on the big tables.... only bar tables. All of the events that I played in were on bar tables, my customer base plays on bar tables, etc...
I will be working on strenthing my stroke for the slower cloth. I was raised and learned to play in Baton Rouge where EVERYTHING was slow...... (jk).. especially the cloth! I had played for 4 years before I went to my first tournament. When I went to that tournament (Atlantic City) and saw players going 3 rails for position I WAS SHOCKED! Players in my area at that time, didn't do that! It almost wasn't possible. After getting away from Louisiana and playing on the tour on the Simonis cloth I lost most of those "stroke" shots that I had adapted to early on. I'm going to try to locate those now!
Working on the break is going to be a priority also. I have my theories on this (which I'm not sharing!) and we'll see how it comes out.
Other than that, LOTS of practice (on and off the table), lots of "situtation" play and reviewing films.
Whatz up with you, Dog?
Tammie Wesley-Jones
thanks for all your kind words. as far as coming in #39, i look at it this way, there will be 150 of the greatest 8-ball players on planet earth, now, i must be realistic, and think where can i come in that would be outstanding? now, i feel efren reyes, marlon manalo, allison fisher, will come in around 1st. through 4th. and then pros like tony robles, allen hopkins jim rempe will fill up the rest of the top 10, then i may figure a lot of the australian hot shots, and believe you me, there are so many magnificent australian 8-ball players, that they will fill up the gaps, and their will be many fine players joinig in, however, i said, i can't realistically excpect to finish 1 thru 5th. nor do i expect to come in 29th. thru 20th. place, however, i feel if i make it into the 30's that would be FANTASTIC considering the tough field, so i am shooting for 39th. place, to say "hey, i came in, in the 30's at the i.p.t., now, i will actually try to stay focused and not worry about where i'm placing, thus maybe i could come in 17th!!!!!! so i know the importance here is to focus and stay focused, and play MY game, not their's, and use my right brain only! i know what i have to do, i know it's a once in a lifetime opportunity, and i will take it to the limit as far as giving it my all, who knows, maybe i'll come in 7th.!!! one thing is for sure, you will see me giving it my all.
Now I understand, thanks for clearing that up for me. I thought you meant 39th place in the 43 man field tournament. That's why I brought that question up. Anyway, Bernie, Colin, and Tammie, I wish the 3 of you the best of luck and thanks for sharing with us. Peace, John.8-ball bernie said:
Sweet Marissa
www.Bella-Muse.com
Linda Carter (aka rackmsuckr), who is new to the forum, was also chosen.
Sweet Marissa said:
Thank you for noticing. Mike and I were at a scotch doubles tournament this weekend and played like goofballs together. Now that we have been the only ones selected from this area, it feels like a lot more imposed pressure - that every time we step up to the table we are supposed to play perfect. Yikes! It was 9 ball and we went hill-hill in the finals and were on the hill first and let it slip away.
Like Tammie, I want to lose some poundage and get ready for grueling long races. I want to get in a lot more practice time, although with 3 nights a week going back to school for my masters plus my 50+ hr./week job, I'm not sure how that will work. I also have a 'date night' with my kids to stay in touch. Mondays are BCA, mostly on 9 footers - 8 ball, so that is good. I have been trying to go early and get an extra hour in just by myself. Friday nights are 8 ball tournament nights and the weekends are now devoted to tournaments and practice.
The 3 things I need most work on is my draw shot (especially on slow cloth), my mindset, and more potting practice at certain angles. So that is what I will be working on. I am contemplating a hypnotist to screen out distractions and play my best pool. Anyone try that or recommend that? I have a pretty well-rounded game, but putting it in play with the crowd's expectations that I will do poorly and the awe factor of all these great players and being under the microscope with the crowd may make me play like I can't spell pool, let alone play it. I just want to play well. That is my goal.
Thanks Fred, you're right!Cornerman said:
I got a free ride it seems but it will take a lot of hard work to make anything of it.
One thing I can say, is that IPT is creating opportunities for many. 2 of the 4 events that the 153 are selected for are open events. And 50 players will have their chance at the qualifiers to join the tour at the end of this year.
Players who are not up to it will be eliminated and great players will have their opportunity to get involved. I just hope it continues so more players get an opportunity to play for big stakes.
Good to see you back here btw!
Colin
Congrats
to all selected.
I was not. Do you think the fact that I can't play worth a flip had something to do with it? I even told them in my app that they needed to have one old fart that was not a great player but really enjoyed the game and knew how to have a lot of fun with it. I would have really enjoyed making a complete ass out of myself. Their loss
Pel
to all selected.
I was not. Do you think the fact that I can't play worth a flip had something to do with it? I even told them in my app that they needed to have one old fart that was not a great player but really enjoyed the game and knew how to have a lot of fun with it. I would have really enjoyed making a complete ass out of myself. Their loss
Pel
I think I've confused the number with the 43 who are in the opening limited field eventJimmy M. said:
Seems there is just 150 players. Though there are rumours that Steven Hendry will play and he isn't named on the list. He may be planning to enter the US Open and World Championship events worth 2 and 3 million respectively which are open to non-IPT members.
Non-IPT members will have to pay $1,000 instead of the $199 fee for IPT members.
Though, by the time you calculate in travel, accommodation and opportunity costs, especially for International IPT members such as myself, our costs will be similar.
I wonder if all players will start at the same stage of the tournament or if non-IPT players will have to battle through an extra qualification round.
However, the fact that all players will have the chance to compete in a $2million and $3million event next year is something to celebrate for those with great players who missed the original cut.
Not to mention the 50 spots up for grabs at the qualifying event!
I think this is good enough reason for all good players, and of course pool fans, to be excited about the IPT.
Those selected on the 150 list, who are not up to the standard will be eliminated and get little more than their costs of attending refunded.
Anyone who is a true top 50 player will have a very good chance of making some money and getting onto the tour soon enough.
This format is a lot more accessible than World Snooker for example, where in the past it has taken years for top players to climb through the hoops and ranks to get a chance at the big $.
hi linda, about the mental side, of being nervous in front of the tv cameras, and thousands in the auidence, i never did that before as well, and yes, it would seem to us NON-pros, we could lose our minds in front of everyone! however, here is my plan to combat that. PLAY POOL! we waited our entire lifes for this opportunity, right? RIGHT! so, let's not get involved with the cameras, media, interviews, and right ups, let's focus at the task at hand, playing pool! the mind can NOT i repeat can NOT concentrate on two things at once, so with that thought, think of this, either your concentrating on your game like a demon, or your mind is somewhere else, i'm hoping my mind is on the game, and only the game, sort of like when you see in the movies, when somesones on the ledge of a building and their told "don't look down" well, that's like us, look at the table, and the situation at hand, hope this helps.