Who here has a steady practice partner?

davidhop

davidhop

Grade A choke master
Silver Member
I was just wondering who on this forum has a steady practice partner? I did have someone that I played with regularly three - four times a week, but he moved to Florida. Since that time, my game has declined greatly. Last night, I got a phone call from another old practice partner, saying that he was back in town and wanted to start playing the game again. YES!!! New practice partner!!! Will my game pick back up to where it was, or even progress farther? This guy is perhaps a ball or so better than the other player. As you can probably tell, I am pretty excited about this!
 
I do

I play with a friend from my league team twice a week or so. Really it just breaks the monotony of practicing alone for hours on end. He usually only gets a few games off me a session though (9 or 8 ball usually). I honestly wish it were the other way around!

I play the occasional straight pool match with another guy from my team sometimes after league night is over. Last few scores have been 50-7, 100-50, 45-25 or so though. Not trying to brag here (I'm not that good really).

Consider this an open invitation for you strong players in MA/CT/RI to whoop on me in practice! I'll even pay time if you beat me real bad. I know some of you New Englanders are out there (Joe T, Koop, etc). PM me if anyone's interested; I'm in Worcester.
 
davidhop said:
I was just wondering who on this forum has a steady practice partner? I did have someone that I played with regularly three - four times a week, but he moved to Florida. Since that time, my game has declined greatly. Last night, I got a phone call from another old practice partner, saying that he was back in town and wanted to start playing the game again. YES!!! New practice partner!!! Will my game pick back up to where it was, or even progress farther? This guy is perhaps a ball or so better than the other player. As you can probably tell, I am pretty excited about this!
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You must be from near Boone? I go there every year for a 10-day running camp and we take at least one trip out to the Virginia Treeper Trail. This year I played pool at a horrid place outside of Boone - would love to find someone to shoot with in the area next August.
 
runscott said:
You must be from near Boone? I go there every year for a 10-day running camp and we take at least one trip out to the Virginia Treeper Trail. This year I played pool at a horrid place outside of Boone - would love to find someone to shoot with in the area next August.
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I only live about thirty minutes from Boone. Feel free to PM me and we can get together anytime. Where did you play? Near Boone, the best place is Family Billiards in Foscoe. The only thing is that the owner is not the easiest person to get along with.
 
I do as well. He is a great 1p player that has vast knowledge. I can beat him, but usually he beats me. My goal is to learn as much as I can from him until I can beat him, and continue improving my game from his knowledge.
 
My husband Bob has several friends that he practices with on a regular basis. In addition to that he has a regular Monday night group of guys who are all very talented pool players come over for dinner and pool. These same guys are the ones that he won the recent BCA Open Team event with in Vegas last may.
 
davidhop said:
I only live about thirty minutes from Boone. Feel free to PM me and we can get together anytime. Where did you play? Near Boone, the best place is Family Billiards in Foscoe. The only thing is that the owner is not the easiest person to get along with.
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...errr....that's the place. Maybe it was just the awful burger, but I also didn't like the way they drew all over the tables (pencilled in rack position, lines) and that brown cloth was terrible. But...I can actually walk there from the house we rent, so I'll be back.
 
I used to have several friends that would come over and practice with me. Seems I ran em all off with my production cue. :P

Anybody looking for a weak one pocket game?

Shorty
 
I practice with my partner from womens' league, but we are so evenly matched, we often just wind up trading games all night. I also practice with my husband, who is an exceptional player. My game has now improved to the point where I am able to beat him on a regular basis, which he is actually proud of; says the student has surpassed the teacher. :)

I also make it a point to hit a money shoot at least once during the week. This is where we pick up alot of the best male players in the area. This is my favorite 'practice', as the better they shoot, the better my game advances. I actually win money at these things, but I go more for the action than the cash. Improving my game is more important to me than the money. It is because of all the safety and shot-safety play I have learned to not get 'rattled'.

BTW, we had our opening match of the womens' league season last night, and my girls took the match 7-2...not too shabby! :D

Lisa
 
runscott said:
...errr....that's the place. Maybe it was just the awful burger, but I also didn't like the way they drew all over the tables (pencilled in rack position, lines) and that brown cloth was terrible. But...I can actually walk there from the house we rent, so I'll be back.
Click to expand...
About 45 minutes from there, across the Tennessee line, there is a GREAT place to play called the Corner Pocket ( www.corner-pocket.com )People are easy to get along with, the cloth is green, tables are Olhausen, and they have one blue felted Kim Steele. There are some very strong players in this area as well. They do not serve food though. I much prefer this place over Family Billiards. Let me know anfd we will play some whenever. Good to hear from you.
 
davidhop said:
About 45 minutes from there, across the Tennessee line, there is a GREAT place to play called the Corner Pocket ( www.corner-pocket.com )People are easy to get along with, the cloth is green, tables are Olhausen, and they have one blue felted Kim Steele. There are some very strong players in this area as well. They do not serve food though. I much prefer this place over Family Billiards. Let me know anfd we will play some whenever. Good to hear from you.
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I had breakfast in Mountain City once - it's on the way to the Creeper Trail. I will make a point of hooking up with you next time I'm in that area - thanks for the info!
 
ridewiththewind said:
I practice with my partner from womens' league, but we are so evenly matched, we often just wind up trading games all night. I also practice with my husband, who is an exceptional player. My game has now improved to the point where I am able to beat him on a regular basis, which he is actually proud of; says the student has surpassed the teacher. :)

I also make it a point to hit a money shoot at least once during the week. This is where we pick up alot of the best male players in the area. This is my favorite 'practice', as the better they shoot, the better my game advances. I actually win money at these things, but I go more for the action than the cash. Improving my game is more important to me than the money. It is because of all the safety and shot-safety play I have learned to not get 'rattled'.

BTW, we had our opening match of the womens' league season last night, and my girls took the match 7-2...not too shabby! :D

Lisa
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Hey Lisa, where do you play out of normally?
 
This may sound wacko, but my best Practice partner is ME! I usually play 14.1 or 1-pocket and play opposite sides of the fence. 1 turn I will fire at everything, loose, whippy stroke and all. Next turn I'm duckmasterflash, playing a very calculating style, controled tight stroke, slow pace, no chances.

Wierd as it sounds, it gets me in stroke. When I match up to gamble or whatever, I'll look at a shot from both perspectives and see which "player" I need to shoot the shot with. As I'm writing this it sounds very psyco, but it does work for me. It also helps when I need to kick in another gear and turn it loose in a match. I've had people say,"you played totally different from the begining to the end of that match. I guess it throws them off:).....Gerry....I think?
 
NaClBandit said:
Consider this an open invitation for you strong players in MA/CT/RI to whoop on me in practice! I'll even pay time if you beat me real bad. I know some of you New Englanders are out there (Joe T, Koop, etc). PM me if anyone's interested; I'm in Worcester.
Click to expand...

I'm in the Weymouth / Quincy area so if you ever come down and I can find the time, I'd be happy to come out and shoot a little with you.
TRUST ME, Joe T will be playing for free :-)
Me on the other hand, probably more evenly matched.

Koop
 
I said it before ....

You do not improve your game when you are in a competition with
someone else ....

You only see some things that you yourself would want to learn.

Learning to improve your game is done by yourself, practicing on
everything you are 'weak' on unitl you learn how to do it, OR
working with a qualified instructor that takes you through a layered
learning process.

Do you think a basketball team immediately plays better while they
are playing a game? Or do you think that they learn to play better
from practices before games?

A competition is not the time to try 'something new'. The time to try
new things is when you practice, that is when you learn, no matter
how many repetitions it might take....

That is why some people can play 20 years and never be much better
than after they played for a year. Because they have an incorrect
assumption about how to improve their game. If you are serious about
wanting to be better, then do it the right way. Read the proper books,
and/or get proper instruction from a qualified instructor, and for
heavens sake, practice like you should ....
 
Gerry said:
This may sound wacko, but my best Practice partner is ME! I usually play 14.1 or 1-pocket and play opposite sides of the fence. 1 turn I will fire at everything, loose, whippy stroke and all. Next turn I'm duckmasterflash, playing a very calculating style, controled tight stroke, slow pace, no chances.

Wierd as it sounds, it gets me in stroke. When I match up to gamble or whatever, I'll look at a shot from both perspectives and see which "player" I need to shoot the shot with. As I'm writing this it sounds very psyco, but it does work for me. It also helps when I need to kick in another gear and turn it loose in a match. I've had people say,"you played totally different from the begining to the end of that match. I guess it throws them off:).....Gerry....I think?
Click to expand...

That's funny because I do pretty much the same thing. I love to practice by myself because I love hitting the balls and if I'm playing someone, when they're up, I'm missing out on shots. I pretend I'm playing Efren or some other top player. I try to put the pressure on myself with the game-winning shot.

I have a 1h partner that I play every Friday night. His offense isn't as good as mine but his moves and defense are very good. This gives me a chance to work on my moves and defense. We've been playing for several years now and other players don't understand why I don't play him for money. I thoroughly enjoy the camaraderie and the game. Why spoil all that for a few bucks?
 
KingCarom said:
Hey Lisa, where do you play out of normally?
Click to expand...

Oh, I am out in the boondocks...hehehe. I live in a little town called ClearLake, which is located between Mount Vernon and Sedro Woolley on SR9. I play out of Cues-N-Brews in Woolley. They sponsor my Womens' League team, 9 Ball team, and that is where I primarily play the money shoots on Monday nights. There is also very hot action up in Alger @ the Alger Bar & Grille on Old Hwy 99 and @ Riverside Billiards & Blues in Mount Vernon, and lastly...River City Billiards in Burlington.
Riverside Billiards & Blues is a family oriented poolhall that does NOT serve alcohol and has the only 9ft tables in the valley.

I don't get down to Snohomish Co as I am just not into the whole I-5 traffic thing. Although my partner and myself have considered attending a tournament or two in Everett/Lynnwood. We may yet. :)

Lisa
 
Snapshot9 said:
You do not improve your game when you are in a competition with
someone else ....

You only see some things that you yourself would want to learn.

Learning to improve your game is done by yourself, practicing on
everything you are 'weak' on unitl you learn how to do it, OR
working with a qualified instructor that takes you through a layered
learning process.

Do you think a basketball team immediately plays better while they
are playing a game? Or do you think that they learn to play better
from practices before games?

A competition is not the time to try 'something new'. The time to try
new things is when you practice, that is when you learn, no matter
how many repetitions it might take....

That is why some people can play 20 years and never be much better
than after they played for a year. Because they have an incorrect
assumption about how to improve their game. If you are serious about
wanting to be better, then do it the right way. Read the proper books,
and/or get proper instruction from a qualified instructor, and for
heavens sake, practice like you should ....
Click to expand...

What I understand the original post was getting at was a practice partner who shoots systematic drills with you. If two of you are practicing drills and competing it's less boring. We used to wagger a little when we did it. With constructive criticism for each other on misses or runs stopped. Alas I havent had a practice partner in 6 years.
 
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