Since I went back to school I've played significantly less than I am used to. In the process of getting my stroke back I've started practicing 10 ball again which is something I haven't really done at all in the last year. In fact break cue has become my girlfriends cue essentially (falcon cue with a really leather hard tip).
The last couple of times in practice since I returned to playing, it was painfully easy. I was breaking well, the balls were spreading nicely and at least 1-3 balls were going on the break (not bad for a snooker player haha). It was just connecting the dots, no problems. Now somedays it can be an excercise in frustration, but when I'm playing like this I feel more bored than satisfied. What can I do other than run rack after rack? Intentionally set up tricky positions I guess, but its not as much fun.
I never get this sensation playing 14.1. It never feels to easy, not once. Even on my best days when everything seems to be working well for me, there is always something I could do better or more consistently. I mean to say, on my best days everything does feel ''easy'', but the fact that I didn't run 100 or better means that I didn't play it perfectly. Meaning that there is something else that needs to be worked on. Even when I have run 100, it is rarely followed up by more than a 40 ball run.
I can't power my way through the racks with shot making alone. I need utilize every skill set available to me in this game. Top 14.1 players demonstrate a complete mastery of the game. They ''never'' miss, and they always seem like they are in complete control.
Same thing goes for snooker, but that is for a different thread. I feel that 14.1 is every bit as challenging as snooker to compete at a top level. Especially after seeing the calibre of play demonstrated by players like Mika and Oliver at the last two world championships.
So that's my straight pool rant of the day.
The last couple of times in practice since I returned to playing, it was painfully easy. I was breaking well, the balls were spreading nicely and at least 1-3 balls were going on the break (not bad for a snooker player haha). It was just connecting the dots, no problems. Now somedays it can be an excercise in frustration, but when I'm playing like this I feel more bored than satisfied. What can I do other than run rack after rack? Intentionally set up tricky positions I guess, but its not as much fun.
I never get this sensation playing 14.1. It never feels to easy, not once. Even on my best days when everything seems to be working well for me, there is always something I could do better or more consistently. I mean to say, on my best days everything does feel ''easy'', but the fact that I didn't run 100 or better means that I didn't play it perfectly. Meaning that there is something else that needs to be worked on. Even when I have run 100, it is rarely followed up by more than a 40 ball run.
I can't power my way through the racks with shot making alone. I need utilize every skill set available to me in this game. Top 14.1 players demonstrate a complete mastery of the game. They ''never'' miss, and they always seem like they are in complete control.
Same thing goes for snooker, but that is for a different thread. I feel that 14.1 is every bit as challenging as snooker to compete at a top level. Especially after seeing the calibre of play demonstrated by players like Mika and Oliver at the last two world championships.
So that's my straight pool rant of the day.