During pool league this past Monday night, I was paired against a player who was a skill level 2. In the past this has been certain doom for me. I don't know why but I have played very well against and sometimes beaten SL3's thru SL6's but twos have always given me a problem. I got off to a good start, winning the first two games and getting on the hill.
The third game was where things started to go awry. It seemed like every time I came to the table I was hooked. This was not due to any deliberate defensive shots on her part. I would make contact with one of my balls but generally left them in even worse position. It felt I would be better served just picking up the ball and handing it to her than to try and make contact and make matters worse. NINETEEN innings later I bobbled the eight ball in the corner pocket and left her an easy "gimme" to win the game. Double hill!
The last game I was shooting fairly well and had run out to the eight ball with my opponent still having four balls left. I left myself hooked behind one of her remaining balls with a difficult kick shot at the eight ball. Rather than take a chance scratching or pocketing the eight in the wrong pocket, I chose to give my opponent ball-in-hand. She missed her shot and left me hooked yet again. Again, I gave her ball-in-hand. She made one (I think) and then missed leaving me a shot on the eight ball which I promptly pocketed for the win. I FINALLY BEAT A TWO!
I know many people will read this and wonder what is so special about beating such a low ranked player. To me, it was the end of a long struggle against lower ranked players. Don't get me wrong. I love to beat a SL5,6 or 7!!! To be completely honest, I love beating ANYONE. I'm sure nobody enjoys losing.
In summary, I'm not sure exactly what the psychology is that caused me to play poorly against SL2's but I am hopeful that is now in my past. Now, bring on the SL7! I'm fairly certain that is the only skill level player that still eludes me. LOL
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Team name change for Vegas, playing tired and other stuff....
Team Name
Well, as expected, the APA made us change our team name for the APA Nationals in August. Seems it doesn't matter that our team captain's name is Damien Davis and we had been calling him "Double D" for a long time. I guess the APA decided our name MUST be an innuendo. Anyway, because we were a wildcard team at "Cities" here in Birmingham, AL and we won, we decided on "Twist of Fate". "Double D's" will still be our team name locally.
I read the APA's previously banned name list and some of the names had me rolling on the floor laughing. I didn't understand why some were banned but maybe I'm just getting old and there was something implied in the name that I didn't understand.
"Milk Fed Veal": no clue
"Control Your Rock": nope still no clue
"Come Get Some": Seems like a stretch to ban it
"Poke And Pray": I guess you could infer a sexual innuendo in the word Poke but in the context it seems silly to ban it
Oh well, the name is changed and we're set for Vegas. Got the hotel and air reservations made and paid for. We're ready to rock this party!
Playing Tired
Anyone can tell you that playing tired will affect your game. It's definitely true. Last Monday night was a regular league night for my 8-Ball team. We had just come off a full weekend of high stress and little sleep. I actually got to sleep at 2:00am after everything was done Sunday night. We were all drained. When we arrived at the pool hall Monday night, we were happy but we were all dragging.
When I got to the table, we were down 2-1 and my performance didn't help. I couldn't string together a three ball run to save my life. I ended up losing 0-3 and to say I wasn't happy with my performance would be an understatement. I know I have to practice a lot more before Vegas!
Missing a Team Member
I failed to mention in the last post that my wife wasn't able to play with us in cities. Although she was part of the team, she only had eight lifetime matches in the APA so she was two short of the requisite ten. She was there with us of course cheering us on and once it was over, she was even given a trophy by the league operator. I thought that was a very nice gesture on his part since she was part of the team roster that made it to cities. My understanding is that even though she will have more than ten matches by the time we go to Vegas, she will still not be eligible since she wasn't officially on the roster that won cities. It's kind of a disappointment but understandable. She is looking forward to playing in some of the other singles matches while we are there.
Well, as expected, the APA made us change our team name for the APA Nationals in August. Seems it doesn't matter that our team captain's name is Damien Davis and we had been calling him "Double D" for a long time. I guess the APA decided our name MUST be an innuendo. Anyway, because we were a wildcard team at "Cities" here in Birmingham, AL and we won, we decided on "Twist of Fate". "Double D's" will still be our team name locally.
I read the APA's previously banned name list and some of the names had me rolling on the floor laughing. I didn't understand why some were banned but maybe I'm just getting old and there was something implied in the name that I didn't understand.
"Milk Fed Veal": no clue
"Control Your Rock": nope still no clue
"Come Get Some": Seems like a stretch to ban it
"Poke And Pray": I guess you could infer a sexual innuendo in the word Poke but in the context it seems silly to ban it
Oh well, the name is changed and we're set for Vegas. Got the hotel and air reservations made and paid for. We're ready to rock this party!
Playing Tired
Anyone can tell you that playing tired will affect your game. It's definitely true. Last Monday night was a regular league night for my 8-Ball team. We had just come off a full weekend of high stress and little sleep. I actually got to sleep at 2:00am after everything was done Sunday night. We were all drained. When we arrived at the pool hall Monday night, we were happy but we were all dragging.
When I got to the table, we were down 2-1 and my performance didn't help. I couldn't string together a three ball run to save my life. I ended up losing 0-3 and to say I wasn't happy with my performance would be an understatement. I know I have to practice a lot more before Vegas!
Missing a Team Member
I failed to mention in the last post that my wife wasn't able to play with us in cities. Although she was part of the team, she only had eight lifetime matches in the APA so she was two short of the requisite ten. She was there with us of course cheering us on and once it was over, she was even given a trophy by the league operator. I thought that was a very nice gesture on his part since she was part of the team roster that made it to cities. My understanding is that even though she will have more than ten matches by the time we go to Vegas, she will still not be eligible since she wasn't officially on the roster that won cities. It's kind of a disappointment but understandable. She is looking forward to playing in some of the other singles matches while we are there.
Monday, June 13, 2011
We're going to VEGAS!
What a weekend! Friday night found us playing our first match of the 2011 Birmingham APA 8-Ball Cities Championship. We were down 2-0 and feeling very vulnerable. My teammates pulled us back to a 2-2 situation but time ran out before the last match started and now it was time for "Sudden Death". One game for all the marbles and the opposing team put up a SL4(*). The team captain looks at me and asks, "Are you ready?". I was nervous but definitely ready!
My opponent broke and followed up by only running two more balls. I was prepared. I ran six balls straight and had a cut shot on the one in the corner. All I had to do was make the one with the right speed leaving the cue ball in the middle of the table to give me a shot on the eight ball. I leaned down over the shot, took a deep breath .... and stood up. I wasn't feeling it so I walked around and got the chalk, chalked my cue and settled my nerves. I lined up on the shot again and made my stroke. The one ball bobbled in the corner and the cue ball traveled down table and scratched. My heart sank. Not only had I missed the shot but I had given my opponent ball-in-hand.
I stepped away thinking my opponent had a fairly easy run-out and that I was finished. Suddenly they called timeout and the team captain was discussing it with him. I think they were rattled that a SL3 had almost ran the table on them but whatever the reason, I was surprised they called a timeout at that point. My opponent ran two more and then missed but the cue ball ran up behind the eight ball and hooked me. A kick shot was my only option to get to the one at this point so my team captain called a timeout to discuss it. Once I was ready, I got down on my shot and made my stroke only to have the cue ball come off the rail and make contact with the eight ball sending it almost into the side pocket and giving my opponent ball-in-hand AGAIN!
I looked at my opponent's layout and again felt that sinking feeling creeping up on me. He shot his first ball in and got out of shape a bit for his second but it was still make-able. He missed! I had a shot on the one now and only needed to draw it back about 12-18 inches for excellent position on the eight ball. I succeeded in only drawing it back about six inches but I knew it was enough. I knew I could cut it in the side from there. I chalked my cue, took a deep breath and lined up the shot. As I stroked the shot, I knew I had it. The eight ball dropped, the cue ball stopped and we had one our first match! The team went wild.
What an awesome feeling! It's hard to describe but I do believe I am hooked on it now.
I didn't have to play again the entire tournament but I was ready if needed. In the finals, we were up 2-1 and the fourth match was hill-hill(#). I was set to play "closer" but Jennifer Berryhill (SL5) pulled out the win so I was able to leave my cues in their case.
We had our ups and downs but what an awesome finish to a long and stressful day. Our team captain, Damien Davis, had led us to victory! THE "DOUBLE-D's" ARE GOING TO VEGAS!!!!!!! 2011 APA National 8-Ball Championships here we come! If you're in Vegas August 21-27, come by the Riviera Casino and say hello.
* - For those who don't know, the APA (American Poolplayers Association) has 6 skill levels (SL) in the 8-Ball Division ranging from 2-7 with 7 being the best.
# - Being "On the hill" in pool parlance means you only need to win one game to win the match.
My opponent broke and followed up by only running two more balls. I was prepared. I ran six balls straight and had a cut shot on the one in the corner. All I had to do was make the one with the right speed leaving the cue ball in the middle of the table to give me a shot on the eight ball. I leaned down over the shot, took a deep breath .... and stood up. I wasn't feeling it so I walked around and got the chalk, chalked my cue and settled my nerves. I lined up on the shot again and made my stroke. The one ball bobbled in the corner and the cue ball traveled down table and scratched. My heart sank. Not only had I missed the shot but I had given my opponent ball-in-hand.
I stepped away thinking my opponent had a fairly easy run-out and that I was finished. Suddenly they called timeout and the team captain was discussing it with him. I think they were rattled that a SL3 had almost ran the table on them but whatever the reason, I was surprised they called a timeout at that point. My opponent ran two more and then missed but the cue ball ran up behind the eight ball and hooked me. A kick shot was my only option to get to the one at this point so my team captain called a timeout to discuss it. Once I was ready, I got down on my shot and made my stroke only to have the cue ball come off the rail and make contact with the eight ball sending it almost into the side pocket and giving my opponent ball-in-hand AGAIN!
I looked at my opponent's layout and again felt that sinking feeling creeping up on me. He shot his first ball in and got out of shape a bit for his second but it was still make-able. He missed! I had a shot on the one now and only needed to draw it back about 12-18 inches for excellent position on the eight ball. I succeeded in only drawing it back about six inches but I knew it was enough. I knew I could cut it in the side from there. I chalked my cue, took a deep breath and lined up the shot. As I stroked the shot, I knew I had it. The eight ball dropped, the cue ball stopped and we had one our first match! The team went wild.
What an awesome feeling! It's hard to describe but I do believe I am hooked on it now.
I didn't have to play again the entire tournament but I was ready if needed. In the finals, we were up 2-1 and the fourth match was hill-hill(#). I was set to play "closer" but Jennifer Berryhill (SL5) pulled out the win so I was able to leave my cues in their case.
We had our ups and downs but what an awesome finish to a long and stressful day. Our team captain, Damien Davis, had led us to victory! THE "DOUBLE-D's" ARE GOING TO VEGAS!!!!!!! 2011 APA National 8-Ball Championships here we come! If you're in Vegas August 21-27, come by the Riviera Casino and say hello.
* - For those who don't know, the APA (American Poolplayers Association) has 6 skill levels (SL) in the 8-Ball Division ranging from 2-7 with 7 being the best.
# - Being "On the hill" in pool parlance means you only need to win one game to win the match.
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