Well, I'm slacking. :( One of my goals for 2010 to play one pocket at least once a month is about to be a big fat FAIL. Eeek. However, I decided to mix TWO goals into one and I think I might have saved the day! Yay. :)
One of my other goals is to watch a DVD once a month, and even though I already accomplished it this month (April) when I watched the phenomenal John Schmidt DVD How I Run 100's (read my review here), I decided earlier this week since I had yet to play one pocket this month, I will at least watch a DVD of a one pocket match.
So, last night I grabbed my personal copy of the Pool Hall Master Movie and proceeded to watch for the first time the One Pocket match that is added as a second DVD when you buy the movie.
Two talented and professional one pocket players race to 8 for a few thousand and the match is commentated BY them. It was awesome to get inside their head and hear WHY they shot what. Many times, the reason for shooting a certain shot is 3-fold! That's why I love one pocket so much - challenging and creative!
The players also talked some about pressure - which was interesting to hear that they are very aware of their opponents scratches, ball count, who broke, etc. They recognize when to add more pressure in the game and/or match. I always wondered if pro players were aware of situations like this and they do indeed sometimes turn up the heat during certain times or played a certain way because of ball counts and emotions of the other player.
Even though I technically didn't PLAY one pocket, at least it got absorbed into my brain last night with this awesome match. :)
BTW, I strongly feel that player reviews are the BEST matches to watch on dvd!
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
I'll Take a Shot of Scotch
I think quite differently than most peeps when it comes to preparing for scotch doubles 8-ball tournaments. Most people practice with their scotch doubles partner, right? Well, I don't.
8Ball is a beautiful game - break outs, nudges, safety play, run outs, carom shots, etc. In my crazy-a$$ mind, I truly believe if you both already know 8ball well, why do you need to practice together?
This doesn't mean I do NOT prepare for 8ball, though! On the contrary, I meet up with one the top 8ball players in my city for 8ball learning sessions before big 8ball events. We go over every shot in detail, every decision, and why. I love it!
Many players in the Open Scotch Doubles blame their poor showing on: "my partner and I didn't get to practice enough." I proudly reply (which may be rude, but it isn't my intention), "we didn't practice at all" as we cash in our check.
I realize there are many reason TO practice together - know each others patterns, figure out if there are shots they prefer or dislike, get a little team spirit built up, etc. So, I'm not discounting it for others - this is just a little quirk I have about Scotch Doubles I thought I would share today with you.
In 2007, I played Scotch doubles with Royce Bunnell (one of the owners of OB Cues). My only stipulation to him was, "Royce, I don't practice with my scotch doubles partner." He looked at me funny (well, he does that a lot) and he replied, "well, okay, then."
So, before we go to the 2007 and 2008 BCAPL Nationals, we never hit balls together - not even against each other at any point during the entire year. When we arrive in Vegas, we play literally only four (4) games in 2007 and two (2) games in 2008 the night before the tourney starts to get used to the table, but we didn't discuss shots at all - we were mostly warming up. In 2007 we placed 5th out of like 400 teams!! Wow! In 2008 we placed 4th out of almost 415 teams!
Royce and I played well together for two main reasons - he made me laugh which kept me comfortable, and he knew 8ball well. :)
I will not be able to play with Royce this year in the Open Scotch Doubles because I played in a different league last season. :( One of the top players in my new league could not play in the Open Scotch Doubles with me this year b/c of his job so I looked into a couple of already-master players who could possibly play with me in the Masters Scotch division. The BCAPL has the COOL new rule that you can play in Master Scotch Doubles with anyone from your STATE as long as one of you has played 8 weeks of league play.
This year will be no different when it comes to practice, though. My new scotch doubles partner (Sylver Ochoa) also lives in a different city like Royce did, and Sylver knows 8ball very well already, but I will not practice with him and instead practice with the top player in my own city.
Tougher competition in the Masters Scotch division - but I'm up for the challenge and welcome the opportunity! But, my fingers will still be crossed, lol.
8Ball is a beautiful game - break outs, nudges, safety play, run outs, carom shots, etc. In my crazy-a$$ mind, I truly believe if you both already know 8ball well, why do you need to practice together?
This doesn't mean I do NOT prepare for 8ball, though! On the contrary, I meet up with one the top 8ball players in my city for 8ball learning sessions before big 8ball events. We go over every shot in detail, every decision, and why. I love it!
Many players in the Open Scotch Doubles blame their poor showing on: "my partner and I didn't get to practice enough." I proudly reply (which may be rude, but it isn't my intention), "we didn't practice at all" as we cash in our check.
I realize there are many reason TO practice together - know each others patterns, figure out if there are shots they prefer or dislike, get a little team spirit built up, etc. So, I'm not discounting it for others - this is just a little quirk I have about Scotch Doubles I thought I would share today with you.
In 2007, I played Scotch doubles with Royce Bunnell (one of the owners of OB Cues). My only stipulation to him was, "Royce, I don't practice with my scotch doubles partner." He looked at me funny (well, he does that a lot) and he replied, "well, okay, then."
So, before we go to the 2007 and 2008 BCAPL Nationals, we never hit balls together - not even against each other at any point during the entire year. When we arrive in Vegas, we play literally only four (4) games in 2007 and two (2) games in 2008 the night before the tourney starts to get used to the table, but we didn't discuss shots at all - we were mostly warming up. In 2007 we placed 5th out of like 400 teams!! Wow! In 2008 we placed 4th out of almost 415 teams!
Royce and I played well together for two main reasons - he made me laugh which kept me comfortable, and he knew 8ball well. :)
I will not be able to play with Royce this year in the Open Scotch Doubles because I played in a different league last season. :( One of the top players in my new league could not play in the Open Scotch Doubles with me this year b/c of his job so I looked into a couple of already-master players who could possibly play with me in the Masters Scotch division. The BCAPL has the COOL new rule that you can play in Master Scotch Doubles with anyone from your STATE as long as one of you has played 8 weeks of league play.
This year will be no different when it comes to practice, though. My new scotch doubles partner (Sylver Ochoa) also lives in a different city like Royce did, and Sylver knows 8ball very well already, but I will not practice with him and instead practice with the top player in my own city.
Tougher competition in the Masters Scotch division - but I'm up for the challenge and welcome the opportunity! But, my fingers will still be crossed, lol.
Friday, April 23, 2010
Evidently, It's Not Silly
I had been wondering if I should post about this or not, but after dinner with some girlfriends this week, I found out my thoughts and feelings about this topic aren't silly after all. I admit I do not know if guys feel these things, but for chicks, some of us do.
I won my first Fast Eddie's stop last December. A VERY proud moment in my life! I am still elated to this day about that win - very special to me.
I was disappointed, however, that it was barely mentioned on the front page of AZBilliards.com. The Fast Eddie's Tour used to write two separate articles on each tournament - one for the men's division and one for the women's division - but now a reporter calls the tour and writes only ONE article (the women sometimes never get mentioned at all or barely get mentioned).
In two sentences in the last paragraph the article about the Fast Eddie's Tour Season Finale does indeed state I won the women's division, so, I should be thankful it's even mentioned at all, but it wasn't made a big deal of. But to be fair, it probably wasn't a big deal to the person who wrote the article or who gave the info to the writer. Four (4) long paragraphs about the men's tourney and yet only 4 sentences about the women's tourney, though. Wow. :(
(An interesting side note - I am a partner of AZBilliards.com and also help with the Fast Eddies' Tour, but I would never tell either one of them I should get bigger billing. That's not who I am.)
You all know I don't normally complain so that is why I hadn't said anything before, but the dinner conversation from the other night brought up other similar, silly thoughts chicks think of.
For instance, the last stop of the year for the Fast Eddie's Tour was not mentioned in any of the print magazines. It would have been cool to have a mention in print! I ain't mad or upset - my blog entry sincerely described my emotions anyway - but a little disappointed, I admit. I don't care about getting attention for myself (I know you don't believe that) but it would have been neat to read about my important win in print. But it's okay - I am still super happy!
At the same dinner, one of my friends shared that an article about her recent big win didn't have her name in the title. I could completely relate - and we talked about how it was really a silly little feeling, but it still would have meant a lot to her.
I remember a couple of years ago a friend won a ladies event in the NE and she was super upset about the article - they didn't have the scores correct and the wording made it seem like she got lucky to win.
I wonder, do guys think the same about this topic?
Does everyone look for write-ups about a win and/or care if there isn't a write up OR if there are mistakes?
I won my first Fast Eddie's stop last December. A VERY proud moment in my life! I am still elated to this day about that win - very special to me.
I was disappointed, however, that it was barely mentioned on the front page of AZBilliards.com. The Fast Eddie's Tour used to write two separate articles on each tournament - one for the men's division and one for the women's division - but now a reporter calls the tour and writes only ONE article (the women sometimes never get mentioned at all or barely get mentioned).
In two sentences in the last paragraph the article about the Fast Eddie's Tour Season Finale does indeed state I won the women's division, so, I should be thankful it's even mentioned at all, but it wasn't made a big deal of. But to be fair, it probably wasn't a big deal to the person who wrote the article or who gave the info to the writer. Four (4) long paragraphs about the men's tourney and yet only 4 sentences about the women's tourney, though. Wow. :(
(An interesting side note - I am a partner of AZBilliards.com and also help with the Fast Eddies' Tour, but I would never tell either one of them I should get bigger billing. That's not who I am.)
You all know I don't normally complain so that is why I hadn't said anything before, but the dinner conversation from the other night brought up other similar, silly thoughts chicks think of.
For instance, the last stop of the year for the Fast Eddie's Tour was not mentioned in any of the print magazines. It would have been cool to have a mention in print! I ain't mad or upset - my blog entry sincerely described my emotions anyway - but a little disappointed, I admit. I don't care about getting attention for myself (I know you don't believe that) but it would have been neat to read about my important win in print. But it's okay - I am still super happy!
At the same dinner, one of my friends shared that an article about her recent big win didn't have her name in the title. I could completely relate - and we talked about how it was really a silly little feeling, but it still would have meant a lot to her.
I remember a couple of years ago a friend won a ladies event in the NE and she was super upset about the article - they didn't have the scores correct and the wording made it seem like she got lucky to win.
I wonder, do guys think the same about this topic?
Does everyone look for write-ups about a win and/or care if there isn't a write up OR if there are mistakes?
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