The Coin Difference

I am REALLY liking the league I am on that you only pay quarters for the bar tables if you lose!

Some leagues, you pay the whole dollar (4 quarters) when you rack.

Other leagues you have to give 50 cents to the racker.  This has caused many games to lag start times because you are waiting on your opponent to give you their half of the cost of the coin table.  I don't wait anymore and just put in the 4 quarters and then pocket the 50 cents when they finally come to the table.

But it's the leagues I play on where you only pay if you lose that I love the best!  I may spend $1 a night only!  Sometimes ZERO dollars (if I do really well).

I like those type of leagues best.  :)

Of course, helps I play pretty sporty too, tho, lol.

Tournament Mantra's

Last weekend I played in the OB Cues Ladies Tour in OKC at Jamaica Joe's (beautiful pool room btw!).

I spoke to a good friend on Sunday who was on the one-loss side, but still in (I placed 9th, and the brought 5-6th places back on Sunday).

I asked her, "How do you feel today?"

She replied quickly with one word. "Determined."


I said, "Good for you!"

"Thanks.  I really want to do well today and I so I am determined."

So, throughout the day and before or during her matches when I would see her, I would walk by her and say "Determined" to her and she would smile back.

I have had "pool mantra's" before, also.  Usually mine are more about my pre shot routine, not an emotion or feeling, tho.

Like:

• Stay down
• Take advantage of their mistakes
• Breathe
• Have fun

Things like that.

I like her attitude for sure!

And she won the tourney, BTW!

Do you have pool mantra's too?  OR a word your focus on during a tournament to help you?  You are welcome to share in the comment section below.

A New Chalk Hoarder

I wrote in January of this year that someone kept using my chalk that I left on the table.  Most people use their own chalk - even if you leave it on the table, most people have chalk etiquette - but at this tourney I ran into someone who didn't care which or whose chalk she used.

I wrote something similar from May - where my check was even decorated and yet still used by someone else.  The nerve!  

I kinda got a little miffed.

I thought to myself, maybe I should just start taking the chalk from the table, like a lot of people do.  But I wondered, how long would THAT take to turn into a habit? 

Many people have their own chalk and if you don't want anyone else to use it, you take it when you when you sit down.  It becomes part of your routine - grab your chalk before you sit down.  But, seriously - how long would it take me to start doing this every time? 

Others keep their chalk to themselves because they use it as part of their pre-shot routine, which is taught at pool schools (e.g. you think while you chalk your cue about what you want to do (so you don't think too much while down on a shot)).  In these cases, keeping your chalk with you is an integral part of your routine, you can't possibly let anyone else use.

Well, after Vegas in May when players touched my decorated chalk, I started to try to routinely take my chalk with me when I sat down/left the table.  I really wondered how long this habit would become "ingrained."

Heck within a month I was doing this!  Routinely!

You might think this is nothing, but let me say it this way:  I have been playing pool for almost 25 years and have never taken the chalk with me until June of this year, after only trying it for a month.

:)

I realize it takes 21 to 28 days to form a habit normally, but still - even after 25 years I am pretty impressed that I am doing this now after only a month of "practice."