tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66193228922093585632024-03-18T22:00:52.677-05:00Pool is a JourneyMelindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14816789283998956925noreply@blogger.comBlogger1857125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6619322892209358563.post-21545537795155104442021-09-15T15:45:00.001-05:002021-09-15T15:45:28.543-05:00Bad Positional Error - Katniss<p><b style="color: #222222;"><a href="https://pooljourney.blogspot.com/p/project-hunger-games.html">From Katniss</a>, of the Hunger Games Project of my Blog:</b></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I was at a local poolroom by myself, no one was there at the time. </span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">An hour in to my practice session, though, another individual walked in. </span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I decide to take a small break and watch this guy. He was hitting them real good… well, until he missed a side pocket shot. So he set it up again and attempted to make the shot. </span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Again and again and again. </span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">What he did not realize was, that it was a POSITIONAL error and NOT a potting error. </span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">His issues started <i>way </i>before his missed shot. Once he figures that out, he be able to fix it, and the error will be resolved. </span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The Lesson? Pay special attention to the cause and effects of your practices!!!</span></p>Melindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14816789283998956925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6619322892209358563.post-85723564195965936312021-08-08T19:18:00.002-05:002021-08-27T09:37:50.330-05:00The Cueist - Funk with Life/Pool and Who Helps<p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: small;"><a href="https://pooljourney.blogspot.com/p/cueist-project.html">From The Cueist</a>:</span></p><p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: small;">So, I've been in a bit of a funk lately. Not just pool-wise, but just with things going on in my life and around me. Not a depression-type funk. But, still a funk nonetheless. Coincidentally, I found myself wanting to go to the pool rooms more often. Maybe not to play, or get in action, or play a tourney. Those things are nice, sure. But I went to the pool rooms just to go hang out with friends I've made over the years. From all walks of life, ages, colors - this beautiful game that we love to play has a way of bringing people together.</span></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I remember being younger and being in the pool room practicing 6-8 hours a day when I wasn't working. There were always 2 "old timers" there having coffee. Being that I was in my early 20's, I'd say hello, chat with them a while, then go practice. See, I love talking to these "old timers" in the pool rooms. Some of these guys have been in the pool rooms for 50 years and have seen many different things both inside the pool rooms and outside of the pool rooms. Some are veterans, some are millionaires, some are widowers, some are former top players. </div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">While I'm not at the "old timer" status yet, I have seen my fair share of things at the pool rooms. Been a part of many stories that I'll be able to tell years from now. Learned life lessons in the pool rooms that apply to personal and business life. And most importantly, I've made friends from all walks of life that I enjoyed visiting with during this "funk" of mine. </div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Much to my surprise, these friends of mine knew something was going on with me right off the bat. See, this is how much we've gotten to know each other over the years. And almost all of them offered great life advice. But when it came to advice on how to get out of the pool slump, they all pretty much said the same thing.....don't take pool so seriously. All of us are so competitive that sometimes it's easy to get engulfed in the pool scene and become overwhelmed. Next thing you know, you're not playing your best because of the pressure, then you get down on yourself, and then you may end up quitting the game that you loved so much. </div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">My point is this....while we all want to see results on the pool table after hours and hours of practice. Don't forget that time away from the pool table is just as important. Once you get past that hump in your pool game and remember why you fell in love with the game again, I guarantee that you'll be playing great again! </div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">And be sure to say hi to those "old timers" at the pool room next time. You might be surprised to learn a few things from them, not to mention hear great stories.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></div>Melindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14816789283998956925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6619322892209358563.post-67230857558635493582021-08-08T19:06:00.001-05:002021-08-27T09:37:04.860-05:00Katniss - Pool Shark?<p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: small;"><b><a href="https://pooljourney.blogspot.com/p/project-hunger-games.html">From Katniss</a>:</b></span></p><p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: small;">Someone told me, "I heard you are a pool shark."</span></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I looked around and asked, "Are you talking to me?" </div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">He said, "Yes," </div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I said, "No I’m not." </div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">He replied, "Well everyone is telling me you are."</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I was persistent with my 'no,' even though I ran out and beat him.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">My thought process was this:</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: American Typewriter;"><i>A pool shark is someone who engage in sharking in billiards, that a player who distracts an opponent by means of vocalizing (talking crap) or with movement on purpose. Or a person who hustles people for money. </i></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: American Typewriter;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">His thought process was:</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus;">A pool shark refers to a player who is very well skilled. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">He explained to me that I played very well...not only against him, but in all of my games. I told him thank you <img alt="🙂" aria-label="🙂" class="an1 CToWUd" data-emoji="🙂" loading="lazy" src="https://fonts.gstatic.com/s/e/notoemoji/13.1.1/1f642/32.png" style="height: 1.2em; vertical-align: middle; width: 1.2em;" /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">So MAYBE I am a pool shark after all! </span></div>Melindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14816789283998956925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6619322892209358563.post-53364203091180106312021-05-17T13:01:00.006-05:002021-05-18T11:45:11.586-05:00In Between - from Katniss<p><span style="font-family: arial;">Find your WHY.....and you will find your WAY.</span></p><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Somewhere in between when you leave your comfort zone, to enter a more challenging zone.</span></div><div><br /></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div style="color: #202124; display: table; font-family: arial, sans-serif; word-break: break-word;"><div style="font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; min-height: 36px;"><div style="font-family: "Google Sans", arial, sans-serif; font-size: 36px; line-height: 36px; vertical-align: top;">com·fort zone</div></div></div></div><div><div style="color: #202124; display: table; font-family: arial, sans-serif; word-break: break-word;"><div style="color: #70757a; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 10px;">/ˈkəmfərt zōn/</div></div></div><div><div style="color: #202124; display: table; font-family: arial, sans-serif; word-break: break-word;"><div aria-hidden="true" style="max-height: 0px; opacity: 0;"><div style="padding: 8px 0px 6px;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.google.com/search?safe%3Dactive%26client%3Dsafari%26hl%3Den-us%26sxsrf%3DALeKk03z8UOJNIwNclOICadc8UmrLXxvmw:1620355487290%26q%3Dhow%2Bto%2Bpronounce%2Bcomfort%2Bzone%26stick%3DH4sIAAAAAAAAAOMIfcRoxy3w8sc9YSnTSWtOXmPU5-INKMrPK81LzkwsyczPE5LgYglJLcoVEpDi4-JJzs9Nyy8qUajKz0u1YlFiSs3jWcQqm5FfrlCSr1AA1JcP1JiqgKwMABVZ2hpjAAAA%26pron_lang%3Den%26pron_country%3Dus%26sa%3DX%26ved%3D2ahUKEwiO2-rJxrbwAhVSKqwKHS-qCMkQ3eEDMAB6BAgGEAc&source=gmail&ust=1621355584583000&usg=AFQjCNHgE7aLh0YLZsqRRLWuYx34vyH9JQ" href="https://www.google.com/search?safe=active&client=safari&hl=en-us&sxsrf=ALeKk03z8UOJNIwNclOICadc8UmrLXxvmw:1620355487290&q=how+to+pronounce+comfort+zone&stick=H4sIAAAAAAAAAOMIfcRoxy3w8sc9YSnTSWtOXmPU5-INKMrPK81LzkwsyczPE5LgYglJLcoVEpDi4-JJzs9Nyy8qUajKz0u1YlFiSs3jWcQqm5FfrlCSr1AA1JcP1JiqgKwMABVZ2hpjAAAA&pron_lang=en&pron_country=us&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiO2-rJxrbwAhVSKqwKHS-qCMkQ3eEDMAB6BAgGEAc" style="color: #660099; outline: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><div style="border-radius: 6px; display: inline-block; overflow: hidden; padding-right: 12px; vertical-align: top;"><img alt="" height="10" id="m_-665705240717800067dimg_31" style="border: 0px; display: block;" width="32" /></div></a></div></div></div></div></blockquote><div><div style="color: #202124; display: table; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-align: left; word-break: break-word;"><div aria-hidden="true" style="max-height: 0px; opacity: 0;"><div style="padding: 8px 0px 6px;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.google.com/search?safe%3Dactive%26client%3Dsafari%26hl%3Den-us%26sxsrf%3DALeKk03z8UOJNIwNclOICadc8UmrLXxvmw:1620355487290%26q%3Dhow%2Bto%2Bpronounce%2Bcomfort%2Bzone%26stick%3DH4sIAAAAAAAAAOMIfcRoxy3w8sc9YSnTSWtOXmPU5-INKMrPK81LzkwsyczPE5LgYglJLcoVEpDi4-JJzs9Nyy8qUajKz0u1YlFiSs3jWcQqm5FfrlCSr1AA1JcP1JiqgKwMABVZ2hpjAAAA%26pron_lang%3Den%26pron_country%3Dus%26sa%3DX%26ved%3D2ahUKEwiO2-rJxrbwAhVSKqwKHS-qCMkQ3eEDMAB6BAgGEAc&source=gmail&ust=1621355584583000&usg=AFQjCNHgE7aLh0YLZsqRRLWuYx34vyH9JQ" href="https://www.google.com/search?safe=active&client=safari&hl=en-us&sxsrf=ALeKk03z8UOJNIwNclOICadc8UmrLXxvmw:1620355487290&q=how+to+pronounce+comfort+zone&stick=H4sIAAAAAAAAAOMIfcRoxy3w8sc9YSnTSWtOXmPU5-INKMrPK81LzkwsyczPE5LgYglJLcoVEpDi4-JJzs9Nyy8qUajKz0u1YlFiSs3jWcQqm5FfrlCSr1AA1JcP1JiqgKwMABVZ2hpjAAAA&pron_lang=en&pron_country=us&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiO2-rJxrbwAhVSKqwKHS-qCMkQ3eEDMAB6BAgGEAc" style="color: #660099; outline: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><div style="border-radius: 6px; display: inline-block; overflow: hidden; padding-right: 12px; vertical-align: top;"><u></u><u></u><span style="color: #3c4043; font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 10px; vertical-align: middle;">Learn to pronounce</span></div></a></div></div></div><div style="color: #202124; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-align: left;"></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><div style="color: #202124; display: flex; text-align: left;"><div style="font-size: 14px; line-height: normal;"><div style="min-height: 20px; padding-top: 10px;"><i>noun</i></div></div></div></div></div><div style="line-height: normal; padding-top: 10px;"></div><div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><div style="background-color: white; color: #202124; display: inline; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; text-align: left;"><div style="display: inline;">a place or situation where one feels safe or at ease and without stress.</div></div></div></div></blockquote><div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><div style="color: #202124; display: flex; text-align: left;"><div style="font-size: 14px; line-height: normal;"><div aria-hidden="true" style="max-height: 0px; overflow: hidden;"><span style="color: #70757a;"><b></b></span><span style="color: #70757a;"><b></b></span></div></div></div><ol style="display: flex; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 20px; text-align: left;"><li style="list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><div style="line-height: normal; padding-top: 10px;"><div style="margin-left: 20px;"><div style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal;"></div></div></div></li></ol></div></div><div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><div style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal;"><div style="display: inline;"><br /></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal;"><div style="display: inline;"><br /></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #202124; line-height: normal;"><div style="display: inline; text-align: left;">My comfort zone: Known ability to play in a higher caliber event/league. Having the stats and skills to back it up. Competition is “fun and care free.” </div>Players looking up to you. You're the top of the food chain.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: small; line-height: normal;"><div style="display: inline;"><br /><br /></div></div></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: small; line-height: normal;"><div style="display: inline;"><div style="color: black; display: table; font-size: 14px; word-break: break-word;"><div style="font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; min-height: 36px;"><div style="font-family: "Google Sans", arial, sans-serif; font-size: 36px; line-height: 36px; vertical-align: top;">chal·leng·ing</div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: small; line-height: normal;"><div style="display: inline;"><div style="color: black; display: table; font-size: 14px; word-break: break-word;"><div style="color: #70757a; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 10px;">/ˈCHalənˌjiNG/</div></div></div></div></div></div><div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: small; line-height: normal;"><div style="display: inline;"><div style="color: black; display: table; font-size: 14px; word-break: break-word;"><div aria-hidden="true" style="max-height: 0px; opacity: 0;"><div style="padding: 8px 0px 6px;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.google.com/search?safe%3Dactive%26client%3Dsafari%26hl%3Den-us%26sxsrf%3DALeKk01yyHo_AjoU_zXa6v6bKDz4gdOtWA:1620355875941%26q%3Dhow%2Bto%2Bpronounce%2Bchallenging%26stick%3DH4sIAAAAAAAAAOMIfcRoyy3w8sc9YSmTSWtOXmPU4-INKMrPK81LzkwsyczPExLnYglJLcoV4pfi5eJOzkjMyUnNS8_MS7diUWJKzeNZxCqTkV-uUJKvUADUlg_Ul6qApAoA6P_c7mEAAAA%26pron_lang%3Den%26pron_country%3Dus%26sa%3DX%26ved%3D2ahUKEwjDj5SDyLbwAhUBHc0KHd9kBmsQ3eEDMAB6BAgGEAc&source=gmail&ust=1621355584583000&usg=AFQjCNFDI4yO_h7i-6gfqKCAYis8L5MErA" href="https://www.google.com/search?safe=active&client=safari&hl=en-us&sxsrf=ALeKk01yyHo_AjoU_zXa6v6bKDz4gdOtWA:1620355875941&q=how+to+pronounce+challenging&stick=H4sIAAAAAAAAAOMIfcRoyy3w8sc9YSmTSWtOXmPU4-INKMrPK81LzkwsyczPExLnYglJLcoV4pfi5eJOzkjMyUnNS8_MS7diUWJKzeNZxCqTkV-uUJKvUADUlg_Ul6qApAoA6P_c7mEAAAA&pron_lang=en&pron_country=us&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjDj5SDyLbwAhUBHc0KHd9kBmsQ3eEDMAB6BAgGEAc" style="color: #660099; outline: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><div style="border-radius: 6px; display: inline-block; overflow: hidden; padding-right: 12px; vertical-align: top;"><img alt="" height="32" id="m_-665705240717800067dimg_39" style="border: 0px; display: block;" width="32" /></div></a></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: small; line-height: normal;"><div style="display: inline;"><div style="color: black; display: table; font-size: 14px; word-break: break-word;"><div aria-hidden="true" style="max-height: 0px; opacity: 0;"><div style="padding: 8px 0px 6px;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.google.com/search?safe%3Dactive%26client%3Dsafari%26hl%3Den-us%26sxsrf%3DALeKk01yyHo_AjoU_zXa6v6bKDz4gdOtWA:1620355875941%26q%3Dhow%2Bto%2Bpronounce%2Bchallenging%26stick%3DH4sIAAAAAAAAAOMIfcRoyy3w8sc9YSmTSWtOXmPU4-INKMrPK81LzkwsyczPExLnYglJLcoV4pfi5eJOzkjMyUnNS8_MS7diUWJKzeNZxCqTkV-uUJKvUADUlg_Ul6qApAoA6P_c7mEAAAA%26pron_lang%3Den%26pron_country%3Dus%26sa%3DX%26ved%3D2ahUKEwjDj5SDyLbwAhUBHc0KHd9kBmsQ3eEDMAB6BAgGEAc&source=gmail&ust=1621355584583000&usg=AFQjCNFDI4yO_h7i-6gfqKCAYis8L5MErA" href="https://www.google.com/search?safe=active&client=safari&hl=en-us&sxsrf=ALeKk01yyHo_AjoU_zXa6v6bKDz4gdOtWA:1620355875941&q=how+to+pronounce+challenging&stick=H4sIAAAAAAAAAOMIfcRoyy3w8sc9YSmTSWtOXmPU4-INKMrPK81LzkwsyczPExLnYglJLcoV4pfi5eJOzkjMyUnNS8_MS7diUWJKzeNZxCqTkV-uUJKvUADUlg_Ul6qApAoA6P_c7mEAAAA&pron_lang=en&pron_country=us&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjDj5SDyLbwAhUBHc0KHd9kBmsQ3eEDMAB6BAgGEAc" style="color: #660099; outline: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><div style="border-radius: 6px; display: inline-block; overflow: hidden; padding-right: 12px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="color: #3c4043; letter-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 10px; vertical-align: middle;">Learn to pronounce</span></div></a></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: normal;"><div style="display: inline;"><div style="margin-top: 16px;"><div style="color: #70757a; line-height: 20px;"><span style="color: #202124;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">noun</i></span></span></div></div></div></div></div></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: normal;"><div style="display: inline;"><div style="margin-top: 16px;"><div style="color: #70757a; line-height: 20px;"><span style="color: #202124;"><span style="font-family: arial;">testing one's abilities; demanding</span></span></div></div></div></div></div></blockquote><div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: small; line-height: normal;"><div style="display: inline;"></div><div style="display: inline;"></div><div style="display: inline;"></div><div style="display: inline;"></div><div style="display: inline;"><div style="margin-top: 16px;"><div style="color: #70757a; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><span style="color: #202124; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: #70757a; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><span style="color: #202124; font-size: 16px;">Players are of bigger and stronger playing abilities. Your mental and thinking process will be tested constantly</span><span style="color: #202124; font-size: 16px;">. You are no longer on the top of the food chain, you are now at the bottom trying to make your way up. It may even feel like players are looking down at you instead of them looking up at you like in the comfort zone.</span></div><div style="color: #70757a; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></div><div style="color: #70757a; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><span style="color: #202124; font-size: 16px;">It’s basically the same concept for both zone's, tho:</span></div><div style="color: #70757a; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><span style="color: #202124; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: #70757a; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="color: #202124; font-size: 16px;">Pre-shot routine</span></li><li><span style="color: #202124; font-size: 16px;">Pattern play</span></li><li><span style="color: #202124; font-size: 16px;">Stay down on your shot</span></li></ul></div><div style="color: #70757a; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></div><div style="line-height: 20px;"><span style="color: #202124; font-size: small;">Start with a small goal and once that is achieved, set another a goal. DO NOT GIVE UP!!</span></div><div style="line-height: 20px;"><span style="color: #202124; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: 20px;"><span style="color: #202124; font-size: small;">Once the challenging zone toughens you up, and makes you a confident and stronger player, going back to what was your comfort zone will actually make you feel like you no longer belong. I</span><span style="color: #202124; font-size: medium;">t will make you feel out of place. </span></div><div style="line-height: 20px;"><span style="color: #202124; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: 20px;"><span style="color: #202124; font-size: small;">I do feel that you adapt to your surroundings. So if you stay there too long, you have to keep moving in order to excel or you will stay playing at that same level. </span></div><div style="line-height: 20px;"><span style="color: #202124; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: 20px;"><span style="color: #202124; font-size: small;">Change is hard....it is tough when you are IN BETWEEN leaving the old and making your way in to the new. </span></div><div style="line-height: 20px;"><span style="color: #202124; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: 20px;"><span style="color: #202124; font-size: small;">I am determined and I will NOT give up! </span></div></div></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal;"><div style="display: inline;"><br /></div></div></div></div>Melindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14816789283998956925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6619322892209358563.post-54030682456931208072021-04-15T14:19:00.001-05:002021-04-15T14:19:52.807-05:00Fargo Thoughts from The Cueist<p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">So I want to take a min to talk about <a href="https://www.fargorate.com/">Fargo ratings</a> since it's all the rage right now. So many people are on either side of the Fargo debate. You can walk into a pool room and bring up Fargo ratings, and you'll hear the typical "oh, it's great! I have 15,000 games robustness, and it helps me gauge where I am against the better players." Or the TD's that use it as a tool for handicapping tournaments more accurately.</span></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">But on the other hand, you'll also hear the "oh, Fargo is a load of crap! It's so easy to dump and lower my Fargo." Or the, "I hate any kind of handicapping system. I remember back in the days when everyone played even, and you had to improve in order to place higher in the tournaments."</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Then you have pool players like me that can see both arguments, and have seen it both help and hinder pool players of different skill levels.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">We have monthly tournaments here in my area that are handicapped based on Fargo ratings. Now these tourneys are great! They consistently have 80+ players, and there's been all kinds of players from beginners to pros play the events. Even though you hear the top level players moan and complain about the handicaps month in and month out, the top players still seem to find a way to win and place high in these events. The handicap system ranges from 4-13, and it's rare that anyone below an 8 places in the top 3, let alone wins it. Funny how that works, right?!</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">From my humble point of view, the handicap system that these tourneys use is pretty close to accurate. The difference is truly in using Fargo ratings that are established for all of the players. And personally, I think the higher level players are just so used to running through different tourneys without any tough matches until the later stages of the events. Hence the moaning and complaining about someone rated too low when there's an upset, which is rare even when it's handicapped.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">And that's not taking anything away from players w/ a lower Fargo rating. However, the difference comes down to consistency. On any given day, a lower level player could play perfect and easily beat a higher level player with very little mistakes. Then on their next match, the lower level player might lose, and struggle badly. But nobody ever remembers the times that the lower players perform to their level. Everyone always remembers when the lower players play over their head and play great. This especially happens with players in the mid-level range, such as the weekend warriors like myself. We could play perfect on day 1 of an event. Then come day 2, we can't make a straight in ball! Trust me, I struggle with this every month. LOL.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">So back to Fargo.....personally, I believe Fargo is a great tool for handicapping tournaments, leagues, etc. However, there are still some downfalls, as with any handicapping system. So is it perfect? Umm, no! But I believe that the math involved to create the Fargo numbers is far more accurate than subjective opinions. And that's a good thing! You're able to run tourneys that men/women can compete in, as opposed to having 2 separate events for men/women. You're able to fill up tourneys that may not be full due to an unfair handicap system.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">For the players that are only concerned about making money, this means more money in the tourney pool. More people in the establishment that is hosting the event. And for the weekend warrior, that means more competition. It's a win, win!</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Let's hear your thoughts on Fargo, and how it's going in your area. </div>Melindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14816789283998956925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6619322892209358563.post-3677742509622881462021-03-16T16:42:00.003-05:002021-03-16T16:42:29.030-05:00That Muscle Memory Thing - by Katniss<p>From Katniss:</p><p>In the past, I remember saying, "<i>Oh man. I’m in a slump - I can’t make a ball!</i>"</p><p>I have not said that in a while. Not that it has not happened, ha. But, I now realize the reason I can’t make a ball is because of my stance; it doesn't feel comfortable or natural to me. Me missing and not making balls just proves it. </p><p>I try to pay extra attention to my footing, bridge, arm, and aim. Easy enough right? ha! Not so much when you're in the middle of a match, competing, struggling to play decent, and playing your heart out. It’s hard when you're losing and the pressure is on, then all you feel is embarrassment! </p><p>Does every player go through that? </p><p>Is it just me? </p><p>Do all player lose their muscle memory? </p><p>If not, why? </p><p>Is it too much or too little practice? </p><p>Is it that they are always in action? </p><p>Is it solid fundamentals?</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJQz-GBVKX_nx84tM-dIbsUGoRXkroj0JbrQj5S2klrJ8CzCKEoFEPkBPC-aCQ7ZPpFxXXwJJe_OL2dVBnhjtFYWuIL-1MP7twQ-e499XDCTNDEIcpLAisEqmMs3RlTH3ahz1OlbeRAKs/s480/hqdefault.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJQz-GBVKX_nx84tM-dIbsUGoRXkroj0JbrQj5S2klrJ8CzCKEoFEPkBPC-aCQ7ZPpFxXXwJJe_OL2dVBnhjtFYWuIL-1MP7twQ-e499XDCTNDEIcpLAisEqmMs3RlTH3ahz1OlbeRAKs/s320/hqdefault.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>I don’t quite understand how to keep that muscle memory active and keep it working for me. It’s so discouraging at times. When everything is going well, it goes well and I don’t have to work as hard - it’s all automatic. Effortless. I get to the table, bend over, and shoot! But when I’m off, I don't play well nor catch a gear. I want to learn how solve that problem! </p><p>I do admit I have more good days than bad. But, dang them bad days can be brutal!</p>Melindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14816789283998956925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6619322892209358563.post-772545405680502692021-01-30T19:25:00.000-06:002021-01-30T19:25:08.825-06:00Social Distancing in the Future<p>My friend Janet was helping run the Midwest ACS Championship tournament in Davenport, Iowa last week. She shared some photos and said they were all wearing masks and social distancing, including the tables, and shared a photo to prove it:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8IIoH1uHuUpZtQAMXPlhbiTiMyjwBRZxbPJGPb18dvo1ZesPuuVX-ESPt6hDKzSRSTWayYl_M8RuRUvnC3ZW4q9xikJC91Mj93AFwIlZhPBcXgMh0iFMprOOp5rE_3RpEgTBMChfHw38/s960/FB_IMG_1611103232132.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8IIoH1uHuUpZtQAMXPlhbiTiMyjwBRZxbPJGPb18dvo1ZesPuuVX-ESPt6hDKzSRSTWayYl_M8RuRUvnC3ZW4q9xikJC91Mj93AFwIlZhPBcXgMh0iFMprOOp5rE_3RpEgTBMChfHw38/s320/FB_IMG_1611103232132.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>I immediately thought, <i>"hey, every tournament in the future should do social distancing between tables even after the pandemic! "</i></p><p>There have been many times in bar table tournaments where our butts get in the way of the table next to us, or we have to wait for someone to shoot on the next table because the tables are so close together.</p><p>How cool would it be to not have to worry about the matches around us in bat table tournaments?!</p><div><br /></div>Melindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14816789283998956925noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6619322892209358563.post-43651931672032140452021-01-23T19:08:00.015-06:002021-01-30T19:27:28.486-06:00The Cueist has a Question for You All about COVIDOn Wednesday before Christmas, I started to feel a little sick. Just a sore throat and a bit of a cough. By Thurs morning, I had gotten worse and my family decided to cancel the Christmas exchange just so I didn't expose anybody to whatever I had. I just so happened to see a post from a guy out of state saying that he tested positive for Covid-19. He was posting it as a PSA since he was at a tourney the Saturday before Christmas (he had come up here as his wife has family in the area), and started showing symptoms on the Tuesday before Christmas. Now, I happened to be at the same tourney (he had traveled up to my state to play in it) and I was in close proximity to him a few times. So, naturally, the thought of having covid crossed my mind immediately.<div><br />Fast forward to the Sunday after Christmas, and I lost my sense of taste and smell, and had a really bad headache. Monday, I started to get a fever and lost all of my energy. So, I went to get tested on Tuesday, and sure enough, I was positive for covid. Ugh! Thanks goodness we cancelled the Christmas exchange so I wasn't around my family! So, I immediately went into quarantine mode. It had already been a week since I was first showing symptoms, and I wanted to quarantine at least one more week before getting tested again. Meanwhile, that player attends yet another tournament here locally again - and this time without waiting for his 2nd test that shows negative. Not only that, he specifically mentioned that he didn't feel 100%, while he was at the tournament. <br /><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></div>While I don't want to debate everyone's moral compass, living in fear, or conspiracy theories.... I do seriously see something wrong with this decision on his part....all of us love this game of pool. But at what point do you refrain from going to a poolroom knowing you have a virus which can potentially be fatal to some individuals. Especially in a pool room, at a tourney, where the room is rather full and you're in close proximity to the venue staff, players, TD staff, and spectators.</div><div><br /><b>So, now that I'm fully recovered, I'd like to ask any pool players that have had covid if they've had any lingering effects that have affected their pool playing?</b><br /><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></div>In my case, covid has somehow affected my vision and balance. Not to the point where I'm falling over or anything. But I've not been able to line up properly when stepping into a shot. And in addition to that, I almost feel like I'm swaying while down on a shot. Swaying may be too strong of a word, but I do feel like I'm not able to stay 100% still during my shot. Which, as we all know, will cause all kinds of problems when trying to make various shots. Not only that, but I've noticed that I get tired after about 4-5 hours of constant playing. Whereas before I had covid, I was able to play at least 8 hours before I even started to get tired physically.<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></div><b>Anyone else experiencing something similar?</b><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></div></div>Melindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14816789283998956925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6619322892209358563.post-79689994328230388932021-01-02T09:00:00.001-06:002021-01-02T09:00:01.791-06:00The Cueist and His Goals<p>I asked <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/6619322892209358563/3189928773170428900#">The Cueist</a> and <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/6619322892209358563/3189928773170428900#">Katniss</a> to send me some info about their goals from 2020 and the ones for 2021.</p><p>Here is what The Cueist shared:</p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />Happy Holidays to everyone around the globe! With the year coming to a close, let's reflect a little on what's happened in 2020....most of the pool players around the world were affected by the pandemic. In my case, I was at the BCA/CSI nationals in Vegas when the country started to shut down. And when I made it home, I didn't hit a single ball for 5 months.<br /> <br />Five months is an eternity considering I had set some lofty goals for my 2020 pool year. Let's recap those goals really quick<br /><br />- Place in the top 3 at least one time on our local tour <br />- Be in the top 5 of my skill level on the tour's ranking system <br />- Increase my <a href="https://www.fargorate.com/">Fargo</a> to 645 or higher (I was at about 620 at the start of the year, and my robustness was 2,800)<br /><br />The way I saw it, if I started to practice and improve, then all 3 of these would eventually happen. In 2019, I really worked on my game. I saw results in tournaments, and my Fargo jumped about 20 points in 12 months. While improving your Fargo doesn't necessarily mean you're playing better, my Fargo doesn't fluctuate too much with the amount of robustness I have. So by going up in Fargo, it was just a tangible way of me knowing that I was indeed playing better on a consistent basis.<br /><br />However, with the pandemic in full force, this meant that I had about only 7 months to hit my goals, <i>without </i>the luxury of practicing for 5 months.<br /><br />But....I was still able to attain 2 out of my 3 goals with a shortened pool year. :)<br /><br />I placed 3rd in a tour stop in the Fall, which was 2 months after I dusted off my cues....seriously, my case literally had a thin layer of dust! And combined with tourney results from the other tour stops, I was in the top 5 of my particular skill level. Yay for me!<br /><br />However, the goal that I didn't attain was for my Fargo to increase to 645. I reached 644, which is soooo close, yet soooo far. I know, I know, it's only 1 point. But even though it's 1 measly point, it was still my personal goal that wasn't checked off my list. Dangit.</blockquote><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw3I8UYCqjfWknycRtOe-6R9er1HuHgeSkV1lEqeRFyZDsq6ggtr-CJ753iithzhvluttQL7J3TFF4VUQU0RNmHZidHs-7GFR2egxMP4FdlyqeHZ0gxKdT4fDH48oUYaLNXHeOK9CUwxQ/s890/smart-goals.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="344" data-original-width="890" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw3I8UYCqjfWknycRtOe-6R9er1HuHgeSkV1lEqeRFyZDsq6ggtr-CJ753iithzhvluttQL7J3TFF4VUQU0RNmHZidHs-7GFR2egxMP4FdlyqeHZ0gxKdT4fDH48oUYaLNXHeOK9CUwxQ/s320/smart-goals.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">So....where does this put my 2021 goals?<br /><br />- Be more positive about pool in general. Whether it is my results in tourneys, gambling matches, individual matches, certain shots, etc, the negativity needs to be at a minimum if I want to improve.<br />- Improve to a 660 Fargo rating. Tough to do with 5,000 games robustness,<br />- Place in the top 3 of at least one big tournament in 2021. This is always tough to do as you never know how many talented players will be playing.<br /><br />And to keep in part of one of my goals for 2021 (see below), I'll try to find the positive side to me not having a 645 Fargo rating....while I didn't attain the 645 Fargo rating, it doesn't mean that I'm not playing better and more consistently than the start of 2020. I mean, the overall goal is to be a better pool player. So I can safely say that I have improved almost 25 points AND I'm playing much better than I did last year.<br /><br />Now, I just have to keep working on my game as much as I can, and keep the goals in mind. The results in tourneys and matches will take care of themselves with continued improvement. So we just have to trust the process.<br /><br />Happy Holidays everyone!</blockquote><p> </p><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"></div>Melindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14816789283998956925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6619322892209358563.post-9542291952156273242021-01-01T18:59:00.001-06:002021-01-01T18:59:56.061-06:00Katniss and Her Goals<p>I asked <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/6619322892209358563/3189928773170428900#">The Cueist</a> and <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/6619322892209358563/3189928773170428900#">Katniss</a> to send me some info about their goals from 2020 and the ones for 2021.</p><p>Here is what Katniss shared:</p><p></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><p>2020 has been a tough year that has affected <i>so many </i>in so many different ways. However, we all know it's normal to also learn things from tough times. So, what did 2020 teach me? TO SLOW DOWN.</p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><p>As I come into 2021, I intend to do that exact thing! (and more)</p></blockquote><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyq1x6raRB17TUAL_NxyqNbrUNYk1MMU2jFSUHFZjgah7smQnR7jKslaf87BgCXAigOGLaX01jUkgcvz9NzgwMTzdC9MWQwlGLvLoHXcJmtr-ExpNoSxklNdE5zp5mvnl-SMuWIQmuarQ/s422/Screenshot+2021-01-01+185116.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="358" data-original-width="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyq1x6raRB17TUAL_NxyqNbrUNYk1MMU2jFSUHFZjgah7smQnR7jKslaf87BgCXAigOGLaX01jUkgcvz9NzgwMTzdC9MWQwlGLvLoHXcJmtr-ExpNoSxklNdE5zp5mvnl-SMuWIQmuarQ/s320/Screenshot+2021-01-01+185116.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><p>My goals for 2021 are:</p></blockquote><p></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li>To take my time on <i>each </i>shot at the pool table. I’m not saying I’m going to take 15 minutes on each shot, haha, because that is just plain crazy! I am however going to not rush like I have in past. I get so excited to be at the table that I was being careless with my shot making. Once you take that shot whether you make it or not, you will never get that opportunity back. I'll be honest, I figured out how valuable it was to slow down because of the pandemic - it gave me the opportunity to self reflect on my practice, instead of simply practicing for league.</li><li>I also want work on getting my stroke in a precise stroke. I want to learn how to trust my mechanics, as a second nature type of action. </li><li>I also want to always stay in the moment, and not feel defeated when I’m down in a match. That is where trusting my mechanics comes in! </li><li>I also want the players that I look up to and admire to FEAR ME. I want my presence to be known and felt. I want to beat the top players.....by slowing down and enjoying the moment. See how they are all related?</li></ol><p></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><p>Don’t take anything for granted....because 2020 has been a tough year to the pool community. Some will come back stronger, some weaker, and some will never come back. </p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><p>What are your goals for 2021?</p></blockquote><p></p>Melindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14816789283998956925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6619322892209358563.post-16862166460363792542020-12-23T15:35:00.002-06:002020-12-23T15:35:20.356-06:00Advice from Babe Ruth (video clip)<p>These "Minute with Maxwell" short leadership videos by John Maxwell are shared with folks in my office, as someone comes across some gems from the daily emails. </p><p>This one is perfect for our pool game:</p><p><br /></p>
<center><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Qx0Cf56hsNg" width="560"></iframe></center>Melindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14816789283998956925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6619322892209358563.post-16405116776237057262020-12-19T14:00:00.001-06:002020-12-19T14:00:20.689-06:00Fundamentally Stable - Katniss<p>Katniss from the <i><a href="https://pooljourney.blogspot.com/p/project-hunger-games.html">Project Hunger Games</a> </i>of my blog shared some insight with us:</p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p>As more pool matches are happening again, I can’t help but notice how some of players are so fundamentally stable! It’s like the pandemic never happened, like the pool halls and bars never closed, like they never stopped playing. I even hear some of them exclaim, "I haven’t hit a ball since March." But, yet their skills on the table are showing me otherwise! I’m over here just drooling in amazement.</p><p>Then, there is the opposite. You check out another match and just cringe because you can see a player struggling. It’s painful to watch! They are frustrated and their play is going from bad to worse right before my eyes. Ouch!</p><p>What separates the two players? More or less experience? Natural vs unnatural talent? Good fundamentals versus needing more fine-tuning? Hunger or no hunger?</p><p>How will my play measure up? </p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p>Well, whatever decides to show up on my first match... just know I have the HUNGER!</p></blockquote>Melindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14816789283998956925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6619322892209358563.post-55284750019648806062020-11-14T17:34:00.003-06:002020-11-14T17:34:30.723-06:00A Ghost During a Pandemic - by Katniss<p>Katniss from the <i><a href="https://pooljourney.blogspot.com/p/project-hunger-games.html">Project Hunger Games</a> </i>of my blog shared some insight with us:</p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: small;">I have really enjoyed staying in during this pandemic. </span><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: small;">I have access to a pool table, mainly during the evening time, all to myself! </span></p><p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: small;">I have played and practiced by myself. </span></p><p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: small;">AND I have taught myself the ghost ball effect!</span></p><p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: small;">It literally took me years to finally understand it. And, it's s</span><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: small;">omething I would have never taken the time to fully learn and understand the concept of if COVID hadn't happened.</span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: small;">Why?</span> </p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: small;">Pre-COVID, I was playing 3 nights a week for league, while combined with playing weekend tournaments. Whew! That was like 4 to 5 nights just competing! I did not have the time nor make the time to really concentrate on the ghost ball effect. </span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: small;">But, I have taken the </span><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: small;">time to learn new things....in total SILENCE. No music and no interruptions. It’s like I could hear my thought process out loud! It was an awesome discovery. </span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: small;">Now that the world is starting to open up, I get to put my new found tool to work. </span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: small;">I, however, am NOT looking forward to going back to playing so many league nights. But I am looking forward to some competition from other human life other than own. </span> </p></blockquote><p> </p>Melindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14816789283998956925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6619322892209358563.post-36764935572114343622020-11-14T17:06:00.003-06:002020-11-14T17:06:39.527-06:00Did I Help The Cueist?<p>When The Cueist emailed me his <a href="https://pooljourney.blogspot.com/2020/09/the-cueist-finding-his-stroke.html">previous blog entry</a>, I was surprised to read in it that he had read a couple of my own blog posts and referenced one in particular. Well, not much so as 'reference it,' but more so as to yell at me that I might be wrong, lol. </p><p>This is what he said: </p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;">"<span style="background-color: #fafefd; color: #3d3d3d; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">But as you (Melinda) mentioned in a </span><a href="https://pooljourney.blogspot.com/2020/06/how-will-you-fair-after-pandemic.html" style="background-color: #fafefd; color: #00affa; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-decoration-line: none;">previous blog</a><span style="background-color: #fafefd; color: #3d3d3d; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">, if you have a good stroke then we'd have nothing to worry about. But, I sure was worried there!!"</span></p></blockquote><p>His blog post was entitled "<a href="https://pooljourney.blogspot.com/2020/09/the-cueist-finding-his-stroke.html">Finding His Stroke</a>" and if you haven't read it yet, I highly suggest it.</p><p>A few times the last couple of months, what he said above kept creeping into my mind. And I wondered, <i>did I help The Cueist</i>? </p><p>So, I did what I do best: satisfy my curiosity!</p><p>I sent him this Question: </p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Do you think it helped you to read that I said if you have good fundamentals, that your stroke won't go down during the pandemic?</span></p></blockquote><p>I waited impatiently for the answer. </p><p>Nothing. </p><p>No reply. </p><p>A few weeks later, he finally replied! I read it with excitement, waiting to pat myself on the back:</p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Sorry for the delay, but I've actually started writing this a few times. </div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Ok, so my first instinct on this reply was "yes, it helped me tremendously." But then I thought about it, and thought "it helped me, but not as much as I thought." Then I thought about this again, and I'm sticking by my initial answer.... yes, it helped me tremendously. </div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">But, wait! There's more! :)</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">So obviously, when any long time pool player takes a break for an extended period of time, you never really lose the muscle memory, or the ability to make a ball, or the ability to read a table. I think you lose the awareness of your abilities more than anything, and in turn, your confidence suffers. So you have to trust the process, and believe that you'll get back to your old speed (if you want to of course). </div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Think about it....after 5 months of not hitting a ball, I still thought I could run a wide open rack. Boy was I wrong! So my confidence went down the drain, and fast!! Now, I'm playing very close to 100%, and my confidence is high again. Of course, I've had lows over the last few months. But I just kept telling myself "trust your stroke, fundamentals, and PSR." It goes back to pool being mental.</div></blockquote><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I don't think I helped me at all, actually. BUT - his reply will help you all! I was glad he answered, as this is yet another gem of advice from him and brings a good perspective to help your game.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></div>Melindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14816789283998956925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6619322892209358563.post-42793460100832041212020-10-24T19:53:00.004-05:002020-10-24T19:53:46.309-05:00Mental Toughness During a Pandemic<p>Seems like the title is a a paradox, right? The pandemic, if anything, has <i>affected </i>our mental strength because there are so many unknowns, and stress, and impacts to our daily lives, etc.</p><p>And what about our pool game and mental toughness during these remarkable times?</p><p>I have written <a href="https://pooljourney.blogspot.com/2020/06/how-will-you-fair-after-pandemic.html">a couple of times</a> this year that from my experience, if you have solid fundamentals, your game will not go down during the pandemic. So, stop sweating it or worrying if you can't play a lot of pool - your solid fundamentals will carry you!</p><p>While I wholeheartedly believe this deep in my soul, there is a part that I forgot.</p><p>Oooops.</p><p>I am being reminded because of the struggle, tough times, and nerves that Katniss and The Cueist (and maybe you if you are back to playing) are feeling lately. Katniss said after a little tournament she played in, "It's like I lost my kilter instinct" and The Cueist shared in his <a href="https://pooljourney.blogspot.com/2020/09/the-cueist-finding-his-stroke.html">recent blog post</a>, </p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fafefd; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 13px;">I started to get nervous! Now, don't get me wrong, I get nervous all the time. But I haven't felt nerves BEFORE walking into the poolroom since the early part of my pool career. The only difference was that this time around, I was nervous about not playing up to my usual expectations, and making a fool of myself.</span></p></blockquote><p style="text-align: left;">I wrote about this same 'anguish' <a href="https://pooljourney.blogspot.com/2016/12/effects-of-not-playing-regularly.html">back in late 2016</a> - basically that I had played in a little tournament and while my fundamentals were <b><i>solid </i></b>still, my mental toughness was NOT, because I <u>had not been playing</u> in league or tournaments; I had cut down on my competing.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Yes, fundamentals are key. But, the brain is a muscle as well. </p><p>Honestly, the only thing that keeps me from competing well after taking years off is not my stroke, but <i>the pressure I feel</i>. The more we put ourselves in pressure situations, we find ourselves becoming stronger and stronger in those situations. But, if you aren't competing, that part of our game, that big muscle, has not been worked on.</p><p><a href="https://pooljourney.blogspot.com/2019/01/no-pressure-playing-well.html">As I said</a> two years ago, </p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">"The bottom line is, I know myself and based on my past attempts the last few years at playing in tournaments, I already know that I am only mentally strong when I'm <i>consistently competing</i>. Once I stopped competing, that mental toughness definitely went away for me. </blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;">As a matter of fact, I noticed it was the <u>first thing</u> that went away for me. Even though the brain is a muscle, for me my muscle memory in my arms and in my pre stroke routine were still there, but not in my mental toughness."</p></blockquote><div><p style="text-align: left;">So, what can you do about this?</p><p>What would I do?</p><p>Take advantage of what you can control: I would read about mental toughness! </p><p>If you can't play in high pressure situations, then improve your mental toughness the only other way if you can't compete: READ, LEARN.</p><p><i><u>Winning Ugly</u></i> is a book I have <a href="http://pooljourney.blogspot.com/2010/12/my-poolsynergy-recommendations.html">HIGHLY recommended</a> a lot in my blog. You cannot read that book and not improve in your mental toughness arena. I PROMISE. Therefore, pick up the book and read it when you can't compete. I also recommend <i>Mental Toughness Training for Sports</i>. But, the point is, find books or articles or watch video Ted Talks about mental toughness, how to gain the killer instinct, how to be mentally stronger, etc. </p><p>I have this good book within arms reach right now,:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg24Lt4L8CwR1B74BPTHD3KtWTmoW1dMM5PRelRwZv-YrevFtX_JECqnxw6rQYvBhy4oorWAqFct6jp0IeQzR8RoSrWuFDg6dXkZGNS_lPsOudMRxRFQupxzBd5j_RwQZ-5nHWNT61L38o/s2048/20201023_111436.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg24Lt4L8CwR1B74BPTHD3KtWTmoW1dMM5PRelRwZv-YrevFtX_JECqnxw6rQYvBhy4oorWAqFct6jp0IeQzR8RoSrWuFDg6dXkZGNS_lPsOudMRxRFQupxzBd5j_RwQZ-5nHWNT61L38o/s320/20201023_111436.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>(watch out, you will also learn about leadership as well when you read about the mental toughness topic)</p><p>There are a ton of books out there for many different sports, but I recommend those about golf or tennis most.</p><p>I admit nothing can take the place of playing regularly in the middle of true pressure situations, but you can at least still work on it in other ways. Give yourself an advantage over your competitors for when you do start to play pool again. </p><p>One side note. When I was in my late 20s, my mentor suggested I read <i>Mental Toughness Training for Sports.</i> I happened to be in a big slump and was playing terribly. So, I decided to take some time off and NOT play pool. And so I read that book during the time I wasn't hitting balls or competing. My mentor told me later, "I wanted to share that with you, but wasn't sure you would stop playing for a bit. Not playing pool while reading/learning about the mental game is a great plan."</p><p>Again, if you can't play pool, <b>work on your game! </b></p><p>Someone has to win, right? Might as well be you because you put in the time to improve in so many different ways even when you can't play pool regularly!</p></div>Melindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14816789283998956925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6619322892209358563.post-3260219987234863592020-09-21T14:12:00.000-05:002020-09-21T14:12:01.957-05:00The Cueist Finding His Stroke<p><i>Latest thoughts from The Cueist:</i></p><p>So I've been slowly going out to play a little more pool. My first time back to hitting my first ball was about a week after my <a href="https://pooljourney.blogspot.com/2020/07/from-cueist-his-thoughts-on-pool-and.html">previous post</a>. My Wednesday league had our league banquet, which was mostly to give the payouts for a very short season. But nonetheless, I went out there mostly to get out of the house. Usually, they have a small tourney to pass the time, but I had no intention of playing it <i>IF</i> they had one. I wanted to hit a few balls and find my stroke, which had been on an extended hiatus. </p><p>So, one of the shots that I spent a ton of time practicing was a stroke shot with inside English. I set the object ball on the spot, and the cue ball on the head spot. I also set up a ball on the short rail closest to the head spot, so you have to avoid the scratch, and go 3 rails for shape on the next ball. I get down on the shot, and my eyes are having a hard time adjusting to the sight picture. I guess it had been THAT long. LOL. I do a few warm up strokes and my arm feels so weird doing the cueing motion again. So I stand up, step into the shot and concentrate on the shot. Surprisingly, I fired it in center pocket, avoid the scratch, and float the 3 rails for shape. One of my teammates saw and said, "Wow, haven't been playing my a$$!" I laughed and set up the shot again. Stepped into it, and boom....center pocket again. Now, this is one of my most practiced shots so I figured I made the shots due to the fact that it was so comfortable to me. So, I decided to break a rack of 9-ball and try to beat the ghost for a few games.</p><p>Now, this is where the wheels promptly fell off. LOL. </p><p>I took ball in hand and got perfect shape on the 2. Now, the 2 is about center table, and I had to force follow with inside for shape on the 3. So I get down on the shot and I missed the shot by a diamond. I set it up again, and same result. Now, I set it up one more time and adjusted.....missed the shot by 1/3 diamond this time - so I was improving, LOL. So I decided to scratch that and go back to the basics and do a drill my old coach <a href="https://issuu.com/azbilliards/docs/march_2019_buzz/10">Gordy</a> used to have me do. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhG_1sBkbkSsP3P4V05nYOdpxs3Hn9tkpNWcH1XZCEQ5HYyFLQ9FYdlO-qMzD3jSUvcUfeqpWBl8R1Ue_CCwgkl4uQWBwlc1CtvzHOZbwfCfZk5kQWH4OzM71TL05C88Y67A-4b7a8W4I/s690/Screen+Shot+2020-08-28+at+4.23.15+PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="690" data-original-width="528" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhG_1sBkbkSsP3P4V05nYOdpxs3Hn9tkpNWcH1XZCEQ5HYyFLQ9FYdlO-qMzD3jSUvcUfeqpWBl8R1Ue_CCwgkl4uQWBwlc1CtvzHOZbwfCfZk5kQWH4OzM71TL05C88Y67A-4b7a8W4I/s320/Screen+Shot+2020-08-28+at+4.23.15+PM.png" /></a></div><br /><p>While I didn't have the actual track, I just set up the balls accordingly and practiced on mechanics. It took me about 30 mins, but I managed to complete the drill after lots of frustrations. But as you (Melinda) mentioned in a <a href="https://pooljourney.blogspot.com/2020/06/how-will-you-fair-after-pandemic.html">previous blog</a>, if you have a good stroke then we'd have nothing to worry about. But, I sure was worried there!!</p><p>Now, since then I've gone to practice about once a week and have been sparring with a guy that's about 2 points (<a href="https://www.fargorate.com/">Fargo)</a> lower than I am. He's got access to a table at home, but hasn't really competed either aside from playing the ghost at home. So the first night, we played 3 races to 7. I lost 7/1, won 7/3, then won hill/hill. The following week, the same exact result. The 3rd session, I lose hill/hill, win 7/1, win 7/2. </p><p>The practice was leading up to a goal in mind, and that was me playing in a tournament coming up. Last week, I made it a point to go play 2 times that week, and I felt like I was about 90% compared to my old self. But, while my muscle memory may have been there, along with my stroke, my mental game wasn't near at 90% come to find out. </p><p>So, the morning of the tourney, I woke up early and made it a point to stop and get breakfast at God's chicken house (Chick-fil-A). The poolroom is about 50 mins away so I got there with plenty of time to hit balls and finish my breakfast in the car. While finishing breakfast, the weirdest thing happened....I started to get nervous! Now, don't get me wrong, I get nervous all the time. But I haven't felt nerves BEFORE walking into the poolroom since the early part of my pool career. The only difference was that this time around, I was nervous about not playing up to my usual expectations, and making a fool of myself. I mean, last year I worked so hard on my game and was finally getting the results that I wanted in my league. So, I felt like I somewhat had to keep getting some decent results.</p><p>After the draw was complete, I realized I had to play a guy who is a low 600s <a href="https://www.fargorate.com/">Fargo</a> on paper, but I'm the favorite. But he's been going out of state to play during the pandemic, while I've been doing home projects and woodworking projects. LOL. So it was a tough first match. </p><p>In my mind, I thought "oh great, there's going to be an audience for this attempt of mine to play pool again." Aside from that, the nerves started to creep up again immediately and I felt my grip hand quiver a bit during my PreShot Routine. So, I had to reset multiple times on each shot to try and shake that feeling.</p><p>Naturally, because of the extra concentration, I found myself playing pretty good actually. I gave away 2 games but overall, played well and made it to the hill first. I was up 7/2 and was firmly in the driver's seat. I was finally able to close it out with a score of 7/4. </p><p>My next match was against a good friend, teammate, who has tons of knowledge. So, by me not being at 100%, I knew I had to play good just to make it competitive. I played great, only made 2 mistakes. But unfortunately, he only made 1 mistake! Damn him, lol. He beat me hill/hill. It was a little disappointing because I played soooo well. But, I can't be too upset because he really did play almost flawless.</p><p>My next match was on against that sparing partner I mentioned (figures, right?). I didn't play too well in that match, and I ended up losing hill/hill. But, considering I haven't competed in five months, I'm both disappointed and proud. </p><p>Disappointed because I felt like I gave myself a chance to win both matches that I lost. And proud because I did give myself a chance to win. So, all of my hard work wasn't lost 100% during the pandemic. Sure, I have a little rust in my mechanics. But, give me another month and I'll be VERY close to 100% again. </p><p>Like <a href="https://pooljourney.blogspot.com/2020/06/how-will-you-fair-after-pandemic.html">you said in your blog</a>.....give it time, you'll be fine if you haven't been playing much.</p><p><br /></p>Melindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14816789283998956925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6619322892209358563.post-31899287731704289002020-08-18T19:25:00.000-05:002020-08-18T19:25:22.751-05:00From Katniss: Busier Now During the Pandemic<p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As I mentioned <a href="http://pooljourney.blogspot.com/2020/07/from-cueist-his-thoughts-on-pool-and.html">in my previous blog post</a>, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3d3d3d; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I had told </span><a href="https://pooljourney.blogspot.com/p/cueist-project.html" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #00affa; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Cueist</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #3d3d3d; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and </span><a href="https://pooljourney.blogspot.com/p/project-hunger-games.html" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #00affa; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Katniss</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #3d3d3d; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> that if they wanted material in their sections of the blog, they would need to write about it. I have been teleworking since mid March and my workload has increased substantially due to COVID and therefore I haven’t had time to mentally add creative writing into my repertoire. </span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-64ba38f1-7fff-aaa4-83d6-57f857895f05"><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: #fafefd; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #3d3d3d; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-style: italic; white-space: pre-wrap;">I asked Katniss recently, “Do you have anything you want to write about for the blog?” Her response was, “Sorta! I just haven’t had time to write anything - been busy.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: #fafefd; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: #fafefd; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #3d3d3d; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">WHAT?</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: #fafefd; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: #fafefd; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #3d3d3d; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I asked, “Let me get this straight. You no longer have your 2-3 leagues to play in and haven’t played any weekend or weekly tournaments, but you are short on time and busier?”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: #fafefd; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: #fafefd; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #3d3d3d; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">She kinda laughed, “Well, yes.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: #fafefd; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: #fafefd; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #3d3d3d; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I quipped, “Then why don’t you write about that first.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: #fafefd; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: #fafefd; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #3d3d3d; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A day later (yay!), she sent me this:</span></p><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So, at the start of this world-wide Covid pandemic, we had nothing but time on our hands. At the beginning of it, I truthfully enjoyed the extra time to relax and just not have any plans nor commitments. I also really liked not having to deal with people’s drama or attitudes at leagues and tournaments. Further, I also realized I relished not having to stay out late due to league.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Bottom line, I enjoyed doing NOTHING... because that's all we could do. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I enjoyed it too much, though, and therefore my physical and mental health started to suffer. I started to pick up some unhealthy habits. I was disappointed in myself. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Consequently, I started to practice more pool (I had plenty of time, right?). Then, as the days went on and on and the pandemic was still going strong… I started to wonder, “Why am I even wasting my time and effort?? The pool world will never be the same. I would NEVER get to compete again.”</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Yep, I was having a pity party! Hence the unhealthy mental state reference. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I decided I needed to make changes to both my mental and physical state. I started with small changes - diet and exercise. My exercise routine is now daily and it includes table time and walking. With the exercise came more energy. Imagine that?! And what comes with extra energy? Yep, a happy mental state! </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So, yes, Melinda, my days are busier now than before the pandemic with my job (I am blessed I work in an essential position), my new physical/mental healthy habits, a new profound burst of energy, and a hunger to be at the pool table. Heck, I could REALLY, REALLY get used to this “NEW NORMAL” ha! </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The difference between before and during the pandemic? </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I am taking time to take care of myself now, as opposed to trying to take care of my league and pool responsibilities (which caused stress at times). </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As the world is slowly opening up and tournaments are on the rise.....I am ready mentally and physically. This pandemic has taught me to slow down, but don’t give up!</span></p><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></span>Melindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14816789283998956925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6619322892209358563.post-39231304878542560532020-07-16T18:19:00.000-05:002020-07-16T18:19:43.630-05:00From The Cueist - His Thoughts on Pool and the Pandemic<div><i>I told <a href="https://pooljourney.blogspot.com/p/cueist-project.html">The Cueist</a> and <a href="https://pooljourney.blogspot.com/p/project-hunger-games.html">Katniss</a> just last week that if they wanted material in their sections of the blog, they would need to write about it. I have been teleworking since mid March and my workload has increased substantially due to COVID and therefore I haven’t had time to mentally add creative writing into my repertoire. </i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>I wasn’t sure how they would respond.</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>But, luckily, they each said they had things they wanted to write about! WHEW!</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>The Cueist was first:</i></div><div><br /></div><div>I definitely don't mind giving a short dissertation at times. [LOL]</div><div><br /></div><div>I do want to talk about the current pandemic closings and pool. Moreso, the ability to play or even the urge to play while keeping safe....let me ‘splain. </div><div> </div><div>Personally, I haven't hit a ball since March 16th, when I was still at the BCA in Vegas. That's exactly 4 months to the day today. I don't think I've gone this long without hitting a ball, ever! Sure, there's some chances to go out and play here or there, at some of the pool rooms that have been open for action, or sporadic tourneys. But it's such a tough decision for me not to go play right now. I don't worry about myself contracting Covid-19, but I worry about my parents contracting it all because I was being selfish and wanting to go play pool.</div><div> </div><div>Not sure if you heard, but there was a small breakout of Covid within the pool community here in my state within the last few weeks. And prior to that, there was another breakout in a city close by. The first breakout seemed to center around a small, private poolroom that was open for action during the pandemic. It was being frequented every day by at least 30 different people in a small space. One person got symptoms, and then another, and then another. Next thing you know, six people that I personally know tested positive. I kept being invited to go play and get into action. But, I said no every time. Of course, my friends have ribbed me the whole time, but I'm having to set my pride aside for my family. In fact, one of the guys I know well was in direct contact with all six people and never showed symptoms. But, all of a sudden, his wife had symptoms and tested positive. Then their daughter showed symptoms too. But yet, he never once thought about staying home. Clearly he was in contact with the virus at some point, so he was obviously an asymptomatic carrier, or already had it. </div><div> </div><div>In that other city, one of the pool rooms finally was able to open, but then only for about a week or two. On the one Sat night it was open, though, there were a few big matches going on (about four matches, so eight players). Of course, there was also about 15-20 spectators that were in/out of the place that night. Shortly after that, about seven people tested positive, and another four showed symptoms but didn't get tested. They simply treated the symptoms. Again, I was invited to go due to me betting, but I turned down the invite and stayed home. One of the guys literally told me that the symptoms that he experienced can give the flu symptoms the 6-out (gotta love the pool talk). And he wished that he had never gone to the pool room. And as a result of him being sick, his brothers had to cancel plans to go to their family out of state for a week for fear of possibly getting them sick. </div><div> </div><div>So, I'm in limbo as far as pool is concerned. Of course, I miss the friends, the camaraderie, the banter, the competition. And I'm dying to go out and play when friends invite me. And I want to get in action myself, as much as everyone else. And quite frankly, it's killing me not going! Last year, I put in a lot of work on my game. And it showed (finally) by consistently doing well on the local tour and big tourneys, and action. And my Fargo improved by almost 50 points in a span of 8 months. I feel like all of that work is down the drain now. And I'm not sure if I want to go back to trying to improve again after all of this. Only time will tell I guess.</div><div> </div>Melindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14816789283998956925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6619322892209358563.post-57060181484673317902020-06-06T16:19:00.000-05:002020-06-06T16:19:16.669-05:00How Will You Fair After the Pandemic?I've been thinking about how pool players' games will be after the pandemic. Specifically, after the pool rooms open, will your game go down because you didn't get to hit balls or play in tournaments? Or will it go up because <a href="https://pooljourney.blogspot.com/2020/04/work-on-your-pool-game-during-pandemic.html">you worked on some things</a>? Or, will it be the same?<div><br /></div><div>Here's my take: </div><div><br /></div><div>It is about the <i>person</i>; <u>not</u> the environment.</div><div><br /></div><div>Are you surprised by my opinion?</div><div><br /></div><div>It really does depends on YOU. Let's look at some examples:</div><div><br /></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Are you the type that NEEDS to hit balls to stay in stroke? </li><ul><li>If so, then if you got to hit balls during the pandemic (have your own table at home or visited a friend often who had one), then your game is probably going to be the same. Lucky you! As many will not fair as well.</li><li>If you did not get to hit balls, then don't be frustrated if your game goes down a little when things open back up. Just know that it's normal and begin to hit balls again to get in stroke.</li></ul><li>Maybe you are new to the game and didn't really practice before?</li><ul><li>Therefore, no practice during the pandemic means your game will most likely be about the same. Pretty cool. huh?</li></ul><li>What if you didn't have access to a pool table? </li><ul><li>Did you <a href="https://pooljourney.blogspot.com/2020/04/work-on-your-pool-game-during-pandemic.html">practice stroking into a bottle</a> or watch videos? If you did. your game might have gone UP.</li></ul><li>Are you the type that has great fundamentals and a solid pre-shot routine?</li><ul><li>If you are, then even if you didn't hit one ball, you will still be playing well when the pool rooms open. I promise!</li></ul><li>And what if you didn't do a damn thing (lol), and you notice your game went up? </li><ul><li>This is actually normal as well. Sometimes taking a break can be a really great thing for your pool game. But, it's hard to take breaks when you have leagues to play in or tournaments to attend. The pandemic kinda forced us into the "break" many could have used to improve.</li></ul></ul><div>So you see - it's not your environment, but what you did and/or what type of player you were before the pandemic.</div><div><br /></div><div>Let me give a really drastic example, to help my point:</div><div><br /></div><div>I do not know if you know any pool players that went to prison or not, but if you have, then this will make sense. Pool players that are strong on the table and top of our game, if they happen to find themselves in jail/prison for a long time, they will come out a strong player still, even without ever hitting a ball or learning more about pool while they were there. If they were a mediocre player going in, and they loved the game so much that they worked on their stroke by trying to <a href="https://www.adityaravishankar.com/2009/07/the-bottle-improve-your-billiards-stroke-phenomenally-without-leaving-your-home/">shoot into an invisible coke bottle</a> (or maybe something illegal, lol). then their game will be UP when they get back to society. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH_h9YfPVFKKIJoUSxci-YZQQszeendv9FCceMsduAqLjfDkjsWzAWai2esT6SXpKo4m3YAG4Hnpr3M8PNr3DxUpU0VmTAnGhO-PjBrzmq6FBB_8YuXI3nrnefxpXk8I-I0CKXtlr3yt4/s259/bridge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH_h9YfPVFKKIJoUSxci-YZQQszeendv9FCceMsduAqLjfDkjsWzAWai2esT6SXpKo4m3YAG4Hnpr3M8PNr3DxUpU0VmTAnGhO-PjBrzmq6FBB_8YuXI3nrnefxpXk8I-I0CKXtlr3yt4/" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://sites.google.com/site/howtoplaypool/home">photo credit</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>Same goes for the players who practice their stroke while in jail/prison. HOw do you do that without a pool table? You now how sometimes we get down in our stance to see if maybe our shirt rides up too high in the back, or if the shirt is too tight in the shoulders? We get in our stance and stroke several times on an imaginary pool table to figure it out. Those who practice those strokes a lot in their environment, esp when they have no other way to improve, will fair well. As a matter of fact, pre-shot routines have <i>improved </i>after jail (or a pandemic, you'll see), if they practiced their stroke a lot over a chair or bed, or whatever. </div><div><br /></div><div>Here is something to really think about: when you practice your stroke on an invisible, imagery pool table, have you ever jumped up on your shots? Shot too fast? Exactly! No you didn't. Now you can understand how it would actually improve your game.</div><div><br /></div><div>Again - it's about the PERSON, not the environment.</div><div><br /></div></div>Melindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14816789283998956925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6619322892209358563.post-80848741461186613662020-04-21T16:12:00.002-05:002020-04-23T11:20:48.510-05:00Damn You, PokerLet's be honest. Most pool players are jealous of poker.<br />
<br />
Not jealous of poker <i>players</i>, but jealous of the sport of poker.<br />
<br />
We (us pool players) have yearned and begged and pleaded and tried so hard, literally for decades, for pool to have some mainstream attention.<br />
<br />
Back in the 60s, pool was on tv. Regular tv! But that went by the wayside. The WPBA put pool back on the airwaves and we saw pro players (female, even!) play pool on cable - ESPN - no way!<br />
<br />
There wasn't a ton of those hours of pool on ESPN, but we didn't care - it was still on tv for several years!<br />
<br />
Then here comes poker.<br />
<br />
We all like poker, some of us even love poker... but it took off on tv. It was welcomed and loved and cherished and showcased, even though poker still has the same image as pool. You know, 'bad men in smokey rooms playing for money.' Yet, poker excelled while pool is still left behind.<br />
<br />
We all know that the lure of poker on tv is because a "nobody" can all of a sudden win millions. MILLIONS. Now, I wont understand why pool didn't have the same backing or investments, but it is what it is.<br />
<br />
Let's face it, skill on the pool table is different on the poker table. While both have mental and physical exhaustion and both have skills, it's simply plain easier for recreational players to play poker. 100 guys would rather play poker than pool, right? Plus, there aren't pool rooms in casinos, but there are poker rooms. We can't compete with that.<br />
<br />
But, I'm even more pissed at poker right now!<br />
<br />
(I know, you are glad I'm finally getting to my point, lol).<br />
<br />
Here we are in the middle of a pandemic. I never in a million years thought those words would come out of my mouth, but here we are. We can't leave our homes safely, we can't shop, some of us can't go to work, schools are closed (what?), and of course pool rooms are closed.<br />
<br />
And what about poker? Yep, the poker rooms are closed as well.<br />
<br />
But guess what?<br />
<br />
Peckers, I mean poker players, are doing just fine during the pandemic!<br />
<br />
WTF?!<br />
<br />
While us pool players may be able to play at home IF we have a home table, we still cannot play in leagues, all the State tournaments have been cancelled, even national tournaments have been cancelled. We can't play in tours or weekly tournaments. Are hands are tied due to the pandemic.<br />
<br />
But poker?<br />
<br />
Oh, nooooo.<br />
<br />
Poker continues to be <i>special</i>.<br />
<br />
Why do I say that?<br />
<br />
Just look at the recent headlines and see for yourself:<br />
<ul>
<li>"Online poker tourney sets records amid pandemic"</li>
<li>"Poker Sites See Surge in Activity During Lockdown"</li>
<li>"Online Poker at All Time High"</li>
<li>"Online Poker Surging Amidst COVID-19 Pandemic"</li>
<li>"Poker Reaches Record Traffic During Coronavirus"</li>
</ul>
<br />
Poker has upped us again because it can be played online. Damn you, Poker. <i> Surge in Activity </i>they are writing. <i>Record traffic during pandemic</i> they are headlining.<br />
<br />
/puke/<br />
<br />
<br />Melindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14816789283998956925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6619322892209358563.post-79596627238679333262020-04-06T19:24:00.001-05:002020-04-07T09:40:05.927-05:00Work on Your Pool Game During PandemicFirst off, I hope all of you are doing well. I bet you feel like I do, like the pandemic has hijacked our lives.<br />
<br />
Besides the upheaval of our normal lives, what about my pool game??<br />
<br />
Because it's important to do activities that lower stress and anxiety, it goes right along with some ideas I wanted to share to keep your game up while you might be required to "Stay-At-Home" due to the pandemic.<br />
<br />
If you don't have a table at home:<br />
<div>
</div>
<ul>
<li>Work on your stroke by trying to get your cue tip consistently into a <a href="https://www.adityaravishankar.com/2009/07/the-bottle-improve-your-billiards-stroke-phenomenally-without-leaving-your-home/">coke bottle</a>. This can be done at home without a pool table.</li>
<li>Run a rack in your head. Imagine yourself breaking, then staying down for each shot and try to run out. Use English and get good shape, all in your mind, all as you try to run the entire rack in your head. Warning, this isn't easy! And don't just run the rack fast in your head, but run it with dedication to each shot. Give each shot the attention it deserves (just like on a pool table). This is a great technique to imagine your pre-shot routine on every shot, stay down, and helps train your brain to focus.</li>
<li>Speaking on running racks. One the most helpful things I like to do (and my most favorite) is to think about is that one particular game of a match that I stayed down so well on every shot, in front of a crowd, making all shots with a smooth stroke, feeling calm and confident. Maybe that time you were 'in the zone." You can picture your own certain match/game right now, right? Really focus on it and remember the feelings, the sounds, how your shoulders were not tight because you didn't feel pressure, you stayed down really well, smooth stroke, you felt good, etc. Thinking about your own great game or match you played well, helps solidify your pre-shot routine (I promise!).</li>
<li>Use dumbbells regularly to build your arm muscles. This helps your stroke be more solid.</li>
<li>Watch matches on YouTube. Search billiards. Or maybe check out the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/csipool?sub_confirmation=1">CSI YouTube Channel</a> which will keep you busy for DAYS.</li>
<li>Oh, hey - read part of those pool books you haven't ever opened. Or, if you don't have one, finally order one online!</li>
<li>I would also reach out to pool friends. We may not talk about pool, but with league paused and tournaments delayed, it's important to connect with our pool friends.</li>
<li>If you have an extra billiards towel or fabric, make your face mask out of it! Show your love of our sport.</li>
</ul>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIy0k3nd2YMRMIrUPn3vtUpW1o1CppVUV4TBMDdr32QbGnlJzeoM4PICXXWZYPPCjL8OyFdybpfRy8ggroamvlhomvZCM2ra1itObJa5skdOJnnWD4dzLtQQ11Zv_2hx3yrMdZWzKH58Q/s1600/YT+Stats.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIy0k3nd2YMRMIrUPn3vtUpW1o1CppVUV4TBMDdr32QbGnlJzeoM4PICXXWZYPPCjL8OyFdybpfRy8ggroamvlhomvZCM2ra1itObJa5skdOJnnWD4dzLtQQ11Zv_2hx3yrMdZWzKH58Q/s200/YT+Stats.webp" width="200" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
If you have a table at home:</div>
<ul>
<li>Practice "Carom Nine" (see rules at <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nine-ball">bottom of this page</a>). Helps you learn carom shots in a fun yet frustrating way, lol. (basically, the object ball must make first contact with the cue ball to count as a legal shot, the goal being to carom the object ball into a pocket or into another ball.)</li>
<li>This is a good time to work on your break. Practice it. Get it down pat. It's the opening shot - it's an important part of the game a lot of us don't give enough attention to.</li>
<li>Speaking of breaks, practice your break using different racks if you have them - magic rack, accu-rack, and also regular wooden/plastic racks from the pool room. </li>
<li>Play opposite handed. That's fun!</li>
<li>Play one-handed. Even tougher!</li>
</ul>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I know there are a ton other things, but hopefully this gets you started to ease stress AND work your game.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Stay safe my friends! We will get through this together.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Melindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14816789283998956925noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6619322892209358563.post-29425051623641204502020-03-26T21:28:00.000-05:002020-03-26T21:28:37.520-05:00A Saturday Night Out LessonsI was conversing with a friend of mine at the end of last year, who is also a frequent contributor to billiard magazines. We chat every so often comparing notes and sharing ideas.<div>
</div>
<div>
After we discussed our most recent interactions with certain players for our respective magazines, he shared he had recently played pool (I thought he hadn't played in quite some time, so I leaned in towards the little chat window, anxious to see what he would type next.</div>
<div>
</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span></span>"On a side note, " he started out, "I'm starting to get the Jones to play again. I actually got out on Saturday and played in a tourney. "</blockquote>
<div>
</div>
<div>
He then shared a photo of him and another player. They were holding up 20 dollar bills like a fan, lol. Then as I looked closer, I realized my colleague had more 20s than other player next to him - he placed first! My colleague is an introvert and shy (especially with photos), but I could see happiness and accomplishment on his face. </div>
<div>
</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Not bad for someone who has played in maybe two tourneys in the last 12 months, " he quipped. </blockquote>
<div>
</div>
<div>
"WOW! Look at you!" I gasped. I was so happy for him! Then added, "Sometimes breaks are really good for our game," not knowing I was foreshadowing his next comment.</div>
<div>
</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
He asks me, "Tell me if this makes any sense. I am a Fargo 560 and my buddy is right around 590-600, depending on the day. When I decided to go play, I didn't tell him because I knew he would come out to watch. I wanted a chance to play without feeling that I had to play up to his rating. "</blockquote>
<div>
</div>
<div>
We have all been through this right? </div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
We sometimes play better in front of certain people, or sometimes play worse in front of others. Are we showing off, trying to prove something, being over confident, or on the contrary, are we afraid to be play bad in front of our friends, or feel embarrassed if we lose, etc.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
The "clear" atmosphere allowed him to finally JUST PLAY POOL. I<a href="https://pooljourney.blogspot.com/2014/05/my-brain-finally-shut-off.html"> talk about this a lot</a>, but that's what he did this Saturday night. He played pool! No distractions. No considering how he plays because his friend was there. Just played pool.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
Again, mental distractions (whether we are aware or not) can keep us from just playing pool, and giving our best on every shot.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
But wait! </div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
He had more to share about his Saturday night escapade:</div>
<div>
</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
He continued, "I also told myself that contributing to a billiard magazine doesn't mean that every table is a Cosmo for me, and it's okay to have to stop and study, work out a plan, and bear down trying to make it happen. "</blockquote>
<div>
</div>
<div>
Uh, what?</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
He lost me.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
I asked him to explain. </div>
<div>
</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"I sometimes get the idea that since I watch a ton of top level pool to get ready to contribute to the mag, that it should be easy for me to run out on a bar box and that I shouldn't have to ever stop and study a table or shot for more than a few seconds."</blockquote>
<div>
</div>
<div>
Oh wow, what a great reminder! Sometimes we get too cocky or maybe lazy about our game. Don't get too comfortable or think you know the game enough to not study the table or take your time. Every match give it your all and don't presume you can slack off on planning or looking at options. </div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
Congrat's to my colleague! (leave your buddy home more often and take your time, haha!)</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
Stay safe out there, fellow players; social distance. </div>
<br />
<br />Melindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14816789283998956925noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6619322892209358563.post-39662730925522313442020-03-18T11:06:00.000-05:002020-03-18T11:06:50.300-05:00Not Afraid to Fail or Succeed - TipsOne of my friends mentioned he tried to leave a comment on my blog. I asked him for which post, and he said the one about <a href="https://pooljourney.blogspot.com/2020/03/when-you-were-better-player.html">not seeing results</a>. I didn't see the comment through Blogger, but luckily he gave me the Cliff Notes version:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"It is harder to get tournament results now than it’s ever been... Players are just flat out better now than they were 25 years ago and there are so many more of them. No result is guaranteed. The guys that do consistently well are the ones who put in the work."</blockquote>
<br />
Good point!<br />
<br />
However, I then keyed in on his final sentence: “<i>The guys that do consistently well are the ones who put in the work.” </i><br />
<br />
The reason why, is because he himself has been finishing higher than I’m used to seeing on the tour he plays on. You all know my curiosity, so of course I asked him about it (smile).<br />
<br />
I asked him, “Does this mean you are putting in work? You are placing higher than before, and more consistently – not just lucky or random high finishes.”<br />
<br />
I was expecting his normal witty repartee, but instead he was serious. And the info was really eye-opening. I'm excited to share this conversation with you all!<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
“I practice at the house before big tournaments. But, what has happened to me is my whole outlook has changed. I just play... Very aggressive and confident. And I don’t quit. LOL.”</blockquote>
<br />
“That's really awesome,” I told him. Then asked, him why he starting doing that.<br />
<br />
He replies,<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
“Life... LOL. I’m not a wound-up person, so I can just concentrate on playing. I’m not afraid to shoot anything anymore because the result of any given shot means very little to my life. I know that sounds fatalistic and yet weird, but it works for me. I like playing and I like competing, but the truth is: the results mean nothing to me or my life. I used to be afraid both to fail and to succeed. Now I’m neither.”</blockquote>
<br />
Interesting, right?<br />
<br />
I then asked him what made him decide to start playing that way.<br />
<br />
He explains,<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
“It’s that fear thing. I used to be so afraid to fail. Now I’m not. And, truth be told, I’m a more talented and polished player now at age 51 than I have ever been.” (he has great fundamentals he’s worked on for years and they are very solid now.)</blockquote>
<br />
I prodded more, “Did you wake up and realize that? Or just figure that out one day?”<br />
<br />
He said,<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
“It just kinda happened. No figuring. It just seemed silly to be afraid to lose a pool game. Or afraid to win one for that matter. Funny thing is I still have little moments of crisis of confidence. But they don’t last long and the balls keep going in whether I have them or not. No explanation for that. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Observation about confidence: Am I playing well because I’m confident or am I confident because I’ve reached a predictable level of playing well??</blockquote>
<br />
Hmm, good internal questions.<br />
<br />
I then asked him one final thing about this really intriguing discussion, “How long ago did this change in thinking start?”<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
“Let’s see. I guess I really first felt it about a year ago. Maybe around the time I realized I was at a terrible job with not much hope for better. I just know that when I turned my life over to a certain feeling of resignation it carried over to my pool playing and all fear was gone. No fear of losing, no fear of embarrassment, and no fear of winning even. It somehow freed me to <i>just play</i>. And to play a style that I enjoy. Because I was resigned to the fact that none of it really mattered.”</blockquote>
<br />
He added, “I doubt that makes sense.”<br />
<br />
Actually, it does. And SO wanted to share this with you all. Enjoy!<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
Melindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14816789283998956925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6619322892209358563.post-80792935647374623142020-03-10T14:29:00.001-05:002020-03-10T14:29:13.384-05:00Drinking and Pool, Lessons from Katniss and the CueistI thought I’d do something a little fun and different. I asked the same questions to The Cueist (the pool player of <a href="https://pooljourney.blogspot.com/p/cueist-project.html">The Cueist Project</a> section of my blog) and Katniss (the pool player of the <a href="https://pooljourney.blogspot.com/p/project-hunger-games.html">Project Hunger Games</a> section of my blog) about a certain theme to get their thoughts. You know, to compare notes and all.<br />
<br />
Being sober for almost 3 ½ years now, I realize it probably doesn't make sense that the first theme would be about drinking and playing pool, lol, but here we go!<br />
<br />
All three of us used to drink while playing pool (the Cueist and I more than most, haha). But, drinking (while playing pool) had lessened for me towards the end of my pool journey as I became more successful, and so I wanted to know if it had for them as well, along with the any positive (or negative) impacts.<br />
<br />
The first question was, “Do you ever take a drink to calm nerves? If so, do you still do that? Do you think it's effective?”<br />
<br />
Katniss:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
When I cannot calm my nerves, yes, I will take a shot. I actually did this in the first tournament of the year. I was playing a young lady that was just bouncing around the table making all her balls. For some odd reason, my breathing exercises were not helping me. I took a break (you are allowed one per match) and as I passed the bartender, I ordered a ‘Jose Cuervo dressed and chilled’ as I walked by. I went to pee, came back out, and my shot was ready. I downed it right then and there and then went to continue the match. I was calm within 10 minutes. I ended up winning that match. And, that was the only alcohol I had during that 14-hour marathon that day.</blockquote>
<br />
And what about you, Cueist? Do you ever take a drink to calm nerves? If so, do you still do that? Do you think it's effective?<br />
<br />
The Cueist:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
When I joined a new league team awhile back, we would always drink throughout the day during events. I'd get nervous, and thought I needed a drink to calm down. That was the captain’s way of coping with the nerves, and I thought the same thing. But that was more of a crutch, a habit, that I had developed over the years. Instead, I tried focusing on my breathing, PSR (pre-shout routine), and just having fun in order to get rid of the nerves. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
At an end of a season tournament recently, I heard from some of my teammates that they believed that since our team drank every league night, that we'd all drink that weekend, too. Some of the players didn’t want to do that (I know, it doesn't make sense!). But, a few of us made a pact to stay sober the entire time while we played. Once the matches were over for the day, we'd have a drink if we wanted to (okay, most of us wanted to, lol). We kept up the 'not drinking' during pool playing - with the exception of when we made it the finals - some of them needed a drink to calm down apparently. But personally, I didn't feel any more nerves without having a drink of alcohol. So, it justified that it was simply a crutch.</blockquote>
<br />
And then I asked them, “Do you feel you drink less, now that you are more successful in your pool game?”<br />
<br />
Katniss:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
I take my game more serious now, so yeah, I don’t drink as much. </blockquote>
“Go on,” I nudged:<br />
<br />
Katniss:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
When I first started playing pool, I was excited to get out and get to hang out with other players and drinkers. Eventually I joined a league. The whole atmosphere was very new to me, but I loved it. At one point early on, I won a few games over a couple of weeks (even though I was a true beginner), and I liked that feeling! So, I took my game more seriously. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
At some point, they made me the “anchor” for that same league team. One night I was buzzed and I missed the winning ball! (a shot that I make more often than not). I lost the match for our team. That feeling I did NOT like. Ever since then, I don’t drink as MUCH. Maybe 2 beers only.</blockquote>
I prodded some more:<br />
<br />
“So, do you think you became MORE cognizant about not combing drinking and playing pool in the last few years because your game has improved so much? Or, did that first anchor experience start you on that journey?”<br />
<br />
Katniss:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Both, actually. I want my mind and concentration to be clear and strong for the amount of energy it takes to compete. I think many players forget that...that alcohol interferes with energy. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Additionally, I feel like I should maintain a certain level of professionalism because I have some women tell me sometimes that they want to play like me. Or, “Wow, I want to be like you when I grow up.” While that makes me blush, it is a positive culprit for me to drink less. Besides, I don’t want to become a cocky drunk that thinks they are unbeatable. Alcohol makes us fearless, right?</blockquote>
<br />
I asked the same question to The Cueist:<br />
<br />
Do you feel you drink less, now that you are more successful in your pool game?<br />
<br />
The Cueist:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
You know that saying "dress for the job you want?" Well, it kinda goes along with that. While I don't necessarily have the want to be a full-time pro player, I started noticing something last year. There is a guy from Texas (Justin Espinoza) who was the one that made me notice it, actually. He used to drink at all the tourneys, etc. While he's such a great player nowadays, he made it a point to quit drinking while playing pool. And his performances in tourneys immediately jumped up a bit during that time. He kept hashtagging "soberpool," and it was one of those things that I just kinda kept in the back of my mind. </blockquote>
That was it?<br />
<br />
The Cueist:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Well, no, lol. In Vegas one year, I noticed that most, if not all, of the top pros don't even touch alcohol while playing. Why? Because it's their job to play pool. And you don't want to be impaired while doing your job. Sure, they were all hanging out at the bars at the end of the day, but while they were playing they did not drink.</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Bottom line is that drinking and pool is one of those things that goes together like peanut butter and jelly. But if you want to progress and play at a high level, you really need to have your full focus on the match at hand. And any bit of alcohol will impair that focus. While I don't plan on trying to be a top pro or anything like that, I do have a goal to be move up in my league standings this year. And that means focusing as much as possible, to give myself the best chance to win. Drinking can wait till I'm done playing matches for the day.</blockquote>
<br />
Thank you to the Cueist and Katniss for your insight and experiences! You will help others with your honesty, and for that I am thankful.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<br />Melindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14816789283998956925noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6619322892209358563.post-5990278686886671502020-03-09T12:45:00.003-05:002020-03-09T12:45:45.670-05:00When You WERE a Better PlayerLast week <a href="https://pooljourney.blogspot.com/2020/03/when-you-dont-improve.html">I wrote about</a> how sometimes players who don't cash a lot throughout the years might quit playing pool due to their disappointment and frustration. Today I would like to talk about players that <i>used </i>to cash (that no longer do) who feel similar.<br />
<br />
It has to be very frustrating for players of any sport who used to play well, who no longer do. At what point do they decide to throw in the towel? Or, do they just continue to play anyway? Struggling and limping along.<br />
<br />
I’d like to share part of a convo I had with someone about this, that puts this into perspective (imho). I will let his words speak for themselves, instead of me interpreting them. <br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
I’m taking break, and stop going to tournaments. I am going to hit balls at the house and kinda find myself with regards to my pool game. I need to relearn how to focus and also just hit enough balls that making them becomes automatic again. My lack of confidence and struggling is just making me not have fun. Same thing happened with golf - in high school I was a champion…now I don’t play, yet I still expect to play the same. Same with a couple of other sports I used to dominate. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
I guess I should just accept this fate that I suck because I don’t practice. But, I’d rather just quit than accept being “less than.” But, then I go back to thinking “well, those good players play for a living or at least hang out in a bar every day. I can’t do that, but I have a good life otherwise….so, so what if I suck?”</blockquote>
<br />
I suggested one of my blog topics (<a href="http://pooljourney.blogspot.com/2015/11/learn-to-refocus.html">learn to refocus</a>), and some other tips. I was trying to get him off of the “I’m going to quit pool ledge.” But any attempt at advice was not heard by him. And it made sense, actually.<br />
<br />
He is a seasoned <i>sports </i>player. He has played enough different types of sports throughout the years to understand what he should probably do. And no advice for me was going to keep him from quitting pool, solving his frustrations, or giving him an any 'aha' moment.<br />
<br />
After my feeble attempt with advice, he replies:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Ahhh…here’s the problem. I’ll admit I’m ambitious and that you are logical in your advice and statements. My problem is that I can’t settle for what may be this moments reality. You see, I honestly believe that I have the potential to play top speed. Call me crazy (I’m totally ok with that). I do however know first hand that to perform at a world class level, then you must put in the work. So, that’s my logic and excuse. Basically, I believe I’m a top player, but without the time to practice or perform as they do. Hopefully this doesn’t sound too “prickish or egotistical” That’s why I often speak of humility, as I have to make a conscious effort to keep my ego in check.</blockquote>
Not prickish at all, right? Just ownership of his thoughts and feelings.<br />
<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
Melindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14816789283998956925noreply@blogger.com0