Today was the start of the 2009 season for the Predator 9-ball Tour, thank god. I've been waiting for this ever since it ended last season since it's a lot of fun and gives me something to challenge myself in once or twice a month.
Today's event was held at Raxx Pool Room in West Hempstead, NY, one of my favorite rooms in the area. I think it's because Raxx equipment is really well maintain and they have really nice tournament blue cloth on all the tables. Oh, and the food's really good there too. Holden Chin, one of the owners, is a good friend and all around nice guy and always makes us Beef Chow Fun, not on the menu, whenever we show up. It's sooo good. Easily surpasses anything you can get in Chinatown.
(Note: I didn't take a photo of the food but found one online which I linked to so that you can see what I'm talking about in case you didn't know what Beef Chow Fun is.)
But I digress. I'm easily distracted by food. Where was I?
Oh right. Predator Tour.
There were a lot of players, well over 64 for a full field, and most of them I recognized as being good, decent players from around the area. Not many slouches in the field so I was expecting a tough draw and tough matches. My plan for the day was to try and put an end to my slump and not go 2 and out.
Now I took a little break from pool, considering how much I sucked in leagues recently, to clear my head so I haven't really played or practice in a week. I barely hit any balls at all. Now that's not to say that I wasn't thinking about pool or working on my game. I read articles online, this one's from Pool Student's Blog about "Quiet Eye" is good, and I chatted with several of my pool buddies, like Sarah, about my downward spiral. She gave me a good tip but, sorry, I can't tell you what the tip is - she'd kill me for letting out the secret to her success.
So, armed with this new information, I was eager to put it into use.
(Yeah, yeah, yeah - I know, I know. "Practice time" is for adding new stuff to your game, not a tournament. Tournaments are about "winning" and smashing opponents, not experimentation. Only I don't play everyday okay? I don't have much "practice time". Geez.)
---
My first match:
It was against a nice kid, looked to be in his 20's or so, named Steve. I've never seen him before so I had no idea what his speed was and what worried me was our match is being played on one of the front tables, usually reserved for the good players like Open and Pros, so that people can watch from the rail.
Great. Did I ever tell you that I hate people watching me play?
I win the lag so I get to break first. The game is race to 8, alternating break.
I slug racked myself so there's a bunch of clusters around the table. I'm at the table and I make the 3-ball and roll into position for a shot on the 4-ball, tied up in a cluster, but is a dead carom bank on the 9-ball. I love to chase the cheese so...
Rough approximation and without the clusters but you get the idea.
Woohoo! 1-0 me!
It doesn't last long.
I played a bad safe early in the rack and Steve runs out. 1-1.
I have a dead easy out but I lapse in my concentration and miss the 7-ball. He runs out. 1-2.
My miss gives him new confidence and he breaks and runs out. 1-3.
I break, don't make anything, but I don't leave him a shot. He pushes but leaves me an edge on the 1-ball. Before I shoot I go through all the advice I've gotten from my pro playing friends:
Sarah : [super secret tip]
Capao: Will you walk around the table, pick a spot on the object ball and aim you idiot? [paraphrasing]
Mika: Keep it simple stupid. [K.I.S.S. method for pattern play.]
So, after reminding myself of all this, I get down to shoot with the "Quiet Eye" method into play and...
I run out!
Woohoo! 2-3 me!
And from there I started to actually play well. I get a lead and get to the hill first, 7-5. Only...now I'm playing tight. And I can't close.
Steve ties it up as I'm making unforced errors late in the rack. Hill-Hill.
That's okay. I've been drilling long shots all match long.
But this is me and you know what's gonna happen right?
Get me some Alpo cause I dogged it. I hit it WAY too full.
But "way too full" is good cause it bounces and comes down the rail leaving him without a good shot.
I, personally, would've tried a cross side bank or tried cutting it down to the corner, I thought the cut into the side was not possible as the angle was too shallow, but that's the shot he went for...and missed.
I got up, lined up the shot, and before I could even *think* I shot the 9 into the corner pocket.
Yeah! I won one! I won a match! FINALLY!
My second match:
I got to play my friend "Jersey Jer". I can't play him. It's too...I dunno. We usually just kid around and drink when we play - more horsing around than "seriously trying to win". Plus all the focusing I did last match hurt my brain and I kinda needed a break. I wasn't sharp at all and hung up 4 9-balls for him. 4!!!!!
The worse one was I broke, made the 8-ball, looked at the layout and told him "I'm out!" I proceeded to run out only I messed up getting shape going from the 5 to the 6. I shoot a "saver" by banking the 6 in cross side. I now have a cut of the 7 into the side, made that but i leave myself close and tight on the 9-ball. Cut it towards the corner...and it rattles and hangs up.
I was gonna break and run a rack! On "Jersey Jer"! In a tournament! Grrr....
I lost 8-4.
My third match:
It was against Ron who, at the last Predator event, he and I got into an argument. He was safed and attempted a wild kick shot which got a lot of balls moving and, once the dust settled, the 9-ball went in. I thought it was a bad hit, he called it good. I ended up losing the match cause I couldn't shake it off . After the match we got into it. It was an ugly altercation and I was a really poor sport that day. I have since apologized and now everything is cool but I did want to beat him today, just for a little revenge. Only he wasn't playing his best and made it a little too easy for me so it's not as satisfying as I hoped.
7-3 me.
my fourth match:
Okay. I'm out of gas. I've played one match right after another without any real breaks in between. My eyes are dried out and when I try and focus and use "Quiet Eye" my vision would go all wonky on me and I'd miss. And, Ryan, the opponent I was playing, was good enough to make me pay for my mistakes.
Visine. I got some in my case.
Water. Hydrating helps.
I get back into the match only it's a little too late. He's good enough to close out with the lead.
I lose 7-4.
---
Overall, 2-2 isn't bad especially considering how poorly I've been playing. I'm happy with my performance as I think I played well. I didn't make too many unforced errors and I got out open racks when I had opportunities. I stayed focused and had a good tempo going. Hopefully it's not a fluke and I can keep it going. Got APA leagues tomorrow to try all the techniques again.
Today's event was held at Raxx Pool Room in West Hempstead, NY, one of my favorite rooms in the area. I think it's because Raxx equipment is really well maintain and they have really nice tournament blue cloth on all the tables. Oh, and the food's really good there too. Holden Chin, one of the owners, is a good friend and all around nice guy and always makes us Beef Chow Fun, not on the menu, whenever we show up. It's sooo good. Easily surpasses anything you can get in Chinatown.
(Note: I didn't take a photo of the food but found one online which I linked to so that you can see what I'm talking about in case you didn't know what Beef Chow Fun is.)
But I digress. I'm easily distracted by food. Where was I?
Oh right. Predator Tour.
There were a lot of players, well over 64 for a full field, and most of them I recognized as being good, decent players from around the area. Not many slouches in the field so I was expecting a tough draw and tough matches. My plan for the day was to try and put an end to my slump and not go 2 and out.
Now I took a little break from pool, considering how much I sucked in leagues recently, to clear my head so I haven't really played or practice in a week. I barely hit any balls at all. Now that's not to say that I wasn't thinking about pool or working on my game. I read articles online, this one's from Pool Student's Blog about "Quiet Eye" is good, and I chatted with several of my pool buddies, like Sarah, about my downward spiral. She gave me a good tip but, sorry, I can't tell you what the tip is - she'd kill me for letting out the secret to her success.
So, armed with this new information, I was eager to put it into use.
(Yeah, yeah, yeah - I know, I know. "Practice time" is for adding new stuff to your game, not a tournament. Tournaments are about "winning" and smashing opponents, not experimentation. Only I don't play everyday okay? I don't have much "practice time". Geez.)
---
My first match:
It was against a nice kid, looked to be in his 20's or so, named Steve. I've never seen him before so I had no idea what his speed was and what worried me was our match is being played on one of the front tables, usually reserved for the good players like Open and Pros, so that people can watch from the rail.
Great. Did I ever tell you that I hate people watching me play?
I win the lag so I get to break first. The game is race to 8, alternating break.
I slug racked myself so there's a bunch of clusters around the table. I'm at the table and I make the 3-ball and roll into position for a shot on the 4-ball, tied up in a cluster, but is a dead carom bank on the 9-ball. I love to chase the cheese so...
Rough approximation and without the clusters but you get the idea.
Woohoo! 1-0 me!
It doesn't last long.
I played a bad safe early in the rack and Steve runs out. 1-1.
I have a dead easy out but I lapse in my concentration and miss the 7-ball. He runs out. 1-2.
My miss gives him new confidence and he breaks and runs out. 1-3.
I break, don't make anything, but I don't leave him a shot. He pushes but leaves me an edge on the 1-ball. Before I shoot I go through all the advice I've gotten from my pro playing friends:
Sarah : [super secret tip]
Capao: Will you walk around the table, pick a spot on the object ball and aim you idiot? [paraphrasing]
Mika: Keep it simple stupid. [K.I.S.S. method for pattern play.]
So, after reminding myself of all this, I get down to shoot with the "Quiet Eye" method into play and...
I run out!
Woohoo! 2-3 me!
And from there I started to actually play well. I get a lead and get to the hill first, 7-5. Only...now I'm playing tight. And I can't close.
Steve ties it up as I'm making unforced errors late in the rack. Hill-Hill.
Now it's the last rack and Steve's playing tight too. I get an opportunity to close it out and I leave myself an 8-ball cut into the side with a simple back and forth shape onto the 9-ball. I should be OUT. Only I get indecisive about how to play the shape, how hard to hit it, etc., and shoot without a clear cut plan ending up leaving myself LOOOOOONG.
That's okay. I've been drilling long shots all match long.
But this is me and you know what's gonna happen right?
Get me some Alpo cause I dogged it. I hit it WAY too full.
But "way too full" is good cause it bounces and comes down the rail leaving him without a good shot.
I, personally, would've tried a cross side bank or tried cutting it down to the corner, I thought the cut into the side was not possible as the angle was too shallow, but that's the shot he went for...and missed.
I got up, lined up the shot, and before I could even *think* I shot the 9 into the corner pocket.
Yeah! I won one! I won a match! FINALLY!
My second match:
I got to play my friend "Jersey Jer". I can't play him. It's too...I dunno. We usually just kid around and drink when we play - more horsing around than "seriously trying to win". Plus all the focusing I did last match hurt my brain and I kinda needed a break. I wasn't sharp at all and hung up 4 9-balls for him. 4!!!!!
The worse one was I broke, made the 8-ball, looked at the layout and told him "I'm out!" I proceeded to run out only I messed up getting shape going from the 5 to the 6. I shoot a "saver" by banking the 6 in cross side. I now have a cut of the 7 into the side, made that but i leave myself close and tight on the 9-ball. Cut it towards the corner...and it rattles and hangs up.
I was gonna break and run a rack! On "Jersey Jer"! In a tournament! Grrr....
I lost 8-4.
My third match:
It was against Ron who, at the last Predator event, he and I got into an argument. He was safed and attempted a wild kick shot which got a lot of balls moving and, once the dust settled, the 9-ball went in. I thought it was a bad hit, he called it good. I ended up losing the match cause I couldn't shake it off . After the match we got into it. It was an ugly altercation and I was a really poor sport that day. I have since apologized and now everything is cool but I did want to beat him today, just for a little revenge. Only he wasn't playing his best and made it a little too easy for me so it's not as satisfying as I hoped.
7-3 me.
my fourth match:
Okay. I'm out of gas. I've played one match right after another without any real breaks in between. My eyes are dried out and when I try and focus and use "Quiet Eye" my vision would go all wonky on me and I'd miss. And, Ryan, the opponent I was playing, was good enough to make me pay for my mistakes.
Visine. I got some in my case.
Water. Hydrating helps.
I get back into the match only it's a little too late. He's good enough to close out with the lead.
I lose 7-4.
---
Overall, 2-2 isn't bad especially considering how poorly I've been playing. I'm happy with my performance as I think I played well. I didn't make too many unforced errors and I got out open racks when I had opportunities. I stayed focused and had a good tempo going. Hopefully it's not a fluke and I can keep it going. Got APA leagues tomorrow to try all the techniques again.
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