The Difference Between Skill Level 4 and 9, or How To Learn to Rack 9-Ball (Really Well)
01/November/2005 18:56 Filed in:
Billiards
Last night, my 9-Ball team, "Who's
Next?" in Dallas APA took on the other 9-Ball team from our home
club; Drinks Saloon. The first four of the five
matches in our league match went basically like I expected; we won
2 of them, the other team won 2... that's the way most of the
league matches go in this division; fairly close.
The fifth match, I played against (quite probably) THE best player I've ever played against. I was somewhat nervous, but not unduly so. I looked at this match as an opportunity to both learn, and to play my game as well. The first rack started off slow, but I made 8 of the 10 points in the rack (each ball is worth a point, with the 9-Ball worth two points).
The next 9 racks weren't so kind. I made 5 more points over those 9 racks, with my opponent taking the remainder, minus "dead" balls (balls going in on bad hits, or scratches. He shot 3 racks from break to the 9 while I just sat and watched. It was a pleasure watching someone so skilled at the game; I just wish he would have been playing someone else!
I did get a lot of practice racking 9-Ball racks, and attempting to make shots to try to get back into the game. In the end, my opponent won the match 17 to 3, given our respective skill levels. One thing about playing someone so skilled; it's a very humbling experience. Still doesn't make it feel any better!
I like to win!
The fifth match, I played against (quite probably) THE best player I've ever played against. I was somewhat nervous, but not unduly so. I looked at this match as an opportunity to both learn, and to play my game as well. The first rack started off slow, but I made 8 of the 10 points in the rack (each ball is worth a point, with the 9-Ball worth two points).
The next 9 racks weren't so kind. I made 5 more points over those 9 racks, with my opponent taking the remainder, minus "dead" balls (balls going in on bad hits, or scratches. He shot 3 racks from break to the 9 while I just sat and watched. It was a pleasure watching someone so skilled at the game; I just wish he would have been playing someone else!
I did get a lot of practice racking 9-Ball racks, and attempting to make shots to try to get back into the game. In the end, my opponent won the match 17 to 3, given our respective skill levels. One thing about playing someone so skilled; it's a very humbling experience. Still doesn't make it feel any better!
I like to win!
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