Still Waiting

Well I'm still waiting!I don't know how long I have to wait,but I am going to wait it out!Patience is key in this game,it seems like your always waiting for something or someone.Like today,I had to wait for a game to show up,not the usual Sunday at Diamond Jim's,I even arrived a little late.I didn't have to wait long though,Chino came through the door at about 1:00 pm.Here was the tough game I was looking for.Chino always wants to play, he rarely does any drill work.But maybe that's one of the reasons he's still playing the same speed as when I first met him at Toby Sweat's room Hollies.I think he was a B+ then and now he's A- that's not much of a change in all these years.I hope I don't stall like that,but I guess you can never tell till you get there.

I plan on playing the tough matches for my whole career,it might not sound like it in the last 2 posts,but after all was said here and done in my head,I was very happy to be playing Chino.Right now this is a real tough match for me too even be competitive in!But I'm trying very hard.I learned a couple of things today during my first session.One was that I need to adjust my game earlier in a set if I'm not feeling it.And today I didn't have it again.I think I have something going on in my back hand.I'm pretty sure that I'm not finishing my stoke with a straight wrist and that's not good for pocketing balls.I'm happy to report that I have been able to bring a lot of intensity too the table on each shot,maybe my concentration is a little off,but a lot of that has to do with confidence or maybe I should say lack off.

If there is one thing that almost every pool player says at one point or another it's "I think I've got it figured out".That's not what I'm saying here!You see for the last week I've been missing shots that I just shouldn't miss.I mean easy shots,at first I thought it was my concentration or focus,but I feel I have addressed that,it may not be perfect but it's not as bad as I've been missing.That leads me to believe that there is something wrong with my stroke,and I noticed it in my break.I'm not finishing straight,my wrist is slightly cocked in on my follow through!On the break shot any flaw in your stroke is magnified because your hitting so hard.And if this is the case it could be why I'm missing the easy shot!I actually hope it is I would love to have an answer.

My session with Chino was fun,I got crushed but was still having a good time.I tried too play him tough,as tough as I could.I just kept telling myself not to give any games away,make him work for it!I think I accomplished that,I played a lot of safes,maybe too many if there is such a thing when you can't get out.I had him kicking and mase'ing balls all the time in the first set.I really tried too not let him catch a stroke.I had a chance to win the first set but I blew it!It ended at 9-7.The second and third sets where just train wrecks for me.Chino had caught the stoke I tried so hard to impede.And I barley got too the table,when I did I was kicking,or had an extremely low percentage shot.I don't remember how many racks Chino ran but it was a lot.They ended 9-3 & 9-1.You don't have to say it,I know it's bad.

I played a second session with Ken "The Kernal",and as I'm sure you figured that didn't go my way either.Those 2 sets where fun too watch,he just breaks and runs out like tap water.But that's what you get when you play an OPEN class player with a big break.It is nice to watch the patterns that an open class player will play,you can learn a lot if you pay attention.Ken The "Kernal" will also tell you things too help your game,which most players will not do!And the way he does it is correct,he asks you why!Why did you do such and such,and after your response he makes a suggestion,and offers a new way of looking at the shot or pattern you chose.Most players wont do this for you,they will leave you too your own devices.

I'm going to play today,and I plan on doing some drill work but if a good game comes my way I'm sure I'll take it.But I know I need to do a day or two of drills real soon.
STRETCH