Reality

I really am a D class player!You see the difference in what class you are Pro,A,B,C,D,in that order is not only knowledge of the game,it's your consistency in the game.Consistency is what separates the classes!An A class player is very consistent,where a D class player really has no consistency too his game.A D player usually doesn't have enough consistency too his game to even get out regularly.He's generally not going too run more than 3-4 balls before getting out of line and leaving himself tough.This is where I feel I am,I'm running some balls and then either getting so far out of line,I leave myself super tough and are forced to play safe or I miss the easy shot! The knowledge is a whole other factor in your rating,I feel you can play at a high level with less knowledge than many players,the key too that is the consistency.Of course a player with a ton of knowledge of the game has an advantage but the player with the most consistency may get out more often.I have a lot of knowledge of the game,I'm just not capable of executing it on a consistent basis just yet!

I have too work on my concentration and focus,to increase my consistency! I feel that's the big thing missing from my game.I put a lot of pressure on myself,probably unnecessary pressure.I know it's unnecessary! I feel I should be playing at a higher level than I am right now,but I need to remember that I've only been playing again 2 months!That's where all the un-wanted pressure comes from!I have too say that again,"I've been playing 2 months"I need patience!You have to put so much time into this game,it's ridiculous.But it's very rewarding.Nothing is going too happen overnight for me,I just need to relax and it will come if I can keep going along the way I am. I've had a couple of bad days this week,and man did it really have a negative effect on me yesterday.I was playing and thinking about quitting at the same time!You don't have a chance in hell of playing good when you think like that.It amazes me how thought patterns like that can creep into you.I'm not quitting,I'm just getting started and that's what I need to remember!

It's only been since March,so I really only have 2 months in. My last 2 sessions did not go my way,but that should be OK with me because they both where against players I'm really not supposed to beat!They where tough matches for me from the start.I keep saying I want the tough matches,and I do.I just think I need to adjust the way I handle the loses.I should be remembering that I'm not supposed to win.I'm not really supposed to beat anyone right now!And I'm getting a chance at some of the sets,so that should be satisfying enough.But it's not,I want too win now.During league night I've done well so far,winning both my matches.It's the day sessions where I've had my problems!The day time games are all tough in here.Some are even tough A class games!The reality is I'm a D class player going too an A. STRETCH

Cue it Up

Last night was league night,and it went well for us.We won 4 of 5 matches,that's a good night.I almost had too play the opening match,and would have had to use Big Scotts cue,because my cue was having the tip replaced.Big Scotts cue is a beautiful Skip Weston cue.I hit a few shots with it during my warm up,and it hits nice,I loved the sound of Skip Weston cues! I've been around a few of his cues,and they all make the sweet ping that I like.There's just something about a cue that sings!That's when you know you put a stroke on the CB.He's got a nice players cue,that's what I call them.Big Scott also uses Predator shafts and that's why I hit his cue,because I also play with a Predator shaft,and once you get used too one it's very hard to play without one,they just play so different than a standard maple shaft.I think I would have played well with his Skip Weston,but I don't like playing with other peoples equipment for a number of reasons.The biggest reason is I'm always afraid that I'll fall in love with that cue,and have to have it!The 2nd reason is,pool players are a different breed,we hate it when someone plays our cue,and if someone plays it better than we can,we really hate it.It's like a girlfriend that cheated on you,we might still love her,but you'll always remember that affair!That affair goes 2 ways,if our cue gets played better by another player,it's not good,and if we play better with another cue rather then our own it will put questions into your own cue.So that's why I don't play any other cue but my own.

I play with a really beautiful Pete Omen,that too be honest with you,I took advantage of the original owner.It took about 10 minutes of play with this cue,and I knew I had too have it,I fell in love with it!

My Omen is a six point Ebony/Coco Bola cue.I have had more than one person ask me if it was a South West cue,which is the most sought after cue in the world,South West has a 10 year waiting list for a cue!And they produce about 150 cues a year,that's a lot of cues to make by hand.By comparison Omen Cues only produces 35 cues a year!I'm not sure how long his waiting list is,but I do know it's not 10 years.In my opinion South West cues play great and I've hit a few of them,but they don't play any better than an Omen.So if you want one of the best players cue,look into getting an Omen,you will not be disappointed!

I almost sold my cues,that's actually how I got back into the game,and ended up starting this blog.I had posted my cues for sale on http://forums.azbilliards.com/index.php and the only thing that happened was people trying too steal this cue! I think the best offer I got was about $1200!What a joke,the cue market is soft right now,and I understand that,but $1200 give me a break,I see people selling Schon,Joss,Viking,etc,etc,for nearly as much as $1200.These are production cues!Mine is a one of a kind hand built cue,that if I called Pete Omen and wanted to replace it would cost me $3500,yup I said $3500.00.So instead of selling something I loved so much,but just didn't use,I decided too use it 1 more time!That was a little more than a month ago.I have not stopped my love affair with this cue since then! I'm now dedicated too becoming the best player I can be!And I'm going to do it with my Omen,and my Xbreaker,the perfect players set up!

I just had Giant Jerry replace my Talisman Water Buffalo medium,which I ground down too nothing in 3 weeks because of the way I chalk,with a Talisman Water Buffalo hard.I only got too play with it for a small warm up,and league match.I think I like the tip but will have to get back too you tomorrow after I play it today.I didn't get a good read on it during league,it's a little loud in Diamond Jim's on league night,which by the by is every night,too concentrate on hearing my cue sing.It did feel great though,bit the the CB nice maybe not as nice as the medium,but dam close. I'm going to save the tip talk for tomorrow,if I can get to the pool hall today I'll be posting my Talisman Tip review tomorrow or the next day. Oh yeah that Omen cue I have,almost made it too the floor last night!! I had too be cat like too save from it's first dive too the floor.It all worked out in the end but I gotta tell you,man I would have been fuming had it made it too the floor,but I caught it thank God,that cue has never seen the floor it's pristine and I want too keep it that way.So until next time.STRETCH

Another Bad Day

Yes I had another bad day at the table!The only difference from yesterday too today is,I have no clue as too what went wrong.I wish I had an answer for you but I don't.All I can say is that I am just off my game today.I hope I can turn it around for league night.I usually play better under some pressure.But that doesn't explain what happened today,because I had some pressure and still didn't perform well. I hooked up with Jersey Ken for 2 sets,and lost both of them,7-5,7-1.I know,doesn't look good.I didn't play horrible,actually I felt great,and started the 1st set with a break and run out.The 1st set I played decent,Jersey Ken jumped to a lead on me,and I had too fight my way back too make it 7-5.I thought I was going too get the set but he snapped a 9ball and shot a combination for the win!

I have to give Jersey credit,he played the best I've ever seen him play.The 2nd set just didn't go my way,I just played bad,dogging shots.Once again I couldn't finish,I would end up leaving 3-4 ball outs on the table.So I did most of the heavy lifting with out a reward. I actually wish I could say "I just got out played"but that's not the only thing that happened.Something happened too my game,and I'm not too sure of what it was.I think I was good as far as intensity went,and I thought my concentration level was good.But something was just off,and that too me is disturbing.It could have been a lot of things,line up,stroke,foot placement,eye placement,and the list goes on.That's what's disturbing,could have been 100 different things!I'm starting too think like Tin Cup when he says "My stroke feels like a folded up lawn chair".I don't really feel like that in fact I think I'm stroking real nice.But that's a classic line in my book.

One other thing it could be,and I hate too blame equipment,but my tip is down pretty low.This is a new brand of tip too me,there called "Talisman Tips" and this is the 1st one I've tried.When I first put this tip on I loved it!But I'm thinking now it needs to be changed,I've ground this one down too nothing in a little less than a month!I know,that's not a long life span for a tip,but it has too do with my PSR(pre-shot routine)I grind my chalk in,and the leather tips are always softer than chalk,therefore they lose a little every time I chalk.I,m a tip abuser that's for sure,I even grind down G10 tips,which are a harder material than a pool ball.I should change the way I chalk but it's so ingrained in my PSR that it makes it tough too change.I don't think I'm going too change I don't really want too,I have 2 more tips in my bag,1 medium,and 1 hard tip,pretty sure I'm just going too grind them down too nothing also.Maybe the hard one will last a little longer,but I'm not sure I'll like the hit,it may be too hard.

I played my whole career with Hard Triangle tips,which aren't layered like the Talisman tips.The Talisman medium is supposed too be slightly softer than a hard Triangle,which it was but now it's an extremely hard hit.I noticed the change in the last two times I played,my cue just didn't have that nice sound,it was more of a harsh sound.I'm going to have Giant Jerry replace the tip with the Talisman hard and see if I like that better.My only concern is that it may be too hard.But if it's like the medium that I have on now,which really grabbed the CB(cue ball)I think I'll love it,as long as it makes my cue sing again. For a layered tip I like the Talisman tips,there not as expensive as a Kamui which is the big thing right now at $35 each,yeah LOL,your not going too catch me paying that for a tip I'll probably grind down too nothing in 2 weeks.I got my Talisman tips 4 of them for $37 with a FREE monogrammed hand towel and Free shipping.That's a great deal for any layered tip.After I try this hard Talisman I'll give you guys a complete review of Talisman Tips including a B/J(break/jump)tip.

Today is league night,and that's always fun for me.I get too see my teammates play and hang out with them.I like our team,Big Scott thinks we should be able to go too regional playoff's,and have a good shot at Vegas!I'm just hoping that none of these tournaments coincide with my lofty goal which I will share with you guys in the future.I know the title of the blog is From D player too A player,but on my way there I have another opportunity that I'm probably going too take.I just need some more time at the tables too figure it out,and then I'll share it with you. I'm not going too get to Diamond Jim's till this evening,I have too take care of a few things.But as usual I wish I could play the afternoon session.In the afternoon you can play for 6 hours for $8 on a day pass!That's a deal that can't be beat.The equipment is top notch,all except 1 table are Brunswick Gold Crown III's,and the other table is my favorite table,a Diamond Pro/Am.I'm not sure if the Diamond has Simmonis 860 cloth,I think it's Champion cloth,but when they re-cloth it I'm going too try my hardest too get Simmonis 860 on that table!Diamond's really need Simmonis they just play so much nicer with it,your banks don't come up short and the rails play on system,meaning when you come out of diamond 5,and hit cross table diamond 3,your third rail diamond for the CB(cue ball)should be diamond 2.But on this Diamond table it comes all the way up too diamond 3,so it plays long,and that's because of the cloth.Some of the guys say they don't like the way the CB comes off the rails,and that's why they don't like to play on it,especially for action!It's really the cloth that they don't like,if this table had Simmonis 860 there really would be no other table that I would rather gamble on!Even without the 860 cloth I would rather play my games on the Diamond.They just play harder than any Brunswick that's not triple shimmed plain and simple.I'm pretty sure all the other tables are Simmonis 860 so I don't see why they wont be using it for the Diamond when they re-cloth it,which needs to be done.

This room is top notch plain and simple.Whenever you walk through the door you get a big welcome from them,not like some rooms where they make you feel like their doing you a favor by staying open,and then giving you some crappy trap table clothed with the wool from a Yeti.It's not like that here,when I came back too this game they treated me like I was a 10 year veteran of the place.Take my word for it,you will NOT get that treatment from many rooms across the globe.I've been in a lot of rooms,all over the world and never got treated so good!Diamond Jim's is my home room,and that's where I play if your looking for a game.Right now I'm a D class player,going too an A class player and I'm going too do it here.So if you like my blog so far it will only get better!Like my game my writing can't get anything but better,and if you enjoy it please pass it on too your friends.I'm going too try and give you a good look at what it takes and what happens on the way too being an A class player.It's a tough journey and it's filled with action,and characters that are interesting too say the least.There is no other world like the pool & billiard world,this game get's in your blood,and you have too get a little dirty too play it well.A seedy underworld filled with,action,glamor,money,sex,drugs,alcohol and infamy!This is the GAME! STRETCH

Scores

Scores for the day race too nine; 9-5,9-2,9-7,9-7.I won them all! It sounds better than it really was though.I played OK by my standards,not real good,not real bad either.I won and I should be satisfied for the day but I'm not!I wasn't able too achieve the intensity I was looking for,and I know why.I got there early,and started my warm up with a TON of intensity,and kept it up for about an hour.But I was looking for a game!By the time I got too Diamond Jim's I was so amped and itching to play I needed a game right then and there.But I did not get a game for almost 2 hours!What I think happened was putting that much intensity into a warm up might not be a good idea if you plan on playing immediately after with no real break.By the time I did get a game,I think I was a little burnt out.I know that I'm going to have to give this intensity thing time to build,it doesn't just show up,it's a learned thing.I had to wait for a game today,everybody already had games.

Jersey Ken showed up late and I asked him to play but he declined.Why he said no I'm not real sure but I think he took a few days off from the game,and didn't want any action.Not a big deal.I would have been firing empty anyhow,so it was probably for the best.Big Scott was on his way but he was real late,so I had my game coming. Big Scott finally got there a little after 2:00,witch meant I had already put in 2 hours of an intense work out that is called "Piling Rocks".I like this workout because of it's simplicity,it's a concentration,and PSR(pre-shot routine)workout,very simple,but if done correctly it produces results.I got this workout from "The Monk" one of the premier pool instructors in the world.It's so simple and very effective,I do it every day I play!All you do is take all 15 balls spread them out on the table,and take any shot that you want,sounds simple huh?Well this game is simple,but it's never that easy!During this time at the table you need too;clear your mind of all things except pocketing that ball,until it becomes automatic and you DON"T Remember doing it.Not easy,simple but not easy!Your also supposed too be working on your PSR too automate it,once again too the point of not remembering,your also supposed to be feeling and hearing the game,feeling the stroke and resonator through the cue,and hearing that awesome sound your cue makes when your really putting a stroke on the ball,when your cue doesn't do this your not stroking the ball!So nothing about this game is ever easy it's only simple.That's a lot of stuff too think about,and your not supposed too,it's supposed to be automatic,too the point of not remembering,that's the trick.Try it out and you'll see what a task it really is.The ultimate goal of this exercise is DEAD STROKE.When your truly in dead stroke you don't remember a thing.

So Big Scott was my game for the day,and I always get a tough match from him,we play pretty close too even.I give Big Scott a slight edge when he's in stroke.But I think he was still asleep for the first 2 sets.He really did not come too life till the 3rd set.The last 2 sets where real nail bitters,could have gone either way at any moment.We placed a little action on the last set,and I feel both of us really got down on shots.That's why I say it sounded better than it really was for a session. I'm going back again today and I'm looking too play Jersey Ken,that's the game I want!It's very competitive and I think I'm supposed to win,although I lost the last time we played.So wish me luck,please.STRETCH

Drilled

Man did I get drilled!7-1,7-1,7-3,7-3,7-1...ouch that hurts too write.I got drilled by Chino,plain and simple.I know I said,I would not care,but I do!Nobody likes to get drilled,but I now realize how much it bothers me.I'm shaking I'm so mad at myself.I have to give credit too Chino,he played really well.Chino always plays good,but today he had another gear,he hit me with a 3 pack and just got out all the time,rarely making a mistake.It was a pleasure to watch but painful to handle.Chino is an A+ player and if he played all the time he would be an OPEN class player.That's a tough game for me,that I'm not supposed to win,and I need to remember that!

As far as my play went,I thought I was going to play good,I started the set with a great side too side table length draw shot that went center of the hole.I followed that up with the run out,but Chino was too much to handle.The good news from me is; that I did play with intensity and was able to turn it on in my PSR(pre shot routine).That's good news,now I just need to implement it in my PSR every time till it becomes natural.As usual that's easier said than done,but saying it does help to achieve it.I'm happy I was able to realize I need it,and then do something about it.Sometimes that's the biggest battle,realizing!

I did make some great shots,Chino doesn't leave you easy shots,you really have to earn a chance at a run out.I just couldn't finish.And that's what was frustrating,not being able to close out racks.Overall I really did not play horrible,just not good. I have to remember I wanted to find a tough game and challenge my intensity.Well I did that,I found the tough game,and I delivered the intensity.I did not get the results I would like but you can't have everything.So overall I think I should be happy with myself,I should at the very least be satisfied,I had a goal in mind for the session,and I feel I did a good job of achieving it.

Having that intensity,stalking every shot,never taking your eye off of it,knowing what English(spin),speed,stroke to use,and so on,just to make 1 ball,takes a lot out of you!This plays into when I had talked about "How long of a session is good for my game".Well we figured it out.As long as I can deliver that kind of intensity consistently,that's how long of a session is good for my game.That's my new rule,if I can't deliver it I need to stop playing.I'm happy I figured this out,I think it's going to be great for my game in the long run.I don't think it's the kind of thing that will show instant results,but it could.So for the next few sessions that's going to be my goal;INTENSITY!Win or lose I just want too be as intense as possible.

I'm going back too the table today,I'll be there when the doors open.And I'm going to deliver that intensity!Some people would tell you I'm a pretty intense guy by nature,I'd would say I'm just very passionate.Either way I know I can deliver. I'm not sure what my plan for today's session will be,I have too ask myself"what do I want from today's session" well for starters; 1: I want the intensity. 2: I want too feel like I can make any shot at the table. 3: I want too make balls,a lot of balls. That doesn't sound like a lot but it is!I feel like I should only have one goal per session to focus on,and the rest should follow the success or failure of said goal.That's it!Or at least I think that's it,but I'm going to give it a try today,my one goal for today is the intensity,and I bet you the other two will follow.

Now today at Diamond Jim's,we have a few players too chose from usually.I'm pretty sure Jersey Ken,Mike the Fish,Big Al,Giant Jerry,Big Scott,Joey"King"Kong and a few others will be there.Now some of those are action games,and some are practice games.I'm not sure if I should be looking for action or not.I would be firing on an empty barrel,because I'm broke,so action isn't ideal.But a game with Jersey Ken will be very hard to turn down,I think I would jump on that.None of these games are easy for me they all play well!But a few are really tough games,and not necessarily action games,that's one of the best thing about this room.You can always find a tough game even when your broke.Now you may not get their best game,but it will be tough,even for an A class player.I'm no A class player just yet,but I'm on my way.

I still feel I'm playing at a C maybe C+ level,but some would say I'm at a B level.I don't feel or see it that way,but Ken the Kernal says I'm a B player so does Joey "King" Kong,and both of these guys are OPEN players.So I gotta take their word for what it is.I can promise you one thing today,and that's;INTENSITY.I woke up with it this morning and I'll have it all day.That's the good thing about getting drilled,you can't wait to do it too someone else!I'm not yet capable of drilling any game I could find today,but I can try!So the name of the game today is INTENSITY let's deliver it!STRETCH

Intensity

I'm gonna get too the table today,and I can't wait.I'M dying to play!It feels like I have not played in weak,but it's only been 3 days.Man time off sucks!Time off will re-ignite lost passion,but I don't need that,I have plenty of passion for the game.Time off is also a good thing when you are learning new things,it gives you time too think about it.But for me I'm not really learning anything new just yet.I'm still trying to knock rust off of my game and reach a comfortable zone in my game.I still don't feel absolutely comfortable at the table,and that's only going to change with time!I also have not stopped guessing where the pocket really is,meaning where to hit the ball on a lot of shots.This is all rust,rust on a game I used too play pretty well.I used too see about 5-6 different tiny little spots on the OB(object ball)all different spots in the pocket I could place the ball to gain position on the next shot.I've been trying real hard to get that back,but I'm beginning to think it may never come back like that again for me.I've had a few sessions where I couldn't miss,I just knew where the pocket was and it felt great.So that's a lot of progress from when I was just getting down on shots with NO clue where too aim!Seriously,I had absolutely NO idea of what to look at,I would just say too myself;Make sure you look good shooting the shot.That's something I learned from The Monk,I'll tell you more about him at a later date.So I'm not totally satisfied with my progress,but there has been progress none the less.I guess we all want what we want when we want it,and if you approach this game with that attitude,you'll go nowhere!This game is way to hard,to get instant results! I'm going to Diamond Jim's today,and I'm looking for the toughest game I can find,I don't care who it is,or if I get drilled.I just want too have too step up,I'm not sure if I can or if it's even good for my game!But I'm looking to create a ton of intensity in my PSR(pre shot routine)so that's my goal for today,win or lose!STRETCH

Another day off that I don't want

Hi everyone,I'm taking today off from the game also.Not that I want to,but I have to!I've got stuff to do,you know.You see I have my priority's in line!Pool first and foremost,all else,I could care less about.That's the honest truth.I really only want too play.I could play 14hours a day,and that's with good concentration.You see anybody can go too the pool hall and play for hours and hours,but if it's not good play then it actually hurts your game.I could be wrong on how long a quality session is for me,but I do know it's longer than most peoples attention can carry them.I'm pretty sure an 8 hour session would be better for me,but once I get going I can't stop.Of course my best sessions are when I'm in action.I don't really like to say that,because I want to be able to turn on and off my best game at will.I think that's an important skill,if you can only play your best when you gamble,then you are going to have a hard time playing in tournaments!You need to be capable of turning it on early in a tournament when there really isn't much at stake.

This is where I feel that league play will help me,you see there is nothing at stake in league play for most of your matches.You really have to be able to play your best early,if you don't your gonna lose your match or matches and never get a shot at regional qualifiers or Vegas. So far in the league I've played well,I have won both my matches,it's only weak 2,but I'm off too a good start.My first match was against a formidable opponent who can run out,and in the end he needed 2 balls too my 7 balls,he made a mistake and I got him,I ran out for the win. I know when I'm really concentrating because my PSR(pre shot routine)changes,this is something I need to focus on in my game.I think if I just emulate the same intensity in my PSR whether I have it or not,it will click in my brain and trigger that level of focus,concentration,and intensity.I'm going too focus on this in my next session,and see what kind of results I have.

I wish I could play today!It's a beautiful day here,and there is no better way to spend a beautiful day than in the pool hall!Saturday is a great day to play at Diamond Jim's!All the players show up too play on day passes.There is plenty of action,and plenty of non action games.There isn't much by the way of easy games though,but I'm rarely looking for an easy game.Easy games have a place,but right now that's not what I need.I need tough games,a tough game is going to push you too step up,and that's what I need.I'm pretty lucky in the aspect of finding a game,Diamond Jim's has more than it's fair share of solid B class too Open class players that will play you hard for next to nothing,and some for even just bragging rights.This works out perfect for me because I'm just about BROKE.Not that your going to get their best game for nothing,but you will get a tough game from a solid B too A class player!And that's awesome,I love it.

I'm a relative "Fresh Fish" at Diamond Jim's although everybody knows me.See my home room closed down 5 years ago,and when it closed I walked from this game also.So for five years my cues sat in the corner of the room collecting dust,I didn't even take them out of the case too look at them.It's a miracle I still have them,after all I've been through in the last 3 years.But that's another story I might share with you at a latter date,just like what my true goal with this game is,it will all come out sooner or later!

Diamond Jim's has taken me in and treated me the same as you would treat a ten year customer.And for that I'm very grateful,without them there would be no pool for me. I almost sold my cues and that's what ultimately got me back into this game.I tried to post my cues on forums.azbilliards but did not receive a decent enough offer too make it worth my while.The next thing I knew I was in the pool hall playing.I haven't looked back since.I found a new home in Diamond Jim's and I feel more comfortable there than I do at my real home.Like I said in an earlier post,things are a little tense in my current living situation and something is going to change in the near future.Unfortunately that may force me to walk away from this game again,at least for a little while.But for now it's game on!Tomorrow I'll be at Diamond Jim's when the doors open!I'll be looking for action,and I know I'll find it! It wont be easy action that's for sure,but it will be fun to say the least.So wish me luck and I'll talk too you guys later!STRETCH