With all my leagues starting up next week, the last 2 weeks were something of a small break and gave me time to get some practice in. I talked earlier about how I had a long-since break’n’run the other week. I’ve had a couple more since then and it feels good to get out when I see the pattern. Even if I don’t break and run out, if my opponent leaves me with an open table, there’s a really good chance I’m getting out. With less than 7 balls, it’s about 96% that I get out, 7 balls drops to about 60% 8 or more is unfortunately around 40%. The reason is, as always, getting out of line; forcing me to try and get back in line, taking tougher and tougher shots; and with each one the probabilities drop against me.
Wednesday, I went to practice bar-table 9-ball with a new league/team mate (she’s a 2). I played as if I were an 8, meaning the score line is 65-19. We played 2 sets, and I won both. She got to 11 one set and 15 the other. The strange thing was that while I was worried about the huge weight, I didn’t feel overly concerned about it. It’s not like when I played the 4 (when I was a 7). Those levels are real dangerous, as they’re very likely to run 4-6 balls at a time. But a 2 or 3… it’s not too common. Which meant I had a lot more chances at the table, and if I messed up early in the rack, there was a pretty good chance I was getting back to the table, and when I did – I ran out. I don’t think more than a few racks were more than one inning. If I had played a 6, 7 or another 8 though… I don’t know how I would’ve come out. It’s always close when I play those guys. But, that’s fine with me. 🙂 I like a good match – as long as I get outplayed – as opposed to me dogging it – I don’t even mind losing so much.
I’ve been training the new player, Reza, for a few weeks now and it’s nice to see the little improvements. It’s even more refreshing to see that look of total glee when a shot she has zero confidence about drops in the hole just as I described it. It’s been a long, long time since I felt that way about a shot, so when that happens, I get to live a little vicariously. Reminds me that the game should be fun and inspiring – not just about fighting the dogs and trying to outshoot the o.k.coral.
I’m only a few matches away from being able to play Singles boards in the APA; so when that happens, I’ll be looking to play in the tournaments held throughout the week. Which was the primary reason for joining the APA anyway. If I win some of those, I qualify for regionals or some such thing. And because I finished 2nd in the Top Gun race for 9-ball I’m automatically qualified for the Top Gun tournament … though I have no idea when or where that will be held. *shrug* Guess I’ll keep my ears open.