Goals:
a. Finish "in the money" in at least one local tournament in 8 or 9 ball before the end of 2004 (done, see record below:)
i. Family Billiards, Oceanside, 9-ball singles open, 3rd place
ii. APA city championships, 9 ball team ("Dead Weight")
iii. Scotch Doubles charity event, 9 ball, 4th place (in the money), with Tony Tommina
iv. US Amateur Championships, UNDEFEATED, Preliminary Round Finalist (one of 5 in California)
Note: I joined the APA in 2004, and started playing as a skill level 4. After two matches I was raised to skill level 6, and then again to a 7. At the end of the year I was a level 7 in 9-ball, and a level 6 in 8-ball.
Plan of Action:
1. Practice - an average of at least 3 hours a day, 5 days a week (ongoing)
a. Focused practice on my table
i. Tony Sorto's precision position - the 9 ball string, one pocket, using foot rail
ii. Bowlliards
iii. 99 - Pool and Billiard International 9 ball rating system
iv. Total Offense 9 ball exercise by Paul Potier
v. Straight/Rotation exercise (click for details and Excel score sheet)
vi. Various shots described in reading/video/dvd/instruction
vii. "Wagon Wheel" draw practice, by Paul Potier
b. Practice at various pool halls around town, to learn different table characteristics
2. Education (ongoing)
a. Reading
i. Books - click for list!
ii. Magazines (Inside Pool, Pool and Billiard)
iii. APA Message Board
iv. Google Groups 180,000 threads, and going strong
b. Video/DVD "how to" products
c. Personal Instruction:
Jim "Coach" Barnard - one on one, my table (done)
Tony Sorto - one on one, my table (ongoing)
Paul Potier - one on one, my table (done)
Victor Castro - one on one, College Billiards
3. Competition (to get "tournament tough")
a. APA competitions - two per week (depending on team requirements) (ongoing)
b. Non-APA - various pool halls click for list (ongoing)
c. Pro-am challenges whenever/wherever possible (click for story)
d. National Team 9-ball Championships (click for story!) (done)
e. US Amateur Championships
4, Equipment
a. get a break cue (done)
b. replace my old Willie Hoppe playing cue (done)
c. add LimbSavers to my cues (done)
d. add Z-shaft to my Predator playing cue (done)
5. Mental
a. self-hypnosis - under the direction of Barry Jones, master hypnotist (ongoing)
b. visualizations (ongoing)
c. affirmations (ongoing)
6. Physical
a. get eyes checked, new glasses (done)
b. yoga (ongoing)
c. exercise (ongoing)
