Pool Tournament ... Left Handed!!

I signed up for a billiards 9-ball tournament for tonight at the UCI Zot Zone, hosted by the Anteaters Billiard Club. It was pretty fun.

Another housemate (from Kaleidoscope House in Arroyo Vista) also entered, so we played last night for practice and we both SUCKED! It was terrible. But I knew that I normally play way better; and I knew that he probably did too. (I don't think he was trying to let me win or anything.) Anyway, when we got home, I called my sister, Rachel, who used to play in a professional league that played at Hot Shots in Pismo. So, I knew she would know the rules and stuff and any helpful hints that a not-so-professional pool player would never think of. It got me soooo excited! I wanted to play right then and there!

So, tonight, Gabriel (my housemate) and I met up at Zot Zone (they have eight or so tables) and waited to be put on the list. He was in Round C and I was on the last table of Round D, so it would be awhile, so we "rented" some Playstation 360 or whatever it's called and played some "Something - Warfare" ... eekk, I don't remember what it's called. You move around in some kind of warzone and shoot each other; it was quite interesting.

We got to start around the same time though, so I didn't have to wait too much longer. I said hi to my opponent and we started our game. Best two out of three was how they were doing it. I let the other guy break though, cause I suck at breaking. It was an EXCELLENT break; the 9-ball ended up pretty much on the edge of a corner pocket just waiting to be gently tucked into the pocket.

My first thought was, "I wouldn't even have had a chance!" If he had made the 9-ball, even on the break - especially on the break - that is an INSTANT win!

But it still took both of us about five minutes while we were sinking other balls, until I finally got the perfect combo shot... but it was in the worst place it could possibly be. If you're looking straight into the table width-wise, the cue and object ball and 9-ball were aligned perfectly, but so close but so far out of the right side of the table, that I dared to risk hitting it with my LEFT hand.

I am right-handed, but I've always tried to teach myself to be ambidextrous - in writing, using scissors, eating, and weirdly enough, pool. So, I knew I actually had a BETTER chance of sinking the 9-ball left-handed, rather than right-handed. I went for it... AND WON THAT GAME! Wooot!


Then I had to wait for the next round. When I started the second game, I was pretty sure I wouldn't get much farther, but still hopeful that he could make one wrong move and I could win. That didn't happen. He was incredibly good, and sank probably 3 or 4 balls at a time. He won the first game, then he won the second game. It was fun though, that's all that mattered. And I met some good guys with whom I wouldn't mind playing pool any other time.

One thing I know for sure, I will definitely be visiting Zot Zone more often; I didn't even know they had that many pool tables! (And I knew they had a Billiards Club, but I didn't know if I would even be good enough; but this gave me the confidence; I am good enough. There's room to improve, of course, but I hold my own.)