Seeking the next level....?

I think first of all you need to chart out your time and figure out where extra practice can be fit in.

Other than that, identify which areas of your game need improvement and then work on them. Get an instructor to look at your fundamentals to make any necessary adjustments.

Desire plays a very small part!

Sad to Say

tigerseye said:

I have been playing the game for many years and like many others have quit from time to time and took up another sport....but now have realized that i want to knock off a big tourney....
My problem is how do i go about this dream??? I got the talent to do it but have not a clue as to where i start.....=(

Anyone else here figured out how to get into tip top shape while working 50+???

Click to expand...

Unless you were already short stop speed or better before you started working 50+ hours a week you have almost no chance of knocking off a decent regional tournament.

I just looked at the winners for the last year on both strong regional tours in my area and none of the winners have a steady reliable job (unless they work in/or own a pool room). Pool's greatest vice is steady work. If you can't put serious hours in you just can't play at a level required to win a major regional tourney.

Unfortunately, pool is a job that doesn't pay well. If you want to win big regional events you need to make pool your job and why would anyone do that when they already have a good job.

Can you improve? Of course but to the level to win an open regional event I'm just not convinced. I'm usually a lot more positive but working 50 hrs a week and pool is like oil and vinegar they just don't mix.

I agree for the most part.

I think that one needs to be rational and understand that having a job, family, house, etc.. does not lead down the road of playing A level pool.

Sure I desire to be better, but I would not give up my family, job,etc to play better pool.

Russ.......

just about a said:

Unless you were already short stop speed or better before you started working 50+ hours a week you have almost no chance of knocking off a decent regional tournament.

I just looked at the winners for the last year on both strong regional tours in my area and none of the winners have a steady reliable job (unless they work in/or own a pool room). Pool's greatest vice is steady work. If you can't put serious hours in you just can't play at a level required to win a major regional tourney.

Unfortunately, pool is a job that doesn't pay well. If you want to win big regional events you need to make pool your job and why would anyone do that when they already have a good job.

Can you improve? Of course but to the level to win an open regional event I'm just not convinced. I'm usually a lot more positive but working 50 hrs a week and pool is like oil and vinegar they just don't mix.

Click to expand...

It depends on how dedicated you are. If he works 50hrs per week that leaves 118 hours left in the week. Assuming he sleeps 8hrs a day he still has 64 hours of free time. It all depends on how you want to spend your spare time. I would suggest buying a table if at all possible.

Clatterbuck, Fuller, etc., etc. work full time also. Manage your time, and play only better players. If a lesser player comes into the picture, give him a ball the best of it and try to outrun the nuts. Keep that up until you're giving ridiculous weight to almost everyone around you except the top tier. It can be done. Tournaments aren't really my thing, but I use this same philosophy in the "matching up world." If it's cheap enough, and he needs the seven, I'll give up the six. I'll target a player that plays right above me, and keep at him until I consistently beat him. Then, target another player. When Sparky or Tony Watson is your next target, it's all mental at that point. Best of luck and may your balls stay shiny.

..................

Neil said:

The other day I posted about how we are taught to be losers. This thread is a classic example of it. Just for your knowledge, there are precedented cases of hard workers achieving a high level in this game.

What you have to do it this-

1. Attain the ability to run out and play good safes.
2. Attain the ability to get out of good safes.
3. Learn to just play the table. I don't care if you are playing Johhny Archer and Efren Reyes back to back. It doesn't matter who you are playing when you are at the table. Forget about them, PLAY THE TABLE!
4. There are only 9 balls to make. EVERYONE there is capable of making all nine. So are you.
5. If you tell yourself you can't beat so and so. You are guaranteed not to.
6. Play smart, but without fear. Don't worry about 'what if I miss', just think about making the shot and getting position.
7. Let the outcome be what it will. Just play YOUR game!
8. Realize that you will probably have to play in much more than one event. Nine Ball has a lot of luck to it too.

I tried this back in '94 at the Glass City Open. I just wanted to see where I stood against 'those guys'. I won my first match 10-1. Next, I played Keith McCready. I didn't let him scare me. I just played MY game. Then, I made the mistake of getting out of zone and looking at the score. I had Keith 7-3, and a straight in shot on the 7. EASY out to make it 8-3. I then thought, "I'm not only going to beat him, I'm going to destroy him!" That made me lose focus on what I was doing, making shots, to winning.

Needless to say, I dogged the 7, and lost 10-8. I dogged it, because I didn't really believe that this was possible. That proved to me that I DO have the skill on the table. But, my mental game needed a lot of work. It's not over till it's over! So, #9 would be, work on your mental game. THAT is what seperates the winners from the losers!. Most people there have the skills' to win. Except that one skill! The mental aspect is far greater than most will admit.

Go for it! And good luck!

Click to expand...

Nice list Neil....SPF=randyg

Very nice stuff so far.

I'm convinced that it's next to impossible to improve without playing competition that is above your level.

In the case above, ahem, it's a tad bit hard to find better competition than Keith McCready. Sheesh.

Cameron Smith said:

I think first of all you need to chart out your time and figure out where extra practice can be fit in.

Other than that, identify which areas of your game need improvement and then work on them. Get an instructor to look at your fundamentals to make any necessary adjustments.

Click to expand...

To elaborate a little you need to identify how much time you can spend every day. Take some time to do a sanity check to determine your real amount of time available to dedicate to the dream. It is highly recommended to have your own 9' table. If you do not have room for a table, hope there is an inexpensive pool room close by. If there is, talk to the owner and let him know your goals and he may be willing to work with you on the rates if you are going to be a daily customer.

Also make sure you have a reliable playing cue in great condition, a break cue, a jump cue, at least one extra shaft for your playing cue, and something to maintain your shafts and tips. It doesn't require expensive equipment but having all the right equipment really is necessary. I anticipate most posters have this equipment but I feel it is worth mentioning

In addition to having a time budget, develop a pool budget. This will be for travel, expenses, table rates, everything. Keep a ledger of all your pool expenses. You can monitor your improvement on the balance of your ledger, as you win more or larger tournaments your balance should increase. Do not gamble with your pool budget, that should be kept separate because your goal is to win a regional tournament and not to be the best gambler in the area.

The time you have needs to be organized - everyone is different. Personally I take 10 minutes and stretch, this helps my mental focus as well as my body to get ready for a lot of bending that I don't do at work. Pool is a more physical game than most people realize (when played correctly) until you quit for an extended amount of time and then try to pick it back up again.

Anyhow, after my stretching I take another 10 minutes of pure ball hitting, throw just a few balls on the table and hit them hard, soft, medium. Not caring if I make a shot or make position - just loosening up the muscles I will use. After that I play the ghost. You can monitor your improvement with this as well, other threads detail this practice regimen so I will not repeat.

PLAY EVERYDAY I cannot emphasize this enough. 1 hour a day, 7 days a week is so much more effective than 1 day of 7 hours that you cannot imagine. I use my lunch hour to play, I have a friend who lives 5 minutes from work in a room off of his garage so he lets me come use his GC3.

Try to compete at least once a week. This may not be practical because of your pool budget but monitoring your progress through performance is important. Make a journal to keep notes from these competitions. Use it to identify shots, positions, etc you want to practice.

Lastly, seek support of your family. Explain to them this is a true dream and not a whim or you trying to just get away. Family vacations may incorporate your dream so their support is very important.

Good Luck!

...............

All good advise so far!!

Practice: Document your drills......this will help you see improvement. It will also help you get "practice tough" when you have to write down the ghost 10 you 1 it will piss you off, forcing you to get intense during your practice sessions.

Leagues: Whether you agree or not you need to be "league tough" too!! Your playing some guy who can't really shoot well, and you take him for granted................should have been an easy win, but you lose. Forces you to get tough on every single game, even if it is just one game. Try to think of each gane as a hill hill match that you must win. It will force you to play safe, instead of taking a flyer against a weaker opponent.

Gamble: I am not a big gambler..............but the results of that pressure are certainly obvious. Get "gambler tough"........I never looked at it as money just experience, so bet light................its the pressure you want

Tournaments: Play in every tourney you can, the only way to win one is to be in one. You need to be "tournament tough"............the more you play in the more comfortable you will be.

Of course all the above need time. Some of the above points regarding FULL TIME players is kinda true. Understand though, they miss, and can be beat. Nothing raises your confidence more than beating up one of these guys/gals who ONLY play pool. For us working / family guys our road to the glory may be a bit longer..................but it is the journey, right?

Mike

tigerseye said:

Thanks for all of your info... I will let you know when i win the big one!~! Don't hold your breath though...LOL!!
Thanks again!

Click to expand...

It is your destiny.

Edit- do not fail us.

Neil said:

The other day I posted about how we are taught to be losers. This thread is a classic example of it. Just for your knowledge, there are precedented cases of hard workers achieving a high level in this game.

What you have to do it this-

1. Attain the ability to run out and play good safes.
2. Attain the ability to get out of good safes.
3. Learn to just play the table. I don't care if you are playing Johhny Archer and Efren Reyes back to back. It doesn't matter who you are playing when you are at the table. Forget about them, PLAY THE TABLE!
4. There are only 9 balls to make. EVERYONE there is capable of making all nine. So are you.
5. If you tell yourself you can't beat so and so. You are guaranteed not to.
6. Play smart, but without fear. Don't worry about 'what if I miss', just think about making the shot and getting position.
7. Let the outcome be what it will. Just play YOUR game!
8. Realize that you will probably have to play in much more than one event. Nine Ball has a lot of luck to it too.

I tried this back in '94 at the Glass City Open. I just wanted to see where I stood against 'those guys'. I won my first match 10-1. Next, I played Keith McCready. I didn't let him scare me. I just played MY game. Then, I made the mistake of getting out of zone and looking at the score. I had Keith 7-3, and a straight in shot on the 7. EASY out to make it 8-3. I then thought, "I'm not only going to beat him, I'm going to destroy him!" That made me lose focus on what I was doing, making shots, to winning.

Needless to say, I dogged the 7, and lost 10-8. I dogged it, because I didn't really believe that this was possible. That proved to me that I DO have the skill on the table. But, my mental game needed a lot of work. It's not over till it's over! So, #9 would be, work on your mental game. THAT is what seperates the winners from the losers!. Most people there have the skills' to win. Except that one skill! The mental aspect is far greater than most will admit.

Go for it! And good luck!

Click to expand...

I dont know much about pool (play even worse), but I know a bit about sports, and how to train. This is probablly the best thing I have ever scene on this website about pool. You should print this list off pin one copy next to your table, and put one in your case to read befor matches.

All the talent in the world dont matter, WHEN YOUR HEAD COMES AWAY FROM YOUR SHOULDERS, ITS OVER !!!!!!!!!!!!!

My favorite thing to tell people about pool is, how mentaly strong top level pool players are....

tigerseye said:

I have been playing the game for many years and like many others have quit from time to time and took up another sport....but now have realized that i want to knock off a big tourney....
My problem is how do i go about this dream??? I got the talent to do it but have not a clue as to where i start.....=(

Anyone else here figured out how to get into tip top shape while working 50+???

Click to expand...

Let's talk. Maybe we can come up with a plan.
Steve

Full time??

tigerseye said:

Very true...Mike is now full time pool player and still trying to win the big one....I know he has got enough game to do it.... I just want to be there when he does=))

Click to expand...

I'm not sure knocking off Jacoby events with 20 players in considered trying to knock off the big one. I really wish Mike would expand his boundaries and play Reno Open, Seminole events, US Bar Table Championships, and all Turning Stone events. He's got the opportunity and I agree he has the game, so I wish he'd go out and use his talent.