Tom Simpson posted a article in the Inside Pool Mag. and old issue that i was reading up on again as it has the article on Niels. I 'am going to quote it for i think its some good reading.
There is no escaping doing the work, The edge is available in several dimensions, superior fundamentals, clearer, better knowledge, more effective practice, and engaged exposed to higher level play.
Read and watch good material
Be very picky about what you choose to believe from materials you read and videos you watch. Great players are not necessarily great teachers. In fact, many great players have beliefs about what they're doing that are wrong, from a physics perspective. They can get whatever results they want on the table, but their belief about how they are doing it may not be true. Place your faith in the science types for why things work the way they do and in the great players for how to play smart and how to win. But be skeptical.
Practice the right things in the right way
Set aside small amounts of time to work on the worst parts of your game, and do it iwth all the focus you can bring to bear. Start with an easy version of what you're working on and gradually make it more challenging as you improve. Don't practice failure.
Make good use of training aids
Seeing yourself on video is usually a vvery surprising experience. Most players immediately see things that could be improved. Try working with a practice cue ball, and try to believe what it shows you. Work through drills that look promising.
Find a good instructor
There is no substitute for hands on help and guidance. Ask around, instructors with advanced certifications usually have alot of teaching experience, and they would not have gotten all that experience if they weren't helping players get better. Good instructors have curriculums that take you through a planned series of learning and practicing in an organized way. If someone just wants to watch you hit some balls and then show you how they would have done it, you're probably in the wrong place. Ask some questions and see whether their answers make sense to you. If you find a good instructor, it will be the best money you'll ever spend on your game. Spending $600 on yet another new cue is not going to raise your game. Spending $600 on serious, proven instruction will make more difference then you can imagine. For the rest of your pool life.
Engage your brain
Actively try to predict and understand what happens at the table. Watch the best players you can find. Think about why they make the choices they make an dhow and why their shot to shot results are what they are.
There is way more to this game than people think. You don't know what you don't know, and theres alot of it. We need every edge we can get. Make your learning time and your practice time cound. The gains will eventually show up in your game.
There is no escaping doing the work, The edge is available in several dimensions, superior fundamentals, clearer, better knowledge, more effective practice, and engaged exposed to higher level play.
Read and watch good material
Be very picky about what you choose to believe from materials you read and videos you watch. Great players are not necessarily great teachers. In fact, many great players have beliefs about what they're doing that are wrong, from a physics perspective. They can get whatever results they want on the table, but their belief about how they are doing it may not be true. Place your faith in the science types for why things work the way they do and in the great players for how to play smart and how to win. But be skeptical.
Practice the right things in the right way
Set aside small amounts of time to work on the worst parts of your game, and do it iwth all the focus you can bring to bear. Start with an easy version of what you're working on and gradually make it more challenging as you improve. Don't practice failure.
Make good use of training aids
Seeing yourself on video is usually a vvery surprising experience. Most players immediately see things that could be improved. Try working with a practice cue ball, and try to believe what it shows you. Work through drills that look promising.
Find a good instructor
There is no substitute for hands on help and guidance. Ask around, instructors with advanced certifications usually have alot of teaching experience, and they would not have gotten all that experience if they weren't helping players get better. Good instructors have curriculums that take you through a planned series of learning and practicing in an organized way. If someone just wants to watch you hit some balls and then show you how they would have done it, you're probably in the wrong place. Ask some questions and see whether their answers make sense to you. If you find a good instructor, it will be the best money you'll ever spend on your game. Spending $600 on yet another new cue is not going to raise your game. Spending $600 on serious, proven instruction will make more difference then you can imagine. For the rest of your pool life.
Engage your brain
Actively try to predict and understand what happens at the table. Watch the best players you can find. Think about why they make the choices they make an dhow and why their shot to shot results are what they are.
There is way more to this game than people think. You don't know what you don't know, and theres alot of it. We need every edge we can get. Make your learning time and your practice time cound. The gains will eventually show up in your game.
