I dunno if this will be helpful to you or not (it's more than just one single best thing) but it's how I took my game past C+. Of course that's by my definition of C+ so I dunno if it applies here. But read it over and tell me what you think:
http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?p=793333
Also: wean yourself off the barbox. It's not that you can't learn a lot on one, but most serious pool is played on 9 footers and you will have to get used to the 9 footer distances, pocket sizes, and playing conditions. Nobody got to A+ on barboxes alone. On a barbox, everyone can be a hero because shotmaking is shorter and easier, but you also might find playing position and getting out is tougher than it ought to be because of the precision needed to deal with smaller leave areas, tighter side pockets, and tighter clusters. You're learning a slightly different version of pool on a 7 footer.
With a full sized table you have to have good mechanics because that's the only way to get the true accuracy needed to deal with longer distances on almost every shot. In fact, some players will take it a step further and say that to become truly accurate, you ought to be playing on a shimmed table with tighter than average pockets. I won't go that far, just play on the easiest and best-kept 9 footers you can find, and see if any advice in the link sounds like it applies.
http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?p=793333
Also: wean yourself off the barbox. It's not that you can't learn a lot on one, but most serious pool is played on 9 footers and you will have to get used to the 9 footer distances, pocket sizes, and playing conditions. Nobody got to A+ on barboxes alone. On a barbox, everyone can be a hero because shotmaking is shorter and easier, but you also might find playing position and getting out is tougher than it ought to be because of the precision needed to deal with smaller leave areas, tighter side pockets, and tighter clusters. You're learning a slightly different version of pool on a 7 footer.
With a full sized table you have to have good mechanics because that's the only way to get the true accuracy needed to deal with longer distances on almost every shot. In fact, some players will take it a step further and say that to become truly accurate, you ought to be playing on a shimmed table with tighter than average pockets. I won't go that far, just play on the easiest and best-kept 9 footers you can find, and see if any advice in the link sounds like it applies.
Obviously, I'm going to suggest professional instruction, not because I'm an instructor, but because I know what it can do for your game. I first got instruction after about 30 years of playing. I actually thought I was pretty good, but pool school opened my eyes to all the things I didn't know. And now that I have been teaching for quite a few years, I have seen the results in my students as well.
You can teach yourself, but it's like taking a cross country drive without having a road map. You might make it, but it's going to take a long time, and you will probably have a lot of wrong turns. A good instructor will give you the tools you need to develop your game to whatever level you are willing to work toward.
If you are serious about wanting to reach the top level, find someone who can get you on the right track from the beginning. The learning curve is shortened, and you will more quickly gain the knowledge and skills you need to take you where you're going.
Steve
You can teach yourself, but it's like taking a cross country drive without having a road map. You might make it, but it's going to take a long time, and you will probably have a lot of wrong turns. A good instructor will give you the tools you need to develop your game to whatever level you are willing to work toward.
If you are serious about wanting to reach the top level, find someone who can get you on the right track from the beginning. The learning curve is shortened, and you will more quickly gain the knowledge and skills you need to take you where you're going.
Steve
Learn to play Straight Pool, like someone already said. It's the single best game to improve your ability at. Definitely move to the 9 ft. table. And if you really want to improve, stay away from 8 ball. 8 ball helps your 8 ball game only, nothing else. Try to play games that will help your game in general. You have been given good advise about books, DVDs, tapes, etc. They will all help.
Good luck.
Good luck.
poolbanger89
Banned
The billiards instructors here are absolutely right. It's not just a sales pitch. The best way to improve your game is to take lessons from a good billiards instructor. This will help you develop good fundamentals which will improve your game more than anything. It's a whole lot more productive to your game than just trying to duplicate something from a book or video.
The second best way to improve your game is to spend your practice time doing drills. This will do significantly more to improve your game than just running a rack of 8-ball or 9-ball by yourself, or by just banging balls around with another player. Don't play against anybody during your practice time, since practicing and playing are not the same thing. 1 hour of productive practice time per day doing drills will do more for your game than several hours of banging balls around by yourself or with another player.
I've been a firm believer of shooting straight in shots, keeping the OB on the footstring and the CB behind the headstring. When you start making these consistently, you'll have a large amount of confidence because you'll know your fundamentals are solid.
Of course...since it's on DVD you always get it right the second time you watch it. right? lol
Of course...since it's on DVD you always get it right the second time you watch it. right? lol
Make the ball. Make the ball. Make the ball. Always work on your pocketing and always remember making the ball is the first priority. The more comfortable you are with pocketing, the more you can focus on other things. The more aware you are of your pocketing limitations, the better you'll be at making decisions.
Amazingly, when your focus is pocketing, your mechanics always seem to fall into place.
Amazingly, when your focus is pocketing, your mechanics always seem to fall into place.
Woodie didnt share but he is a BCA instructor and good at helping folks.
1.) I recommend getting a review with an instructor, let him point out issues if he sees any.
2.) If you wear glasses, like I did, I improved a ball at least by getting Lasik.
3.) Drills. Boring but gets the most out of your practice time and it lets you keep track of progress.
4.) Playing people better than you. Try to get in games that punish you if you miss or leave an opening.
5.) Gamble. Flame me if you want, but I think most people need help focusing, and gambling keeps you in it. I know if you are playing for "funsies" you might take a flyer, but if that flyer might cost you $20 than you might better understand shot selection. It also helps with learning pressure and how to handle it. It you dont believe it, try it a few times, then tell me.
Good luck, your friend in pool,
Ken
Look up a qualified instructor in your area. They can see flaws that you may not have noticed in your aproach or maybe your stroke. It will save years on your learning curve. Also, keep a very open mind, it may be a lesser player with knowledge you learn from, not always the good player.:thumbup:
Outstanding!!
M.T.F.B.
Make the (insert expletive) Ball. Well said.
If I am pocketing well, all the other stuff can be fixed.
Another suggestion is to play to win all the time. Goofing around is fun, but I try to be in "game mode" whenever Im playing and/or practicing.
It may sound silly, but most of the balls I miss are due to me not really trying to make it. Rushing the shot, not giving the shot the respect it deserves, etc.
Don't play Lazy!
The next time Mr Lee is in the Tampa Bay Area, I plan on getting some lessons. I am very much looking forward to it.
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If you have a wife, get rid of her.
2nd best thing, quit your job :thumbup:
Edit: I'll pass on Nick Varner's personal advice to me, "don't miss."
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terryerdman
Registered
Best thing you can do to improve.
Without a doubt the best thing you can do is go see Stan Shuffett, close to Louisville for a two day lesson. He is a great teacher and a certified BCA instructor. He will find any stroking flaws if you have any and he will teach you a system that he developed called Pro One that is the nuts! It will also save you a couple of years of frustration with a stagnated pool game and your improvement will be light years ahead of the curve. I am glad I did!
Without a doubt the best thing you can do is go see Stan Shuffett, close to Louisville for a two day lesson. He is a great teacher and a certified BCA instructor. He will find any stroking flaws if you have any and he will teach you a system that he developed called Pro One that is the nuts! It will also save you a couple of years of frustration with a stagnated pool game and your improvement will be light years ahead of the curve. I am glad I did!
The single best thing to improve your game? If it has to be one single thing, I'd say "Practice!"
Other alternatives. My pool room owner told me this, there is nothing that cannot be cured with a 1000 hours. Play until you don't want to play anymore and play some more.
Read books, watch and immitate how good players play. Get lessons by qualified instructors, buy DVD lessons. There are all those aids to help you become a better player. Have a sparring partner watch you play or record how you play and try to better your form by their critique or critique your own videos to se what you are doing wrong. There is also the mirror method to see whether or not you are positioning your self correctly and if your form is good. I mean the list can go on forever, but in the end, it take practice and play to become better. You can memorize every word the instructor, dvd or book tells you, but when the green light drops, it is whether or not you have the ability to execute what you have learned. In order for you to xecute what you have learned as if it was second nature, it would take countless hours of practice and perfection to do, and even with the countless hours of practice to become an A+ player, you would still have to practice to keep the shape. You can never know everything with this sport, that's what make it so interesting and addicting. This is just MHO, there are much more qualified people that can tell you better, I just felt like giving some opinions and advice I have learned and see if it would help.
Happy shooting!
Chino
Other alternatives. My pool room owner told me this, there is nothing that cannot be cured with a 1000 hours. Play until you don't want to play anymore and play some more.
Read books, watch and immitate how good players play. Get lessons by qualified instructors, buy DVD lessons. There are all those aids to help you become a better player. Have a sparring partner watch you play or record how you play and try to better your form by their critique or critique your own videos to se what you are doing wrong. There is also the mirror method to see whether or not you are positioning your self correctly and if your form is good. I mean the list can go on forever, but in the end, it take practice and play to become better. You can memorize every word the instructor, dvd or book tells you, but when the green light drops, it is whether or not you have the ability to execute what you have learned. In order for you to xecute what you have learned as if it was second nature, it would take countless hours of practice and perfection to do, and even with the countless hours of practice to become an A+ player, you would still have to practice to keep the shape. You can never know everything with this sport, that's what make it so interesting and addicting. This is just MHO, there are much more qualified people that can tell you better, I just felt like giving some opinions and advice I have learned and see if it would help.
Happy shooting!
Chino
poolbanger89
Banned
Not always. If you have a friend at around your skill level who is also into doing drills, this is a great way to practice too.
If we've learned anything in this thread...
...it's that there is no one single thing that will improve your game. There are a bunch of things that will but you have to do them. If I may suggest...
1. Find out exactly where you are in the game. Take the Q skills challenge (search for it and a scoresheet) and take if a half dozen times so you get a really good scoring average which will tell you where you really rank.
2. Get a lesson. Seriously. There is no better gift you can give your game. I can recommend Scott Lee and Randy G for their stuff; what I've learned from them has helped me immensely. You will find out the weaknesses in your stroke, a solution for them and a set of drills to keep them on track and build a better delivery of the cue. Getting the lessons, by the way, doesn't make you better. It's what you do after them that will either make you better or it won't. You get to decide.
3. Practice by yourself and play against others. I've been getting at least an hour a day of practice time since I was laid off in January (I have a table at home) and that focused work has really jumped my abilities. I also play a straight pool match every week with a friend, my league matches on Wednesday nights and usually something else after league. While it's only about 15 hours a week, it's making a difference.
4. Expect plateaus and set backs. No one constantly improves so you have to be ready to wait out those sudden stops where your game seems to go away. My wife asked me why I kept practicing a few months ago when I clearly wasn't enjoying what I was doing. I told her I needed to play my way out of missing because most opponents won't let you stop a match to fix your game! Be comforted in the knowledge that it will come back.
5. You can't buy it, inject it or download it. You have to work at it. So, what are you waiting for?
Brian in VA
...it's that there is no one single thing that will improve your game. There are a bunch of things that will but you have to do them. If I may suggest...
1. Find out exactly where you are in the game. Take the Q skills challenge (search for it and a scoresheet) and take if a half dozen times so you get a really good scoring average which will tell you where you really rank.
2. Get a lesson. Seriously. There is no better gift you can give your game. I can recommend Scott Lee and Randy G for their stuff; what I've learned from them has helped me immensely. You will find out the weaknesses in your stroke, a solution for them and a set of drills to keep them on track and build a better delivery of the cue. Getting the lessons, by the way, doesn't make you better. It's what you do after them that will either make you better or it won't. You get to decide.
3. Practice by yourself and play against others. I've been getting at least an hour a day of practice time since I was laid off in January (I have a table at home) and that focused work has really jumped my abilities. I also play a straight pool match every week with a friend, my league matches on Wednesday nights and usually something else after league. While it's only about 15 hours a week, it's making a difference.
4. Expect plateaus and set backs. No one constantly improves so you have to be ready to wait out those sudden stops where your game seems to go away. My wife asked me why I kept practicing a few months ago when I clearly wasn't enjoying what I was doing. I told her I needed to play my way out of missing because most opponents won't let you stop a match to fix your game! Be comforted in the knowledge that it will come back.
5. You can't buy it, inject it or download it. You have to work at it. So, what are you waiting for?
Brian in VA
BryanBpool...That will be in 3 weeks. I'll be there the whole month of April. I'd be happy to work with you! 
PM me for more information.
Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
PM me for more information.Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com