The sound of a pro shooting pool???!!!???

DogsPlayingPool said:
Exactly, Jay. One of the things Dave was saying in helping me stroke through rather than jab at was "think of keeping the tip on the cue ball longer". He didn't mean this literally like a push stroke but I got what he was referring to. That smooth acceleration through the cue ball has the sensation of the tip staying on the ball longer. And it helps you to stay straight through the stroke - so important in making that solid strike.

Btw, as long as I was seeing him for a lesson I had him sign the cover of my copy of "Pool Wars" :p What the hell, right? When I pulled it out he had a big grin.
Click to expand...

Dave is becoming a famous "cover man".
 
I Dont know if you noticed this but. The room was probably quiet too giving the pro players the respect they deserve so you could actually hear the sound of the balls.

Unlike when the normal "Joe Player" plays !

Just an observation that i have noticed when i see top level players play.

Steve
 
One of the things I've notice when watching top players (including the sound) is how cleanly they hit the pockets, and with a confident stroke speed. One person commented that it sounded like they (John Schmidtt) hitting the balls really hard, but he wasn't.

He was just hitting the very heart of the pocket on every shot.

The other thing that you'll notice on most high level players, is the speed of the shot is fairly consistent. They move the cue ball with there stroke instead of just letting the cue ball roll.

Example: If they're needing to move the cue ball ahead one diamond, they will shoot the shot firm, but with just enough top spin to have the CB slowly roll forward 8 -10 inches. You hear a nice pop as the cue ball hits the object ball. A nice pop when the OB hits the pocket.

those are my observations....
 
Roger Long said:
I think Jay nailed it here. There's really nothing you can do to change the sound of a ball hitting another ball, or a ball hitting a pocket, but the tip hitting the cue ball is another story.

Roger
Click to expand...


Roger, I totally disagree about your statement "there's nothing you can do to change the sound" of the ball hitting a pocket, one player comes to mind. You could blind fold me in a room of 40 tables that were all going at once and I could tell you if Sigel was pocketing balls, why? Because he hit such a flat cue ball that the sound of a non rotating/skidding object ball slapping the back of a Gold Crown pocket was special and could cut through all other noises in a pool room. I totally agree with your other statements.
 
BigRigTom said:
I noticed something that was an awaking for me when I watch the exhibition matches at Butera's Billiards Friday night...(4/24/2009)....it was the "SOUND OF THE BALLS" when shot by world class professional players. That "SOUND" is different than when people like me shoot pool!
Johnny Archer, Nick Varner and Sal Butera were shooting GREAT pool and I had the pleasure of sitting on a bar stool close enough to touch those players when ever they were shooting from the side of the table in front of me.
As the night passed I began to notice that the sound of the shots were different. I noticed this when Johnny and Nick partnered up with one of the audience in a scotch doubles rack. The pro and his partner would alternate shots and some of those guys from the audience were pretty good pool players but the sound of the shot was different.

I then became aware of the fact that earlier that evening when Nick Varner played a race to 7 in a 9 ball match against the young shooter named Brandan (don't know his last name)....the sounds of the shots were NOT different so what I am saying is that Brandan already has that secret down pat even though he may not be aware that he does....hmmmm.

Does anyone know the secret behind this?
I would love to hear what you all have to say?
Click to expand...

You really bring back a memory. Years ago I hung around a pool room called the Congress where Mike Carella played. It was so noticeable when he was playing. It just sounded different. I wasn't the only one who commented on it. Other mentioned it as well, how his speed and the way the balls entered the pocket sounded so good. The balls seemed to be rolling and not popping out of pockets. I have watched Danny D. play a thousand hours I would bet and as great as he is, I hated the sound when he played. The balls seemed to bounce when he hit them with his poke-stroke, not really smooth at all. Carella though was something different.

I am guessing at the spelling of M.C. name.
 
Last edited:
So when I'm shooting and it sounds like a broken banjo string I should not continue with what I was doing....?
I think I'll just put away my cue for a couple of days and read Pool Wars!

I've noticed the sound for years but never really thought much about it other than how much I loved that sound when there was a good match going.
Interesting that so many others noticed, thought it out, analyzed it and applied it to teaching others.
That's pretty cool-
 
JoeyA said:
TICK - CLICK - CLOP. :thumbup:
That would make for a great title for an instructional pool book. :)

If it were one of those downloadable Internet books you could even install the audio track for the sound.

JoeyA
Click to expand...

Yeah! I liked that too!

The difference in sound is very noticeable. It's the difference between stroking and rolling the ball and banging it into the others. I like Tom In Cincy's idea about rolling the ball about like the lag shot is done. Nice visual.
 
There's nothing like the sound of an almost empty pool room with tile floors. The echo of the balls contacting and dropping in the pocket is magic. I find that the sound of my tip hitting the ball tells me more about how i'm playing than the sound of the balls. I can always tell if something isn't right by the sound of my cue.
 
POCKETWOLF said:
There's nothing like the sound of an almost empty pool room with tile floors. The echo of the balls contacting and dropping in the pocket is magic. I find that the sound of my tip hitting the ball tells me more about how i'm playing than the sound of the balls. I can always tell if something isn't right by the sound of my cue.
Click to expand...



I'm sure the description of 'sound' above relates to golf just as well....
 
Island Drive said:
I'm sure the description of 'sound' above relates to golf just as well....
Click to expand...

OK, i can make the comparison to any "hit". baseball,golf,tennis,beer pong:grin:. Not bagging on ya, just don't know where you were going. My sound of peace is on the table, not in the grass. I can tell the hit off a driver by the sound, but that doesn't compare in my book.
 
brendan crockett

The young shooter you refered to must be Brendan Crockett.I met this young man and his father at the DCC this year.This kid has a sweet stroke,and can play.We practiced together a good bit,with me mostly just watching him run racks.
I'm curious how he did against the pro's.I believe Sal has been working with him.
Remember his name I think he can be a top pro one day.
 
Tick - Click - Clop!

JimS said:
Yeah! I liked that too!

The difference in sound is very noticeable. It's the difference between stroking and rolling the ball and banging it into the others. I like Tom In Cincy's idea about rolling the ball about like the lag shot is done. Nice visual.
Click to expand...

Tick - Click - Clop. :D It reminds me of the story, Three Billy Goats Gruff which I used to read to my son when he was a tike. :grin: (This ought to bring Roy D'Fish out of hiding).

JoeyA
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top