How Did You Learn to Play Pool?

[lfigueroa]

Boys Club of America in Miami, Florida in 1953, we were the Original Bangers.

NOT THE PC Boys & Gwirls Club of 2010.

ah, the BCoA. For a couple of years I grew up in the Boys Club down in the Mission district of San Francisco. My parents, relatively new to the country, both worked and were doing the best they could and the Boys Club was kinda like the day care center of the 50's. They dropped me off in the morning and picked me up in the afternoon. I picked up all kinds of arcane skills there (including making those plastic woven key chain thingies).

But as for pool, though they had several 8' pool tables, I was too small at the time and the older kids wouldn't let me play.

Lou Figueroa

 

[lfigueroa]

I learned how to play pool by stealing money out of my dad's change jar and riding my bike to a local bowling alley that had some GCIIIs. I sucked, but the clicking noises and balls occasionally dropping hooked me.

I used to anchor the cue against my right leg in order to get it to stroke straight when I was younger. When I noticed that I was the only one doing that, I went to the library in my high school and started to read that big Byrne's Billiard Book (you guys know what I mean)? I would take notes from that book and then steal more $$$ from dad and head back to the bowling alley to try out the details. I'll never forget the first day I made a proper closed bridge.

Anyways, I'm blessed to have learned from a ton of great instructors. However, in the very beginning (before there was light and chaos ruled the universe)..... all of the seed information came from the Byrne's Billiard Book. Bob, if you read azb--- thanks.

Yeah, Byrne's book was really something special when it came out. I remember getting my copy right before a big tournament and practicing all the odd little shots he had in there, trying to add them to my arsenal.

Lou Figueroa

 

[lfigueroa]

Lived near a poolroom located just outside an air force base gate. It was where lots of guys went just after basic training and every 6-8 weeks there would be a new crop of 18-19 year old shaved-head "puppies" cycling through. Most of them were naive and full of testosterone, beer and bravado.

Saw The Hustler in 1961 when I was 11. Said cool. Caught the bug. Took up shooting pool whenever I could after school.

Never had any lessons. Made a point of watching the better players match up whenever I could and emulating them when it made sense to me. Learned to quickly spot flaws and weaknesses in peoples' game.

Would practice by myself or with a good friend many times a week. Got to where I could easily ID who had game and not. Challenged (and got challenged) a lot by the puppies and got into a lot of $1-2 games (remember that a draft beer or a gallon of gas cost 25 cents back then). Became a pretty good nit and lock artist. Made a heck of a lot more than my friends with paper routes or real jobs. If I didn't walk out with $15-20 more in my pocket than I went in with, considered it a bad night (unless I managed to get a lot of free table time practicing with someone better or best of all got to watch and sweat some great action).

Wound up generally camping out at a table at the cheap end of the room and matching up for the small games. An officer who was the base psychologist (and permanently assigned to the base) camped out on the far side of the room at the high stakes tables (i.e., $5+ per game).

When the place was empty the base shrink would let me play with him for fun (and he would pick up the table time). Or, the manager would play me golf on a snooker table (the only game he would play) and pick up the table time.

No books, no videos, no lessons. Just watch, observe, practice and bet $ when the right fish came along.

Just like you, I think seeing "The Hustler" was seminal. The drama, the pool room, the cues, the matches. Loved it. Just a few years ago I saw it in wide screen for the first time. If you've never seen it this way you must. It is absolutely unbelievable and a completely different movie than the pan & scan version.

Also like you, when I started out I quickly got better than my peers and there seemed to always be an endless stream of $2-5 action.

Lou Figueroa

 

[LAMas]

Learning how to shoot at the bowling alley in the late 50's was hard for the mantra back then was, "Don't feed the fish". LOL

I thus had to learn how to reverse engineer shots and position to survive the 6 man ring games in order to parlay those meager winnings to buy into the weekend card games. That gave me an appreciation of spacial comprehension. I never was good enough at pool but better at engineering and and snagged a job in engineering ...thank GOD!!!

Merry XMas all.:thumbup:

 

[lfigueroa]

Lou, my grandpa LOVED the game (at the time 14.1 was THE game). He was a railroad man (Burlington Northern), and spent his time working between Chicago and St Louis (lived in Peoria IL - just about smack dab in between). Once he started playing more and more in Chitown and the Lou, he began to love the "other" games being played he encountered on his travels (banks and 1 pocket). He had a 9 foot Brunswick in the basement, and played ALL the time. He'd made buddies with a gentleman player from not too far away who was/is considered one of the best of all time. And through Mr. Greenleaf he also met and played with some Mosconi guy as well. lol

Growing up, I, of course, played with grandpa in the basement quite a bit. I knew of no other games than the 3 mentioned above until I was 14 or so. Sadly, my grandpa passed away about the time I was discovering pool outside his basement, and I almost completely lost interest all together with pool (I was already showing quite a bit of promise with baseball as well, and that might have taken some of the interest away as well). Then came high school, and girls, and getting a car, etc. etc. etc. Hardly ever picked up a cue from age 14 thru my early 20's.

Once college (and baseball) stopped ruling my life, and I got married, settled into a job, and all the GROWN UP things took over in life....I would occasionally go out to a bar with some buds and shoot some barbox 8 ball. I do mean just occasionally. My wife started attending a women's Bible study weekly, and a buddy talked me into playing pool on that night weekly. One night out we came across a place that was kinda busy and just put up our quarters. Apparently it was league night, and we had wondered onto the "practice" table that the league players were using. I think I won 8 or 9 games in a row before the team captain asked my last name. When he didn't see my name on the sheet, he asked what team I played for....uh, none. He said his team needed an extra player for Thurs. nites, I asked if my buddy could play too, and have been playing quite a bit since.

The funny thing is I still want to play my grandpa's games the most, but 9ball and 8ball rule for the most part, and being an admitted competition junkie, I'll take what's available. I still love when someone I don't know very well "hooks" me by leaving me a bank I could make 9 of 10 times when I was 12 and 13. lol.

Thanks for making me remember those days Lou.

Very cool story. Thanks for sharing, TR.

Lou Figueroa

 

[lfigueroa]

I learned from watching good players. IMO there's NO SUBSTITUTE. A good player with a good stroke makes the balls move in a way that bangers NEVER CAN, and to SEE THAT opens up in one's mind the possibilities inherent in actually trying to learn to play well. From that point it's figuring out how to emulate the best players, and how, in fact, to pocket balls, get position, and ultimately, win games.

It is a remarkable thing how certain players just look right at the table and you can just tell. I mentioned in another thread how I watched several videos of myself the other day and in one of them I look completely different than in the others. The setup, the warm up strokes, and the action on the CB. Amazin' how it's the little things that causes such dramatically different outcomes

Lou Figueroa

 

[lfigueroa]

I learned to play by matching up but always seemed to be on the worst end. You really have to play like that. 20 years later I still seem to be a little on the worse end but not as bad. Bad thing is I have never regreted losing when I was a fish and just love playing the game.

I agree. A love for the game goes a long way.

Lou Figueroa

 

[lfigueroa]

my old man used to take me to play at a bowling alley that had GC1s. I was about 8 when I first picked up a cue. Pops was a decent player and I quickly picked up the knowledge he had to offer. I moved on to my Uncle showing me a few things as he was a far superior player.

I played until I was 18 regularly then went on to college and stopped playing other than beating most everyone in college on a bar table. And no I did'nt pay my way through college,just picked up a couple of bucks here or there.

After college I got immersed in the game and picked up a ton of knowledge from various players in the local room. When I look back at it I was really blessed with a ton of great players always offering help and I soaked it up.

Now I'm a solid B player. However I never had the patience to practice like some guys could I'd be much better. I always liked to Gamble and developed the heart and a good mindset that generally let me play good for the cash. and my best game usually came out under the pressure of being in action.

Now the damn problem is all the rooms are closed and the action is gone. Fortunatley I bought a GC3 for the house and my pool playing buddies come over now and then

lol. Thank God you're not another guy who played his way through college.

I think being in an environment where you can observe better players is really key. You just have to see how the shots and stroke are suppose to look when it's done right. I remember the first time I watched some Accu-Stat 3C tapes and it was a revelation, like, "Ohhhh, so that's how it's supposed to look." If you're seeing a high level of play every day at your pool hall I think that really accelerates your learning curve.

Lou Figueroa

 

[lfigueroa]

YouTube and whatever I found on Google when I looked up (How to play pool). I think it was Dr. Dave's site.

I think Dr. Dave is the new Bob Bryne as far as being a pool resource.

Lou Figueroa
no linkage
puleeseeee

 

[lfigueroa]

About 95% self taught. The other 5% represent some pointers from good players and a useless lesson I had four years ago. The 'instructor' was more interested in showing me drills than actually fixing my mechanical errors. To be fair he did open my eyes to the importance of alignement, but it was a passing comment rather than anything close to a focus. I had to figure out my alignment for myself.

I've read lots of books, mimicked what I saw on tv and lots and lots and lots and lots of trial and error.

Don't need a name, but how did you pick the guy you got a lesson from? Was he a local guy or someone better known?

Lou Figueroa

 

[lfigueroa]

A combination of going to an instructor, books, videos, watching other players and hours upon hours of practice. Back when I first started playing I would sit around sketching pattern plays on a notebook....a primitive CueTable of sorts.

Was your instructor experience worthwhile?

Lou Figueroa
sketched out shots too
during HS classes

 

[justadub]

That's cool -- to have a regular sparring partner that helps you out.

Lou Figueroa

It really is cool. He's been my best buddy for about 15 years now, and he just got me started playing a year and a half ago. Got me to join the Eagles club, where we play (for cheap - .25 a game) and we play league out of there. Everybody there has been really helpful, and there are a lot of good players who are members. It's not hard for me to get a game with someone my speed or better, with the emphasis on "better". It's been a wonderful way to learn the game, especially coming into it later on life.

I wish I could get a handle on just how good the better players around here are, like my buddy George. It's pretty much all league here, and what few tournaments we have are filled with mostly the same people that play league. There are a few guys at our eagles club that don't play league, and can give my buddy a difficult time. I would just love to see how he matches up in the alphabet soup rating system, A, B, etc... I'm gonna do some asking around, to see what the guy who is considered the best in our league is considered, and that might help. i know this guy travels and plays other tournaments and such, perhaps someone will know how he is ranked.

Great thread, Lou. Best regards from the Group W bench.

 

[lfigueroa]

Spent my summers in junior high and high school visiting my grandparents in TN. My cousin had a pool table and always schooled me and took a good chunk of my vacation money (he'd never play for free). I'd generally win it back at poker with him and his buddies, but being competitive, the pool losses still hurt.

After getting out on my own, I played in plenty of leagues (APA and BCA), and plenty of gambling on the side, with whoever was available (I saw it as either making money or paying for lessons from a better player, never "losing", except for rare occasions).

Now I can easily beat my cousin at both poker AND pool, but money still hardly ever changes hands. To even the odds, we'll throw in a round of golf at $5 or $10 a hole (best score each hole). He's a scratch golfer and I play once or twice a year, so I'm lucky to break 95 on 18 holes. I still go in for his bets, because I enjoy winning at pool

Nice -- that you guys can accommodate each other in a competitive spirit like that.

Lou Figueroa

 

[lfigueroa]

when i was 17 i moved too Eunice louisiana i went too this place that sold music CD,s an they had a pool table i started playing on it an fell in love with the game an i learn too play an got better on my own :thumbup:

You didn't watch better players? No books? Nothin'?

Lou Figueroa

 

[lfigueroa]

Learning how to shoot at the bowling alley in the late 50's was hard for the mantra back then was, "Don't feed the fish". LOL

I thus had to learn how to reverse engineer shots and position to survive the 6 man ring games in order to parlay those meager winnings to buy into the weekend card games. That gave me an appreciation of spacial comprehension. I never was good enough at pool but better at engineering and and snagged a job in engineering ...thank GOD!!!

Merry XMas all.:thumbup:

Learning in ring games -- man, that is a tough way to go, lol.

Merry Xmas.

Lou Figueroa

 

[lfigueroa]

It really is cool. He's been my best buddy for about 15 years now, and he just got me started playing a year and a half ago. Got me to join the Eagles club, where we play (for cheap - .25 a game) and we play league out of there. Everybody there has been really helpful, and there are a lot of good players who are members. It's not hard for me to get a game with someone my speed or better, with the emphasis on "better". It's been a wonderful way to learn the game, especially coming into it later on life.

I wish I could get a handle on just how good the better players around here are, like my buddy George. It's pretty much all league here, and what few tournaments we have are filled with mostly the same people that play league. There are a few guys at our eagles club that don't play league, and can give my buddy a difficult time. I would just love to see how he matches up in the alphabet soup rating system, A, B, etc... I'm gonna do some asking around, to see what the guy who is considered the best in our league is considered, and that might help. i know this guy travels and plays other tournaments and such, perhaps someone will know how he is ranked.

Great thread, Lou. Best regards from the Group W bench.

lol, thanks, to a fellow Group W'er.

How about inviting an established league player to the EC and after a few matches see what he thinks as far as rankings go?

Lou Figueroa

 

[justadub]

lol, thanks, to a fellow Group W'er.

How about inviting an established league player to the EC and after a few matches see what he thinks as far as rankings go?

Lou Figueroa

Well, that would be swell, but ya see we're waaaaay the heck out of the normal loop. (Bangor, Maine) Ya never know, such a thing just might happen. When you coming this way? I assume you like lobster? We have that around here, ya know...

Far more likely is that maybe George and I might go try a tournament somewhere "lower" in New England, if we can ever schedule it. I wanted to go and see the Joss Tour when it came pretty near here a few months ago, so something like that could happen, too.

Fun to think about, at least. Not terribly important, just would be helpful when I read about how players of a certain level do this or that, and I wonder where I fall in that scheme of things, and the people I play with and against. Dr, Dave's reference on that subject applies to 9-ball, and while we do play that occasionally, we're mostly an 8-ball crowd locally. I haven't seen anything that defines the letter speed ranking when applied to 8-ball. George, and the others his speed,, often will clear a table in 1-2 innings, sometimes 3. Not always, of course. Break and runs in 8-ball, I don't see it all that often.

Damn, this stuff gets addictive! I gotta get going, work and last minute christmas shopping! Take care!

 

[purpdrag]

You know it's funny how you can think you are good at something if you've never actually seen someone who really is good.

We had a pool table in our basement when I was 10-17 years old. By the time I was 12 or 13 I was beating everyone in the family and anyone who came to visit. I thought I was good but I was just slamming them in with no thought to strategy and little thought to even the next ball. I'd never actually seen pool played correctly.

I moved out when I turned 18 and didn't play hardly at all for the next 20 years but never forgot that I had loved the game. When I came back to pool about 4 years ago it was like starting over, and I realized I totally sucked compared to real pool players. I started playing league in a pretty hardcore pool hall and decided to try to improve my game.

I love Billy Byrne's book. That was the first pool/billiards book I found that I really liked. I am currently reading Phil Capelle's "Play Your Best Pool". This is a great book.

Watching better players and listening when I can get advice has helped a lot. I also started watching YouTube videos of pro pool matches. This has helped a lot as well. I have my own table now but can only make time to practice about 30 minutes to an hour a day.

I've found that just practicing a lot isn't necessarily going to help and can even reinforce bad habits that will be hard to break. You have to really think about elevating your game and executing each shot correctly to learn the right habits and lock in some real improvement.

 

[Mr. Wiggles]

First time

Next door neighbor, Fred Douglas had a room on Okc. My dad would take me there maybe once a month to play free pool. Fred woudn't take our money. Fred bought a new place and called it a recreation center to get away from the old pool hall stigma. Family recreation center he called it. He needed help and asked me to work there. Just cleaning tables and such. For whatever reason I gravitated to the two old pool rooms downtown and old Fred was a little disappointed in my new dig! Nothing but snooker tables in these places. Spitoons, old guys and us young kids. I thought I could play till I got on those snooker tables! Learned pretty quick and to this day believe starting out with snooker is a real blessing. Yes, I can use a crutch. Turned legal age and went to bar boxes in bars and these guys wanted to play for beer and money! Five bucks was a big game back then. Drank lots of free beer. The transition to bar pool was a cakewalk. No league pool and nobody played leave or get your chops busted quick. Defense was considered chickenshit. Started league pool when it came to town and they told me to hook people and they would say good shot! They actually said good shot when I hooked them. Very uncomfortable with that whole thing.

 

[JoeyA]

I started playing at a kids house down the street around 13 YO. Later at the slot car track, we played some more. When I was a jr in high school, dad bought a pool table, and a book on playing by Mosconi (??). IN the frat house, we shot sevral hours a day.

Then there was that 35 year respite away from pool.

Then 3 years ago I took it back up.

Slot Car Track: Boy, does that bring back memories. When electricity was cheap, the slot tracks did really well here in New Orleans. I worked at one of them and I guess that's where I first began to realize that I was a "competitive junkie". This was BP (before pool).

To stay on track with the thread question, thinking back, I probably learned from every source that I could get my hands on. That list of sources was:
One on One competition with another competitive player.
Books.
Video Matches.
Video pool instruction.
Gambling.
Watching other top players. (this probably inspired me as much as anything else). Nothing like watching a good player make the magic happen.
Pro Player pool instruction.
Professional Coach Instruction.

I guess that covers most of the spectrum. LOL. But it is the truth. I've gleaned "secrets" wherever I could find them. Oh yeah, I have to add in AZ Billiard Main Forum because I have picked up some great information here along with the newsgroup rec.sport.billiard in years gone past.

Oh yeah, one more: Short Stops. Kind of stingy for the most part but if they beat you for a little dough they would sometimes share something that could improve your game.

That's it. I think............