Trick Shots and Video Games

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BasementDweller

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
It seems like there are new trick shot artists turning up all the time. I've seen a lot of the videos on youtube. Some of these guys are quite impressive (Venom comes to mind). Most of them are younger guys. What I'm not seeing on the internet is a bunch of videos of younger guys playing excellent pool. Am I just missing those videos or what???

Do any of these younger trick shot artists play decent pool? On the one hand, I applaud all the hard work they put in to complete some of these shots, but on the other hand, I'm a bit saddened that they are not instead spending this time on their pool games. Where is the 12 year old 100 ball runner at 14.1?

I guess I wonder if this is just a result of a generation of video game playing kids, the type of kids that have to beat the game, or get past a certain level. That's sort of like what trick shots are to me -- you set up a shot and work on it until you complete it -- then move on. By contrast, working on your pool game is a never ending pursuit of perfection. I think it's a completely different mindset involved in becoming a great player. Has our culture managed to remove this sort of desire from our up and coming players? Or am I just jumping to conclusions?
 
Working on trick shots is also a never ending process. Once you have mastered a shot, sure you move on, but you move on to many other diffrent shots that you have high hopes of being able to become consistant with.

With everything you do you have to have a mind set for it. Sure I love the game of pool and everything about it but I just have that desire and urge for trick shots. Its sort of like a 14.1 player who favors that over 9 ball or 10 ball. What you enjoy doing the most is what you will find yourself doing the most.

I was once one of the younger players who loved doing trick shots and making videos. Was I good at them? no. Overtime I worked hard at it to develop my skills for them. Now I consider myself a good player when it comes to competitive trick shot tournaments.

There are actually a lot of good younger players out there but they do not post videos probably for a couple reasons. The main reason though could be that they do not have the camera or editing skills to be able to produce a video.
 
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I have played for over 20 years and only recently got into doing trick shots. But about a year ago I hung up the trick shots for awhile so I could get back to working on my game. To be good at either one takes allot of dedication.

I would have to say I get more enjoyment out of my regular pool game but trick shots have payed off better for me lately. I have made almost $5000.00 from trick shots last year versus 700.00 to 800.00 in tournaments,league and a few money games.
 
The OP argues that not only should people do great in one area of a sport but in all areas of the sport.

Trick shots are more popular with young American players.

As long as the people are staying out of trouble, it doesn't help to set a higher standard. People do what they enjoy, unless you have bills to pay, and need to fight off bad loans and some horrible debt.

Mostly it seems like some individuals found a piece of enjoyment from a pool table, of all things. While arguing is an important skill it is just one of many skills needed in the world. As for the OP well it seems the observation made is worth noting, just as worthy to him as was posting the trick shot videos.
 
BasementDweller said:
It seems like there are new trick shot artists turning up all the time. I've seen a lot of the videos on youtube. Some of these guys are quite impressive (Venom comes to mind). Most of them are younger guys. What I'm not seeing on the internet is a bunch of videos of younger guys playing excellent pool. Am I just missing those videos or what???

Do any of these younger trick shot artists play decent pool? On the one hand, I applaud all the hard work they put in to complete some of these shots, but on the other hand, I'm a bit saddened that they are not instead spending this time on their pool games. Where is the 12 year old 100 ball runner at 14.1?

I guess I wonder if this is just a result of a generation of video game playing kids, the type of kids that have to beat the game, or get past a certain level. That's sort of like what trick shots are to me -- you set up a shot and work on it until you complete it -- then move on. By contrast, working on your pool game is a never ending pursuit of perfection. I think it's a completely different mindset involved in becoming a great player. Has our culture managed to remove this sort of desire from our up and coming players? Or am I just jumping to conclusions?
Click to expand...

I'm not trying to speak for the people posting these videos but I think to the general public trick shots are more impressive than long runs. There's always the standard anecdote of a layman watching a long run saying, "that's not so great, he doesn't have any hard shots." Regardless of age, I know what my non-playing friends and family would say if I did one video of each.

-matthew

Speaking for myself, I don't have any interest in learning or watching trick shots. I acknowledge the skills/ability required to do them (as I do with all sports/activities), I just greatly prefer playing/watching a good game of pool.
 
Cdryden said:
I have played for over 20 years and only recently got into doing trick shots. But about a year ago I hung up the trick shots for awhile so I could get back to working on my game. To be good at either one takes allot of dedication.

I would have to say I get more enjoyment out of my regular pool game but trick shots have payed off better for me lately. I have made almost $5000.00 from trick shots last year versus 700.00 to 800.00 in tournaments,league and a few money games.
Click to expand...

I think you have taken the more traditional approach. Meaning, you have played pool for quite some time and obviously enjoy it, then later on you realized there was something to be gained by doing some trick shots (a la Mike Massey). It seems like now there are a whole batch of kids that just start out with trick shots and then maybe later on they try to develop the rest of their game. I guess there's nothing wrong with either. I just find it curious.
 
krupa said:
I'm not trying to speak for the people posting these videos but I think to the general public trick shots are more impressive than long runs. There's always the standard anecdote of a layman watching a long run saying, "that's not so great, he doesn't have any hard shots." Regardless of age, I know what my non-playing friends and family would say if I did one video of each.

-matthew

Speaking for myself, I don't have any interest in learning or watching trick shots. I acknowledge the skills/ability required to do them (as I do with all sports/activities), I just greatly prefer playing/watching a good game of pool.
Click to expand...

I'm with you. I have no interest in doing trick shots. But you're right about the general public. Anytime someone comes by my house and they find out I have a pool table - they will always ask if I know any trick shots. I'll say sure, then I'll line up a long straight in shot, fire it in, and draw the cue ball back. I don't really do that, but I have wanted to a time or two.
 
SteveMarklePool said:
Working on trick shots is also a never ending process. Once you have mastered a shot, sure you move on, but you move on to many other diffrent shots that you have high hopes of being able to become consistant with.

With everything you do you have to have a mind set for it. Sure I love the game of pool and everything about it but I just have that desire and urge for trick shots. Its sort of like a 14.1 player who favors that over 9 ball or 10 ball. What you enjoy doing the most is what you will find yourself doing the most.

I was once one of the younger players who loved doing trick shots and making videos. Was I good at them? no. Overtime I worked hard at it to develop my skills for them. Now I consider myself a good player when it comes to competitive trick shot tournaments.

There are actually a lot of good younger players out there but they do not post videos probably for a couple reasons. The main reason though could be that they do not have the camera or editing skills to be able to produce a video.
Click to expand...

I would think that for the most part, players that enjoy trick shots more than the game of pool would be more the artist type. I sort of view trick shots as more of a creative art form. I really don't see how you can get the competitive juices flowing from a trick shot competition. That's just one man's opinion though.

JamisonNeu said:
"I'll shoot your liver out and hand it to you." Earl Strickland
Click to expand...

You could probably shoot out my liver and kidney for all I know.

justnum said:
The OP argues that not only should people do great in one area of a sport but in all areas of the sport.

Trick shots are more popular with young American players.

As long as the people are staying out of trouble, it doesn't help to set a higher standard. People do what they enjoy, unless you have bills to pay, and need to fight off bad loans and some horrible debt.

Mostly it seems like some individuals found a piece of enjoyment from a pool table, of all things. While arguing is an important skill it is just one of many skills needed in the world. As for the OP well it seems the observation made is worth noting, just as worthy to him as was posting the trick shot videos.
Click to expand...

I can't argue with this. If someone loves to do trick shots, than that's what they should do. I'm just not all that interested in them myself and I really don't think most serious pool players are either. However, the latest generation of artists have gotten so creative that I have started to at least take a look.
 
BasementDweller said:
I think you have taken the more traditional approach. Meaning, you have played pool for quite some time and obviously enjoy it, then later on you realized there was something to be gained by doing some trick shots (a la Mike Massey). It seems like now there are a whole batch of kids that just start out with trick shots and then maybe later on they try to develop the rest of their game. I guess there's nothing wrong with either. I just find it curious.
Click to expand...

Agreed, I would wager that by starting out on trick shots you miss out on essential fundamentals. But it's worth noting that not all trick shots are set up shots. Some of them (skill shots) put allot of emphasis on a quality stroke.

It's give and take i guess but I would always suggest developing a good game first and foremost. I think allot of the younger people don't realize that Mike Massey was a respected and successful pool player before he found his niche in artistic pool.

The other thing I think that makes a difference is that a beginner can get a book on trick shots, set up the shot and have some instant success at it. This encourages them to keep working at it, and try harder shots.

You can do the same thing in your regular pool game but learning how to bank one ball in the side isn't as impressive as learning a shot that will make 4 balls at once. At least not to a beginner.
 
BasementDweller said:
Wow.

I take it all back. I don't want to see anymore of these videos. It makes you realize how great the divide is between true excellence and even good.

Pretty amazing kid.
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That just proves your point. I can't find any videos of luca doing trick shots.
 
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