What is the one weak point in your pool game?

Man, a lot of precious people about here. I understand the game and don't know what you mean.

You said, to paraphrase, you'd won local tournaments, but in order to spread your wings, you had to learn something else, something which cannot be discussed in the main forum, ie aiming. So, how did you win local tournaments if you couldn't aim properly?

A perfectly reasonable question, I'd have thought?

Again, your posting style precedes you, so like the Boy Who Cried Wolf, every post from you is going to get scrutinized as such.

For the perfectly reasonable question (which still is passive aggressive), my position play and pattern strategy especially in 8-ball have always been stronger than my local competition. And frankly, it's better than a lot of players that have more physical skills than I do simply because 8-ball is/was my the game I played the most.

Any tournament I won that wasn't an 8-ball tournament, things had to go my way. The tables couldn't be sluggish. The pockets couldn't be too tight. Anything that would be a negative to a not-so-strong shotmaker couldn't be in place. Everything that would be a positive to a pattern player had to be in place.

Not everyone is at pro speed at all things. So, if you're human, you have strengths and weaknesses. The tournaments that catered to my strengths... I had a good shot at being at the finish line.
 
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And your winning personal and ready wit would've helped, obviously.

bump_stir_shit.jpg
 
Weak point

I have trouble with jump shots. I am 5'7", and sometimes it is hard for me to get upon a jump shot right. I can usually hit them, but making them is another story.
 
I have trouble with jump shots. I am 5'7", and sometimes it is hard for me to get upon a jump shot right. I can usually hit them, but making them is another story.

Have you tried the dart stroke technique? It may help overcome your height disadvantage.
 
I have trouble with jump shots. I am 5'7", and sometimes it is hard for me to get upon a jump shot right. I can usually hit them, but making them is another story.

Is 5' 7" short?

Oh, sorry...it's short for a man, right?

I'm 5' 7" and I do fine jumping over balls, but I'm not considered short for a woman, so that's probably the difference.

You're short. I'm not.
 
Funny you should mention that!!!

Have you tried the dart stroke technique? It may help overcome your height disadvantage.

I did it once when I was hooked on my last ball, the cue ball about mid table and about 8" in. I had to lean over, and the dart stroke was the only way it would work. Well lo and behold, I made the ball (resting against the long rail), and got just enough out to see past one of my opponents balls for an open shot on the 8 in the head right corner. My opponent was none too happy when I made that jump shot and got open for the 8. Making that jump shot surprised me just as much as my opponent ... lol

Fran ... Very funny ... lol No, when I went to a phenolic tipped jump cue, I have trouble with accuracy some. I just got a 2nd shaft for my break/jump cue tipped with a super 'dud' leather tip, and haven't practiced jumping with it, but I think it will probably be better.
 
Drawing/scooping the shot.

Lately I've been jumping the c-ball over the o-b constantly. I have had very little problems with that in the past but I started practicing distance draws and started the jumping and now I can't correct it. It doesn't seem to matter if it is an easy stroke or a hard one. I just jump the damned thing.
I have asked the better drawers/players if they can see what I'm doing wrong and I'm told that there are no obvious flaws. One funny thing though is that one guy that can really draw whitey started jumping the cue ball while trying to help me and cussed me out. He managed to straighten it out but doesn't know why it started or how he corrected it.
I would appreciate any and all suggestions as I have turned into a guy that strictly follows all of his shots now!
Thank you.
 
Lately I've been jumping the c-ball over the o-b constantly. I have had very little problems with that in the past but I started practicing distance draws and started the jumping and now I can't correct it. It doesn't seem to matter if it is an easy stroke or a hard one. I just jump the damned thing.
I have asked the better drawers/players if they can see what I'm doing wrong and I'm told that there are no obvious flaws. One funny thing though is that one guy that can really draw whitey started jumping the cue ball while trying to help me and cussed me out. He managed to straighten it out but doesn't know why it started or how he corrected it.
I would appreciate any and all suggestions as I have turned into a guy that strictly follows all of his shots now!
Thank you.

Hello PastPrime,
I thank you for your input!
Many Regards,
Lock N load.
 
The most annoying at the moment is jacking up near the rail. I can't seem to get my balance right in my stance and have a tendency to waggle when I try to stun or draw. It feels like I am wearing a high heel on my back foot and spearfishing.
 
The most annoying at the moment is jacking up near the rail. I can't seem to get my balance right in my stance and have a tendency to waggle when I try to stun or draw. It feels like I am wearing a high heel on my back foot and spearfishing.

Try not jacking up on the back of your cue. Keep it as level as possible! You will see a big difference in your game and stroke. Thanks for your input.
Many Regards,
Lock N Load.
 
Staying focused...especially if I don't feel 'threatened'. Seems like I raise or lower my game depending on who I'm playing.

I've been working on bringing a sense of urgency to every trip to the table regardless of my opponent's skills, but I still find myself playing just well enough to 'get the job done'.

Play the table, not the person.

Easier said....

Mike
 
There is ALOT wrong with my game right now, as I have been playing less than I year but it is all starting to fall into place nicely. What I am lacking that I wish I wasn't at the moment was consistency. But I am working on that with practice practice practice, more practice a match here and there on a league night, then back to practice.... The work I am putting in is starting to show, Im actually getting shape.... on purpose....... So if I could just get that darn consistancy happening Id be one happy camper. :smile:
 
There is ALOT wrong with my game right now, as I have been playing less than I year but it is all starting to fall into place nicely. What I am lacking that I wish I wasn't at the moment was consistency. But I am working on that with practice practice practice, more practice a match here and there on a league night, then back to practice.... The work I am putting in is starting to show, Im actually getting shape.... on purpose....... So if I could just get that darn consistancy happening Id be one happy camper. :smile:

Good post DonsSmiidget,
Many Regards,
Lock N Load.
 
Thinking I'm better than I actually am.

It takes a lot of guts to admit this - all of us have had this problem at one time or other.

But, if you are the money player you say you are, you should have gotten over this. Or, if having played many competitive matches, you would also have gotten over this.

Like my motto says (from Clint Eastwood), "a man has got to know his limitations".

If you are still young, this could also be part of your problem. Having gotten my ass handed to me quite a few times, because of my own stupidity, I have learned to play safe more.

PS I think your questions to Fred were very appropriate. He just gets mad when someone disagrees with him - part of his ego problem:grin:
 
I bounce sometimes like I am Johnny on the Block! Makes my tip bob up and down and gives me a crap hit. It usually goes hand in hand with rushing the shot or not thinking about what I'm doing at all.

R,

Greg
 
The break.
The break.
The break.

At least in 8 ball. With 9 ball and a magic rack it's no problem, they fly in.

Sometimes I feel like I do everything right, but go the entire night without making more than 2 balls on the break (not 2 balls per break... I mean 2 balls the whole night).

I know I hit'em a bit softer than a lot of players my speed. But everyone says focus on accuracy not power. So I keep breaking 'em medium, and keep getting nothing. Sometimes I get frustrated and hit'em hard, and continue getting nothing. I dunno if I've just developed a mental complex about it or what, but it seems like I have the worst break out of the half dozen or so players I shoot with, even though I'm a stronger player in all other respects.
 
week point in game

I think my weakest point for my self is not being consistent. I may play 3 or 4 great racks and then just go from a hero to a zero. take care, john
 
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