When and what made your game better?

J

jburkm002

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I am 45 and I guess a mid level player. I have probably played at the same level all my life. So my game has always been about natural ability. My questions come up because I see so much bashing/opinions on everything from aiming systems, strokes etc. There are books, videos, instructors, friends etc to learn from.

What has helped to improve your game? Me
Are you satisfied or can you still improve and how? Much improvement needed. Hoping to find some solid ideas on here.

This is solely personal experience. So if someone says Perfect Aim. It helped them and there is no need to bash Perfect Aim.
 
As soon as I started drinking 6 to 8 beer during league night.
That and having Gel Nails professionally done.
I'm so pretty now.
 
I got a lot better at running balls and running out in rotation games when I learned to think 3 balls ahead and land on the right side of the next ball to get position for the next. Johnnyt
 
My game improved a lot when I started playing one of the best players in the world back in the late 70s to the late 80s.
Neptune Joe frady is a New Jersey legendary player and i played a lot of pool with him.
Books and videos can help but playing a top player will help a lot. You get to study up close and if its the right person you can ask questions and get answers.
And no I'm not going to get any better at 66 years old and only playing once a week or so. I play at about 75% of my prime speed now.
 
Blue Hog ridr said:
As soon as I started drinking 6 to 8 beer during league night.
That and having Gel Nails professionally done.
I'm so pretty now.
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The nails are important. Nothing says class like a good looking bridge hand.
I just get so giddy looking at my freshly done nails as I'm stroking.
 
I played 9-ball alot when i was first learning and for while after that.......then I found 1-pocket. to me it teaches you every aspect of the game from safes, banks, kicks, position play, and shot making
 
Johnnyt said:
I got a lot better at running balls and running out in rotation games when I learned to think 3 balls ahead and land on the right side of the next ball to get position for the next. Johnnyt
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BAM!!!!
My eight ball game (all I shot for the 6 year) got CONSIDERABLY better after I shot 9 ball for just a few short months. I learned to look 3 balls out which teaches the most important part. Being on the RIGHT side of a ball. Almost doesn't matter how far past the ball. Falling short means you're traveling 2 to 3 rails around table.
 
jburkm002 said:
I am 45 and I guess a mid level player. I have probably played at the same level all my life. So my game has always been about natural ability. My questions come up because I see so much bashing/opinions on everything from aiming systems, strokes etc. There are books, videos, instructors, friends etc to learn from.

What has helped to improve your game? Me
Are you satisfied or can you still improve and how? Much improvement needed. Hoping to find some solid ideas on here.

This is solely personal experience. So if someone says Perfect Aim. It helped them and there is no need to bash Perfect Aim.
Click to expand...

Spiderwebbcomm and CTE , I also use the SEE system for foot placement.Gene helped with my eyes.
CJs "inside info" is also great to know. I learned a lot about the CB playing with just inside for about 3 weeks
I could already play but it gave me consistency and discipline that I didn't have before
 
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The one thing

jburkm002 said:
I am 45 and I guess a mid level player. I have probably played at the same level all my life. So my game has always been about natural ability. My questions come up because I see so much bashing/opinions on everything from aiming systems, strokes etc. There are books, videos, instructors, friends etc to learn from.

What has helped to improve your game? Me
Are you satisfied or can you still improve and how? Much improvement needed. Hoping to find some solid ideas on here.

This is solely personal experience. So if someone says Perfect Aim. It helped them and there is no need to bash Perfect Aim.
Click to expand...

I know for sure there was one thing. It was figuring out better ways to reason out shots. When I got in touch with ways to reason out my aim then everything else that you have to learn how to do...got better. I knew where to place my cue ball and from there it was up to me to get it there which meant I was able to play with more spin on the ball and learning the allowances for squirt and spin were easier to handle.
 
I concur with Johnny. There have been many things that have helped my game, players, DVDs and lots of practice.

When you start being able to use English effectively and are able to realize, first, your next shot and then your next and so on. Being able to see at least 3 balls in advance is a huge gain.

Of course, it doesn't always work out that way and you may find yourself having to start over. Thats ok too as long as you have made your last ball and all you have to do is start your game plan over a bit. No biggy.
 
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I was stuck at same level of play for a long time no matter how much i practiced. What got me out of it was competition 100% play a lot of people, and make sure they are as good or better than you, and you will improve fast, and when they play, WATCH THEM, im still improving quickly with the more people i play
 
For me, playing in high-level tournaments and getting in way over my head was a real eye-opener. I always played fast and loose and thought I was pretty good, but the top amateurs and pros I played with played very methodically and rarely made any mistakes.
Every weakness I had was completely exposed and cost me games and matches. Since then, I've worked hard on bringing up all areas of my game and being more precise in my shotmaking, position and safeties and it's satisfying to see slow but steady improvement with every practice session.
 
One of the things thatmade me better was losing the mindset that misses are ok. Thinking "oh that was a low percentage shot, it wasn't supposed to go" is a very bad mind set for a pool player. Shots are supposed to be made. if you didn't make it either A) you had bad judgement and took a shot you shouldn't have or B) you just plain screwed up and deserve whatever punishment your opponent dishes out.
 
There are a lot of things that you learn while moving up in skill level, but I don't care how straight you shoot, if you can't control the CB and think at least 3 balls ahead you will get stuck as C+ or B- for ever. Johnnyt
 
Interestingly, I became a better player when I decided to NOT make pool the focal point of my life.

I was able to get my life figured out and bettered myself in other areas of my life. Because of this I was able to better concentrate on the pool game itself.

As they say, pool is 90% mental. If one's mental state is clear, then the physical state follows.
 
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