Hitting the Plateau

Zphix

Zphix

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Most of you have probably seen my recent rant about my APA SL,and in agreeing that my SL is determined by how well I play under pressure opposed to in practice I now have a goal for myself: which in a nutshell to be as good in matchplay as I am in practice.

Being that I am a 4 under pressure - how exactly do you improve your game?

If I know the theory behind pool ideas, can visualize the table and it's shots, and continue to pick up knowledge about the game -- where do you actually improve?

Someone told me that I'm dedicating myself to the game, and I'm looking to go beyond the point of mere hobby players. Can't remember his exact words but it was definitely a compliment =P

Anyway, because of my dedication, hunger to learn all I can, and hunger to want to improve - what do you actually do to improve?

What's the difference between a 4 and a 7? I've talked to them deeply about pool, and they don't seem to know any more than I do - there tips to me on certain shots are things I already know and use. So what's the difference? Is it just the ability to execute?

Someone give me the ins and outs of this ;)

Thanks,

-Richard
 
The only way I have ever seen anyone break thru a plateau is thru table time... PRACTICING.... Look at the time you put in and balance practice with play... If you want to play 10 hours a week spend 10 hours PRACTICING....

You have to hit balls to the point you don't remember your misses... That won't happen just playing by itself.....

That's why drills are important.. You shot the same shot 100 times and you will remember the 90 you made and the 10 you fubared won't hang around......

In stroke and in practice I don't even know what I missed in the last rack because I have hit enough balls that one shot won't make an imprint... Not hitting balls and spending times means I dwell on the misses when they happen... I can recall a miss from 3 weeks ago... When I can do that I know 100% that I am not spending the time I need to on the table.....
 
Play and practice with better players than yourself. Watch and listen, ask questions and listen.

Practice.

Get into competition as much as you can. And practice.

Read books, watch instructional videos, see an instructor if you can. And practice.

And don't get too down when it doesn't change overnight. Because I know you want it to. It takes time. The more you play, the sooner it will happen.

Good luck.
 
Better players certainly know more than you as an sl4. You might have the same fundamental knowledge of the game that they do, but they certainly have more detailed knowledge even if they have difficulty putting it into words. If your pool knowledge was a TV, you would be a black and white CRT TV, while an sl7 might be a color TV from the 90s, and Efren would be an 8K UHDTV. You can all put out the same general picture of a shot, but once you take a closer look, there is no comparison.

Work on making your image of what happens during a shot closer to what actually happens in reality. Once you get the cue ball into a range of mere centimeters on difficult shots (while making the ball), you are getting pretty good.
 
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If you are serious about your game, get "Play Great Pool" by Mark Wilson.
If you're willing to put in the time and effort, you can become as good as you want you be.
 
The biggest difference between a 4 and a 7 is in your head. Just like 90% of this game is in your head.

When it comes to performance 7's are usually calm, cool and collected. They have no distractions to affect their performance.
4's on the other hand usually have their minds focused on "different" things..

Top performers operate in a mindset of specific intent without distraction.

Obviously knowledge and the ability to execute with precision play a factor but getting your head in the "right" place is the key.
 
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Op

I'd go to the library, billiard and regular. Get books, and start reading. There's a ton of sports info out there today. I remember being excited about hearing about and reading the book when it was released, the inner game of tennis. Hope you find your answer.
 
mark187187 said:
Not meaning to sound rude, but if you spent more time doing drills and less time starting threads on here asking the same question over and over again, you'd see your game improve.

There are many books available which I'd recommend:

1) play your best pool
2) precision pool
3) Anything by Robert Byrne
4) Mosconi on pocket billiards

In addition there are many books about sports psychology.

Once you've read these, practice practice practice, and play in every league and tournament you can, as well as offering games to everyone in your local club. You'll learn more by watching people play (try YouTube also) that you will asking questions on a forum. There are also loads of instructional videos online or available on dvd, and I'll bet that there's a half decent teacher in your area.

I'm not trying to be harsh, but you have started a number of threads about essentially the same issue, and have received a lot of answers. Go back and look over these, you've already had tons of great advice, and you can't possibly have digested and explored all the advice that's been given. To me, the fact you have started a new thread so soon after the last suggests that your not really listening, as you haven't had long enough to look into the advice and recommendations already suggested.

Mark
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Yes, it is rude and completely uncalled for, considering you average three times as many posts as he does.
 
Zphix said:
Most of you have probably seen my recent rant about my APA SL,and in agreeing that my SL is determined by how well I play under pressure opposed to in practice I now have a goal for myself: which in a nutshell to be as good in matchplay as I am in practice.

Being that I am a 4 under pressure - how exactly do you improve your game?

If I know the theory behind pool ideas, can visualize the table and it's shots, and continue to pick up knowledge about the game -- where do you actually improve?

Someone told me that I'm dedicating myself to the game, and I'm looking to go beyond the point of mere hobby players. Can't remember his exact words but it was definitely a compliment =P

Anyway, because of my dedication, hunger to learn all I can, and hunger to want to improve - what do you actually do to improve?

What's the difference between a 4 and a 7? I've talked to them deeply about pool, and they don't seem to know any more than I do - there tips to me on certain shots are things I already know and use. So what's the difference? Is it just the ability to execute?

Someone give me the ins and outs of this ;)

Thanks,

-Richard
Click to expand...

In my opinion and this is just my opinion these pool leagues are not much of a measurement of anything. How do you play in the pool room? How do you play when you match up with a player and you guys go at it for a few hours just the two of you.

If you play considerably better then it is the pool league environment that may be hurting you. I hate playing in pool leagues as does many others. I hate the sitting around playing just a few games. I want to play pool not just a few games. I hate having an out come that can effect others. I have always liked betting my own money and what I do and how I play is no ones business.

The whole pool league thing has no rhythm to it. It is in effect not really conducent to good play. That does not mean you will dog it in a pool league but you also may not play your best either. Try matching up on the side with one of these 7's and see how you come out so you have a real bench mark of where you stand.
In the end, pool league may not be your thing.
 
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mark187187 said:
Not meaning to sound rude, but if you spent more time doing drills and less time starting threads on here asking the same question over and over again, you'd see your game improve.
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This thought has come up from many different posters over the years that I've been on here. And its bovine excrement.

How many people do you honestly think say to themselves "gee, I'd rather sit here on AZB than actually play pool"?

Many of us do not have a pool table at home. And no way to have one at home, before you go saying "start saving for one." For any number of very real reasons.

Many folks may not have easy access to a pool room , at all hours. Most of us have work and family obligations. We'd all love to be playing pool, all the time. It just isn't possible. Maybe you can, and that's great for you. But it sure ain't for me. And many others....

AZB is available 24/7, at home, at work, on your phone.... To me, its a my pool fix when I can't play.

So the thought "all this time spent on AZB would be better spent at the table", while technically true, is ludicrous. But thanks for pointing it out to us, its quite helpful.
 
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Mark,

If I had a table at home I could spend more time doing drills than starting threads. I can make it to the poolhall about 2-3 times a week. The rest of the time I'm watching pool matches on YouTube.

I'm also reading lots of pool books, and have read Precision Pool, a few of Bob Byrnes books, the Inner Game of Tennis, etc. in pool, I have knowledge down - a good analogy would be I have proven theory without personal experimentation.

On and off the table I'm doing something related to the game - it's why my friend said I'm approaching the point beyond a hobbyist or 95% of league players.



Sent from my X501_USA_Cricket using Tapatalk 2
 
macguy said:
In my opinion and this is just my opinion these pool leagues are not much of a measurement of anything. How do you play in the pool room? How do you play when you match up with a player and you guys go at it for a few hours just the two of you.

If you play considerably better then it is the pool league environment that may be hurting you. I hate playing in pool leagues as does many others. I hate the sitting around playing just a few games. I want to play pool not just a few games. I hate having an out come that can effect others. I have always liked betting my own money and what I do and how I play is no ones business.

The whole pool league thing has no rhythm to it. It is in effect not really conducent to good play. That does not mean you will dog it in a pool league but you also may not play your best either. Try matching up on the side with one of these 7's and see how you come out so you have a real bench mark of where you stand.
In the end, pool league may not be your thing.
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I actually love doing this! I prefer to face the best shooters because I tend to learn so much from playing them in person - and I've got no problem playing the same person hour after hour.

Anyway from a few I've played:

Race to 11 in 8-ball with a 5: Beat him 11-7 after starting the race when he was up 4-0.

Shot for 3 hours with my buddy after leagues (he's a stronger 5): Beat him 17- 8

Played for 2 hours with a monster named Louie at his house (he's a true seven!) - and he beat me 25 racks to 9, and I'd usually get a shot after he finally missed after running 5-7 racks. The first time I played him he won 27-3, second time was like 23-5, and the most recent time was 25-9.

Have also played a race to 13 in 10-ball with my friend Rob (a 6): and he won 13:11

I usually find that when I play strong players I play up to their, level. I really have noticed this before when I made a frozen rail cut shot across the table which I don't think I've ever done in a match.





Sent from my X501_USA_Cricket using Tapatalk 2
 
victorl said:
If you are serious about your game, get "Play Great Pool" by Mark Wilson.
If you're willing to put in the time and effort, you can become as good as you want you be.
Click to expand...

I've heard soooooo many things about this book and it's up there on my list of things to get. Sadly, it'll probably be a few months before I can actually buy it.

Sent from my X501_USA_Cricket using Tapatalk 2
 
rrick33 said:
The biggest difference between a 4 and a 7 is in your head. Just like 90% of this game is in your head.

When it comes to performance 7's are usually calm, cool and collected. They have no distractions to affect their performance.
4's on the other hand usually have their minds focused on "different" things.
Click to expand...

Zphix said:
If I had a table at home I could spend more time doing drills than starting threads. I can make it to the poolhall about 2-3 times a week. The rest of the time I'm watching pool matches on YouTube.

I'm also reading lots of pool books, and have read Precision Pool, a few of Bob Byrnes books, the Inner Game of Tennis, etc.
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These two quotes are important. I noticed that when I read books in order to get better, my game goes south as all those thought roll though my head. It is only after a few weeks that the thoughts recede and my game comes back. This is not to say books are bad for you, but that you can't let the new knowledge "go to your head" especially if it sits there rattling around.

Playing needs to be instinctive, practice is where you experiment and consolidate.
 
Dude you can't get to the pool table 2 to 3 times a week and expect to get good. There's a point in every players life that they played every day to get to a high level..then they can play a couple times week and play well. Your expectation are to high if thats all the time your getting in. I still play 7 days a week but I'm fortunate to have a table at home.

Zphix said:
Mark,

If I had a table at home I could spend more time doing drills than starting threads. I can make it to the poolhall about 2-3 times a week. The rest of the time I'm watching pool matches on YouTube.

I'm also reading lots of pool books, and have read Precision Pool, a few of Bob Byrnes books, the Inner Game of Tennis, etc. in pool, I have knowledge down - a good analogy would be I have proven theory without personal experimentation.

On and off the table I'm doing something related to the game - it's why my friend said I'm approaching the point beyond a hobbyist or 95% of league players.



Sent from my X501_USA_Cricket using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
 
Zphix said:
What's the difference between a 4 and a 7? I've talked to them deeply about pool, and they don't seem to know any more than I do - there tips to me on certain shots are things I already know and use. So what's the difference? Is it just the ability to execute?

Someone give me the ins and outs of this ;)

Thanks,

-Richard
Click to expand...

The difference is mechanics i.e. shooting straight. Irrespective of speed, spin and distance.

Just try shooting the cue ball up and down the table over the headspot at different speeds and with follow/draw/stun. If the cue ball hits the end rail and comes back to hit the tip of your cue, then you shoot straight. This will quickly expose the flaws in your stroke.

Once you get your stroke fixed, then its all about practice, practice and more practice. Most people skip the stroke step and just hit balls.
 
mark187187 said:
Sorry, I could have worded this better. My point isn't that this guy writes too many posts, more so that he is asking the same question every single time. If you're asking the same question, keep it to one thread

The reason I find it slightly annoying is that I and many members have already offered advice on this topic in previous threads. Now, he cannot have given everyone's advice the attention it deserved, otherwise he wouldn't have started yet another thread so soon after the last.

I just think, don't continually ask around for advice if you're pretty much going to ignore it. I find it a bit rude.

That said, I don't think my last post was particularly helpful, so I do apologise for the way I framed my advice. I would maintain that the best way to improve is through playing. And, from experience, the best way to handle competitive nerves is to compete as much and as frequently as you have the means to do. And if you're making too many errors in spite of conquering your nerves, you have to go back to fundamentals, and make sure that in practice you are making any shots you bring to the competitive table at least 90% of the time.

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I'm sorry that you feel that I'm ignoring advice because I'm not - everything is given it's proper attention and I can sift through loads of information and retain it all. Every piece of advice I've gotten is up there - from all of it I've made a snap decision.

But - I do recall asking about position play drills, but I don't recall making a thread about actually getting better. The reason I posted this particular time is because my table time is limited - I get about 10 hours of practice a week and I want to practice things that are guaranteed to maximize that time on the table.

Some advice on drills I've gotten yields very little results (position drills anyway) - but I'm not sure what else I need to improve. Practicing by hitting racks doesn't do any good (so I've been told) so I'm asking for the things that for-sure yield results.
 
trob said:
Dude you can't get to the pool table 2 to 3 times a week and expect to get good. There's a point in every players life that they played every day to get to a high level..then they can play a couple times week and play well. Your expectation are to high if thats all the time your getting in. I still play 7 days a week but I'm fortunate to have a table at home.
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I don't expect to become a world-beater over night or anything like that - but I do expect to become better little bits at a time. I'd just like to know what to practice to yield the maximum results for the 10 hours I do get on a table per week.

Though, when I move in Fall I'll be able to play daily.
 
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