What Should I Do????

NINEBALLART

NINEBALLART

NINEBALLART
Silver Member
I started playing pool 7 years ago at age 59. I am now 66....I am a young 66. In really good shape....I have been involved in sports all my life. I just stopped bowling after 20 straight years and never averaged under 200 the last 15 years. Have four 300 games to my credit. Telling this not to brag but to let you know I am a fast learner and good in most all sports.

I picked up pool fairly fast also. I would say I am a strong B player...But I am stuck...Am not getting any better. Stuck where I am...Here's my question to you players who can help me...

We don't have many 9 ball big table tournaments in my town. So I have always played bar box 8 ball. I play BCA league and go to Vegas every year. I so much want to move up another level. I bought the Pro Skill Drills....So here is my question.........Should I practice these drills on the 9 foot table or do them on the 7 foot table. I have played on big tables and played 9 ball but not nearly as much as the bar box...

What do you guys think would be better for me to improve?????
 
NINEBALLART said:
I started playing pool 7 years ago at age 59. I am now 66....I am a young 66. In really good shape....I have been involved in sports all my life. I just stopped bowling after 20 straight years and never averaged under 200 the last 15 years. Have four 300 games to my credit. Telling this not to brag but to let you know I am a fast learner and good in most all sports.

I picked up pool fairly fast also. I would say I am a strong B player...But I am stuck...Am not getting any better. Stuck where I am...Here's my question to you players who can help me...

We don't have many 9 ball big table tournaments in my town. So I have always played bar box 8 ball. I play BCA league and go to Vegas every year. I so much want to move up another level. I bought the Pro Skill Drills....So here is my question.........Should I practice these drills on the 9 foot table or do them on the 7 foot table. I have played on big tables and played 9 ball but not nearly as much as the bar box...

What do you guys think would be better for me to improve?????
Click to expand...


Personally, I think any person comfortable on a 9-foot table is going to be able to adjust to smaller equipment. The same cannot be said for the reverse. If your goal is to improve your pocketing and ability to move the cue-ball, I would strongly recommend playing exclusively on 9' equipment for a while (perhaps a year or so).
 
i guess it will depend on what area your gona play in..if bar boxes are what your area demands then barboxes it is...i will say this..and I think most would agree..it is easier to come down from a 9 foot to 7 foot then go up from a 7foot to a 9foot. Most players who are really good on 9foot tables are still pretty good on a bar box..but i have seen guys who just kill me on a barbox when i get them on a 9 foot the games goes completly in my direction..since i play on 9foot tables.. Since you are looking to go up in level...most major tournaments are held on 9 foot tables.
 
I am almost 64. I play on 9 foot tables. I am a TOP B, but I'm also handicapped with wearing glasses. Being short, stocky & blind does not help one play great pool. I can run several racks on Bar Box or a 9 Footer, but my precision play has taken a little downturn, I don't have my Pool Table at home any longer.

When I suggest ways for players to improve, I always ask them if they know the Diamond System or the 2 Plus System. When I learned the Diamond System for kicking at balls and/or the path of the cue ball after impact, that added a great deal of knowledge to my skills & knowledge is power.

If you will learn all the shots in Ray Martin's book "99 Critical Shots", learn Dr. Cues & Grady's Kicking videos & learn the Diamond System, you'll grow some more....

Learn these new skills on a Pool Table at home & then re-learn them on a different size Pool Table at the Pool Room. Practicing hones your skills for competition play. Also try videoing your practice & watching the videos to learn about yourself & check for flaws in your mechanics.
 
20 years of bowling and only four 300's? Those lanes must have been tough....:)

I would suggest the 9 foot tables over the 7 footers any day. As everyone else has said, it's easier to adjust from 9 to 7 than 7 to 9. Also, don't limit yourself to just one game. Try and learn some games other than 8 or 9 ball such as 14.1 or one pocket. There is MUCH to learn from both of those games. If there's a snooker table in your area, that will definitely get your stroke solid. Three cushion is also good to help with your cue ball control.

One last thought, try and surround yourself with the hardest possible competition that you can. Not only will you have to improve your game to start winning, but you can learn by watching your opponent and pick up some things that way too. Most of the time when I'm practicing against someone stronger I will think what I would do in that situation and see how it compares to what they do.
 
9 foot table

I suggest 9 foot table, and its better if you always play 15 balls rotation becoz the mall ball the larger you think and it is easy when you play nine ball
 
In specific, since you are using the Pro Skill Drills system, I would recommend doing most of the drills on a 9-foot table for the same reasons others have stated. However, I would recommend doing all the banking and kicking drills on the equipment you most often play on. This way you will be getting the most accurate results from your practice. Good luck!
 
Thanks....Appreciate the suggestions and will follow them....I knew I would get some good ideas from you guys out there...Will at a later date let you know my progress with these drills...
 
The major problem with the bar boxes is the crowding and clustering of balls. Why not practice shooting 15 balls in rotation on a 9 ft. table. That should accomplish all your goals. (I'm 63 and I know it's hard to eke out improvement.) Good luck. Oops! I didn't realize it was already suggested. It's still a good idea.
 
NINEBALLART said:
I started playing pool 7 years ago at age 59. I am now 66....I am a young 66. In really good shape....I have been involved in sports all my life. I just stopped bowling after 20 straight years and never averaged under 200 the last 15 years. Have four 300 games to my credit. Telling this not to brag but to let you know I am a fast learner and good in most all sports.

I picked up pool fairly fast also. I would say I am a strong B player...But I am stuck...Am not getting any better. Stuck where I am...Here's my question to you players who can help me...

We don't have many 9 ball big table tournaments in my town. So I have always played bar box 8 ball. I play BCA league and go to Vegas every year. I so much want to move up another level. I bought the Pro Skill Drills....So here is my question.........Should I practice these drills on the 9 foot table or do them on the 7 foot table. I have played on big tables and played 9 ball but not nearly as much as the bar box...

What do you guys think would be better for me to improve?????
Click to expand...


I will be happy to practice with you anytime. Just let me know.

Cheers.
 
jessica barnes said:
In specific, since you are using the Pro Skill Drills system, I would recommend doing most of the drills on a 9-foot table for the same reasons others have stated. However, I would recommend doing all the banking and kicking drills on the equipment you most often play on. This way you will be getting the most accurate results from your practice. Good luck!
Click to expand...

Agree with this, but don't forget to get your hands on Darren Appleton's new instructional DVD, which will show you what drills a world champion practices to keep his skills sharp.
 
NINEBALLART said:
I started playing pool 7 years ago at age 59. I am now 66....I am a young 66. In really good shape....I have been involved in sports all my life. I just stopped bowling after 20 straight years and never averaged under 200 the last 15 years. Have four 300 games to my credit. Telling this not to brag but to let you know I am a fast learner and good in most all sports.

I picked up pool fairly fast also. I would say I am a strong B player...But I am stuck...Am not getting any better. Stuck where I am...Here's my question to you players who can help me...

We don't have many 9 ball big table tournaments in my town. So I have always played bar box 8 ball. I play BCA league and go to Vegas every year. I so much want to move up another level. I bought the Pro Skill Drills....So here is my question.........Should I practice these drills on the 9 foot table or do them on the 7 foot table. I have played on big tables and played 9 ball but not nearly as much as the bar box...

What do you guys think would be better for me to improve?????
Click to expand...

stiqs said:
I will be happy to practice with you anytime. Just let me know.

Cheers.
Click to expand...

sjm said:
Agree with this, but don't forget to get your hands on Darren Appleton's new instructional DVD, which will show you what drills a world champion practices to keep his skills sharp.
Click to expand...

Do either one of you realize the poster is now 74 years old? He ain't gettin' no better.

ONB
 
Hey Guys! I've known Art for a LONG time. He was a STRONG bowler. He tore a muscle in his arm, and it caused him to pretty much have to quit bowling. Art has worked very hard at his game, primarily bar box 8-ball. He has played BCA league for many years, Attends the BCA National Finals in Vegas every year, and has cashed.
He practices every day, and I can personally tell you that his game has come a LONG way. Practice makes a big difference.
 
Old Nine Baller said:
Do either one of you realize the poster is now 74 year. old? He ain't gettin' no better.

ONB
Click to expand...

I disagree.

I play with Art on two different leagues, two nights of the week for the past 3 years. He has improved greatly from the time I first started playing with him, until now, and my guess with the progress he's made he will continue to do so.
 
Play on a tight big table for while bar box will be cake that's what I did :thumbup:
 
Yeah, Ok, maybe he is still shooting well ... but this post is still 8 years old. I doubt he was monitoring this thread for years hoping that someone would give him the magic tidbit of advice 8 years later.
 
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