from D- to A
- Thread starter Papa Lou
- Start date
Wheres the video?
Banks
Banned
He's hoping to get good at that in another year, too!
I'm going out on a limb and guessing that he'll hit C/B- after one year of pool, if he's got the drive. I could see having a short high gear of (local) A-ness for a bit, but the average game is what I'd measure by. When I started out and ran out after an opponent's miss, then bnr two more.. I thought it was going to be easy shortly after. Ha.. boy, was I wrong.
I suggest that you play a lot of 6 ball(shoot the balls in order just like 9 ball). You don't have to break them unless you want to, just spread them out and take ball in hand and try to run out. If you miss a ball you could set up the same shot(multiple times if need be) and shoot it again. You will improve your game a hell of a lot, but it's not going to come over night. After you can run 6 balls about 50% of the time or more then you should start doing this with 9 balls. This worked for me in my earlier pool days. My game jumped from fair player to solid runout player in 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 years. I should tell you that I shot thousands upon thousands of balls during that time period though. It takes a long time, but it's very fun to see all the improvement one could make if they're dedicated.
Great idea bad beats. I've been doing that the past few days and it's been a lot of fun.
I just recorded myself using my iPad. The video is 33 mins and apparently YouTube won't post it. I don't care. I got a score of 44. I'm disappointed. I broke dry every rack but the first rack where I made two on the break. Anyway, I'll be getting a Diamond table when I move to Vegas and I'll hopefully set up a good camera to record myself more (good to watch).
I'll figure out how to post to 30" videos at that point.
12months of nonstop pool and I got a B. fml.
I just recorded myself using my iPad. The video is 33 mins and apparently YouTube won't post it. I don't care. I got a score of 44. I'm disappointed. I broke dry every rack but the first rack where I made two on the break. Anyway, I'll be getting a Diamond table when I move to Vegas and I'll hopefully set up a good camera to record myself more (good to watch).
I'll figure out how to post to 30" videos at that point.
12months of nonstop pool and I got a B. fml.
It's harder to make balls on the break in 6 ball than it is in 9 ball, but obviously it's easier to run 6 balls as opposed to 9 balls. I have just always loved the rotation aspect of these 2 games. It helps you be more pinpoint with position play and makes 8 ball and straight pool easier, that's for sure. Don't forget how important safties are,because you can win a lot more games in the long run with good safety play. Practice all you can stand and hopefully your desire will stay strong. More great advice within this thread was to play players that are better than you. Pay close attention to how they play and try to pick up on some things that will help your game, whether it be their shot making.position,safties,etc. Good luck.
FYI. I won't be checking back replies on this post btw. I felt I owed an update. I got to B- level or B level at times at my peak. But that was on 5 inch pockets. I eventually moved and sold that table and bought a Diamond table with the standard 4.5 inch pockets. VERY good table, and much tougher to play on. The problem is along with all of this I lost a lot of the time I had previously made available. I lost the drive along with it as other things in my life started to demand more time and attention. I tried to run a few balls the other day, after taking an 8 month layoff, and I'm basically a terrible player again. D level. I can run 5-9 balls once in a long while, but essentially my average game SUCKS. This is an incredibly demanding game.
I failed my initial goal. I ended up selling my Diamond table too. Got too many other things to do, and pool is no longer important to me. But pool was great while I obsessed over it. Good luck guys. Overall I have to say going from D to A in one year is impossible unless pool is all you do, 18 hours a day (if you can stay sane). Everyone who called BS was right. I was wrong. I'm OK with that. I definitely failed though. Anyway, good luck again, and so long...
I failed my initial goal. I ended up selling my Diamond table too. Got too many other things to do, and pool is no longer important to me. But pool was great while I obsessed over it. Good luck guys. Overall I have to say going from D to A in one year is impossible unless pool is all you do, 18 hours a day (if you can stay sane). Everyone who called BS was right. I was wrong. I'm OK with that. I definitely failed though. Anyway, good luck again, and so long...
thank you for sharing your story, and for following up with your progress.
however, the fact that you dove into pool so hard and then dove out reminds me of a bi-polar type personality (my wife has it) I would bet you have tackled other hobbies in the same way?
Best of luck to you!
however, the fact that you dove into pool so hard and then dove out reminds me of a bi-polar type personality (my wife has it) I would bet you have tackled other hobbies in the same way?
Best of luck to you!
I absolutely believe you can. I did something similar, but I don't get to play nearly that often. Someday, I plan on it. I believe what Mosconi said. Which was something like, if you want to be good, play at least 5 hours everyday. I agree with him.
Just make sure you play better players. Play all types of pool too. Different games improve different aspects. Good luck to you and I'm sure you'll get there.
Just a bit of perspective...
I took up pool after 14 years of playing snooker, and in that 14 years I had played at the highest tier, mot as the best player but I competed at least. When I turned to pool my fundamentals needed no improvement, I was hitting the ball as good as anybody and yet I really struggled against good pool players. My run out game was very unorthodox, I was looking at patterns like a snooker player and my safety play left a lot to be desired. After about a year of playing I was only probably a strong B player in match play.
People have offered you advice on playing better players and getting beat to learn your lessons. This is awful advice. The only time you want to regularly play a better player is if this better player is going to show you the ropes and take you under their wing. Most wont and will just beat you over and over for small amounts of money. Play people who will give you good competition but wont win everytime. Once you get the upper hand in beating this type of player then you can move to the next tier. It gives you more table time and you wont get frustrated by losing 90% of frames.
I think you have given yourself an unachievable time scale personally. Its only going to leave you frustrated and at risk of giving up. Like I said, after a year of playing I was only a strong B player at best. It wasn't until almost 2 years after playing something clicked and my game skyrocketed. I've been playing for about 5 years seriously now and again I've reached a plateau. I think the only way for me to improve is to move to America and hang with the very best the country has to offer. I'm not willing to make that kind of commitment, because I'm happy with my level of play. I think this is the most important thing for you...be happy with the level of play and don't try to force improvement too much. I still think you have your timescales messed up and I don't fully believe you've gone from a D to B in such a small amount of time but as long as there has been improvement its all that matters. Don't get fixated with relating improvement to a letter.
I took up pool after 14 years of playing snooker, and in that 14 years I had played at the highest tier, mot as the best player but I competed at least. When I turned to pool my fundamentals needed no improvement, I was hitting the ball as good as anybody and yet I really struggled against good pool players. My run out game was very unorthodox, I was looking at patterns like a snooker player and my safety play left a lot to be desired. After about a year of playing I was only probably a strong B player in match play.
People have offered you advice on playing better players and getting beat to learn your lessons. This is awful advice. The only time you want to regularly play a better player is if this better player is going to show you the ropes and take you under their wing. Most wont and will just beat you over and over for small amounts of money. Play people who will give you good competition but wont win everytime. Once you get the upper hand in beating this type of player then you can move to the next tier. It gives you more table time and you wont get frustrated by losing 90% of frames.
I think you have given yourself an unachievable time scale personally. Its only going to leave you frustrated and at risk of giving up. Like I said, after a year of playing I was only a strong B player at best. It wasn't until almost 2 years after playing something clicked and my game skyrocketed. I've been playing for about 5 years seriously now and again I've reached a plateau. I think the only way for me to improve is to move to America and hang with the very best the country has to offer. I'm not willing to make that kind of commitment, because I'm happy with my level of play. I think this is the most important thing for you...be happy with the level of play and don't try to force improvement too much. I still think you have your timescales messed up and I don't fully believe you've gone from a D to B in such a small amount of time but as long as there has been improvement its all that matters. Don't get fixated with relating improvement to a letter.
Mychoads
Registered
If you set more realistic goals and played for enjoyment rather than some rigid, superficial benchmark you set for yourself you might still be playing, improving, and more importantly having fun while doing so. Billiards is a frustrating pursuit. Good luck with your future endeavors.
[TL,DR] Sold the table, this game is hard lolz
FYI. I won't be checking back replies on this post btw. I felt I owed an update. I got to B- level or B level at times at my peak. But that was on 5 inch pockets. I eventually moved and sold that table and bought a Diamond table with the standard 4.5 inch pockets. VERY good table, and much tougher to play on. The problem is along with all of this I lost a lot of the time I had previously made available. I lost the drive along with it as other things in my life started to demand more time and attention. I tried to run a few balls the other day, after taking an 8 month layoff, and I'm basically a terrible player again. D level. I can run 5-9 balls once in a long while, but essentially my average game SUCKS. This is an incredibly demanding game.
I failed my initial goal. I ended up selling my Diamond table too. Got too many other things to do, and pool is no longer important to me. But pool was great while I obsessed over it. Good luck guys. Overall I have to say going from D to A in one year is impossible unless pool is all you do, 18 hours a day (if you can stay sane). Everyone who called BS was right. I was wrong. I'm OK with that. I definitely failed though. Anyway, good luck again, and so long...
Ah, now we see your "problem"...you're too honest.
Jeff Livingston
I agree with this. At around the C+ to B level, your physical game is not far from that of higher tier players. What really separates people at that level is the mental conditioning, which you simply cannot get by practicing by yourself. What I've found most useful, and have been endlessly thankful for, are B+/A and up players who will play practice sets, give me pointers, and put the pressure on me of knowing that when I make a mistake, they'll punish me for it. My game has recently skyrocketed by playing higher caliber players who force me to play smarter, after having been stuck at a C+ level for years.
Practice makes perfect
Practice is good but you need to play other players that can shoot back at you.
I have seen many practice players But when they play against another player it cuts their speed in half.
Practice is good but you need to play other players that can shoot back at you.
I have seen many practice players But when they play against another player it cuts their speed in half.
I too suggest that you get a coach, to fine tune your mechanics, maybe one that can play against you, to bring you along with proper shot selection, safety play & help you with your finesse.
Video your play, that is good feedback. If you get one of the Pool Recording programs you can do it with 2 cameras & see two angles simultaneously. Safeties, rail play for kicking & banking, 2 rail position, & even 3 & 4 rail position need learning & practice too.
Good Luck...
I agree with Kim. I think what your doing is a good way to get your confidence up and also learn your weakness' but you still need to have the confidence when you face other people. Always look for that COMPETITION. Obv having your own pool table is a huge advantage PRACTICE aspect of it but not for competitive side. You have the option to practice as much as you want. I have to set up times to hit the pool hall. I practice twice a week 2-3 hrs by myself. I practice Friday day with my buddy or whomever is at pool hall for 2-3 hours. I play Friday nights down at a bar with a 9 and ten footer with some of the locals. Then i play APA Sundays from 4-11 to face other competiton that kim is talking about. I will be starting tournaments very soon (PRESSURE). I am goin to start taking lessons with Jeremy Sossei and driving down to PA in May for a lesson with Darren Appleton. I think you need to take all the steps. PRACTICE as much as you can. Add the other things in though. Lessons. You always learn something new. The other person your facing may not know what you do OR even worse they know MORE. That is a DISADVANTAGE before you even step up to the table.
Last edited:
thanks guys, those are great recommendations. I wanted to get to a practice level of "A" on the ghost drill before seeking professional help..I'm almost there. I talked to Max Eberle about getting lessons (I'm moving to Vegas). I know there's tons of great pro players who live there now so it should be meteoric improvement assuming I stick to it. My competition vs pratice games are totally different as well and I know that's from lack of exposure. In time as I play strangers my competition game will likely come up to be somewhere closer to my practice game (maybe a ball below will be the final resting place). Thanks for the support..Will post video Sunday or Monday
Let's say you do get to A level on your own and then you go to a professional instructor and he points out flaws in your stance, stroke, etc. Will you be willing to change them because if you don't they will catch you when the pressure is on?
Believe me that it's a pool fact, if you practice as hard as you say, you will make whatever you are doing permanent and it will take twice as long to correct them.
I was in your boat, thinking I was technically perfect in grip, stance, bridge, stroke but couldn't get out of a plateau....then I took lessons and found out I was completely wrong in certain areas. Thank heavens I took them when I did because I am working to correct them now instead of ten years from now.
My advice is, go to an instructor for four hours and have him break down your fundamentals. You might not even hit a ball for the first half because you will learn how to step into the shot, etc. Believe me, it's a step that pays huge dividends in the future and your time investment on your training.
Also, any professional had proper training when starting out. Thorsten Hohmann had his coach, Shane had his family, and so on. The stories are endless. So the fastest way is through coaching.