amateur question, trading pacing for skill

If I could jump to being an A player overnight, no I would not trade. I have an rather fast rhythm and a lot of times I one stroke it. Taking 20-30 seconds to take practice strokes does not float my boat at this point in time.
 
ctyhntr said:
If there was a magic bullet, would you trade becoming extremely slow to improve?
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I think it is a rhetorical question. Simply you cannot improve without getting faster.

> Ralf

Ralf is a robot. A great example of "pre-shot" routine.
 
I think the best thing I did to improve my game, was slow way down on my pre-shot routine. Especially precision tends to suffer greatly when I want to go too fast.

Also I take a bit more time in the conceptualization phase, to be sure what I want the cueball to do. Otherwise I leave it to chance and I don't trust my luck so much.

And lastly, for me execution must be as precise and deliberate as possible, which also means taking a bit more time.

So add it all up, and I guess I can be called a slow player. Well aware of that. Ask me if I care! :grin:
 
pwd72s said:
Really depends on the individual and the shot at hand. Personally, I miss a lot when I overthink a shot. But I can also miss when I go too fast, thinking a shot is easy, then getting sloppy.

Rule # 1: There are no easy shots in pool.
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This is a false statement. There really are no difficult shots in pool, it is repeatable execution that is difficult.
 
CGM said:
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This is a false statement. There really are no difficult shots in pool, it is repeatable execution that is difficult.
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Tap tap tap

I was told long ago, if you deem some shots easy, and others difficult, you are giving yourself a built in excuse for missing the shots you need more work on.

Treat every shot the same, respect them all, and focus on execution.

The measure of how good someone plays, in large part, boils down to how many times they can execute correctly in a row.

5 perfect executions then a mistake, probably wont get you through a rack of 9 ball. 45+/- perfect executions in a row, and you just ran 5 racks.
 
One of my opponents in BCA Vegas championships played so slow I seriously thought about calling a ref over to witness it. In fact, in the finals his team was called out for excessive slow play. This guy would have a dead nuts 3 ball out, like three stop shots for the win, and he would study each shot from every possible angle before shooting. I honestly believe it was strategic. Rarely does any shot require more than a minute or so of planning. Super slow players often play so slow because they know their opponent gets more chair time, not because they have a superior level of focus that has become their "magic bullet".

With that said, I have learned to handle slow play quite well. And I think it's funny how a player can take 15 minutes to run 5 balls, all wide open shots, then miss, and then I clean up that game and snap off two more racks, all in less than 5 minutes.

A good PSR and solid shot planning are not products of time, but products of clear thinking. In other words, clear/uncluttered thinking will do more for your game than taking 30 to 50 practice strokes or overanalyzing every shot for several minutes. So I can't imagine any "magic bullet" being dependent on time.
 
SJM,

Thank you for breaking this down. My problem is Slow Conceptualization. Usually I can't see past two balls, and afraid if I spend more time conceptualizing, it will aggravate my opponent. In a recent 8-ball Scotch Doubles tournament, spending the extra time did produce two run-outs for me partner. The second run-out of the day was at double hill for the finals. In that situation, I felt justified spending the extra time.

I have a pre-shot routine, and should use the reset more often rather than stay down and adjust.

I have no trouble with Slow Shot Execution. A common critique for me is I shoot too fast and don't take my time. On some safeties, I've been known to complete my shot before my opponent had time to sit down.

Thank you everyone for responding and confirming my suspicions.

sjm said:
I'm going to dissent here and say yes, but with some qualification.

There are three types of slow:

Slow Conceptualization
There are those who spend a long time on choosing their shot. These players take too long to analyze the table. To write them off as overthinking is silly, for many of them are just a bit deficient in the process of organizing their thoughts in evaluating the table. Many such players have gone on to be great players, with the great Ralf Souquet a good example.

Slow Pre-Shot Routine
Some, once they have made their shot choice, waste a lot of time before they get over the cue ball. Some of them go on to be great players, with the great Jeremy Jones a good example.

Slow Shot Execution
Others get over the cue ball and seem to take forever before they fire. These players usually pay a price for this habit, which often evidences uncertainty about the choice they have made.

I think a player should be willing to become a slower player if they need more time in their conceptualization. Over time, their ability to evaluate the table will speed up again as their table assessment skills improve.

I do not think a player should be willing to embrace a lethargic pre-shot routine or become super slow over the cue ball, because this, far too often, will prove an unbreakable habit that will alienate both fans and opponents.

Taking more time to plan is OK, but once the decision is made, get on with it. At least that's my philosophy.
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BC21 said:
A good PSR and solid shot planning are not products of time, but products of clear thinking. In other words, clear/uncluttered thinking will do more for your game than taking 30 to 50 practice strokes or overanalyzing every shot for several minutes.
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Much truth here! :smile:

I wish I could always keep a clear head that just produces thoughts about the shot at hand, in any circumstance. Darn mental side of the game, the guy who invented that should be kicked in the shin.
 
ctyhntr said:
SJM,

Thank you for breaking this down. My problem is Slow Conceptualization. Usually I can't see past two balls, and afraid if I spend more time conceptualizing, it will aggravate my opponent. In a recent 8-ball Scotch Doubles tournament, spending the extra time did produce two run-outs for me partner. The second run-out of the day was at double hill for the finals. In that situation, I felt justified spending the extra time.

I have a pre-shot routine, and should use the reset more often rather than stay down and adjust.

I have no trouble with Slow Shot Execution. A common critique for me is I shoot too fast and don't take my time. On some safeties, I've been known to complete my shot before my opponent had time to sit down.

Thank you everyone for responding and confirming my suspicions.
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The best way to improve on that regard is to watch professionals play. YouTube is your friend here. I watch a lot of pool, it is very rarely because I care about the match results. I am watching to learn how successful players go about being successful and also ways that successful players could improve.

When you watch think as if you were at the table. Go through your conceptual process as if you were playing the shot. If they shoot before you figure it out, you'll just have to learn to be quicker. This will give you a lot of opportunities to conceptualize shooting without the consequences of improper decisions. If their decision wasn't what you had in mind take a second to understand why they chose that option instead. Hint, they may not always be right.

You will find that your mental processes will speed up with practice. A lot of speed comes from comfort with a situation. I.e. having seen it before.

Don't rush execution though. Once you know what you want to do every shot should be executed with the exact same rhythm, no faster, no slower.

I do this process whenever I watch anyone play pool, ever, no matter their skill level. It's all practice.

Sent from my LG-H918 using Tapatalk
 
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erhino41 said:
The best way to improve on that regard is to watch professionals play. YouTube is your friend here. I watch a lot of pool, it is very rarely because I care about the match results. I am watching to learn how successful players go about being successful and also ways that successful players could improve.

When you watch think as if you were at the table. Go through your conceptual process as if you were playing the shot. If they shoot before you figure it out, you'll just have to learn to be quicker. This will give you a lot of opportunities to conceptualize shooting without the consequences of improper decisions. If their decision wasn't what you had in mind take a second to understand why they chose that option instead. Hint, they may not always be right.

You will find that your mental processes will speed up with practice. A lot of speed comes from comfort with a situation. I.e. having seen it before.

Don't rush execution though. Once you know what you want to do every shot should be executed with the exact same rhythm, no faster, no slower.

I do this process whenever I watch anyone play pool, ever, no matter their skill level. It's all practice.

Sent from my LG-H918 using Tapatalk
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Great advice here. This is also how I watch a match.
 
I like to watch matches like erhino41.
What I notice is the true master minimizes
movement.
There is nothing extra.

Efren is a great example.
He walks around the table just enough to
see what he needs to do, stops behind the shot
to conceptualize, slides his back foot into his stance,
loosens the arm enough to hit it smooth, and executes.
Every time the same way. From the 80's to today with
Unnatural consistency. Complete confidence.
The speed at which he conceptualizes his "Efren" shots
is unbelievable. A true expert.

Watching amateurs is good for contrast.
Too much walking around the table.
Excessive foot movements to get into the stance.
Alot of air strokes to release nervous energy.
Thinking too long whilst walking around or
trying to conceptualize the shot.
Less than 100% confidence in the stroke.

I like to watch both to see where to minimize
movements and streamline the process.

Every person has their own natural speed but I feel
all amateurs and even some pros will benefit from
eliminating wasted movements.
 
This is one of the hardest parts. First thing is I try to keep from being over burdened mentally on days I'm going to shoot. Don't pick a fight with the wife or try to solve some of life's big problems before going to the pool hall.

That can be advice that is impossible to follow. Life happens and pool is a great release, if only temporary, from real world issues.

When I can't shut my outside thinking brain off, I use two techniques to cope. The first one is active breathing, in for three, hold for three out, for three. This process engages the part of the brain that runs amok with randomness.

The second technique is to keep a simple running dialog to myself about the shot I am about to execute. Simply describing to myself exactly what I am about to do. This is fantastic at focusing only on pool and nothing else.

Give those a try and see if they work for you.

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hotelyorba said:
Much truth here!



I wish I could always keep a clear head that just produces thoughts about the shot at hand, in any circumstance. Darn mental side of the game, the guy who invented that should be kicked in the shin.
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I meant to quote this above. Tapatalk is still giving me trouble sometimes.

Sent from my LG-H918 using Tapatalk
 
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While on the subject of breathing. The first thing you are taught when learning to shoot a gun, asides from safety, is breath control. Breath, exhale, shoot.

It is taught this way for two reasons. First, a freshly oxygenated brain is better at doing stuff. Second, the muscles used to hold air effect your bodies ability to be stable, leading to inconsistencies.

I use this same practice when I play pool. I find if I take a deep breath wheni step on the shot line and exhale as I am getting down, my natural respiratory pause is the perfect amount of time for execution.



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