Coach's Corner: Why fundamentals are overrated

[Tin Man]

Hey guys. I've struggled to share content through the forum because my posts tend to get too long while still just scratching the surface of what I want to say. Last month I've joined up with Cue It Up Podcast (episodes at https://cueituppodcast.com/archive) where I feel I have more of a platform to discuss the game. Starting with last week's episode we are finishing each episode with "Coach's Corner" in which I'll be providing pool instructional content.

This content will be off the table, audio only. There are a lot of amazing channels out there from people like our very own Dr. Dave, TOR, Rollie Williams, Sharivari, and many more that focus on the physical side of pool. Instead I will be addressing things like mental game, goal setting, and common misconceptions with outlook and approach that limit success. I'm sorry I don't have any entertaining videos to accompany the audio content (maybe you can listen while practicing or driving), but my hope is this format will allow me to make a bigger impact on your pool journey than I could if I tried to write this up in forum posts.

My first episode is me speaking about why I feel fundamentals are overrated and how this stunts the growth of many players, particularly those in the 500-625 FR range. Link here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5l8xhL9DcG8

Next week I'll be speaking in more depth about some of what I glossed over in the "Three Hit Drill" post from the other day as I think this answers some of the questions I raise in the first video.

Please feel free to listen and share any questions or comments here in this post. Subscribe if you'd like to support my efforts and be notified of the new videos. Also, if there are topics you'd like to hear me discuss in more depth please let me know. I have some ideas but am open to having this be interactive with me taking questions from AZB members or Cue It Up Forum followers and speaking about them during this segment. Keep hitting 'em good!

 

[iusedtoberich]

That was nice I enjoyed listening.

I agree with your thoughts. My own game has improved the most from my recollections when I learned new shots/patterns/position routes, etc. Much more so then practicing my stroke or stance or eye pattern.

One good way to illustrate this is with one pocket, or 3 cushion. You could have a player with great 9 ball knowledge and accomplishment, but if they are new to one pocket or 3 cushion, they will be lost. For every new shot they learn in those two games, their speed will quickly come up.

Now if you apply that same logic to the player's main game (9 ball in this instance), the player will probably get the most bang for the buck practicing "new to them" shots/patterns/position routes, etc, in their 9 ball practice time.

I remember one thing in particular my first couple of years of serious play, I had lots of trouble with inside English. Couldn't make anything. I said to myself I have to figure this out. So for a few days straight, I hit everything with inside to figure it out. After that, I basically had twice as many options of how to hit the ball, and subsequently twice as many shot options on any given shot.

 

[Hits 'em Hard]

My first episode is me speaking about why I feel fundamentals are overrated and how this stunts the growth of many players, particularly those in the 500-625 FR range.

Haven’t listened but I have a feeling you’re misrepresenting what fundamentals are. The ability to have a steady and secure bridge hand, ability to correctly align yourself to the shot/cue line, and the ability to deliver the cue to maximize efficiency. Those are the basic fundamentals that every pro out there has. Without those three things, a player will never achieve pro status.

The comfort level of player is what determines their level of play. If I’ve never practiced a shot, my chances of making it in competition is low. One needs to be able to find consistency in delivery of the cue before they can ever have hope to have consistency of executing a shot. Many players can turn off their thinking switch and make all the shots in the world they’ve previous made. But ask them to perform a shot outside their skill set and they fail every time.

I’ve seen an APA 3 from Chicago, perfect fundamentals. But all he could do was hit center ball. No route or speed control.

I see more people hit a brick wall in their development because they don’t understand the deflection when using side. Not because they get stuck on fundamentals. The simple idea that someone is failing to improve because they spend to much on fundamentals is flawed. It’s basic stats that mean most players will never be good. It’s called a bell curve, and it applies to everything in life. There’s always the top end good, bottom end bad, and a whole lot of basic in the middle. Ever have that one car that was perfect and not constantly breaking? Well someone else has one that is just breaking constantly. And everyone else’s breaks in a certain range. Fundamentals aren’t like that.

Fundamentals are the base of your game. You didn’t learn to run before you learned to stand. You don’t need to learn deflection if you can’t repeatedly setup in the same manner. And if you’re not setting yourself up in a repeatable way, how can you ever learn proper shots if they are always looking a slight bit different due to incorrect alignment?

 

[mnsneakypete]

I can't speak for Tinman, but I suppose he is simply saying that fundamentals may not be the primary reason a person in the 500-600 range is failing to improve. Everyone can improve their fundamentals, but if you routinely cross your shape zone or overuse English, your progress will be slowed or may completely halt. I found his comments to be extremely encouraging in that he does not consider his fundamentals or cueball control to be perfect, but he can run a helluva lot more racks than me and compete at the highest level - because he plays the pattern percentages much better than me. I know I can improve in that department so I'm pumped. Its not some mythical monster stroke I'm lacking.

Thanks Tinman. I need to get back to MN sometime and get a lesson.

 

[Tin Man]

thank you

I can't speak for Tinman, but I suppose he is simply saying that fundamentals may not be the primary reason a person in the 500-600 range is failing to improve. Everyone can improve their fundamentals, but if you routinely cross your shape zone or overuse English, your progress will be slowed or may completely halt. I found his comments to be extremely encouraging in that he does not consider his fundamentals or cueball control to be perfect, but he can run a helluva lot more racks than me and compete at the highest level - because he plays the pattern percentages much better than me. I know I can improve in that department so I'm pumped. Its not some mythical monster stroke I'm lacking.

Thanks Tinman. I need to get back to MN sometime and get a lesson.

Thank you all for the replies.

I'll admit that my title was chosen to be a bit provocative. Of course fundamentals are very important and it would be impossible to play anything beyond recreational level without the ability to deliver the cue stick where you are intending.

Sneaky, you nailed it. Many of the players I've coached are in the 550-620 FargoRate range. As a whole they are as good as I am when it comes to fundamentals and shot making. Yet many came here convinced they had all of the knowledge about the game and just needed help improving fundamentals and consistency. When I watch them play I have without fail seen major leaks in the way they go about their patterns. Sometimes because they don't give it enough priority, other times because they don't recognize what's superior, and other times because they are missing some cue ball tools. And many times there is a lot of room to improve in terms of mental game.

Nick Varner and Ralf Souquet are two of my pool heroes. They both got to the highest levels of pool without doing anything that looked beyond the reach of your average player. But they learned to manage their minds. Strong attitudes, focus, competitive fire, knowledge of the cue ball and the games they were playing, and they were able to get in the ring and hold up against the straightest and most explosive shooters in the world. I am certainly not at the top level but strive to follow their lead. Of course they were fundamentally solid as well, and fundamentals are always something to pay attention to on the journey. But there is more to the game than our stroke, and the day we lose our passion to develop all of our skills is the day we stop growing.

Good luck to all and thank you for the conversation!

 

[duckie]

In other, players do not know how to properly train themselves.

The key is to know your weaknesses, then practice those weaknesses, until those weaknesses are strengths. Just practicing your strengths will not improve your game. A opponent will spot your weakness and can use it against you in safety play.

This requires to have honest assessment about your current skill level.

If you are practicing and making everything.......than you are either the greatest player around or you are not practicing tough shots........your weaknesses.

Competition is really a test of how well you practice. You suck in competition, your practice routine is the reason.

See, ya don’t need a lot of words.......

 

[MattPoland]

I referenced Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs in another thread as it comes to the importance of parts of a cue.

Here’s a different look at it as it comes to pool skill development. I think it’s relevant here because this thread is about the relevance of the top of pyramid.

The interesting this is that most pool education follows something like this in how it structures it’s curriculum of lessons or the order of the chapters on a DVD.


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