Hours, weeks, months, years, and I’m still lousy

Find a practice partner/companion, someone who is a lot better than you. Set up practice sessions on a weekly basis
for a month or so. Question him/her on why you shot this that way or why not this pattern? You know after just a couple
of weeks if this helping your game and psyche.
 
Post up some video of your stance, stroke and pre-shot.
Get into a pool hall. Find an instructor that is qualified and spend a few hours to get your stoke analyzed. Hopefully video.
Most students are amazed when they see themselves shoot.
What your mind is teaching your body to do may be harmful practice.
I feel your frustration and tension. Pool is not easy. Get out and play. Some of the best people I know are pool players
Someone else said, go and immerse yourself in this wonderful game that will keep you humble.
Someone has also said,” hang your ego on the imaginary hook when you walk in the door of a pool hall.”
I think you shoot better than you think you do. If you make mistakes in competition and we all do. You will learn from them.
 
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In the words of Robert Byrne
1. Take lessons
2. Compete (handicap yourself even in casual games so you have to play your best to win)
3. Learn all you can. With YouTube there’s no excuse for not knowing anything or what to practice. (The danger now is getting overwhelmed with info)
4. Practice. Drills,drills, drills. Poor practice is worse than no practice at all.
 
I would also reevaluate whether your getting any real benefit from pivoting on the shot or CTE but if it actually improves your consistency then stick with it.
 
Canuckpool1976 said:
In the words of Robert Byrne
1. Take lessons
2. Compete (handicap yourself even in casual games so you have to play your best to win)
3. Learn all you can. With YouTube there’s no excuse for not knowing anything or what to practice. (The danger now is getting overwhelmed with info)
4. Practice. Drills,drills, drills. Poor practice is worse than no practice at all.
Click to expand...
Totally agree with the last sentence. If you see you are getting sloppy, refocus. If that does not work then stop until you are rested and regain your focus. Bad practice can spiral into a slump. As an older player the one thing to be aware of is fatigue. That is to me my biggest disadvantage as once you get stiff and sore or tired your play can (will) degrade. Rest up before playing and don't over warmup and leave your best play on the practice table.
 
To add clarification to the OP’s statement:

“Sure i can throw 9 balls out on the table and shoot them in rotation MOST of the time”

That’s effectively the 9-ball ghost (the more even spread of just throwing them out there is mostly offset by the guaranteed wing ball in the 9-ball break and control of the 1-ball). This is level 14 on the RDS system out of 16, and correlates to a Fargo 690-729, or more than likely the best player in the area.

Ref: Dr Dave’s site



And from the Fargo rate site:

FargoRate

FargoRate owns and maintains the rating system known as Fargo Ratings. These ratings rank pool players worldwide and from any skill level on the same scale.
www.fargorate.com
700A top regional player in the US – There are about 300 players at this level in the United States. – a threat to run six in a row if the break is working. World-Class female player.
 
judochoke said:
What is it with this game? I put the time in, i watch videos, i buy training aids, i give my heart and soul to this game. And get nothing in return? Sure, i can get lucky and run a 9 ball rack once in a while. Sure i can throw 9 balls out on the table and shoot them in rotation MOST of the time. All of the time usually with one or two small position errors. Big deal

was going to go to my local pool hall tonight for there weekly 9 ball tournament, and i happened to look on you tube, and they had some past matches, (from last week), so i watched some matches. (They live stream the weekly tournament)

and this older Asian guy, just didn’t miss. At all. He shot very easy, got position on every shot, looked like his eyes were closed. He shot very unbelievable low key, just boom, boom boom, game over. his opponent only got a shot when he played safe. he took the most easy route on every shot, perfect position each time. Little 6- 8 inch movements. I started crying a little watching him. I cant do that.

has he been playing for 30 years? Is he semi pro? What do i have to do to shoot like him? Play and practice for 20 years? I’m 65, I have to wait till I’m 85 to shoot like that?

It’s not fair. (Sorry for crying like a baby, but I was shocked at how easy a non pro made it look)
Click to expand...
Get the stoke down first. Said many times here before by others - watch these. I had a lesson with Mark Wilson as did my friend and we both benefited greatly. Mark says this is the hardest thing you'll ever do and I can't disagree. It takes a long time to believe in your stroke so you can automatically get down on the table and execute your plan.

 
I often muse on the saying "Pool is a simple game played by complicated people". I kinda like that. Simplifies the concept that we often 'overthink' the game and that's what lands us in trouble. Keep it all as simple as possible - let the CB do what it wants, commit to the stroke, don't use a longer BS than you need, FOLLOW THROUGH (to impart action on the CB) even with soft shots, focus laser like attention on the OB just before your shot, STAY DOWN. Don't worry about the shot, invariably if you clutter your mind with what you 'shouldn't do', it'll happen (scratch etc) Stay positive. Remember - if he isn't at the table, he can't do a thing.
 
tomatoshooter said:
Exactly! And almost no one wants to practice, they want to play. You might see a particular troublesome shot once every 2 racks, if your pattern play is on point, you might be able to avoid it more than that. But if you set it up and shoot it a dozen times a day for a week it won't be a problem shot much longer. The next time you see it you can deal with it, maybe even be able to play position on it to connect the rest of the run.
Click to expand...
I set up problem shots and shoot them until they aren’t a problem. That process might take a week, month or a year.

Look at SVB practice. He’s been shooting the same long shots off the rail for the last 15 years that I’ve known him-longer I’m certain.

He shoots his problem shots practicing constantly. He showed me a few of his problems 12-13 years ago, I still see him shooting them to this day.

Practicing alone is great when you know what your practicing. And have a reason to practice/

Basement pool with no guidance or reason is a 99% waste of time for 99% of players.

Have to get out learn what and why to practice and how to practice as well.

Getting board is a issue too, there’s ways to change things up so you don’t get board but can still get good solid deliberate practice in. Banging balls is NEVER practice.

You have to practice practicing.

And play other people, with purpose and reason. League, touenry, gambol, what ever it takes to put a fire under your ass and give playing better a real reason.

Then and only then will a person improve. And for 99.99671742% of people that a very very slow progression that only grows slower as you improve.

All I got,

Fatboy<——-misses playing sometimes
 
Its a lot different playing at home than getting out and playing in a tournament. Go play in the tournament do not worry about winning or getting beat. Getting out of house playing in tournaments will help your game. Do not let your ego get in the way of having fun playing this great game
 
Also...

motivation.jpg


pj
chgo
 
judochoke said:
....

It’s not fair. (Sorry for crying like a baby, but I was shocked at how easy a non pro made it look)
Click to expand...
Have you ever had an instructor check out your basic mechanics?

For all anyone here knows, your bridge hand moves half an inch on some shots. Your grip hand is never the same twice. Your stroke goes left-to-right across the ball any time you hit a little harder. Most players, especially those who are self-taught, have mechanics problems.
 
Bob Jewett said:
Have you ever had an instructor check out your basic mechanics?

For all anyone here knows, your bridge hand moves half an inch on some shots. Your grip hand is never the same twice. Your stroke goes left-to-right across the ball any time you hit a little harder. Most players, especially those who are self-taught, have mechanics problems.
Click to expand...
If the OP doesn't at least acknowledge and thank you for that sound advice, Bob, I don't think any more electrons should be sent his way by any AZBer.

Simple civil, appreciative behavior on any forum where you're the OP advice-seeker.

Arnaldo
 
arnaldo said:
If the OP doesn't at least acknowledge and thank you for that sound advice, Bob, I don't think any more electrons should be sent his way by any AZBer.

Simple civil, appreciative behavior on any forum where you're the OP advice-seeker.

Arnaldo
Click to expand...
Bob always has some of the best advice here, we are fortunate for his contributions. When I have the time, I should make my way down to the bay for some in person coaching.
 
Bob Jewett said:
Have you ever had an instructor check out your basic mechanics?

For all anyone here knows, your bridge hand moves half an inch on some shots. Your grip hand is never the same twice. Your stroke goes left-to-right across the ball any time you hit a little harder. Most players, especially those who are self-taught, have mechanics problems.
Click to expand...

This was me. A couple years ago I purchased the latest Jerry Briesath instructional video, and after following his advice on basic basic fundamentals I never realized how poor mine were. I’ve really improved and become much more consistent as a result.
 
cjr3559 said:
This was me. A couple years ago I purchased the latest Jerry Briesath instructional video, and after following his advice on basic basic fundamentals I never realized how poor mine were. I’ve really improved and become much more consistent as a result.
Click to expand...
And that was just from a video. A lot of times I know proper form but fail to see where I am lacking.
 
tomatoshooter said:
Bob always has some of the best advice here, we are fortunate for his contributions. When I have the time, I should make my way down to the bay for some in person coaching.
Click to expand...
Bob Jewett's astonishingly well-credentialed skills as a BCA-certified instructor and his superb technical background are masterfully chronicled here:

https://engineering.berkeley.edu/news/2017/01/bob-jewetts-double-life-2/

About a seven-minute read and well worth taking the time to do so for AZB newbies and oldtimers alike.

Arnaldo ~ You'll see that the pool world continues to be greatly in his debt. What a prolific informational and instructive output for many decades.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
Justaneng said:
To add clarification to the OP’s statement:

“Sure i can throw 9 balls out on the table and shoot them in rotation MOST of the time”

That’s effectively the 9-ball ghost (the more even spread of just throwing them out there is mostly offset by the guaranteed wing ball in the 9-ball break and control of the 1-ball). This is level 14 on the RDS system out of 16, and correlates to a Fargo 690-729, or more than likely the best player in the area.

Ref: Dr Dave’s site



And from the Fargo rate site:

FargoRate

FargoRate owns and maintains the rating system known as Fargo Ratings. These ratings rank pool players worldwide and from any skill level on the same scale.
www.fargorate.com
700A top regional player in the US – There are about 300 players at this level in the United States. – a threat to run six in a row if the break is working. World-Class female player.
Click to expand...

He is most likely not correct about the ability to actually run out 9 balls in order "most of the time", it is very likely closer to a few times out of 10 or less. Most players have a tendency to look at their best 5% of games and put that down as their actual skill level. Anyone that can run out even 6 of 10 racks playing the 9 ball ghost is a strong player. There is a ghost playing thread on here, would be nice to see how he does in video, and that way it would show any issues that need to be looked at.
 
Justaneng said:
To add clarification to the OP’s statement:

“Sure i can throw 9 balls out on the table and shoot them in rotation MOST of the time”

That’s effectively the 9-ball ghost (the more even spread of just throwing them out there is mostly offset by the guaranteed wing ball in the 9-ball break and control of the 1-ball). This is level 14 on the RDS system out of 16, and correlates to a Fargo 690-729, or more than likely the best player in the area.

Ref: Dr Dave’s site



And from the Fargo rate site:

FargoRate

FargoRate owns and maintains the rating system known as Fargo Ratings. These ratings rank pool players worldwide and from any skill level on the same scale.
www.fargorate.com
700A top regional player in the US – There are about 300 players at this level in the United States. – a threat to run six in a row if the break is working. World-Class female player.
Click to expand...
Its not the 9-ball ghost. It is much easier because there rarely are any trouble spots: No real clusters to deal with and no tied up pockets or combos. ie: it is so much easier than the real ghost. It is also known as the 'soft ghost'.
 
tomatoshooter said:
And that was just from a video. A lot of times I know proper form but fail to see where I am lacking.
Click to expand...

I was not delivering the cue straight on every shot. Steering, deceleration, head movement, jerky stroke, and eye patterns were all prevalent and poor. No preshot routine, consistent stance, or shot visualization to speak of. And the king of all pointers I learned was having a slow backswing.

Only after building good fundamentals can I better progress to the next step which is truly understanding cue ball control and behavior.
 
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