Rusty in Montana
Well-known member
Wakuljr , I'd say that's a safe bet he's from Montana .which then means there are at least 3 of us here from the Treasure State !
What do you do ..when putting in the work doesnt work?
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Keith thompson
Well-known member
Search for post by Keith Thompson and read my practice post! 14-1 is the best way to up your game. If your 14-1 game improves all other pocket billiard games have improved also! I haven’t made many post so it’s just one of about 20 or so.
Stop over thinking it and relax. even if it just means taking a bit of time off. Most anytime I get in a rut it's that I'm thinking when I should be in a trance like state not thinking so much as doing. thinking too much is only for practice and learning. relaxing and doing is for shooting and winning.
This is not a legal opinion and does not necessarily represent this station or it's sponsors.
Wow, I read some of your old posts and now know you were a legit champion player from the 70’s! Do you still play? Are you still playing strong today?
Keith thompson
Well-known member
I went cold turkey in 72 and haven’t practiced hardly at all! There was nothing there unless you enjoyed staying broke lol. Worked at champion papers for four plus years and then Shell oil for 34 years and retired from there with a good pension check and saved quite a bit of money in their saving plans 401k. Retired when I was 58 years old and am a widower. Have two children and two grand children!
DeeDeeCues
Well-known member
The book that helped me the most after 'The Inner Game of Tennis', is 'Sports Psyching'. https://www.amazon.com/SPORTS-PSYCHING-Playing-Your-Best/dp/0874771366
I might still have a copy I could let you borrow, if you are in the Gallatin Valley area. It was given to me by a friend who was the world #3 rated female foosball player at the time. Immensely helpful in determining motivations for playing and player type. For instance, I was frustrated with not winning at foosball or pool, but the book got me to think honestly about what I valued most while playing. I realized that I wanted to 'look good' more than I truly wanted to win. This meant that if I made one awesome shot in a match, I was going to be happy-ish. Knowing this, I was able to work on my motivation in both endeavors. I started winning more and having more fun when I didn't win...or make a god-level shot.
Fundamentals aren't everything, if you have more than 7-8yrs, they probably aren't what are standing in your way, and from your post, the pursuit of perfect fundamentals may be causing your problem.
Add some speed pool to your routine. I had a slow-playing friend do this for a couple of games and he was amazed that his skills didn't really drop off. Play with your opposite hand for a few games--this really makes you think about setting up. Think of these as two methods of cross-training for your brain--your brain loves new things.
I hear ya brother, I'm pretty much in the same spot. Not as analytical as you, no instructors, no video lessons, but the same spot. Let's review, take two weeks and quit. Not if you want to get better at pool. Bowling, ditto. Regular lessons by a qualified instructor. This would be great, if available and manageable. Irrelevant, for most. More tournaments and more gambling, almost worthless, unless something else changes. The traditional pool hall scenario, almost nonexistent, for most. Taking notes, on your practice and match results. Excellent, if done well. Making elite decisions at the table. Not possible, we aren't elite players. Making better decisions at the table. Ah yes, this is key. Should you model your decisions at the table after elite players? No, different skill sets.
So, what to do? Watch your peers, and yourself, take notes. Watch amateur 8 ball matches. Players in the 500 to 630 range. What do they do well, where do they fail? How does it relate to your game? Watch them brick easy shots, why did it happen? Watch them make stupid decisions, after missing position. Watch them make poor decisions, when things don't go well.
Make better decisions at the table. This will lead to more success, which may snowball.
I have recently adopted this strategy. It has led to the first bump, in my game, for quite a while.
Shoot well, good luck with your game!
I didn't feel like using the forum search. Those are notoriously unreliable. But, since it's you...
sudocrushms
Well-known member
As others have said: get coaching.
First thing i do is analyze video of myself. GoPro footage has helped me with pool, bowling, my softball swing, and even my posture on my bikes. Seeing yourself can be a game changer.
Another thing I like to do is scenario practice: I watch *loads* of pro matches (usually over a beer at a taproom). When i see an awkward table, interesting position shot, etc I'll screen capture the overhead view on my tablet. Then I'll set it up the next time I'm at the table and try to play it out.
Example: I spent like 20 minutes on that 6-7 combo Fedor missed at Mosconi. I thought there were a couple safety options that would have been better than playing the combo. After setting it up the 6-7 didn't look as long as it did on camera.
I have a whole folder of screenshots like this. Makes for great mental/shot-making exercise.
First thing i do is analyze video of myself. GoPro footage has helped me with pool, bowling, my softball swing, and even my posture on my bikes. Seeing yourself can be a game changer.
Another thing I like to do is scenario practice: I watch *loads* of pro matches (usually over a beer at a taproom). When i see an awkward table, interesting position shot, etc I'll screen capture the overhead view on my tablet. Then I'll set it up the next time I'm at the table and try to play it out.
Example: I spent like 20 minutes on that 6-7 combo Fedor missed at Mosconi. I thought there were a couple safety options that would have been better than playing the combo. After setting it up the 6-7 didn't look as long as it did on camera.
I have a whole folder of screenshots like this. Makes for great mental/shot-making exercise.
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Where is it posted
Ive actually read this book twice
Practice
I’ve read post that some of you’ve made about practice habits to improve your game wether it be 9 ball, one hole, snooker or whatever. If any of you want to take your game to a higher level practice 14 and 1 for 2-3 months a few times a week. Place a makeable ball near the rack and pocket the...
forums.azbilliards.com
I started laughing allot a few minutes ago about this statement,
I heard it often during the 60's and 70's when gambling in billiard rooms was in all states.
It was when the lamb kept getting the beat down and was always losing.
I was told this a few times, till I got better and better.
GET A JOB
By no means am I making fun of the OP, just amusing myself having been told after losing to get a job. Makes em come back Quicker LOL
Really....worked.
What do you do ..when putting in the work doesnt work?
I heard it often during the 60's and 70's when gambling in billiard rooms was in all states.
It was when the lamb kept getting the beat down and was always losing.
I was told this a few times, till I got better and better.
GET A JOB
By no means am I making fun of the OP, just amusing myself having been told after losing to get a job
. Makes em come back Quicker LOLReally....worked.
I’ve said this many times on AZB; work on that which you want to be better. When putting in the work, doesn’t work, work on the part that didn’t work! What result made you decide the work wasn’t working? Change your “work” to “work” on that skill.
Let’s say your math test results are below your expectation. If you’re doing well at addition, subtraction and multiplication but you struggle with division, work on division! No reason to work on all 4 equally, while your division continues to fall behind.
I really think this fits all. If you want to get better at winning, play people you can win against. If you want to get better at pocketing balls, practice pocketing balls. If you want to get better at cue ball position, practice cue ball position. There isn’t a zero sum or end game to the pool journey. It continues for as long as you play; rinse and repeat.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Let’s say your math test results are below your expectation. If you’re doing well at addition, subtraction and multiplication but you struggle with division, work on division! No reason to work on all 4 equally, while your division continues to fall behind.
I really think this fits all. If you want to get better at winning, play people you can win against. If you want to get better at pocketing balls, practice pocketing balls. If you want to get better at cue ball position, practice cue ball position. There isn’t a zero sum or end game to the pool journey. It continues for as long as you play; rinse and repeat.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
GET OUT OF THE RUTS!
Rainman would say, "I am an excellent off road driver".
Explore the interesting.
An Efren bio included his watching for interesting "shit" that novice players made happen. Then afterwards set it up and practiced it.......to grandmaster level. His incredible cueball control over all Distance was far superior to the competition.
if bored with 9 ball, find a billiards game or challenge. Gotta close with a plug for the Kicks Like A Mule training program. It can be a fun and amusing amphibious show. So yeah tape it with the smart phone. Watch.....giggle. erase. Try it again.
could be fun.
Rainman would say, "I am an excellent off road driver".
Explore the interesting.
An Efren bio included his watching for interesting "shit" that novice players made happen. Then afterwards set it up and practiced it.......to grandmaster level. His incredible cueball control over all Distance was far superior to the competition.
if bored with 9 ball, find a billiards game or challenge. Gotta close with a plug for the Kicks Like A Mule training program. It can be a fun and amusing amphibious show. So yeah tape it with the smart phone. Watch.....giggle. erase. Try it again.
could be fun.
Basic math came easy. I excelled till college where I fell behind due to other interests.
go figure. ConstConstruction I say financed my retirement. Foghorn Leghorn flashback
oh well. Construction starts. Self analysis only goes so far but better than not. So examine your base or shooting platform for basic triangle strength.
THen balance all the way down to the floor. Now up and to the ceiling
Then the Iron Cross.
sorry. The fitness program. Keith thompson
Well-known member
Click on the 3 bars up in left hand corner, go down to search and click, click on Posted By and type in Keith Thompson and all my post will come up, click on the Post “practice “, that’s the best way to make yourself a better player.
Practice 14-1 a couple times a week for 8-10 weeks and if you improve at 14-1 all your other pocket billiard games will have improved also!
I only have one page of post so it’s not hard to find that post!
Ghost of OBC
Well-known member
Here you go.
Practice
I’ve read post that some of you’ve made about practice habits to improve your game wether it be 9 ball, one hole, snooker or whatever. If any of you want to take your game to a higher level practice 14 and 1 for 2-3 months a few times a week. Place a makeable ball near the rack and pocket the...
forums.azbilliards.com
Verify if you are practicing effectively. You may be practicing things that are too comfortable for you. You may need to try or to be shown things that are very uncomfortable, and then learn how they can become comfortable. After you learn about this new learning, you’ll get a better feeling of progress.
For example. Practice full diagonal table stop shots from inside the pocket. 10 in a row. It’ll suck. Or three L one pocket drills in a row. Or some other 15 ball drill. No one likes to spend all day not accomplishing a single drill successfully. But it is where the improvement lives. When you end up surprising yourself you’ll feel better.
No need for an instructor. Just discipline of a single goal at a time.
For example. Practice full diagonal table stop shots from inside the pocket. 10 in a row. It’ll suck. Or three L one pocket drills in a row. Or some other 15 ball drill. No one likes to spend all day not accomplishing a single drill successfully. But it is where the improvement lives. When you end up surprising yourself you’ll feel better.
No need for an instructor. Just discipline of a single goal at a time.
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Figure out a way to enjoy the process or it will all become futile.