HOW TO MAKE YOUR LUCK ?
First off, Earl Strickland is right about the International Pro Tour and Kevin Trudeau. At the end of the match when Racheal Abbink interviewed him, he showed a lot of clarity of thought about the value of the International Pro Tour and Kevin Trudeau. The players while still owed money have continued to receive payments, the debt being whittled down and the players? pockets becoming fuller. These incremental payments amount to more money than the players could ever hope to win in most pool tournaments. The earnings that the pool players made during those times were incredible numbers and Kevin Trudeau with all of his warts continues to pay off the debt. As Johnny Archer said, he knows Kevin could have left the pool scene and went on to other things. Archer said he thinks Kevin is crazy for continuing but that he is grateful that Kevin continues to show an interest in pool and the IPT. Earl also admonished those who continue to discredit the IPT and Kevin Trudeau and I think he is ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. While Kevin could certainly have done things differently and better, he continues to right the wrongs and errors that were created. My hat is off to Kevin Trudeau, Deno Andrews and all of the people who continue to support the International Pool Tour. The possibility still exists that this tour could help to pave the way for better earnings for professional pool players.
I would hope that those who are of a different opinion will either give them another chance and cease with the over-the-top criticism or put up the money and the wherewithal to create a pool tour that has the potential of equaling or surpassing what the International Pool Tour has accomplished.
Now for the gist of my thread: I made notes as I watched the match between Earl and Johnny. They are just one man?s observation and this is an original draft without polish so don?t beat me up too bad on the grammar or perspectives..
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This thread is about creating your own luck and is dedicated to Earl Strickland.
Some of his titles include: US Open Nine-ball Championship (1984, 1987, 1993, 1997, 2000)
WPA World Nine-ball Championship (1990, 1991, 2002)
This is going to be rather harsh criticism coming from a lowly amateur who has few credits in the professional arena of pool. However, I think that I suffer from similar problems that Earl suffers from and I decided that I would make notes about his play as the match progressed. So Earl if you reading this, you may want to get yourself a cup of relaxing tea. This criticism is impartial and I made it my business to observe and record as the match progressed. I won?t be so foolish as to think that I play pool better than Earl and so this is simply a record of what I saw and what could be done to improve your play.
Earl, at the beginning everything was going fine in the match. You were playing another great player and it was see-saw for the first few games. Where you started going wrong was talking to the spectators and looking around the room trying to garner support or interaction from others. You must make a decision to remain absolutely silent throughout the match. This decision will positively impact your game more than anything else you will do. By talking to ANYONE, you allow your mind to wander.
The second thing I noticed is that you were changing your rhythm and rushing certain shots which sometimes resulted in either missing the VERY MAKEABLE shot entirely or getting poor shape on the next shot which created additional unnecessary problems. You need to give the same amount of respect and time to each of your shots to stay in stroke from shot to shot.
You have to pay more attention to shape, especially when playing 8 ball. With so many balls on the table, a little bad shape changes a fairly easy pattern of running the rack into a FAR MORE DIFFICULT rack, adding pressure to each subsequent shot.
You have to be more conscientious of applying better speed control of the cue ball. While you hadn?t played on the cloth in over a year, that wasn?t the problem. You simply didn?t pay enough attention to your speed control and the cue ball would over-run or come up short on shape far too often. THIS HAPPENS IN OTHER MATCHES that I have watched you play in recently on different cloth so it is not a new problem and if you are honest you will admit that this is probably the biggest reason for you lack of ?luck?. By remaining silent throughout the match, you will be able to remember to pay more attention to your cue ball speed control.
NO TALKING.
WHEN YOUR OPPONENT IS SHOOTING:
Look at the pool table. Sit upright, eagerly awaiting your turn at the table. Think about what you will do when you get to the table. Be patient. Don?t hope for your opponent to miss or get a bad roll. Simply eagerly wait for your turn and be happy when you get a turn and be sure to make the best use of that opportunity by taking nothing for granted, especially shape. 4 ?? pockets on Diamond Billiard Tables, combined with the largest number of great players the world has ever seen means that more care has to be given to precision shape. These pockets don?t accept balls like the tables of yesterday. You have to change.
Think positive thoughts. When a negative thought enters your mind. Simply say to yourself and not outloud, ?STOP?! Replace that negative thought(s) with positive thought(s). If you supply enough positive thoughts it will force the negative thoughts away as there will be no room for negative thinking. You already know that negative thinking produces negative results. Positive thinking produces positive results.
ROLLS: Accept the bad rolls just like you should accept the good rolls; without comment and without condemnation or appreciation. They are part of the game and treating them both the same will keep you on an even keel, allowing you to spend your time concentrating on the things that you do have control over. When you control your cue ball speed better you will get better rolls.
Each of the records/thoughts were recorded as the match unfolded and are in chronological order.
No rushing to the next shot. Consistency in all things, especially in rhythm. You changed your rhythm often during the match and it altered your shape and your ability to consistently make the balls. You have up games when you didn?t have to. All you had to do was to stay in a comfortable rhythm. You speeded up when you should have slowed down. It is what I saw and I play well enough to know what I saw.
From time to time I will probably write about the same thing because it is what I saw as the match continued?..
Pay more attention to shape.
NO TALKING OUTOUD TO YOURSELF. No talking to anyone. You are a champion and you will play like one when you cease talking to anyone including yourself. It does you no good to talk to yourself contrary to what you may think. Most of the time when you are talking to yourself you are saying negative things about the rolls or your ability to play well or that you are a loser. Replace those negative thoughts with positive thoughts. When you get a bad roll, say, ?I will pay more attention to my cue ball speed control so that I can achieve more precise position?. When you dog a shot, say, ?I will keep my mouth shut and when I am at the table next time, I will take more time and not rush my shot?. When you get a genuine bad roll like on the break when the cue ball gets kicked into the corner pocket, say ?This is part of the game and something I do not have control over but I will get better rolls by paying better attention to my cue ball speed control? There is nothing you can do about an object ball kicking in the cue ball on the break. Accept it and look forward to your next opportunity at the table. When a negative thought enters your mind, replace it with a positive thought. Choose your positive thoughts carefully. Your positive thoughts should be things that you can control.
DO NOT INTERACT WITH YOUR OPPONENT OR THE SPECTATORS. This takes your mind away from the task at hand and further removes you from the challenge you face at each and every opportunity.
Finally, when you call shots, call them with confidence. Be happy to be at the table. Be happy when you have the opportunity to call the pocket. A more positive attitude on the table with produce better results for you. This is a minor thing that I saw but your overall attitude must be more upbeat and positive.
Earl, you play well enough to beat Archer or any other top player. You are a top player and you have simply failed to pay enough attention to the things you have control over. When you start paying enough attention to the things you have control over, you will not hear the commentators in the booth. When you replace those negative thoughts with positive thoughts, you will play up to your ability which in my opinion is still up there with the best of them. Since there are so many more top players today and the equipment is tougher than it has ever been, you have to pay more attention to these little things that I observed in your match with Johnny.
Tougher equipment + more, tougher opponents + age means that you have to pay more attention to the things I?ve listed.
I?m not going to waste my time summarizing any of this or polishing it up. I wrote it as I saw it and I?m hoping you will take this opportunity to improve your game and life.
Good luck! (You will receive all of the good luck you need IF you do the things I suggest.) You have the skills but you have to CHANGE and pay more attention to what needs to be done. Did I say no talking to the spectators, opponents and also yourself?
I look forward to congratulating you on your next title.
Best Regards,
JoeyA
JoeyA
First off, Earl Strickland is right about the International Pro Tour and Kevin Trudeau. At the end of the match when Racheal Abbink interviewed him, he showed a lot of clarity of thought about the value of the International Pro Tour and Kevin Trudeau. The players while still owed money have continued to receive payments, the debt being whittled down and the players? pockets becoming fuller. These incremental payments amount to more money than the players could ever hope to win in most pool tournaments. The earnings that the pool players made during those times were incredible numbers and Kevin Trudeau with all of his warts continues to pay off the debt. As Johnny Archer said, he knows Kevin could have left the pool scene and went on to other things. Archer said he thinks Kevin is crazy for continuing but that he is grateful that Kevin continues to show an interest in pool and the IPT. Earl also admonished those who continue to discredit the IPT and Kevin Trudeau and I think he is ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. While Kevin could certainly have done things differently and better, he continues to right the wrongs and errors that were created. My hat is off to Kevin Trudeau, Deno Andrews and all of the people who continue to support the International Pool Tour. The possibility still exists that this tour could help to pave the way for better earnings for professional pool players.
I would hope that those who are of a different opinion will either give them another chance and cease with the over-the-top criticism or put up the money and the wherewithal to create a pool tour that has the potential of equaling or surpassing what the International Pool Tour has accomplished.
Now for the gist of my thread: I made notes as I watched the match between Earl and Johnny. They are just one man?s observation and this is an original draft without polish so don?t beat me up too bad on the grammar or perspectives..
-------------------------------------------------------------------
This thread is about creating your own luck and is dedicated to Earl Strickland.
Some of his titles include: US Open Nine-ball Championship (1984, 1987, 1993, 1997, 2000)
WPA World Nine-ball Championship (1990, 1991, 2002)
This is going to be rather harsh criticism coming from a lowly amateur who has few credits in the professional arena of pool. However, I think that I suffer from similar problems that Earl suffers from and I decided that I would make notes about his play as the match progressed. So Earl if you reading this, you may want to get yourself a cup of relaxing tea.
This criticism is impartial and I made it my business to observe and record as the match progressed. I won?t be so foolish as to think that I play pool better than Earl and so this is simply a record of what I saw and what could be done to improve your play.Earl, at the beginning everything was going fine in the match. You were playing another great player and it was see-saw for the first few games. Where you started going wrong was talking to the spectators and looking around the room trying to garner support or interaction from others. You must make a decision to remain absolutely silent throughout the match. This decision will positively impact your game more than anything else you will do. By talking to ANYONE, you allow your mind to wander.
The second thing I noticed is that you were changing your rhythm and rushing certain shots which sometimes resulted in either missing the VERY MAKEABLE shot entirely or getting poor shape on the next shot which created additional unnecessary problems. You need to give the same amount of respect and time to each of your shots to stay in stroke from shot to shot.
You have to pay more attention to shape, especially when playing 8 ball. With so many balls on the table, a little bad shape changes a fairly easy pattern of running the rack into a FAR MORE DIFFICULT rack, adding pressure to each subsequent shot.
You have to be more conscientious of applying better speed control of the cue ball. While you hadn?t played on the cloth in over a year, that wasn?t the problem. You simply didn?t pay enough attention to your speed control and the cue ball would over-run or come up short on shape far too often. THIS HAPPENS IN OTHER MATCHES that I have watched you play in recently on different cloth so it is not a new problem and if you are honest you will admit that this is probably the biggest reason for you lack of ?luck?. By remaining silent throughout the match, you will be able to remember to pay more attention to your cue ball speed control.
NO TALKING.
WHEN YOUR OPPONENT IS SHOOTING:
Look at the pool table. Sit upright, eagerly awaiting your turn at the table. Think about what you will do when you get to the table. Be patient. Don?t hope for your opponent to miss or get a bad roll. Simply eagerly wait for your turn and be happy when you get a turn and be sure to make the best use of that opportunity by taking nothing for granted, especially shape. 4 ?? pockets on Diamond Billiard Tables, combined with the largest number of great players the world has ever seen means that more care has to be given to precision shape. These pockets don?t accept balls like the tables of yesterday. You have to change.
Think positive thoughts. When a negative thought enters your mind. Simply say to yourself and not outloud, ?STOP?! Replace that negative thought(s) with positive thought(s). If you supply enough positive thoughts it will force the negative thoughts away as there will be no room for negative thinking. You already know that negative thinking produces negative results. Positive thinking produces positive results.
ROLLS: Accept the bad rolls just like you should accept the good rolls; without comment and without condemnation or appreciation. They are part of the game and treating them both the same will keep you on an even keel, allowing you to spend your time concentrating on the things that you do have control over. When you control your cue ball speed better you will get better rolls.
Each of the records/thoughts were recorded as the match unfolded and are in chronological order.
No rushing to the next shot. Consistency in all things, especially in rhythm. You changed your rhythm often during the match and it altered your shape and your ability to consistently make the balls. You have up games when you didn?t have to. All you had to do was to stay in a comfortable rhythm. You speeded up when you should have slowed down. It is what I saw and I play well enough to know what I saw.
From time to time I will probably write about the same thing because it is what I saw as the match continued?..
Pay more attention to shape.
NO TALKING OUTOUD TO YOURSELF. No talking to anyone. You are a champion and you will play like one when you cease talking to anyone including yourself. It does you no good to talk to yourself contrary to what you may think. Most of the time when you are talking to yourself you are saying negative things about the rolls or your ability to play well or that you are a loser. Replace those negative thoughts with positive thoughts. When you get a bad roll, say, ?I will pay more attention to my cue ball speed control so that I can achieve more precise position?. When you dog a shot, say, ?I will keep my mouth shut and when I am at the table next time, I will take more time and not rush my shot?. When you get a genuine bad roll like on the break when the cue ball gets kicked into the corner pocket, say ?This is part of the game and something I do not have control over but I will get better rolls by paying better attention to my cue ball speed control? There is nothing you can do about an object ball kicking in the cue ball on the break. Accept it and look forward to your next opportunity at the table. When a negative thought enters your mind, replace it with a positive thought. Choose your positive thoughts carefully. Your positive thoughts should be things that you can control.
DO NOT INTERACT WITH YOUR OPPONENT OR THE SPECTATORS. This takes your mind away from the task at hand and further removes you from the challenge you face at each and every opportunity.
Finally, when you call shots, call them with confidence. Be happy to be at the table. Be happy when you have the opportunity to call the pocket. A more positive attitude on the table with produce better results for you. This is a minor thing that I saw but your overall attitude must be more upbeat and positive.
Earl, you play well enough to beat Archer or any other top player. You are a top player and you have simply failed to pay enough attention to the things you have control over. When you start paying enough attention to the things you have control over, you will not hear the commentators in the booth. When you replace those negative thoughts with positive thoughts, you will play up to your ability which in my opinion is still up there with the best of them. Since there are so many more top players today and the equipment is tougher than it has ever been, you have to pay more attention to these little things that I observed in your match with Johnny.
Tougher equipment + more, tougher opponents + age means that you have to pay more attention to the things I?ve listed.
I?m not going to waste my time summarizing any of this or polishing it up. I wrote it as I saw it and I?m hoping you will take this opportunity to improve your game and life.
Good luck! (You will receive all of the good luck you need IF you do the things I suggest.) You have the skills but you have to CHANGE and pay more attention to what needs to be done. Did I say no talking to the spectators, opponents and also yourself?
I look forward to congratulating you on your next title.
Best Regards,
JoeyA
JoeyA
