I constantly marvel at how much easier this game is than I used to think. I didn't have instruction growing up and took a 5,000 mile road to get to where I am, and it turns out there was a 500 mile path. Still a difficult game, but after trying the impossible for years or decades sometimes difficult feels easy!
In this post I'll share the shortest path to top pool, the path most people take, and the skills you should be working on.
To get to the top you must do these things:
1. Reasonable fundamentals. I'm not picky. All I ask is a good pre-shot routine and a relaxed stroke. I've helped beginners achieve this in one session. Don't make a mountain of a molehill. This isn't hard.
2. Core vertical axis shots. There are just a few shots you must have mastered on the vertical axis. Draws, stuns, etc. But you must learn these shots well and have good swing speed and tip accuracy.
3. Sidespin shots. Bert Kinister was on the right track
but had too many shots in my opinion. Personally I have picked 6 shots with side-spin that you can learn that will account for the vast majority of scenarios. Learn the deflection of your shaft so you can make these routine shots with spin and know how to achieve the right cue ball targets on the table.
4. Patterns. Learn to build table runs using ONLY THESE DOZEN SHOTS.
See, the secret is that these shots I have described are all easy, high percentage, 90-95%+ type of shots. By learning correct patterns you can run through table after table using only shots these shots that you are friends with and like.
Most pool players never master these core shots, and they sure don't understand how to play patterns and use them as a path through a table run. Instead they have mediocre understanding of these shots and patterns, and as a result they are constantly leaving themselves off the path and are trying to machete hack their way through the dense forest, leaving themselves awkward angles that require excessive speed or spin, difficult to pocket shots, over balls and on rails, or any number of shots that are far out of the 90%+ make range.
Then they wonder why they aren't consistent. On their best day (when they are feeling good, their speed control is on point, they get some momentum going) they manage to bomb their way through a few racks and feel like they know how to play. They assume they need to get more consistent doing what they're already doing. First they try countless hours of practice. Then they think it's a fundamentals issue. Finally they decide either 1) some of us just weren't given the talent, or 2) I don't have enough time, if I didn't have a job/family then I'd be a world champion. WRONG. The truth is they don't play correctly and will never be a consistent table runner when every table run depends on their making a series of trick shots.
So if you're practicing hard shots or throwing a ton of hours trying to brute force your way through then you're taking a very scenic route towards good pool. The answer is to spend more time on the basic shots so you master them to the point you can thread your way through racks leaving yourself ONLY more basic shots. ANYONE can learn to beat the 10 ball ghost or run 100 in straight pool. Keep it simple. It's not hard. It' either easy or impossible.
In this post I'll share the shortest path to top pool, the path most people take, and the skills you should be working on.
To get to the top you must do these things:
1. Reasonable fundamentals. I'm not picky. All I ask is a good pre-shot routine and a relaxed stroke. I've helped beginners achieve this in one session. Don't make a mountain of a molehill. This isn't hard.
2. Core vertical axis shots. There are just a few shots you must have mastered on the vertical axis. Draws, stuns, etc. But you must learn these shots well and have good swing speed and tip accuracy.
3. Sidespin shots. Bert Kinister was on the right track
but had too many shots in my opinion. Personally I have picked 6 shots with side-spin that you can learn that will account for the vast majority of scenarios. Learn the deflection of your shaft so you can make these routine shots with spin and know how to achieve the right cue ball targets on the table.
4. Patterns. Learn to build table runs using ONLY THESE DOZEN SHOTS.
See, the secret is that these shots I have described are all easy, high percentage, 90-95%+ type of shots. By learning correct patterns you can run through table after table using only shots these shots that you are friends with and like.
Most pool players never master these core shots, and they sure don't understand how to play patterns and use them as a path through a table run. Instead they have mediocre understanding of these shots and patterns, and as a result they are constantly leaving themselves off the path and are trying to machete hack their way through the dense forest, leaving themselves awkward angles that require excessive speed or spin, difficult to pocket shots, over balls and on rails, or any number of shots that are far out of the 90%+ make range.
Then they wonder why they aren't consistent. On their best day (when they are feeling good, their speed control is on point, they get some momentum going) they manage to bomb their way through a few racks and feel like they know how to play. They assume they need to get more consistent doing what they're already doing. First they try countless hours of practice. Then they think it's a fundamentals issue. Finally they decide either 1) some of us just weren't given the talent, or 2) I don't have enough time, if I didn't have a job/family then I'd be a world champion. WRONG. The truth is they don't play correctly and will never be a consistent table runner when every table run depends on their making a series of trick shots.
So if you're practicing hard shots or throwing a ton of hours trying to brute force your way through then you're taking a very scenic route towards good pool. The answer is to spend more time on the basic shots so you master them to the point you can thread your way through racks leaving yourself ONLY more basic shots. ANYONE can learn to beat the 10 ball ghost or run 100 in straight pool. Keep it simple. It's not hard. It' either easy or impossible.