I want to address once and for all comments like this:
-The world's best didn't get there with lessons, they got there by playing 24/7 for years
-The world's best had a gift of talent and were playing great at 12, they weren't playing leagues and posting on AZB
-The world's best competed, drilled, and trained perpetually, that's the only way to get to the top, a few hours a week isn't enough, you can't get there with a wife/family/job/lack of talent
In short, when people are discussing a viable path for people to follow to improve at pool, these roads are often dismissed because "that's not how the champions got there!" To that I respond "You're right!" IF you want to be a world champion then I agree it will be difficult while working and raising kids and with a few hours a week. We are in total agreement.
What I disagree with is the premise that if a path doesn't make you #1 in the world than it is the 'wrong road'. Wrong for who? What about the 99.99% of pool players who aren't prepared to sacrifice their lives to follow the path of a world champion, but that would still like to improve and reach their potential on the table?
For those players trying to follow the same path as the world champion doesn't work. You know what does? Those other roads. Roads the champions don't take. Roads like leagues, a few hours of practice here or there, some focused training, a good sparring partner, etc. You're right that you won't see champions follow this formula, and that this won't take you to the top of pool. But that doesn't mean it's without value because for the overwhelming majority of us it's the best path for us to reach our pool goals.
-The world's best didn't get there with lessons, they got there by playing 24/7 for years
-The world's best had a gift of talent and were playing great at 12, they weren't playing leagues and posting on AZB
-The world's best competed, drilled, and trained perpetually, that's the only way to get to the top, a few hours a week isn't enough, you can't get there with a wife/family/job/lack of talent
In short, when people are discussing a viable path for people to follow to improve at pool, these roads are often dismissed because "that's not how the champions got there!" To that I respond "You're right!" IF you want to be a world champion then I agree it will be difficult while working and raising kids and with a few hours a week. We are in total agreement.
What I disagree with is the premise that if a path doesn't make you #1 in the world than it is the 'wrong road'. Wrong for who? What about the 99.99% of pool players who aren't prepared to sacrifice their lives to follow the path of a world champion, but that would still like to improve and reach their potential on the table?
For those players trying to follow the same path as the world champion doesn't work. You know what does? Those other roads. Roads the champions don't take. Roads like leagues, a few hours of practice here or there, some focused training, a good sparring partner, etc. You're right that you won't see champions follow this formula, and that this won't take you to the top of pool. But that doesn't mean it's without value because for the overwhelming majority of us it's the best path for us to reach our pool goals.