When it comes to pool what is more important knowledge or experience?
A philosophical question
- Thread starter Socopool79
- Start date
I say experience. Knowledge is worthless without it. I have tons of pool knowledge but the fact that I have spent almost the last decade playing only twice a month handicaps my ability to actually make shots. Not to mention a lot of knowledge is gained through experience....
Since you're asking a philosophical question, I'll begin with a philosophical response: more important for what?
I suspect you're asking what's more important for playing pool well, and if that's the case I'd have to agree with 44Runner that experience is more important than knowledge.
Having said that, though, there is one more philosophical point to keep in mind, which is that there are at least two different types of knowledge--knowledge that and knowledge how.
Knowledge that refers to what's called "propositional knowledge," examples of which are knowing that George Washington was the first president of the U.S., and knowing that you have to strike the cueball below center to draw it.
Knowing how is generally thought of as a kind of ability, as in I know how to ride a bike and I know how to draw my rock. With this distinction in mind, if I know how to play pool like Efren Reyes then clearly that type of knowledge is what's most important to playing pool well.
I got no clue bud,.................... so I went and asked Yoda. :smile:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEuA5Y_Cc88&list=PL6CCCFDA98D1DAB7D&feature=player_detailpage
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEuA5Y_Cc88&list=PL6CCCFDA98D1DAB7D&feature=player_detailpage
My answer would be tick tock - Play Lots of Hours!
If you play 1 hr a week, 10 hrs a week, 20hrs a week, 40hrs or more, you obtain the results of someone with that much experience. The one thing most people forget to think about is that 20 hrs a week times 10 yrs = $10,400 hrs of experience, hence TICK TOCK. I suspect most people play less than 10 hrs a week and wonder why the don't improve. I hear Shane and Dennis practice 10 hrs per day most of the time in preparing to win big events. The other champions report playing between 4-8 hrs per day. They all get equal results in the amount of their efforts. There is one caveat though, if they didn't have fundamentals and and mental discipline, the hours wouldn't be enough.
As far as knowledge goes, I feel the best way to obtain that is to watch only the very best players or the very worst, there are lessons in both on what to do, and what not to do. By learning to compare both to your game, you can develop the best possible habits and results. I recommend avoiding watching mediocre players, as they are not the ideal role models. I'd also focus on how you prefer to learn, if you prefer visually, then videos are best, if you prefer mentally learning, then reading is best, if you prefer verbal instruction, then an instructor is best. Notice how the teaching method matches how the student prefers to learn and process information. This makes learning an individual thing, and unique to each of us depending on our own characteristics.
My final advice, is learn the way you prefer, and put as many hours in as possible match up with the results you expect to achieve. We are all free to have reasons or results. You can have reasons why you miss or fail, or the results that winners have, but you have to be willing to pay the price that winners pay by exchanging your time for hard work and effort on the table. I strive to put in more hours regularly than the person I intend to better than, we all have person we wish to beat, just out work them.
My apology for being long-winded, just hope this post helps someone.
If you play 1 hr a week, 10 hrs a week, 20hrs a week, 40hrs or more, you obtain the results of someone with that much experience. The one thing most people forget to think about is that 20 hrs a week times 10 yrs = $10,400 hrs of experience, hence TICK TOCK. I suspect most people play less than 10 hrs a week and wonder why the don't improve. I hear Shane and Dennis practice 10 hrs per day most of the time in preparing to win big events. The other champions report playing between 4-8 hrs per day. They all get equal results in the amount of their efforts. There is one caveat though, if they didn't have fundamentals and and mental discipline, the hours wouldn't be enough.
As far as knowledge goes, I feel the best way to obtain that is to watch only the very best players or the very worst, there are lessons in both on what to do, and what not to do. By learning to compare both to your game, you can develop the best possible habits and results. I recommend avoiding watching mediocre players, as they are not the ideal role models. I'd also focus on how you prefer to learn, if you prefer visually, then videos are best, if you prefer mentally learning, then reading is best, if you prefer verbal instruction, then an instructor is best. Notice how the teaching method matches how the student prefers to learn and process information. This makes learning an individual thing, and unique to each of us depending on our own characteristics.
My final advice, is learn the way you prefer, and put as many hours in as possible match up with the results you expect to achieve. We are all free to have reasons or results. You can have reasons why you miss or fail, or the results that winners have, but you have to be willing to pay the price that winners pay by exchanging your time for hard work and effort on the table. I strive to put in more hours regularly than the person I intend to better than, we all have person we wish to beat, just out work them.
My apology for being long-winded, just hope this post helps someone.
I would say good looks. I know in my own case the chicks really dig watching me play One Pocket. It makes them all sweaty, and shit. :smile:
If it makes them shit something's wrong.
