A question for A players only...

Pool

ktrepal85 said:
I have a question regarding your history as a pool player.

It seems that when you first get into pool you rapidly improve until you catch up with the learning curve and you improve at a much slower rate. Then for months or years you see very little improvement until one day, almost over night, you have a massive breakthrough where your game elevates to a very high level of play.

Well my question is, did you have a huge overnight improvement at one point? If you did, I'd like to about hear it. How well did you play before hand? How well did you play afterwards? What led to this breakthrough? Did you feel it coming at the time? Tell me all about it! Motivate me!! I feel like I am close to a breakthrough but I'm just waiting for the day...

Thanks,
Kevin
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Hi Kevin

Your hanging out with the same people to much, new people means new ways of learning new technics or different ways of doing the same thing.
Different style of shooter and different games....

I met a guy out of Salt lake City who taught me a different way to imagine kicks and banks, improved my game allot over night....

You might consider hiring a pool instructor......
 
I can't say one day I woke up and played better, but it was a slow realization that pretty much every shot can be made, and there are many that one should make almost 100% of the time.

If you make what you are supposed to make...you play better.

I find myself approaching tough shots with the attitude, "people make this shot. No reason I cant".
 
Aaron_S said:
I never experienced a rapid, huge jump in my game, but you may find my experience useful anyway.

Oddly, the best thing I ever did for my game was walking away from pool for over a year. I had built my rotation game up to the A level through years of playing 7 days a week, and I was a pure feel player. When I came back to the game after my layoff, my feel was gone. I couldn't run out from the parking lot anymore, and didn't have the depth of knowledge/skill to fall back on. Knowing that my days of playing 7 days a week were over, I started to look for other ways to improve. I delved into all sorts of systems, read pretty much every scrap of instructional info I could get my hands on, and began to focus on the mental game for the first time ever.

While I wasn't putting in the hours required to get my old "A" game back, what I inadvertently developed at that time was a sort of toughness and resilience which made it possible for me to win with my "B" game. I learned to play a decent safety game, and, more importantly, when to duck and when to shoot based on how well I was hitting the ball that day. I found a couple of good aiming and kicking systems, so even if I wasn't feeling it, I could still pocket difficult shots, kick for left side/right side or thick/thin hits, and move whitey with accuracy. And I found some mental techniques that helped me focus on constructive (or at least benign) things when competing. In short, I became a student of the game, and having those tools in the bag gave me confidence that was sorely lacking as a former feel player who was no longer "feeling it" most of the time.

The last few years, I have played very little. Most weeks I don't even screw together, and a big pool week for me would be 5-6 hours, usually in a single session. But what I learned after my layoff has held my "B" at a very consistent level despite how little I play. I don't expect to see my "A" game any time soon, but at least I know when I do step to the table I'll be playing the smartest pool I've ever played.

My advice - become a student of the game, or a better student if you are one already.

Best of luck,
Aaron
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I concur, but I took off 16 years, started back about 2 years ago and I'm still learning. Today I played 8 ball for 5 1/2 hrs and had 4 break and runs, a few runs when my opponent broke dry. But I also had some bad games.
 
Just from listening to others and seeing improvement in their games. I would say playing a variety of games seems to have helped their games. Not a one pocket fans but others say it has really helped their game. Same with straight pool.
 
Back in my 20's I was on ok player. I could win some bar box tournaments but got smoked on the big tables. One day after loosing in a handicapped tourney one of the players that spotted me the 7 asked if I was interested in improving. Of course I sad yes, and he gave me a free mini lesson. After a month of working on my fundamentals I was playing him even.

Take some lessons and practice.
 
One of the toughest things about making the leap from a good B player to A speed is breaking your bad habits. All B players have the shots they know they should pass on (riding money balls full table! ). Shots they hit much too hard. Poor cue ball control. Poor position play. These become crutches and arrest their progression. You see guys play the same mediocre level for decades. It's because they don't push themselves to change.

At my level sometimes the slightest changes yield the greatest improvement. Just focusing on crosstable banks has let me runout so many more racks. Now I play to bank if that's the easiest way to keep running out. Just pick my spot fire it in and have shape. If you do it in normal pace it's devastating to your opponent. You have to push your knowledge or the game becomes boring. Nothing more satisfying than using a shot in competition that you recently mastered in practice.
 
Thanks for all of the advice guys. It sounds like an overnight leap never happened for most people. Just steady improvement overtime and staying motivated. My best friend and worst enemy are both motivation. I have a habit of doing things obsessively and then one day no longer feeling the motivation and quitting.

A few years ago I was really into playing disc golf. I played tournaments and leagues and loved the competition. One day I got frustrated after playing bad and I think I let it get the best of me. I never felt motivated after that and I haven't played much disc golf since.

Pool is my thing now and I'm currently very motivated to master it. I'm a little scared that at some point I'm going to lose that motivation and I'm glad I have different tools, such as this forum, to keep me motivated. Thanks for the motivation guys!

There are also some old people who tend to like me and mentor me for some reason that I owe a big thanks to. This one guy who was a monster back the day has taken me under his wing. He decided to back me in a ring game the other day when I'm pretty sure he knew the odds weren't in my favor. I think he believes in me and is trying to get me to break out of my shell.

It motivates me to know people believe in me and want me to improve. Thanks again for all of the advice. I'll always listen to a better player's two cents. Sometimes I don't completely relate to it or understand it right away but later on down the road I'll have sense of clarity and realize the importance of what they tried to teach me.

I'll keep you guys posted on my progress. Until then, flip the damn coin and let's get this thing started...
 
Yep...

ktrepal85 said:
I have a question regarding your history as a pool player.

It seems that when you first get into pool you rapidly improve until you catch up with the learning curve and you improve at a much slower rate. Then for months or years you see very little improvement until one day, almost over night, you have a massive breakthrough where your game elevates to a very high level of play.

Well my question is, did you have a huge overnight improvement at one point? If you did, I'd like to about hear it. How well did you play before hand? How well did you play afterwards? What led to this breakthrough? Did you feel it coming at the time? Tell me all about it! Motivate me!! I feel like I am close to a breakthrough but I'm just waiting for the day...

Thanks,
Kevin
Click to expand...

Yep after 2 years of playing 12-15 hours a day, six or seven days a week, I woke up the next day with the ability to play top level pool. :)

Jaden
 
ktrepal85 said:
I have a question regarding your history as a pool player.

It seems that when you first get into pool you rapidly improve until you catch up with the learning curve and you improve at a much slower rate. Then for months or years you see very little improvement until one day, almost over night, you have a massive breakthrough where your game elevates to a very high level of play.

Well my question is, did you have a huge overnight improvement at one point? If you did, I'd like to about hear it. How well did you play before hand? How well did you play afterwards? What led to this breakthrough? Did you feel it coming at the time? Tell me all about it! Motivate me!! I feel like I am close to a breakthrough but I'm just waiting for the day...

Thanks,
Kevin
Click to expand...

Kevin,

Have a local friend Dave Grau. He's well known in the Northeast. Excellent player. He plays at a very deliberate pace. Is very sure of where he wants the cue ball to be before he shoots. Used to drive me crazy because of his paced play. One day just a few years ago, it suddenly occurred to me perhaps I was wrong and Dave was correct. Changed my pace of play. Not to his pace but to a speed somewhere between. My game suddenly jumped an entire ball. Specially in eight ball.

Keep an open mind to outside suggestions. Whether live or on video. Doesn't take long to determine whether a suggestion is correct for you or not. Don't be too fast to decide. Good luck.

Lyn
 
cardiac kid said:
Kevin,

Have a local friend Dave Grau. He's well known in the Northeast. Excellent player. He plays at a very deliberate pace. Is very sure of where he wants the cue ball to be before he shoots. Used to drive me crazy because of his paced play. One day just a few years ago, it suddenly occurred to me perhaps I was wrong and Dave was correct. Changed my pace of play. Not to his pace but to a speed somewhere between. My game suddenly jumped an entire ball. Specially in eight ball.

Keep an open mind to outside suggestions. Whether live or on video. Doesn't take long to determine whether a suggestion is correct for you or not. Don't be too fast to decide. Good luck.

Lyn
Click to expand...

Yes, I've seen Dave play...very tough!
 
Cross said:
Dont know if I would be considered an A player since different tournaments have different classifications. But for what its worth, the biggest / fastest improvement in my game i had was when I switched and committed myself to playing with an LD shaft.

I was able to concentrate on my pattern play more because I was missing a lot less balls.
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I 2nd this, when I was playing with a regular shaft I would miss and figure out that I had misjudged how much throw/speed/curve/swerve/English was on the ball. With a lower deflection shaft it reduced those calculations so I was instantly more accurate and could hit closer to the true contact point. The switch was easy for me for some reason even though I'm more of a feel player (I think) but got more into aiming systems and lines later on in the game.

So I guess it was a combination of both reasons, LD shaft (Predator) and learning how to aim ha ha.

Edit: Doing drills does WONDERS for your confidence and control, no matter what level your game is at. It's hard to do them at first because they can get boring but keep score and you'll find the motivation that will not only help you with the drills but also in competition.
 
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As stated above, I'm not currently an A player but I was a very strong player in the past and hope to be a rack runner again.

Your question got me to thinking about how I improved in the past and how I'm trying to improve again.

1. Better PSR (PreShotRoutine) better planning, aiming and stroke alignment.
2. KISS (See below) Don't miss shots you should make.
3. Improve power shots. Necessary to get back in line.

I was practicing with David Matlock one day and I ask him how he could shoot so hard.
He replied, if you can't shoot hard, you can't shoot.
It took me a long time to learn how (Straight Smooth Stroke).
But when I did, my level of play jumped.

From the Epiphany thread.
http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?p=5114354

The final Epiphany is KISS. (Modified)

Keep It Simple Silly (or Stupid).

1 Learn a good pre-shot routine.
2 Learn the basics. Stance, Bridge, Grip, Stroke, Head Eye Alignment, Aiming.
3 Practice until each is second nature.
4 Learn ball pocketing.
5 Learn ball mechanics.
6 Learn cue ball control both direction and speed.
7 Learn ball and table patterns.
8 Learn kicks and banks.
9 Master your pre-shot routine.

Then KISS.
Trust your stroke and make the ball.
Don't let all your extra knowledge get in the way of making the ball.
 
I don't know if anyone can confirm this, but for me trying to get better at the game, I've found that you have to take any advice with a grain of salt. I can think of loads of things that people better than me have told me that seemed correct when I knew nothing in the beginning. But as I got better it seemed wrong. Then I realized that the veteran banger was only ever going to make me as good as him. As soon as I've learned all I can from someone and feel like I'd caught up to or surpassed, Id evaluate what to keep and what to let go and move on to finding someone better to learn from. Mind you this is just in the beginning where most of the advice seems to have little logic when questioned, and borders on superstition.

Ex Advice: Hit the ball soft. You hit it too hard.

My response: I hit it as hard as I need to get shape on the next ball.

Banger's response: no, always hit it soft, don't worry about the next shot.

Me: Why?!!?!

Banger: That's just how it's done.

Me after research: If you give yourself the appropriate angle, you can both pocket the ball at an appropriate speed, and get shape on the next ball. So the real lesson is don't leave yourself straight on.
 
tonythetiger583 said:
Ex Advice: Hit the ball soft. You hit it too hard.

My response: I hit it as hard as I need to get shape on the next ball.

Banger's response: no, always hit it soft, don't worry about the next shot.

Me: Why?!!?!

Banger: That's just how it's done.
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Oh wow, that's the single most worst piece of advice I've ever heard with the most ridiculous reason behind it. Let me guess that this guy is always willing to dispense with the free advice but won't bet a dime on his own game?

Like they say in Golf "unless your license says David Ledbetter on it keep your unsolicited instructions to yourself", same goes for pool but change the names around a little ha ha.
 
We had mentors in our lives that showed us or steered us to the correct path.

ktrepal85 said:
I have a question regarding your history as a pool player.

It seems that when you first get into pool you rapidly improve until you catch up with the learning curve and you improve at a much slower rate. Then for months or years you see very little improvement until one day, almost over night, you have a massive breakthrough where your game elevates to a very high level of play.

Well my question is, did you have a huge overnight improvement at one point? If you did, I'd like to about hear it. How well did you play before hand? How well did you play afterwards? What led to this breakthrough? Did you feel it coming at the time? Tell me all about it! Motivate me!! I feel like I am close to a breakthrough but I'm just waiting for the day...

Thanks,
Kevin
Click to expand...

You really should, Kevin, be finding a way to improve every day you practice or play. This game is designed to allow the player to evolve both mentally and physically on a daily basis. I've not heard of too many "instance successes" in pool at the championship level.

We had mentors in our lives that showed us or steered us to the correct path......I'd be very careful reading too much about the game, it's easy to buy into things that sound good, and lead to bad habits.

'the GAME is the teacher'
 
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