a question for serious...or shall i say higher level players

L

lorider

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
i decided to use the phrase higher level players because i am pretty serious about my game and i am just a league player that fluctuates between a 5 and a 6.

my question is ...to what do you attribute the most for reaching the level you are at ? speaking of b and a level players.

is it knowledge...proper fundamentals...your ability to concentrate or focus...able to be consistent all the time.. or is it some other factor ? maybe a combination of several things ?

the reason i am asking is twofold.
1. maybe i can pick up some advice on how to reach the next level
2. i am puzzled by my level of play from one night to the next and maybe some of you know the answer
3. do you know of any you tube videos on the proper use of english ?
 
the only thing that will make you better is always try to improve and keep going, proper practice and not getting discouraged. some have the ability, some will always be 5 and 6. but you can always improve. work on everything, stroke, english, speed etc...and slowly things start to click. im not ever gonna be a pro, but if i play longer than a couple of months at a time i see improvement. its a long process. pro level open and even a players spend a couple of years everyday playing.
 
Develop sound fundamentals, then play, play, play, play, play, get a divorce, play, play, play, play, play, start drinking heavy, play, play, play, play, play, and if you find the time, play some more.
I think you get the picture. :smile:
 
Get a table if you can and do drills on specific shots that you see come up often that guys who are better than you are using and do the shot over and over until it's in your toolbox.

Make a mental note after every shot whether you over cut or undercut the shot even if you made it. If you don't make a mental note of what side of the pocket it went into then your brain will never make the tiny adjustments nee undercut the shot even if you made it. If you don't make a mental note of what side of the pocket it went into then your brain will never make the tiny adjustments needed to get to the next level.
 
Playing people better than you is the best way to improve. Gambling might be a bit quicker than tournament play because of the extra games played. Oh, and practice helps, hah.
 
Of all the things you listed, Knowledge is directly involved with all of them.

Personally, I think it's the most important for me.


Royce
 
lorider said:
i decided to use the phrase higher level players because i am pretty serious about my game and i am just a league player that fluctuates between a 5 and a 6.

my question is ...to what do you attribute the most for reaching the level you are at ? speaking of b and a level players.

is it knowledge...proper fundamentals...your ability to concentrate or focus...able to be consistent all the time.. or is it some other factor ? maybe a combination of several things ?

the reason i am asking is twofold.
1. maybe i can pick up some advice on how to reach the next level
2. i am puzzled by my level of play from one night to the next and maybe some of you know the answer
3. do you know of any you tube videos on the proper use of english ?
Click to expand...

Well, Knowledge helps you to know what you should do, fundamentals allow you to do what you need to do, focus allows you to concentrate on both of the above, and consistency is the key to being a better player. So I'll go with a combination of the above.

Plenty of knowledge here on AZB, in dvd's, books, and streaming.

Fundamentals, a good coach, or a helpful (knowledgeable ) player can point you
in the right direction.

Concentration... try reading the "inner book of tennis" ... may get you a new perspective as to what it really is.

Consistency... can only happen with much repetition. Practice much, and with
purpose.... don't be a 'banger' just banging balls around.

Jerry Breisath (?) has a great instructional set out.. it, as well as many others can
start you in the right direction.

Personally... for 8 ball practice game I like to throw all balls on the table and try to run them out (in no particular order) w/out touching a rail with the cue ball..
.... for rotation games start with 3 balls and ball in hand and run them out with the goal of 'gimme' shots on each ball and the angle needed to get to the next 'gimme'
shot... do this a couple dozen times then go to 4 balls and repeat... move to more balls as your skill progresses... remember ALL 'gimme' shots
.... for stroke... set the CB and OB in a straight line from corner to corner... start close
together and make the OB in the corner (heart of the pocket.. no points) do this a few hundred times, then move them apart an extra diamond, repeat, move another diamond, repeat.... until you can shoot long straight ins consistently... then move the angle to more and more parallel to the long rail starting close together as above and moving further apart.. (NO rails.. can hit pocket facing, but not touch rail).. progress as above.... start with a bar table, move to a 9 fool, then to a snooker table with this
progression. When you're done you'll be a champ!! Good luck

td
 
Proper fundamentals should come very early on in learning how to play. A proper/stout stance, straight stroke, staying down on your shots, and follow through being the major keys. But just don't take that part of the game into an obsession.

Do the same thing on every shot (a routine) whether it is an easy or hard shot. Play competitively with better/more knowledgeable players (and get used to excelling with your nervous energy etc...). And most importantly practice ALOT. Gain more knowledge in the kicking, safety, and banking parts of the games (everyone can always improve in all these areas). Practice the break, even the one pocket and straight pool breaks if you play those games (as it only gets more important the higher level you obtain).

I started playing at about 6, as my father played back then and showed me the game at an early age. If I could change anything from then, it would have been starting with, and playing much more Straight pool when I was younger (instead of so much 9-Ball). Master that game, and the rotation games come much easier (not so much the other way around).

BTW, the being puzzled at your play from one day to the next, the way it sounds is you are talking about consistency? Consistency comes from playing competitively and practicing ALOT.
Practice.......
 
Last edited:
trinacria said:
the only thing that will make you better is always try to improve and keep going, proper practice and not getting discouraged. some have the ability, some will always be 5 and 6. but you can always improve. work on everything, stroke, english, speed etc...and slowly things start to click. im not ever gonna be a pro, but if i play longer than a couple of months at a time i see improvement. its a long process. pro level open and even a players spend a couple of years everyday playing.
Click to expand...

i agree entirely with your post...thanks for responding.

at 60 years old i have no desire to play pro speed and definitely no desire to put in the long hours to achieve that level either.

my goal is to be a 7/7 in apa before i get too old to play this game or lose interest in it.

i actually would be happy to be consistent at the highest level that i have played at times. my game wildly fluctuates from time to time and it puzzles me.

take the last few weeks for example.

lost vs a 2 in 8 ball 2-2
won vs a 4 in 9 ball 38-3
won vs a 5 in 9 ball 38-7
lost vs a 4 in 8 ball 3-3
won vs a 4 in 8 ball 4-1 with 2 b&r's
won vs a 5 in 8 ball 4-1 with 1 b& r

this last match is the one that really got me thinking about consistency and how i am capable of playing at times.

1strack i won in 4 innings with 1 safe
2nd rack i won in 4 innings with 1 safe
3rd rack went 4 innings with me playing a safe .he kicked at the 8 and missed. i picked up the cue ball and he claimed he made a good hit. i was closer to the shot than he was and knew it was a bad hit.

it resulted in him getting bih on the 8 so i just raked the 8 and my last ball calmly but seething inside that he refused to call a foul on himself.

he breaks dry . i was looking at the layout as i walked towards the table. by the time i got to the table i had selected which suit i wanted. 3 seconds later i had selected the pattern i wanted and shot the 1st ball and ran the table.

next rack was a break and run. now it just puzzles me how i can struggle to run 3 racks in 12 inning and then finish the last 2 racks in 0 innings.

now how in the hell can i go from having bih with 3 balls left ...spend 2 solid minutes deciding how to run them out and then screw it up on the last ball...then go run a table without even thinking about it ? it just puzzles the heck out of me.
 
Practice alone at your speed will only get you so far. There's nothing that can replace countless days of taking beating from better players, it's the only way to learn and get to your full potential. Once you hit your plateau, then practice is what keeps you there.
 
JumpinJoe said:
Practice alone at your speed will only get you so far. There's nothing that can replace countless days of taking beating from better players, it's the only way to learn and get to your full potential. Once you hit your plateau, then practice is what keeps you there.
Click to expand...

i agree with you also.

i did join our apa masters division and just completed my 1st session with a 6/6 record. albeit some players were my s/l

nothing like playing the better players even in a race to 7 to tell you where you sit on the totem pole. i have picked you a few tidbits of info here and there from some of my opponents. my team mates don't tell me shit lol.

i believe my 1st session in masters has already helped me some and attribute it to being raised to a 6 in 9 ball 2 weeks ago.

looking forward to next session .which starts in a few weeks.
 
Higher Level Attainment

lorider said:
i decided to use the phrase higher level players because i am pretty serious about my game and i am just a league player that fluctuates between a 5 and a 6.

my question is ...to what do you attribute the most for reaching the level you are at ? speaking of b and a level players.

is it knowledge...proper fundamentals...your ability to concentrate or focus...able to be consistent all the time.. or is it some other factor ? maybe a combination of several things ?

the reason i am asking is twofold.
1. maybe i can pick up some advice on how to reach the next level
2. i am puzzled by my level of play from one night to the next and maybe some of you know the answer
3. do you know of any you tube videos on the proper use of english ?
Click to expand...

Shotmaking is the first thing you have to be able to do and having some good fundamentals is good. I would practice my shot making until I know I can execute. Then I would work with English. When you can work the ball itself the moves will come eventually. This is why I like One Pocket, it demands excellence of everything you have to learn to do. Shotmaking and Shotmaking when your money is on the line. There is no substitute.
 
lorider said:
i decided to use the phrase higher level players because i am pretty serious about my game and i am just a league player that fluctuates between a 5 and a 6.

my question is ...to what do you attribute the most for reaching the level you are at ? speaking of b and a level players.

is it knowledge...proper fundamentals...your ability to concentrate or focus...able to be consistent all the time.. or is it some other factor ? maybe a combination of several things ?

the reason i am asking is twofold.
1. maybe i can pick up some advice on how to reach the next level
2. i am puzzled by my level of play from one night to the next and maybe some of you know the answer
3. do you know of any you tube videos on the proper use of english ?
Click to expand...

To be willing to allow for how ever long it takes to improve. Improving is not linear. There will be ups and downs. Time helps to smooth out those ups and downs.

Then there is one question to answer.....a question that must be asked at some point in your growth......Why do I still miss? This is not the same as asking why did I miss.
 
Here's a couple of simple and direct questions: Do beginning level golfers go to a pro for instruction? Do beginning tennis players go to an instructor for guidance? Compare those two questions with how much many of us pay for a pool cue (or two or three....). Not to mention table time at a poolroom, or a table at home. It's amazing how few people mention such an obvious thing. At the very least, get yourself some instructional videos if you have a table at home. If you don't, think about the wisdom of getting a proven instructor like Jerry Breisath or get his videos, he's a world class instructor. Hope this helps. One more thing......hamb (hit a million balls)
 
Tramp Steamer said:
Develop sound fundamentals, then play, play, play, play, play, get a divorce, play, play, play, play, play, start drinking heavy, play, play, play, play, play, and if you find the time, play some more.
I think you get the picture. :smile:
Click to expand...
I'll have to agree with most of what you recommend. I think he should marry a pool instructor though. There'll be no need for a divorce.
 
Last edited:
My thinking is along these lines.

Having played with semi pro caliber players, and a few smaller time pros, I'd venture to say that concentration/focus is most important.

Almost all serious players with dedication reach a point where they all have the same "knowledge" and you can acquire most of that knowledge by the time you're a mid level B player.

However, focus and concentration is what really allows you to use all of that knowledge. Focus and concentration is what allows everything to fall into place. I know that when I'm feeling exhausted or lazy at the table my start to get screwy, but when I'm focused everything aligns.

Focus and concentration are the mental fundamentals which allow the physical fundamentals to align.

I can't offer any advice on learning to become focused - for me, it's just a matter of consciously flipping the switch. And some days I have to be pressured to flip it. My last APA match I couldn't focus until I needed 5 games and my opponent needed 1.
 
lorider said:
i decided to use the phrase higher level players because i am pretty serious about my game and i am just a league player that fluctuates between a 5 and a 6.

my question is ...to what do you attribute the most for reaching the level you are at ? speaking of b and a level players.
Click to expand...

The majority of "higher level" players i know, A and Open level players, had a solid block of time ranging from several months to years where they were total pool bum degenerates. They did nothing but eat breath and sleep pool, a lot of times forgoing, work, education, and relationships, where they immersed themselves in practice, gambling, and tournaments.
 
Aloha

Let me see if I can break it down this way.

Imagine the sum all learning for pool as fitting inside a bell curve. I'll try to post a picture below for those that can't imagine it. Now the further along the bell curve you go the harder it will be to move up. It comes down to percentages. It's easy to go from 60-70% but much harder to go from 80-90% because there is more knowlege that has to be retained and less knowledge that will propel you to the next level.

So gaining a collective knowledge/skills set to take you to a "C" rating is relatively easy, but to move past that, it takes more dedication because you are looking for the pieces to fill your particular puzzle, not counting the time it takes to maintain that what you have already learned.

So the best way to further yourself is to first analyze your game. Be it by qualified instruction,video or practice. Discover for yourself what tools you posses and which ones need to be upgraded. By working on those particular aspects of your game you will propel yourself further along the bell curve. The further you move along the harder it is to find that one thing that will allow you to excel. Keep notes on your shots. Practice the skills that are a lower pecentage for you. Get qualified instruction, gain all the knowledge you can handle. Your game will thank you for it.

Hope this is not too confusing,many good luck.

Aloha

Edit: sorry for the elementary graph, but it's what I found that will show a bell curve. Ignore the rise and run descriptions.
 
I finally broke through from the C level to B by really focusing on my stroke and fundamentals. Then I coupled that with routinely playing with someone who pushes me to get better.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top