A testament to getting instruction

[ScottW]

Last weekend (middle of February), I attended Tom Simpson's 3-day pool clinic that he ran in Atlanta. Fortunately for me, I was tripping back there around that time anyway (substitute Christmas trip, as snow bolluxed up my plans in December), so I worked my trip around it.

Since I got home, I've been mostly on a tear with regards to my pool game. APA league on Thursday, I tore up my opponent 5-1, with a B&R tossed in for flavor. Friday in a little 9-ball tournament, I went out early due to odd circumstances (hanging 9's for my opponent in one round, second match loss my opponent either ran or safed me constantly), but shot well elsewise. Saturday, a handicapped 8-ball tournament, I stomped my way through the winner's bracket (including wailing on my second match loss opponent from Friday) to win the whole thing.

Instruction works!

 

[RobertR]

Last weekend (middle of February), I attended Tom Simpson's 3-day pool clinic that he ran in Atlanta. Fortunately for me, I was tripping back there around that time anyway (substitute Christmas trip, as snow bolluxed up my plans in December), so I worked my trip around it.

Since I got home, I've been mostly on a tear with regards to my pool game. APA league on Thursday, I tore up my opponent 5-1, with a B&R tossed in for flavor. Friday in a little 9-ball tournament, I went out early due to odd circumstances (hanging 9's for my opponent in one round, second match loss my opponent either ran or safed me constantly), but shot well elsewise. Saturday, a handicapped 8-ball tournament, I stomped my way through the winner's bracket (including wailing on my second match loss opponent from Friday) to win the whole thing.

Instruction works!

Congrats Scott. Glad to hear about your tournament win.

 

[Big C]

Which area of your game improved the most?

Congrats on your recent success. I would like to know what improved the most for you after your instruction? Was it the pre-shot routine, or aiming technique, or was it something mental? Often a persons game will suffer a little until they get more comfortable with the changes that were made. At least that is what I have heard.

 

[ScottW]

Congrats on your recent success. I would like to know what improved the most for you after your instruction? Was it the pre-shot routine, or aiming technique, or was it something mental? Often a persons game will suffer a little until they get more comfortable with the changes that were made. At least that is what I have heard.

It's a few things in concert, I think.

1) Got some advice (asked for, wasn't part of the clinic) on my break.
2) Had my stance adjusted a bit - I was standing front foot/back foot in line with the cue, mostly. Now I have my front foot out to the left a bit. Seems to be helping.
3) The whole set-pause-finish bit that apparently several BCA instructors teach.
4) The kicker - aiming techniques. Tom taught us three, I chose to adopt one over the other two - and it's huge. HUGE, I say.

I know that it's going to take a while for all this stuff to just gel in my head and become second nature. And honestly, like you said above, I expected my game to tank a bit early on after the clinic 'til I got used to some of this stuff - but in reality, it's improved a bit overall. I can see that as I *do* absorb all this stuff - my game is just going to get better. Even with the bump in my overall shotmaking, I still goof up some relatively easy shots - shots that, pre-clinic, I probably would have nailed. But I expect that noise to go away over time as well.