Advice for DCP
- Thread starter Neil
- Start date
Neil, First of all, I appluade your post. Your post is well thought out and helpful and in excellent spirit. I give you rep for it, and thank you.
With that said, when did this board become the DCP forum? Enough is enough.
With that said, when did this board become the DCP forum? Enough is enough.
NYC cue dude
Banned
Thank you so much for your most genuine post. I am sure of only a few things on a pool table, but certainly one of them is that ones mental approach is CRITICAL in having advancements in ones personal game.
As in pool and life, it is essential to remain teachable.
I am a player gifted in some areas, but am limited in others. My games has for the most part reached a plataue, and any strides I make from time to time are negligible. This despite playing a minimum of 6 hours a day for over a year with one of the best players in the world.
My point is that even with very hard work, dedication and intense competition, it is very probable that a very, very high percentage of us will never be great players.
If upon recognizing this, that playing pool to reach that goal won't any longer be fun, it will be time to reevaluate participation. Once I realized that about myself, playing pool became fun again for me after 30 years of playing. Somewhere along the line, I lost track of "reality", and assumed that someday I would become a world beater. I was relieved to discover the limits of my potential a few years ago.
My advice to anyone is to always work hard on something your passionate about. Remain teachable. But always keep a realistic regulator on your positive thinking.
Rg
As in pool and life, it is essential to remain teachable.
I am a player gifted in some areas, but am limited in others. My games has for the most part reached a plataue, and any strides I make from time to time are negligible. This despite playing a minimum of 6 hours a day for over a year with one of the best players in the world.
My point is that even with very hard work, dedication and intense competition, it is very probable that a very, very high percentage of us will never be great players.
If upon recognizing this, that playing pool to reach that goal won't any longer be fun, it will be time to reevaluate participation. Once I realized that about myself, playing pool became fun again for me after 30 years of playing. Somewhere along the line, I lost track of "reality", and assumed that someday I would become a world beater. I was relieved to discover the limits of my potential a few years ago.
My advice to anyone is to always work hard on something your passionate about. Remain teachable. But always keep a realistic regulator on your positive thinking.
Rg
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While this is very sound advice, unfortunately, you are incapable of running 300 balls, so therefore, you have nothing to teach DCP.. 
Russ
Russ
great advice
I've probably only read about 1% of the DCP threads, but I kind of get the jist, I think.
I can relate to his frustration, BUT, I think Neil hit it on the head re: ATTITUDE. If the game were easy, it wouldn't be fun. I long ago gave up the idea that I would be a "world beater" in pool. Why do I still play? Because its fun. I get better, SLOWLY. I will NEVER be world class. I am grateful that my next meal is not riding on my next match. (well then again, maybe I would lose some weight that way!)
To me, pool teaches life lessons: Focus, Keep a positive attitude, be a gracious winner and a gracious looser, all of this can be transferred to the "real world." If I have a "bad roll" at work, I don't have a meltdown, I stay cool, go back to basics, make my next shot, build confidence, and pretty soon I'm back on my game.
I'm good at pool. I'm great at work. Pool is my meditation. That's why I play even though I know I will never be great at pool.
I've probably only read about 1% of the DCP threads, but I kind of get the jist, I think.
I can relate to his frustration, BUT, I think Neil hit it on the head re: ATTITUDE. If the game were easy, it wouldn't be fun. I long ago gave up the idea that I would be a "world beater" in pool. Why do I still play? Because its fun. I get better, SLOWLY. I will NEVER be world class. I am grateful that my next meal is not riding on my next match. (well then again, maybe I would lose some weight that way!)
To me, pool teaches life lessons: Focus, Keep a positive attitude, be a gracious winner and a gracious looser, all of this can be transferred to the "real world." If I have a "bad roll" at work, I don't have a meltdown, I stay cool, go back to basics, make my next shot, build confidence, and pretty soon I'm back on my game.
I'm good at pool. I'm great at work. Pool is my meditation. That's why I play even though I know I will never be great at pool.
Russ Chewning said:While this is very sound advice, unfortunately, you are incapable of running 300 balls, so therefore, you have nothing to teach DCP..
Russ
Too funny Russ..............but now I have figured out why he doesn't listen to me! I can't run 300 balls either!
At least not yet anyway! LOL
Oh Neil, You haven't said anything that has not been said to DCP by numerous people here. I won't even say good post because you just repeated what we all have said. This thread won't be long because most all don't really give a shi*. I can just imagine advice DR Phil would have for DCP. Think about it. He is going on my ignore list.
Rod
Rod
poolnut
New member
+ Rep Neil. You really show a caring side and a desire to help someone improve, both in billiards, and with an attitude towards life in general.
Hopefully he really learns something from this post. If he doesn't, there is no hope for him. I am sure that I took more out of this than he will, I hope he finds it as informational as I did.
Hopefully he really learns something from this post. If he doesn't, there is no hope for him. I am sure that I took more out of this than he will, I hope he finds it as informational as I did.
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sorry.......dupe post
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I have one question.........
If I asked for advice here on this great forum and the advice I got was focused on one main item, for the most part, I would focus the discussion on that issue/item.
WHY DOES DCP CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON HIS BAD LUCK AND BAD ROLLS, INSTEAD OF HOW TO IMPROVE HIS ATTITUDE???????????
I'll tell you what I think.......he doesn't care to focus on what he needs to improve his attitude.
He would much rather focus on his "bad luck".........
Sad story.........
Russ.......
If I asked for advice here on this great forum and the advice I got was focused on one main item, for the most part, I would focus the discussion on that issue/item.
WHY DOES DCP CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON HIS BAD LUCK AND BAD ROLLS, INSTEAD OF HOW TO IMPROVE HIS ATTITUDE???????????
I'll tell you what I think.......he doesn't care to focus on what he needs to improve his attitude.
He would much rather focus on his "bad luck".........
Sad story.........
Russ.......
S
Scottster
Guest
Great post Neil.
What frustrates me the most with DCP is he doesnt realize, for some reason, every passionate pool player has been where he is at in one form or another.
He needs to learn to covet his misses and take advantage of the lesson that is being offered to him after that miss, poor position bad roll etc. Instead of running to the PC to post about poor me boo hoo, He needs to figure out WHY he missed and what correction he needs to make to correct the issue.
During one of my sessions with Danny Harriman, I was on a good run in straight pool, and dogged a shot I should make 95 out of a 100 times. I got mad. Danny told me, in a stern tone, "Look pal, once you have missed as many balls as I have, then you can get mad. Until then you figure out "WHY" you missed and learn to correct it. Getting angry just throws fuel on your opponent's fire and will get you nowhere. Sit down and see what I mean."
So the moral of the story is, everytime you feel the urge to come on here and throw a pity party, stop and figure out "WHY" you did not get the outcome you were looking for and take the necesarry action to fix it.
DCP read my "Sig", unfortunately your state of mind is not even at the amateur level yet. You need to work on your attitude until you get it right.
What frustrates me the most with DCP is he doesnt realize, for some reason, every passionate pool player has been where he is at in one form or another.
He needs to learn to covet his misses and take advantage of the lesson that is being offered to him after that miss, poor position bad roll etc. Instead of running to the PC to post about poor me boo hoo, He needs to figure out WHY he missed and what correction he needs to make to correct the issue.
During one of my sessions with Danny Harriman, I was on a good run in straight pool, and dogged a shot I should make 95 out of a 100 times. I got mad. Danny told me, in a stern tone, "Look pal, once you have missed as many balls as I have, then you can get mad. Until then you figure out "WHY" you missed and learn to correct it. Getting angry just throws fuel on your opponent's fire and will get you nowhere. Sit down and see what I mean."
So the moral of the story is, everytime you feel the urge to come on here and throw a pity party, stop and figure out "WHY" you did not get the outcome you were looking for and take the necesarry action to fix it.
DCP read my "Sig", unfortunately your state of mind is not even at the amateur level yet. You need to work on your attitude until you get it right.
bravo to neil
Neil I have to tap . When I would see you miss a shot and blame the table or the ball or what ever it would just make me ill. I could not for the life of me figure out why someone that played that good just couldnt seem to admit to themselves that they just drove one into the rail. It happens to all of us.
And hearing you admit that in a public forum gives me a new level of respect for you sir.
Tap tap tap
Neil I have to tap . When I would see you miss a shot and blame the table or the ball or what ever it would just make me ill. I could not for the life of me figure out why someone that played that good just couldnt seem to admit to themselves that they just drove one into the rail. It happens to all of us.
And hearing you admit that in a public forum gives me a new level of respect for you sir.
Tap tap tap
Neil,
was waiting to receive an email from you. however, i will now respond here.
the part about "Being scared i will look incompetent" is a very good post, and is perhaps the crux of the matter. as i've said before, in all the other sports i took up i was usually one of the best. like James T. Kirk, i dont like to lose. even i know its inevitable in the sport of pocket billiards. look how many times Earl has been beat! and the part about not winning at first is also a very good point.
in all honesty, there are nights when all i do is practice. mechanics, shotmaking, position, speed, etc, and dont play any racks. then there are nights when i decide i am going to do nothing but break racks of 9-Ball and see how i do.
so, when i start breaking racks, and the horrible rolls start (no balls down, 2 balls down and no shot on the 1-Ball, a ball down but an extremely difficult runout, being snookered, no shot, etc, etc) i immediately get into that "HERE WE GO AGAIN!" frame of mind and its pretty much over with. then, after 25 breaks, i finally get a chance, and mess it up and fail to run out - well, its all over for the evening.
however, on those rare evenings when i do get a decent spread early and runout a time or two early i am usually upbeat about things. but that rarely happens, unfortunately.
DCP
was waiting to receive an email from you. however, i will now respond here.
the part about "Being scared i will look incompetent" is a very good post, and is perhaps the crux of the matter. as i've said before, in all the other sports i took up i was usually one of the best. like James T. Kirk, i dont like to lose. even i know its inevitable in the sport of pocket billiards. look how many times Earl has been beat! and the part about not winning at first is also a very good point.
in all honesty, there are nights when all i do is practice. mechanics, shotmaking, position, speed, etc, and dont play any racks. then there are nights when i decide i am going to do nothing but break racks of 9-Ball and see how i do.
so, when i start breaking racks, and the horrible rolls start (no balls down, 2 balls down and no shot on the 1-Ball, a ball down but an extremely difficult runout, being snookered, no shot, etc, etc) i immediately get into that "HERE WE GO AGAIN!" frame of mind and its pretty much over with. then, after 25 breaks, i finally get a chance, and mess it up and fail to run out - well, its all over for the evening.
however, on those rare evenings when i do get a decent spread early and runout a time or two early i am usually upbeat about things. but that rarely happens, unfortunately.
DCP
DrCue'sProtege said:
I would venture to say that I'm in the same boat as you... still practicing and learning in an attempt to become a more competitive player. Not by any means as good or as knowledgable about the game as most of the people on here. But I still find it so weird to hear you talk this way about it. When I break in 9-ball, and anything goes wrong (scratch, bad cue ball placement, whatever) My first thought is "what did I do wrong here? How can I make that not happen next time? I really don't think I have ever blamed the table for a "bad roll". I am always willing to take the blame for what happens. (unless the table actually is defective, but this is your table, right?)
And if I can't see the one after the break, my first thought is "OK, what's the best push?" I just think it's a much more positive, healthy attitude.
You might be a much happier player if you stop playing you vs. the table. Try playing with the table instead of against it.
Be ready for anything... and have fun with it.