Are fundamentals just a myth?

[dardusm]

The more strict the equipment gets... Larger tables, smaller pockets and so on the more you realize fundamentals are not a myth.

Excellent observation. Most competitions in the Midwest are on the bar boxes. It's easy to get away from proper fundamentals such as staying down and watching the cue ball make contact with the object ball because of the easier conditions. It's one of the reasons that I like to practice on 9 foot tables to help me stay focused.

 

[rrick33]

Some players just seem to be born with this feel and can progress faster and naturally reach higher levels than those born without it.... Without it you only have one way to climb the mountain and that is by developing and adhering to fundamentals to give you a baseline and reference for where the cue tip is and what it is doing......

I will agree that individuals that develop certain skills as they grow up can have a greater visual/physical even mental aptitude for aspects of the game but to say someone is born with the natural talent doesn't fit into my perspective.

What would inspire nature to instill, at birth, a sense of feel for striking a cue ball accurately?

 

[ronscuba]

.........

Orthodox fundamentals are reliable, and easy to learn, and easiest to trouble shoot for the user. If one has trouble with their fundamentals, they may want to consider looking into using the orthodox version.

Well said.

Mechanically simple and low maintenance. It's helped me become more consistent and steadily improve.

 

[incognito]

Fundamentals are not a myth. They do exist .

I've been pondering this question lately. What are fundamentals when it comes to pool? If something is fundamental in nature then it is both basic and indisputable. Having recently spent time with a couple of very respected instructors I find this to be an increasingly tough question to answer. Are fundamentals something those with no natural talent can learn in order to rise to the eventual level of "better than they used to be"? Why do so many players who are better than most of us will ever be lack so many of these so called fundamentals? Why do these folks get by with so many "bad habits" and still prosper? How can someone who doesn't address the cue ball pre shot within two inches run 150 balls in straight pool? Or someone who looks last at the cue ball run multiple racks of 9 ball regularly? Or doesn't "follow through"? Or stands all crooked and funky at the table? Where is the line drawn with "unorthodox" techniques where we can say this person will never prosper? Is there one really? Or is it just when we see someone failing that we pick apart what they're doing "fundamentally"? I don't know the answer to any of this but it has had me thinking lately.

 

[ivicafranic]

No sir,they are not
However...