Are We Gullible Sheep?

TheThaiger said:
Just wondering why you weren't able to send rep to someone (and too lazy to edit your post, sorry).
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You can only rep someone every so often. (To prevent someone from just repping the same person over and over again, in order to build rep points. A futile exercise now, but given the original intent of the rep system, it was necessary.)

This means that Lyn has repped Brian in the recent past.
 
PT,

Agree with most of your premise. Was once told I could not even hit the clubs provided to Tiger Woods as they were much to stiff for a hacker like me. Yes, equipment is important. Some players take it to heart and expect their new state of the art shaft with the $100 tip to make them a player. Practice (and what you practice) helps more to make a better player. It also helps to be born with the talent potential and the WANT/NEED to use it!

Lyn
 
justadub said:
You can only rep someone every so often. (To prevent someone from just repping the same person over and over again, in order to build rep points. A futile exercise now, but given the original intent of the rep system, it was necessary.)

This means that Lyn has repped Brian in the recent past.
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Thanks for a better explaination.

Lyn
 
A couple of things come to mind.

A while back Joey A told a wonderful story how he and Alex were hitting a couple of balls with Efren's cue when he stepped away after a match, I think it was the 1p win he had in Vegas. Joey couldn't get over how messed up the cue was but, sure enough, it was good enough for Efren. :thumbup:

The other example was when Shane was playing the TAR match with Earl on the gaffy 10 footer. Justin commented once or twice on how Shanes cue was buzzing when striking whitey, I think it was to do with a loose or otherwise messed up ferrule. But it was good enough for SVB.

I like and agree with what Lyn and pt have said about the monumental importance of hitting lots of balls. And even then many of us aren't gonna make it to the big show. :(

If I were to have practiced my singing over the past 50 years, I'm still fairly confident that my first album would still not have been released.

And for crying out loud, will somebody pick up Lyn's slack and rep me. :grin-square:

Green, that is. :wink:

Best,
Brian kc
 
Ever notice that most of, if not 100% of all the new pool gagets, books, and systems are sold here on AZ Billiards. (sounds like, "NOT SOLD IN STORES. TV ONLY). If it wasn't for the free ads on the forums, most woudn't sell a dozen. There are some oldtimers and good players on here that feel you should never knock anyones action/sales...even though they consider the forum a family. Johnnyt
 
Kickin' Chicken said:
Lake salvage and bowling alley wood shafts, apps for your phone that explain in real time how to perform a kick shot, $30 for a single cube of chalk, myriad systems on how to aim, tips soaked in milk, etc., etc., etc...

How did Crane, Lassiter, and Mosconi ever get by with out all of these things?

Are these things all gimmicks that ultimately can not replace good old fashioned practice?

Sometimes I think we are very lucky to be able to benefit from tecnological advances that can help us be better at pool.

However, more often than not I'm feeling like a target of marketing efforts that try to convince us that without these products we can not be the best we can be.

So tell me, could Willie have done better with a stroke-assist?

Are we gullible sheep?

Best,
Brian kc
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Unless they are "great" gadgets. I can never go back to a "regular" bridge after a pro justable bridge.... best pool product to come along in a long time imho. I wish pool halls would use them so I wouldn't have to drag mine with, but I"m pretty sure they would be stolen right quick....
 
I agree with the o.p. I am also guilty of trying to buy a better game. :embarrassed2:
 
Nobody "needs" all these new inventions. Some people just think if they have a suitcase full of gear it makes them look like a real pool player.

I have digressed from wanting all the stuff that a great deal of people associate with being good. I now see that 1 good cue, a good cube of chalk and a scuff-er is all I need. And the scuff-er is optional.

Not saying that it is wrong to have all the bells and whistles, it's just not necessary.
 
ChicagoRJ said:
Unless they are "great" gadgets. I can never go back to a "regular" bridge after a pro justable bridge.... best pool product to come along in a long time imho. I wish pool halls would use them so I wouldn't have to drag mine with, but I"m pretty sure they would be stolen right quick....
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RJ,

Understand TAP will be moving their National event to Pheasant Run Resort in 2013. Hope to meet you sooner but at the very least, at that event.

What's a "pro justable" bridge? Got a photo or a link? Been carrying a soft plastic bridge head in my case for years. Slide it on my break shaft. Never mind. CocoboloCowboy just offered one for sale on the "for sale" forum. Looks like the one my friend Larry from California invented several years ago. The BCAPL used them for a couple of years then he and the bridge disappeared!

Lyn
 
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In my own attempts to become a better pool player some things have helped and some things have not. I am sure many have found this to be true. I have found a chalk I like over other brands. I have purchased many books and some are outstanding and some are just awful. I have also bought pool cues and accesories and had good and bad experiences. Without the internet and prior to the internet it was very difficult to get any real info on learning to play pool better. In order to learn you went out and played pool and if you got half decent and lucky then maybe one of the better shooters in your area would show you a thing or two. Nowadays I play at a fairly competitive level and have had other players ask me to help them with their game. Some are looking for the quick 'show me fix' and others seem to be willing to put in the work and time necessary to actually become better players. One person in particular asked me to help with banking so I lent them the first book that Freddy B wrote, IMO the best bank book ever. Well it sat in the trunk of their car for two months and they never studied it, recently that same person asked me again to help them with banking. Once more I am going to lend Freddy's book and insist they study it for several weeks and then I will assist them but only if they put in the time to study Freddy's book. While I am not a proponent of any particular system I believe that it's exceptionally difficult to get better without working, studying and then putting the new information into action. We are very fortunate to have so much information to study regardless of whether or not it is all accurate and helpful.
 
Is HHAMB the answer?

HHAMB = Hit HALF A Million Balls (instead of a million).

So, maybe instead of using the HAMB method, we could get by with the HHAMB method, cutting it right in half.

And as pt suggests, along with HHAMB, consider wisely which of the myriad available products can really make a difference in our game, (the wheat from chaff thing), and use them in conjunction with HHAMB.

And beyond that, just hope you are one of the people blessed with the rest of the natural talent, skill, and eyeballs needed to compete at a high level.

Or like me, good enough to play at a level that I have fun. :thumbup:

Best,
Brian kc
 
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.


Gimicks are things for people that want and think there is a easy button.

Most people always want the easy way. That is why they will never become a champion in anything. They are content with taking the easy way and not working for it. That is why they will always be watching instead of playing, because watching is easier.

This is true for anything and not just pool. Most successful people are where they are because of all the effort, time and work that they put into it.




.


.,
 
Kickin' Chicken said:
A couple of things come to mind.

A while back Joey A told a wonderful story how he and Alex were hitting a couple of balls with Efren's cue when he stepped away after a match, I think it was the 1p win he had in Vegas. Joey couldn't get over how messed up the cue was but, sure enough, it was good enough for Efren. :thumbup:

The other example was when Shane was playing the TAR match with Earl on the gaffy 10 footer. Justin commented once or twice on how Shanes cue was buzzing when striking whitey, I think it was to do with a loose or otherwise messed up ferrule. But it was good enough for SVB.

I like and agree with what Lyn and pt have said about the monumental importance of hitting lots of balls. And even then many of us aren't gonna make it to the big show. :(

If I were to have practiced my singing over the past 50 years, I'm still fairly confident that my first album would still not have been released.

And for crying out loud, will somebody pick up Lyn's slack and rep me. :grin-square:

Green, that is. :wink:

Best,
Brian kc
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I've known Steve Davis since he was 17....we always argued about cues.
...and it always ended with Steve saying "Well, you can get used to any
block of wood."..and I would say.."Yeah, but why not get used to a good
block of wood."

..and Brian...I suspect you got enough green to make Ireland jealous.
...maybe I'll just send you a six ball in that package.:grin:
 
OTB said:
I like thinga ma jigs, whats its, doohikies, I just have to have the next best mouse trap.........I'm guilty, they all collect dust after a week at the most.......lol...OTB
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you forgot to mention the goszintas and goszoutas :)
 
Neil said:
The problem is that too many look at it as one or the other, and then pick a side and stand by the side they picked no matter what. The correct answer should be "both". There are many tools out there to help one improve faster and better. None totally eliminate time on the table, but some can shorten the time it takes to get to a certain level. Some items are nothing more than a gimmick. Some items are certainly better than others, but use the gimmick factor to demand exorbitant prices. Some items might be better depending soley on how you want to define better. Does lasting 5 times longer at ten times the cost equal better? Some say it does, others don't.

Even if most things out there are gimmicks, one only has to take a few minutes to think about it, and see if there is some worth to them there. If there is, it's not just a gimmick.
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I love the tip-pic.
I'm an old golfer and it reminds me of spiking the greens so they will hold.
 
Kickin' Chicken said:
Lake salvage and bowling alley wood shafts, apps for your phone that explain in real time how to perform a kick shot, $30 for a single cube of chalk, myriad systems on how to aim, tips soaked in milk, etc., etc., etc...

How did Crane, Lassiter, and Mosconi ever get by with out all of these things?

Are these things all gimmicks that can significantly reduce good old fashioned practice?

Sometimes I think we are very lucky to have technological advances that can help us be better at pool.

However, more often than not I'm feeling like a target of marketing efforts that try to convince us that without these products we can not be the best we can be.

So tell me, could Willie have done better with a stroke-assist?

Are we gullible sheep?

Best,
Brian kc
Click to expand...

YES! We most certainly are.:)
 
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