wondering which professional players instructors would recommend watching to see "the right way" to play? and why?
best pool role models?
- Thread starter evergruven
- Start date
In general, watch the player who finds the simplest solutions. In terms of fundamentals it's much the same -- the simplest technique should at least be your start.
First of all, if they're pros, then they're successful players, right? So you can learn something by watching any of the pros play. As far as who to emulate, why not start at the top? Pick the highest ranked players and study them. They must be doing something REALLY right, correct?
As a teacher, however, making recommendations to a client, I will take my client's style of play and preferences into consideration and recommend a pro that I think will help them grow and not cause them to try to turn into someone they're not.
As a teacher, however, making recommendations to a client, I will take my client's style of play and preferences into consideration and recommend a pro that I think will help them grow and not cause them to try to turn into someone they're not.
makes sense, thanks y'all
look for results over 'perfect' form. All ways to get it done.
Someone once recommended me to watch Mike Sigel and Buddy Hall and that was because they recognize two things about these players that I have a tendency to do as a player.
1. I always go for safety play over shooting first. Mike Sigel was the player to watch for me because his defensive game was usually always on point and it was the first option for Sigel the majority of the time.
2. I play a very simple game and that's where buddy comes in. So I study his play to see how it can improve mine.
Needless to say, it has worked so far for me.
1. I always go for safety play over shooting first. Mike Sigel was the player to watch for me because his defensive game was usually always on point and it was the first option for Sigel the majority of the time.
2. I play a very simple game and that's where buddy comes in. So I study his play to see how it can improve mine.
Needless to say, it has worked so far for me.
tomatoshooter
Well-known member
I like Mike Sigel's game. He seems like the most accomplished player that a regular person can really learn from. What I mean by that is guys like Earl and Efren are so gifted that I can't do what they do. Mike, while obviously gifted, has a game that doesn't seem to necessitate such superhuman ability. It seems like a mere mortal's game, just performed with incredible precision and strategy. I don't see him doing unimaginable things with a cue ball, he just does the things I do but with much more precision and reliability.
He was a great player with a lot of accomplishments but as a role model he's an ego maniac and a constant whiner.
tomatoshooter
Well-known member
I try not to copy that part of his game.
I like this. nobody's perfect..I think I even saw efren miss a kick one time ^_^
take the good part(s) from anything/anybody, leave the rest for the buzzards
Most of the good Euro players have really good fundamentals. I will say that trying copy any player's actual physical moves can lead you down a deep rabbit hole. Watch their psr, their pace and their pattern play but don't try to copy a stroke. I know a few guys that tried copying that 'pump handle' Filipino stoke and they got ALL out out whack.
Adding John Morra to the list makes sense.
A legitimate top pro that makes a role model for both left and right handed players.
A simple, consistent repeatable process anyone from top player to beginner can mimic and see benefits.
I hear that word a lot --- 'repeatable.' Not picking on you for it because I know lots of people use it. But what does it mean, exactly, when it comes to shooting pool? What exactly is repeated?
Top athletes in sports, especially target sports, talk about sticking with their process, and trusting it, was the key to breakthrough seasons.
Process was discovering the key activities, they need to repeat, to replicate success.
One of those activities, in pool, is a pre-shot routine.
Process can extend beyond the arena into life routines.
Ronnie O runs, Earl S plays tennis and most athletes have exercise regimes.
In the context here is was referring more to how he approaches the shot.
How much time does he take to examine and plan the table?
Once a shot is chosen, how is it approached?
Repeatable, means those elements that appear in shot after shot, including planning and aiming, not just a PSR..
OK. I get it. I'll add to that by throwing out a few ideas on 'repeatability.' When I took that course on mental toughness all those years ago with sports psychologist Jim Loehr, one of the most important lessons I learned from it was that toughness doesn't mean rigidity. It's the opposite. It means flexibility -- having the knowledge and ability to change and adapt to changing situations and circumstances. Sort of like rolling with the punches.
Repetition is fine as long as it doesn't imprison you and prevent you from rolling with the punches.
When it comes to the stance i used the word morph to describe that flexibility.
I also related the stories of Greg Louganis and Tony Fernandez, in a different forum thread on developing expertise, on a like theme.
They mention getting it done with less than perfect form, about making the adjustments needed to succeed, adjusting to the situation.
Jeremy Jones calls that part, “shot keys”, seeing the differences that make a difference, away from the norm, that add resilience that your game
Not sure these examples are the true repeatability meant here though.
A straight stroke is a better example.
Finishing the stroke would be another.
Staying down on the shot, another.
Anything that is repeated consistently to arrive at the desired outcome.
As pointed out by the examples minor modifications situationally apply.
A straight stroke is a better example.
Finishing the stroke would be another.
Staying down on the shot, another.
Anything that is repeated consistently to arrive at the desired outcome.
As pointed out by the examples minor modifications situationally apply.
WobblyStroke
Well-known member
Back when Morra was in his late teens I got to witness him building up that 'repeatability' in his stroke. He took pool balls onto a snooker table and set up the cue ball behind the balk line about 2feet from the side rail and had a friend continue to replace an object ball at a similar position on opposite end of the table. He just kept firing them in for what seemed like forever. Even saw him get help from 2 guys continually replacing both the object ball and cue ball as he'd stay down in his stance and fire in like 5 straight before getting up.
Why not emulate this guy? He grew up around cue sports, the son of a snooker pro, and has such a deep knowledge of the game and stroke that he was able to switch hands due to neck cramping and remain competitive at a world class level. What I love about his stroke is that it is locked down mechanically but retains a sense of flow and personality. Would be a treat to see him play right handed for a full match rather than just go rightee for breaks and finesse shots tho, cuz that raw stroke I remember from back in the day before all the kinks were ironed out had a ton of personality to it. A thing of beauty.
One other guy to consider including in this thread is Darren Appleton who is widely regarded among pros as the best 8ball player in the world. At that level, everyone gets out all the time, what sets Darren apart is how quickly he sees optimal patterns and how adept he is at maneuvering balls around in difficult non-run racks.
Last edited: