Bob Knight & Position Play

[td873]

EVEN IF YOU PLAY THE PROPER PATTERN AND TAKE THE CORRECT SHOT - DONT YOU WANT TO GET PERFECT PINPOINT POSITION?

No.

geez folks, dont you? even if the position zone is somewhat big, dont you want to get the optimal position in that zone???

No.

Maybe that's why you are having such a hard time with this game. It isn't about perfection, it's about angles. And once you have an angle, it's about options. And once you have the right option, it's about execution.

AKA: Don't let "perfection" be the enemy of "good enough."

she taped off the table in eight (8) sections as per the diagram below. [...] she told me to work on landing the cue ball within that zone, and not to worry too much about pin point accuracy.

I take this statement to mean the instructor evaluated your play and believed this was the most helpful for you. No offense to you, but this is indicative of your level and what the instructor believed you needed in order to improve. Put another way, you needed to work on zone position. The next step in the progression is to recognize which zone you need. Then executing to get to that zone. And finally you could work on pin-point accuracy within the zone. There are a few levels in there...

-td

 

[Black-Balled]

thoughts?

DCP

p.s. serious replies only please

Are you serious? I will take the 7 and play this Bobby Knight some.

 

[td873]

but, once again, it seems absolutely logical to me that you want to practice putting the cue ball on the EXACT spot - not just somewhere near that spot.

My last comment on your original post and follow ups (to date).

I think you fail to recognize that exact spot cue ball control is a direct function of exceptional ball pocketing. You CANNOT control the cue ball to a pinpoint unless you are superb at pocketing. As I alluded to above, beginners and intermediates will NOT be able to hone their pinpoint accuracy until they understand and can execute exceptional ball pocketing.

-td

 

[DrCue'sProtege]

No.

No.

Maybe that's why you are having such a hard time with this game. It isn't about perfection, it's about angles. And once you have an angle, it's about options. And once you have the right option, it's about execution.

AKA: Don't let "perfection" be the enemy of "good enough."


I take this statement to mean the instructor evaluated your play and believed this was the most helpful for you. No offense to you, but this is indicative of your level and what the instructor believed you needed in order to improve. Put another way, you needed to work on zone position. The next step in the progression is to recognize which zone you need. Then executing to get to that zone. And finally you could work on pin-point accuracy within the zone. There are a few levels in there...

-td

wow.........now that i teetotally 100% disagree with. you DO NOT want to get pinpoint position when you play??? you say you want angles, but to get the perfect angle you need pinpoint position play!!!

sorry, but thats the very first time i have ever heard anyone say something like that. i dont know about you, but i would absolutely LUV to have pinpoint position play. but if you dont want that, its up to you.

and the "Taping Of the Table" by Diana Minor occurred several years ago. sorry, guess i should have made that clear.

DCP

 

[ShootingArts]

as usual

TD is right as usual but you can't understand what he is saying because you are in too big of a hurry to express your own opinion. Taking it from the top of the thread, spend a little practice time working on super hard stuff, spend most of your practice time working on what you will see in a game over 90% of the time. Amazing the stupid mistakes anyone will make if they don't practice realistically.

On to pinpoint perfect leave, it is far more important to shoot for the leave with the most chance of success. Approach from the angle that gives the biggest margin for error whenever possible. Often that means taking a somewhat harder shot than playing for better shape that will leave you without a shot if the leave isn't perfect.

If you have the DVD of John Schmidt's 245 run, watch it and listen to how many times he makes a "mistake" in that run. If you don't have it, buy it. John Schmidt plays excellent shape but I think he would be the first to tell you that he doesn't stop the cue ball in the area of a dime every time, or even a credit card. If you play smart shape it doesn't matter because you have a bail out option if you miss perfect shape.

Hu

wow.........now that i teetotally 100% disagree with. you DO NOT want to get pinpoint position when you play??? you say you want angles, but to get the perfect angle you need pinpoint position play!!!

sorry, but thats the very first time i have ever heard anyone say something like that. i dont know about you, but i would absolutely LUV to have pinpoint position play. but if you dont want that, its up to you.

and the "Taping Of the Table" by Diana Minor occurred several years ago. sorry, guess i should have made that clear.

DCP

 

[steev]

Amazing the stupid mistakes anyone will make if they don't practice realistically.Hu

holy crap is this true. in tournaments and leagues some of these guys (and girls) are trying so hard to play perfect, they don't see much. you'll see them taking thin cuts or tough combination shots over STRAIGHT IN balls! and don't get me started on position (or lack of it).

thanks for the explanation, hu. i been trying to understand some people's choices, and your statement sums it up, i think.

+1

-s

 

[ShootingArts]

BlackJack actually said it earlier

BlackJack actually said the same thing earlier in this thread when he said we play how we practice, I just worded it a bit differently.

Thanks for the rep!

Hu

holy crap is this true. in tournaments and leagues some of these guys (and girls) are trying so hard to play perfect, they don't see much. you'll see them taking thin cuts or tough combination shots over STRAIGHT IN balls! and don't get me started on position (or lack of it).

thanks for the explanation, hu. i been trying to understand some people's choices, and your statement sums it up, i think.

+1

-s

 

[poolplayer2093]

First of all, nice break. Secondly, I would have played it differently, high outside and try to pocket the two in the other corner pocket, leaves a greater margin of error than your shot which could easily leave you snookered.

But, I'm just a ball banger.

What he said! why make things so hard on yourself

 

[td873]

wow.........now that i teetotally 100% disagree with. you DO NOT want to get pinpoint position when you play??? sorry, but thats the very first time i have ever heard anyone say something like that.
DCP

You understand me correctly. Also, I agree that you probably never heard this, but not from lack of it being stated to you.

i dont know about you, but i would absolutely LUV to have pinpoint position play. but if you dont want that, its up to you.
DCP

I don't want it, or need it. I would guess that the majority of the amateur pool world is in the same boat.

You don't just get to have anything in this game. You have to earn it. And these things take time. I doubt that the majority of the pool world will ever be to the point that they need pinpoint play AND are willing to spend the time and effort needed to achieve it. And, sadly, most people are not gifted with the ability to even achieve it.

With years of playing, you should have already determined what level you want to play at and compared it to the level that you are ABLE to play at. I would bet these two do not overlap (or else you wouldn't feel the need to search for answers here...) I suggest you take a step back and evaluate your play (honestly) and then come to grips with the reality of it. Sometimes it's a hard pill to swallow, but you'll enjoy the game so much more. Put another way, only a handful have the talent to be a pro.

and the "Taping Of the Table" by Diana Minor occurred several years ago. sorry, guess i should have made that clear.

It was clear that this taping was a while ago. I understood your question to mean that this was something you still deal with, i.e., after years have passed you are still working on this item. I think I get it.

-td