Cheap sets, no one seems to want to play em

prewarhero said:
tell me more about this stroke lesson from wilson?

Please!
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First off, he tried to get me to shoot with a smooth transition from backstroke into the final stroke. That wasn't really part of the "lesson" but a tip he gave me at a certain point. That alone helped my consistency.

But the meat of his suggestions for me were these: He asked me to show him how I set up and so on, so I did. I went through my normal pre-shot routine and got down on the ball. Right there he stopped me, and took a cue and hung it from my elbow towards the floor. My forearm was about 2 1/2 inchs forward of true perpendicular, so he had me move my hold on the butt backwards 2 1/2 inches. He told me that the way I was doing it was more accurate, but that when I shot with more power it would cause me to miss more shots, as I'd be forcing the cue to do something extra. He also had me stroke a shot, and the tip of my cue after striking the cue ball came to rest about 2 inches in front of the cue ball. Thus, moving my hold on the butt back those 2 1/2 inches, and keeping my bridge constant as before, would result in the tip of the cue finishing about 5 inches forward of the cue ball. This would allow a more efficient transfer of power to the cue ball.

Next, he had me slow down my back stroke, and try to smoothly transition from back stroke into the stroke. To do this, he said to line everything up properly while standing, slowly move into the stance, making sure the tip of the cue was pointing right where it was to contact the cue ball, take three practice strokes, with the slow back stroke on each one, then to pause and double check everything: alignment, aim, position of the tip on the cue ball, eye motion from the tip of the cue ball to the point of aim on the object ball, back and forth, back and forth, focus on the object ball, slowly draw the cue back and then smoothly transition into the stroke, from that to stroke through the cue ball and to let the tip go the full 5 inches and contact the cloth, with the stroking hand coming up and contacting the chest, which he called the finish. He said to shoot the shot only when I was totally convinced everything was right.

Then he had me set up some rather easy cut shots, he said they should be easy and that I shouldn't focus too much on making the ball, but on my stroke, and to shoot those shots over and over having in mind the stroke techniques he taught me. That's it.

He didn't change my stance, or my hold on the cue, or my head position, just worked on the stroke.

The idea is to groove all that so it becomes second nature, and it has already.

Different people have different problems, of course. What he might show another person could differ.

I highly recommend him.

Flex
 
hard to find sets

it is hard to find games....... everyone wants a spot.... with me , new to an area these players, by the way who shoot good, want me to give them call 7 or a game on the wire - wild 8 - with breaks , race top 5..... to top it off I dont even play 9 ball. In order to play you have to be at 110% because if you make a mistake with those spots it is hard to come back.....Last week I did find a guy to play a $100.00 a game 8 ball, it turned out really nice. good luck to all and dont give to much weight.
 
You must gamble to get better. There is no other pressure like it. If you're not practicing by yourself, I don't think you should play another person unless you're putting "something" on it...or you're in a tournament. Playing/executing under pressure is the only way to get better. Of course, I do play for fun, but I'm just saying if you want to get better.

I'll be honest though, gambling is what enticed me to get better. I was in high school and had grown up playing pool with my dad, but personally never took it serious. My buddies and I would go play after school and gamble amongst ourselves. I was the best out of my group, and from there we would find others to go play...and it kind of progressed from there. We would pitch quarters, flip dollars........it wasn't fun unless there was "something" on it. I don't know...one of those things.

Now that I'm a married, responsible, and I dare say successful adult (and some never believed that would happen) I can simply say, don't gamble with money you can't afford to lose. If you follow that rule, regardless of the amouht....you'll be fine. Don't ever let anyone downplay the significance of your bet either! I've heard Allen Hopkins say he would play for any amount when he was scuffling (and he was one of the best..) because you had to make your nut. He would play for $1 a game 9 ball if he had to. It ALL adds up! Just put something on it with someone who will bet with you what you're comfortable with.

Who had more heart? The man with a $10K bankroll playing $500 sets, or the guy who is literally down to his last $20 playing for it all?
 
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Playing for 1 or 2 dollars kind of defeats the purpose of gambling. On the one hand if you are gambling for the competition you have to bet enough that it matters whether or not you lose. I'm not saying put grocery money on the line, I've never played for more than $50 a set. But it should at least suck a little bit if you lose. But if your gambling to make money, obviously it's going to take a long time to make something out $1 or 2$ sets.

I typically play for $10-20 a set. I haven't done much of that recently as I need to be saving money. But I am still willing to donate to a local shortstop every once and a while.

One last thing. If you are gambling to learn from a better player. Always play even. It forces you to play your best game and you will have really accomplished something should you win.

I apologize if somone has already stated this I didn't read all of the posts.
 
JumpShotMagic said:
I keep getting asking to gamble, and keep getting turned down when I suggest what I call cheap set of a Buck, or Two in a race to 7 or 9. with a little weight for me case I am not a great player.


I am getting frustrated. But I see zero reason to just give money away, as it comes too hard from my sweat.
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Instead of waiting to be asked to play---just go to the house man and ask if there are players who play your speed and for your prefered bet. There are usually players around just like you.
 
Cameron Smith said:
Playing for 1 or 2 dollars kind of defeats the purpose of gambling. On the one hand if you are gambling for the competition you have to bet enough that it matters whether or not you lose. I'm not saying put grocery money on the line, I've never played for more than $50 a set. But it should at least suck a little bit if you lose. But if your gambling to make money, obviously it's going to take a long time to make something out $1 or 2$ sets.

I typically play for $10-20 a set. I haven't done much of that recently as I need to be saving money. But I am still willing to donate to a local shortstop every once and a while.

One last thing. If you are gambling to learn from a better player. Always play even. It forces you to play your best game and you will have really accomplished something should you win.

I apologize if somone has already stated this I didn't read all of the posts.
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Why didn't you say so? You know where I am. Find me and you can get a game.
 
John Barton said:
I understand a Buck or Two to be $100 to $200 a set. A buck is 100 a dime is 1000. at least where I am from.
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Just make sure that you are both thinking the same way. You win three sets and he takes out 3 BUCKS and there may be a problem!
 
I'm not sure I can comment on this too well, but here goes. I watched a player back in NYS get better by playing the best players even or with a small spot. He literally lost thousands, and I do mean that. He got better, but losing all that money is not the way most people want to go. You can get better playing in tournaments, but be prepared to have it handed to you early and often. Not everyone can stand to lose so many times, which is why a lot of people prefer to play in handicapped tournaments. That way, they feel they have a chance to win that they would not have playing even all the time. Leagues, in my opinion, are not a good place to find competitive play. It can, I guess, teach you how to play oppenents of various skill levels, but most league handicapping leaves something to be desired. In his "101 Tips to Improve Your Game" article, George Fels says: "By all means, bet a few bucks. Morals aside, you'll learn to handle the game's unique pressures much faster and much better."
I read or heard somewhere, a long time ago, playing for money gives you a reason not to miss. That's probably debatable, but so what?
 
:p Damn all that bs JUMPSHOT..you want a game...damit...you got one buddy....but here's the deal..heads up 10 ahead for 5 dollars and you gota post up front buddy, money on the light kinda game...and bring a towel..cause your gona be sweating that mulla buddy,..you just let me know where you are and ill come to you....;) :D


Great post made me chuckle...heheh
 
Flex, If you want to know the difference between hustling and what happened to you, there is a newspaper article hanging somewhere on one of the walls in that cave above North Milwaukee. It's about a fellow named Mark Jarvis. That's hustling.
 
As

my big brother told me when I was 14 or 15, "If you want to be good, play for money, but just play what you can afford. If you don't want to be good, just play for fun".

My point: How can you be good at anything unless you test your limits, and not just once, but many times?

Playing for funsies isn't the same as playing when 'something' is on the line.

Tricks are for kids. If you can't run with the big dogs, you better sit on the porch. (meaning that if you aren't good enough to get up and challenge a $20 challenge table, you had better just sit on the sidelines watching).

Ever hear the old saying, 'You never know what you are capable of until there is an emergency". People have done amazing things in times of emergencies. Well, to a poolplayer, being broke constitutes an emergency situation, especially if they won't have any more money for a few days, and they have to figure out a way to eat until then. Those type of thoughts are motivating to play better and harder, thereby making you a better player than you were before.
 
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