controlling shooting power and consistency

Great advice all...

I have been struggling with my fundamentals too...(don't we all?)

I have found consistency and progress is all related to fundamentals...

For example...pre-shot routine
- find a process that works for you and stick to it
stance
head & body position
bridge & backswing
sighting & stroke

once all of these things are consistently the same your game will improve, then you can focus on the elements of shot making...position play etc...

When you practice, try to play up...(better players then yourself), and employ all of your fundementals on every shot and watch your improvement...(how you go from being beaten handily to competitor, mind you, you may still be losing, but not as badly)...

I play APA, 8 & 9 Ball, and our local league here in Atlanta has been endorsed by Johnny Archer...he is the house pro at Mr. Cues II, and he runs clinics and 'Play the Pro' events regularly...I'm doing an advanced clinic with him this weekend!...if you have this type of opportunity in your area take advantage...great to have a real pro, instructor or player you respect critique your game...

my 2c
 
Billiard Bill,
I'm not piling on, just giving a different spin to what D'maker and VAP have said. We've almost all been where you are now. Our "overinflated" sense of skill at this level is NOT a character fault or egotism run wild; it is usually just from a lack of exposure and knowledge of what a really good player is like.

As Danny DiLiberto has said many times, "If we knew that we didn't know something, then we wouldn't 'not know' it." Our perception of our skill level is dependent on who we are playing with and what they say and think.

I've mentioned this before, but I've certainly been in your position, and fairly recently. I bought a nice table 3 1/2 years ago, bought and memorized every pool book ever written, practiced 2 hours a day for almost a year (had banged balls A LOT for 7 years about 25 years ago), and could beat everyone I played with, and could pocket a lot of tough shots. I thought I was pretty good. At that time I happened to fall in with a group of pool professionals and top instructors, and BOY WERE MY EYES OPENED. The first day with a top instructor he set up 15 or 20 shots (medium to tough) for me and observed my stroke. I successfully pocketed every single shot, successfully achieved the proper position every time; and the instructors only observation was, "We have a lot of work to do, we need to change your stroke completely." I hate to say it, but that instructor was exactly right. Now that I compete regularly with the pro's it is remarkable how many things you find that they can do consistently that is totally beyond the average player. It is remarkable how badly I played in comparison to the pro's, even though I thought my game was fair. It is remarkable how much your game can improve if you approach it as a learning process (just spending time banging balls is NOT ENOUGH).

Take lessons. Practice diligently and properly, with a goal for each practice session in mind. Become a student of the game. With your desire and attitude you can become a top player if you want; but it will be the pro's telling you you are a good player, not your friends. Playing well is the most fun you can have with your clothes on (though Purdman may have tried it the other way) - good luck.

P.S. - Confidence is a TREMENDOUS asset to a pool player; don't let anyone take that away from you. Remember though that confidence without the skills to back it up will just break your stakehorse's heart.
 
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VAP and drivermaker-

Tap, tap, tappy.

~DC---somewhere in between vap's #1 and 3 (still workin' on it)
 
Wow thanks for all the comments.lol I never came on here saying i am the world champ. I am not looking at going pro i was just looking for some tips i got some after i weeded through those posts. It seems like there are more people on these forums that are short and hostile then friendly and helpful. I am sorry if i offended some of you asking for some tips. And also i never made the statement i do all and know all. I see what your point was in bouncing me but i think it went a little too far. I am in this to have fun not to make my living off of it. I been working on playing mainly hitting softer and imagining the shot before i take it. And both those and taking each shot like its my last has helped even in that short of time. Thank you all for the help.
 
BillardBill said:
It seems like there are more people on these forums that are short and hostile ...... .
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no one means this personally.........trust me, if you decide to take this game up seriously.........you'll look back and say "damn i played really shitty compared to now"

same thing happened to me when i first started playing not long ago...........a top regional player told me "you've got a good stroke, but you still can't play for shit" :D

and you know what??? i consider that some of the best "advice" i ever got.

good luck

VAP
 
crawdaddio said:
VAP and drivermaker-

Tap, tap, tappy.

~DC---somewhere in between vap's #1 and 3 (still workin' on it)
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don't forget to tell people how you hustled your way through college...... ;)

VAP
 
Yeah i know what you meant i just took it in a mean way. I realise i have a long way to go.lol And i think i used the wrong statement saying i think i am very good. But i will say i think i could be. Thanks for the tips
 
BillardBill said:
It seems like there are more people on these forums that are short and hostile then friendly and helpful. I see what your point was in bouncing me but i think it went a little too far.
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It seems that you just don't know the forum members good enough. Some are very friendly and helpful...and others are more of a "tough love" style mixed with a dose of reality and still helpful. Certain posters just need to soak themselves in a brine bath to toughen the skin for whatever might take place.
You see...the REAL world of pool and gambling isn't a place for pansy asses. It's quite tough and sometimes hostile. However, if you're just planning on being a social player with close friends in a tinsel palace or on home tables that's a different story. Just tryin' to help........
 
vapoolplayer said:
well then..........what the hell are you doing here????

hehe :p

VAP
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Boy....you're lookin' for an awful bad hurtin' aren't you?! You keep this up and I'm going to get LS77 to pound on you even if I have to bribe her out of hiding or play John Belushi (Jake and Elwood -Blues Brothers) when they were in that drainage tunnel running from everyone and he pleaded for mercy with his wife and his undying love for her as she was trying to machine gun him down. :D LMAO

She must be in TERRIBLE need of a fix at this point for some vampira action that requires male blood. Mine might be tastier, but I'm sure yours will do.

BTW...did I ever tell you the story or how I made a whole ton of money....
triple hehe :p Remember the golden rule...he who has the gold.....rules.
Know what I mean Vern?? :D
 
drivermaker said:
Remember the golden rule...he who has the gold.....rules.
Know what I mean Vern?? :D
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oh shit........i forgot...........dammit dammit dammit............. :rolleyes:


VAP (kicking rocks)
 
drivermaker said:
chuckle-chuckle...te-he-he....har-har-har....bwa-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha.. ;)
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ok on a serious note, i'm going to hijack this thread.......LOL

what differences did you notice in the ICE shaft and the predator???

i've seen a coupld reviews, but nothing real in depth, and i know you've had your a while.......so.............spill it.

VAP
 
vapoolplayer said:
what differences did you notice in the ICE shaft and the predator???

VAP
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Everything....structure any question you like and the answer will be the same for each one...either yes/no or no/yes for one vs. the other.
Hope that helps...just don't call me a meanie (that always gets to me)
 
drivermaker said:
Everything....structure any question you like and the answer will be the same for each one...either yes/no or no/yes for one vs. the other.
Hope that helps...just don't call me a meanie (that always gets to me)
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well i already called you a pansy ass.......... :D

VAP
 
BillardBill said:
...It seems like there are more people on these forums that are short and hostile then friendly and helpful. I am sorry if i offended some of you asking for some tips....
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Well let it go in one ear and out the other. (Or I guess as your reading these things, maybe in one eye and out the other?)

The internet can be brutal, but you can get some really good pool playing advice on the internet. I would advise you to continue making posts. Be honest about your playing which needs improvement just as you have done and you will get excellent advice here.

One time I mentioned I could run 6 and someone questioned my being a "C" level player and being able to run 6 [racks]. I meant I could run 6 BALLS, not racks! Anyway there are some *very* good players here who think in terms of how may racks they can run. I think there are some big name pros lurking about in disguise as well (some use their real names).

But if you think it is brutal here, stick around, follow the advice you get, then you will start winning more and more games. Then you will see how nasty your fellow pool players can get when you start winning a lot of games. Some will refuse to play you any more.

So far as fellow pool players being nasty, read "The Black Widow's Guide to Killer Pool" by Jeanette Lee. I think at one point, they were so nasty, she ran to the bathroom and cried her eyes out. The spectators were also being nasty to her at one point.

Anyway try to develop a thicker skin and not let these things bother you. Because if you stick around here, your game *will* improve and the nastiness you encounter from your fellow players will make this look like nothing.
 
bill my advice would be to read every pool book you can find.....and watch alot of pool videos.......whether matches or instructional. This stuff will go a long way towards helping you develop youre fundamentals and a pool mind. Once you get some experience youll find yourself shooting less and less of those "multiple ball combos".......because youre getting proper position so you dont have to shoot them.
enjoy
 
scottycoyote said:
bill my advice would be to read every pool book you can find.....and watch alot of pool videos.......whether matches or instructional. This stuff will go a long way towards helping you develop youre fundamentals and a pool mind. Once you get some experience youll find yourself shooting less and less of those "multiple ball combos".......because youre getting proper position so you dont have to shoot them.
enjoy
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I know what you mean. I have started to use somethings i have read about and seen from other players and they are working for me. I am still working on not shooting hard even though i know i still am just not as hard as i was.lol No i have learned alot from this site in even just the last week or two. I have also noticed i needed to stop taking shots for granted and rushing them so to speak. I slowed my game down and i am noticing a big difference already. Thanks for the tips proud to be a member here its a great board. thanks
 
Try playing snooker if you can find a table in your area. You will not make a ball if you shoot hard. It forces you to concentrate and shoot at pocket speed. Plus it's a lot of fun.
 
bsmutz said:
Try playing snooker if you can find a table in your area. .
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what do you mean by hard? plenty of shots can be made with a very firm stroke...........all depends on how straight you hit them.

VAP
 
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