Copying Rythm

L

LastTwo

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I watch alot of pool videos, and often I get inspired after watching one to go out and practice. I've noticed that I have a tendency to copy the pro's rythms when I play right after watching a video. Whoever impresses me the most is usually the person who's rythm I will copy. For example I just watched a Match with Earl beating Bustamante, and I found myself playing with Earl's quick and steady rythm. By this I mean stroke rythm, practice stroke count, and even walking around the table. The other day I watched Efren in a video and I noticed I had picked up Efren's rythm which is slower paced in the area of how long he takes before he shoots, and walking around the table, but much quicker in practice stroke speed. This can't be good for my game if I am always changing my rythm. Both times however I did play pretty good, but I want to find one rythm and stick with it. Does this happen to anyone else?

Also, has anyone noticed with alot of amateur players, when one player is playing bad, often it rubs off on the other player? I think it's because rythm is contageous, and when a player uses a rythm that is not good for him it makes him/her play bad. I'm going to try to focus on my own rythm when I practice from now on (if I can remember lol) and I'll see how that affects my game.
 
LastTwo,

What you said makes sense. I don't notice it after watching a video, but I notice after playing the same person for a period of time or watching the same players for a period of time (days or weeks) I pick up what they do. Maybe not their rythm...but their style. I start realizing...maybe that bridge is better than mine or a certain way they shoot a shot is a better choice. I guess you just have to distinguish what is good to copy and what isn't.

Sarah
 
rhythm. rhythm. rhythm.

Some time ago there was a thread about finding your rhythm by watching an hour’s video of yourself shooting. You’ll find that you can count out your rhythm (steps to table, chalking, practice strokes, all of it) like music… in fact, I think the thread was carried by musician pool-players.

Some people are rhythm players. One guy in my hometown plays awesome in his rhythm and it’s fairly well known that you have to watch out for him once he starts humming. I suppose it’s a particular song he’s humming; and when he gets in that rhythm, he’s pretty unstoppable, except he needs that rhythm and plays poorly in alternate rhythms.

I think that controlling your speed and playing well no matter what the speed takes a great strength of mind and concentration… but is much more important. This is because no matter what, you always have to deal with the other guy- more so when gambling. You might fall in his rhythm. He might consciously use tempo to rattle you.

There’s the guy who consistently jumps up to the table before you even finish your stroke (completely unashamed those times that he has to sit right back down when you make the shot.) He can often be thrown off simply by sitting calmly in your seat and waiting until he sits down before you approach the table... But it takes concentration and breathing to be able to do that and still play well without getting wrapped up/ distracted in the speed thing and not the “make ball- get shape” that you’re supposed to be doing.

There’s the guy who slow-plays you. This is my personal problem- I get bored and frustrated and eventually can lose concentration and even my will- to- live. I mean, there’s only so much entertainment you can get with a guy who’s clearly fascinated with the mere prospect of making contact with the cue ball sometime this week... In one gambling match, the guy started playing slow in the 3rd set and I became irritated and without even realizing it, I played a little quicker. Now the quicker I played out of that irritation, the more I missed, and the slower he got until he could’ve seriously won an oscar. So I breathed, thought about the beauty of the balls, and enjoyed every damned millisecond at the table. I took the time to personally enjoy the feel of the cloth, the weight of my cue, and played so slow that that oscar was mine. And HE got frustrated and began missing even easy shots.

As a small sidetrack: when shooting a forceful shot and a soft shot, forceful and soft, most players will miss an easy shot just because of the difficulty of keeping total control of their own strength going back and forth like that.

Rather than get dependent on a rhythm (yours or someone else's), concentrate on always making the ball and getting shape- while being in control of your own strength and speed.

this is what I think today. tomorrow it might be different.
 
I think rythm is extremely important. My biggest problem is once I get on a roll of running racks, I tend to start playing faster and faster. Sort of like the Rodney Morris/Keith McCready Syndrome. That's when I miss. I know it's because I line up on the shot wrong. So, my concentration lately has been to keep the same rythm. Now after a couple of racks, I'll get a drink of water or wipe down my cue or something, instead of standing at the end of the table waiting for the rack and getting more excited.

FWIW,

Jim
 
What kind of person are you in regular life activities. Do you walk briskly or on the slow side...do you talk fast or slow...are your hand actions quick or fast...if you were to swing a golf club, is your backswing and transition fast or slow...do you eat fast or slow? Answer all of those questions accurately and I think it'll give you a good indicator of your natural tendencies. In pool, don't try to emulate ANYONE...stay with your own natural ways of doing everything, because in the heat of battle whatever you're trying to copy will break down with the pressure.
 
drivermaker said:
In pool, don't try to emulate ANYONE...stay with your own natural ways of doing everything, because in the heat of battle whatever you're trying to copy will break down with the pressure.
Click to expand...

That's exactly right. I don't golf, but I play alot of baseball. I see people all the time trying to copy major leaguers and it just doesn't work. You have to develop you own rythm and pace. One that suits your mental and physical aspects. You can't have anyone tell you what it is.

Jim
 
Rhythm comes from your pool shot's recipe. Whatever ingredients you put forth in your shot must, by nature, determine your rhythm. Nothing else can.

Therefore rhythm is not a thing in and of itself, but is merely a reflection of the things you do for each shot. Change the things you do for each shot and you change your rhythm. Whether the changed results are good or not is the question/answer.

Jeff Livingston
 
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