Do Aha Moments exist in pool?
- Thread starter Zphix
- Start date
Yeah you have to work your socks off in practice and really pay attention to things, but my biggest aha! Moment was when I realised I don't think about what I'm doing, I just do it.
Less thinking, more doing.
I've said many times..
There are many threads on AZ about what people think the one thing they would suggest for players to do and I have always said that one of the most important things is letting the weight of the cue do the work.
good things happen when you let the weight of the cue do the work, bad things happen when you try to force the cue through the ball.
Jaden
There are many threads on AZ about what people think the one thing they would suggest for players to do and I have always said that one of the most important things is letting the weight of the cue do the work.
good things happen when you let the weight of the cue do the work, bad things happen when you try to force the cue through the ball.
Jaden
Some of my AHA moments:
Around age 10: Realizing that the CB deflects tangentially and hence that I could direct it with variations of follow, draw and speed. i.e. Learning the arcs.
Around age 19: Going in a pub pool comp with a mate and winning $50 each. The next 6 years or so it was like a fun job.
Early 20's: Learning how to find that one best shot out of a choice of dozens... in 8 ball.
Early 20's: Learning to play with clear CB position in mind and demanding precise execution.
Late 30's: BHE. Freddie probably helped some here and a few others like JAL, Dr. Dave, Bob Jewett, can't recall exactly, and good info was sparse at the time. Just realizing that there is a bridge length whereby the pivoting angle cancels out squirt got me spending many hours in testing and quantifying the variables.
Mid 40's: Realizing how crucial bridge positioning is. While a good stroke has advantages, a wrongly placed bridge assures a poor stroke or a missed shot with a good stroke.
Mid 40's: Realizing how crucial eye placement relative to the shot angle is for learning the potting line perception. Sounds obvious, but it really needs some work and repeatable fundamentals to stop falling into old aiming flaws.
Around age 10: Realizing that the CB deflects tangentially and hence that I could direct it with variations of follow, draw and speed. i.e. Learning the arcs.
Around age 19: Going in a pub pool comp with a mate and winning $50 each. The next 6 years or so it was like a fun job.
Early 20's: Learning how to find that one best shot out of a choice of dozens... in 8 ball.
Early 20's: Learning to play with clear CB position in mind and demanding precise execution.
Late 30's: BHE. Freddie probably helped some here and a few others like JAL, Dr. Dave, Bob Jewett, can't recall exactly, and good info was sparse at the time. Just realizing that there is a bridge length whereby the pivoting angle cancels out squirt got me spending many hours in testing and quantifying the variables.
Mid 40's: Realizing how crucial bridge positioning is. While a good stroke has advantages, a wrongly placed bridge assures a poor stroke or a missed shot with a good stroke.
Mid 40's: Realizing how crucial eye placement relative to the shot angle is for learning the potting line perception. Sounds obvious, but it really needs some work and repeatable fundamentals to stop falling into old aiming flaws.
I love Aha moments in pool. They usually coincide with me hitting a nice plateau after some hard work. And then my game drops below what it was previously and I have to figure out what the heck I am doing wrong again.
The best Aha moments are when a better player is watching you. At the right time, they ask, "can I show you something"?
You watch and learn, and then say, "No way man, it's that easy".
And your teacher smiles at you.
And then you spend the rest of that day practicing your new found Aha.
Colin, if I remember, I learned a couple of Ahas from your Breaking Video on Utube.
I would like to learn more about this bridging proper. I know that I am currently doing a couple of things wrong in conjunction with each other. I would be willing to bet good money that my Bridging is coming into play here.
The best Aha moments are when a better player is watching you. At the right time, they ask, "can I show you something"?
You watch and learn, and then say, "No way man, it's that easy".
And your teacher smiles at you.
And then you spend the rest of that day practicing your new found Aha.
Colin, if I remember, I learned a couple of Ahas from your Breaking Video on Utube.
I would like to learn more about this bridging proper. I know that I am currently doing a couple of things wrong in conjunction with each other. I would be willing to bet good money that my Bridging is coming into play here.
Last edited:
To enjoy every moment, to be aware of the mistakes, take hold of the miss just as take hold of the take is equally important for progress. It was helps me to calibrate and "feel" when it´s right it has a feeling, when it´s wrong - same.
Smile often and breath in a good pace - deep, makes you relax and open ups for the feelings - easier to connect to them.
Playing pool is a great game for learning this imo.
Chrippa
Smile often and breath in a good pace - deep, makes you relax and open ups for the feelings - easier to connect to them.
Playing pool is a great game for learning this imo.
Chrippa
If I can bastardize one of Nietzsche's quotes.
To play Pool, is to suffer.
To learn to play better, is to find some meaning in the suffering.
Hey, maybe I will put this in my Sig Line. It's much better than being a Master Baiter.
To play Pool, is to suffer.
To learn to play better, is to find some meaning in the suffering.
Hey, maybe I will put this in my Sig Line. It's much better than being a Master Baiter.
Glad to hear my Power Breaking video helped you BHR
Here is the video for those who haven't come across it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xW1tsONEI_U Warning: Grainy video, but it's the content that matters.I guess in the weeks before making that video it was an aha moment for me. I realized my breaking lacked consistent power and accuracy so I focused on what I'd learned over the years from my past as a decathlete and throwing coach. When I applied that knowledge my break increased in power (and by allowing me power with a shorter bridge), accuracy.
Re: Bridging, it's just the simple concept that the line from bridge V to CCB should be precise for the requirement of the shot. Players tend to assume they achieve this regularly, but I'm sure many do it much more rarely than they think. If the V ain't on the right line (and the right spot if implementing BHE pivot point or any shot with side english), you ain't aligned. You may make balls, but via poor stroke habits and bridge twisting during the stroke. Try placing the bridge, not looking at the OB again and smashing through center CB with a steady bridge. You'll soon see if your bridge V is being placed poorly, for even the simple follow shot.
Note: As I use BHE, 95% of my shots align the same, in that I aim as if I'm pocketing with medium firm follow, even though I am often using side english, draw or stun with TOE. Once the bridge is set to this aim and at my effective pivot point, I have no need to look at the OB again with regard to the pot. I sometimes visually refer to it during the stroke as a positional reference though. The concept still applies to people not using BHE, but they'll have to recognize different bridge V positions for various types of shots which have differing squirt, swerve and throw elements.
Last edited:
1. Draw for show, follow for the dough, if you can roll into position then do so.
2. Everything needed is so much less than you think it is from ball speed to English.
3. That you rarely need to move your cue tip more than a 1/4 tip off of center in any direction, up, down, inside or outside.
4. That playing simple natural off the rail position will consistently get you paid, keep it simple and repeatable. Watching a guy that spins the ball a lot is interesting if they really grasp how to do it & do it well but if you grind on these guys you'll find after a certain number of hours all of the sudden they start coming up short or long. Meanwhile your non flashy simple off the rail position play stays rock solid. Have you ever noticed how really great players make it look effortless, real simple, not flashy. To the uninitiated, players that utilize this style don't look very intimidating. To the seasoned player & gambler they look dangerous.
5. Everything in this game is about bringing forth a consistent, repeatable stroke
2. Everything needed is so much less than you think it is from ball speed to English.
3. That you rarely need to move your cue tip more than a 1/4 tip off of center in any direction, up, down, inside or outside.
4. That playing simple natural off the rail position will consistently get you paid, keep it simple and repeatable. Watching a guy that spins the ball a lot is interesting if they really grasp how to do it & do it well but if you grind on these guys you'll find after a certain number of hours all of the sudden they start coming up short or long. Meanwhile your non flashy simple off the rail position play stays rock solid. Have you ever noticed how really great players make it look effortless, real simple, not flashy. To the uninitiated, players that utilize this style don't look very intimidating. To the seasoned player & gambler they look dangerous.
5. Everything in this game is about bringing forth a consistent, repeatable stroke