Do pros know *everything* there is to know?

Billy_Bob

Billy_Bob

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Seems to me, when other players ask me questions about pool, it is the best players who are doing this. They want to know all about everything.

And the worst players "know everything there is to know" about pool, so they never ask questions and if anyone tries to tell them they are wrong about something (rules, what is a foul, whatever), they will insist they are right even though they are wrong. You can even show them the rule and they will not read it! (closed minded I guess.)

So my question: Are the best pros the type of people who ask questions, want to learn all they can about the game, and continue to do this even though they have reached the top?
 
I read some time ago that Effren watches bad pool players because he learns from them. He says they'll shoot at anything, even impossible shots. They're not afraid to try. And that some of the time the shot works. When it does, he takes that shot and tries to see if he can add it to his repertoire. If it's good enough for Effren...

Flex
 
The game is too big for anyone to know everything. If you are open-minded and teachable you can keep learning stuff about this game until the day you die.

No-ones bigger than the game.
RJ
 
Billy_Bob said:
Seems to me, when other players ask me questions about pool, it is the best players who are doing this. They want to know all about everything.

And the worst players "know everything there is to know" about pool, so they never ask questions and if anyone tries to tell them they are wrong about something (rules, what is a foul, whatever), they will insist they are right even though they are wrong. You can even show them the rule and they will not read it! (closed minded I guess.)

So my question: Are the best pros the type of people who ask questions, want to learn all they can about the game, and continue to do this even though they have reached the top?
Click to expand...

Irving Crane used to say that "it takes two lifetimes to learn this game" and he was only talking about straight pool.

Yes, those who ask questions and who always look to learn more tend to be the ones that succeed. To continue advancing as a player, one must view oneself as a work-in-progess rather than as a finished product.

Those that prematurely view themselves as finished products limit their continued development.

Yours is a most intelligent post, Billy Bob. There's always more to learn, but that's one of the things I love about pool!
 
some people think that there are two players that know about the game more than others.
Efren Reyes
Mike segal
 
Billy_Bob said:
Seems to me, when other players ask me questions about pool, it is the best players who are doing this. They want to know all about everything.

And the worst players "know everything there is to know" about pool, so they never ask questions and if anyone tries to tell them they are wrong about something (rules, what is a foul, whatever), they will insist they are right even though they are wrong. You can even show them the rule and they will not read it! (closed minded I guess.)

So my question: Are the best pros the type of people who ask questions, want to learn all they can about the game, and continue to do this even though they have reached the top?
Click to expand...

I read somewhere that Corey Deuel asked how he could bring his game to the highest level and someone suggested he go play Efren for $100 a game and in doing so, it would improve his game....he must have done something like that because I have an Accu-stats tape which shows him winning a match against Efren....
 
vagabond said:
some people think that there are two players that know about the game more than others.
Efren Reyes
Mike segal
Click to expand...

Efren is, very simply, the greatest shcolar of pool that ever lived. In my opinion, however, Nick Varner knows quite a bit more than Mike Sigel. Nick owns a world championship in each of straight pool, eight ball, nine ball and one-pocket, and, in my opinion, possesses more all around knowledge of the game than any American player of the last forty years.
 
Last edited:
I don't think there would ever come a time when a person would know everything. As stated earlier, u can learn something from just about anyone. Sometimes it's just a matter of looking at the same situation from a different perspective. I bet most top notch players don't loolk at the same options for a shot as say a player of my caliber would. Plus, no matter how much you know or how great u are, there is always someone out there that has something to offer you. Tiger woods is a great example of that. Always looking and trying new things out even though he is a top notch competitor..... jmo
 
Flex said:
I read some time ago that Effren watches bad pool players because he learns from them. He says they'll shoot at anything, even impossible shots. They're not afraid to try. And that some of the time the shot works. When it does, he takes that shot and tries to see if he can add it to his repertoire. If it's good enough for Effren...

Flex
Click to expand...
The one thing ER doesn't seem to know is how easy it is to miss;)
 
Billy_Bob said:
Seems to me, when other players

So my question: Are the best pros the type of people who ask questions, want to learn all they can about the game, and continue to do this even though they have reached the top?
Click to expand...

the BEST ask questions because they understand there is more to learn and nothing is as simple as it seems. it is that age old adage about the more you learn, the more you realize how little you know. the WORST don't ask questions because they don't "see" to begin with. it is not their fault, it may simply be that they don't have the capacity, so they don't KNOW to ask in the first place.

you see it all the time right here, and everywhere. people post certain questionable off-the-cuff observations because they just...don't...see.
 
Last edited:
i think for the most part people who excel at an activity have a natural curiousity about it, they want to know and learn it, and as they learn more they see theres even more to learn. Pool is one of those activities that has a macho type aura about it, maybe its the seedy pool halls or the hustler stories or the gambling, i dont know. But yeah ive noticed it too, theres a c- d+ player that likes to play scotch doubles with us and im always hearing "maybe i dont know how to shoot but i know how to play and what shot is the right shot" and other crazy stuff out of him. The worse the player, the more they know and you cant tell them anything, so i dont even try. I learned to jump from a kid i give the 7 and out to and the breaks, but hey he was a great jumper. I grabbed him one day and said "hey show me how you jump, you jump great". He just looked at me, probably thought i was kidding with him, but when he saw i was serious I got some great tips. This kid had practiced and practiced jumps and he was great at it, and he gladly taught me all he knew and i appreciated it. You have to pick up the diamonds where you see em
 
scottycoyote said:
i think for the most part people who excel at an activity have a natural curiousity about it, they want to know and learn it, and as they learn more they see theres even more to learn. Pool is one of those activities that has a macho type aura about it, maybe its the seedy pool halls or the hustler stories or the gambling, i dont know. But yeah ive noticed it too, theres a c- d+ player that likes to play scotch doubles with us and im always hearing "maybe i dont know how to shoot but i know how to play and what shot is the right shot" and other crazy stuff out of him. The worse the player, the more they know and you cant tell them anything, so i dont even try. I learned to jump from a kid i give the 7 and out to and the breaks, but hey he was a great jumper. I grabbed him one day and said "hey show me how you jump, you jump great". He just looked at me, probably thought i was kidding with him, but when he saw i was serious I got some great tips. This kid had practiced and practiced jumps and he was great at it, and he gladly taught me all he knew and i appreciated it. You have to pick up the diamonds where you see em
Click to expand...


great great avatar!!!!!!!!

but shoudn't the "9" be in a circle within a yellow stripe? just a suggestion. :):)
 
I have a friend who is about equal in ranking to me.He has taught me a few things because I was open-minded enough to listen.

Everytime I go to share some stuff I've learned from an instructional DVD or pool book, he says"I know" even before I get a chance to fully explain what I want to show him.He cuts me off even before I get a chance to fully explain something I know, he knows nothing about.His close-mindness has caused me not to even bother anymore.

I will listen to other players about shots, kicks ,systems etc, however,when it comes to stroke I am little more careful and prefer to listen to a certified master instructor.

Being open-minded has benefitted me greatly.
RJ
 
i have to say no they don't cause if one knew everything about the game it would become boring, and personally this what makes the game so unique to me cause there is so much to learn and to perfect is what makes me keep coming back for that beating.
 
I doubt " anyone know it all "

But i love watching AA or open players go at it, cuz they just do it so easily. And i tend to soak it in, and go and make balls easier.

Now, i became a good shot maker because when i first started playing i always left myself in bad position, so i learned to make those hard shots, when i played like crap.

I would say that MOST players are always looking to IMPROVE, its just the ones who dont know any better, and havent played anyone worth a damn who think they know everything.


dave
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top