Let say my speed (playing good) is high b... pool is fun, except it scemes when im playing good I have to bear down so har it loses its luster.. So I was wondering is part of the learning curve, the better you get the easier it is to play good and you dont have to bear down so hard all the time...Or is the game so mental its, stone cold killer or loser..
Does the trying get easier.....
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It gets easier
Chin up. It definitely gets easier.
However, that said, it depends at what level you are competing. If you want to compete at the highest level, you do have to immerse yourself in what you are doing. These guys are all good!!
There is nothing easy about playing professional caliber pool. The mental state is key to your performance, and you absolutely must have the skills. Further, many players believe that being able to pot the balls is the measure of a pool player. Not so. Being able to pot any ball from anywhere just gets you into the program. That is the easy part.
You must be able to pot the ball the way it NEEDS to be potted. You may have to pot it softly or with speed. You may have to pocket it in the left side of the pocket, or the right. You may have to pocket the ball in the left side of the pocket, medium speed, with a lot of right english on the cueball. The ability to pocket the ball how it needs to be pocketed to control the cue ball is the next step to becoming a top player.
Then, of course, you must also be able to control the cueball when you don't pocket a ball. Perhaps you need to bump a ball over to the rail and hide the cueball on the opposite rail behind another ball. This requires even more control, for not only are you controlling the cueball, but you don't have the luxury of the object ball leaving the table. The object ball must also be controlled.
And finally, being able to do all these things in practice is fine and good, but to be able to do them in competition, under pressure, is the final step. The mind can play unbelievable tricks on the body under pressure. The cue arm can have a mind of its own. Simply controlling one's emotions is crucial. Many a pro match is decided not on the table, but in the minds and the outward demeanor.
Back to the question. Yes, it gets easier. But as it gets easier, generallly the challenges faced get harder. To roll down to the local pub and let loose a barrage against the studs there can be fun and easy, but that will simply not do against a "player".
It is a wonderful game.
Chin up. It definitely gets easier.
However, that said, it depends at what level you are competing. If you want to compete at the highest level, you do have to immerse yourself in what you are doing. These guys are all good!!
There is nothing easy about playing professional caliber pool. The mental state is key to your performance, and you absolutely must have the skills. Further, many players believe that being able to pot the balls is the measure of a pool player. Not so. Being able to pot any ball from anywhere just gets you into the program. That is the easy part.
You must be able to pot the ball the way it NEEDS to be potted. You may have to pot it softly or with speed. You may have to pocket it in the left side of the pocket, or the right. You may have to pocket the ball in the left side of the pocket, medium speed, with a lot of right english on the cueball. The ability to pocket the ball how it needs to be pocketed to control the cue ball is the next step to becoming a top player.
Then, of course, you must also be able to control the cueball when you don't pocket a ball. Perhaps you need to bump a ball over to the rail and hide the cueball on the opposite rail behind another ball. This requires even more control, for not only are you controlling the cueball, but you don't have the luxury of the object ball leaving the table. The object ball must also be controlled.
And finally, being able to do all these things in practice is fine and good, but to be able to do them in competition, under pressure, is the final step. The mind can play unbelievable tricks on the body under pressure. The cue arm can have a mind of its own. Simply controlling one's emotions is crucial. Many a pro match is decided not on the table, but in the minds and the outward demeanor.
Back to the question. Yes, it gets easier. But as it gets easier, generallly the challenges faced get harder. To roll down to the local pub and let loose a barrage against the studs there can be fun and easy, but that will simply not do against a "player".
It is a wonderful game.
No matter what level you play, the effort("bearing down") will always be there. Getting better might makes some things easier, but you will still bear down the same. In fact, the better you get, the more you know, and the more you know the more nuances you will feel the need to focus on. So you will probably bear down much more. Pros have incredible focus on details.
So if you just want to have fun(as per your post), you may just want to stop improving
I kind of half jokingly say to people that if you have fun playing pool, you're doing something wrong. But seriously... good pool is hard work. I count myself as a low B but to play at full B speed I really have to work at it. It feels good AFTER I run a rack or 2. But during the run there's little fun and I'm getting no satisfaction if I don't run out. As little fun that I have, it's a miracle I still play as much as I do.
It also can feel less fun when you get that feeling that you're not improving. You can't do anything that you haven't done before, and the stuff you wish you could do (i.e. run a 6 pack) feels completely out of reach.
It also can feel less fun when you get that feeling that you're not improving. You can't do anything that you haven't done before, and the stuff you wish you could do (i.e. run a 6 pack) feels completely out of reach.
You have effectively peaked. You are into redline.
Or maybe not. Perhaps you just need to reimbrace the futile struggle that is pool. I am your father, Luke. Surrender to the dark side.
does it get easier
Just a little different perspective for you to consider. Keep the bearing down stone cold killer at all time, never let up, never quit on any hit. What actually happens here is that you are trainning your concentation level (like you train for a marathon) and over time it's not the shot making that get easier, that goes with your knowledge of the game, but it gets easier and easier to bear down on every shot, you train your concentration like you train your stroke. At first its like the bateries drain after your first or second match in a tournament, after a while you'll compete for 18 hours straight. Top players rarely miss because they are great at every part of the game and this one is one they are excellent at. If you want to work on getting good at this quick, play for money and let the other guy do what ever he can to distract you, see how you shoot in tournaments in six months. Guys who no loner miss balls because of silly distractions make the finales.
Good luck
Just a little different perspective for you to consider. Keep the bearing down stone cold killer at all time, never let up, never quit on any hit. What actually happens here is that you are trainning your concentation level (like you train for a marathon) and over time it's not the shot making that get easier, that goes with your knowledge of the game, but it gets easier and easier to bear down on every shot, you train your concentration like you train your stroke. At first its like the bateries drain after your first or second match in a tournament, after a while you'll compete for 18 hours straight. Top players rarely miss because they are great at every part of the game and this one is one they are excellent at. If you want to work on getting good at this quick, play for money and let the other guy do what ever he can to distract you, see how you shoot in tournaments in six months. Guys who no loner miss balls because of silly distractions make the finales.
Good luck
thats good stuff.....Thanks
Its took me awhile to get back to this. One its spring ive worked like 28 out ofthe last 30 days, and two my kids were here all weekend tieing up the computer...
Anyway ....I would just like to say thanks for the replies. I thought I was asking a well thought out question and I feel there were some really good answers, even the one liners werent bad. Hopefully someone other than just I learned alittle somthing....
Its took me awhile to get back to this. One its spring ive worked like 28 out ofthe last 30 days, and two my kids were here all weekend tieing up the computer...
Anyway ....I would just like to say thanks for the replies. I thought I was asking a well thought out question and I feel there were some really good answers, even the one liners werent bad. Hopefully someone other than just I learned alittle somthing....