Does this make sense (better players question)

mvp

mvp

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I had a ah ha moment, people who know me, know I'm a fan of HAMB. I started doing routine drills, Slo mo app of my stroke etc. after a week of this and playing 8ball against my self I've noticed this. PLEASE correct me if I'm wrong!!!!!

1: I no longer play opponents, I play the table
2: I no longer play a game, I play well executed shots,1 at a time
3: I open up congested areas to move better
4: I then play breakout shots after some room to move has been made
5: I nolonger play area position, I pick a resting spot.

Some of these I "thought" I was doing but I really was just shooting against an opponent, don't get me wrong I'm a decent player to start with but I was just going through the motions. My shape was lazy, my thoughts were lazy, my games were inconsistent.
Drills do help!

Please correct me, add to the list.
 
mvp said:
I had a ah ha moment, people who know me, know I'm a fan of HAMB. I started doing routine drills, Slo mo app of my stroke etc. after a week of this and playing 8ball against my self I've noticed this. PLEASE correct me if I'm wrong!!!!!



1: I no longer play opponents, I play the table

2: I no longer play a game, I play well executed shots,1 at a time

3: I open up congested areas to move better

4: I then play breakout shots after some room to move has been made

5: I nolonger play area position, I pick a resting spot.



Some of these I "thought" I was doing but I really was just shooting against an opponent, don't get me wrong I'm a decent player to start with but I was just going through the motions. My shape was lazy, my thoughts were lazy, my games were inconsistent.

Drills do help!



Please correct me, add to the list.
Click to expand...


I think everything you say is great. Exactly what we should be shooting for (so to speak lol).

KMRUNOUT


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
In my opinion, unless you have infinite energy and a love of disappointment, area position is your best friend.
 
There's nothing wrong with HAMB but you need to have specific goals imo, similar to the ones you listed.

Add in some precision pattern play, some mental discipline, some accurate kicking practice with a little precision banking exercise and you are good to go.

JoeyA


mvp said:
I had a ah ha moment, people who know me, know I'm a fan of HAMB. I started doing routine drills, Slo mo app of my stroke etc. after a week of this and playing 8ball against my self I've noticed this. PLEASE correct me if I'm wrong!!!!!

1: I no longer play opponents, I play the table
2: I no longer play a game, I play well executed shots,1 at a time
3: I open up congested areas to move better
4: I then play breakout shots after some room to move has been made
5: I nolonger play area position, I pick a resting spot.

Some of these I "thought" I was doing but I really was just shooting against an opponent, don't get me wrong I'm a decent player to start with but I was just going through the motions. My shape was lazy, my thoughts were lazy, my games were inconsistent.
Drills do help!

Please correct me, add to the list.
Click to expand...
 
I wonder how many guys went up in flames by playing the table and leaving Eddie Taylor or Bugs Rucker a "low percentage" bank?... Know your enemy.
 
I have added position drills to my HAMB practice , but all drills gets me frustrated and sloppy, so for me it's a variety mix of things to keep me engaged. And as one noted area position is your best friend, I've ended up on the wrong side by a 1/8" when simple attention to detail would of saved me. And while I don't play like SVB. I've learned that playing exact position and you don't come close is a real eye opener and gives you something to drill on later. Also I stole the Idea of video playback of my stroke and watch different shots over and over in Slo mo (cell phone footage) and fixed my dropping of rear arm on execution stroke. I'm now convinced you need to change the way you think if you want to improve
 
HAMB...

Hawaii Association of Mortgage Brokers?

I ran a search on this and found so many hits, it's tough to know where to go.
 
I don't know that 8 ball is a good game to play against yourself. If you want practice picking apart difficult patterns, try 15-ball rotation, and any balls you make on the break, put them back on the table randomly (on a 9-10ft table anyway, on a 7-8ft leave them off). That will really teach you to reach difficult positions with control, plan 5 shots in advance, and not panic when the 1, 2, 3, 4 are all on different sides of the table and you have to squeak the CB by all the other balls.

Especially on a 9ft table, as long as you have a solid break with a full table spread, running out 8 ball really isn't holding yourself to too high of a standard. There's a reason you only see 8-ball played by pros on bar tables (or with rounded pockets in Chinese 8-ball) ...

That said I still play league 8-ball sometimes and I find that solo 8-ball is not good practice for 8-ball, really. 8-ball is really easy as far as shot making and patterns go, and the only trick to it is playing smart against your opponent, it's mainly a battle of strategy since it's really difficult to play a decent safety in 8-ball. You can still work on your decision making playing informally against a decent opponent... 14.1, one pocket, and snooker are also good for helping your decision making in 8-ball.
 
mvp said:
I had a ah ha moment, people who know me, know I'm a fan of HAMB. I started doing routine drills, Slo mo app of my stroke etc. after a week of this and playing 8ball against my self I've noticed this. PLEASE correct me if I'm wrong!!!!!

1: I no longer play opponents, I play the table
2: I no longer play a game, I play well executed shots,1 at a time
3: I open up congested areas to move better
4: I then play breakout shots after some room to move has been made
5: I nolonger play area position, I pick a resting spot.

Some of these I "thought" I was doing but I really was just shooting against an opponent, don't get me wrong I'm a decent player to start with but I was just going through the motions. My shape was lazy, my thoughts were lazy, my games were inconsistent.
Drills do help!

Please correct me, add to the list.
Click to expand...

I've played a lot of pool, and I probably have HAMB.

Some of what you're saying is good sense, but there are always exceptions. Sometimes area shape is better than trying to pick a resting spot. Sometimes it helps to play to your opponent. Sometimes it makes sense to focus on one game and make that your be all end all goal if it gives you the energy needed to dig really deep, in the midst of an overall outlook that says that pool is 'one long session' of a million shots that will take you where you are going.

It's like 'double-think', believing contradictory ideas and using what helps you. I believe that I give my best all of the time, but also that when it's in the clutch I can come with something extra. I try to play the table, while also doing what I can to put heat on my opponent. Etc.

But in general those are all good thoughts.

The actual reason for my post though is that you never truly accomplish those goals. You strive for them, but you don't achieve them. For example, 'playing the table'. I think everyone is aware of their opponents, but you grow better at not fixating on that or letting that distract your play. Some days you zone out and it's magic. Other days it sharks you and you dog it. It's all part of the game. But just like "Making the shot you're shooting" is a goal you strive for but never really reach, so too are those goals. That is the fun of the game. But you don't get there if you don't strive, so keep going and have fun!
 
justadub said:
In case you're not joking....

HAMB = Hit A Million Balls
Click to expand...

I was NOT joking, I'm afraid to say. I may have seen that somewhere, but I doubt it. Thank you for neither flaming me, nor failing to answer. LOL


(Yeah, I know that one means "Laughing Only Lollipops". Or something.)
 
disagree 1000% with playing the table over an opponent

i think it's the best course of action if your opponent is uknown otherwise shift your game a little if it means taking advantage of his weaknesses
 
The reason I practice 8ball is that's the primary tourney in my area. I used to practice 9ball rotation but I don't think the position routes and safety play is even close to what I experience in 8ball, never tried 15ball rotation, the thought of that seems very very hard!
 
smashmouth said:
disagree 1000% with playing the table over an opponent

i think it's the best course of action if your opponent is uknown otherwise shift your game a little if it means taking advantage of his weaknesses
Click to expand...

When I'm better I might agree with you, right now I'm probably my own worst enemy! So to me it doesn't matter who's waiting for me to miss! I'm giving everyone the same game. How does it matter who you play? Unless you are playing a far inferior person you might play reckless breakouts instead of a well thought safety. i just assume everyone can run 8or9 balls! If they can't I'm happy as hell!
 
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