Emily Duddy

AZB needs more threads like this. Congrats on your commitment to the game and your recent results. Good luck on your continued improvement and success!
 
Butterfly said:
Hi AZ! Emily Duddy here :smile:

I haven't been on here for a while, but I happen to be on today & saw this thoughtful thread. Thank you to the one who started it & to those that have responded. Positivity, encouragement & support of others is a wonderful thing that should be appreciated.

Although I've been committed to competitive pool for 15 years, the real work began when I started working with coaches full time 6 years ago. They have worked hard with me & are my biggest reason for improvement. I want to take the opportunity to thank them...

My first mentor was Stu Mattana out of NYC. When we started working together in 2010 I was 26 & it was my first year on the WPBA. At the time I was a strong shot maker, but I was very wild, inconsistent & unstable at the table & my knowledge level was average. I needed a coach badly, but never met one that I clicked with. Stu & I spent a few years together working on patterns, kicking, safety play, thought process, 2 way shots & so much more. Stu is brilliant & his knowledge of the game is mind blowing!

My current coach is Mike Napolitano (also known on AZ as SmoothStroke) out of South River, NJ. We have worked together for the last few years. He has taught me so much about playing with rhythm & feel, about patterns, the mental game, breaking, straight pool, eye movement, practice drills, 3 cushion, angel management & much more. We also worked very hard together on my pre-shot routine, which is now one of the strongest parts of my game. Mike is a top-notch coach, who teaches with charisma, confidence & always a sense of humor.

Both of these men put countless hours, energy, brain power, kindness & love into helping me become a better player. I am eternally grateful to them for sharing their wisdom with me.

It is an amazing feeling to have more knowledge & a wider range of skills, so I can now play more consistently more often. The last couple years have brought more tournament wins & strong finishes, which are a testament to putting the time in & they help keep me motivated. Sometimes hard work sucks, but you've got to keep your eye on the big picture.

I know there is much more work to be done to reach my potential, but I am committed for the long haul. In this game there is always more to learn, so you can always be better!

Threads like these can help pool as a sport because in order to get better you need motivation & support! Thanks for taking the time Mantis99! :thumbup:
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Congratulations!

.......and nice post. Well said, and very true!

Will Prout
 
mantis99 said:
I just saw that Emily finished in the 7-8 position at the women's US open. This is a huge upgrade in her game over the past several years. Nice job Emily. I saw some video of her playing a few years ago, and she has really improved her game. It's nice to see someone make these kids of gains with hard work. I know that she has posted here in the past, and I just wanted to congratulate her for the accomplishment.
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I thought the same thing. I was impressed by how much better she seemed to be playing. Well done, Emily. The practice and hard work seems to be paying off.
 
I had the pleasure of meeting Emily a couple of weeks ago. I'm working with Mike Napolitano (Smoothstroke) as well. So, after my session I stayed and watched Emily work with Mike. Her focus and determination were evident as soon as she stepped to the table. It was educational for me to see that focus, determination and work ethic first hand. BTW, Mike is an excellent instructor. He seamlessly went from basic fundamentals with me to more advanced work with Emily. After her session Emily was very gracious with me ( a novice) discussing a bit of what she was trying to accomplish, gave me a few pointers, etc. I truly hope her success continues and she reaches new heights.
 
Congrats Emily!!

Thank you commenting here on AZ.

Keep your game going upwards.

John
 
I normally just lurk on these forums due to all the negativity so it's nice to see a positive thread every once in a while that's worth posting to. Congrats to Emily and glad that your focus and dedication is paying off....
 
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