mgregory said:
the only way I have practiced for the entire time I have been playing, And I don't go to the bank often, not that I try to hustle, I just try to get a handicap if I play someone better than me.
I'd like to lend a thought if I may.
I just found your above statement interesting because although I'm not really or ever have been a big gambler in the 45+ yrs I've been playing, I never ever wanted a spot. I'd much rather play for smaller stakes and loose than experience an empty win.
What would it prove to myself, or my shooting ability, or any improvement I hoped to gain, if I were better at 7 ball than my opponent was at 9 ball if for example I were spotted the 7+8?
I think trying to improve by playing better players is key, but I also believe that any benefit from it is removed by accepting a spot. I suppose an odds spot with money would be ok, but getting balls or games on the wire is counter productive IMO.
I don't think keeping statistics is a good way to improve. Keeping notes on doing something the same way you have in the past will just give you pages of notes.
To improve, IMO it requires an awareness of something missing or being done wrong in your game and execution. This is where instruction from a trained billiard instructor will help.
Everyone's shortcomings are different and individual, but I can tell you that long ago, for me, a little light went on, and I realized "hey, wait a minute, I'm not missing because I don't see the point of aim or the point of contact, I'm missing because I'm not delivering to that point of aim smoothly and correctly."
Once I refocused on my delivery, follow through, and trust in the shot, my game improved more in a month than it had in first 25yrs I played.
Lastly, while 9 ball has it's benefits with respect to shot making, IMO it lacks in benefit to a much more important facet of the game needed to improve. That being the feeling of "dead stroke", "dead punch", "in the moment", "hypnotized".
Call it what you want, shooting 3 or 4 balls or even running out an occasional full game and then sitting down letting your opponent pocket a few balls, then you shoot a few, cannot allow you to delve into the feeling of dead stroke so easily as you strive to improve. I think that feeling in vital to good play.
Once you are advanced enough, I think the game is less important because you can more easily put yourself in that place mentally that you need to be because you've also practiced that feeling more. But initially, I think 9 ball is a poor way to find dead stroke.
That's why I suggest straight pool. You need to get in the groove to run racks, play tight position by touch, and simply get better used to the feeling of being in a trance.
