Getting "best" players to come visit your home...

Billy_Bob

Billy_Bob

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I'm a mediocre player when compared to the best players. And the best players know that they should play other best players so they can improve (which is what I am trying to do).

So there is nothing in it for them to come visit my home. I've tried everything. Booze, beer, snacks, Sardo rack, measles ball, tight pockets on my table, and even a masse' cue. None of these things have enticed them to come visit me.

Well I finally found something which works.... Old and many books on billiards!

I showed one of these guys an old billiard book from the 1800's. He looked like a kid in candy land looking through that book. Then I told him I had more at home and that he was welcome to come see them, which he did. Then he looked like a kid in a candy *factory* when he saw my billiards book collection. He headed right to my section on hustling and gambling, then wanted to borrow a book to read. I said sure, and told him he was welcome to come over as often as he wanted, to borrow books. (Isn't that nice of me to offer? :D )

Then we got to discussing a shot or something in one of the books. He said "where is your table?" "I'll show you."

So we went to my pool room and he spent the next 45 minutes showing me all sorts of neat stuff! I guess he was really grateful for me sharing my books with him, so he returned the favor by giving me some first class instruction.

See... I'm learning quite a bit from my books!
 
When I first moved to where I'm currently living, I didn't play much pool at all. When I went to the pool hall, I was sort of in your situation. I wanted to play the stronger players to get better. The first couple of times I played with them I saw looks on thier faces like "What the hell is this kid doing trying to play us?". But I always showed them respect, was polite, and kept on playing them even though they would constantly whip my ass. After some bit of time, they eventually accepted that I wouldn't go away and actually began giving me some tips on various things. With thier advice on certain things, along with the fact that I had to either execute on the table or continue getting my ass kicked, my game began to dramatically improve. Playing with strong players, in my case at least, I began to copy certain things from each of them. One plays strong safties, one banks very well, and another is very good with his position play. I watched and studied each one as he played and began picking up things from them. It's only a year later and if the player I am now played the player I was a year ago, I could give myself the 6 out and get the cheese easy. More importantly than my game improvement though, is that I became good friends with these guys and we do all types of things together now outside of pool. As far as getting these guys to come to your house, you probably need to become friends with them first. What's so bad about playing with them at the pool hall anyway?
Sorry for the long post. I got carried away.
By the way, when strong players help you with your game and see major improvement from you, I would think that they feel a bit of personal satisfaction.
 
Opie said:
What's so bad about playing with them at the pool hall anyway?
Click to expand...

I do that as much as possible, but in my area, most of these guys have their own tables and only go to the pool hall for tournaments. But more and more, they are asking me to play them when they are warming up. So I'm getting in some time with them.

And it is of course much less expensive to play at home - one of the reasons I got my own table.
 
Billy_Bob said:
I do that as much as possible, but in my area, most of these guys have their own tables and only go to the pool hall for tournaments. But more and more, they are asking me to play them when they are warming up. So I'm getting in some time with them.

And it is of course much less expensive to play at home - one of the reasons I got my own table.
Click to expand...

Well, I'm sure if you play with them enough, eventually they'll invite you over to play with them. I wouldn't worry about it too much. You'll be trying to improve your game your whole life so it isn't like you have to have them over tommorrow night.
 
Billy_Bob said:
I'm a mediocre player when compared to the best players. And the best players know that they should play other best players so they can improve (which is what I am trying to do).

So there is nothing in it for them to come visit my home. I've tried everything. Booze, beer, snacks, Sardo rack, measles ball, tight pockets on my table, and even a masse' cue. None of these things have enticed them to come visit me.

Well I finally found something which works.... Old and many books on billiards!

I showed one of these guys an old billiard book from the 1800's. He looked like a kid in candy land looking through that book. Then I told him I had more at home and that he was welcome to come see them, which he did. Then he looked like a kid in a candy *factory* when he saw my billiards book collection. He headed right to my section on hustling and gambling, then wanted to borrow a book to read. I said sure, and told him he was welcome to come over as often as he wanted, to borrow books. (Isn't that nice of me to offer? :D )

Then we got to discussing a shot or something in one of the books. He said "where is your table?" "I'll show you."

So we went to my pool room and he spent the next 45 minutes showing me all sorts of neat stuff! I guess he was really grateful for me sharing my books with him, so he returned the favor by giving me some first class instruction.

See... I'm learning quite a bit from my books!
Click to expand...


Tell them you will gamble with them.
 
Billy_Bob said:
I'm a mediocre player when compared to the best players. And the best players know that they should play other best players so they can improve (which is what I am trying to do).

So there is nothing in it for them to come visit my home. I've tried everything. Booze, beer, snacks, Sardo rack, measles ball, tight pockets on my table, and even a masse' cue. None of these things have enticed them to come visit me.

Well I finally found something which works.... Old and many books on billiards!

I showed one of these guys an old billiard book from the 1800's. He looked like a kid in candy land looking through that book. Then I told him I had more at home and that he was welcome to come see them, which he did. Then he looked like a kid in a candy *factory* when he saw my billiards book collection. He headed right to my section on hustling and gambling, then wanted to borrow a book to read. I said sure, and told him he was welcome to come over as often as he wanted, to borrow books. (Isn't that nice of me to offer? :D )

Then we got to discussing a shot or something in one of the books. He said "where is your table?" "I'll show you."

So we went to my pool room and he spent the next 45 minutes showing me all sorts of neat stuff! I guess he was really grateful for me sharing my books with him, so he returned the favor by giving me some first class instruction.

See... I'm learning quite a bit from my books!
Click to expand...
Man this sounds like a scene out of "Silence of the Lambs"....

It will put oil on its skin...

But all I wanted to do was check out your billiard book collection...

I SAID it puts oil on its skin!!!

But I'm hungry and I want to go home...

I SAID IT PUTS OIL ON ITS SKIN!!!

JV
 
Johnny "V" said:
It will put oil on its skin...

But all I wanted to do was check out your billiard book collection...

I SAID it puts oil on its skin!!!

But I'm hungry and I want to go home...

I SAID IT PUTS OIL ON ITS SKIN!!!

JV
Click to expand...

LMAO I can see a .900 player in a pit with a book in his hand...

BillyBob, Seriously, offer them a little light action and get a decent spot from them. Tell them "Come to my house, gamble with me and beat my brains out until I learn how to NOT get my brains beat out." Maybe even offer to organize a weekly ring game at your house... oops... may be illegal in some states! :) but what if you put together a fairly cheap 5 man 10-Ball ring game once a week. Invite four tough players and get it on. You'll learn a lot from them playing with them.

When they match up, go to the room where they're playing and watch. You can learn a lot just watching their position play, speed control, shot selection, etc. Go play in the tournaments these guys play in, even if they're shooting over your head. Two things there... first you'll get tournament tough pretty quick and second, you'll be forced to bring your game.

I don't know, maybe I'm wrong. Around here, all you have to do to get a good player to step up is lay a 20 on the rail. Sad... I remember a day that if you didn't lay down a C-note, you couldn't get a second look, and that was a LONG time ago. Pool is cheap these days in most of the country's average pool room.

Later,
Bob

PS: get rid of those old books. They're worthless, useless, uninteresting!!! I'm sure the EPA has rules on how you dispose of them. I'd be happy to take care of it for you, just box 'em up and send them my way! :)
 
Last edited:
Billy Bob,
I don't have much to add to the thoughts of the other posters, other than that playing with shortstops is okay; but overrated. Gambling with these players forces you to try to figure out what they are thinking - you may figure correctly, you may not. You realize that there is little money in pool - this allows you the opportunity to take lessons from the masters. You will get more knowledge in a couple of hours with Danny D. or Grady than you will in a year of matching up with shortstops (though certainly you want competitive practice with them). It depends on whether you want to be better than these guys, or the same as these guys. Spring for some lessons (this kind of knowledge can only be obtained at the table with the pro in attendance - it is not in any book - books are good, but no substitute for hands-on work with a pro). Good luck.
 
I was thinking the same thing Willie was. I always hear people say playing cheap sets with good players is like getting lessons and that just isnt the case. Yes you can learn a little by doing so, and to some extent you almost have to in order to get used to playing under the gun. But if your main goal is to improve then you should be seeking out a QUALIFIED (I dont mean it has to be on paper) instructor. Ill go a step farther and say its best to find someone that can teach good mechanics of the stroke. Alot of people can teach patterns and game theory, but with good fundamentals and a repeatable stroke its pretty much useless information.
 
Billy_Bob said:
I'm,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Well I finally found something which works.... Old and many books on billiards! ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

See... I'm learning quite a bit from my books!
Click to expand...

you mean pool players can read?

ever try money?
 
woody_968 said:
I was thinking the same thing Willie was. I always hear people say playing cheap sets with good players is like getting lessons and that just isnt the case.
Click to expand...

I strongly agree, Woody. This is one of the bigger myths out there.
 
One guy had a cue for sale. I told hiim that I might have a buyer. The guy bought it. The seller invited me over to play. Actually all he wanted was the money. We played some and he said he had to leave. He agreed to come over to play on my table. The day he was to come he called and said he had a money game. Actually all he was interested in was playing for money. He said that if it wasn't for at least $100 a set he was not interested. Never seen him again.

Another player agreed to help me out. He came over and we played. I told him that I was thinking about going to a pool school. He said don't waste your money I can do the same for you. I asked how much he charges. He said being a friend it there is no charge. We played a few hours and he left. Never came back and never got any "lessons". Dropped out of pool for a while and lost contact with him. Talked to another player that had some "lessons" from him and said all it consisted of was watching him play.
 
sjm said:
I strongly agree, Woody. This is one of the bigger myths out there.
Click to expand...

I think it depends on where you are in your lifetime of pool. Billy Bob may be at the perfect place for learning by gambling with shortstops (IF that is who he's talking about). You and Willie are better than Billy Bob so this may now be true for you guys, but maybe not yet for Billy Bob. I'd say he's one of the ones on this board that is doing a lot of the proper things for growth. I don't know him personally, but his posts indicate this to me.

What is good/bad for one player may not be good/bad for another. I wonder what is Billy Bob's big pool goal?

Jeff Livingston
 
TheBook said:
I told him that I was thinking about going to a pool school. He said don't waste your money I can do the same for you. I asked how much he charges. He said being a friend it there is no charge. We played a few hours and he left.
Click to expand...

Well, now that someone has opened the bag... I think the best thing anyone can do for their game is to get qualified instruction, BUT I also think playing the local strong players is important. Pool School teaches a good consistent stroke and proper fundamentals (and a plethora of other things), which to me are of the utmost importance. Building a pool game is like building a house... no foundation, no house. I'm the ultimate "school" addict. I've been to Randy G's Pool School several times, I have assisted him in classes there and in Road Show schools he puts on. I learn something everytime I teach, either from Randy, one of the other instructors or from a student. QUALIFIED instruction is the best thing there is for a player, regardless of whether they aspire to be a recreational or league player or if they want to take their game to the highest level. Instruction like this dramatically shortens the learning curve.

So why did I suggest that BillyBob play the local strong players, and get in the same tournaments they're in? Well, even after he has that foundation, he has to get it "weathered in". I don't know anyone that was just born with the nerve to play high level pool. I know a lot of you play on a high level and you know what kind of pressure there can be in the finals of a tournament or in a match when there's a good stake on the line. You HAVE to develop that toughness. You can have the best stroke in the world, aim perfectly, know every bank shot, kick shot, carom, etc, but if you're not "tournament tough" it will all fall apart when it comes to a nerve check. This is where playing the best competition he can find will help... besides, he WILL learn something from the local shortstops. Some of it will be what to do, some of it, assuming he has a good foundation in the game, will be what NOT to do.

To be honest, being new to AZ, I was very hesitant to suggest instruction... I've seen the raking over the coals a few can give on here when they think someone might suggest something in which they have a personal interest. Since I am a BCA Instructor, I figured if I told BillyBob "Get Lessons" that I might as well paint a target on my back. But now someone else, someone more established has suggested it, so....

BILLYBOB, Get proper instruction from a qualified instructor and apply that gained knowledge and play against the best and toughest competition you can. Learning the fundamentals is easy... after that, you have to Learn To Win...

Later,
Bob
 
Billy_Bob said:
So there is nothing in it for them to come visit my home. I've tried everything. Booze, beer, snacks, Sardo rack, measles ball, tight pockets on my table, and even a masse' cue. None of these things have enticed them to come visit me.


I showed one of these guys an old billiard book from the 1800's. He looked like a kid in candy land looking through that book. Then I told him I had more at home and that he was welcome to come see them, which he did. Then he looked like a kid in a candy *factory* when he saw my billiards book collection.
Click to expand...


I think if you said, "Hey...wanna come with me back to my house and have sex with my wife" and then you pulled out a picture of someone that looked like the "Pet Of The Month". I'd say that it would probably do the trick.

With all of the references to candy, I guess the book idea for shooting pool is a lot better than hanging around playgrounds and saying to little girls/boys...
"Hey there...c'mon over...I have some candy for you". :rolleyes: :eek: :eek:

I like Willie's idea the best...get lessons from someone that REALLY knows.
 
chefjeff said:
...I wonder what is Billy Bob's big pool goal?
Click to expand...

Well I have reached all the goals I've set for myself, so it's sort of like now what?

Around here there are a lot of "C" and "D" players/bangers, and playing in the local tournaments, they give me plenty of opportunities to win.

But in the larger cities further away, there are "B" and "A" players who always keep control of the table and I might get one chance at the table and that is it. If I don't run out or don't play a good safety, that's all she wrote!

So I guess my current goal is to learn all I can, thus the books. And I'm quickly learning that some books are much better than others. (Wink wink!)

And this stuff really helps. Like last night I needed to shoot a kick shot, and I did it. Then a guy on my team says great shot like it was an ESPN thing or something. And I say that it was an easy shot - which it was. But I just knew how to aim for the shot and my teammate did not is all.

I'm also learning all I can from the better players - what they do to beat me. And it is a totally different game playing the A/B players than playing the "C" players. I guess one day I would like to play one of those A/B tournaments and get in the money - my next goal.

I also like to have fun when playing. When I play well and beat the "bangers", they get quite nasty, and that is not fun, just causes a lot of stress. But when I play well and beat an A/B player, they compliment me on my playing and are good sports.

So I guess I am gravitating toward playing with the better players. But they leave me in the dust, so it is like starting all over again...
 
Cane said:
...BILLYBOB, Get proper instruction from a qualified instructor and apply that gained knowledge and play against the best and toughest competition you can. Learning the fundamentals is easy... after that, you have to Learn To Win...
Click to expand...

I think my biggest problem at this point is that I have the "mind" of a "C" player. I don't think like the A/B players do.

I've only recently started playing these guys (and gals), but I notice one thing. They NEVER leave me with a good shot and ALWAYS keep control of the table.

And I'm thinking... Well I'll shoot that kick shot and keep them from getting ball-in-hand. Well I hit my ball, but leave them with a shot. So that is not good enough, just hitting my ball. I need to be able to THINK about what I am doing before I do it.

I think I need a full season or year or playing these better players. Watching what they do to beat me. Losing, losing, losing. Then re-evaluate what I will need to work on. What skills I will need to win. Then go to an instructor and work on specific things.

And I've done this before... With the local "C" player tournaments. I sat back and watched them beat me. Learned what they did to win. Then practiced those specific things. Then I got to where I could win 1st in the local "C" tournaments sometimes or frequently get in the money.
 
Cane said:
PS: get rid of those old books. They're worthless, useless, uninteresting!!! I'm sure the EPA has rules on how you dispose of them. I'd be happy to take care of it for you, just box 'em up and send them my way! :)
Click to expand...

:D I think I'll keep 'em. Here is a little gem I lucked onto recently. This book is not for sale anywhere btw. Among other interesting and unusual things, it tells you "how to shark" and suggests you do so!

Tavern 8 Ball for Fun and Profit - McKernan - Signed - 1st edition - 1978
 
Billy_Bob said:
I'm a mediocre player when compared to the best players. And the best players know that they should play other best players so they can improve (which is what I am trying to do).

So there is nothing in it for them to come visit my home. I've tried everything. Booze, beer, snacks, Sardo rack, measles ball, tight pockets on my table, and even a masse' cue. None of these things have enticed them to come visit me.

Well I finally found something which works.... Old and many books on billiards!

I showed one of these guys an old billiard book from the 1800's. He looked like a kid in candy land looking through that book. Then I told him I had more at home and that he was welcome to come see them, which he did. Then he looked like a kid in a candy *factory* when he saw my billiards book collection. He headed right to my section on hustling and gambling, then wanted to borrow a book to read. I said sure, and told him he was welcome to come over as often as he wanted, to borrow books. (Isn't that nice of me to offer? :D )

Then we got to discussing a shot or something in one of the books. He said "where is your table?" "I'll show you."

So we went to my pool room and he spent the next 45 minutes showing me all sorts of neat stuff! I guess he was really grateful for me sharing my books with him, so he returned the favor by giving me some first class instruction.

See... I'm learning quite a bit from my books!
Click to expand...


umm how to get the good players my list hot woman $$$ nice cues and good food and drinks lol
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top