got a million questions...

L

lastdimetaker

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I did not even know this section exist, I just go straight to main forum. I'm gonna blow this page up.
First question. I am highly influenced by books and other resources. I read a book on martial arts and all of a sudden, I incorporate it into my pool game. I read poker books I'm thinking like a poker player. I learn a lot but I want to be a pool player. I read pool books like crazy and the main az forum. Am I sharking myself? Sometimes I feel like I'm so busy sorting through all the input I forget to put the ball in the pocket. Is this normal? How do I get useful info without the side affects?
Hope you can see my delima. Thks in advance for responses.
 
Like you I consume all the best information I can find. I learned that it is best to find ways in which to test a new tool or idea. Sometimes it takes as much ingenuity to find a way to determine if a new idea is useful as it does to learn the idea.

I haven't always been successful but over time I have found that thoroughly tested ideas have been the things that have improved my game.
 
lastdimetaker said:
I did not even know this section exist, I just go straight to main forum. I'm gonna blow this page up.
First question. I am highly influenced by books and other resources. I read a book on martial arts and all of a sudden, I incorporate it into my pool game. I read poker books I'm thinking like a poker player. I learn a lot but I want to be a pool player. I read pool books like crazy and the main az forum. Am I sharking myself? Sometimes I feel like I'm so busy sorting through all the input I forget to put the ball in the pocket. Is this normal? How do I get useful info without the side affects?
Hope you can see my delima. Thks in advance for responses.
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That's a great question. First I think a player should spend a significant amount of time getting to know who they are on a pool table. Do you know what your strengths and weaknesses are? What do you enjoy doing? What do you hate doing? What makes you angry, happy, afraid on the table?

The better acquainted you are with yourself, the better you will be at deciding which information you read would be helpful to you and which information might not be your style or might not even be necessary.

I have worked with hundreds and hundreds of players over the last couple of decades, and I can tell you with confidence that most of them don't know who they are at the table.
 
FranCrimi said:
That's a great question. First I think a player should spend a significant amount of time getting to know who they are on a pool table. Do you know what your strengths and weaknesses are? What do you enjoy doing? What do you hate doing? What makes you angry, happy, afraid on the table?

The better acquainted you are with yourself, the better you will be at deciding which information you read would be helpful to you and which information might not be your style or might not even be necessary.

I have worked with hundreds and hundreds of players over the last couple of decades, and I can tell you with confidence that most of them don't know who they are at the table.
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Wow that is crazy. I left this page went to my Facebook page an wrote that I needed to define myself as a player. Then I got back on here an read your response. Lol my strength is my ability to adapt my weaknesses are rail shots which I worked on this past weekend inside draw does amazing things. What I like to do is compete at pool for long periods of time. I like to learn an discover like that rail shot. I like to gamble but not high just something. Competition without something on the line is waste of time I would rather practice. Practice is like meditation to me but I never have enough time to get through everything I want to practice. That's a whole mother subject. I got practice notebooks galore.I have a lot of down time away from the table. I try to read stuff to keep me focused on pool. By time I get to the table I am so pumped up to go through a amazing practice session then wind up doing maybe 20% of what I wanted to do. I don't get angry I say my composure is a strength but I do think into the future to much. I think about winning before I done so. But I'm aware of it. I will say this I talk to much. This is something that drives me crazy. When I play poker I never say a word but put a pool stick in my hand an I can't shut up. I love to talk pool. Why?
 
boyersj said:
How great it is to have another diehard amongst us!
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Die hard nut case. Lol they gonna wish I never found this section. This is a perfect example of my problem, I have a million questions an will spend hours on this forum because I like to talk pool and learn things but is it really worth it. Am I sharking myself right now being on az instead of sleeping. . Its mind bending.
 
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Knowing your strengths and weaknesses is important. Also it is important to be honest with yourself in regards to looking at a shot and knowing the percentages.

I read tons of books and articles. I am always learning and one the practice table is where I try new stuff and work on things. When I come up to the match table I am focused on what I know and can rely on.

Welcome to the forum and ask away, there are many great pool minds on here to help you along your pool journey.
 
lastdimetaker said:
Die hard nut case. Lol they gonna wish I never found this section. This is a perfect example of my problem, I have a million questions an will spend hours on this forum because I like to talk pool and learn things but is it really worth it. Am I sharking myself right now being on az instead of sleeping. . Its mind bending.
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Sleep is sooooo good for the pool game! And that reminds me... good night sweet sweet pool dreams! :smile:
 
You have asked about sharking and I will say make sure you spend time on the table training your mechanics. If you are consciously thinking about something other than angle, speed, and spin during the shot your ability to execute will be compromised.
 
boyersj said:
You have asked about sharking and I will say make sure you spend time on the table training your mechanics. If you are consciously thinking about something other than angle, speed, and spin during the shot your ability to execute will be compromised.[/QUOTE. Yep i gonna get some good practice in this weekend on that. See u Friday...
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lastdimetaker said:
I did not even know this section exist, I just go straight to main forum. I'm gonna blow this page up.
First question. I am highly influenced by books and other resources. I read a book on martial arts and all of a sudden, I incorporate it into my pool game. I read poker books I'm thinking like a poker player. I learn a lot but I want to be a pool player. I read pool books like crazy and the main az forum. Am I sharking myself? Sometimes I feel like I'm so busy sorting through all the input I forget to put the ball in the pocket. Is this normal? How do I get useful info without the side affects?
Hope you can see my delima. Thks in advance for responses.
Click to expand...

I got the same thing buddy and i am a pretty strong player..

I try something new and for a few days i shoot a whole new level and then all of a sudden I cant finish a run out.- its like i took a vicoden for the pain and it wore off.. i go from running a 3 pack to missing ball in hand...

So frustrating...


I think it comes down to information overload- at least with myself...

I have tried every method out there and have won matches incorporating them- so much so that i get lost of which one to use-- or where to go with it...

this game comes down to us being able to conquer ourselves more than anything...
 
PM me your address and I'll send you a free gift

PM me your address and I'll send you a free gift to make sure you're on the right path.....it's always nice to see such enthusiasm, however, it's tough to learn martial arts, or "the pool arts" out of a book without demonstrations to accompany the explanations.

Play Well.

CJ


lastdimetaker said:
I did not even know this section exist, I just go straight to main forum. I'm gonna blow this page up.
First question. I am highly influenced by books and other resources. I read a book on martial arts and all of a sudden, I incorporate it into my pool game. I read poker books I'm thinking like a poker player. I learn a lot but I want to be a pool player. I read pool books like crazy and the main az forum. Am I sharking myself? Sometimes I feel like I'm so busy sorting through all the input I forget to put the ball in the pocket. Is this normal? How do I get useful info without the side affects?
Hope you can see my delima. Thks in advance for responses.
Click to expand...
 
My next question. I have very limited time at the pool table, but i spend almost every waking moment thinking about pool in one form another. Does my time reading pool books and watching videos count as productive time towards me becoming a better player. Or let me put it this way how does that time relate to the table time. Play time 3 hrs a week , practice time 4 hrs a week. Reading and video's about 20 hrs a week. The reason i ask is the whole 10000 hr thing does time away from the table have substantial value to my game. Or is it just trivial filler
 
lastdimetaker said:
My next question. I have very limited time at the pool table, but i spend almost every waking moment thinking about pool in one form another. Does my time reading pool books and watching videos count as productive time towards me becoming a better player. Or let me put it this way how does that time relate to the table time. Play time 3 hrs a week , practice time 4 hrs a week. Reading and video's about 20 hrs a week. The reason i ask is the whole 10000 hr thing does time away from the table have substantial value to my game. Or is it just trivial filler
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Reading and watching is productive time. But it does not equate equally to time spent on the table. Assuming in both instances you are paying attention to detail. I don't think one could make an equitable ratio on it. It depends on too many things. For example- if one didn't know how to draw the ball, one could spend days trying to figure it out. But, after a few minutes reading a book on it, or watching a video, he could quickly learn to hit the cb below center to make it draw. But, getting reliable draw can only be learned at the table.
 
lastdimetaker said:
My next question. I have very limited time at the pool table, but i spend almost every waking moment thinking about pool in one form another. Does my time reading pool books and watching videos count as productive time towards me becoming a better player. Or let me put it this way how does that time relate to the table time. Play time 3 hrs a week , practice time 4 hrs a week. Reading and video's about 20 hrs a week. The reason i ask is the whole 10000 hr thing does time away from the table have substantial value to my game. Or is it just trivial filler
Click to expand...

I wouldn't question it or try to quantify it if I were you. If you only have a certain amount of time to dedicate to playing, then that's all you can do. As for reading and watching, do it because you enjoy it.

Just keep in mind that what you are reading or watching are other people's opinions about the game. Even those who claim their opinions are supported by physics should be considered opinions. There is very little accountability in our sport, so you have to take that into consideration.
 
FranCrimi said:
I wouldn't question it or try to quantify it if I were you. If you only have a certain amount of time to dedicate to playing, then that's all you can do. As for reading and watching, do it because you enjoy it.

Just keep in mind that what you are reading or watching are other people's opinions about the game. Even those who claim their opinions are supported by physics should be considered opinions. There is very little accountability in our sport, so you have to take that into consideration.
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At least you proved the last sentence correct by stating the sentence before it. :wink:

Since when did the laws of spheres become opinion?? What other laws besides the law of physics should we not put faith in anymore??
 
Neil said:
At least you proved the last sentence correct by stating the sentence before it. :wink:

Since when did the laws of spheres become opinion?? What other laws besides the law of physics should we not put faith in anymore??
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I expected this question from someone as yourself who often shows difficulty understanding things beyond the obvious. :wave2:

While certain elements of physics are clearly reliable, people should also beware of conclusions drawn on the premise of 'scientific testing' that may not have considered important variables. Unfortunately, I've seen this often in our billiard community.
 
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FranCrimi said:
I expected this question from someone as yourself who often shows difficulty understanding things beyond the obvious. :wave2:

While certain elements of physics are clearly reliable, people should also beware of conclusions drawn on the premise of 'scientific testing' that may not have considered important variables. Unfortunately, I've seen this often in our billiard community.
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Then you should have said that to start with, instead of the obvious slam that you used on purpose. But, you just had to get in that "dig" as usual. As far as me missing thngs other than the obvious, at least I get the obvious. Maybe someday you can say the same.:wink:
 
lastdimetaker said:
My next question. I have very limited time at the pool table, but i spend almost every waking moment thinking about pool in one form another. Does my time reading pool books and watching videos count as productive time towards me becoming a better player. Or let me put it this way how does that time relate to the table time. Play time 3 hrs a week , practice time 4 hrs a week. Reading and video's about 20 hrs a week. The reason i ask is the whole 10000 hr thing does time away from the table have substantial value to my game. Or is it just trivial filler
Click to expand...

Timothy Galloway, in his book The Inner Game of Tennis, talks about the proper way to learn and he says something like "you don't really know something until you know what it feels like, and the only way to feel it is through experience." This means that nothing can replace actual physical practice.


However, through books and videos you can get insight into the experience of others and take that to the table with you. Dont however take their knowledge as "the way" but mearly something for you to explore to see if it helps you. An example of this would be if you want to know how to draw a ball precisely one foot back, then ultimately to know this you are going to have to draw a ball one foot back and feel that feeling and then after more practice replicate that feeling over and over, then you know it. During the process though you can spend time when you are not at the table reading or watching videos to get an idea of what you can experiment with the next time you practice.
 
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