HAMB - Hit A Million Balls
- Thread starter Fast Lenny
- Start date
You're right, learning to play advanced pool by hitting a million balls would be like trying to learn to play the piano by "hitting a million keys" (Hamk). :groucho:
The short cut to knowledge is to tap into other's (knowledge and experiences). My game was developed by standing on the shoulders of the great players of my era......and before, like Efren, Earl, Wade Crane, Vernon Elliot, "Bugs", Buddy Hall, Mike Sigel, and Luther Lassitor.
I think you are discounting human nature in this comparison.
Nobody would simply hit a million keys or hit a million balls while getting nothing but negative feedback during the process. Nobody's really that much of a glutton for punishment (well there may be a few). I bet you could put a chimpanzee near a table and have them smash the balls around a bit and after a while they would realize that when the balls fall into the pockets they disappear They would like that and would continue doing it.
I don't think we are all that different really. This is the part of the HAMB process that everybody likes to just keep out. They pretend like a player's only goal is to simply tally up a million hits. The only way to really complete the HAMB process would be if you are actually enjoying the game and in order to do that you have to pay attention. It's a part of our nature to try different things until we get a positive result.
Now I'm not discounting knowledge because to be a great player I think it takes time, dedication, passion, and knowledge but too many on here discount the amount of time it truly takes to become a great player and instead they talk about all the shortcuts.
I’m not even really sure if there are any shortcuts really. If you want to be a great player today you must have solid fundamentals and be diligent about your practice time and get out and compete to keep your focus. That’s pretty much the road. It’s a long road. Shortcuts??? My dad used to take shortcuts on the way home from some far off relative’s house. When we heard him say the word “shortcut” we knew we were in for a long afternoon.
The only real reason we hear all this talk about shortcuts on AZ is because so many people don’t start off with traveling the shortest distance between two points. Instead they take the same freaking roads my dad use to take us on. Next thing you know – they are lost and in need of a bunch of shortcuts in order to get back on the known path.
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Expediting the Learning Process
There are "short cuts," I have seen this time and time again, especially in my own game.
You may just have trouble with the wording because of experiences with your dad.
Try mentally changing "short cut" to Expediting the Learning Process - this may give a fresh perspective concerning why advanced techniques and systems are effective. We can learn these on our own, however, it may take a lifetime to understand.
It will be "two steps forward and one step back" at times, however, you'll still save a lot of time, effort and frustration. - 'The Game is the Teacher'
There are "short cuts," I have seen this time and time again, especially in my own game.
You may just have trouble with the wording because of experiences with your dad.
Try mentally changing "short cut" to Expediting the Learning Process - this may give a fresh perspective concerning why advanced techniques and systems are effective. We can learn these on our own, however, it may take a lifetime to understand.
It will be "two steps forward and one step back" at times, however, you'll still save a lot of time, effort and frustration. - 'The Game is the Teacher'
Maybe B, but definitely not +!
Let's make a comparison to snooker.
Are there shortcuts in snooker? I'm not a snooker player so I'm just guessing here, but I don't really think there are a lot of shortcuts to the game. You show up at a club and learn how to cue properly. You focus on your technique religiously and start down the path -- the known path to greatness.
Now in pool, historically there has been A LOT of shortcuts. Why is this? I think because for years and years there was very little to NO formal instruction. Players just did their best to emulate the players around them. Pool has been an anything goes environment where you just start playing with the goal of winning from the very beginning.
Being super competitive is a part of the American experience and it's a good thing for the most part. But when it comes to pool what you end up with is guys that have been playing for a month, who can barely even run 3 balls, and they are asking you for a spot, because it's all about winning to them. They want to compete. They want to leave with your money. They don't care about their cueing technique or any of their fundamentals. That all comes later.
This is why there are so many shortcuts when it comes to pool. Players don't start out on the known path to great playing. Instead they just step up and start playing and they end up going down this road or that one. Five years later their game is a mess and they have to start actually taking shortcuts in order to get back on the known path.
So are there shortcuts? There's little things here and there that help out a bit and keep the game interesting, but for the most part the path is a known one.
I always say, gee I should practice using the bridge more. Or practice shooting jacked up over a ball or froze to the rail. Then when I finally do screw together Im firing balls in and enjoying the sound the ball makes when it hits the back of the pocket. So im nearing 35 years of play and I still suck at shots using the bridge and struggle shooting froze to the rail shots.
its 1,000,000 balls of dedicated and intensive practice. 99%+ of all players cannot muster even a fraction of those million in that manner. Most people enjoy doing what they are good at, but the type of intensive practice that will make the changes to being a champion is to practice over and over what you are not good at, which in most cases is no fun.
its 1,000,000 balls of dedicated and intensive practice. 99%+ of all players cannot muster even a fraction of those million in that manner. Most people enjoy doing what they are good at, but the type of intensive practice that will make the changes to being a champion is to practice over and over what you are not good at, which in most cases is no fun.
I'm not trying to get into this on either your side or CJ's but I want to add something from someone who is new to this world.
It is true that when you first get into pool you do want the quick fix. I admit that I wanted it very badly. It sucks to get your ass handed to you in league night after night even if you are in a handicapped league. I got into pool late in life and its tough for an older guy like me to take my beatings.
I also agree that formal instruction is missing for a lot of players. I am fortunate that I was taking lessons almost from the very start and but even with that it is VERY frustrating to be working on fundamentals when players who aren't and haven't been spending time on that are running balls on you like it's nothing. But I have started to catch a glimmer here and there of that time spent in lessons paying off and it is just enough to keep me on the path despite still losing games I feel I should have won. (sold out twice last night to an A player....grrrrrr!)
What we do need in pool is more formal instruction that focuses on stroke mechanics and fundamentals to be more common. Not only will it raise up the game from the bottom up but it will increase the respect for the professional level of the sport.
Then again, I'm just a beginner so I may be wrong. :wink:
Even though I was playing at that level, I still needed a short cut to improve
Yes, snooker has many well known coaches and instructors. I learned the foundation of my techniques from a snooker coach.....the day after I beat Efren, Earl, Rempe and Lebron in Canada. Even though I was playing at that level, I still needed a short cut to improve my foundation (stance, and visual perception of the shot).
Yes, snooker has many well known coaches and instructors. I learned the foundation of my techniques from a snooker coach.....the day after I beat Efren, Earl, Rempe and Lebron in Canada. Even though I was playing at that level, I still needed a short cut to improve my foundation (stance, and visual perception of the shot).
The day after???? Really?!?!
He got me to point my left foot parallel to the line of the shot every time.
That's correct.
Even though I won my matches against this level of competition, I still could tell they did something better than me.......just couldn't identify what (it's tough to see yourself playing, even on video I can't see minor details).
He got me to point my left foot parallel to the line of the shot every time. This had an dramatic effect on my balance and precision, and it only took me 3 weeks to incorporate.
That's correct.
Even though I won my matches against this level of competition, I still could tell they did something better than me.......just couldn't identify what (it's tough to see yourself playing, even on video I can't see minor details).
He got me to point my left foot parallel to the line of the shot every time. This had an dramatic effect on my balance and precision, and it only took me 3 weeks to incorporate.
I've tried that before and after a few days of "feeling" uncomfortable and not being able make a ball, I went back to my way! I shoot straight shots length of the table, no spin on the cue ball, and fairly accurate a very high percentage of the time! I feel like the foot placement, although important, I think comfort should be first IF you can shoot fairly straight! I'm not a good player, but for starting at 28 and now I'm 37 working 2 full time jobs, I feel like I wouldn't benefit by this!
I'm baseing my opinion on my personal performance. If I couldn't hit a straight shot straight, then I would maybe get into it more! I'm of the opinion of looking at every shot as a straight shot, no such thing as a cut shot
I need to take a few days off in the spring and head down and see you for a day! My 2015 thing to do!!
The human body isn't made to play pool, so it feels right it's probably wrong
Learning the correct stance was very uncomfortable for me the first week or two.
By the third week It became natural.
The human body isn't made to play pool, so it feels right it's probably wrong (from my experience).
I've tried that before and after a few days of "feeling" uncomfortable and not being able make a ball, I went back to my way! I shoot straight shots length of the table, no spin on the cue ball, and fairly accurate a very high percentage of the time! I feel like the foot placement, although important, I think comfort should be first IF you can shoot fairly straight! I'm not a good player, but for starting at 28 and now I'm 37 working 2 full time jobs, I feel like I wouldn't benefit by this!
I'm baseing my opinion on my personal performance. If I couldn't hit a straight shot straight, then I would maybe get into it more! I'm of the opinion of looking at every shot as a straight shot, no such thing as a cut shot
I need to take a few days off in the spring and head down and see you for a day! My 2015 thing to do!!
Learning the correct stance was very uncomfortable for me the first week or two.
By the third week It became natural.
The human body isn't made to play pool, so it feels right it's probably wrong (from my experience).
Lol, I knew you were going to say that!
but do you think the straight shot approach i use is a bad idea? Like I said, I can hit the ball fairly straight. Joe Tucker had this shot where he would put a ball on the foot spot and cue ball on the head spot and do a stop shot and bank the object ball back to the cue ball and the cue ball comes back to the end rail! I can't hit that shot to center diamond maybe 2-3 out of 10 times! The other 6-7 will hit the rail and sometimes I get one bad one! Maybe 1 out of 20!I think you understand what I'm trying to say
Just out of curiosity...
The way I was taught to stand was left foot parallel to the line of the shot and right foot at 45 degrees. Is that close to what you are talking about?
Ron Swanson
Banned
That is basically it. Be disciplined enough to do the things you hate.
This not only puts strain on the neck it also makes your LEFT shift closer
Yes, the right foot can be anywhere from 45 to 90 degrees depending on flexibility.
Many players put their left foot in a "closed' position. Because this shifts their base closed it also makes them twist their neck counter-clock-wise accordingly.
This not only puts strain on the neck it also makes their LEFT EYE shift closer to the cue ball.....the results may vary.
Yes, the right foot can be anywhere from 45 to 90 degrees depending on flexibility.
Many players put their left foot in a "closed' position. Because this shifts their base closed it also makes them twist their neck counter-clock-wise accordingly.
This not only puts strain on the neck it also makes their LEFT EYE shift closer to the cue ball.....the results may vary.
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Thank you for the explanation.
And EYE am left I dominate! But I shoot right handed! Wondering if I'm totally screwed now
And EYE am left I dominate! But I shoot right handed! Wondering if I'm totally screwed now
No, there are several fine players that are right handed and left eye dominate. I was watching Jason Shaw yesterday and it looked like he had his left eye over the stick. I have been working with Rob Saez recently and he discovered that about me. Just move your left foot in closer to the shot line and see what happens.