Hey Everyone Good News!!!

[ManifestEcstacy]

First of all, I would just like to thank Jude for his crazy ideas about "just letting go" when one is aiming up for a shot.. ofcoruse, it did not work everytime for me, but I really started to consistantly sink shots.

Tonight when I went to practice, I took all of the advice that I found on this forum and on IP.. I have to admit, I frequent both, cause I love reading and talking pool...

anyways.. I forgot about that stupid ghost ball method.. all that made me do was overcut my shots.. so all I did was start with small angles and work my way up and hit them over and over and over again, and it got better and better...

I started racking up the balls and then just taking time and knocking in all of the balls... I think the last time I did it I only missed like 5-6 times.. which is great for me only playing seriously a matter of 14-15 days...

So, I went to the local bar that I actually try to get some games at ( just for leisure and fun.. i don't gamble.. quite yet) and there was an older d00d just shooting around by himself, so I asked him to play

turned out he had been playing about 10 years, and we played about 5 games.. 2 8 ball and 3 9 ball

to make a long story short he barely beat me both times when we were playing 8 ball, but 9 ball... that was a different story

He won the first game completely legitamitely.. the second game I totally messed up a shot on the 8 ball.. which didn't make me happy because he had an easy shot on both for the game... but the night would be mine... He missed a shot on the 8 and barely didn't scratch in the last game. I had to go to work after this last game so it was all or nothing right here.. The ball was right in the side pocket.. literally millimeters away from falling in to the pocket.. and the 8 ball was on the rail on the opposite side... to say the least this was not an easy shot.. but i took my time, let go and just aimed.. knocked it down. With only one shot to go, i had another very difficult shot.. it was all the way across the table.. with the cue ball in the corner and the 9 ball aligned with the second diamond on the side, and probaly a 1/3 of the way across the table...ish (lol) anyways.. i aimed up again.. and knocked it down..


why is this important? cause it was the first game i legitimately won against anyone that I had ever played with.. let alone someone that had been playing for 10 years! ofcourse, it was only one rack.. but it made me happy and everyone should be happy for me!!! not to mention its just a great and inspirational story...

well, goodnight everyone! hope you enjoyed my heartfelt recollection of my night!

 

[TheConArtist]

nyce to hear that, glad you are making shots. always makes me happy to hear a good story, especially about pool when someone with alot more experience barely beats you. Keep up the gooder work. Cole 'TheConArtist'

 

[sjm]

Well done, Manifest, and congratulations. If you get this big a kick from succeeding at the pool table, the game will bring you joy for a long time.

 

[JLW]

Congratulations! Keep it up!

 

[Jude Rosenstock]

First of all, I would just like to thank Jude for his crazy ideas about "just letting go" when one is aiming up for a shot.. ofcoruse, it did not work everytime for me, but I really started to consistantly sink shots.

Tonight when I went to practice, I took all of the advice that I found on this forum and on IP.. I have to admit, I frequent both, cause I love reading and talking pool...

anyways.. I forgot about that stupid ghost ball method.. all that made me do was overcut my shots.. so all I did was start with small angles and work my way up and hit them over and over and over again, and it got better and better...

I started racking up the balls and then just taking time and knocking in all of the balls... I think the last time I did it I only missed like 5-6 times.. which is great for me only playing seriously a matter of 14-15 days...

So, I went to the local bar that I actually try to get some games at ( just for leisure and fun.. i don't gamble.. quite yet) and there was an older d00d just shooting around by himself, so I asked him to play

turned out he had been playing about 10 years, and we played about 5 games.. 2 8 ball and 3 9 ball

to make a long story short he barely beat me both times when we were playing 8 ball, but 9 ball... that was a different story

He won the first game completely legitamitely.. the second game I totally messed up a shot on the 8 ball.. which didn't make me happy because he had an easy shot on both for the game... but the night would be mine... He missed a shot on the 8 and barely didn't scratch in the last game. I had to go to work after this last game so it was all or nothing right here.. The ball was right in the side pocket.. literally millimeters away from falling in to the pocket.. and the 8 ball was on the rail on the opposite side... to say the least this was not an easy shot.. but i took my time, let go and just aimed.. knocked it down. With only one shot to go, i had another very difficult shot.. it was all the way across the table.. with the cue ball in the corner and the 9 ball aligned with the second diamond on the side, and probaly a 1/3 of the way across the table...ish (lol) anyways.. i aimed up again.. and knocked it down..


why is this important? cause it was the first game i legitimately won against anyone that I had ever played with.. let alone someone that had been playing for 10 years! ofcourse, it was only one rack.. but it made me happy and everyone should be happy for me!!! not to mention its just a great and inspirational story...

well, goodnight everyone! hope you enjoyed my heartfelt recollection of my night!

I'm really glad to hear that! I hope it continues for you!

 

[DrCue'sProtege]

my woes continue.

i've been doing nothing but practicing the last couple of weeks, and tonight i thought i would finally break some racks to see how i might do.
Rack #1 - a ball down, too tough of a layout to run
Rack #2 - no balls down
Rack #3 - a ball down, '7' ball rolls over in front of the cue ball, no shot.
Rack #4 - no balls down
by now the frustration is setting in again.
Rack #5 - 2 balls down, and a shot on the 1!!! YIPPEE!!! i proceed with the runout, everything seems to be going ok. i miss great position on the '9' Ball just a little, but its still a shot of about only average difficulty. so i line up the shot, have all the confidence in the world i am going to run this rack, stroke the cue ball, it contacts the '9' and................

THE FREAKING '9' BALL SKIDS/SLIDES ON ME AND MISSES!!!!!!!!

i laid the cue down, and quit. just another sad chapter in the continuing saga about the worlds unluckiest pool player. and if you posters are tired of reading this, how do you think i feel??????

DCP

 

[Loun]

Manifest, congrats on the first win! Some of those old guys will be a lot better than you think so waych yourself

Dr Cue P... the flipside of that will come.. last night in the playoffs it came down to the rubber match in a race to 4 with each of us obviously having 3 each. I had the 14 and the 8 on the table, he was down to the 8. I left him hard on the 8 so he put the 8 on a rail and sent me up table to the opposite rail. My plan was to bank the 14 up and down so it stayed close to the corner pocket (not to actually make it) and leave the cue back on that top rail to give him a low percentage bank on the 8. Cue hits the 14 and flies up table where I wanted it but the 14 goes in dead center of the pocket. So now I have an identical shot on the 8 as i had on the 14 (just the other corner now)... So I get a timeout (APA playoffs) and my coach said to go for the win. So again I bank it up and down but I hit it with a little extra so when I missed the 8 ball would not sit near the pocket. The cue dies on the bottom rail like I wanted it to and the 8 ball drops dead center of the pocket. Needless to say I was relieved and the team was ecstatic as it was a nice way to win the rubber game and come off the table. (we ended up winning the match and play the finals tonight) But my point is... I actually planned on missing the 14, and it went in leaving me a low percentage shot on the 8. I planned for missing the 8 and it too went in. You will have those nights as well as the ones where nothing seems to go in for you, thats how my practice went earlier that day.

-Lou

 

[drivermaker]

I had the 14 and the 8 on the table, he was down to the 8. I left him hard on the 8 so he put the 8 on a rail and sent me up table to the opposite rail. My plan was to bank the 14 up and down so it stayed close to the corner pocket (not to actually make it) and leave the cue back on that top rail to give him a low percentage bank on the 8. Cue hits the 14 and flies up table where I wanted it but the 14 goes in dead center of the pocket. So now I have an identical shot on the 8 as i had on the 14 (just the other corner now)... So I get a timeout (APA playoffs) and my coach said to go for the win. So again I bank it up and down but I hit it with a little extra so when I missed the 8 ball would not sit near the pocket. The cue dies on the bottom rail like I wanted it to and the 8 ball drops dead center of the pocket. Needless to say I was relieved and the team was ecstatic as it was a nice way to win the rubber game and come off the table. (we ended up winning the match and play the finals tonight) But my point is... I actually planned on missing the 14, and it went in leaving me a low percentage shot on the 8. I planned for missing the 8 and it too went in.
-Lou

Aaaahhh yes...and so goes the life of a very happy ball banger. Isn't pool FANTASTIC! The great equalizer....shit-house luck! LMAO (I give you an A+ for honesty...you could have twisted the story and said you were trying to make them to look like a hero and they all carried you off on their shoulders while swilling beers and singing Irish fight songs or something)

 

[Loun]

Aaaahhh yes...and so goes the life of a very happy ball banger. Isn't pool FANTASTIC! The great equalizer....shit-house luck! LMAO (I give you an A+ for honesty...)

With all due respect, I made both shots, as well as controlled the cue ball both shots.. "shit house luck" doesn't work with 2 back to back up and down full table banks w/cue ball control... I was merely pointing out that I played both shots as two way shots and they ended up both going in when I had played to be as "safe as possible" if they did not. There was inherently luck involved which could have easily gone the other way. That was my point.

Earlier in the day I was practicing and nothing seemed to be going in or roll wouldnt go my way... keep practicing and playing... luck changes.

As far as being carried out on shoulders, no thank you. I was just happy to be able to go sit down because it was hot as hell in there. I was more nervous when my gf was playing though.

-Lou

 

[vapoolplayer]

But my point is... I actually planned on missing the 14, and it went in leaving me a low percentage shot on the 8. I planned for missing the 8 and it too went in.

With all due respect, I made both shots, as well as controlled the cue ball both shots.. "shit house luck" doesn't work with 2 back to back up and down full table banks w/cue ball control... I was merely pointing out that I played both shots as two way shots and they ended up both going in when I had played to be as "safe as possible" if they did not. \-Lou

is it just me or is this a little contradictory??????

VAP

 

[Loun]

is it just me or is this a little contradictory??????

VAP

For what its worth VAP you are extremely predictable. As soon as I saw that you had responded I knew you were just in here stirring up shit.

And no I dont believe its contradictory... I played both as two way shots which to me mean If I miss the 14 I want to be sure the cue ball is left where my opponent has a very low percentage shot. If I had planned on making the 14 without a doubt I would have left the cue ball close to the 8 for a straight in shot, instead I brought the cue ball back to the top rail again as I had wanted to. The 14 went in therefore I had to shoot the low percentage shot again. Again with the 8 "I planned for missing the 8" which means, If I had missed the 8 ball would not have hung in the pocket because I hit it a little harder than I needed to so it wouldnt likely hang if I missed and also I left the cueball on the bottom rail giving as much seperation as i could. Both would have been successful shots in my opinion even if either of them had not gone in, hence they are two way shots, a bit of offense mixed with defense.

sharp angle up and downs dont often go in without hitting a rail two times in a row out of sheer luck. However what I AM saying is that there was some luck involved and that my luck had changed 100% from when I couldnt buy a roll earlier in the day to where luck was on my side and those two shots went in. Why you guys see the point of a post even when its spelled out is beyond me, as well as why you guys think everyone that is new has to be a ball banger or only pockets balls out of luck. Get over yourselves, most of us are here for the same reason, to share experiences and get better / help others get better in the process.

 

[drivermaker]

And no I dont believe its contradictory... I played both as two way shots which to me mean If I miss the 14 I want to be sure the cue ball is left where my opponent has a very low percentage shot.

as well as why you guys think everyone that is new has to be a ball banger or only pockets balls out of luck.

So...did you remember to call the 14 and 8 like you were supposed to before you hit it, or was it some altered shit-house luck no call rules that were in effect at the time. What would your evaluation and rating be for someone that's new to the game... seasoned world beaters?

 

[vapoolplayer]

Get over yourselves, most of us are here for the same reason, to share experiences and get better / help others get better in the process.

i suggest you get better before you try to help others. clearly you don't know enough about the game to start giving advice. people like you are responsible for beginning players picking up bad habits.

VAP

 

[ManifestEcstacy]

what bad habits did he show from a post? were you there at the table when he knocked the 14 and the 8 ball in? no, you weren't you have no idea exactly what it looked like, or how it all went down.. so why can't you just give some congratulations instead of just trying to call him a newb... he clearly posted that he wasn't trying to make the 14 and he was just playing safe... but, he got it to go in, and he had the same exact shot on the 8... why is it that I see that, but all you see is someone getting lucky hitting the cue ball as hard as he can

you need to have a little respect for your peers sir, its really dissapointing...

Loun -- congratulations and good luck

 

[drivermaker]

what bad habits did he show from a post? were you there at the table when he knocked the 14 and the 8 ball in? no, you weren't you have no idea exactly what it looked like, or how it all went down.. so why can't you just give some congratulations instead of just trying to call him a newb... he clearly posted that he wasn't trying to make the 14 and he was just playing safe... but, he got it to go in, and he had the same exact shot on the 8... why is it that I see that, but all you see is someone getting lucky hitting the cue ball as hard as he can

you need to have a little respect for your peers sir, its really dissapointing...

Loun -- congratulations and good luck

Are you another newbie hack or just a real nice guy that's a world beater?

 

[vapoolplayer]

what bad habits did he show from a post? were you there at the table when he knocked the 14 and the 8 ball in? no, you weren't you have no idea exactly what it looked like, or how it all went down.. so why can't you just give some congratulations instead of just trying to call him a newb... he clearly posted that he wasn't trying to make the 14 and he was just playing safe... but, he got it to go in, and he had the same exact shot on the 8... why is it that I see that, but all you see is someone getting lucky hitting the cue ball as hard as he can

you need to have a little respect for your peers sir, its really dissapointing...

Loun -- congratulations and good luck

click on his name, click on his list of posts.........look at how long he's been playing...........look at the "advice" he's given.........that will answer all the questions you just posted.

thanks

VAP

 

[Loun]

"So...did you remember to call the 14 and 8 like you were supposed to before you hit it"

Yes the 8 ball was a called shot as it was the final game of my match in the semi finals of the APA playoffs. The 14 went in the hole it was going to. Again they were both 2 way shots where if either was missed my opponent should have had a low percentage shot.

Manifest, you just have to get used to it. Apparently if you dont have a huge post count or know the exact terminology for every aspect of the games then you cant shoot and the balls only go in due to luck. But yes feel free to check out all my posts and you can tell me where Im going wrong. Also if you check out any of my recent posts there should be one or 5 following it with VAP just stirring up shit and not adding anything helpful at all to the discussions.

 

[vapoolplayer]

But yes feel free to check out all my posts and you can tell me where Im going wrong. Also if you check out any of my recent posts there should be one or 5 following it with VAP just stirring up shit and not adding anything helpful at all to the discussions.

lets see.......you got the advice on grip wrong.......the advice on aiming wrong......

just by telling people not to listen to you is contributing quite enough. also, if you look, i answer very thoroughly when someone has a problem that hasn't been discussed a million times on the forum. most questions can be answered by doing a simple search on the forum. also, i add to most discussions through PMs as its easier for the person who needs help to not have to look through post's like yours to find the right answer.

again, you need to learn how to play first, before you give advice. its obvious through your posts, that you really don't have even an intermediate grasp of the game.

thanks

VAP

 

[LastTwo]

i suggest you get better before you try to help others. clearly you don't know enough about the game to start giving advice. people like you are responsible for beginning players picking up bad habits.

VAP

I agree 100%. People don't realize that alot of times the crap information they tell someone else can cause that person alot of pain and frustration years down the road. People who don't even know that much about the game are so quick to try and teach their bad habits to others probably because their ego tells them to. This reminds me of some guy giving lessons to a few people, but the crap he was saying was so wrong I couldn't help but laugh. Here is an excerpt from his lesson: "This is how you do a jump shot. Aim your tip into the cloth below the cueball...."

 

[Loun]

lets see.......you got the advice on grip wrong.......the advice on aiming wrong......

just by telling people not to listen to you is contributing quite enough. also, if you look, i answer very thoroughly when someone has a problem that hasn't been discussed a million times on the forum. most questions can be answered by doing a simple search on the forum. also, i add to most discussions through PMs as its easier for the person who needs help to not have to look through post's like yours to find the right answer.

again, you need to learn how to play first, before you give advice. its obvious through your posts, that you really don't have even an intermediate grasp of the game.

thanks

VAP

My advice on grip was wrong? Because I told someone that you want to learn the basics by first learning to shoot while gripping the stick lightly and about six inches behind the balance point and holding the cue level to the table... and you jump in telling me that i know nothing and im wrong and that you can hold the stick closer to the but and elevated for some shots if you need to. A beginner needs a base to learn from, they need a specific form to learn from and once they have that solid foundation then they can branch of and find out what is most comfortable for them or how their grip needs to change to make some other shots, having to elevate the stick at times to get the cue ball action you need and so on. That is not wrong. As far as aiming goes, they only thing I said that was wrong was I mispoke and said "aim point" instead of "contact point" because I posted at 4:30 am. However what your ignorant self does not mention is that I then went into detail with many diagrams about how my personal practice regiment works in hopes that it would help manifest out. And judging from the lack of "ahole responses" to it there was nothing wrong with it and he even posted that it did in fact help him out.

"most questions can be answered by doing a simple search on the forum. also, i add to most discussions through PMs as its easier for the person who needs help to not have to look through post's"

Does this make sense since you seem to advocate searching, but then make your great information unsearchable?

The entire point of an online forum is to be able to discuss questions and answers to question in order to help someone get better, just share experiences and to allow them all to be searchable to help people in the future. You are definitely doing all of us a service and everyone in the future a service by making your "100% correct answers which are based on well over a 100 years of pool mastery experience" non-searchable so noone can ever see them...

"again, you need to learn how to play first, before you give advice. its obvious through your posts, that you really don't have even an intermediate grasp of the game."

I cant count how many times i've mentioned that I have only been playing for just about a year now. However in that years time frame I had a number of months that I played pool for almost 8 hours a day. And I probably average 30-40 hours a week or more of pool over that years time which is far more than the average beginner. And this has nothing to do with trying to impress anyone or an ego issue. Its about respect, we all deserve it whether we are just picking up a stick or play on the pro tour. I respect a number of posters here including jude and blackjack because they respect the rest of us which it seems you VAP are incapable of doing. I have a lot to learn, which is why I shoot almost every day and its why I thought I came here, however I have also learned a lot already and I will continue to share my experiences and what I have learned thus far with anyone that asks for advice.

What you dont seem to understand is there are a NUMBER of ways to make every shot, there are a NUMBER of ways to do everything from aiming methods to path to get position on the cue ball EVERYONE likes something / feels comfortable with something different on the table and in a cue... or in a practice regiment. Your advice is simply that YOUR ADVICE it is not the end all godly truth. By giving someone a few different suggestions it allows them to take them, try them, and see what works for them and it might just not be what you suggested..

-Lou

Edit*The post here on fundamentals - I dont mind being in the company of others who agree with me on the "wrong" way to grip Willie Masconi On Pocket Billiards From the page prior in the chapter entitled 2. Fundamentals... subchapter "Proper Grip on Cue" First you determine the balance point of the cue. You do this by laying the cue across your fingers until the weight of the butt end balances the weight of the shaft. (Fig 1) The balance is at the fulcrum point. Many Billiard experts advise gripping the cue at the balance point, but I recommend that the cue be gripped (turn page which is the page I posted the scan of. And I think your response was something to the effect that Willie didnt have to make position on any balls so he could play that way.

I dont consider my information wrong and again your reply to my post was "some shots are easier/and/or require your hand to be at the far end of the cue" wow BRILLIANT you mean there are exceptions to some "fundamentals".. There will always exceptions to everything but someone asking for fundamentals needs a solid place to start.