Hitting the Plateau

[liakos]

I actually love doing this! I prefer to face the best shooters because I tend to learn so much from playing them in person - and I've got no problem playing the same person hour after hour.

Anyway from a few I've played:

Race to 11 in 8-ball with a 5: Beat him 11-7 after starting the race when he was up 4-0.

Shot for 3 hours with my buddy after leagues (he's a stronger 5): Beat him 17- 8

Played for 2 hours with a monster named Louie at his house (he's a true seven!) - and he beat me 25 racks to 9, and I'd usually get a shot after he finally missed after running 5-7 racks. The first time I played him he won 27-3, second time was like 23-5, and the most recent time was 25-9.

Have also played a race to 13 in 10-ball with my friend Rob (a 6): and he won 13:11

I usually find that when I play strong players I play up to their, level. I really have noticed this before when I made a frozen rail cut shot across the table which I don't think I've ever done in a match.





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I don't mean to sound like a jerk,,,, but, the numbers mean nothing! Put a $100 on each set and see what happens!

Let me give you an example, me and a friend were playing last night, 20 a set race to 9, 10-ball on a triple shimmed GC4 I needed to warm up, we go hill hill first set, I win! We play second set, 9-4 me! 3rd set, it's 7-3 me! Now I can see the struggle in his eyes, and I consider him a friend, I felt bad and I let up and let him run! That's easy to do on tight table!

Moral of the story, It doesn't matter what the score is against anybody when the game is for 0! Your true nerves come out when it's for $$$! when your playing friends, it first really matter who wins! And don't give me they were playing there best, because when it's for 0, I'm sure you could drill me! And I'm a so called 7lmao so, please listen carefully, play the game, play it as much as you can while your enjoying it! But remember this, there is no real difference between a 2 and 5! I can barely see it. You falling into this category only means you have to start practicing, lessons maybe?!? I don't know what it is with you mushrooms going around saying I'm this and I'm that, and he's a 5 and I should beat him, and I'm 4, but a good 4 and this and that and whatever!! Who cares! Play pool and enjoy playing it, life is too short to worry about beating a 4 or losing to a 3!

If you want to get better,,,, take lessons from a real instructor!!!!!! If these people you say talk highly of your ability are 5-6 and even 7's, truth is, they have no idea what they are talking about! Keep your 10 a week for apa dues and out them towards lessons!

My personal favorite instructor is Joe Tucker from snookers in Rhode Island! Look him up on you tube, the man is wealth of knowledge and straight up awesome!!

Whatever you do, good luck! And most importantly,,,,,,, finish school and get educated and shoot pool second! There is no future in this great sport to make money unless you're one of the elite world class players!

 

[naji]

Most of you have probably seen my recent rant about my APA SL,and in agreeing that my SL is determined by how well I play under pressure opposed to in practice I now have a goal for myself: which in a nutshell to be as good in matchplay as I am in practice.

Being that I am a 4 under pressure - how exactly do you improve your game?

If I know the theory behind pool ideas, can visualize the table and it's shots, and continue to pick up knowledge about the game -- where do you actually improve?

Someone told me that I'm dedicating myself to the game, and I'm looking to go beyond the point of mere hobby players. Can't remember his exact words but it was definitely a compliment =P

Anyway, because of my dedication, hunger to learn all I can, and hunger to want to improve - what do you actually do to improve?

What's the difference between a 4 and a 7? I've talked to them deeply about pool, and they don't seem to know any more than I do - there tips to me on certain shots are things I already know and use. So what's the difference? Is it just the ability to execute?

Someone give me the ins and outs of this

Thanks,

-Richard

Good question. If we can shoot pool with only one stroke, one speed, no english, and run 9 ball racks all the time, then pool is easy and all will reach their max skill in no time. But, unfortunately that is not the case. The short answer, practice and know how to shoot all 4000 shots possibilities, then play matches or money games as much as you can, the more you do it the better you will get at it, just like chess, golf.... sorry no easy way out.

 

[KMRUNOUT]

Take a look at some of the things you've said:



You don't know what you don't know. So stop saying you know it. Sevens know a metric f*cking shit ton more than you know. It seems to you like they don't know any more than you, but that is simply your own ignorance at play.



Again, you don't know what you don't know. To say, or try to convince yourself otherwise, is detrimental to the task at hand.



And...



You are ignoring the advice you've gotten here. You just joined the site in March. At best you've been soliciting advice for three months, maybe four.
You're right about one thing, you're making snap decisions. The suggestions have yielded very little results because you are in search of a magic pill where none exists.
You do want to become a world beater overnight, and that just does not happen. For most people it doesn't happen even with years and years of work.





More I know, I know, I know.

You don't know. If you did, you'd be able to do it. I realize you're asking for help in gaining knowledge and skills. I admire that, but the first step in gaining knowledge or learning a skill is to admit you don't have said knowledge, nor possess said skill.

You started this thread off pretty strong, admitting you agree you're an APA 4. You couldn't even make it to the end of the first post before you started trying to convince yourself you know everything again. I'll say this again, for what I believe is the third time in one of your threads:
Perhaps the worst thing you can do is to believe you are better at this game than you actually are.

You want to take a journey to becoming a great pool player, that's great. But you can't take the first step until you recognize where you're starting.
Start being honest with yourself about your ability. It takes time to get to a high level, much more than three months.

Very well stated! And I think 100% spot on. Zphix you should really absorb this.

KMRUNOUT