How Did You Learn to Play Pool?

lfigueroa

lfigueroa

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
A related thread started me wondering how most folks learned to play pool.

I know that in my day there were no Accu-Stats and only the occasional ABC Wide World of Sports episode to watch. I also recall that I voraciously read and re-read whatever meager literature I could pick up, to include both Mosconi's books, Caras' book, Lassiter's and Mizeraks "Sunset Press" style editions, and Cottingham. I even bought Willie Hoppe's green hard cover.

But nowadays there is a bounty of riches with DVDs and streaming and everything from the fundamentals in the "For Dummies..." series, to works on more in-depth topics like strategy, physics, small motions, and even eye placement. You can't swing a dead cat without someone claiming to be an instructor with hundreds (thousands) of students who (post lessons) have gone on to do everything but win the US Open. And don't even get me started with all the "systems" (for sale :-)

But really, Joe Average Pool Player: how did you learn?

What I've seen in my days and travels is that most often folks have a tendency to emulate the best player in the room, right down to how they stand at the table, shot selection, equipment preference, that even that little pinkie moving up and down like a worm on opening day on their bridge hand during their warm up strokes.

So. How did you learn the game? Books, videos, copying an admired player, lessons? Or just on your own?

Lou Figueroa
 
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With all the myriad methods available today, internet, DVD, books.... I was taught by a good friend, who is a pretty darned good player.

He teaches me something (or at least reinforces something, or corrects something) most every week.

I also learn for watching and playing with other players. I learn things here on AZB, and I have bought a couple of books and try to watch some streams when I can.

But I learn the most from my buddy George.
 
I started playing at a kids house down the street around 13 YO. Later at the slot car track, we played some more. When I was a jr in high school, dad bought a pool table, and a book on playing by Mosconi (??). IN the frat house, we shot sevral hours a day.

Then there was that 35 year respite away from pool.

Then 3 years ago I took it back up.
 
Boys Club of America in Miami, Florida in 1953, we were the Original Bangers.
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NOT THE PC Boys & Gwirls Club of 2010.
boys_and_girls_club_logo.jpg
 
I learned how to play pool by stealing money out of my dad's change jar and riding my bike to a local bowling alley that had some GCIIIs. I sucked, but the clicking noises and balls occasionally dropping hooked me.

I used to anchor the cue against my right leg in order to get it to stroke straight when I was younger. When I noticed that I was the only one doing that, I went to the library in my high school and started to read that big Byrne's Billiard Book (you guys know what I mean)? I would take notes from that book and then steal more $$$ from dad and head back to the bowling alley to try out the details. I'll never forget the first day I made a proper closed bridge.

Anyways, I'm blessed to have learned from a ton of great instructors. However, in the very beginning (before there was light and chaos ruled the universe)..... all of the seed information came from the Byrne's Billiard Book. Bob, if you read azb--- thanks.
 
Lived near a poolroom located just outside an air force base gate. It was where lots of guys went just after basic training and every 6-8 weeks there would be a new crop of 18-19 year old shaved-head "puppies" cycling through. Most of them were naive and full of testosterone, beer and bravado.

Saw The Hustler in 1961 when I was 11. Said cool. Caught the bug. Took up shooting pool whenever I could after school.

Never had any lessons. Made a point of watching the better players match up whenever I could and emulating them when it made sense to me. Learned to quickly spot flaws and weaknesses in peoples' game.

Would practice by myself or with a good friend many times a week. Got to where I could easily ID who had game and not. Challenged (and got challenged) a lot by the puppies and got into a lot of $1-2 games (remember that a draft beer or a gallon of gas cost 25 cents back then). Became a pretty good nit and lock artist. Made a heck of a lot more than my friends with paper routes or real jobs. If I didn't walk out with $15-20 more in my pocket than I went in with, considered it a bad night (unless I managed to get a lot of free table time practicing with someone better or best of all got to watch and sweat some great action).

Wound up generally camping out at a table at the cheap end of the room and matching up for the small games. An officer who was the base psychologist (and permanently assigned to the base) camped out on the far side of the room at the high stakes tables (i.e., $5+ per game).

When the place was empty the base shrink would let me play with him for fun (and he would pick up the table time). Or, the manager would play me golf on a snooker table (the only game he would play) and pick up the table time.

No books, no videos, no lessons. Just watch, observe, practice and bet $ when the right fish came along.
 
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Lou, my grandpa LOVED the game (at the time 14.1 was THE game). He was a railroad man (Burlington Northern), and spent his time working between Chicago and St Louis (lived in Peoria IL - just about smack dab in between). Once he started playing more and more in Chitown and the Lou, he began to love the "other" games being played he encountered on his travels (banks and 1 pocket). He had a 9 foot Brunswick in the basement, and played ALL the time. He'd made buddies with a gentleman player from not too far away who was/is considered one of the best of all time. And through Mr. Greenleaf he also met and played with some Mosconi guy as well. lol

Growing up, I, of course, played with grandpa in the basement quite a bit. I knew of no other games than the 3 mentioned above until I was 14 or so. Sadly, my grandpa passed away about the time I was discovering pool outside his basement, and I almost completely lost interest all together with pool (I was already showing quite a bit of promise with baseball as well, and that might have taken some of the interest away as well). Then came high school, and girls, and getting a car, etc. etc. etc. Hardly ever picked up a cue from age 14 thru my early 20's.

Once college (and baseball) stopped ruling my life, and I got married, settled into a job, and all the GROWN UP things took over in life....I would occasionally go out to a bar with some buds and shoot some barbox 8 ball. I do mean just occasionally. My wife started attending a women's Bible study weekly, and a buddy talked me into playing pool on that night weekly. One night out we came across a place that was kinda busy and just put up our quarters. Apparently it was league night, and we had wondered onto the "practice" table that the league players were using. I think I won 8 or 9 games in a row before the team captain asked my last name. When he didn't see my name on the sheet, he asked what team I played for....uh, none. He said his team needed an extra player for Thurs. nites, I asked if my buddy could play too, and have been playing quite a bit since.

The funny thing is I still want to play my grandpa's games the most, but 9ball and 8ball rule for the most part, and being an admitted competition junkie, I'll take what's available. I still love when someone I don't know very well "hooks" me by leaving me a bank I could make 9 of 10 times when I was 12 and 13. lol.

Thanks for making me remember those days Lou. :cool:
 
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I learned from watching good players. IMO there's NO SUBSTITUTE. A good player with a good stroke makes the balls move in a way that bangers NEVER CAN, and to SEE THAT opens up in one's mind the possibilities inherent in actually trying to learn to play well. From that point it's figuring out how to emulate the best players, and how, in fact, to pocket balls, get position, and ultimately, win games.
 
I learned to play by matching up but always seemed to be on the worst end. You really have to play like that. 20 years later I still seem to be a little on the worse end but not as bad. Bad thing is I have never regreted losing when I was a fish and just love playing the game.
 
my old man used to take me to play at a bowling alley that had GC1s. I was about 8 when I first picked up a cue. Pops was a decent player and I quickly picked up the knowledge he had to offer. I moved on to my Uncle showing me a few things as he was a far superior player.

I played until I was 18 regularly then went on to college and stopped playing other than beating most everyone in college on a bar table. And no I did'nt pay my way through college,just picked up a couple of bucks here or there.

After college I got immersed in the game and picked up a ton of knowledge from various players in the local room. When I look back at it I was really blessed with a ton of great players always offering help and I soaked it up.

Now I'm a solid B player. However I never had the patience to practice like some guys could I'd be much better. I always liked to Gamble and developed the heart and a good mindset that generally let me play good for the cash. and my best game usually came out under the pressure of being in action.

Now the damn problem is all the rooms are closed and the action is gone. Fortunatley I bought a GC3 for the house and my pool playing buddies come over now and then
 
YouTube and whatever I found on Google when I looked up (How to play pool). I think it was Dr. Dave's site.
 
About 95% self taught. The other 5% represent some pointers from good players and a useless lesson I had four years ago. The 'instructor' was more interested in showing me drills than actually fixing my mechanical errors. To be fair he did open my eyes to the importance of alignement, but it was a passing comment rather than anything close to a focus. I had to figure out my alignment for myself.

I've read lots of books, mimicked what I saw on tv and lots and lots and lots and lots of trial and error.
 
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A combination of going to an instructor, books, videos, watching other players and hours upon hours of practice. Back when I first started playing I would sit around sketching pattern plays on a notebook....a primitive CueTable of sorts.
 
Spent my summers in junior high and high school visiting my grandparents in TN. My cousin had a pool table and always schooled me and took a good chunk of my vacation money (he'd never play for free). I'd generally win it back at poker with him and his buddies, but being competitive, the pool losses still hurt.

After getting out on my own, I played in plenty of leagues (APA and BCA), and plenty of gambling on the side, with whoever was available (I saw it as either making money or paying for lessons from a better player, never "losing", except for rare occasions).

Now I can easily beat my cousin at both poker AND pool, but money still hardly ever changes hands. To even the odds, we'll throw in a round of golf at $5 or $10 a hole (best score each hole). He's a scratch golfer and I play once or twice a year, so I'm lucky to break 95 on 18 holes. I still go in for his bets, because I enjoy winning at pool :)
 
when i was 17 i moved too Eunice louisiana i went too this place that sold music CD,s an they had a pool table i started playing on it an fell in love with the game an i learn too play an got better on my own :D:thumbup:
 
justadub said:
With all the myriad methods available today, internet, DVD, books.... I was taught by a good friend, who is a pretty darned good player.

He teaches me something (or at least reinforces something, or corrects something) most every week.

I also learn for watching and playing with other players. I learn things here on AZB, and I have bought a couple of books and try to watch some streams when I can.

But I learn the most from my buddy George.
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That's cool -- to have a regular sparring partner that helps you out.

Lou Figueroa
 
MitchAlsup said:
I started playing at a kids house down the street around 13 YO. Later at the slot car track, we played some more. When I was a jr in high school, dad bought a pool table, and a book on playing by Mosconi (??). IN the frat house, we shot sevral hours a day.

Then there was that 35 year respite away from pool.

Then 3 years ago I took it back up.
Click to expand...


wow. Slot cars. Man, I loved 1/32 slots. Had the wood box with the tray, all the little itty-bitty tools, wheels, brushes, wheels, controller. Loved putting them together and painting them. Subscribed to the two mags. Couldn't race em worth crap though :-)

35 years off pool! What caused that and what brought you back?

Lou Figueroa
 
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