I am 57 years old been playing regular for about 4 years play on 9 ball league if table is laying open I uslay run most of the rack but uslay mess up on the last two or three balls been thinking about going to a instructor will never be a world beater but would like to improve a little but at my age not sure looking for sugestions
how do I improve a little
- Thread starter billf59
- Start date
I have had students everywhere from 16 to 84...it's never too late to learn. I was in my 40s when I went to pool school, with about 30 years of playing behind me. It was the single best thing that ever happened to my game.
Go for it! You've got plenty of years ahead of you to enjoy the benefits you will get from a good instructor.
Steve
Buy some videos and watch them. Using videos and studying the layout of the table will even stop (the video) and think about how I would play shape on the next ball.
One of my biggest problems with rotation games is that I don't paly the right shot. Meaning that I usually try to do too much and don't keep it simple. I end up "working" the CB too much and find myself overthinking shots and shape rather than just letting it flow naturally.
Hope this helps!!
ps....check out TAR (The Action Report) and Accu-Stats for great videos that will help you improve.....both sites offer 9 ball, 10 ball, 1 pocket, and straight pool.......Accu-stats even has some great bank matches!!!!
Gary
Are you playing three balls ahead? If not, that could be your problem.
The key is to make the first shot such that the position you achieve on the second shot allows you to get position on the third shot. Keep doing that and you're running racks.
How do I improve a little
The biggest reason I have seen for what you describe is that people run 5 or 6 balls pretty well then see that they have a chance to run out and try to cinch balls instead of playing the same way they were before. You end up miss hitting a ball and getting out of line a bit then the next shot is even harder and you either miss a ball or end up with a shot that is beyond your ability. To play well you have to practice, for me it's not the tough shots that beat a person, it's the easy shots they take for granted and don't bear down on. I would recommend 1 of the Bert Kinnister tapes
I believe his material is great for the majority of players. If you play with the intensity he tries to instill and put in the practice time necessary to play with confidence, your game will improve greatly.
The biggest reason I have seen for what you describe is that people run 5 or 6 balls pretty well then see that they have a chance to run out and try to cinch balls instead of playing the same way they were before. You end up miss hitting a ball and getting out of line a bit then the next shot is even harder and you either miss a ball or end up with a shot that is beyond your ability. To play well you have to practice, for me it's not the tough shots that beat a person, it's the easy shots they take for granted and don't bear down on. I would recommend 1 of the Bert Kinnister tapes
I believe his material is great for the majority of players. If you play with the intensity he tries to instill and put in the practice time necessary to play with confidence, your game will improve greatly.
Watching videos by themselves just won't do it. You need someone to be able to WATCH you play, and diagnose the errors...whether they be stroke errors, process errors, or strategy errors. Some time with a qualified instructor will answer that need most effectively.
billf59...You contacted me in the past, and then changed your mind, saying that you had found a local "pro" to work with. Obviously that did not clear up the issues that you have. If you're still interested, I will travel to you. PM me with some contact information.
Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
billf59...You contacted me in the past, and then changed your mind, saying that you had found a local "pro" to work with. Obviously that did not clear up the issues that you have. If you're still interested, I will travel to you. PM me with some contact information.
Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
Great advice from everyone here so far. I would say it's never too late to learn whatever age you are, instructors (good ones) are worth their weight in Gold. I used to play snooker in the UK many years ago and had not picked up a cue of any sort for maybe 15-20 years until February this year.
What I have tried to concentrate on lately is my basic cue action trying to make it exactly the same every time whatever shot I am playing. It appears to be working my H'Cap has risen in the few months I have been playing and I actually won my first Tournament lat week. I never expected things to improve this quickly but have been remembering what all those 'old dudes' (guess I am one of them now) told me when I first played snooker. "If you don't get the basics right everything else is more difficult". Basics I take to mean, your stance, addressing the cue ball, cueing and the hit, if you can make that the same every time, eventually without even thinking about it, I believe that helps. I would also agree with others here the trick to running racks is thinking your way through the balls. Where you want to be to move on after that next pot. Another thing I also found helped is trying to leave myself in an 'area' maybe a 6" circle, for that next pot instead of trying to get too exact a position.
What I have tried to concentrate on lately is my basic cue action trying to make it exactly the same every time whatever shot I am playing. It appears to be working my H'Cap has risen in the few months I have been playing and I actually won my first Tournament lat week. I never expected things to improve this quickly but have been remembering what all those 'old dudes' (guess I am one of them now) told me when I first played snooker. "If you don't get the basics right everything else is more difficult". Basics I take to mean, your stance, addressing the cue ball, cueing and the hit, if you can make that the same every time, eventually without even thinking about it, I believe that helps. I would also agree with others here the trick to running racks is thinking your way through the balls. Where you want to be to move on after that next pot. Another thing I also found helped is trying to leave myself in an 'area' maybe a 6" circle, for that next pot instead of trying to get too exact a position.
You and I have a lot in common, Bill. I am also 57 years old. I too have been playing leagues for about five years now. I too usually have that one makeable shot about 2/3 of the way through my run that I should have never missed, that kept me from running out. I know WHAT my problem is, I just can't seem to fix it. The closer I get to the end of the rack the more careless (pre-shot routine, amount of practice strokes, staying down on the shot, etc.) I get. I think what happens to me is that when I can see the final result (i.e. the runout/win) in my mind, I get a slight adrenaline rush and it causes me to move faster and/or lose focus. If I don't consciously stop and make myself slow down (if I'm in APA league, I'll call a timeout on myself just so I'll slow down and get my wits together) I'll screw up the runout for sure. Maybe this is your problem too? Whatever it is, I hope you can get a handle on it. I have no uncertainty whatsoever that persons our age can continue to improve. I am leaps and bounds from where I was several years ago. Good luck, my friend!!!
Maniac
I am older than you. I stopped playing for about 20 years and then restarted a few years ago.
The best advice I ever saw for quickly improving your game 10-20% is "don't miss the easy shots".
It is so easy to hurry, lose concentration and miss a ball that really is a cinch, end a run and lose a game. When you are faced with an "easy" shot, take your time, go through your preshot routine and take the same care as on difficult shots.
The best advice I ever saw for quickly improving your game 10-20% is "don't miss the easy shots".
It is so easy to hurry, lose concentration and miss a ball that really is a cinch, end a run and lose a game. When you are faced with an "easy" shot, take your time, go through your preshot routine and take the same care as on difficult shots.
Hi. my advice for missing when it comes down to the last three balls, just practice throwing the 7,8 and 9 on the table and take ball in hand then start running out now when your in competition it will be just like practicing.
Very sound advice, from a solid pro player! An additional key to this drill, is that you have to get "easy" on the last two balls...not just be able to make them. 'Easy' is defined as getting a leave that is less than a thirty degree angle on each shot.
Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
It could well be that missing in the last three has nothing at all to do with fixing your game.
Find an instructor with video equipment. Look at your fundamentals. I'll bet there is something major to fix. If you can't find an instructor like that, do your own video.
I am your age. I got to a point where my game was not improving so I took some instruction (not just instruction, but video instruction as well), and it helped a lot. It doesn't matter how good your aim is, if you cannot deliver a repeatable straight stroke on the cue ball, it causes you to be inconsistent.
Then there is the mental side of the game. If you are putting too much pressure on yourself, it can have bad results.
My problem was mostly mechanics. I probably play 2 balls better since getting instruction. I consider myself a good solid B player, maybe even a solid B+. Hope this helps and good luck.
Then there is the mental side of the game. If you are putting too much pressure on yourself, it can have bad results.
My problem was mostly mechanics. I probably play 2 balls better since getting instruction. I consider myself a good solid B player, maybe even a solid B+. Hope this helps and good luck.
This is great advice and I wish i'd gone to an instuctor early in my pool playing career. I banged balls for years by feel and I did many things wrong. I finally figured out the way things should be done, but I lost so much time playing the wrong way. Go to an instructor who can evaluate your fundamentals and make sure you are on the right track, then practice hard on what you learned from the instructor......
James
the name of the game is "9-ball" . it's the only one that matters , unless you're counting points with the "Any Pathetic Attempt" system. you should never worry about the 7 & 8 , cuz u should have found a way to kiss out long before that . position FOR combinations will dominate in 9-ball
something that really helped my game is try to start out with just the 7 8 and 9 balls on the table. take ball in hand on the first shot and try to run these trhee balls out. it should be fairly easy. run these three balls out til you can do it about 5 times in a row. then add the 6 ball and try running four balls out. do it til you can run the rack. it helped me but what helps me may not help others.
this technique will lose you way more games than you will ever win. the only time you should ever shoot a combo shot is when its dead. you never set up for combos, kisses, or caroms unless thats the option you have.
One thing I recommend to anyone trying to improve their game is to find an old clean, empty, 16oz. glass Pepsi or RC Cola bottle, or purchase on of the devices made like this to practice stroking into the bottle. You don't even need a pool table to practice this. Just stroke as far into the bottle as you would on a normal follow through shot and keep doing it for as long as you can, without making contact with the bottle. This will help you to develop "muscle memory" and give you a much better and straighter stroke. I've seen quite a few people bring their game to the next level using this technique over the years. And lessons from a competent instructor can't hurt either.