How do you improve?

L

livemusic

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I'm a decent player. Not a real good player, but above average. In a bar setting, I would come out ahead against most but there might be one to three guys who might be even or better. In my local bar, there is one guy I would say is better than me. Around here, all we play is 8 ball.

So, this doesn't say much for the local talent, lol, because I'm really not that good. Now, this is a small town, so, there aren't tons of players to draw from. I know the basics of cue ball control and the basics of spin but I don't execute control very well on many shots. As far as what I see of really good players, my downfall is cue ball control. When you don't control the cue ball, you end up shooting a lot of thin cut shots and that means the cue ball goes flying. Real good players don't do that. Of course, nobody around here plays cue ball in hand on a foul, so, there is no penalty a lot of times in our games. I don't know why nobody does cue ball in hand!

How can I improve? Any tips or drills? How should I practice? I have an 8 ft table.

I might have some flaws in how I shoot. I think I have a pretty good stance but I might not get low enough. Watching pro players, their head is right down near the cue. And I just figured out I hold the cue in my shooting hand really in my fingertips and I'm not sure that is correct.

I wonder if I could find a teacher in the city!
 
In my opinion, you have little chance of improving significantly if your pool consists of at home on your table and at the bar room you frequent that only plays 8-ball, bar room rules. I don't know if you live anywhere near where a more serious poolroom is, but that's your best chance of being around and learning from better players. When you refer to a teacher in the city, what city are you referring to that you may live not too far from? Once you reveal that, someone here might be able to steer you to the more serious pool rooms in that city you might want to check out.
 
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One area in which you can improve your skills without an instructor is in speed control. Designing your own drills to practice speed control is easy. Even if you work on nothing else, this will improve both your position play and your safety play.

To improve your stroke, though, you probably need to track down an instructor.
 
livemusic...You need help! There is a very good PBIA instuctor in Lafayette. His name is Keebie Flenekin, but he posts here as greyghost, and is a well-respected member of AzBilliards. PM him here, or PM me and I'll give you his phone number.

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com

livemusic said:
I'm a decent player. Not a real good player, but above average. In a bar setting, I would come out ahead against most but there might be one to three guys who might be even or better. In my local bar, there is one guy I would say is better than me. Around here, all we play is 8 ball.

So, this doesn't say much for the local talent, lol, because I'm really not that good. Now, this is a small town, so, there aren't tons of players to draw from. I know the basics of cue ball control and the basics of spin but I don't execute control very well on many shots. As far as what I see of really good players, my downfall is cue ball control. When you don't control the cue ball, you end up shooting a lot of thin cut shots and that means the cue ball goes flying. Real good players don't do that. Of course, nobody around here plays cue ball in hand on a foul, so, there is no penalty a lot of times in our games. I don't know why nobody does cue ball in hand!

How can I improve? Any tips or drills? How should I practice? I have an 8 ft table.

I might have some flaws in how I shoot. I think I have a pretty good stance but I might not get low enough. Watching pro players, their head is right down near the cue. And I just figured out I hold the cue in my shooting hand really in my fingertips and I'm not sure that is correct.

I wonder if I could find a teacher in the city!
Click to expand...
 
Start at the start, then give greyghost a call.

If you don't have good fundamentals when you meet an instructor then that's where your money is going to go. I'm all for supporting them too. Just give yourself a leg-up by at least having a stroke, a stance, a follow-through, a PSR, and a pause in your back-swing. Enjoy the stroke drill. It's a slog, but it's worth it.
 
sjm pretty much called it so I'm only bringing it up as a co-sign.
people say "my position" play is this and that but don't realize that the lack of understanding for CB control and/or speed control is the problem or reason. It's called "Feel" and if you don't have it you'll surly wish you did when you discover it.
Also as Chris said there's not a lot to expect if you competition is some what low but there is a few things that can get you the literal answer to your question and that is to improve.

Disclaimer: You friends may not like you much going down this road

You have to step up your 360 degree self, this mean focus, PSR, discipline, pace and all that stuff. So for example when you play try using center ball only and see if you predicted the path of the ball correctly, try to find creative safes such as picking a pattern that now allows you to bump the opponents ball and making a cluster, try to go one or two rails on as many shots as possible, give your opponent a 2 ball spot (in your head) so that changes the dynamics of the game and helping work on that bumping ball/playing safe thing mentioned earlier.
as other chime in you'll get more info so I'll stop here
 
Try playing straight pool.
The game will teach all the skills needed for all other games.
My almost 60 years of playing straight pool have taught me to see patterns and how to maneuver around balls such as you always encounter playing 8 ball on 7 foot tables.
 
Given your mechanics are sound...

Play your game of choice and record a 100 misses. Can't remember who's article on this concept, it's not mine. Record why you missed a 100 shots. You should see a pattern.

This will give you good insight. I find patterns of misses and tailor drills to address those misses.

Edit: Tom Simpson wrote the article on 100 misses. I couldn't find that particular article but I did find many by him here...

https://www.pooldawg.com/article/category/ask-the-master
 
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Join a league. Become friends with the higher skilled players... learn what they know then quit the league.
 
First. Think about a day. Make a big plan. Then separate it to smaller goals. Then start work one step at time. Try figure best way to learn certain goal. Try learn simple steps. Major goal should be able to bring all small steps together after you learned them and trying to add them into your game(hardest part).

Learn one thing at time is the key IMO. Repeat until it start feel natural. Then move on to next thing and so on. Focus always just that one thing you are practicing.
Example: You want to improve your technique but you are moving a lot when stroking. Just do some easy drill or run 8-ball racks. Trick is just to focus staying still. Not making a ball or position or runout. You try to DO that too but it does not matter. What matters is that you keep your body still. Do that 10-30 min then take a break.
Then change focus something else. Like, could be same back hand grip tightness. Do same drill as earlier. Rinse and repeat.
Totally have 4-5 things at time and when you improved enough get something new.

P.s English bad. wrote in hurry.
 
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livemusic said:
I'm a decent player. Not a real good player, but above average. In a bar setting, I would come out ahead against most but there might be one to three guys who might be even or better. In my local bar, there is one guy I would say is better than me. Around here, all we play is 8 ball.

So, this doesn't say much for the local talent, lol, because I'm really not that good. Now, this is a small town, so, there aren't tons of players to draw from. I know the basics of cue ball control and the basics of spin but I don't execute control very well on many shots. As far as what I see of really good players, my downfall is cue ball control. When you don't control the cue ball, you end up shooting a lot of thin cut shots and that means the cue ball goes flying. Real good players don't do that. Of course, nobody around here plays cue ball in hand on a foul, so, there is no penalty a lot of times in our games. I don't know why nobody does cue ball in hand!

How can I improve? Any tips or drills? How should I practice? I have an 8 ft table.

I might have some flaws in how I shoot. I think I have a pretty good stance but I might not get low enough. Watching pro players, their head is right down near the cue. And I just figured out I hold the cue in my shooting hand really in my fingertips and I'm not sure that is correct.

I wonder if I could find a teacher in the city!
Click to expand...



Scott Lee & RandyG teach around there all the time.

randyg
www.randygpool.com
 
This really is a simple equation, but the answer is difficult for each person.

Pool is a game of repetition. You need to see shots many times to recognize them. You need to execute shots over and over to become proficient at them. You can't practice shots you don't know.

Assuming your fundamentals are sound, I would say there are 2 basic kinds of practice for your level:

1) practice making shots. Do shot making drills over and over. No playing games. No banging balls for fun. No half-effort training sessions. Actually practice.
2) learn new shots. Watch videos. Get a book. Ask a teacher. Listen to commentary and take a note. For every shot you don't know, see #1 above.

When you are comfortable with your tool box of shots, you can expand your practice to pattern play, strategy, safety play, special shots, etc.

There are piles of resources and teachers out there. But if you aren't willing to actually spend some time practicing (not just banging balls) - you'll never be more than mediocre.

Ultimately, the question comes down to: how much time do you have to devote to pool?


-td


livemusic said:
I'm a decent player. Not a real good player, but above average. In a bar setting, I would come out ahead against most but there might be one to three guys who might be even or better. In my local bar, there is one guy I would say is better than me. Around here, all we play is 8 ball.

So, this doesn't say much for the local talent, lol, because I'm really not that good. Now, this is a small town, so, there aren't tons of players to draw from. I know the basics of cue ball control and the basics of spin but I don't execute control very well on many shots. As far as what I see of really good players, my downfall is cue ball control. When you don't control the cue ball, you end up shooting a lot of thin cut shots and that means the cue ball goes flying. Real good players don't do that. Of course, nobody around here plays cue ball in hand on a foul, so, there is no penalty a lot of times in our games. I don't know why nobody does cue ball in hand!

How can I improve? Any tips or drills? How should I practice? I have an 8 ft table.

I might have some flaws in how I shoot. I think I have a pretty good stance but I might not get low enough. Watching pro players, their head is right down near the cue. And I just figured out I hold the cue in my shooting hand really in my fingertips and I'm not sure that is correct.

I wonder if I could find a teacher in the city!
Click to expand...
 
pt109 said:
How do you improve?
..same way you get to Carnegie Hall
Click to expand...

That's what I was thinking but it needs to be the right kind of practice. Working with a good coach or instructor is critical. I know people that practice hours every day but have little chance of improvement.

The foundation is the most important part of any thing you build. Too many new players gloss over the boring fundamentals. They want to do a masse before they even have a clue as to a consistent PSR.

I took piano lessons as a child. I hated doing those scales but that's how you get to Car egg an E hall.
 
gregcantrall said:
That's what I was thinking but it needs to be the right kind of practice. Working with a good coach or instructor is critical. I know people that practice hours every day but have little chance of improvement.

The foundation is the most important part of any thing you build. Too many new players gloss over the boring fundamentals. They want to do a masse before they even have a clue as to a consistent PSR.

I took piano lessons as a child. I hated doing those scales but that's how you get to Car egg an E hall.
Click to expand...

And there are also tons of players that eat, sleep, and breath pool, never have a single lesson, and become great.

In all the years I've been a pool bum, I might have seen 10 total lessons happening at the pool hall. I'd even go as far as saying in my home room, the best players never took a lesson that I know of. They all learned on their own by watching and playing.
 
gregcantrall said:
That's what I was thinking but it needs to be the right kind of practice. Working with a good coach or instructor is critical. I know people that practice hours every day but have little chance of improvement.

The foundation is the most important part of any thing you build. Too many new players gloss over the boring fundamentals. They want to do a masse before they even have a clue as to a consistent PSR.

I took piano lessons as a child. I hated doing those scales but that's how you get to Car egg an E hall.
Click to expand...

I’ve had many people ask me to show them some fancy spin shots.....
....I set up a long dead in shot and tell them to make it with no spin.
...many of them are miserable failures.

So I tell them to practise dead ball till they own it......
...when you can hit whitey where you intend to, you might be ready to spin.
 
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