How do you know you need an Aiming System?

[Bobkitty]

So how did you get a ranking of an "A" player in your area? Are you going around to Assisted Living facilities and hustling the residents where rankings are based on a curve?

If one game of 9 ball takes 15-20 minutes you're an "A". 20-25 minutes a "B". 25-30 minutes a "C".

Dennis, you seem like a decent guy but 2 1/2 years of playing pool starting around age 68-69 is a beginner with age not being an ally for hand/eye coordination, vision, and the brain comprehending certain aspects of the game. You STARTED playing pool 2 1/2 years ago.

Anything you did 50+ years ago with snooker or a few times playing pool on leave while drinking is called fun and entertainment banging balls around.

T

W
But good for you to have a table and enjoying the hell out of trying to learn and play different games. You're never too old to do that. Enjoy!

I found out I would not be considered an "A" player on the East Coast. I'm probably a high "B" player at 9 ball. APA 8 level two years ago when I played league. Around here, they wont let me play in the "B" level tournaments but that does not mean I'm an "A" player as someone on here so graciously pointed out. My pool teacher says East coast "As" are way better than west coast "As". I worked on 8 ball strategy a bit but have forgotten most of that as I haven't played it for a year or so. I've played 1 pocket, straight pool, and billiards just a few times. I enjoy all of the games. When I used to gamble (needing money as a newly wed and broke) I found out early on my talent lies in instantly spotting when someone is better than me.

 

[SpiderWebComm]

I knew s guy in his 70's that started playing pool in his late 60's. He was damn good. Age is not a factor when you've taken care of your body. You assume Dennis "never came close to really learning the game and becoming highly proficient" back in his youth. So you knew his game back when he was 19? Let's see, you would've been.....not born yet.

He had NO pool game to speak of. Between 18 and 20 he played SNOOKER. The similarity between those two is hitting balls with a cue.

The brain is incredibly complex and efficient when it comes to muscle memory and motor skill retention. Just because you haven't utilized a certain skill in years it doesn't mean you've lost it. That's not how it works.

BULLCRAP! Let's see a 71 year old pick up a set of golf clubs and play like he did when he was in his very early 20's with a low handicap and a 50 year layoff. How about pounding a fastball or wicked curve with a baseball and bat after 50 years. Stop playing the guitar today and report back after 40 - 50 years when you pick it back up for the first time. Lets see if it takes you no time flat or EVER to reach your current skill levels. You're living in LA-LA land.

If you're body is broken down, naturally, it'll have trouble performing what your brain is telling it to do. From the clips I've seen, Dennis looks to be in excellent condition, so I'd say he's doing a fine job.

I agree about his body seemingly being in good shape externally for 71. I complimented him on his stroke when he made the video. But his excuses and inability to pocket balls for a video doing Colin's potting test is a pretty good indication of his skill level. It also jumps out in the things he talks about as being important from what he's trying to learn in lessons.

Now he could easily change my mind and I'd be jumping on here to praise him profusely if he did some videos running out multiple racks of 9 ball or 10 ball. I don't think that's going happen any more than he'd be willing to play Lou some cheap sets of 3 of anything for $20 bucks.

 

[SpiderWebComm]

I found out I would not be considered an "A" player on the East Coast. I'm probably a high "B" player at 9 ball. APA 8 level two years ago when I played league. Around here, they wont let me play in the "B" level tournaments but that does not mean I'm an "A" player as someone on here so graciously pointed out. My pool teacher says East coast "As" are way better than west coast "As". I worked on 8 ball strategy a bit but have forgotten most of that as I haven't played it for a year or so. I've played 1 pocket, straight pool, and billiards just a few times.

A FEW times? OK.

I enjoy all of the games. When I used to gamble (needing money as a newly wed and broke) I found out early on my talent lies in instantly spotting when someone is better than me.

This sounds very similar to the guys who say they paid their entire college tuition off from playing pool over the 4 years. If you're needing money as a newlywed and BROKE, it comes for getting a JOB and going to WORK, not playing penny ante pool games with some loser who can hardly make a ball with no money.


So are you saying you were an "A" player where you live but really a "B" player nationally after only 6 months of picking up the game and learning it after a 50 year layoff?

To me, this is mind numbing since I know a lot of guys who have played weekly their entire lives and haven't reached that level.

Would you be up for videoing yourself against the ghost in 9 ball or 10 ball?

 

[BC21]

"He had NO pool game to speak of. Between 18 and 20 he played SNOOKER. The similarity between those two is hitting balls with a cue."

Wow. This would be a great thread for the main forum. Go ahead and post it there. Lol

 

[Bobkitty]

I agree about his body seemingly being in good shape externally for 71. I complimented him on his stroke when he made the video. But his excuses and inability to pocket balls for a video doing Colin's potting test is a pretty good indication of his skill level. It also jumps out in the things he talks about as being important from what he's trying to learn in lessons.

Now he could easily change my mind and I'd be jumping on here to praise him profusely if he did some videos running out multiple racks of 9 ball or 10 ball. I don't think that's going happen any more than he'd be willing to play Lou some cheap sets of 3 of anything for $20 bucks.

Geez, nobody on here knows how good or how bad I am and who cares (bbb might have heard a little from our common pool teacher)? Just like I always said when I was playing golf; "IF you're not good enough to make the pro tour, everything else is for fun". Let's get this thread back to aiming discussion. I feel like I can contribute because I've taken so many lessons from a great teacher and he's taught me a lot. It would be better if you got it straight from him but he is not on AZB so you get it 2nd hand as I remember it.

 

[SpiderWebComm]

Geez, nobody on here knows how good or how bad I am and who cares (bbb might have heard a little from our common pool teacher)? Just like I always said when I was playing golf; "IF you're not good enough to make the pro tour, everything else is for fun". Let's get this thread back to aiming discussion. I feel like I can contribute because I've taken so many lessons from a great teacher and he's taught me a lot. It would be better if you got it straight from him but he is not on AZB so you get it 2nd hand as I remember it.

Would you be willing to video yourself doing Colin's potting test or running a number of unedited racks of 9 ball or 10 ball against the ghost? If not, why not?

 

[Bobkitty]

Would you be willing to video yourself doing Colin's potting test or running a number of unedited racks of 9 ball or 10 ball against the ghost? If not, why not?

Why are you making this thread all about me? Are you trying to say that if I (or anyone I guess) can't run multiple racks, they should NOT be allowed to post? Maybe you can get Mr. Wilson to verify that before someone is allowed on here.

 

[SpiderWebComm]

Why are you making this thread all about me? Are you trying to say that if I (or anyone I guess) can't run multiple racks, they should NOT be allowed to post? Maybe you can get Mr. Wilson to verify that before someone is allowed on here.

Quit trying to turn it into something it's not. So, I guess we're not going to see any west coast "A" or east coast "B" videos coming our way for US to learn from.

And I also guess there won't be any cheap sets with Lou playing whatever game in St. Louis.

Gotcha...

This WILL be my last post about it unless you keep going on and on to me. Pretend I don't exist and don't post. Comprende?

 

[BC21]

Geez, nobody on here knows how good or how bad I am and who cares (bbb might have heard a little from our common pool teacher)? Just like I always said when I was playing golf; "IF you're not good enough to make the pro tour, everything else is for fun". Let's get this thread back to aiming discussion. I feel like I can contribute because I've taken so many lessons from a great teacher and he's taught me a lot. It would be better if you got it straight from him but he is not on AZB so you get it 2nd hand as I remember it.

Well said. Back on track. Here's a good aiming story. I played in a king of the hill open 9ball tournament Saturday. Five losses and you're out. I was on four losses, as well as the other 4 guys on my table. This format is brutal. I ended up putting a 3.89-pack on one of those little 7' diamond tables. (Scratched on the damn ball before the nine on that 4th rack!) My aiming was dead on. Unfortunately​, so was the scratch. I knew this, but thought my speed would keep me short of the scratch shot. Just goes to show, you can make em all and still wind up a loser. I shook the kid's hand like a gentleman, then found a friendly $40/game one-hole match.

 

[Bobkitty]

Gotcha...

This WILL be my last post about it unless you keep going on and on to me. Pretend I don't exist and don't post. Comprende?

I'm learning a lot; First, I did not know you were in charge of AZB posts and second, that someone has to post a video of them running rack after rack before they are allowed to chime in. I've seen many threads of you and Lou going back and forth in heated discussions, how about you two getting it on? I'm sure he'll be blown away with your CTE potting skills.

 

[SpiderWebComm]

"He had NO pool game to speak of. Between 18 and 20 he played SNOOKER. The similarity between those two is hitting balls with a cue."

Wow. This would be a great thread for the main forum. Go ahead and post it there. Lol

Brian, do you have some kind of short in the electrical function or your brain or just like to argue?

The table size is different, the pocket sizes are different, the cue weight and tip sizes are different and the game is different from a strategy standpoint and ability to move the balls.

14.1, one pocket, and 9 ball are all different. They take different thought processes, strategy, ability to move the cue ball, safeties, long shot vs. short shot skills in pocketing and NOT pocketing on purpose.

 

[SpiderWebComm]

I'm learning a lot;

So you're back in here. Yes, you're learning. A lot? I don't know. Certainly not enough to be an "A" or "B" player at this point. At least not without proof.

First, I did not know you were in charge of AZB posts and second, that someone has to post a video of them running rack after rack before they are allowed to chime in.

I'm not in charge of anything. Quit crying like a little baby and doing everything you can to deflect it from your game or lack of game to me.

I've seen many threads of you and Lou going back and forth in heated discussions, how about you two getting it on? I'm sure he'll be blown away with your CTE potting skills.

I think there's one thing Lou and I would agree on. We wouldn't want to be caught dead in the same room with each other let alone play pool together.

 

[Bobkitty]

So you're back in here. Yes, you're learning. A lot? I don't know. Certainly not enough to be an "A" or "B" player at this point. At least not without proof.

[/B][/COLOR]

Nobody has to prove anything to you. You strike me as some NYC dude that thinks he runs everything.

 

[BC21]

Brian, do you have some kind of short in the electrical function or your brain or just like to argue?

The table size is different, the pocket sizes are different, the cue weight and tip sizes are different and the game is different from a strategy standpoint and ability to move the balls.

14.1, one pocket, and 9 ball are all different. They take different thought processes, strategy, ability to move the cue ball, safeties, long shot vs. short shot skills in pocketing and NOT pocketing on purpose.

Short circuit probably. But if I had two average players, one with a couple of years of pool under his or her belt (any particular game of pool), and one with a couple of years of snooker, and gave each of these players a good month of practice for a straight pool match, or even a 9 or 10 ball match, I'd put my money on the snooker player. It's been my experience, not my opinion, that snooker players adapt very quickly to all pool games on all table sizes.

 

[SpiderWebComm]

Nobody has to prove anything to you. You strike me as some NYC asshole that thinks he runs everything. I heard you are really Jimmy from Zheppa snoring products.

LOL! If you say so it must be true. Do you have something against New Yorkers? You do know calling someone the "A" word as well as other names is a bannable offense, don't you? I know if I did it I'd be gone.

 

[Renegade_56]

Nobody has to prove anything to you. You strike me as some NYC asshole that thinks he runs everything. I heard you are really Jimmy from Zheppa snoring products.

Well that almost got the thread back on track. Throw in a plug for your pool teacher and how valuable cheating the pocket for no reason can be and we're there.

Just like golf, it makes no difference which side of the hole the ball goes in. And when you constantly claim a certain guy is the best teacher, because he's your teacher for the most part, that just alienates every other pool teacher, and everyone who has ever taken lessons from one or more of those other pool teachers. This is why you get flack here. If you think the guy is great then fine, say so, but that don't make him the best. And cheating the pocket is useful I suppose but rarely needed if you can control the cueball.

 

[SpiderWebComm]

Short circuit probably. But if I had two average players, one with a couple of years of pool under his or her belt (any particular game of pool), and one with a couple of years of snooker, and gave each of these players a good month of practice for a straight pool match, or even a 9 or 10 ball match, I'd put my money on the snooker player. It's been my experience, not my opinion, that snooker players adapt very quickly to all pool games on all table sizes.

There's that short circuit crackling electricity all over the place. It has nothing to do with anything and only a supposition in theory.

What part of he only played snooker and no pool do you not understand? At least according to what he wrote. Now we might get a new version and different story like not only did he support his wife but accumulated enough money to start a business empire.

You didn't happen to stick your finger into an electrical outlet one time when trying to plug in one of your amplifiers, did you?

 

[Bobkitty]

Well that almost got the thread back on track. Throw in a plug for your pool teacher and how valuable cheating the pocket for no reason can be and we're there.

Just like golf, it makes no difference which side of the hole the ball goes in. And when you constantly claim a certain guy is the best teacher, because he's your teacher for the most part, that just alienates every other pool teacher, and everyone who has ever taken lessons from one or more of those other pool teachers. This is why you get flack here. If you think the guy is great then fine, say so, but that don't make him the best. And cheating the pocket is useful I suppose but rarely needed if you can control the cueball.

You must have me confused with someone else. I never said Robin "was the best". I have just said he's good at what he does and people should consider him when choosing an instructor. Someone else posted "he's the best in the world". Not me. And for the record, hitting different parts of the pocket is standard strategy for position play. If you can't hit different parts of the pocket for shots where it's reasonable, you might blame your aiming or aiming system. I take lessons from a guy that demonstrates the ability to hit the pocket thick or thin at will. If you have not seen that maybe you should.

 

[BC21]

There's that short circuit crackling electricity all over the place......

Lol. My mom, being a teacher, would say people are wired differently and there's nothing wrong with it. Dad had a more colorful way with words. He'd say some people are born "straight-wired", or "hot-wired".

I suppose some players are wired to think all A players can routinely spank the ghost 5-0 or run 8 or 9 racks of 9-ball at will. My best on a 9-ft diamond is 4, so that must make me at least a high C or low B on this scale.

To put it back on track with this thread about knowing whether or not a player needs an aiming system....I don't know if you need one or not. It's an individual thing.

 

[Bobkitty]

Lol. My mom, being a teacher, would say people are wired differently and there's nothing wrong with it. Dad had a more colorful way with words. He'd say some people are born "straight-wired", or "hot-wired".

I suppose some players are wired to think all A players can routinely spank the ghost 5-0 or run 8 or 9 racks of 9-ball at will. My best on a 9-ft diamond is 4, so that must make me at least a high C or low B on this scale.

To put it back on track with this thread about knowing whether or not a player needs an aiming system....I don't know if you need one or not. It's an individual thing.

My best is 3 racks of 9 ball on my 9' table with 4.5" corners, 4 & 5/8" sides. 5 racks playing 9 ball on 7' Diamond tables. So guess I'm a low B player also.