How to play better pool.
- Thread starter Bob Callahan
- Start date
Sorry, but I disagree. When you have no qualified instructors anywhere close your options for any help at all are zero. If it wasn't for the forums and Dr Dave's videos I'd be much further behind.
Yes, you have to practice, but if you practice the wrong things over and over you end up being PK.
Yes, you have to practice, but if you practice the wrong things over and over you end up being PK.
I think all he's really saying is that there are no magic pills or silver bullets and that all the aiming systems, LD shafts, milk-dud tips, and expensive chalk aren't going to make you a better player without putting in the time at the table.
There is no replacement for practice, but practice can be enhanced with instructional materials, better equipment, and coaching.
Mahnamahna <------ doesn't need to start a thread and post in in repeatedly to make the same point in one sentence, which seem pretty obvious to begin with
Mahnamahna <------ doesn't need to start a thread and post in in repeatedly to make the same point in one sentence, which seem pretty obvious to begin with
but, but, bob
then we would miss all those ' what is the best threads ' what is the best, cloth, tip, shaft, chalk, glove, rack, table, bumper for your cue, bumper for the table, light bulb to use in which light, music to listen to, beer to drink, etc etc etc etc etc etc etc etc.
i think most of the younger players spend more time on WHATS the best, than they do playing and trying to get this info for themselves.
then we would miss all those ' what is the best threads ' what is the best, cloth, tip, shaft, chalk, glove, rack, table, bumper for your cue, bumper for the table, light bulb to use in which light, music to listen to, beer to drink, etc etc etc etc etc etc etc etc.
i think most of the younger players spend more time on WHATS the best, than they do playing and trying to get this info for themselves.
Great post Bob, I could not agree with you more, in fact in addition to my home table I am trying to get my boss to put a table in here at the shop. I must admit though that I am not having much success on that front at present.:thumbup:
We've discussed this before, based on the book "Talent is Overrated" by Geoff Colvin. IIRC, he says the magic number is 10,000 hours of *deliberate practice* to reach the top.
But... not everyone has the 10,000 hours to spare and so we play as much as we can and when we can't play we watch videos, read books, and fart around here. All those would be pluses, not minuses.
Lou Figueroa
Not true, at all. I personally know a professional pool player who never has had formal instruction from you might call a "qualified" instructor.
He began his career at age eight, spending all of his available time in the pool room. He learned by watching and playing with others, and developed a shot memory that is equal any other pro in the game today. He won the Banks tournament at DCC in 2004, and is considered to be one of the best 14.1 players in the country. :smile:
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Banks
Banned
Does that work for everyone? I mean 99% of players can pull this off? Just smack stuff around and become a pro?
Or would you say for the 99% they would peak out around a C player and improve only in tiny increments for the 1000's of hours it takes to refine your game?
Banks
Banned
Tramp,
I agree.
There is certainly more than one road that leads to 'Emerald City'.
I don't know why it seems that some seem to think that there is only the yellow brick road of only either a qualified or certified instructor.
Do they guarantee their work & issue money back guarantees?
I'd be interested to know how many pros would attribute their success to a certified instructor vs some other means.
Like CJ has said, everyone has been given a leg up in some way by someone. But it could just as easily be a comment by an old gentleman in the pool hall vs a BCA Hall of Fame Member.
I'm not bashing instructors as some say. I'm just not exalting instructors to the level of champion builders. Instructors serve a good & valuable purpose for those that either need, want, or think that that is the only way to go.
However in today's time there is so much info available in books, video, websites, You Tube, & video cameras on nearly every phone, that one can get a good start that can be fundamentally sound.
Then, even instructors say that the individual must put in the time & work or even their lessons can be of no great help.
If one wants it bad enough one will find a way. Earl Strickland spent 16 hours a day on the table for a year when he was 16 years old. He knew what he wanted & he wanted it badly.
Anyone with access to a library or the internet can get off to a good start. The rest is up to them.
Books, videos, websites, instructors, whatever they choose, none of them can be a sufficient substitute for table time.
Drills are no guarantee over plain old fashion playing the game. The game can teach you something in one day or even one game that drills may never teach you.
Sorry for the rant.
Best Wishes,
Rick
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OK, posting to forums I agree with
The rest, eh...
I spent the first 15 years playing pool the wrong way, and got better just by playing more. I maxed out at a low B. I could make shots, at times. I had no idea what a good safety was, or what playing good position was.
In the last 5 years I had to break down my game almost to the start, get a new stroke, the last half year I learned my stance was wrong and had to adjust a bit to make shots I would miss all the time (long straight shots or playing exactly to one side of a ball or to the other).
Spending my time just playing pool was basically 20 years of playing crappy pool, relative to how much I learned in the last few years. I wish I had some proper coaching and lessons in the first 5 years instead of just playing. Playing more but not doing it right is not the way.
OK, posting to forums I agree with
The rest, eh...
I spent the first 15 years playing pool the wrong way, and got better just by playing more. I maxed out at a low B. I could make shots, at times. I had no idea what a good safety was, or what playing good position was.
In the last 5 years I had to break down my game almost to the start, get a new stroke, the last half year I learned my stance was wrong and had to adjust a bit to make shots I would miss all the time (long straight shots or playing exactly to one side of a ball or to the other).
Spending my time just playing pool was basically 20 years of playing crappy pool, relative to how much I learned in the last few years. I wish I had some proper coaching and lessons in the first 5 years instead of just playing. Playing more but not doing it right is not the way.
It seems that you accepted playing badly for many years.
Did you do anything on your own to get better or did you just think that doing the same thing would yield different over time.
When I was young, if I missed the same shot twice in a row, I was changing something. One has to find out what works & what does not. That's part of experimentation.
I'm sorry to hear your story but glad that you have found something or someone to help.
Best Wishes,
Rick
play more pool... love it. play great players.
::thumbup:
::thumbup:
all you have to do is saw, drill, and hammer a bunch of nails to become an expert
You're exactly right "perfecting your practice makes perfect".
Can you imagine a carpenter saying all you have to do is saw, drill, and hammer a bunch of nails to become an expert carpenter, or a mechanic saying to just buy a bunch of tools and start screwing, and tinkering on engines to become a master mechanic.....this is not plausible.
We learn best by modeling top level achievers and finding out (from them) what they do to come so proficient at their given profession or trade.
I had many mentors through the years and leaned some critical things that I put together to form my own game......it's my version of what every champion player does......all you have to do is create you won version too if that's what you want to do....if not, just enjoy the game. 'The Game is the Teacher'
Practice doesn´t make perfect, perfect practice does however. It´s not the amount of time you put into to playing it´s the quality of the play that does it.
Taking info from vids, teachers, play a lot etc etc is a must imo, way of evolution. Can´t just use one of the building blocks - need them all.
hmmmmm, maybe we can make this into a aiming thread..... just kidding.
Good thread
Chrippa
You're exactly right "perfecting your practice makes perfect".
Can you imagine a carpenter saying all you have to do is saw, drill, and hammer a bunch of nails to become an expert carpenter, or a mechanic saying to just buy a bunch of tools and start screwing, and tinkering on engines to become a master mechanic.....this is not plausible.
We learn best by modeling top level achievers and finding out (from them) what they do to come so proficient at their given profession or trade.
I had many mentors through the years and leaned some critical things that I put together to form my own game......it's my version of what every champion player does......all you have to do is create you won version too if that's what you want to do....if not, just enjoy the game. 'The Game is the Teacher'
