I’m sorry, but I just bet you are hitting the balls too hard

breakup

breakup

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Recently I have seen this statement attributed to Bert Kenister.

It is however the first line in the first chapter (Advanced Straight Pool) of “Mastering Pool” by George Fels published in 1977. I believe that predates Mr. Kenister’s instructional videos.

Mastering Pool is a fabulous book. I read it when it first came out and his “whenever possible” advice still is still with me whenever I am planning a difficult pattern.

Just to give credit where credit is due.
 

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breakup said:
Recently I have seen this statement attributed to Bert Kenister.

It is however the first line in the first chapter (Advanced Straight Pool) of “Mastering Pool” by George Fels published in 1977. I believe that predates Mr. Kenister’s instructional videos.

Mastering Pool is a fabulous book. I read it when it first came out and his “whenever possible” advice still is still with me whenever I am planning a difficult pattern.

Just to give credit where credit is due.
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I gotta laugh at this...I am a big fan of both people.

Fels is my favorite billiard author and I have even started pushing him as a HOF candidate on 1P.org.

Bert Kinister is a great coach/teacher/instructor or whatever you want to call him. He is also a great player too. With fantastic videos and lots of them.

I'm not being a jerk here, but someone has said this before both of these guys were even born. Lots of people say this. Bert says it over and over in his videos. If that was the only place someone heard it, so be it. If someone only reads about pool, they may go around quoting Fels.

My point is, this is a little thing in the big pond of Billiards after all. I say let this one go. JMO
 
This, I believe, is a paraphrase of a quote generally attributed to Mosconi. The way Willie always put it was "no matter who you are, you need to learn to hit the balls easy." Cisero Murphy once related that Willie said it to him once, and that it helped his game.
 
I’m sorry, but I just bet you are hitting the balls too hard

Those words were actually first uttered in 1946 to catcher Josh Gibson when he asked why he couldn't get into the major leagues.
 
Donovan said:
...but someone has said this before both of these guys were even born. Lots of people say this. JMO
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sjm said:
This, I believe, is a paraphrase of a quote generally attributed to Mosconi. The way Willie always put it was "no matter who you are, you need to learn to hit the balls easy." Cisero Murphy once related that Willie said it to him once, and that it helped his game.
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good point guys:)

cheers
 
breakup said:
Recently I have seen this statement attributed to Bert Kenister.

It is however the first line in the first chapter (Advanced Straight Pool) of “Mastering Pool” by George Fels published in 1977. I believe that predates Mr. Kenister’s instructional videos.

Mastering Pool is a fabulous book. I read it when it first came out and his “whenever possible” advice still is still with me whenever I am planning a difficult pattern.

Just to give credit where credit is due.
Click to expand...

Ah the joys of slow rolling a ball or taking dinky little shots :D

It's great to see a goosed 9 ball lazily roll around and then drop in a pocket.

However, for the greatest satisfaction emotionally and psychologically, for me at least, nothing beats smoking a ball down the rails with that satisfying ka-thump when it pots. There's a certain sound of a ball smacking into the heart of a pocket that comes with a well stroked shot that is delightful. And there's the awesome sight of a well stroked shot made with exteme english at the right speed that gladdens the heart.

Shooting softly is overrated... even if it means more potted balls in many cases.

Flex
 
I was always taught.....hit the ball only hard enough to execute the shot your making. AND from Jimmy Rempe....never forget a little firmness when playing on slow cloth. He was the king of the firm center ball hit....he said it keeps the ball online, and stops skids.

Those 2 statements alone added 20% to my 14.1 easily.

G.
 
I would say over 85%-90% of those who play were I play daily Beat Balsl to death with Hard Hits over 90% of the time
 
Gerry said:
I was always taught.....hit the ball only hard enough to execute the shot your making. AND from Jimmy Rempe....never forget a little firmness when playing on slow cloth. He was the king of the firm center ball hit....he said it keeps the ball online, and stops skids.

Those 2 statements alone added 20% to my 14.1 easily.

G.
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Note well Rempe's advice to use the "firm center ball hit" ... firm is a reasonably hard hit, at least in my book, and if the cue ball were to be struck thusly would probably go up and down table at least 3 times. Obviously, if the angle of the shot doesn't permit that kind of hit, softer is better.

Flex
 
Anyway, I love Kinister. I thought he was a crazy wild man. I almost feel out of my chair, after watching some tapes of his, to learn that he was professor of economics at Chicago University.

Not all equipment is the same. Most good shooters don't have to worry, since they usually are found at locations with reasonably well maintained equipment.

You see some really good bar table shooters (these guys run racks on full tables as well) who know that if they shoot too softly, they may be dealing with debris, or a table with noticeable runoff. This takes some of the finesse or slow rolls out of the game.
 
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Bert

Anyway, I love Kinister. I thought he was a crazy wild man. I almost feel out of my chair, after watching some tapes of his, to learn that he was professor of economics at Chicago University.


Really!!??

I don't think so. He did tell me that he had been a professor at the University of Chicago and that the Brookings institute wanted to study his mind. Because he was so brilliant.

I think not.
 
Flex said:
Ah the joys of slow rolling a ball or taking dinky little shots :D

It's great to see a goosed 9 ball lazily roll around and then drop in a pocket.

However, for the greatest satisfaction emotionally and psychologically, for me at least, nothing beats smoking a ball down the rails with that satisfying ka-thump when it pots. There's a certain sound of a ball smacking into the heart of a pocket that comes with a well stroked shot that is delightful. And there's the awesome sight of a well stroked shot made with exteme english at the right speed that gladdens the heart.

Shooting softly is overrated... even if it means more potted balls in many cases.

Flex
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By the grace of GOD, Flex you are a poet!!! Nice one!
 
dmgwalsh said:
Anyway, I love Kinister. I thought he was a crazy wild man. I almost feel out of my chair, after watching some tapes of his, to learn that he was professor of economics at Chicago University.


Really!!??

I don't think so. He did tell me that he had been a professor at the University of Chicago and that the Brookings institute wanted to study his mind. Because he was so brilliant.

I think not.
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LOL, it sounds like someone was getting hustled. ;) JMO
 
Watch a few pro videos. You don't see them hitting the balls at pocket speed now do you. I believe you should pocket the balls firm, not hard. Unless you're playing one hole.
 
The thing about Easy or soft shots that I hate in 9 ball is if you miss its a hanger!! I like firm shot gives me more options with stop draw or follow. Easy all you get is follow.
 
sjm said:
This, I believe, is a paraphrase of a quote generally attributed to Mosconi. The way Willie always put it was "no matter who you are, you need to learn to hit the balls easy." Cisero Murphy once related that Willie said it to him once, and that it helped his game.
Click to expand...

Another quote I've heard attributed to Mosconi on this subject (No idea if it is accurate or not) is "There's only two things you need to know to play good Pool; soft, and softer."

Of course it is worth noting Mosconi was a dedicated Straight Pool player, and it is entirely possible to run racks in Straight Pool without ever having to hit a ball above medium speed, especially if you are possesed with the levels of cue ball control and tactical mastery of a Mosconi. For example there are many stories I've heard of him running 100+ balls without ever using the corner pockets at the head string end of the table.

However in 9 ball it is there are many racks that cannot be run consistently without having able to hit a ball or two each rack hard. In Phil Cappelle's "Play Your Best 9 Ball" he says that statistically there are a minimum of 1 or 2 tough shots in every 9 Ball rack.

Finally I got some good advice a Steve Mizerak book several years ago - He says as you learn you should be shooting softly as much as possible. As you get better you can start shooting harder. As you stroke improves you can deliver the tip of the cue at a faster speed and maintain accuracy. I feel it is important to consciously practice firm/hard shots so you can use them when you have to, and also to be aware of how consistenly you can hit to aid your shot choice/pattern play decisions.
 
dmgwalsh said:
Really!!??
I don't think so. He did tell me that he had been a professor at the University of Chicago and that the Brookings institute wanted to study his mind. Because he was so brilliant.
I think not.
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[DONOVAN]LOL, it sounds like someone was getting hustled. JMO

Actually, your both wrong. One thing I don't do is just throw things out there and hope something sticks.

1. Ask about their teaching credentials?
Bert Kinister was a professor of Political Economics at the University of Chicago for 13 years. He has taught every grade from kindergarten to graduate school and has been the most sought after Instructor of Pocket Billiards in the world since 1991.

See link below for link to this information.
http://home.insightbb.com/~nenenews/kinister/
 
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You can put anything you want in a website...

:rolleyes: Excuse me, but Dennis is correct! Talk about checking references! You should CALL that school. I'll take your action to bet whatever you want that Bert was NOT an economics professor...let alone for 13 yrs. Geez...what a bunch of hooey! LOL

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
 
Before my part in this gets out of hand...I was making a joke about Bert saying he was going to have his brain studied. That is just hilarious.

You mean you never put something out there just to see if someone bites on the line or if everyone believes everything you say. I just found it funny, no more and no less. Bert says lots of funny stuff, that is his charm. If you don't like him, fine. But don't take everything everyone says as the gospel. Enjoy life and don't be so serious. JMO
 
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