I choke on the 8

mistamikel said:
This is true :smile:

Not making excuses but my main player is a pechauer with a triangle tip,
I was using a players hxt cue with a kamui tip which Im not used too. I know its not the arrow and like I said Im not making excuses but it is a HUGE difference.

Thanks for all the tips and I will making changes for sure. Maybe my next vid wont be as bad and I'll play better :cool: ..... I hope :rolleyes:
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You haven't responded to comments about your pattern selection. Denial will get you nowhere. :rolleyes:
 
mistamikel said:
This is true :smile:

Not making excuses but my main player is a pechauer with a triangle tip,
I was using a players hxt cue with a kamui tip which Im not used too. I know its not the arrow and like I said Im not making excuses but it is a HUGE difference.

Thanks for all the tips and I will making changes for sure. Maybe my next vid wont be as bad and I'll play better :cool: ..... I hope :rolleyes:
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I was going to ask what cue that was - it looks like a one piece house cue. I'm not familiar with BB tables - is the cueball smaller or lighter than the object ball? If not, you get a LOT of draw, effortlessly too.

I shoot faster than you, so don't think you shoot too quick. I don't like slow players and don't believe it makes much difference to your game - rhythm is more important than speed. The World Snooker finals would be contested by Cliff Thorburn and Terry Griffiths every year, rather than Jimmy White or Ronnie O'Sullivan, if it was all about taking your time. Slow play is the death of pool IMO and should be banned.

I would definitely look at technique ahead of speed. Your action is a little ragged, and you should work on your stance. I'd like to see you get a little lower on your shots too. I think you jab at the cueball a bit as well.

Finally, I now dead-weight all money balls. It takes balls but slow rolls seldom miss - once you've got your head around them.
 
TheThaiger said:
I was going to ask what cue that was - it looks like a one piece house cue. I'm not familiar with BB tables - is the cueball smaller or lighter than the object ball? If not, you get a LOT of draw, effortlessly too.

I shoot faster than you, so don't think you shoot too quick. I don't like slow players and don't believe it makes much difference to your game - rhythm is more important than speed. The World Snooker finals would be contested by Cliff Thorburn and Terry Griffiths every year, rather than Jimmy White or Ronnie O'Sullivan, if it was all about taking your time. Slow play is the death of pool IMO and should be banned.

I would definitely look at technique ahead of speed. Your action is a little ragged, and you should work on your stance. I'd like to see you get a little lower on your shots too. I think you jab at the cueball a bit as well.

Finally, I now dead-weight all money balls. It takes balls but slow rolls seldom miss - once you've got your head around them.
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TheThaiger,

I've ran a rack in 32 seconds before. I can shoot extremely fast if I choose. I can grind it out with the best of them too.

I will agree that getting in a rhythm can help you shoot well. That being said, a player must be able to shoot at all speeds in my opinion.

Do you really think he would shoot that 8ball shot at that speed if it was for $10,000 and a national championship? I would venture to say, "No". I would expect a pause and little more care given to a semi-difficult but makeable shot. It is as important to his game to be able to pocket balls at a slow pace as it is at a quick pace. Otherwise a grinder will pick up on this and strip his wallet bare. He needs to toughen his mind to be able to make all shots, anytime, anywhere at any speed.
 
jason said:
TheThaiger,

I've ran a rack in 32 seconds before. I can shoot extremely fast if I choose. I can grind it out with the best of them too.

I will agree that getting in a rhythm can help you shoot well. That being said, a player must be able to shoot at all speeds in my opinion.

Do you really think he would shoot that 8ball shot at that speed if it was for $10,000 and a national championship? I would venture to say, "No". I would expect a pause and little more care given to a semi-difficult but makeable shot. It is as important to his game to be able to pocket balls at a slow pace as it is at a quick pace. Otherwise a grinder will pick up on this and strip his wallet bare. He needs to toughen his mind to be able to make all shots, anytime, anywhere at any speed.
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OK, but that doesn't necessarily stack up for all players. By your logic, you'd make every shot if you took an hour over making it.

The trouble with speed is thus: you only look at the ball that's missed. You automatically think to yourself 'if he'd taken his time on that one, he'd have potted it'. You don't think 'he potted the 1,2,3,4,5,6&7 because he didn't play them slowly. I suggest the OP's problem is psychological, not speed based, and he's not alone in suffering from it. I knew a guy who was genuinely world class right until the money ball, then he was a complete wreck. It's sad but it happens.

Speed of play is a red herring and an easy excuse. I see Drago's just blown away Melling in the GB9 - I doubt big Tone thinks about it too much, and, more to the point, I doubt he'd be half as good if he did.

Rhythm over speed.
 
TheThaiger said:
OK, but that doesn't necessarily stack up for all players. By your logic, you'd make every shot if you took an hour over making it.
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I'm not saying that at all.

I am fully aware of the mental games over-thinking and slow play can cause.
I am also aware of rhythm and how it can lead to dead stroke. Lots of players can shoot fast, but few have the kahunas and talent to do it under pressure like Keith, Rodney and Earl.

The OP thinks that because he shoots quickly that all the balls should go every time as in his body reaction after missing the 8. That 8 was no 'gimme', yet he reacted like it was. Sometimes you must break someones game down and rebuild it.

The OP has a nice stoke, but a lot to learn in the big picture. If he thinks he can just swing the stick effortlessly and expect everything to go perfect every time, he is sadly mistaken.
 
Nothing wrong with fast play. But playing a shot before you are prepared is not good - and can result in the easiest of shots being messed up. The OP looked a little under prepared on some shots.

Apart from personal preference, I think it mainly comes down to a consistent PSR & rhythm.
 
TheThaiger said:
.... I see Drago's just blown away Melling in the GB9 - I doubt big Tone thinks about it too much, and, more to the point, I doubt he'd be half as good if he did...
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Under pressure, I think that you are right - he probably wouldn't be half as good. But playing as an amateur, when it was not all about pressure, Drago did not play particularly quickly. My guess is that he upped the pace when he turned pro to cope better with the pressure - if you play as quickly as he does, you don't have time to 'bottle it'. It's a strategy that I have seen used by a number of bangers (although very rare amongst players of Drago's quality).
 
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hmmmm

First of all. Take what Neil says to heart.

Second, it appears you do shoot a little fast, but not that bad. But it also appears that you took the least amount of time on the 8ball, and it was the most difficult shot you had in the entire game.

Man, why not take a few seconds to aim that one? Why not take a few seconds to chalk up and reduce the adrenalin, and then really focus on the 8ball, I mean, if you miss, you pretty much lose the game on a barbox against any decent player.

It appears you lack consistency between shots. Develop a better pre shot routine and you will be good. Your stroke seems to be pretty good, now get a handle of the mental part, which helps with a pre shot routine.
 
read a lot of good replys. You were banging. Slow down. Pick a pattern. I used to have the same problems when I was young. I developed a pre-shot routine. I always place my chalk in my pocket. I chalk before every shot NO EXCEPTION. Than forces me to slow down. While I am reaching for my chalk I am scanning for any adjustments I may need in my pattern. Also try this, works in 9 ball, works in 8 ball. Play your 8 ball as if your were playing position on the next ball. Playing ghost 9 after the break throw up the 10 ball for the same effect. Good pool is more than just feel, it requires you to think about what you are doing and what you are going to do. Good luck.
 
Thanks to every one who is giving advice/constructive criticism as it is much appreciated and I have thick skin so my feeling wont get hurt ;) . I did rush that 8 and was mad that I gave my self such crap shape, as for my reaction lol it was more for the camera.

If I was playing some one other than my self I would have taken more time and sized up the 8. The whole point of the vid was for me to see where I need improvement on my stroke, and when I missed the 8 I thought it was funny so I posted the vid.

Thanks again and please keep the tips/advice/criticism coming as it is all helpful.
 
Neil said:
Spoken like a true banger. I see where you feel 10 sec. with no timeouts should be the max. That's for people that want to play at pool, not play pool. Just because one or two people in the history of the game have been great players playing fast does NOT mean that all should shoot fast. 30 sec. is about right for max time, with an extension here and there for tough situations that require some thought.

If you want to know what speed to use, look at the average of the pros, not one or two people. But, what speed each individual should use is dependent on each individual. But, you can't say he made 4-5 balls before he missed by shooting fast, so shooting fast isn't the problem. Shooting too fast will catch up to you. Shooting too slow can paralyze your game also. You have to give each shot the time and attention it deserves, while trying to keep a steady pace.

If you want to pattern yourself after Drago, good luck.
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Yeah? A mate texted me earlier, saying "pity you couldn't make it here today - Drago has put on a masterclass from start to finish...both awesome and entertaining". I'd love to play like that. There ain't nothing entertaining about slow players.

I suppose you think Ronnie's a banger too? A 5 minute maximum is far too quick.
 
Siz said:
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Under pressure, I think that you are right - he probably wouldn't be half as good. But playing as an amateur, when it was not all about pressure, Drago did not play particularly quickly. My guess is that he upped the pace when he turned pro to cope better with the pressure - if you play as quickly as he does, you don't have time to 'bottle it'. It's a strategy that I have seen used by a number of bangers (although very rare amongst players of Drago's quality).
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Drago being a slower player when he was an amateur - is that actually true? How do you know?
 
Neil said:
What the heck??? Try READING the post I wrote. I didn't call Tony a banger. If you think everyone slower than Tony is a slow player, why do you even bother playing??
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That's irrelevant and you've shifted the goalposts. You called me a banger because I play quick - I merely made the point there are plenty of quick payers who aren't bangers. Don't dish out what you can't take back.
 
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