I'll give you the best instructional material money can buy

[AimingVoodoo]

$12. Inner Game of Tennis.

More valuable than any instructional material you'll ever buy.

The beard has given what amounts to very similar instruction on the mental side of things, and he's given that information for free. But you have to search around to find it.

 

[The Renfro]

While the zen approach appeals to a certain segment of the population there is no way to even begin to compare the inner games to the works of Cappelle, Byrnes, Henning, Koehler, Kinister, DrDave, Jewitt, The Monk, Robbin, Villalpando......... and I am sure countless others....

I have read the inner games in their different guises and while I fully admit some of the philosophy is perfectly suited to learning a skill set, for the most part they are just feel good books for the segment of the population that doesn't want to get down in the mud and get dirty.

The devil is in the details.... Without the details the philosophy will have nothing to guide except for one's own limited understanding and mental imaging.

I will always have the inner game on my top 10 list of must have books. I just think that if you are only armed with a copy of it you would assume that all you had to do was to throw 15 balls out on the table, shoot them in, rinse and repeat... and you would be well on your way to becoming an A player.....

 

[FreeShot]

While the zen approach appeals to a certain segment of the population there is no way to even begin to compare the inner games to the works of Cappelle, Byrnes, Henning, Koehler, Kinister, DrDave, Jewitt, The Monk, Robbin, Villalpando......... and I am sure countless others....

I have read the inner games in their different guises and while I fully admit some of the philosophy is perfectly suited to learning a skill set, for the most part they are just feel good books for the segment of the population that doesn't want to get down in the mud and get dirty.

The devil is in the details.... Without the details the philosophy will have nothing to guide except for one's own limited understanding and mental imaging.

I will always have the inner game on my top 10 list of must have books. I just think that if you are only armed with a copy of it you would assume that all you had to do was to throw 15 balls out on the table, shoot them in, rinse and repeat... and you would be well on your way to becoming an A player.....

I don't think that a book like the Inner Game of Tennis is recommended as a substitute for practicing or improving technique, but as a complement to your game once the learning curve begins to level out.

 

[AimingVoodoo]

While the zen approach appeals to a certain segment of the population there is no way to even begin to compare the inner games to the works of Cappelle, Byrnes, Henning, Koehler, Kinister, DrDave, Jewitt, The Monk, Robbin, Villalpando......... and I am sure countless others....

I have read the inner games in their different guises and while I fully admit some of the philosophy is perfectly suited to learning a skill set, for the most part they are just feel good books for the segment of the population that doesn't want to get down in the mud and get dirty.

The devil is in the details.... Without the details the philosophy will have nothing to guide except for one's own limited understanding and mental imaging.

I will always have the inner game on my top 10 list of must have books. I just think that if you are only armed with a copy of it you would assume that all you had to do was to throw 15 balls out on the table, shoot them in, rinse and repeat... and you would be well on your way to becoming an A player.....

Well, more discussion is needed. I have read most of the guys you listed.

I want to put it this way:

At some point you will be armed with enough KNOWLEDGE to tangle with the pros. And you will have ADEQUATE experience to compete against them.

But they will still beat you 99 times out of 100.

At some point you will be able to run a rack like Earl. But Earl can do it every day, you can only do it every so often. Why is that?

I think it is because you have doubt and other things creeping into your mind. Actually I am sure of it. If you can do it some of the time, then you already possess the capability to do it all the time.

And the answer lies in the inner game of tennis.

I am not saying to bypass the other books. The inner game of tennis is required once you have the knowledge of what to do.

There may be other books similar to the inner game of tennis that accomplish the same thing, I just don't know them.

 

[The Renfro]

I don't think that a book like the Inner Game of Tennis is recommended as a substitute for practicing or improving technique, but as a complement to your game once the learning curve begins to level out.

Totally agree with it's use as a compliment which is why it is on my top 10 list...

Matter of fact I may actually agree with the OP looking at it in that light.. The inner game can compliment ANY of the other works... for 12 bucks it might be the best bang for your buck you can get when adding it to other materials.......

 

[justadub]

So tell us, Aiming Voodoo, what do you think of instructors, like Randy G it Scott Lee, and their colleagues.... Wouldn't't that be a help to your game? As much or even more than The Inner Game of Tennis?

 

[King T]

A must read!

I think this book is a must read if you are trying to get to the next level. As stated earlier, its not a sub for hard work, but at the end of the day you have to be able to puul up those mental pictures of success and do it under the press.

 

[BarneyCalip]

The Inner Game of Tennis is a must.
But it is not a substitute for Practice, Practice Practice like Ray Martin says in his 99 Critical shots of Pool.

A instructor is needed to show you how to play the game. By reading the layouts.
Correcting your stroke and bringing your confidence up.

Hal Mix was my instructor and you know when he was by my side I could do no wrong.
Once I could run racks, it was now time to do it consistently, there was no trying.
When Hal passed away the magic was gone.

Then Stan Smith gave me a copy of the Inner Game of Tennis to read, I found the majic again.

Hal's greatest secret to me about banks after showing me many ways was to not aim.
He said Barney you know how to bank don't let your mind get in the way.

Hal taught me to see the beauty in pool, RIP Hal.

 

[naji]

$12. Inner Game of Tennis.

More valuable than any instructional material you'll ever buy.

The beard has given what amounts to very similar instruction on the mental side of things, and he's given that information for free. But you have to search around to find it.

I bought the audio version of the Inner Game of Tennis, i am afraid to say that it is not mental or psych it is strictly knowledge of all aspect of pool secrets.

 

[Black-Balled]

Well,
...At some point you will be armed with enough KNOWLEDGE to tangle with the pros. And you will have ADEQUATE experience to compete against them.

But they will still beat you 99 times out of 100.

At some point you will be able to run a rack like Earl. But Earl can do it every day, you can only do it every so often. Why is that?

I think it is because you have doubt and other things creeping into your mind. Actually I am sure of it. If you can do it some of the time, then you already possess the capability to do it all the time.

... I just don't know ...

You have a logic error up therer.

Knowledge like Earl? Possibly NO ONE on the forum knows as much about pool as he does. Not something tangible, just evidenced. But to go with it, suppose one could read and learn what Earl does...

You left out execution . No book is gonna teach what Earl's got cookin there.

 

[Black-Balled]

I bought the audio version of the Inner Game of Tennis, i am afraid to say that it is not mental of psych it is strictly knowledge of all aspect of pool secrets.

c'mon, man. I know you talk American more better than that!

 

[Cdryden]

Well, more discussion is needed. I have read most of the guys you listed.

I want to put it this way:

At some point you will be armed with enough KNOWLEDGE to tangle with the pros. And you will have ADEQUATE experience to compete against them.

But they will still beat you 99 times out of 100.

At some point you will be able to run a rack like Earl. But Earl can do it every day, you can only do it every so often. Why is that?

I think it is because you have doubt and other things creeping into your mind. Actually I am sure of it. If you can do it some of the time, then you already possess the capability to do it all the time.

And the answer lies in the inner game of tennis.

I am not saying to bypass the other books. The inner game of tennis is required once you have the knowledge of what to do.

There may be other books similar to the inner game of tennis that accomplish the same thing, I just don't know them.

The inner game of tennis is a excellent book to be used with other great books as well as professional instruction and hard work. You need all those pieces, info+instruction+hard work.

What surprised me was you compared a strong mental game to Earl Strickland. His focus is good, his skill is amazing, but his mental strength......come on. That is one area that he is not a model for.

Don't get me wrong, I have allot of respect for Earl, but the mental game is not his strength.

 

[BasementDweller]

Well, more discussion is needed. I have read most of the guys you listed.

I want to put it this way:

At some point you will be armed with enough KNOWLEDGE to tangle with the pros. And you will have ADEQUATE experience to compete against them.

But they will still beat you 99 times out of 100.

At some point you will be able to run a rack like Earl. But Earl can do it every day, you can only do it every so often. Why is that?

I think it is because you have doubt and other things creeping into your mind. Actually I am sure of it. If you can do it some of the time, then you already possess the capability to do it all the time.

And the answer lies in the inner game of tennis.

I am not saying to bypass the other books. The inner game of tennis is required once you have the knowledge of what to do.

There may be other books similar to the inner game of tennis that accomplish the same thing, I just don't know them.

Why do you think doubt creeps into your mind when you are playing someone like Earl Strickland? Could it possibly be due to the fact that he is a much better player than you? While I have no doubt that the Inner Game of Tennis is a great book, I laugh at this idea that all that separates the great players from those below them is their mental approach. I think a lot of players are in denial about how good they actually are and when they are finally in a match were they are outclassed their "mental game" begins to fall apart and the rest of their game quickly follows suite. I think the first step to having a healthy mental approach to the game is truly understanding your skill set and what you are capable of.

It's really amazing how much better my mental approach becomes as I begin to pocket the balls better.

 

[naji]

Why do you think doubt creeps into your mind when you are playing someone like Earl Strickland? Could it possibly be due to the fact that he is a much better player than you? While I have no doubt that the Inner Game of Tennis is a great book, I laugh at this idea that all that separates the great players from those below them is their mental approach. I think a lot of players are in denial about how good they actually are and when they are finally in a match were they are outclassed their "mental game" begins to fall apart and the rest of their game quickly follows suite. I think the first step to having a healthy mental approach to the game is truly understanding your skill set and what you are capable of.

It's really amazing how much better my mental approach becomes as I begin to pocket the balls better.

I agree 100%, in fact Earl probably do not know how to apply all secrets to the game, and he is only focused on one aspect and that is clear by using very long shaft, do not understand me wrong, he knows enough to be dangerous, i guarantee you if a B player captures the secrets of pool and practice for a month or two, he or she will play as good as Earl and only luck will be the deciding factor. All you need is to be able to think and apply advance knowledge (secrets because not everyone knows it) to every shot on the table. All talk about pressure, physiology, yoga throw out the window.

 

[Black-Balled]

I agree 100%, in fact Earl probably do not know how to apply all secrets to the game, and he is only focused on one aspect and that is clear by using very long shaft, do not understand me wrong, he knows enough to be dangerous, i guarantee you if a B player captures the secrets of pool and practice for a month or two, he or she will play as good as Earl and only luck will be the deciding factor. All you need is to be able to think and apply advance knowledge (secrets because not everyone knows it) to every shot on the table. All talk about pressure, physiology, yoga throw out the window.

Now you are drunk.

 

[Mr. Wiggles]

Tennis?

Well, more discussion is needed. I have read most of the guys you listed.

I want to put it this way:

At some point you will be armed with enough KNOWLEDGE to tangle with the pros. And you will have ADEQUATE experience to compete against them.

But they will still beat you 99 times out of 100.

At some point you will be able to run a rack like Earl. But Earl can do it every day, you can only do it every so often. Why is that?

I think it is because you have doubt and other things creeping into your mind. Actually I am sure of it. If you can do it some of the time, then you already possess the capability to do it all the time.

And the answer lies in the inner game of tennis.

I am not saying to bypass the other books. The inner game of tennis is required once you have the knowledge of what to do.

There may be other books similar to the inner game of tennis that accomplish the same thing, I just don't know them.

I had this book years ago and probably loaned it out. Just bought another copy not long ago. Two hour read if you speed read through the forehand and backhand tennis stuff! LOL. $15 Barnes and Noble. How can you go wrong? The physical game comes slowly but your mental game can skyrocket if you ALLOW it too. A must read for any aspiring player. Oh! I forgot another great read. Zen and The Art of Motorcycle Maintenance!

 

[naji]

Now you are drunk.

Look, i love this forum, and i only want the best advise to all novice, B, A players. I have no intention of miss leading anyone, i was miss lead myself for 37 years with all gimmicks including this book that made me divert myself from actually learning pool science, thinking oh it is me, my eyes, my mental ability, my stoke, my aim until finally i unlock the secrets to pool and tie all knots together. No i am not pro player but know everything about pool.
Best of luck to all.

 

[Bank2Win]

Great book, I have the audio version and I listen to it every couple of years. Just let a friend borrow my iPod so he can listen to it, " he really needs to straighten the mess in his head".


"the talent code" is another interesting read a well!