Instantly improve your game!!

A

Andrewjoseph

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Are there things that you can do to instantly improve your pool game OTHER than working on your stroke and fundamentals and your aim?

According to some research there is!

I have done a lot of reading and research online in an effort to find thing that could improve my pool game, whenever I'm not in the pool hall working on my game directly, and here is what I found:

three simple things that you can do that can improve your pool game..

First is a little obvious and I'm sure that we have all heard it before but please forgive me but im going to say it one more time, take a walk around the table. This something that is so increadabley simple but drastically increases your chances at a runout. Every time you break a rack it is a puzzle that you have to solve, but when you right away get down and start shooting without walking around the table you are trying to solve a puzzle that you only know 80% about. maybe that ball you THINK is clear to the corner pocket is actually being blocked JUST enogh by another ball that it can't be made. how many times have you played position to exactly where you wanted to only to realize that where you wanted to be really wasn't where you should be. I can see how this really starts to get on the topic of PSR so I'll add a link to a thread about that.
http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=289019

Next, is something that there was a couple of threads about and is some really interesting stuff. Apparently, squeezing a stress ball with your left hand will keep you from choking on and easy shot. they call it "preventing motor falure through hemisphere specific priming" it hasa to do with the left and right hemispheres of the brain. Maybe it works maybe it doesn't, but my question is how can it hurt?? the link below will tell you more about it and explain it MUCH better.
http://www.apa.org/pubs/journals/rel...p-beckmann.pdf

Last but not least is the MOZART EFFECT. A set of research results indicate that listening to Mozart's music may induce a short-term improvement on the performance of certain kinds of mental tasks known as "spatial-temporal reasoning" Popularized versions of the hypothesis, which suggest that "listening to Mozart makes you smarter" actually raising your IQ by up to 9 points. spatial-temporal reasoning helps with solving puzzles and seeing patterns which i think would help in running a rack, but once again, unless you hate classical music, what could it hurt??
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mozart_effect
http://lrs.ed.uiuc.edu/students/lerch1/edpsy/mozart_effect.html
www.mozarteffect.com/

Feel free to research these things on your own with the sites I posted and I really hope that one or all of these things helps someones game. THANKS FOR READING

PS
I wrote this in a rush before leaving for work so I apologize for spelling gramar and punctuation.:grin:
 
I have one to add that helped my game a ton and will probably do wonders for a small group of you. It has earned me the nickname "Winks." My vision is not great and I have trouble seeing the edge of the object ball at distance. I see a blur. Well I recently realized I was actually seeing double and was unable to perfectly align the two images my eyes were interpreting. Closing my left eye (I'm right eye dominant) solves this problem and I can see the ball with much more definition... though this of course removes your sense of depth. So on some shots, particularly long cut shots, I close my left eye for half a second, winking at the ball, just to be sure I am aiming where i think I am. When I'm in my high gear I don't need to do this, but it has helped me TREMENDOUSLY when I'm not playing my A game. This simple trick has improved my game more than anything else I've learned along the way.
 
I've found that the best, and easiest, way to improve ones game is to play someone whose skills are vastly inferior to your own.
I played One Pocket the other day with a short, hairy, fellow who couldn't make a spot shot in one out of twenty tries. He was a tough little monkey, though.
As a matter of fact, he was a monkey. The guy from the pet shop next door gave me ten bucks to keep an eye on him for a couple of hours.:smile:
 
Tramp Steamer said:
I've found that the best, and easiest, way to improve ones game is to play someone whose skills are vastly inferior to your own.
I played One Pocket the other day with a short, hairy, fellow who couldn't make a spot shot in one out of twenty tries. He was a tough little monkey, though.
As a matter of fact, he was a monkey. The guy from the pet shop next door gave me ten bucks to keep an eye on him for a couple of hours.:smile:
Click to expand...

Did the monkey play with a production or custom cue? What aiming system did he use? Did he prefer a standard maple shaft or a low deflection shaft? Is he a democrat or republican? Did he throw any poop around while you we're shooting? Thats not an uncommon sharking technique for a monkey
 
I would really love to hear if anyone has ever tried any of these things and if they worked for them, OR if any one has something very simple and easy that made a big difference in their game.
 
I've started practicing 14.1 a lot and the walking around the table has helped me see the path of the balls better and a better perspective on where to leave the cb.

Also,the table seems smaller from walking around it.
 
Winking and blinking!

spindoctor9 said:
I have one to add that helped my game a ton and will probably do wonders for a small group of you. It has earned me the nickname "Winks." My vision is not great and I have trouble seeing the edge of the object ball at distance. I see a blur. Well I recently realized I was actually seeing double and was unable to perfectly align the two images my eyes were interpreting. Closing my left eye (I'm right eye dominant) solves this problem and I can see the ball with much more definition... though this of course removes your sense of depth. So on some shots, particularly long cut shots, I close my left eye for half a second, winking at the ball, just to be sure I am aiming where i think I am. When I'm in my high gear I don't need to do this, but it has helped me TREMENDOUSLY when I'm not playing my A game. This simple trick has improved my game more than anything else I've learned along the way.
Click to expand...

Yes, it works. Really shows up when you take an eye test. It just lasts a split second but you see those small letters right after blinking. Maybe it's like the windshield wipers on your car! LOL. I also think sweeping left and right, looking randomly at other balls on the table right before addressing the shot helps. Both require very little effort. Send me $9.95 and I will share my secret aiming method PIITH which has served me well for over forty years!! PIITH translates to PUT IT IN THE HOLE!!
 
I find that playing absolute beginners instantly improves my game. Beating up on a bar full of people who can't run two balls and who praise me like the second coming of Mosconi because I can run four does wonders for my ego and my game. When in that situation I often find that I can run five balls consistently.

So there you go! Find a banger and pound on him for an hour or until he quits. Feel like a champion!

:-)
 
Tramp Steamer said:
I've found that the best, and easiest, way to improve ones game is to play someone whose skills are vastly inferior to your own.
I played One Pocket the other day with a short, hairy, fellow who couldn't make a spot shot in one out of twenty tries. He was a tough little monkey, though.
As a matter of fact, he was a monkey. The guy from the pet shop next door gave me ten bucks to keep an eye on him for a couple of hours.:smile:
Click to expand...

Oh dammit did you have to beat me to it? grrrr ;-)
 
Other stuff...

Andrewjoseph said:
Are there things that you can do to instantly improve your pool game OTHER than working on your stroke and fundamentals and your aim?

According to some research there is!

I have done a lot of reading and research online in an effort to find thing that could improve my pool game, whenever I'm not in the pool hall working on my game directly, and here is what I found:

three simple things that you can do that can improve your pool game..

First is a little obvious and I'm sure that we have all heard it before but please forgive me but im going to say it one more time, take a walk around the table. This something that is so increadabley simple but drastically increases your chances at a runout. Every time you break a rack it is a puzzle that you have to solve, but when you right away get down and start shooting without walking around the table you are trying to solve a puzzle that you only know 80% about. maybe that ball you THINK is clear to the corner pocket is actually being blocked JUST enogh by another ball that it can't be made. how many times have you played position to exactly where you wanted to only to realize that where you wanted to be really wasn't where you should be. I can see how this really starts to get on the topic of PSR so I'll add a link to a thread about that.
http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=289019

Next, is something that there was a couple of threads about and is some really interesting stuff. Apparently, squeezing a stress ball with your left hand will keep you from choking on and easy shot. they call it "preventing motor falure through hemisphere specific priming" it hasa to do with the left and right hemispheres of the brain. Maybe it works maybe it doesn't, but my question is how can it hurt?? the link below will tell you more about it and explain it MUCH better.
http://www.apa.org/pubs/journals/rel...p-beckmann.pdf

Last but not least is the MOZART EFFECT. A set of research results indicate that listening to Mozart's music may induce a short-term improvement on the performance of certain kinds of mental tasks known as "spatial-temporal reasoning" Popularized versions of the hypothesis, which suggest that "listening to Mozart makes you smarter" actually raising your IQ by up to 9 points. spatial-temporal reasoning helps with solving puzzles and seeing patterns which i think would help in running a rack, but once again, unless you hate classical music, what could it hurt??
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mozart_effect
http://lrs.ed.uiuc.edu/students/lerch1/edpsy/mozart_effect.html
www.mozarteffect.com/

Feel free to research these things on your own with the sites I posted and I really hope that one or all of these things helps someones game. THANKS FOR READING

PS
I wrote this in a rush before leaving for work so I apologize for spelling gramar and punctuation.:grin:
Click to expand...

There are lots of things you can do to improve your game in addition to practice (but please don't abandon practice!).

Work on your physical conditioning.
Eat healthy foods.
Avoid drugs, especially alcohol (I know this will raise some hackles!).
Stretch before and after playing.
Take a lesson with a qualified instructor.
Read books and magazines.
Ask questions on AZ (try the Main Forum AND "Ask the Instructor").
and lastly...

YOUTUBE! Take advantage of the THOUSANDS of pool videos on Youtube!
Not just for entertainment, but to learn how to play! Pay attention to the style, techniques and strategies of the pros! It's like free lessons!
(The only thing lacking will be the feedback that you can get only from an instructor.)

Good luck!

Donny L
PBIA/ACS Instructor
 
Andrewjoseph said:
I would really love to hear if anyone has ever tried any of these things and if they worked for them, OR if any one has something very simple and easy that made a big difference in their game.
Click to expand...
Walk the table. + a tighted Squeeze on cue before settling in.
First was taught, second is a coincidence but helps.
 
Donny Lutz said:
There are lots of things you can do to improve your game in addition to practice (but please don't abandon practice!).

Work on your physical conditioning.
Eat healthy foods.
Avoid drugs, especially alcohol (I know this will raise some hackles!).
Stretch before and after playing.
Take a lesson with a qualified instructor.
Read books and magazines.
Ask questions on AZ (try the Main Forum AND "Ask the Instructor").
and lastly...

YOUTUBE! Take advantage of the THOUSANDS of pool videos on Youtube!
Not just for entertainment, but to learn how to play! Pay attention to the style, techniques and strategies of the pros! It's like free lessons!
(The only thing lacking will be the feedback that you can get only from an instructor.)

Good luck!

Donny L
PBIA/ACS Instructor
Click to expand...

Agreed 100%.
However, most players seek 'instant' improvement, or should I say wonders of placebo effect...:grin:
 
Buy a very expensive cue and hold it like a pro.

At least others will think you might be good....sometimes.


I use the winking technique myself. I'd add a technique to get back in stroke: shoot softly for a night no matter what the shot calls for, shoot it softly.

Jeff Livingston
 
Thanks for this thread. The walk I do, the ball or cue squeeze I'll try. Replacing Doo Wop with museum music is worth a try, my wife has some.

I am really tired of "what cue/chalk/tip/joint/screw is best?" Oh, and cnc points, the shame of it all.

Dropping the called ball, in the called hole is what it's about.
 
Spindoctor -- I've got the same problem. I didn't even realize it until I began playing pool 10 months ago (my right eye sees straight but my left looks a little down and to the right).

For the last eight months I've played with my left eye closed. But I just got glasses with a "prism correction" and now I see only one ball! The only remaining problem is that on long shots I see "over" the lenses rather than thru them...so I take them off and close the left eye.

Ask your optometrist about prism correction glasses. It's also a lot more comfortable to drive at night.
 
I have a question, this thread discusses improvement and it makes me wonder, how do you measure improvement?

It can be defined by winning percentage, but that can also be determined by how others are performing as well. It can be determined by number of balls run on average but that also has other factors involved.

There are ways to measure improvement, but I wonder what most people use. Personally I feel it is a mixture of my confidence in the shots I am shooting, the comfort level I feel at the table, my ball pocketing percentage, and my consistency in the pre-shot routine.

Anyone have additional thoughts?
 
The part about squeezing a ball in your left hand is also used for ceoncentration...
Nice thread..=)
 
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