I think this can be very true. I notice this a lot in tournament matches that I play. I'm extremely competitive and it can take away from the "letting go" and just playing. Playing with the "hating to lose" mentality can take away from doing what has to be done and just doing it. I'll start looking for 2 way shots sometimes, where they aren't necessary and get stuck between the 2 and not committing and end up missing....I notice this a lot when I play straight pool. When I can just get "lost in the game" anything is possible when I get the brain out of the way and just play. There is no opponent and "hating to lose" mentality, it's just simply wanting to get lost and it seems the better I do, the more I enjoy it. There is no fear and everything else in life good or bad just fades away and it's just the balls and the game and I'm somewhere in the middle of it. It's not necessarily dead stroke, but just being in the moment.
Is "Heart" something you just have or can it be learned?
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This is just silly.
They developed heart the same way they developed skill. They learned it from someone or through their own experience.
No one is just born with it. It just looks that way sometimes, but all behavioral traits are acquired.
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A young boy wanted to be the best pool player in the world.
Developing "heart" is a process, not an event. It's the will to do whatever's necessary to win....not only against our opponents, against ourselves - this starts early in life.
A young boy wanted to be the best pool player in the world...he researched and found a Master Instructor to learn from and called on him.
The Master agreed to meet, and the boy said "Master, I want to be the Best Pool Player in the whole world, how long will it take me?" The Master said 10 years, the boy, troubled, said "what if I practice more than any of your students, how long will it take?"
The Master said 20 years, even more disturbed the boy ask "what if I practice day and night to be the best, how long will it take?" The Master said "30 years," the disappointed boy said "how come when I say I will practice and work harder, you say it will take longer?"
The Master took a sip of his tea and said "the reason is simple young man, with half your vision on your destination you only have one eye to achieve your
goal - to be the best we must focus both eyes {our full attention} on what we can do today, the outcome will happen when the timing is perfect - "If timing is everything, and everything is perfect, then timing is perfect" - and so it is. 'The Game is the Teacher'.com
Developing "heart" is a process, not an event. It's the will to do whatever's necessary to win....not only against our opponents, against ourselves - this starts early in life.
A young boy wanted to be the best pool player in the world...he researched and found a Master Instructor to learn from and called on him.
The Master agreed to meet, and the boy said "Master, I want to be the Best Pool Player in the whole world, how long will it take me?" The Master said 10 years, the boy, troubled, said "what if I practice more than any of your students, how long will it take?"
The Master said 20 years, even more disturbed the boy ask "what if I practice day and night to be the best, how long will it take?" The Master said "30 years," the disappointed boy said "how come when I say I will practice and work harder, you say it will take longer?"
The Master took a sip of his tea and said "the reason is simple young man, with half your vision on your destination you only have one eye to achieve your
goal - to be the best we must focus both eyes {our full attention} on what we can do today, the outcome will happen when the timing is perfect - "If timing is everything, and everything is perfect, then timing is perfect" - and so it is. 'The Game is the Teacher'.com
Heart is a state of mind that can only be sharpened by playing under constant pressure. That is why big money action players have the most heart.
I paid attention and through perseverance, learned some tough, humbling lessons.
Yes, we always used to refer to "heart" as the ability to play well for money. There was a time that I wondered if I had enough "heart" to make it in the world of pool gambling....it was a dangerous place to be, especially if doubt started sneaking into my mind.
Luckily I had some outstanding mentors that had more heart than I'd ever seen at this time......so I paid attention and through perseverance learned some humbling lessons.
For instance, at the age of 19, "Omaha John" and I were touring around on a road trip and ended up in a small bar in South Carolina. The owner of the bar was a BIG gambler and would take the 5 and the break from anyone playing on the bar table with the Big Cue Ball.
We had been going through a tough time and I was "breaking even" with everyone. Usually I would get ahead, then start "letting up," they would come back, "get even" and quit. This was getting annoying and I was beginning to question if I had enough "heart," to be a champion player.
This was a big thing in the gambling days, if you have the heart to close someone out. To put them away. And it was happening again, I had got up over 2k for $200 a game and now we raised it to $300. a game and the guy beat me 7 IN A ROW and we were just $100. winner.
Omaha John came up to me and said "if you're ever going to be a great road player you better do it now. I'm not out here "for my health," I have a wife and kid at home and I have to win, breaking even is for "suckers!"
He was serious, so, standing my cue against a near by stool, I stopped playing and went to the bathroom - it was "now or never," I thought, looking in the mirror, starring straight into my own eyes - "do you really want to be a pool player, do you really have what it takes?" I hesitated slightly, waiting for the answer to come from my "Inner Self"..... not the answer I wanted to hear, I HAD to know the truth....I needed to know and my life would change from that moment.
Finally the answer had come - I knew in my "heart of hearts" that the moment had arrived. "The Moment of Truth," I couldn't be a sucker, "stuck" at my current level, struggling to break even and making up excuses.
There was only one choice - to become a winner and break out of that "victim level" and do whatever it would take to learn the Truth about pool and what it takes to be the best.
I made that decision right then because I had to. And it's a decision that continues because life's much more about the "journey," than the "destination." Life is the best teacher, and at that moment my life was the game and for an instant they melded into One...The Game is the Teacher!
Often times we are held back because we don't need to win, we don't have to get better. I didn't have the luxury that day and I thank Omaha John for putting me in a situation where I had to be honest with myself. No one else matters when you're trying to get to the "next level,"{in life} it's all about ourselves.... it's about looking ourselves in the mirror and "real eyesing" that the answer we've been searching for is not outside, it's inside ourselves.
I went back out there and was like an entirely different person. John had been telling me to stop spinning my ball and playing low percentage shots....so I did. Others had made comments about my game that I had ignored because of my ego, so I incorporated those suggestions too - my perception had changed, the Game had given me a vital spiritual experience.
From that point I beat the guy out of over 8K and he looked like he had been drained of all his energy. I didn't care what it took I made myself shoot the correct shot, in the right way and forgot forever my childish reasons for not playing the Game correctly. To be a Champion at anything we must keep doing "the next right thing," whether we like it or not.
Looking back I can't help but think the chains of mediocrity had been broken, and I had started to become a player. From that moment on I had a "6th Sense" about pool and knew what I HAD to practice to improve - and what I needed to ignore. "The chain breaks at it's weakest link" and that became the motto of my practice routines.
I'll always remember that lesson Omaha John Shuput and the Game taught me in that bar in South Carolina.... and the mirror that reflected my "inner eyes" that could see my true self.... only for a moment, and a moment was all I needed.
'The Game is the Teacher'.com
Yes, we always used to refer to "heart" as the ability to play well for money. There was a time that I wondered if I had enough "heart" to make it in the world of pool gambling....it was a dangerous place to be, especially if doubt started sneaking into my mind.
Luckily I had some outstanding mentors that had more heart than I'd ever seen at this time......so I paid attention and through perseverance learned some humbling lessons.
For instance, at the age of 19, "Omaha John" and I were touring around on a road trip and ended up in a small bar in South Carolina. The owner of the bar was a BIG gambler and would take the 5 and the break from anyone playing on the bar table with the Big Cue Ball.
We had been going through a tough time and I was "breaking even" with everyone. Usually I would get ahead, then start "letting up," they would come back, "get even" and quit. This was getting annoying and I was beginning to question if I had enough "heart," to be a champion player.
This was a big thing in the gambling days, if you have the heart to close someone out. To put them away. And it was happening again, I had got up over 2k for $200 a game and now we raised it to $300. a game and the guy beat me 7 IN A ROW and we were just $100. winner.
Omaha John came up to me and said "if you're ever going to be a great road player you better do it now. I'm not out here "for my health," I have a wife and kid at home and I have to win, breaking even is for "suckers!"
He was serious, so, standing my cue against a near by stool, I stopped playing and went to the bathroom - it was "now or never," I thought, looking in the mirror, starring straight into my own eyes - "do you really want to be a pool player, do you really have what it takes?" I hesitated slightly, waiting for the answer to come from my "Inner Self"..... not the answer I wanted to hear, I HAD to know the truth....I needed to know and my life would change from that moment.
Finally the answer had come - I knew in my "heart of hearts" that the moment had arrived. "The Moment of Truth," I couldn't be a sucker, "stuck" at my current level, struggling to break even and making up excuses.
There was only one choice - to become a winner and break out of that "victim level" and do whatever it would take to learn the Truth about pool and what it takes to be the best.
I made that decision right then because I had to. And it's a decision that continues because life's much more about the "journey," than the "destination." Life is the best teacher, and at that moment my life was the game and for an instant they melded into One...The Game is the Teacher!
Often times we are held back because we don't need to win, we don't have to get better. I didn't have the luxury that day and I thank Omaha John for putting me in a situation where I had to be honest with myself. No one else matters when you're trying to get to the "next level,"{in life} it's all about ourselves.... it's about looking ourselves in the mirror and "real eyesing" that the answer we've been searching for is not outside, it's inside ourselves.
I went back out there and was like an entirely different person. John had been telling me to stop spinning my ball and playing low percentage shots....so I did. Others had made comments about my game that I had ignored because of my ego, so I incorporated those suggestions too - my perception had changed, the Game had given me a vital spiritual experience.
From that point I beat the guy out of over 8K and he looked like he had been drained of all his energy. I didn't care what it took I made myself shoot the correct shot, in the right way and forgot forever my childish reasons for not playing the Game correctly. To be a Champion at anything we must keep doing "the next right thing," whether we like it or not.
Looking back I can't help but think the chains of mediocrity had been broken, and I had started to become a player. From that moment on I had a "6th Sense" about pool and knew what I HAD to practice to improve - and what I needed to ignore. "The chain breaks at it's weakest link" and that became the motto of my practice routines.
I'll always remember that lesson Omaha John Shuput and the Game taught me in that bar in South Carolina.... and the mirror that reflected my "inner eyes" that could see my true self.... only for a moment, and a moment was all I needed.
'The Game is the Teacher'.com
Even though I would tend to agree with this in regards to most top players, it's not necessarily always the case. Some big action players are just addicted to the action and end up broke......Just because someone can play for 5K even on their own dime, doesn't mean they have heart, it just means they have more money then sense....Even though I'm assuming someone like Bartram developed more "Heart" than most by playing all those ahead sets and constantly putting himself in action. Also, it depends on what someone desires, since not all desire the same thing. I used Darren Appleton for an example because he's shown tremendous grit and determination under the lights many times. 1 example is when he won a world championship in 2012. I don't think the bulk of the top pros could have held it together in that final rack after Wen made the huge comeback. I would say that Wen showed great heart in coming back after he was dead in the water, but Appleton did as well to shut the door as time was running out. He appeared to me to be about as tenacious as it gets....He's not necessarily the best money player, but he's definitely got heart. I know others mentioned Alex and I would have to agree too. Many of the big action players don't stand a chance to win a world championship. With short races against the best, the pressure is constant.
Gambling is just a different kind of pressure imo. I should have separated "Heart" into 2 categories, 1 for tourney play and 1 for gambling. I think most would agree there is some overlap, but may be a little different. It was good to see CJ reply, I was curious as to his thoughts on this too.
Gambling is just a different kind of pressure imo. I should have separated "Heart" into 2 categories, 1 for tourney play and 1 for gambling. I think most would agree there is some overlap, but may be a little different. It was good to see CJ reply, I was curious as to his thoughts on this too.
they will not develop this skill to their highest levels
I, for one, had to learn how to have heart, and it was a tough lesson indeed. If someone isn't willing to go through strenuous, challenging situations, they will not develop this skill to their highest levels. imho
I, for one, had to learn how to have heart, and it was a tough lesson indeed. If someone isn't willing to go through strenuous, challenging situations, they will not develop this skill to their highest levels. imho
Thanks for your input and everyone else's too. It sounds like you are implying that "heart" can be learned or developed. I've always been under that assumption as well. It's nice to get feedback and stories from a champion level player. From reading your stories, it sounds like you've been in some traps and bad situations and had to outrun the nuts plenty of times.
I agree with CJ and most don't even know what heart is and it is when your back is to the wall you have no other choice but to win and you reach deep inside of you and access something like CJ did. Unless you have experienced it you have no idea what it is. We all have heart some just don't know it because they have never had to use it. In my case I got a job and life got easy and I can't access it like I did when I had to make money playing pool, but I know it is there and always seems to surface when I need it. Suddenly you are fearless.
That's what it means Rick, it will reveal whether you have any or not. At elite levels of big $ matches this game does not suffer fools & will shatter egos, quickly & decisively
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I was playing in a BIG International tournament in Oak Park, Michigan around 1984.
In the FINALS of the tournament going to 50, a NOT so good player had me 25/0. Everything this player did came up roses! I WON!
In the same FINALS, a VERY good player, whom I'll not mention to embarrass him had me, 25/0 I WON!
BTW, not like the other player, this player knew what He was doing!
These are 2 examples of, 'Tournament' heart, which I believe came from, me gambling playing 3C my entire life! Gambling playing any cue game related to having heart will show it's TRUE dimension when the CASH is on the line!
my nephew who got shot and hit by shrapnel then proceeded to to crawl over 100 yrds to rescue his Sarge and 5 other wounded men
He was flown to Walter Reed for several surgeries and the only thing he cared about was when he could go back ,,
He would quit after he lost 20 dollars playing pool
Some would say he has no heart when in fact he has more heart than anyone I know
I hardy consider anything about pool that is a measure of heart
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He was flown to Walter Reed for several surgeries and the only thing he cared about was when he could go back ,,
He would quit after he lost 20 dollars playing pool
Some would say he has no heart when in fact he has more heart than anyone I know
I hardy consider anything about pool that is a measure of heart
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Your last part that I put in red...I agree, but it is also more than just that. It doesn't have to be how much you want something, it can also stem from how much you DON'T want something. Some people learn "heart" because they grow sick and tired of their failures, and will do anything to stop failing.
It may seem odd or even contradictory, but it isn't. Some people don't care as much about winning as they do about not losing. In pool, that can either create a super safety player that eventually learns that you can't win just by playing safes. Or, it can also create heart in that person, to where he is willing to learn what he has to, to keep from losing.
In any case, heart is something that can be learned over a long period of time.
forces a player to come to a realization about their "true selves"
Isn't that the truth......it takes quite a bit of heart just to compete against tough competition, especially in front of a crowd.
When we put money into the equation it gets more uncomfortable......and forces a player to come to a realization about their "true selves". 'The Game is the Teacher'
Isn't that the truth......it takes quite a bit of heart just to compete against tough competition, especially in front of a crowd.
When we put money into the equation it gets more uncomfortable......and forces a player to come to a realization about their "true selves". 'The Game is the Teacher'