Is it possible being a smart, analytical type can actually hold back your game?

[tom mcgonagle]

I didn't read every post here so I don't know if these things were mentioned.

A lot of pool is just common sense. It also helps if you leave your inhibitions in your car and not drag them into the place your playing. Experiment, when you don't know certain things and don't be afraid of looking foolish, trying certain things.

Just my thoughts.


__________________________________________________

http://tommcgonaglerightoncue.com

 

[Cornerman]

Our three had cue ball in hand twice. First time I suggested a single shot. Just make the object ball and TRY to stop the cue ball. He missed. Big. Second time in the same rack I made the same suggestion less the stop the cue ball. Wanted to keep it as simple as possible. Me missed again! In your opinion, which of us was the "sadistic tormentor"?

If you called the time out, then it was you.

Freddie <~~~ doesn't call time outs

 

[PGHteacher]

From what I have seen there is little correlation between "intelligence" and pool playing ability other than you really can't be a moron and run back to back racks, other than that any level of "smarts" may or may not help you play better or worse pool.

 

[Matt]

I don't know of any good players (A or better) that I would consider dumb. I'm sure the IQ's vary a lot, but they all have a pretty high aptitude in the areas that matter for pool: pattern recognition, spatial reasoning, and the effects of classical mechanics w.r.t. spin, draw/follow, stun, etc. Some of them don't really care about the details of the underlying physics, some do, but they all know what to expect the balls to do on a particular shot from experience.

Knowing more about what's going on when the balls collide does open up the possibility of being more creative from time to time, but the majority of this game is executing shots that are pretty obvious to anyone that plays seriously. The good players just do it more consistently.

As far as holding back your game, I think that the only way being "smart and analytic" could be a problem is if it means you can't shut off the analysis while you execute the shot.

 

[cardiac kid]

If you called the time out, then it was you.

Freddie <~~~ doesn't call time outs

Sorry Fred, it wasn't me! Normally my team mates won't call for a time out till they're stuck behind a ball with no shot and no possibility of winning! Learned very early on in APA to call as few time outs as possible. Keeps me sane (I think).

Lyn

 

[cardiac kid]

I didn't read every post here so I don't know if these things were mentioned.

A lot of pool is just common sense. It also helps if you leave your inhibitions in your car and not drag them into the place your playing. Experiment, when you don't know certain things and don't be afraid of looking foolish, trying certain things.

Just my thoughts.


__________________________________________________

http://tommcgonaglerightoncue.com

Tom,

Common sense is no longer common.

Lyn

 

[Patrick Johnson]

I would guess you are a DAM aimer?

Here's how I described my aiming method recently in another thread:

I probably have the most stripped down aiming method there is - I just try to "feel" where the CB contact point is and aim it at the OB contact point (which I've trained myself to "see").

Pretty sophisticated, huh? Watch for the DVD.

pj <- can't hit the barn from inside it
chgo

 

[MOJOE]

I constantly get in my own way.. I know too much about why things work the way they do which causes me to over think things way too often.. When I shut my brain down and just play, I seem to do much much better!

 

[Okie]

If you are thinking during the shot, you will probably miss. If you are not thinking during practice, improvement will be slower. There are rare shots that require more than just visualization and making the vision reality. Even on those shots, I'd say that you better not be thinking while your arm is moving..

That right there says it all...

 

[dr_dave]

Here's how I described my aiming method recently in another thread:

I probably have the most stripped down aiming method there is - I just try to "feel" where the CB contact point is and aim it at the OB contact point (which I've trained myself to "see").

Sounds like a version of DAM to me.

Pretty sophisticated, huh? Watch for the DVD.

I know you're joking, but I bet you could probably sell quite a few. Aiming DVDs seem to do well around here.

Regards,
Dave

 

[whitewolf]

Let's not pollute the thread with random potshots at other players, or drag aiming into it.
There's a lotta interesting answers.

Another thought... If I think I'm seeing a lot of dumb straight shooters laterly, maybe some of it's bias based on appearances. There are guys that just have a certain look and you just 'know' they're dumb, guys who sport the wannabe gangster drug dealer look, guys who look like they just came from a kegger and got bombed, etc.

But really you can't know, some guys surprise you. I wouldn't take efren for a chess player.

Don't let the Type A and Type B players cloud your judgement. Just because a player is not talking his a$$ off or is wired up doesn't mean he can't think.

 

[Celophanewrap]

Thinking, analyzing, playing? I think it depends on the player or person and what "spectrum" you might exist or think in.

I'm a bit of a musician, and in my career I have met and been associated with some people that just could. Incredible ear, incredible talent, they just sat at the piano and they could, for whatever reason they're at home at the keyboard, they look at it and it just makes sense, they don't think, they don't analyze, they just listen, then they just play. For others it took hours of lessons and countless hours of practice. For the lesson takers though, after all that hard work, maybe they became the complete package, they know their craft inside and out, and for the most part the players could just play and for a lot of them that was enough. They didn't want to be bothered with the science or application, they just wanted to play, and boy, could they ever play.

I think pool is very much the same, some people just can, then there are those of us that really need to work at it. The table doesn't make the same sense to me that the keyboard does, I look at the table and I have to think. I break the balls and I have to look for a minute and consider and develop a plan. I play with some guys, they break and 30 seconds later they're on a straight in 9 ball shot. Pool is just their thing.

Pool and analysis - some people need to, others just can. I think playing smart is a widely underdeveloped skill.

As I reduce the number of steps that I take to make a shot and get shape my level of playing ability is approaching theirs, but I'll likely never be at their level of talent when it comes to pool.
It's becoming more reactive for me and I'm becoming a better shotmaker. If the balls weren't round there would be far fewer variables so I am hopeful that I never give up on thinking. I have found that can be, at times, an advantage.