I say definitely....
Is Pool Too Tough For the Average Mind?
- Thread starter Island Drive
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Are you equating innate intelligence with the capacity to play pool well? I don't think there have ever been a whole lot of Phds on the leader board. Probably some of the best players of all time had no clue as to the complexity and mathematics of the game but learned how to make the appropriate adjustments, practice, practice, practice and excell. Just MHO.
Too tuff for an unapplied mind.
I dum people can play a littly.
I dum people can play a littly.
Absolutely! Why just the other day I had a nice little cross railer to win the game, and missed the shot. I didn't know whether to shit, or go blind, so I went ahead and shit, just to be on the safe side.
I was banned from the pool hall for three weeks. :smile:
I was banned from the pool hall for three weeks. :smile:
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Most truly great pool players made the decision to forego higher education to dedicate themselves to excellence. That doesn't mean they can't be highly intelligent. I feel the better players likely have above average minds. This is not an easy game to understand at the higher levels.
Good question. I would say no. In studies of chess players it's been found that they are about average in other aspects of life other than chess. I think that a person can become good at whatever they desire to focus on. Turn your mind to any topic and immerse yourself in it and you cannot fail to become above average in it.
I don't think so, just like one of the posters said above, you have to want to play. And I say no because I seen for fact that average mind people can play actually very well, you need two things.
1. play a lot, and I mean aloooooot, shooting every single day, too many sets.
2. wanting to be good.
That all you need to become a very good player, it's a game of images and muscle memory, if you shoot a shot a million times, you are most likely to know how to execute it perfectly, so the more you play, the better you get.
1. play a lot, and I mean aloooooot, shooting every single day, too many sets.
2. wanting to be good.
That all you need to become a very good player, it's a game of images and muscle memory, if you shoot a shot a million times, you are most likely to know how to execute it perfectly, so the more you play, the better you get.
I knew a player on the east coast that at one time was a half a click under the very best in the world and when he caught a gear he beat a lot of the very best in the 80's and 90's. Other then pool he was a little below average in the brain department.
Definitely not. The only advantage a superior intellect brings is the ability to learn a little faster than the next guy. That's not a really important advantage, as pool's breadth is not terribly intimidating. Minds of all qualities have the capacity to play great pool. Dedication is far more important than intellect as an ingredient in pool excellence.
I don't know how to answer because the only problem in my game is my mind !
Average is as average does
Average pool isn't to tough for the average mind. Great pool (great anything) is usually beyond the scope of the average afficionado.
The truly great live in a realm far beyond ours. To them, the awe-inspiring is just the norm.
Tommy
Average pool isn't to tough for the average mind. Great pool (great anything) is usually beyond the scope of the average afficionado.
The truly great live in a realm far beyond ours. To them, the awe-inspiring is just the norm.
Tommy
Intriguing query.
My fiance has played pool on a casual level for year but cannot identify or execute a run out pattern. Is she unintelligent, no. Just doesn't have the want to learn.
Pocket billiards is an amazingly simple concept. Take a cue, hit a white ball to hit a colored ball making the colored ball into a pocket and repeat.
Now the run out patterns, English, shape, speed, pocket size, table size and everything else confuse the game!
My fiance has played pool on a casual level for year but cannot identify or execute a run out pattern. Is she unintelligent, no. Just doesn't have the want to learn.
Pocket billiards is an amazingly simple concept. Take a cue, hit a white ball to hit a colored ball making the colored ball into a pocket and repeat.
Now the run out patterns, English, shape, speed, pocket size, table size and everything else confuse the game!
Why are there quotes that cover all these situations?
"Genius is one percent inspiration, ninety-nine percent perspiration." - Thomas Edison
It seems in the time before the information age people had a lot more time to say sensible things that stand the test of time.
"Genius is one percent inspiration, ninety-nine percent perspiration." - Thomas Edison
It seems in the time before the information age people had a lot more time to say sensible things that stand the test of time.
I second that motion!!!! :thumbup:
Absolutely not. It's a matter of self discipline, training and practice. It's like a tennis stroke. Virtually anybody can learn, "on paper," the basics of a forehand, and imitate it perfectly in slow motion while standing in the living room. Perfectly, as well as any pro. But does that mean they can carry that to the tennis court? Obviously not. That would require motivation, dedication and focus.
Average Mind
Those people that play, get extremely Frustrated, pissed and wanna do something else, because...........they aren't lookin' good, they also Will say they Hate playin.
Those people that play, get extremely Frustrated, pissed and wanna do something else, because...........they aren't lookin' good, they also Will say they Hate playin.
I get really frustrated because the slightest pressure makes my stroke wilt. Yesterday I am playing a tournament, I go to 8 the other guy goes to 7, first game I run out. Second game he runs five and dogs it, I run out. For most of the set I play great, running out and playing the right way. I win 8:1.
Next set I play someone ranked a five who shoots real straight. She goes to five and I go eight. I lose 5:5 after dogging it.
Next set on a tight table and I get sharked by the weird pockets and play like crap lose 7:3.
Then I play a guy getting the six out and I dog the easiest possible outs imaginable. It's like my stroke has completely left the building and my arm feels like concrete.
To me this is the hardest thing about playing pool. You go to the table and no one can mess with what you do but you. They can dance an irish jig in front of you but they can't touch the balls or you and so it's all YOU to make the shot and play shape.
That's the frustrating part, not being able to execute under pressure the same way you can with no pressure. For me at least.
Jimmy Reid once told me if I could play the game half as well as I can see the out then I'd be a champion. I suppose I just never really developed the ability to play under pressure either because I don't "have it" or I just didn't go for it. I like to think it's because I didn't go for it.
That said it's that much sweeter when I do manage to come with it under pressure and outrun the nuts. It's the high you can't buy.