I just started playing pool again about a year or so ago after about a 10 year hiatus. I joined the APA league, got ranked and all that. But I wanna know what prepares you better as a player. I don't gamble and I only entered one tournament which I did come in third. I am kinda getting bored beating the same old comp every week and I feel like im not gonna get any better at this rate. Do you guys feel you got better from doing tourneys or gambling or both?
League, Gambling or Tournaments
- Thread starter Buddha Jones
- Start date
Practicing is how I got better, I don't think tournaments, money etc make you better in and of themselves, practice makes you better, tournaments, money games, etc teach you to apply what you practiced under pressure. It's my opinion you could play in 50 kazillion tournaments but if you never practice, you'll be able to miss like a pro.
Well, I know that I don't practice until league night, Iplay for like an hour before match time. I don't even know if that is what you would call practicing, I am more just getting loose, I am not even playing to win in most cases, just trying to hit a specific shot, bad practicing habits if at all. I don't take most games seriously unless I know I am playing a high ranked player or its a league match. I never practice by myself just hitting balls, though I suppose I should. I always felt playing better copmpetition would make me a better player. Watching how they play the game, what to shoot and when and ball control they used for a certain shot for a setup. Should I be doing shot drills or something?
I'm sure you'll find 50 different opinions. For me personally I'm not a natural shot maker so practicing has increased my game immensely. I used to be just like you as far as my approach to learning the game and I did learn alot watching and playing against superior opponents. I do alot of specific shot practice, and it has helped a ton, shots that I used to make maybe 40% to 50% of the time I now make closer to 90% of the time, it's been a tremendous confidence builder, and when I am planning ahead I'm actually pocketing the balls necessary to move to the next shot. The three shots I practice everyday without question are long green with a slight angle, a moderate cut shot, and an outside cut. I'll usually shoot at least 15 to 30 of each of these a day. The long green I will occasionally practice from various bridges, on the rail, off the rail.
I also focus alot on my stroke in practice, I make sure to reaim every shot and I follow the cue ball with my eyes to make sure it's going exactly where I intended. Even if my aim wasn't perfect I'll know if the cueball is off from where I intended to put it. At this point I know immediately if I missed a shot or not and when I do miss I can almost always chalk it up to an imperfect stroke.
When I do play in tournament I note shots that I missed that I feel I shouldn't have made and I'll set that shot up 15 to 30 times a day for 3 or 4 days a week. I have a table at home and that's an immense help as far as making practice convenient. Lastly I spend about 5 minutes a day just working on my stroke.
I read somewhere that before a tournament is not the time to practice what your not good at, warming up is good, but you should be psyching yourself up as you want your confidence as high as possible going into your matches. I would suggest maybe buying a couple of books on billiards as they have helped me a ton. In less than 6 months I've gone from a 5 speed to a 7 speed (BCA) and I did it just reading and practicing with an occasional tournament here and there. The last tournament I played in I came up against another 7 speed and I honestly felt like the guy didn't have anything for me. Good luck and stick with it.
I also focus alot on my stroke in practice, I make sure to reaim every shot and I follow the cue ball with my eyes to make sure it's going exactly where I intended. Even if my aim wasn't perfect I'll know if the cueball is off from where I intended to put it. At this point I know immediately if I missed a shot or not and when I do miss I can almost always chalk it up to an imperfect stroke.
When I do play in tournament I note shots that I missed that I feel I shouldn't have made and I'll set that shot up 15 to 30 times a day for 3 or 4 days a week. I have a table at home and that's an immense help as far as making practice convenient. Lastly I spend about 5 minutes a day just working on my stroke.
I read somewhere that before a tournament is not the time to practice what your not good at, warming up is good, but you should be psyching yourself up as you want your confidence as high as possible going into your matches. I would suggest maybe buying a couple of books on billiards as they have helped me a ton. In less than 6 months I've gone from a 5 speed to a 7 speed (BCA) and I did it just reading and practicing with an occasional tournament here and there. The last tournament I played in I came up against another 7 speed and I honestly felt like the guy didn't have anything for me. Good luck and stick with it.
Thanks immensly for the great feedback. If I had the room in my house for a pool table, I definately would have one by now. I spose I will have to find time to get to the pool hall and practice more than once a week. What books did you get btw, I am curious?
The book I found the most helpful was "Essential Pool" by Arthur "Babe" Cranfield and Laurence S. Moy. I really liked the way they explained the tangent line concept for playing position. Retails for 16.95.
Another book I enjoyed alot was "Steve Mizerak's complete book of pool". It discusses the fundamentals alot but I really enjoyed it because it has a ton of pictures and talks alot about the history of pool. For 14.95 it's a steal.
Another book I own is "A smarter way to learn pool" by George Fels. I read the book and enjoyed it but don't recommend it as highly as the above 2 books. I picked it up for 14.95 as well.
I bought all the books at Hastings and they actually had a pretty decent selection of billiard books. You'll find em next to the gambling and card trick books, what's nice is they don't mind if you browse through the book a bit before buying it which I would suggest you do.
Good luck.
Another book I enjoyed alot was "Steve Mizerak's complete book of pool". It discusses the fundamentals alot but I really enjoyed it because it has a ton of pictures and talks alot about the history of pool. For 14.95 it's a steal.
Another book I own is "A smarter way to learn pool" by George Fels. I read the book and enjoyed it but don't recommend it as highly as the above 2 books. I picked it up for 14.95 as well.
I bought all the books at Hastings and they actually had a pretty decent selection of billiard books. You'll find em next to the gambling and card trick books, what's nice is they don't mind if you browse through the book a bit before buying it which I would suggest you do.
Good luck.
K
King Cueball
Guest
I was always told that to become a better player you have to play for money. I guess it gives you that eye of the tiger,but i dont put much stock in that. I think the best way to get better is to practice practice and then more practice!
*by King Cueball
I was always told that to become a better player you have to play for money. I guess it gives you that eye of the tiger,but i dont put much stock in that. *
--this I disagree with a little. You don't have to play for money, just have something to shoot for, ie a drink, something that you want, and yes of course money. IMO you have to have something to win besides the actual win. There has to be a reason to play the game.
*I think the best way to get better is to practice practice and then more practice!*
--have to disagree slightly again. What are you practicing? Breaking bad habbits with other bad habbits! Obviously practice is good, if it's good practice! What is the use of spending hours and hours each day if you're not practicing correctly?
Zim (JMHO)
I was always told that to become a better player you have to play for money. I guess it gives you that eye of the tiger,but i dont put much stock in that. *
--this I disagree with a little. You don't have to play for money, just have something to shoot for, ie a drink, something that you want, and yes of course money. IMO you have to have something to win besides the actual win. There has to be a reason to play the game.
*I think the best way to get better is to practice practice and then more practice!*
--have to disagree slightly again. What are you practicing? Breaking bad habbits with other bad habbits! Obviously practice is good, if it's good practice! What is the use of spending hours and hours each day if you're not practicing correctly?
Zim (JMHO)
Zims Rack said:
I agree completely
practice practice practice
wager wager wager
Makes it more interesting, therefore I believe you pay more attention to your shots.
There are two things going on here. The first thing is improving your ability to play pool. The second is your ability to play pool for pressure. They are not mutually exclusive but they are not the same either.
You can become a terrific pool player by practicing, practicing and then more practicing. However, if you don't play in pressure situations, you may not be able to develop the nerves it takes to do so even though you might play like Efren with no pressure. Playing under pressure is not easy and just about impossible for some. I've known players that don't miss a shot when they're practicing or playing someone for nothing but put some pressure on these players and they can't make a ball. You won't know if you can handle it until you do it. I think this is what makes pool so hard. When the pressure is on, there's no way to get rid of it. When you play sports like tennis or handball, after you get warmed up, the pressure is released by all the physical activity. In pool, you just have to find a way to mentally deal with it.
You can become a terrific pool player by practicing, practicing and then more practicing. However, if you don't play in pressure situations, you may not be able to develop the nerves it takes to do so even though you might play like Efren with no pressure. Playing under pressure is not easy and just about impossible for some. I've known players that don't miss a shot when they're practicing or playing someone for nothing but put some pressure on these players and they can't make a ball. You won't know if you can handle it until you do it. I think this is what makes pool so hard. When the pressure is on, there's no way to get rid of it. When you play sports like tennis or handball, after you get warmed up, the pressure is released by all the physical activity. In pool, you just have to find a way to mentally deal with it.
K
King Cueball
Guest
Zims Rack. First you dont have to play for nothing but the love for the game. As for practice sure there is a right way to practice you can do postion drills work on your break long shots banks, there are alot of ways you can better your pool game!.
K
King Cueball
Guest
You can get used to pressure by playing in tournaments you dont have to gamble.