Lots of time, what would you do?

P

p00lp00l

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Hi, so I have played for a couple years now and am getting to that point I hear everyone talking about, where you want to take that next step and seriously want to improve.

I guess I am looking for opinions. I have a lot of free time and a valley barbox in the basement, although I do play barbox touneys and leagues I would like to improve overall and was wondering what you guys would do/suggest as I am ready to really start grinding and do what I need to do :) I will be putting the hours in and need some advice on how to best use those hours.

Any comments appreciated! :)
 
Get the book Play Great Pool by Mark Wilson (playgreatpool.com) and get to work.
 
krupa said:
Get the book Play Great Pool by Mark Wilson (playgreatpool.com) and get to work.
Click to expand...

Very good recommendation here. "Play Great Pool" is superb.

Also, get your hands on Darren Appleton's new instructional DVD, which will give you insights into how a world champion keeps his skills sharp.
 
I'd also recommend a lesson from a qualified instructor. Having a set of eyes watching what you do will be invaluable to your development.

Brian in VA
 
p00lp00l said:
Hi, so I have played for a couple years now and am getting to that point I hear everyone talking about, where you want to take that next step and seriously want to improve.

I guess I am looking for opinions. I have a lot of free time and a valley barbox in the basement, although I do play barbox touneys and leagues I would like to improve overall and was wondering what you guys would do/suggest as I am ready to really start grinding and do what I need to do :) I will be putting the hours in and need some advice on how to best use those hours.

Any comments appreciated! :)
Click to expand...



What State do you live in?
randyg
 
p00lp00l said:
Hi, so I have played for a couple years now and am getting to that point I hear everyone talking about, where you want to take that next step and seriously want to improve.

I guess I am looking for opinions. I have a lot of free time and a valley barbox in the basement, although I do play barbox touneys and leagues I would like to improve overall and was wondering what you guys would do/suggest as I am ready to really start grinding and do what I need to do :) I will be putting the hours in and need some advice on how to best use those hours.

Any comments appreciated! :)
Click to expand...

I suggest start playing on some 9 foot tables, with pockets in the 4.75"-4.5" range. Find a real pool hall to play in, just playing on 7 footers in bars is not the way to get better past a certain level. I have seen many "top dogs" in a bar lose bad to a mid-level player that plays in a real pool room. They are used to playing random shape and the rolls of the table that can help balls go in when missed by 6 inches and find that their game is not what they thought it is. Unfortunately many of those players then beat a retreat back to the bar never to be seen again at the pool hall instead of going back again and again to get better.

Is your barbox setup well or just the standard cheap cloth with wide pockets? A good setup with well cut rails would help you a lot with finesse and aiming.
 
If you want comprehensive, well structured, accurate and proven materials start and finish at dr-dave-billiards.com Couple what you find there with a dash of professional instruction and you'll improve as much as your time and dedication will allow.
 
hang-the-9 said:
I suggest start playing on some 9 foot tables, with pockets in the 4.75"-4.5" range. Find a real pool hall to play in, just playing on 7 footers in bars is not the way to get better past a certain level. I have seen many "top dogs" in a bar lose bad to a mid-level player that plays in a real pool room. They are used to playing random shape and the rolls of the table that can help balls go in when missed by 6 inches and find that their game is not what they thought it is. Unfortunately many of those players then beat a retreat back to the bar never to be seen again at the pool hall instead of going back again and again to get better.

Is your barbox setup well or just the standard cheap cloth with wide pockets? A good setup with well cut rails would help you a lot with finesse and aiming.
Click to expand...

I agree with everything you said, and yea its just a standard valley bar table, pockets are a bit tighter then normal but still big. I guess my question was more what can I do with the equipment I have, to get better. I try to get time in at the pool hall but money and whatnot is an issue. I don't want to develop bad habits on the bar table as I know you can get away with playing sloppy on them and I try to keep that in mind while practicing. I am just unsure where my focus should be when practicing on a bar table.

And randyg I live in Ontario, Canada :)
 
contact NME007 and get a poqet trainer, write down all the drills you can find and practice them until your shoulder scream for you to stop.
 
Practicing what a qualified instructor directs is the best way to get better.

He will give you things in a few hours that you might never figure out on your own.
 
Brian and Black- Balled are correct. Spend some of the book and video money on some lessons from a "Certified" or higher ranked instructor ... it will be your best investment!! Solid basics are a MUST. You can't teach yourself from a book ... it will not work. Get your basics down and then practice using progressive drills. Your instructor will give you key drills to get you started. Do it right.

Good Luck!!
 
Brian and Blackballed are correct. Spend some of the book and video money on some lessons from a "Certified" or higher ranked instructor ... it will be your best investment!! Solid basics are a MUST. You can't teach yourself from a book ... it will not work. Get your basics down and then practice using progressive drills. Your instructor will give you key drills to get you started. Do it right.

Good Luck!!
 
14.1 Forever said:
Brian and Black- Balled are correct. Spend some of the book and video money on some lessons from a "Certified" or higher ranked instructor ... it will be your best investment!! Solid basics are a MUST. You can't teach yourself from a book ... it will not work. Get your basics down and then practice using progressive drills. Your instructor will give you key drills to get you started. Do it right.

Good Luck!!
Click to expand...

I completely disagree with this. The right book and a video camera (we all have them in our pockets these days) can be very valuable tools. I have dramatically improved my game (especially fundamentals) by working with Mark Wilson's book. I'm not trying to post a commercial, but it has the most detailed description of the fundamentals and drills/exercises to reinforce them that I have seen. If a person applies himself, he can't fail to improve with that book.

That's not to say that good instructors aren't valuable, but if you're not near any and can't afford to have them come to you, you're not without options.
 
If you live in Ontario, I would suggests that you go down to one of the local snooker rooms and practice on the 6x12. Plenty of rooms will have an instructor or house pro.

Stick with the drills you use on the bar box and apply them on the snooker table... Some clubs will have a regular sized set of balls for the table and this works great for aiming and accuracy.
 
krupa said:
I completely disagree with this. The right book and a video camera (we all have them in our pockets these days) can be very valuable tools. I have dramatically improved my game (especially fundamentals) by working with Mark Wilson's book. I'm not trying to post a commercial, but it has the most detailed description of the fundamentals and drills/exercises to reinforce them that I have seen. If a person applies himself, he can't fail to improve with that book.

That's not to say that good instructors aren't valuable, but if you're not near any and can't afford to have them come to you, you're not without options.
Click to expand...

Availability is a pretty damn important factor in receiving instruction...a good-and obvious- comment that had not been directly addressed.

Not saying learning can't be done with only one's own effort, but it sure takes a lot less time to become proficient when one given knowledge, rather than attempting to figure it out for himself.

One learning doesn't really know what he needs to know, much less the proper steps to get there efficiently.
 
Black-Balled said:
Availability is a pretty damn important factor in receiving instruction...a good-and obvious- comment that had not been directly addressed.

Not saying learning can't be done with only one's own effort, but it sure takes a lot less time to become proficient when one given knowledge, rather than attempting to figure it out for himself.

One learning doesn't really know what he needs to know, much less the proper steps to get there efficiently.
Click to expand...

I have no disagreement with anything here. I was just addressing the statement that teaching yourself from a book doesn't work.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top