Natural Abilities !

[oldzilla]

I never ever used an aiming system or even had a lesson for that matter.
I simple picked up a stick and started shooting. I found it rather easy to imulate the little I seen at the local YMCA when I was 8 yrs old.
Is my natural ability very rare or not so rare !

Of course I didn't get good until I could start sneakin in the poolhall in back the cigarstore when I was 13 or so. But I am not writing this to talk about how far I did go until I kinda hung it up. Call me semi-retired !

But the question I want to ask is who used just Natural Abilities and who has needed more as in an aiming system or lessons ?
My curiosity has been rattled by seeing so many system threads. Even though I have never read ANY of it I can't help but wonder about the ratio of who needs it and who don't.

I know there is the need for some to take a different route in learning the game. Others can get far into it on their own too before they go a different route. Some never have to !
In saying that, I don't want or need the Instuctors or Product Promoters to come on my thread and give me greif. Red rep will be yours !
Cast your vote and save the small talk, tyvm.


It will be a simple poll. One question with 2 options to choose from.

Natural Abilities or Lessons and Systems ?

 

[336Robin]

Reply to Oldzilla

I never ever used an aiming system or even had a lesson for that matter.
I simple picked up a stick and started shooting. I found it rather easy to imulate the little I seen at the local YMCA when I was 8 yrs old.
Is my natural ability very rare or not so rare !

Of course I didn't get good until I could start sneakin in the poolhall in back the cigarstore when I was 13 or so. But I am not writing this to talk about how far I did go until I kinda hung it up. Call me semi-retired !

But the question I want to ask is who used just Natural Abilities and who has needed more as in an aiming system or lessons ?
My curiosity has been rattled by seeing so many system threads. Even though I have never read ANY of it I can't help but wonder about the ratio of who needs it and who don't.

I know there is the need for some to take a different route in learning the game. Others can get far into it on their own too before they go a different route. Some never have to !
In saying that, I don't want or need the Instuctors or Product Promoters to come on my thread and give me greif. Red rep will be yours !
Cast your vote and save the small talk, tyvm.


It will be a simple poll. One question with 2 options to choose from.

Natural Abilities or Lessons and Systems ?

Oldzilla,
Yes there is a need for some to take a different approach to the game and I think that question is one of the biggest questions out there.

I am from the same camp you came from. I was a completely natural player and I managed with it okay as a young man in the environment I was playing in.

The first time I got hauled out and thrown in the fire I found out just how good some of these players are. They didnt get that way not knowing something about what they do. Whether someone took them under their wing, they went after some lessons, they hit balls for days on end they picked up something that the rest didnt have.

That is exactly what my book is about.

Its not aiming systems like cte. Its about natural ways to learn how to do all of that. I wont ramble on because you made it clear you didnt want a big rant about aiming systems to start because of your thread. It seems aiming is sensitive subject on here and perhaps some folks feel theyve been led down the primrose path and others feel they got what they want I dont know. All I know is my stuff works without a doubt and yes people need help otherwise it wouldnt happen that someone could get stuck at a APA 6 and stay there for years.

336Robin :thumbup: http://274928807619529663.weebly.com/

aimisthegameinpool@yahoo.com

 

[oldzilla]

Oldzilla,
Yes there is a need for some to take a different approach to the game and I think that question is one of the biggest questions out there.

I am from the same camp you came from. I was a completely natural player and I managed with it okay as a young man in the environment I was playing in.

The first time I got hauled out and thrown in the fire I found out just how good some of these players are. They didnt get that way not knowing something about what they do. Whether someone took them under their wing, they went after some lessons, they hit balls for days on end they picked up something that the rest didnt have.

That is exactly what my book is about.

Its not aiming systems like cte. Its about natural ways to learn how to do all of that. I wont ramble on because you made it clear you didnt want a big rant about aiming systems to start because of your thread. It seems aiming is sensitive subject on here and perhaps some folks feel theyve been led down the primrose path and others feel they got what they want I dont know. All I know is my stuff works without a doubt and yes people need help otherwise it wouldnt happen that someone could get stuck at a APA 6 and stay there for years.

336Robin :thumbup: http://274928807619529663.weebly.com/

aimisthegameinpool@yahoo.com

I did take a quick look at your home page and just the small intro there is making more sense to me than all the other dribble i have heard. LOL No offense to anyone directly, I just think you have to keep it simple and with all the things flying around out there it is kinda crazy !
I don't think a college degree is needed to play pool ,lol.
You may have a great book by the sounds of it, but I really do not need any of it. But it sounds like something I would write myself. I will be 60 and have slowed down to not competing very much. I just do not have that itch anymore. I made my mark I promise you that.

On another note I dogged the poll being on this thread. I had to make a duplicate thread for the poll ! Sorry folks.
I find other ways to keep in touch with the game as you can see.

 

[336Robin]

I did take a quick look at your home page and just the small intro there is making more sense to me than all the other dribble i have heard. LOL No offense to anyone directly, I just think you have to keep it simple and with all the things flying around out there it is kinda crazy !
I don't think a college degree is needed to play pool ,lol.
You may have a great book by the sounds of it, but I really do not need any of it. But it sounds like something I would write myself. I will be 60 and have slowed down to not competing very much. I just do not have that itch anymore. I made my mark I promise you that.

On another note I dogged the poll being on this thread. I had to make a duplicate thread for the poll ! Sorry folks.
I find other ways to keep in touch with the game as you can see.

Oldzilla,

Thankyou for your kind reply.

336Robin :thumbup: http://274928807619529663.weebly.com/

aimisthegameinpool@yahoo.com

 

[SK Custom Cues]

I vote for natural abilities. Natural is better when it comes to most anything. I believe that principle when it comes to cue making as well. I try to add as little as I can and try and get the most out of using less.

With that said, I think those who have a natural ability find it easier to pick things up and those who don't will have to work harder.

In any case, I think you need to acquire some sort of knowledge whether it be by reading books, looking at DVD's, hiring an instructor, or getting the local shortstop to give you a few tips.

Along the way, it's little tips from the better players that always helped me.

I do agree with you, Pat, that there is too much hype over aiming, just the same as it is with a lot of other topics. Tips, shafts, cloth, cues, it never ends. This is just the kind of society we live in. People feel that if they don't have the next new thing they are going to fall behind when it comes to the latest gossip. That, and I think most people just don't want to put the time in and are looking for any shortcut they can find.

I think if you use common sense, the game is really not that hard to figure out, you just have to be willing to work for it.

 

[336Robin]

Reply to SK Custom Cues

I vote for natural abilities. Natural is better when it comes to most anything. I believe that principle when it comes to cue making as well. I try to add as little as I can and try and get the most out of using less.

With that said, I think those who have a natural ability find it easier to pick things up and those who don't will have to work harder.

In any case, I think you need to acquire some sort of knowledge whether it be by reading books, looking at DVD's, hiring an instructor, or getting the local shortstop to give you a few tips.

Along the way, it's little tips from the better players that always helped me.

I do agree with you, Pat, that there is too much hype over aiming, just the same as it is with a lot of other topics. Tips, shafts, cloth, cues, it never ends. This is just the kind of society we live in. People feel that if they don't have the next new thing they are going to fall behind when it comes to the latest gossip. That, and I think most people just don't want to put the time in and are looking for any shortcut they can find.

I think if you use common sense, the game is really not that hard to figure out, you just have to be willing to work for it.

SK Custom Cues,
I agree completely but in absence of some realistic help overcomplication seems to live and breathe.

336Robin :thumbup: http://274928807619529663.weebly.com/

aimisthegameinpool@yahoo.com

 

[Pushout]

Irving Crane's view was: "You either have natural ability, or you don't." I've personally known one very, very good player who had it it. I don't, I guess
I've had to work at it and sometimes it seems harder now than years ago. I'm 61 and I don't have the spark any more, either.
It definitely helps, I would say. I've had lessons, one each, from one road agent, three world champions, and Hal Houle on the phone. Guess which was the best of all of them? I won't keep ya guessing, the road player and Hal.

 

[manwon]

I have a couple kids who frequent my pool room who are natural shot makers. They have never been schooled to understand that some things just are not likely or even possible. I always take time with any of the kids who come in on a regular basis and play pool, but I don't burst the bubble for them. I will teach them basic fundamentals, and I will answer any questions that they ask, however, I will not try and fix things that are not broken because I think my method's are better.

Pool is a game where how some one perceives the table and line of aim, certainly makes a difference between the banger and the prodigy. When an experienced respected person gives advise young players will listen and absorb, while in many cases this is a good thing, sometimes it can also spoil a good thing.

I think sometimes people fail to see natural ability, even though they are good players themselves sometimes people refuse to acknowledge or they just can't see that an inexperienced player may have the ability to see something they can't. So they try and change that young player to fit a mold they do understand, and this way of thinking can stop some one with natural ability from ever fully experiencing their potential.

JIMO

 

[Wolven]

Like Manwon says bad lessons can do a lot of damage.
Lots of guys that teach cannot and should not teach, but they do it to make a few bucks.
Aiming is only a problem if your eye and stick don't lineup on every shot.
Cannot beat natural ability.

However, some knowledge and ideas from books, dvds, fellow players, can be very valuable and save years of searching, nobody is born preprogrammed with all that knowledge.

 

[JoeyInCali]

If you have natural ability, you could run racks on the day you picked up a cue.

And a world titleist if you learn CTE. :grin:

I had dinner with Parica one time. He said his brain is just like a computer .
He sees then he shoots . Then he talks about his early days playing Filipino Pool which is on a 4 by 4 table and the balls are discs/chips.
He said he still looks at balls like they are discs to this day.

 

[336Robin]

Reply to Pocket Point

If you have natural ability, you could run racks on the day you picked up a cue.

PocketPoint,
Not sure if many have that much Natural ability but I remember being a young man with young eyes, reflexes and I knew I needed to be somewhere with the cue ball and I dont remember really cueing up the ball with a lot of spin, I was just sort of willing the ball to go somewhere, I guess I was backhand English spinning the ball to some degree and it just seemed to go about where I wanted it to.
Yes it was good to be young once it seems a lot of that natural ability is best when youre young and can utilize it.

Makes you wonder how we manage to complicate the game but some people have that natural ability and some people need to figure out how to get in touch with it.

336Robin :thumbup: http://274928807619529663.weebly.com/

aimisthegameinpool@yahoo.com

 

[manwon]

If you have natural ability, you could run racks on the day you picked up a cue.

I have to disagree, pool is more like Great Sex no matter how developed or under developed your aim and stroke may be, how long your cue is, or even the amount of natural ability a person has, practice is necessary to obtain great result's!!!!!!!!!

JIMO

 

[ctyhntr]

For me, its more like masturbation. I do tons of drills, and now in my mid 40's, my eyes start to go bad. Those far shots are blurry. Don't get me started on LD shafts and squirt

I have to disagree, pool is more like Great Sex no matter how developed or under developed your aim and stroke may be, how long your cue is, or even the amount of natural ability a person has, practice is necessary to obtain great result's!!!!!!!!!

JIMO

 

[Tramp Steamer]

For me, its more like masturbation. I do tons of drills, and now in my mid 40's, my eyes start to go bad. Those far shots are blurry. Don't get me started on LD shafts and squirt

Tell me about it. My Dad caught me once and said if I kept on doing it I was gonna go blind. I asked him if I could do it just 'til I needed glasses.

To be a pool player, all you need is a cue. To be a good pool player you need athletic ability. To be a great pool player you need to start at an early age, possess athletic ability, and live most of your life in a pool room.
I know of no good, or great pool player for that matter, who ever employed an aiming system other than the one they were born with. As for instruction, they hung around pool halls and watched others play and were sometimes shown a shot by someone more seasoned than they were, and they gambled.

 

[lorider]

oldzilla i believe you and i think a lot alike. i have never had a lesson either. except from a roadplayer back in the 80s. he told me i had a good eye for the game and if i learned english i could be darn good. he showed me a few things while making my wallet a lil lighter each game. lol. i still aint mastered english . quit trying when it made me get outa shape to much on my next shot. but i did good enough to be called a hustler more than once back in my bar room stalking days.
back to the topic here, i did try to read these aiming topics on here a couple times. i had to quit because its just too much mumbo jumbo. guess im old school . i like to kiss : keep it simple stupid. when you get to thinking is my grip right?,is my elbow straight?which eye is my dominate eye? , is my front foot perpindicular with where im aiming? and on and on . with all that goin on in your mind how are you going to focus and just pocket the ball ?

 

[peppersauce]

....................

 

[336Robin]

Reply to Peppersauce

Like you, I picked up a cue one day and just started playing. I never had to take lessons on how to do this or that, I just watched the better players and tried to emulate what they were doing. That being said...knowledge is a powerful thing. Anyone can increase their skill level with the correct instruction. Personally, though, I believe systems of any kind should be used to support your own abilities--not relace them. All the knowledge in the world won't help you if you can't run out.

Thats exactly right!!

336Robin :thumbup: http://274928807619529663.weebly.com/

aimisthegameinpool@yahoo.com