Need advice on my game.

[hoosier_cues]

Well for anybody that is interested. I decided to play 1 pocket tonight. I have not played 1 hole in probably 5 years. I decided to play it because I thought the slower pace would do me good. I played a guy that is pretty well know for his 14.1 game. I did lose but I hanged with him pretty well. I think in the short term staying away from the faster paced games is going to serve me well. It was a "friendly game" with a small wager just to keep it interesting. I am sure I didn't get his best game but I came away happy.

As far as my stance I found something that felt pretty comfortable. I think with some table time to finalize my stance and the drill ShootingArts sent me I will be ok. I think I am going to have to come up with a different aiming system. Everything looks quite different standing higher.

Thanks again everyone!

 

[Jaden]

Aaron is a testament to the impaired...

God bless you man! God bless you.

Sure you're gonna be able to play again, and maybe better than ever!

Emmitt Blankenship was a champion long ago who was in a trolley car accident and lost his arm. He only became the best one handed player in the world!

Cecil "The Serpent" Tugwell was another great right handed player who suffered major damage to his right wrist and could no longer grip a cue. He learned to play left handed and became nearly as good as The Left Duke.

There are many more such stories. "Three Fingered" Ronnie Sypher, "Little Hand" Lewis Bramlett and Ernest "The One Armed Bandit" Morgan. These were all very good players who had a serious handicap.

And then there is Aaron "Ironsides" Aragon, perhaps the best wheelchair bound player who ever lived. He was in an auto accident at age 18 that left him paralyzed from the waist down. He MADE himself into a top player, and competed for years alongside the best able bodied players. He has wins over a who's who of top players. Woe be the man who felt sorry for Aaron. He would kick your butt!

You can do it man. Just take it a little bit at a time. I've seen good players who played standing nearly erect. Fatty was one of them. Pool will be your best therapy right now. As your game improves, so will you!

My brother went to school at Purdue. He was killed in an automobile race in 1972. There is an award in his honor every year to the top student in the Sciences Department. It is called the Dr. Bruce S. Helfert Memorial Award. Check it out. It's quite an honor to win this.

Good luck and good shooting! I'll see you at Derby City in 2009.

I play with Aaron on a regular basis and he is one tough player.... HE can beat just about anyone on a given day... He has custom extensions etc. for his cue that he uses and a collapsable bridge, but other than those things he plays just like anyone else only better than most... He has an added advantage of not getting as tired as easily because he's always sitting down....LOL. Not to make a joke of it, I'm sure he'd much rather be able to walk around the table, but it has to help some with long sessions....IMHO

 

[jay helfert]

Well for anybody that is interested. I decided to play 1 pocket tonight. I have not played 1 hole in probably 5 years. I decided to play it because I thought the slower pace would do me good. I played a guy that is pretty well know for his 14.1 game. I did lose but I hanged with him pretty well. I think in the short term staying away from the faster paced games is going to serve me well. It was a "friendly game" with a small wager just to keep it interesting. I am sure I didn't get his best game but I came away happy.

As far as my stance I found something that felt pretty comfortable. I think with some table time to finalize my stance and the drill ShootingArts sent me I will be ok. I think I am going to have to come up with a different aiming system. Everything looks quite different standing higher.

Thanks again everyone!

Sounds like you're doing great! You have taken the first steps on a long journey to full recovery. I'm convinced you will be an even better player some day. Please keep us posted as to your progress. Thanks!

Remember one thing son. You're a HOOSIER!

 

[HollyWood]

hal houle lessons on the phone

Contact that guy Hal Houle- google his name pivot and whatever and then wack it-no stance,stroke, needed just aim and wack it. You can practice in your mind. 484-623-4144 be sincere mark the guys 95 sounds younger good luck don't ever let anyone tell ya that you can't do anything be cause we know that you can if ya try and practice. mark

 

[3kushn]

HC,

A lot of players played pretty good with an upright stance. Wimpy, Mosconi, Moore, Crane, Fatty, to name a few.

Some feel (myself included) that it's easier to see tangent lines and execute which can result in more precise position play with a more upright stance. In view of this maybe focusing more on straight pool, 1P or bar table pool may be a satisfying, viable option.

Give it time and focus on your strengths while recognizing and not letting your weakness's get exploited. IE: if making those tough THIN cuts at distance are harder because you can't see the "edge" from an upright position go to plan "B".... play safe,etc.

Good luck, hang in and Happy New Year, adam

As said above Standing Tall isn't at all a bad thing. As far as it feeling wierd. it will for a while. Then you may wonder why so many players have their chin on the cue. Look at it this way. How long did it take to learn to ride a bicycle? Was it comfortable the first day or week or month?

And as far as those thin cuts or seeing the edge, again it's simply a matter of learning how. One basic way (for me antway) to hit the very thin and super thin cuts is play the carom.