Ospd----only Serious Pool Discussions

JoeyA

JoeyA

Efren's Mini-Tourn BACKER
Silver Member
I was reading another thread where the main complaint was that the Main Forum had become a forum filled with too many non-pool discussions.

This thread has been started for the benefit of those who want only serious pool discussions. I will visit and try to make contributions whenever I can and interested in doing so.

Maybe if this thread is successful MikeH will start a mini Forum called Serious Pool Discussions.

The complaint thread has become a nauseatingly long non pool discussion thread with everyone chiming in to make it the worst thread ever.

So for the first topic of conversation I am seeking some help:

I would be interested in hearing from top level pool players who have reached a high level of play, at least shot stop level and above. It seems that to play at your highest level, it is necessary for there to be a certain chemistry or rhythm that orchestrates the combined skills, knowledge and information garnered from the pool table layout and the match in general.

It goes without saying that you have to be comfortable at the table and your different skill sets have to be in good order and it is obvious to most that time on the table is a staple that is paramount.

Can any of you offer any insight, philosophically or otherwise as to how one might more consistently (on demand) be able to obtain this harmonious chemistry that is so necessary for the highest level play?


Thanks,
JoeyA (no jokes please :D :D :D )
 
Joey, I hear what your asking as maybe how to get into stroke quickly, even if you know you aren't feeling right. We all have been in the situation of knowing your off, but need to play well anyway. What helps me most is kinda like a menu that I go back to and try to find out whats missing....

Do not to discount visualization. When your in the chair, shut your eyes and see yourself playing real well. Now, ask yourself whats missing from your actual play that is in mental picture?

> am I breathing evenly and smoothly?
> do I feel confident, and am I acting confidently?....you can fake both BTW and trick your mind into stroke.
> am I making good choices, and thinking the shot through well?
> do I need to eat something?

these are the things I pay attention to, but yours might be different. Make a good mental menu when you are playing well, or write it down to have something to go back to when things are a little off.

Gerry
 
Kill two beers in two minutes and let muscle memory take over. Feel contempt for your opponent, and let it rip. Let your stroke out. Fire all offense for a period. Works most of the time.
 
Like anything else timing matters, Rythem and the ability to retain that rythem will ultimately determine your strength as a player.

Playing the table rather than the opponet, however difficult that may be, all your attention and strategey is focoused on the table. it doesnt matter whom your playing the goal is to win.

Realize your a natural born loser, only hard work and the preserverance to overcome and dominate make you not only a winner, but a champion in your own right, the skill level isnt as important as the mindset.


SPINDOKTOR
 
We could start another "what is the best tip" thread. That's always good for a few pages of "serious pool discussion". ;)
 
Jimmy M. said:
We could start another "what is the best tip" thread. That's always good for a few pages of "serious pool discussion". ;)
Click to expand...

You've broken the rule already Jimmy. You're a bad boy. You go on the prospective ignore list. :D :D

JoeyA (thinks Jimmy M plays well enough that he could make a serious contribution).
 
This is my first post after a few weeks of lurking, so bear with me on this one.

In response to the original thought... I've only been here two weeks and already I'm skimming the front page and find myself flipping to older pages just in search of actual pool content. I realize that this is exactly how any other forum operates (ask me how I know).

To analyze the situation for a minute, you (in the general forum user sense, not just JoeyA) must realize that people come to the same forums for very different reasons. Some people come looking to offer information. Some come in search of information. Some (and usually the majority) come in search of a social venue or perhaps an outlet for boredom. You can usually define these percentages based on the threads themselves...

In any case, I have seen it work very well to split a forum into a technical discussion (how would you take this shot) and general discussion (not completely off-topic, but not purely technical). It would certainly make my experience as a new player and forum user more enjoyable.

I don't really see a downside to such an organizational scheme but if anyone does, please enlighten me!

Glad to be here, and I look forward to one day transitioning from the "searching for information" to the "contributing information" poster.

-James:D
 
I think to what Bobby Jones said about why he plays golf...for the feeling of a perfectly hit golf ball. When I want to get on stroke I lose my mind and body in the search for a perfectly struck shot. When you get that feeling it is like a drug.

I also like what is referred to in Pleasure of Small Motions, every shot wants to go in, it doesn't know any better. The only thing stopping it is you. Get out of the way and let the shot happen.

Put that mentality together and you will be well focused and confident.
 
PoolSponge said:
I think to what Bobby Jones said about why he plays golf...for the feeling of a perfectly hit golf ball. When I want to get on stroke I lose my mind and body in the search for a perfectly struck shot. When you get that feeling it is like a drug.

I also like what is referred to in Pleasure of Small Motions, every shot wants to go in, it doesn't know any better. The only thing stopping it is you. Get out of the way and let the shot happen.

Put that mentality together and you will be well focused and confident.
Click to expand...


Sounds like something someone with a little flipper would write.:cool:

On topic:

With proper preparation it's possible to get "lost in the land of dead stroke" on demand.:)
 
PoolSponge said:
I think to what Bobby Jones said about why he plays golf...for the feeling of a perfectly hit golf ball. When I want to get on stroke I lose my mind and body in the search for a perfectly struck shot. When you get that feeling it is like a drug.

I also like what is referred to in Pleasure of Small Motions, every shot wants to go in, it doesn't know any better. The only thing stopping it is you. Get out of the way and let the shot happen.

Put that mentality together and you will be well focused and confident.
Click to expand...



I disagree with that mentality, perfection is a goal for sure, but what happens when you pocket 500 balls without absolute perfection? are you going to beat yourself up? If you set a goal to pocket every ball to perfection you will likely loose.

These type players cant run racks consistant, your goal is to get through the rack, play zone position to wind up with a very makeable winning shot. just like golf, you cant expect to hit a hole in one every time you pick up a club.

Anyone who thinks they play perfectly or even the remote possibilty to attain a perfect game has already lost.


The key is not to attain physical perfection, but to attain the mindset of a strategic winner. you were not blessed with this from birth, you must be educated and willing to battle on a higher plane. your phsyical makeup will not make a winner. its whats inside. Now lets say you have the right mindset, will you become all the player you can be? maybe, but there is one more important factor, Heart, the will to win, and to never give up.

Heart breeds champions, this is the ability to eise above yourself to tackle the task ahead.







SPINDOKTOR
 
Serious Pool Player Version of "My Favorite Things" (original from the Sound of Music)

Squirt and deflection and whiskers on kittens
Predator shafts and warm woolen mittens
All of the aim systems tied up with string
These are a few of my favorite things.

Ten ball and jump cues and crisp apple strudels
Shane playing Corey and schnitzel with noodles
Ten ahead sets with the moon on their wings
These are a few of my favorite things.

When the nine skids, when the eight jaws, when I'm feeling sad,
I simply remember my favorite things and then I don't feel so bad.
 
JoeyA said:
Can any of you offer any insight, philosophically or otherwise as to how one might more consistently (on demand) be able to obtain this harmonious chemistry that is so necessary for the highest level play?


Thanks,
JoeyA (no jokes please :D :D :D )
Click to expand...

Meditation.
 
JimS said:
Meditation.
Click to expand...

Not sure if my play level is up and I may get booted from the thread :D- I would have said relaxation techniques, but meditation matches as well. So does visualization, recalling your perfect game from the past, or anything else that gets your mind right and releases tension from your body- you have to get your body remembering what it feels like to be in stroke. I can tell simply by addressing the ball whether its right or not.

Steve
 
I can't explain it!!

I can't explain it. When I leave the table after a win I have to ask what happened? When I run a rack I usually don't know it, I just do it. That is what some refer to as DEAD STROKE. You break, look at which pockets the winning ball will go in and then back up from the winning ball to your current shot. Now execute!! It is a drug. :D :D :D
 
JoeyA said:
You've broken the rule already Jimmy. You're a bad boy. You go on the prospective ignore list. :D :D

JoeyA (thinks Jimmy M plays well enough that he could make a serious contribution).
Click to expand...

Okay. Here's my contribution for some SERIOUS pool discussion: Don't hit the knuckle of your index finger on the table when breaking. It SERIOUSLY F-ING HURTS! I must have tore the skin off of that knuckle 20 times when I was a kid. You'd think I would have learned after the first couple times.

Okay - here's another SERIOUS contribution. Don't fire air barrels. People get SERIOUSLY pissed. :D :D :D

(Disclaimer: I apologize in advance if my sense of humor is offending anyone here)
 
Jimmy M. said:
Okay. Here's my contribution for some SERIOUS pool discussion: Don't hit the knuckle of your index finger on the table when breaking. It SERIOUSLY F-ING HURTS! I must have tore the skin off of that knuckle 20 times when I was a kid. You'd think I would have learned after the first couple times.

Okay - here's another SERIOUS contribution. Don't fire air barrels. People get SERIOUSLY pissed. :D :D :D

(Disclaimer: I apologize in advance if my sense of humor is offending anyone here)
Click to expand...


All right, I'll send you some rep.
You must be kin to Smorgass Bored. :D :D
JoeyA
 
JoeyA said:
You've broken the rule already Jimmy. You're a bad boy. You go on the prospective ignore list. :D :D

JoeyA (thinks Jimmy M plays well enough that he could make a serious contribution).
Click to expand...

JimmyM plays pool? :eek:

(Just kidding Jimmy)
 
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JoeyA said:
Can any of you offer any insight, philosophically or otherwise as to how one might more consistently (on demand) be able to obtain this harmonious chemistry that is so necessary for the highest level play?


Thanks,
JoeyA (no jokes please :D :D :D )
Click to expand...

The nirvana you suggest comes from within after experiencing everything outside and learning to adapt to it.
 
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