Plateau

Zphix

Zphix

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Sup everybody,

Been quite a while since I last posted here, mostly because I lost a lot of interest in playing pool simply because it's not all that fun for me, anymore. I think it's more the people that I'm around rather than the game not being fun but I've plateaued.

I'm in a weird gray area - the players that are better than me I don't get to play regularly or interact with often and the players I'm better than seem to be worlds away and leagues are kind of boring.

That being said - I don't know what it's going to take to push past this plateau. I'm a pretty good player but I'm not a run-out player (I can break and run sometimes but it's not consistent) so I think the way I think through a rack is faulty. If anybody has some insight or personal experiences to share, I'd love to hear about it!

-Richard
 
There are high frequency shots and there are low frequency ones too.

You have to stop missing the high frequency ones...and stop shooting the low frequency ones.

Easier said than done, bit there is a significant level of truth to the joke: he doesn't play that good; he never takes a hard shot.
 
Zphix said:
Sup everybody,

Been quite a while since I last posted here, mostly because I lost a lot of interest in playing pool simply because it's not all that fun for me, anymore. I think it's more the people that I'm around rather than the game not being fun but I've plateaued.

I'm in a weird gray area - the players that are better than me I don't get to play regularly or interact with often and the players I'm better than seem to be worlds away and leagues are kind of boring.

That being said - I don't know what it's going to take to push past this plateau. I'm a pretty good player but I'm not a run-out player (I can break and run sometimes but it's not consistent) so I think the way I think through a rack is faulty. If anybody has some insight or personal experiences to share, I'd love to hear about it!

-Richard
Click to expand...

Are you in the MA area? Maybe it was someone else but I have a memory or inviting you to the Ayer tournament.
 
If you're not a consistent run-out player, then there is lots and lots for you to learn yet. Seems that you're not a self-motivating player, because you mention the other players that are better but not available which leads you to believe there is no opportunity to improve. I think the best way for you to overcome that plateau, is to find a way to motivate yourself for improvement... but I get it, that is difficult for most.
 
Zphix said:
Sup everybody,

Been quite a while since I last posted here, mostly because I lost a lot of interest in playing pool simply because it's not all that fun for me, anymore. I think it's more the people that I'm around rather than the game not being fun but I've plateaued.

I'm in a weird gray area - the players that are better than me I don't get to play regularly or interact with often and the players I'm better than seem to be worlds away and leagues are kind of boring.

That being said - I don't know what it's going to take to push past this plateau. I'm a pretty good player but I'm not a run-out player (I can break and run sometimes but it's not consistent) so I think the way I think through a rack is faulty. If anybody has some insight or personal experiences to share, I'd love to hear about it!

-Richard
Click to expand...

My answer to breaking through a plateau is hitting a million balls. But if the passion is not there it could be a problem.

Hit up a new poolroom and meet a different group of players?
 
Zphix said:
Sup everybody,

Been quite a while since I last posted here, mostly because I lost a lot of interest in playing pool simply because it's not all that fun for me, anymore. I think it's more the people that I'm around rather than the game not being fun but I've plateaued.

I'm in a weird gray area - the players that are better than me I don't get to play regularly or interact with often and the players I'm better than seem to be worlds away and leagues are kind of boring.

That being said - I don't know what it's going to take to push past this plateau. I'm a pretty good player but I'm not a run-out player (I can break and run sometimes but it's not consistent) so I think the way I think through a rack is faulty. If anybody has some insight or personal experiences to share, I'd love to hear about it!

-Richard
Click to expand...

Hey Z,

Plateaus can suck. What I have found though is that usually it is the mind that has plateaued. Pool players decide they play at a certain level and work their ass off to get there. Then, when they do, they spend the rest of their life maintaining their game at that level.

The key to breaking that cycle is to consciously change your goals and the level that you see yourself at.

So at what level do you want to play pool?

I remember when you moved there you were posting about starting a new league and wanting to be one of the better players in the league. It sounds like now you are.

So what's the next level?

Maybe the next level is being a 'runout player'. That's easy to practice by yourself. In fact, it requires solo practice time to master.

Throw out 10 balls (including the 8-ball) and get rid of clusters - then run out saratoga style for each group. Saratoga is rotation within the group. So run the solids in order, then make the 8. Spot the 8 and run the stripes in order. Take ball in hand whenever you miss at first. Then increase the number of balls. Then take away ball in hand after every miss.

If you struggle take away the rotation part of it.

If you notice you are missing a certain shot consistently, set up a drill to work on it a little.

You're in college and pool isn't the most important thing in your life. Have fun. Enjoy making memories and meeting people. It's a unique time in your life. Enjoy it.

As for pool. If you want to break the plateau you can do it leisurely at this point. Just work on running out with good patterns for an hour or two here and there and have it be your stress relief. Your meditation.

When you are ready to get back into it, you will. Or not. Either way is good.
 
Your location wouldn't be Hell, MI is it?

It's hard to play at a high level when it's not demanded. It really has to be an interest in becoming better and playing against your ability and not an opponent.

I watch pros play on youtube and it helps me focus and strive to play a better game.
 
What happens is once you reach a higher percentile, like for example, 90th percentile, the progress comes at an increasingly slower pace. for pracitice I personally like playing 9 ball sessions with the ghost with a goal in mind. Say races to 7. For example, your goal might to be win 3 games, then 4 games, then 5 games, then beat the ghost, then beat the ghost 30% of the time etc.

What I like about this is it encourages long practice sessions and increased precision. Each day will end with different results, but over time the result will be improved play. In my case it helped solidify my game and increases my confidence. Yes you will still make some nervous mistakes in competition, but once you do settle down, your game will be more solid than ever.

When you do play others, stay with people who are your speed or a little better if possible. Beating up on lower level league players is a waste of time.
 
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Very good advice here. To the O.P., I am in a similar situation and probably a similar skill level. I got lucky enough to be asked to play on a new team. In a league way over my head. I jumped at the chance. These guys shoot lights out. Not my team, the other ones. You get one chance, if you even get to the table. Every shot is the most important shot you have ever taken. Only three weeks in and I can already tell this will get me to the next level. Sure, I am cannon fodder now, but that won't last. At least that's my plan, good luck with yours.
 
I would repeat what bb said about 100x.
Another thing that helps me is to always
Remind myself how much I hate being stuck,
Makes doing drills, struggling until i use a
LOT of profanity and leave the practice table.
Only until the next session where i repeat this
Process until it gets better.
Remember that there is a reason people play
for 20+ years and never get any better.
Because its so darn hard and alot of work.
Gl and welcome to the struggle!
 
What is your skill level, and what games do you play? 8-ball, 9-ball, 14.1. Are there any instructors or coaches around your area?

Would you want to post a video, and explain your plateau?
 
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It is not likely, to become a runout player, when you know you are going to get back to the table and win anyway. Your mistakes just don't hurt enough. Master level type leagues are always looking for new players and teams, because most people are too afraid of getting there ass kicked. Don't be the twenty year guy. Go for it, you will need to get better, you will have to get better, and you will.
 
I would add if your talking about runout 8 ball watch the very best players you can in person or on video.

Look at their very first shot of the runout. It is usually the most important of the rack. Many of the videos with good commentators will give some insight as to why they chose it. The rest is staying in line and cb control. The latter takes much time, just be patient and work hard at it. Ask better players for help or lessons. If people see you working hard over a long period of time they will be more receptive to offering help. There are no shortcuts.
 
Won't be able to quote everyone but I will respond to general ideas/comments that I noticed:

1) I'm not sure how much "passion" is a problem - it used to not be one because I was playing more and watching videos constantly. I got bumped up to a 7 in APA 8-ball so I found myself unable to play on most of the teams that are out here and being a 7 in this league is probably a 6 anywhere else. My passion really died because there isn't really a group of strong players around here - I can count maybe 5-8 players that are competition but I don't see them often.

2) I used to watch videos and drills all the time; after using Zero-X kicking for over 2 years playing with the rails has become second nature. I also used a fair amount of drills from Billiard Digest website.

3) Might be my goal orientation - I'd like to make it to around the upper 600s/low 700s of Fargo Rates. I don't want to be the next SVB but I'd like to be able to play high caliber pool with some competition around the country.

4) Yeah, it's incredibly hard to keep myself motivated when my competition doesn't demand me to play any better. Honestly, it's pretty tough for me to find people that I can talk about pool with and they understand it - tangent lines, English, etc. A lot of people around my way only understand it in a basic form but don't know how to manipulate or use it creatively. I can't tell you how many people still think that left and right English affects the tangent line.

5) The passion and self-motivation - when I enjoy what I'm doing I fully immerse myself in it and I did that with pool for a few years and it's only recently stopped.

That being said, when I do play I still feel like I'm not playing at the level I want to but don't, necessarily, know how to make any more improvements. I really think that it's the mental aspect and thinking through a rack part of the game that I'm struggling with. The motor skills and technical ability are there but the way to properly use them might not be.

-Richard
 
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