in your own journeys through this game what are some of the things that have taken you beyond where you were previously playing....what are some things that changed the way you seen the game and how you now see it... what are some key thoughts/skills that took you up the ladder and through the levels...What are the main points that made your game take off prom where it previously was...
Plateaus levels and progress...
- Thread starter jcpoolgod
- Start date
Anytime I added new skills to my game it would go downward a bit while I practiced it then it would go up another level when I'd get it down well.
Happened with pocket speed, draw, top, left, right, etc.
I guess putting in work on the tables is what's always moved me upward.
Happened with pocket speed, draw, top, left, right, etc.
I guess putting in work on the tables is what's always moved me upward.
The center of the ball. Banging and spinning balls around just doesn't cut it. It took a top player to show me how to find center that my game really improved.
This is a little hard to explain without words (in person) but here goes.
I think I a credited (maybe falsely at times) for having more knowledge than I do, this is mainly because of the way that I do and try to view the game. Tailoring specific aspect to individuals and not viewing it from a general "oh everyone starts here" type of thing.
I have been able to progress at a respectable pace given my lack of actual table time, and as I was telling my mentor yesterday (sunday) it was because I have actually gained a lot/learned a lot from my little time at the table. I studied learning material and other players pros and amateurs alike, slowing my game down (I know many disagree with slow play) and really focusing on executing above all. See I feel that speed comes after being confident in ones ability and doing things slowly first helps build that.
I still struggle with two major aspect that are difficult to improve on without outside intervention, this is some mechanical issues and a certain mental issue that I also struggle with. The fact that I don't compete as much or often as I may like or need to is also a speed bump but being worked on.
So I guess
(a) accepting my "TRUE" ability
(b) slowing my game down only increasing as I gain more confidence (PSR)
(c) practicing specific things that directly affect me or need work on.
(d) finding the "RIGHT" person as a mentor to convey with as to gain the most from the feed back
(e) a different "I want to learn/get better" attitude, what I mean is not going into anything be it practice or playing without learning from it, not just going through the motions during practice but deeply going through it to understand what is taking place and why what is happening is happening.
Those are the things that I feel have helped me to improve "Significantly" over the past few months, my biggest hurdle right now is that specific mental issue and the mechanical one that would take some time with a coach or risk prolonging the matter going solo, oh and competing/playing a bit more won't hurt either.
I think I a credited (maybe falsely at times) for having more knowledge than I do, this is mainly because of the way that I do and try to view the game. Tailoring specific aspect to individuals and not viewing it from a general "oh everyone starts here" type of thing.
I have been able to progress at a respectable pace given my lack of actual table time, and as I was telling my mentor yesterday (sunday) it was because I have actually gained a lot/learned a lot from my little time at the table. I studied learning material and other players pros and amateurs alike, slowing my game down (I know many disagree with slow play) and really focusing on executing above all. See I feel that speed comes after being confident in ones ability and doing things slowly first helps build that.
I still struggle with two major aspect that are difficult to improve on without outside intervention, this is some mechanical issues and a certain mental issue that I also struggle with. The fact that I don't compete as much or often as I may like or need to is also a speed bump but being worked on.
So I guess
(a) accepting my "TRUE" ability
(b) slowing my game down only increasing as I gain more confidence (PSR)
(c) practicing specific things that directly affect me or need work on.
(d) finding the "RIGHT" person as a mentor to convey with as to gain the most from the feed back
(e) a different "I want to learn/get better" attitude, what I mean is not going into anything be it practice or playing without learning from it, not just going through the motions during practice but deeply going through it to understand what is taking place and why what is happening is happening.
Those are the things that I feel have helped me to improve "Significantly" over the past few months, my biggest hurdle right now is that specific mental issue and the mechanical one that would take some time with a coach or risk prolonging the matter going solo, oh and competing/playing a bit more won't hurt either.
Some things that helped me up my game:
Like the above poster said, learning how NOT to spin the ball and still get shape was the biggest thing for me. Also, continuing to make small improvements to all of my fundamentals no matter how good I think they are. Those changes really add up over time and give me something to fall back on and rely on under pressure.
On the mental side, never, ever quitting on a game or match no matter the score or how the balls are rolling.
Also, developing a consistent rhythym and strong style of play and being able to force them on my opponent so they have to adapt to me instead of the other way around.
Like the above poster said, learning how NOT to spin the ball and still get shape was the biggest thing for me. Also, continuing to make small improvements to all of my fundamentals no matter how good I think they are. Those changes really add up over time and give me something to fall back on and rely on under pressure.
On the mental side, never, ever quitting on a game or match no matter the score or how the balls are rolling.
Also, developing a consistent rhythym and strong style of play and being able to force them on my opponent so they have to adapt to me instead of the other way around.
PSR
patience
letting the weight of the cue do the work
center ball shape
practicing with a purpose or goal
video tape
swear words
patience
letting the weight of the cue do the work
center ball shape
practicing with a purpose or goal
video tape
swear words
Desire/passion. Every time I hit a plateau I cross it a better player. Hit a million balls. When I play league (NOT APA) I always want to get matched up with the best player in the room. I will very rarely play a player that is at a lower level than I am if I have a choice. When I can't play a better player I play the ghost. The ghost is the best player that ever played the game and the best that ever will.
Sure he can finish from anywhere but have you seen his break, gives up ball in hand every time.
Yup. And we still step on our own d*cks from time to time.
Flip_dat_Quarta
Banned
Here are 10 major breakthrough's I've had:
1. Watching pool. From which I've learned common patterns.
2. Doing shooting drills from the Zero-X series for a few months.
3. Once I began recognizing when I had an easy safety available.
4. Doing lots and lots of research through the internet, DVD's, and books.
5. Once I figured out how throw and deflection were affecting my shots and often causing me to miss.
6. Once I learned how to execute a kick shot more than 50% of the time.
7. Getting my own table.
8. Quitting league and focusing on gambling and tournaments.
9. Every once in a while taking a practice session to work on 1 specific shot that I struggle with and shooting it over and over and over again until I figure it out. (This is has got me through many plateaus)
10. Doing better than expected in a tournament and taking that motivation and confidence to move my game forward.
1. Watching pool. From which I've learned common patterns.
2. Doing shooting drills from the Zero-X series for a few months.
3. Once I began recognizing when I had an easy safety available.
4. Doing lots and lots of research through the internet, DVD's, and books.
5. Once I figured out how throw and deflection were affecting my shots and often causing me to miss.
6. Once I learned how to execute a kick shot more than 50% of the time.
7. Getting my own table.
8. Quitting league and focusing on gambling and tournaments.
9. Every once in a while taking a practice session to work on 1 specific shot that I struggle with and shooting it over and over and over again until I figure it out. (This is has got me through many plateaus)
10. Doing better than expected in a tournament and taking that motivation and confidence to move my game forward.
How important it is to stay still during the stroke. People always talk about jumping up as being the problem. Any unnecessary movement can have the same effect on not hitting the cue ball exactly where you want to, even if it is minor. My accuracy has greatly improved since trying to be like a statue except for stroking arm.
I bought, read, and took to heart, Mark Wilson's book, Playing Great Pool. The book is expensive, but there are about 4 or 5 tips in there that I have not seen or heard anywhere else. In my view, even one of those is worth the price of the book. The main thing I took from that book was a better PSR, and a better ability to make small changes.
The second thing is playing a better player. I had 15 hour gambling session. I think that session by itself moved my game up. If I had the money and time (most of us don't) I would hunt for better players in the daytime with a flashlight and I would try and get into these marathon sessions. It is like spinach for your pool game.
kollegedave
The second thing is playing a better player. I had 15 hour gambling session. I think that session by itself moved my game up. If I had the money and time (most of us don't) I would hunt for better players in the daytime with a flashlight and I would try and get into these marathon sessions. It is like spinach for your pool game.
kollegedave
Here's a link to a thread that I wrote that is related to this subject...
Here's a link...
http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=392813&highlight=epiphanies
To a thread I wrote a while back relating to this subject.
Jaden
Here's a link...
http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=392813&highlight=epiphanies
To a thread I wrote a while back relating to this subject.
Jaden
I think so long as you are working towards tangible goals, you really shouldn't totally plateau. Not to say that you will be improving constantly by leaps and bounds, but incremental improvements should come fairly consistently.
By that I mean, identifying positional shots, safety situations you don't handle well and practicing to improve those areas. Identifying mechanical flaws and making necessary adjustments.
By that I mean, identifying positional shots, safety situations you don't handle well and practicing to improve those areas. Identifying mechanical flaws and making necessary adjustments.
I think this is important...ive got to put in some to time to find "center" not where i think center is....i still move the cueball around more than i should..
i think something i need to work on is playing bums....when someone isn't that great..i still need to bring it with all the fire..