Slow flash to bang but in truth I recognized that I was extremely unlikely to change your mindset. Reading again today I realize that others might be reading along and trying to explain might be of value to them.
If we get shape we almost never miss a ball. Getting shape means getting the cue ball to where you can pocket the next ball and get shape on the next ball after that, over and over. The less you have to force either of these things the better your shape was.
To pocket a ball you get to select a spot on the object ball that will result in it falling in a pocket. I imagine hearing a great collective "Duh" when people read this!(grin) To get shape, We have to first hit the object ball at a spot dictated to pocket the object ball, then go from there as many rails as needed to get shape and the speed has to be right to stop where we need to. Of course often traffic has to be negotiated also.
Obviously the percentages vary from shot to shot but if I were to pick an overall focus to pocket a ball and get spot shape on the next one I would say that only twenty percent of my focus is on making the object ball. It is made when I hit the selected spot on it, no more attention needed. Most shots none of the things I have to consider to make shape come into play to pocket the object ball. The cue ball which usually is traveling much further, coming off of rails, through traffic, perhaps striking other balls intentionally, that is the part of the shot to get right!
Shape isn't getting a shot on the next ball. Shape is getting a shot on the next ball that the average barroom banger can make and the angle is right so that the only thing you have to consider to have the same type of shape on the next ball is cue ball speed. One of the ultimate practitioners of this if not the ultimate was Willie Mosconi. Somebody that had never hit a ball could watch one of Mosconi's exhibitions and believe that they could buy a table and be running hundreds in a few weeks. Willie made the game seem ridiculously simple, partially because for him the physical side of the game was simple and easy most of the time.
Playing adequate shape can leave a player struggling every shot. Playing good shape makes the game easy. Not that acquiring the skills to begin with comes easy. After I thought I was a pretty fair pool player and knew how to play shape I still had to put in low thousands of hours learning how to play shape.
A simple way to see rather shape or pocketing a ball is harder is to reverse things. Play the object ball off of the cue ball every shot and pocket the object ball. Now instead of having a nice stationary pattern to work with, you are recreating the pattern every shot. That cue ball you just knocked around to make this shot has to be located where you can hit it and pocket the next ball. One or two games might be pretty easy sometimes but try beating the ghost in a race to seven or nine. Billiard players will be much more at home.
Hu
Remember this…….Advice is worth exactly how much you paid to obtain it, like with a lawyer, doctor or accountant.
Otherwise it is merely another person’s opinion and by now, most of us have learned that varies from person to person.
Having said that, I reluctantly use the term “advice” in my post but based upon the way the Forum works, I guess it is.
Instead, I hope you’ll view my remarks as a reflection of my pool philosophy that extends into all aspects of the game.
The advice of playing against stronger players is based on your ability to observe them and the way they play, stroke the ball, shot selection, CB position, utilize safety play, bridge distance, pre-shot routine, play hard cut shots, backward cut shots, frozen OB rail shots, bank shots, safeties, center ball use……OMG…..there is so much you can acquire in wisdom and knowledge by watching closely when it’s not your turn. Watch their pace of play, how they walk to their next shot, observe their practice strokes and how they stroke through the cue ball instead of pushing it. You don’t get to learn most of this by not playing against better players. Sure you can watch a match but it’s not the same as playing it where you are inside the ropes, up close where the action is happening. Most importantly, you get to feel pressure, test your nerves. And hopefully, garnish some “nice shot” comments from your opponent instead of mostly offering it.
It sucks to get beaten but when anyone masters the table and dominates me in a match where I don’t get many shots,
I learn a lot from seeing how someone plays the table as well as intensifying my desire to competeimprove. Think of it this way….Handicaps were invented to try establishing an equal playing field. Whatever your level of play is currently, everyone always wants to get better and improve as a player. Your goal should be to drive your handicap in the ground like a tent stake. Make it as low as possible because it’s your gauges progress & is feedback about your improvement. The only way to accomplish this is by playing better, stronger players more often otherwise you will fall into mediocrity and unintentionally plateau your game. You’ll create a false ceiling. Example: you see or read comments from players complaining how their game seems to gotten stuck. They can’t figure out why and play good, even great at times but the next occasion can’t run more than 3-4 balls. If you play better players often enough, well, that shouldn’t happen very often, if at all.