Pool influences

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Williebetmore

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Silver Member
Sarah,
I'm sure many of us would be interested in how you achieved such proficiency at such an early age. It seems that most of the great players had teacher/mentors that conveyed the secrets of greatness (ie. Keogh to Crane to Sigel). The exceptions seem to be the "Whiz Kids" like Balukas, L.J. Jones, Mosconi who started at such an early age and somehow found and developed it themselves in those endless hours that children have to spend at a new pasttime. How early did you start playing, who were your influences?? Thanks for your time (if you have already posted on this subject feel free to refer me to a thread).
 
Great Question Willie. Sarah, if you have time I would love to hear about this subject too! Thx, Stephen
 
Hello Willie and Stephen. Great question.

I started playing pool when I was 10. My family opened a pool room when I was 9 and it took a little time before I wanted to start playing. The big decision to start playing pool rather than other sports was being diagnosed with diabetes when I was 10. Not that I would be unable to play other sports, it is just a little easier and less athletic.

For the first few months that I played my dad would only let me play on the bar table. He was afraid I would be careless and ruin the cloth. I told him that I really wanted to play and be good. I told him that I wanted to be the best player one day so I had to play on the big table.

At first I watched all of the good players in the room play. I picked up on their bridges and how to shoot some shots. I was able to copy off of them. So I guess it was natural. About a year later I got my first lesson from Mark Wilson. I then went to a BCA Cue Camp with Jerry Briesath and Mark Wilson as the teachers. I have to say they have been a huge influence to me. They are both teachers that I have gone to many times over the years. I haven't seen either of them for lessons in about 4 years, although I am considering going to them sometime soon.

Another big influence was having tournaments to play in. I got to go to a tournament nearly every weekend when I was younger. The McDermott Tour and National 9ball tour helped me learn how to deal with tournament pressure and how to have respect for other players. The BCA Junior Nationals also was a huge influence. I played in that tournament for 9 years. I made alot of friends and won enough scholorship money to pay for my first year of college.

So, there have been many influences as you can see. The biggest have been my supportive family, boyfriend, and friends.

Sarah
 
sarahrousey said:
Hello Willie and Stephen. Great question.

I started playing pool when I was 10. My family opened a pool room when I was 9 and it took a little time before I wanted to start playing. The big decision to start playing pool rather than other sports was being diagnosed with diabetes when I was 10. Not that I would be unable to play other sports, it is just a little easier and less athletic.

For the first few months that I played my dad would only let me play on the bar table. He was afraid I would be careless and ruin the cloth. I told him that I really wanted to play and be good. I told him that I wanted to be the best player one day so I had to play on the big table.

At first I watched all of the good players in the room play. I picked up on their bridges and how to shoot some shots. I was able to copy off of them. So I guess it was natural. About a year later I got my first lesson from Mark Wilson. I then went to a BCA Cue Camp with Jerry Briesath and Mark Wilson as the teachers. I have to say they have been a huge influence to me. They are both teachers that I have gone to many times over the years. I haven't seen either of them for lessons in about 4 years, although I am considering going to them sometime soon.

Another big influence was having tournaments to play in. I got to go to a tournament nearly every weekend when I was younger. The McDermott Tour and National 9ball tour helped me learn how to deal with tournament pressure and how to have respect for other players. The BCA Junior Nationals also was a huge influence. I played in that tournament for 9 years. I made alot of friends and won enough scholorship money to pay for my first year of college.

So, there have been many influences as you can see. The biggest have been my supportive family, boyfriend, and friends.

Sarah
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Sarah,
Thanks a lot for the info, it makes me feel much better (as if there is some remote hope of achieving proficiency). I had lessons last year with Mark and Jerry; they were just amazing. The lessons were separate, but their message was identical. Superb teachers; they changed my stroke completely and my game has really progressed. It is interesting that Jeanette Lee began working with them last Fall and her game seems to really be improving. Good luck this year.
 
No problem Willie. You can always get better. I am a firm believer that desire to succeed will get you a long way. Mark learned from Jerry that is why they are so similar. I like the fact that they ask what you need help with rather than telling you what to do. I know Jeanette went to Jerry a few years ago. She recently rededicated herself to playing and you can definitely tell she has been working hard. They are great teachers. I think anyone that goes to them will have a significant jump in their game.

Sarah
 
teachers

Williebetmore said:
Sarah,
Thanks a lot for the info, it makes me feel much better (as if there is some remote hope of achieving proficiency). I had lessons last year with Mark and Jerry; they were just amazing. The lessons were separate, but their message was identical. Superb teachers; they changed my stroke completely and my game has really progressed. It is interesting that Jeanette Lee began working with them last Fall and her game seems to really be improving. Good luck this year.
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I just got the Brieseth tape and it is pretty good. I hear echoes of my teacher Scott Lee in the tape, who I think studied under Jerry. I've seen Scott three times and some of his teachings are starting to sink in. Maybe eventually, I'll go see jerry. Dennis
 
Dennis,

I think you are right thinking that Scott learned from Jerry. I know they have taught together, at least they did at the BCA Cue Camp I went to many years ago. Scott is a good teacher as well. You are also right about it taking some time to sink in. You can only remember so much at a time. Sometimes they try to teach too much in one lesson and you can only remember a very small amount right away but things will pop up in a game and you can remember what they said about the situation....if that makes any sense? At any rate, you are in good hands.

Good luck and take care,
Sarah
 
Quote Sarah:
You can only remember so much at a time. Sometimes they try to teach too much in one lesson and you can only remember a very small amount right away but things will pop up in a game and you can remember what they said about the situation

Hi Sarah,

You are the first pro who has said that. And it makes a lot of sense. There is so much to learn about playing pool that it just can not all be accomplished in one weekend session. Some people are fast learners and retain a lot of the new information but in general most people are not that fortunate.

As an examle. Bert Kinester's 60 minute workout tape. He shows all that valuable information in just 60 minutes, but by the time a person gets to the end of the tape he is already forgetting what he learned at the beginning of it. To properly learn everything on it the person has to take each shot and practice it until he masters it. So that little 60 minute tape could easily mean another 60+ hours work at a practice table.

There is no magic pill to take to learn pool. What it does take is a lot of study and hard work. Many, many hours at the practice table. And it takes time with an instructor for him to know the person and where in the development stage of pool he is. To me it does no good to teach/learn advanced techniques when the student has not learned the fundamentals necessary to perform the advanced shot. It is just a waste of both the instructor's and the student's time.

When pros like you go for lessons you and the instructor both know your talents, skill, and ability, and you will spend the time in just making minor adjustments. Improving on what you already know.

I think taking lessons once or twice a month, or idealy once a week for an hour or two at a time, would be money well spent. And the person would learn a lot more from it then taking a weekend course. Unfortunately, pool instructors are few are far between around here. And when you find someone who will teach, it is just a sideline with him, not a source of income, or a real job that he cares about.

With you having the brass ring in sight it probably would be a tremendous advantage for you to take the lessons with Jerry B. you are thinking about. From listening to him on tape he seems idealy suited to teaching. It just might give you that little edge that you need in the upcoming tournaments.

Jake
 
Jake you are right. The lessons are way too short. I have had that experience a few times. Last time I went to see Jerry Briesath I had a 3 day lesson. The first day was spent going over my fundamentals, making sure everything was intact. The next two days were spent learning various different defensive shots, kick shots, and position play. Each day was about a 10 hour lesson. Just imagin how much was crammed into those two days. I felt that I left with about 25% of it intact, the other 75% was just in one ear and out the other, or so I thought. When I got home and still today (4 years later) I see shots that I didn't remember right when I left but I can picture what he said to do in that situation.

I feel that it is important to have an idea of what you want to work on when you go for lessons. I also think it is important to spend time reviewing the fundamentals, no matter what skill level.

I wish there was a magic pool playing pill or tape or anything. Things would be alot easier. But that would take away the fun of practice, competition, and frustration.

Another thing, you can learn alot by watching other people. I am a firm believer that you can learn from the ball banger, the intermediate and the pro. Sometimes the lesson learned from them is the best.

Sarah
 
Magic pill

What!!! No magic pill?? Damn, I guess I'll have to try practicing.

Sarah, Do you have any specific drills to which you always find yourself returning? Any drills that have helped you make breakthroughs in the past?
Any drills that you do regularly to assess your skills or progress? Also congratulations on the #5 WPBA ranking (if the main forum thread report was accurate - I take everything reported on the internet with a grain of salt), you wouldn't by chance be thinking about a #1 would you???
 
Willie,

I have never been very disciplined when it comes to drills. I usually just hit balls then practice shots that I have been uncomfortable shooting. I shoot those until I am comfortable with them. I also play the ghost ahead sets or races. Before the tournament in Mississippi I did alot of easy drills. I was feeling really uncomfortable with my stance and stroke. That helped me get comfortable again.

As for the #5 rank, I wish it was true. That is a year to date ranking. Overall I am ranked 21st. As for #1...I am definitely trying to get there.

Sarah
 
sarahrousey said:
Willie,

I have never been very disciplined when it comes to drills. I usually just hit balls then practice shots that I have been uncomfortable shooting. I shoot those until I am comfortable with them. I also play the ghost ahead sets or races. Before the tournament in Mississippi I did alot of easy drills. I was feeling really uncomfortable with my stance and stroke. That helped me get comfortable again.

As for the #5 rank, I wish it was true. That is a year to date ranking. Overall I am ranked 21st. As for #1...I am definitely trying to get there.

Sarah
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It is interesting that you play sets and races, competing with (against) yourself. Practice and competition are 2 totally separate activities. I was fortunate enough years ago to attend a function where Arnold Palmer spoke - he described his extremely structured regimen as a young man of play (against a ghost opponent), then practice, then play, then practice. The practice was to develop an absolutely repeatable mechanical swing. The play was to learn to use that swing in competition - he could always rely on the muscle memory from his recent practice sessions. Hopefully your career will turn out like Arnie's.
 
Willie,

You said it perfectly...or Arnold Palmer said it perfectly. You don't want to lose, even if you are only playing yourself. In my opinion playing the ghost is good practice...I might be crazy though. Who knows. I too hope my career can be as great as his. Thank you for your kind words.

Good luck with your practice!
Sarah
 
sarahrousey said:
Willie,

You said it perfectly...or Arnold Palmer said it perfectly. You don't want to lose, even if you are only playing yourself. In my opinion playing the ghost is good practice...I might be crazy though. Who knows. I too hope my career can be as great as his. Thank you for your kind words.

Good luck with your practice!
Sarah
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Sarah, I think hitting balls by yourself or playing the ghost, in many ways, is harder than playing some one else. If you screw up, miss a shot and leave your self badly, the next player up is you, not the other guy. :D
 
Rich, plus there is the fact that you have to rack as soon as you miss. Might as well run nine balls before you have to rack. That is all the incentive I need. I hate racking. :)
 
In Steve Campana's drill book he has four steps to each drill.
1st step might be to complete the drill 4 times successfully in 10 attempts.
2nd step might be to complete it 7 times in 10 attempts.
3rd step would be to beat the ghost in a race to 5. Beating the ghost is never easy, but it does allow one to miss four times. and still win.
4th step is to complete the drill 5 times in succession - this leaves no room for error. One miss and it's all over. It adds considerable pressure to what otherwise would be a simple drill.

Jake
 
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