Pool Is One Of The Hardest Games

[(((Satori)))]

The great ones have spent a lot of time developing their game or level of play but yes some do learn faster.

Going back to my model of current level of play I will attempt to explain why I believe some learn like "naturals".

My model for current level of play in a sport like pool was... CLP = knowledge × skill × self image.

What is important to know here imo is how knowledge and skill and self image are not individual of each other but they are intertwined so when you increase one it can have a positive effect on the others also. For example when your knowledge increases your skill goes up, or when your self image goes up you skill does to, or you can gain in self.image by obtaining more knowledge, etc.

Now the thing about naturals Imo is they have the self image of being a good pool player already in tact from day one. For the most part they have the "I have what it takes to execute, Just GIVE Me The knowledge" attitude so when they learn some new skill they don't have to battle the thoughts that prevent them from being able to execute right away or at least quickly after learning.You see sometimes the benefits of practice come from learning a skill or gaining some knowledge but sometimes we get better from practice simply because we prove to ourself that we can already do it.

Well to put it simply the "naturals" have a bigger belief that they can do it, a better self image Imo, and so when they are presented new knowledge or working on a new skill it takes them less time to master it.

 

[Tony_in_MD]

Is juggling a sport?

And yep, pool is special too because of the "2" bal thing, no other sport has that either....

 

[Island Drive]

I carried Jimmy on the road when he was 15, He beat players like Harold Dollar when Harold was in his prime.. The problem was, he only wanted to play top players and might lose to a unknown getting weight. I trapped Brian Ezell into giving Jimmy the 8 and he robbed Jimmy, twice. I introduced him to Earl when we were in N.C. and Earl asked me what his speed was and Jimmy spoke up and said about your speed. He was strictly a ego player and after 3 months I had to pull up. I heard from him a few years back when he called the local poolroom looking for me. He was out west somewhere. If anyone knows a way to contact him, I would appreciate the information. Jimmy, Keith, and Shannon were the best players at 15, that I'm aware of.

Another couple youngsters that played real sporty....Jesse Bowman and Justin Bergman.

 

[JB Cases]

Another couple youngsters that played real sporty....Jesse Bowman and Justin Bergman.

Jesse was raised in the pool room and his dad is a good player. Don't know Justin's back story.

 

[Tony_in_MD]

I cannot understand why they did not include the track and field decathlon in the list. I also wonder about there analysis of football and baseball. In my mind those ratings depend upon the positions they are using. There are differences between punters and linebackers and first basemen and center fielders. Those differences would influence their ratings. Did they just pick one position in each sport to study?

And while you were googling you didn't find this article?

http://www.livescience.com/32678-whats-the-toughest-sport.html

60 sports were measured.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/sportSkills

Billiards is ranked on the list of sports so ESPN considers it a sport. And out of 60 it came in at 59, just above fishing.

Baseball came in at #9 RJ

Boxing is #1.

 

[one stroke]

I cannot understand why they did not include the track and field decathlon in the list. I also wonder about there analysis of football and baseball. In my mind those ratings depend upon the positions they are using. There are differences between punters and linebackers and first basemen and center fielders. Those differences would influence their ratings. Did they just pick one position in each sport to study?

Certainly the skilled positions would be much harder ,,
It's just a poll anyway no facts to it

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[KRJ]

Is juggling a sport?

ummmm, no

 

[KRJ]

Certainly the skilled positions would be much harder ,,
It's just a poll anyway no facts to it

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It was conducted by experts in the field, with varying backgrounds. I think they did a pretty good job overall.

The big problem I have is curling surely should be at the bottom

 

[(((Satori)))]

ummmm, no

Have you seen this? LOL

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JvyBX3dfUoc

Just in case you cant tell im only joking.

I imagine somewhere out there is a juggling website and on the forum they are debating about how hard juggling is compared to other sports and on top of that there is a huge fight going on about bonus ball. Did I say bonusball? Not bonusball, I mean this sport posted above, some of the juggling community love it and some hate it.

 

[BeiberLvr]

Fact:

There are more great players today, worldwide, then there were 50 years ago. This could mean one of two things

1. In the last 30 years ago, there was suddenly an influx of people born with the "pool gene"

2. Instruction has become easier and easier to come by in recent times. Whether it's from a formal instructor, a pro, books, DVDs, free videos on Youtube, or the local hotshot that's will share their secrets. All of it is readily accessible for anyone that wants to learn and is willing to put in some time.

 

[JB Cases]

Is juggling a sport?

Yes.

http://thewjf.com/

 

[KRJ]

Have you seen this? LOL

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JvyBX3dfUoc

Just in case you cant tell im only joking.

I imagine somewhere out there is a juggling website and on the forum they are debating about how hard juggling is compared to other sports and on top of that there is a huge fight going on about bonus ball. Did I say bonusball? Not bonusball, I mean this sport posted above, some of the juggling community love it and some hate it.

I stand corrected...... oh, i'm sure they are more prepared and better conditioned than every other sport according to the website dedicated to "juggling"... and for the record, I can juggle Playing baseball, sometimes you gotta keep busy in the dugout

 

[JB Cases]

Fact:

There are more great players today, worldwide, then there were 50 years ago. This could mean one of two things

1. In the last 30 years ago, there was suddenly an influx of people born with the "pool gene"

2. Instruction has become easier and easier to come by in recent times. Whether it's from a formal instructor, a pro, books, DVDs, free videos on Youtube, or the local hotshot that's will share their secrets. All of it is readily accessible for anyone that wants to learn and is willing to put in some time.

Obviously there has been a secret program to breed pool players.

I stand corrected...... oh, i'm sure they are more prepared and better conditioned than every other sport according to the website dedicated to "juggling"... and for the record, I can juggle Playing baseball, sometimes you gotta keep busy in the dugout

Juggling is one of those activities which is very healthy for the brain. In other words juggling makes you smarter.

I can't juggle. (yet)

 

[KRJ]

Obviously there has been a secret program to breed pool players.



Juggling is one of those activities which is very healthy for the brain. In other words juggling makes you smarter.

I can't juggle. (yet)

Yeah, until you wanna show off and juggle pool balls and then proceed to take one in the noggin.... man, I was not even throwing them very high, not more than 2 feet above my head, them darn things hurt

 

[one stroke]

Fact:

There are more great players today, worldwide, then there were 50 years ago. This could mean one of two things

1. In the last 30 years ago, there was suddenly an influx of people born with the "pool gene"

2. Instruction has become easier and easier to come by in recent times. Whether it's from a formal instructor, a pro, books, DVDs, free videos on Youtube, or the local hotshot that's will share their secrets. All of it is readily accessible for anyone that wants to learn and is willing to put in some time.

The pool of players have grown dramatically since the big leagues have come about and of course you get more talent in the field ,, and yes there are many more avenues for instruction ,, also increasing the field of overall players with ability
But the percentage of the truly elite does not change much


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9

 

[JB Cases]

The pool of players had grown dramatically since the big leagues have come about and of course you get more talent in the field ,, and yes there are many more avenues for instruction ,, also increasing the field of overall players with ability
But the percentage if the truly elite does not change much


1

9

What was the percentage of "truly elite" in 1920?

In every other sport the skill levels have increased dramatically with many more world class participants narrowing the gap between rank amateur to professional I would think.

So can you show some data to back up your statement that the number of professionals is the same as it was at other times in history?

I would tend to think that with a large influx of participants the number of pros as a percentage of overall players would be less but the average level of all players would be higher. Which is in my opinion what the situation probably is.

And that is due to nurture not nature IMO.

 

[CJ Wiley]

the true essence of the game, which originally was about shot making and strategy.

Fact:

There are more great players today, worldwide, then there were 50 years ago. This could mean one of two things

1. In the last 30 years ago, there was suddenly an influx of people born with the "pool gene"

2. Instruction has become easier and easier to come by in recent times. Whether it's from a formal instructor, a pro, books, DVDs, free videos on Youtube, or the local hotshot that's will share their secrets. All of it is readily accessible for anyone that wants to learn and is willing to put in some time.

Most of the greatest players of this day are the same ones that were on top in the 90s.....the number of great players are larger only because the base was so large 20 years ago. The "90s Players" stood on the shoulders of Efren, Earl, Buddy Hall, Nick Varner, Jimmy Rempe, "Jersey Red", Mosconi, Dallas West, Ray Martin, Johnny Archer, Mike Sigel, Allen Hopkins, Steve Mizerak, Wade Crane, Mike Massey, Larry Liscotti, Bustemante, Luat, etc.

The "secrets" have now been revealed on video, you tube, however, the game has been diluted by playing "one foul," this has actually lowered the level of play, it's just impossible to discern because of the "one foul rules"......"ducking" and "kicking" covers up the true essence of the game, which originally was about shot making and strategy.

2 Shot 9 Ball forces the level of play to be quite a bit better. I was talking to Mike Sigel last night and he even mentioned growing up and playing "2 Foul" on the road. One foul is a big equalizer because it cut the shot making down to 20% and the strategy down to 10%.....it's still challenging, just diluted for the champion caliber players.

 

[one stroke]

What was the percentage of "truly elite" in 1920?

In every other sport the skill levels have increased dramatically with many more world class participants narrowing the gap between rank amateur to professional I would think.

So can you show some data to back up your statement that the number of professionals is the same as it was at other times in history?

I would tend to think that with a large influx of participants the number of pros as a percentage of overall players would be less but the average level of all players would be higher. Which is in my opinion what the situation probably is.

And that is due to nurture not nature IMO.

The average level is the average level ,
The elite would be the top if that both numbers would rise with more players
Many have argued because of leagues and the influx of the shoot pool while drinking there's less quality out of more quantity
It's certainly open for debate


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