Pool Players - What makes them good?

[drivermaker]

I sat for hours watching Efren, Varner, Archer, Strickland, Davenport, Hall, and whoever else was there I noticed very early that what they did with the cue ball was amazing, never hit a shot hard, and always played the rails when they could to get position on the next shot. Keep the cue ball in the middle of the table and you can damn near make every shot during your run-out. To this day, if I have a small area for position, I look to the middle of the table to see if I can make the next ball from there. If so, I play the cue ball from there on the next shot. So

Truer words could not have been spoken....don't shoot hard, play the rails to get your angles for the next shot(s), and learn to work the ball to the middle of the table. Unless the next OB is in the center of an end rail, you'll always have a makeable shot and not have to drill the CB or put excessive spin on it to get it back into position. I've said this many times before, I'm really glad you said it again, but it won't make a damn bit of difference. They'll still be looking to spin the shit out of whitey and zing it all over the place at warp speed with their low deflection cue. Couldn't agree more about gambling also.
Good post!

 

[Rickw]

I tend to agree with Whitewolf. He/she is the only one that I noticed (sorry if I missed any other posts that mentioned this) that stated natural talent as one of the facors. Some people think that if they practice enough and do it the right way, they're going to become a champion. I'm sorry but that's not going to happen to everyone just because they put in the practice.

I don't think it's essential to be a champion though, you should strive to be the best that you can be. Everyone has a different potential, some people get awfully close to their full potential but most don't. This doesn't mean that one should stop trying, it just means that you shouldn't assume that just because you put in the practice that this will ensure that you will be a champion. Set short term objectives with a long term goal. The goal may never be realized but it is fun to meet those objectives along the way. My goal is to be as good or better than Efren. Will I make it? Probably not. Should I stop trying? Hell no! I'm still meeting objectives along the way and as long as I keep doing that, what the heck!