The last thread I just posted reminded me of this -
I approached this kid looking for a game one day, or maybe the other way around, and we got along well and I gave him some advice. He ended up pretty much taking a full year-long "pool school" session from me, doing drills and listening and learning a ton. We're now pretty good friends and play each other every day. He went from running no more than 4 balls in 8 ball to running a couple of racks in a typical 3 hour session... from about an apa 3/4 to apa 5/6 in about a year.
Now that he understands english and has good fundamentals, the only thing holding him back from running out a lot more is thinking and playing carefully. I've told him to pick an exact point for his leaves, not just send the CB in a general direction. I've told him to look at all the options before each shot, just to see if he can solve a problem or do something more constructive than what he planned at first. I've explained patterns and how it's so important to get on the correct side of the next ball, etc.
But he just doesn't seem to want to think. Or at least, not always. For example, He could do a stop shot to get position on a short rail cut, but he follows anyway to get too straight. Sometimes he's clearly thinking ahead, but other times... every hanger is played with top, every long rail cut is played with low outside... every stop shot is done with a bit of draw, which ends up ruining the shape... he just goes on autopilot and relies on his straight shooting to bail him out.
The other day I got upset and was a bit of a jerk, which I regret. But it's frustrating that his desire to learn has burned out. I don't know if he's satisfied with his current level, or feels he's still improving at a steady rate so there's nothing to work on, or if I'm just being too harsh and expecting too much too fast. Maybe after playing with me so much he feels I don't have much more useful stuff to offer. I think he turns on the mental elevator music whenever I try to give him nonspecific advice about pinpoint position and safest paths and pattern play.
He also used to look forward to trying drills, now he just wants to play. He still likes pool enough to rent a table and play by himself (despite owning one at home) but he always just bangs 'em around or plays 8 ball vs. himself. I've tried to tell him that this isn't practicing, that he should do at least SOME kind of drilling before just zoning out and shooting, but he never does.
Does this happen to others? Am I just being too pushy?
I approached this kid looking for a game one day, or maybe the other way around, and we got along well and I gave him some advice. He ended up pretty much taking a full year-long "pool school" session from me, doing drills and listening and learning a ton. We're now pretty good friends and play each other every day. He went from running no more than 4 balls in 8 ball to running a couple of racks in a typical 3 hour session... from about an apa 3/4 to apa 5/6 in about a year.
Now that he understands english and has good fundamentals, the only thing holding him back from running out a lot more is thinking and playing carefully. I've told him to pick an exact point for his leaves, not just send the CB in a general direction. I've told him to look at all the options before each shot, just to see if he can solve a problem or do something more constructive than what he planned at first. I've explained patterns and how it's so important to get on the correct side of the next ball, etc.
But he just doesn't seem to want to think. Or at least, not always. For example, He could do a stop shot to get position on a short rail cut, but he follows anyway to get too straight. Sometimes he's clearly thinking ahead, but other times... every hanger is played with top, every long rail cut is played with low outside... every stop shot is done with a bit of draw, which ends up ruining the shape... he just goes on autopilot and relies on his straight shooting to bail him out.
The other day I got upset and was a bit of a jerk, which I regret. But it's frustrating that his desire to learn has burned out. I don't know if he's satisfied with his current level, or feels he's still improving at a steady rate so there's nothing to work on, or if I'm just being too harsh and expecting too much too fast. Maybe after playing with me so much he feels I don't have much more useful stuff to offer. I think he turns on the mental elevator music whenever I try to give him nonspecific advice about pinpoint position and safest paths and pattern play.
He also used to look forward to trying drills, now he just wants to play. He still likes pool enough to rent a table and play by himself (despite owning one at home) but he always just bangs 'em around or plays 8 ball vs. himself. I've tried to tell him that this isn't practicing, that he should do at least SOME kind of drilling before just zoning out and shooting, but he never does.
Does this happen to others? Am I just being too pushy?
