Pool suggestions you should avoid.

JoeyA

JoeyA

Efren's Mini-Tourn BACKER
Silver Member
There are many pool suggestions that are shared on forums, some of them better than others while some should be avoided.

If you want your game to stay at the same level, play the same people, the same discipline or practice the same thing over and over. While you may become proficient in the particular game or drill, your improvement will stagnate and your overall level of play will not advance as much as it would if you involved yourself in different games, people and drills. I noticed that when I played in the league years ago that I seldom ventured out into tournaments, gambled less, practiced less, seldom ever played with good players and my improvement just stalled for about one and half years.


What suggestions do you think that are fairly common, should you avoid?
Elaborate some because the one liners will not communicate all that you are thinking and it will be nice to see your reasoning.
Thanks,
JoeyA
 
Nice idea for a thread, Joey.

Especially in "how would you play?" this threads, I think the suggestion that unless you go for the really tough runouts, you'll never learn to execute them is made far too often.

In my opinion, to develop as a player, one must be just as dedicated to practicing playing the percentages, and that means playing defense when defense is called for. Mastering safety play is critical to playing good pool, and those that don't play defense when it's called for are, far too often, the ones that never become proficient in the defensive aspects of the game.
 
JoeyA said:
There are many pool suggestions that are shared on forums, some of them better than others while some should be avoided.

If you want your game to stay at the same level, play the same people, the same discipline or practice the same thing over and over. While you may become proficient in the particular game or drill, your improvement will stagnate and your overall level of play will not advance as much as it would if you involved yourself in different games, people and drills. I noticed that when I played in the league years ago that I seldom ventured out into tournaments, gambled less, practiced less, seldom ever played with good players and my improvement just stalled for about one and half years.


What suggestions do you think that are fairly common, should you avoid?
Elaborate some because the one liners will not communicate all that you are thinking and it will be nice to see your reasoning.
Thanks,
JoeyA
Click to expand...


Good thread Joey! My contribution would be to say that standard drills should be avoided. It's not that they're bad; more that they're just not an effective use of time.

In my opinion dynamic drills are much better. The two that come to mind are throwing all 15 balls on the table, spacing them out well. Drill #1 is to shoot them all without contacting any other balls. Drill #2 is to shoot them all without contacting any rails.

It's the difference between practicing a shot, and practicing a concept. Drills that do not exercise the mind are boring and tedious.

- Steve
 
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sjm said:
Nice idea for a thread, Joey.

Especially in "how would you play?" this threads, I think the suggestion that unless you go for the really tough runouts, you'll never learn to execute them is made far too often.

In my opinion, to develop as a player, one must be just as dedicated to practicing playing the percentages, and that means playing defense when defense is called for. Mastering safety play is critical to playing good pool, and those that don't play defense when it's called for are, far too often, the ones that never become proficient in the defensive aspects of the game.
Click to expand...

I agree with most of what you're saying. Efren plays the percentages better than most pros. But he does things with the cueball that no other human can do, and he knows he can do them. It may not look like he's playing percentages, but to him he is.

There are times when you just have to "go", like Buddy Halls says. I've seen him suggest going for tough banks, tough cuts, etc. If you are used to only playing defense when you are in a tough situation, I think that when there is no defense available and you have to shoot, it might hurt your percentages of getting out. JMHO
 
Avoid banging balls around mindlessly when practicing.

Only do drills and shot or setups that make you focus at that particular time. If you find yourself wondering, either refocus, or start another challenging drill.

Sometimes I will setup patterns that are very difficult. Some I expect to complete, every time. Sometimes I'll throw three balls out and run out with ball in hand, sometimes for eight ball I will throw out all seven of a category and the eight, and try to run out a wide open table. Whatever it takes to challenge yourself.

And if you can't find anything, don't do it around here. Pack it up!
 
MY Advice

Don't go fishing when the cows are laying down in the pasture...

Doug
( and, watch where you step )

( the same applies in Pool.... imo )
 
I think people have good intentions but there is one suggestion used very often that is misleading. Follow Through is very common advice but it leads many in the wrong direction. That is, it makes it sound manufactured. It's saying you have to get the cue through/past the cue ball, for lack of better description. However it can be done with a jerk, push, shove or poke but that is just steering the cue.

Follow through happens naturally. It does so because the cue starts back smooth. Then enters a smooth transition area and is gradually, (without tension) accelerated. Then it goes through the cue ball, and it will go through, like a hot knife through butter. There is no need to make this any kind of forced motion so don't let the term lead to you in that direction. How you get there is what matters.

Rod
 
Before all concievable recognition to the original posts question is lost: AVOID THIS ADVICE...jack up your cue up, that will help you draw the ball...
Listen when some one advises "keep you cue as level as possible while raising and lower your bridge to get the desired hit"
 
Steve Lipsky said:
standard drills should be avoided.

- Steve
Click to expand...


If you can't shoot a shot consistently what happens on a table, even if wonderful, is actually an accident. :D

Somebody once said that amateurs practice until they make the shot, professionals practice until they can't miss.
 
I_Need_D_8 said:
Not so much a suggestion as a platitude:

It's just a game.
Click to expand...

You responders have some great suggestions to avoid.

I_Need_D_8 can you elababorate a bit on yours. I think I know what you mean but would like to hear your words.

Another minor one that I may catch heat for is: "Don't drop your elbow". While this is good advice for most. I see MANY professionals dropping their elbows on a regular basis. While I don't claim to know exactly why this movement helps, other than maybe keeping the cue level, it is a regular part of many players movement.

Also many suggestions that are given by instructors are taught to beginners and while dropping the elbow may go against the grain for basic teaching, perhaps some research into why so many pros do it should be done.
Thanks,
JoeyA
 
This might start a debate!

Practice makes you perfect, the biggest fallacy in Pool!

Practice doesn't make you perfect, LEARNING is what makes you perfect.
Practice just reinforces what you have learned. If you fail to learn when
you practice, then all you have done is just kept in stroke.

The only reason you think playing someone else, someone better, improves your game, is because they show you something you didn't know before, and then you can prractice it to emulate them. Better players quite frequently show lessor players a more logical way to play the game in order to win.

If you cease to learn, you will not get any better.
 
Snapshot9 said:
Practice makes you perfect, the biggest fallacy in Pool!

Practice doesn't make you perfect, LEARNING is what makes you perfect.
Practice just reinforces what you have learned. If you fail to learn when
you practice, then all you have done is just kept in stroke.

The only reason you think playing someone else, someone better, improves your game, is because they show you something you didn't know before, and then you can prractice it to emulate them. Better players quite frequently show lessor players a more logical way to play the game in order to win.

If you cease to learn, you will not get any better.
Click to expand...

Practice makes permanent. Perfect practice makes perfect.
 
JoeyA said:
Another minor one that I may catch heat for is: "Don't drop your elbow". While this is good advice for most. I see MANY professionals dropping their elbows on a regular basis. While I don't claim to know exactly why this movement helps, other than maybe keeping the cue level, it is a regular part of many players movement.

Also many suggestions that are given by instructors are taught to beginners and while dropping the elbow may go against the grain for basic teaching, perhaps some research into why so many pros do it should be done.
Thanks,
JoeyA
Click to expand...

Joey...Your own response of "I don't claim to know exactly why this movement helps, other than keeping the cue level", demonstrates why this is poor advice. Keeping the cue level is only important for the 1/1000th of a second when the tip is in contact with the CB...and a pinned elbow/pendulum swing does this most efficiently and effectively. Other than that, any additional movement of the elbow contributes to potential error in contacting the CB exactly where you expect to. BTW, this concept is taught to all ability players, from beginner to pro. Can someone 'drop the elbow' and still be an expert player? Certainly. Should MOST players try to emulate this motion? Not in my opinion...if they really want to excel, and propagate an accurate, repeatable, and sustainable stroke.

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
 
Scott Lee said:
Joey...Your own response of "I don't claim to know exactly why this movement helps, other than keeping the cue level", demonstrates why this is poor advice. Keeping the cue level is only important for the 1/1000th of a second when the tip is in contact with the CB...and a pinned elbow/pendulum swing does this most efficiently and effectively. Other than that, any additional movement of the elbow contributes to potential error in contacting the CB exactly where you expect to. BTW, this concept is taught to all ability players, from beginner to pro. Can someone 'drop the elbow' and still be an expert player? Certainly. Should MOST players try to emulate this motion? Not in my opinion...if they really want to excel, and propagate an accurate, repeatable, and sustainable stroke.

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
Click to expand...

I knew this would prompt a response, especially from the instructors and I appreciate the response and your answer makes perfect sense.

So why do so MANY pros drop their elbows? Some drop their elbow on almost every bank, while others drop their elbows on long draw shots.
Thanks,
JoeyA
 
JoeyA said:
You responders have some great suggestions to avoid.

I_Need_D_8 can you elababorate a bit on yours. I think I know what you mean but would like to hear your words.
Click to expand...

Well Joey, I never graduated high school, so this may not come out as eloquently as if Mr. Lipsky wrote it but here goes:

Pool it not a game, it's a way of life. Pool gets into your blood and stays there. The first time I hit a ball, my life changed forever. The first time I ran a rack, my life changed irrevocably. What else could explain the fact that I know I will NEVER be as good as Efren, Earl, Mike S., Nick, or countless others, yet I still play, chasing the dream. At 43 I'm still improving, but I recognize my lifetime shortstop status. To sum it up, I have invested countless hours and heartaches in this "game" and to hear someone say that it's just a game takes away from the dedication, passion, and hard work required to excel at pocket billiards.

P.S. You and I met before Joey. We were at the South Padre tourney the year Fast Eddie had his fatal heart attack (R.I.P.). I used to hang out at RSB a bit. I'm Robert Rodriguez, but I still need the 8. :-) esp. from you SL.
 
Here's another: You have to have natural talent to play at a pro level.

"Real talent" is a deep-rooted desire to excel and a person's will to continue when the rest of the pack has already quit and gone home. More professional athletes possess this type of talent than the natural one.

If you desire to be the best that you can be, you cannot allow the naysayers to interfere with your will to succeed.

The difference between a winner and a loser is just a matter of time. (Dale Brown/Words to lift your spirits).

JoeyA
 
I_Need_D_8 said:
Well Joey, I never graduated high school, so this may not come out as eloquently as if Mr. Lipsky wrote it but here goes:

Pool it not a game, it's a way of life. Pool gets into your blood and stays there. The first time I hit a ball, my life changed forever. The first time I ran a rack, my life changed irrevocably. What else could explain the fact that I know I will NEVER be as good as Efren, Earl, Mike S., Nick, or countless others, yet I still play, chasing the dream. At 43 I'm still improving, but I recognize my lifetime shortstop status. To sum it up, I have invested countless hours and heartaches in this "game" and to hear someone say that it's just a game takes away from the dedication, passion, and hard work required to excel at pocket billiards.

P.S. You and I met before Joey. We were at the South Padre tourney the year Fast Eddie had his fatal heart attack (R.I.P.). I used to hang out at RSB a bit. I'm Robert Rodriguez, but I still need the 8. :-) esp. from you SL.
Click to expand...

HEY ROBERT!
Good to hear from you man. You write well and communicate well AND YOU PLAY WELL, but I won't let the cat out of the bag. :-)

And I agree with what you say about people saying "It's just a game". They will never know the passion that we share but as I say, "It is up to each person to work out their own salvation".
Hope to see you on the field of green some day.
JoeyA
 
JoeyA said:
... So why do so MANY pros drop their elbows? Some drop their elbow on almost every bank, while others drop their elbows on long draw shots....
Click to expand...
This may be true, but when do they drop their elbows? Before or after the tip hits the cue ball? As Scott pointed out, the timing if this is very, very important.
 
The elbow drops immediately after contact, it's natural progression as you follow through. That's for shooters using pendulum stroke.
.
Somebody here said 'keep the cue level'.

If you watch the level cue mafia closely you will see they don't follow their own advice, they just think they do. This is especially true for anyone using closed bridge.
On all shots we are shooting down a little. So, don't jack up, be as level as you can without really being level.

The most important thing to improved performance is positive attitude.

Anger, frustration, fear, negative feelings and disrespect towards opponent is what makes one play bad pool. If you playing in a match and your opponent is 2 balls away from a run out, don’t say ‘I hope he misses’, but say ‘wow, that’s nice’.
 
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