I was talking yesterday with my dear friend, New York Larry, about pool as we usually do.
Larry is 88 years old and still plays at a very impressive speed, zero hesitation, always knows what and how to shoot the next ball. How he plays at 88 provides a little glimpse as to how strong he must have been in his younger days when he frequented places like West End, mixing it up with many of the greats.
Always looking to improve his game, he is continually tweaking and experimenting to see what might prove beneficial.
Over the years, I have read so many long detailed how-to guides on improving our games, admittedly, some were helpful, but many, not-so-much.
When you get to a certain point where you know how to unravel patterns, move the rock, and how to properly influence whitey with your tip, what's left to learn? Well, of course, there's always plenty left to learn....
Back to Larry's and my chat...
What he said to me struck me as so profound, it was like the *best description ever* for how to be the best pool player you can be.
"You have to be intense and loose." He went on to describe the kind of intensity when in his younger days playing in some of those West End matches his wife, New York Lila, would ask him afterwards, "Why were you making those faces when you were shooting?" It was his total focus, his intensity on every shot.
It occurred to me that his recommendation that we play 'intense and loose' is brilliant but probably a lot easier to say than actually do.
Total intensity on every single shot while playing loose. I'm gonna give it a try!
I think this suggestion can potentially put a lot of players on a fast track to being the best they can be.
Thanks, Larry!
Oh I almost forgot, when I told him how I thought this was such a perfect way to convey such a meaningful message in just two words, he said, "Oh yeah, kinda like Fvck Hate". :thumbup:
He's pretty sharp, too!
:smile:
best,
brian kc
Larry is 88 years old and still plays at a very impressive speed, zero hesitation, always knows what and how to shoot the next ball. How he plays at 88 provides a little glimpse as to how strong he must have been in his younger days when he frequented places like West End, mixing it up with many of the greats.
Always looking to improve his game, he is continually tweaking and experimenting to see what might prove beneficial.
Over the years, I have read so many long detailed how-to guides on improving our games, admittedly, some were helpful, but many, not-so-much.
When you get to a certain point where you know how to unravel patterns, move the rock, and how to properly influence whitey with your tip, what's left to learn? Well, of course, there's always plenty left to learn....
Back to Larry's and my chat...
What he said to me struck me as so profound, it was like the *best description ever* for how to be the best pool player you can be.
"You have to be intense and loose." He went on to describe the kind of intensity when in his younger days playing in some of those West End matches his wife, New York Lila, would ask him afterwards, "Why were you making those faces when you were shooting?" It was his total focus, his intensity on every shot.
It occurred to me that his recommendation that we play 'intense and loose' is brilliant but probably a lot easier to say than actually do.
Total intensity on every single shot while playing loose. I'm gonna give it a try!
I think this suggestion can potentially put a lot of players on a fast track to being the best they can be.
Thanks, Larry!
Oh I almost forgot, when I told him how I thought this was such a perfect way to convey such a meaningful message in just two words, he said, "Oh yeah, kinda like Fvck Hate". :thumbup:
He's pretty sharp, too!
:smile:best,
brian kc
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