Rate me

Colin Colenso said:
The OBs really seem to like you. Bounced your CB back on path a couple of times and sat almost Kosmo style.
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Yeah, that's bound to happen sometimes with 15 balls on the table that you have to run in order. He seemed to have less of a problem with that as the run progressed. As a certain very famous rotation player might say, "He got lucky."

Seems you are getting some excellent comments here. As far as the fast flutter strokes, I see a lot of top players doing that. Maybe to relax the hand and get the jitters out? Dunno. Stance seems a bit unorthodox, but it works for you, so...? Seen Shaw make a lot of shots like that rather than reaching for the rake. I noticed that you are cross-dominant and have the cue under your left eye. Shaw is a southpaw and has his cue under his right eye. Something to think about.

I also am of the opinion that you may be deliberately staying down longer than you need to. Your style reminds me of a horse that is being held back by the reins. Try letting go sometimes and letting your natural rhythm out.

One thing that wasn't mentioned is that you have quite a large gap between CB and tip at address. Not saying that's bad at all, just that there was a recent thread where many good players here said you should get as close to the CB as possible without fouling if you want to hit the CB where you intend to. Not saying I agree with that notion, just that nobody mentioned it yet.

All in all, some very nice shooting.
 
Chicken Wing

Pidge said:
My only critique would be the chicken wing. Your torso is very flat and its kind of impossible then to have the elbow, grip and shoulder all above the cue. Correcting it would be a massive change for a small improvement in consistency so its whether you want to go through weeks or even months of playing under par to correct it.

What I did like was you stayed down long enough to evaluate your shot after you hit the cue ball. When I first saw your warm up strokes I thought you were going to suck because they were so random and fast but they slowed down when it counted. You had a nice touch and generally good control over the cue ball. Playing tight off the rail at pocket speed stumps a lot of players but you took it in your stride.

Overall I saw way more things I liked with your play than things id like to change, so well played.
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I agree with Pidge. You really need to put in the work to get rid of the Chicken Wing arm thing you do. I have a friend who does this and he has let it go so long he doesnt want to correct it and it makes him very inconsistent. Where you will be hurting is when you need a lot of stroke, because you will run out of stroke room and swoop into the ball. So I dont view the Chicken Wing as such a small thing when it could affect your obviously bright playing future. Other than that you look very natural at the table. Good shooting.
 
You play well and have a good stroke. The fast practice strokes bother me but it seems to be part of your practice routine and is working for you...

With that being said, why do more of the "How do you think I play?" videos always end up being the player breaking and running and playing very well as opposed to how the person normally plays. Like we didnt get a vid of the rack where he broke and made a couple balls and screwed up position or missed the 4 or something like that.
 
Well... it's obvious that this rack isn't your first try. Even though you got in trouble a little bit, you finished with flying colors.
That was great...
 
You normally do about 5 practice strokes which is too many imo BUT you are consistent (for the most part) with that set amount, so if it works it works. You do seem to do a mini practice, mini practice, mini practice, regular practice, regular practice, and then stroke it which I am also not a big fan of in terms of your practice stroke routine. You do seem to have a fairly solid natural eye though and nice run!
 
Spimp13 said:
You normally do about 5 practice strokes which is too many imo BUT you are consistent (for the most part) with that set amount, so if it works it works. You do seem to do a mini practice, mini practice, mini practice, regular practice, regular practice, and then stroke it which I am also not a big fan of in terms of your practice stroke routine. You do seem to have a fairly solid natural eye though and nice run!
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Alyssa,

Why is 5 strokes too many?

You are hot, but you get so fat when you are pregnant. Do you like McDonalds?
 
You're a good shot maker and a fairly good position player. I would not have taken the route you chose from the 2 to the 3....inside along the long rail...which led to a blind shot on the 3 where the CB had to travel too much. The 2 ball in corner with CB off the short rail back to the middle of the table would have been my choice...stop on the 3, follow on 4 to leave angle on 5 for the 6. Don't let the CB run into other balls unless you need to move those balls. One important note...you seem to be playing position to get the CB somewhere near the OB, but no real destination in mind in order to keep you in line. Pick a diamond or some other target on all shots, and your position play will improve. I really don't think your warm-up strokes matter too much as long as you pause the final backstroke and deliver straight through the CB to finish. Nice shooting, and recovery.
 
Black-Balled said:
Alyssa,

Why is 5 strokes too many?

You are hot, but you get so fat when you are pregnant. Do you like McDonalds?
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Your brain does not need that many practice strokes and actually it doesn't do you any good to do 5 vs say 2-3. It is almost like wasted energy in a sense. Some people do get into an actual routine like this guy did so he was for the most part consistent with the 5-6 practice strokes. I just think it is wasted energy and you can accomplish the same practice ready/set/go full routine with less swings.

We talked about this in pool school (worded differently then I am doing it) some years ago so I am sure RandyG or even Scott Lee could shed some light on it.

PS...most women get fat when they are pregnant. A very select few only get the tummy balloon. I have been working out since having the baby so I should be back into avatar picture posting form soon...stay tuned.

PPS....who doesn't like McDonalds? McRib? Hello???
 
hmmph. I just stroke it until the good Lord tells me I am ready to fire. :shrug: wonder how much better I'd be if I imposed a specific# on meeself? Course, when I stroke, the cue doesn't really follow the same path each time, so I gotta pick the right swing.


Spimp13 said:
Your brain does not need that many practice strokes and actually it doesn't do you any good to do 5 vs say 2-3. It is almost like wasted energy in a sense. Some people do get into an actual routine like this guy did so he was for the most part consistent with the 5-6 practice strokes. I just think it is wasted energy and you can accomplish the same practice ready/set/go full routine with less swings.

We talked about this in pool school (worded differently then I am doing it) some years ago so I am sure RandyG or even Scott Lee could shed some light on it.

PS...most women get fat when they are pregnant. A very select few only get the tummy balloon. I have been working out since having the baby so I should be back into avatar picture posting form soon...stay tuned.

PPS....who doesn't like McDonalds? McRib? Hello???
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Spimp13 said:
Your brain does not need that many practice strokes and actually it doesn't do you any good to do 5 vs say 2-3. It is almost like wasted energy in a sense. Some people do get into an actual routine like this guy did so he was for the most part consistent with the 5-6 practice strokes. I just think it is wasted energy and you can accomplish the same practice ready/set/go full routine with less swings.

We talked about this in pool school (worded differently then I am doing it) some years ago so I am sure RandyG or even Scott Lee could shed some light on it.

PS...most women get fat when they are pregnant. A very select few only get the tummy balloon. I have been working out since having the baby so I should be back into avatar picture posting form soon...stay tuned.

PPS....who doesn't like McDonalds? McRib? Hello???
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If I do more than three I can't make the ball. I think it's probably an individual thing, though.

BTW I like your current avatar pic the best of all of them. Smokin' hot IMHO, but I'm a jeans and tank top kinda guy.
 
You have good delivery. You ran into a couple balls unintentionally, it's hard to tell on video but if you could have just came of the top short rail after pocketing the two all may have been avoided. You do have the chicken wing but it looks like you'r left eye dominate? That may have something to do with it. Personally I wouldn't worry to much about it. Your delivery is very consistent and that's what matters, good job.
 
Seems like someone drilled into you to stay down and follow through, those two things are exaterated like you are doing it deliberately instead of a practiced smooth motion. Not really a bad thing but looks like you are playing mechanically instead of just letting things flow, like you are going in your head Approach Table, Take Breath, Get In Stance, Aim, 3 Practice Strokes, Hit, Follow Through, Stay Stil each time.
 
Black-Balled said:
hmmph. I just stroke it until the good Lord tells me I am ready to fire. :shrug: wonder how much better I'd be if I imposed a specific# on meeself? Course, when I stroke, the cue doesn't really follow the same path each time, so I gotta pick the right swing.
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In the late 60's, early 70's, a friend of mine used to play pool while on LSD. I asked him how he played so well on LSD and he replied "the pockets open and close, I just shoot when they're open".

Is this what you mean Mr. Balled when you say you have to pick the right swing? :)

Dave
 
Nice out. I would have played the 11 in the corner but you got out doing it your way.
 
I've heard some old timers say you don't even know what you're doing until about the 4th practice stroke. :shrug:

Regarding those fast practice strokes of the OP...as someone who does something similar...I will tell you all that it's probably about grip. The short, fast strokes, for me, help get the cue properly settled in my cradle. It's very similar to the short back and forth swings you see in golf and baseball.
 
12squared said:
In the late 60's, early 70's, a friend of mine used to play pool while on LSD. I asked him how he played so well on LSD and he replied "the pockets open and close, I just shoot when they're open".
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I was at a bar listening to my son's band and there was a guy playing pool who was tripping his brains out. I played him a few racks of 8-ball and he destroyed me. He made some of the craziest shots I've seen anywhere, and got the rock to jump up and dance, all the while talking gibberish.

I once tried to play in college while on mescaline, but all I wanted to do was push the balls into the pockets with my finger. Then I went to dinner and kept pushing the Swedish meatballs up the side of my mashed potatoes and watching them roll down the other side. That's all I really remember about the experience.:cool:
 
Black-Balled said:
hmmph. I just stroke it until the good Lord tells me I am ready to fire. :shrug: wonder how much better I'd be if I imposed a specific# on meeself? Course, when I stroke, the cue doesn't really follow the same path each time, so I gotta pick the right swing.
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I think it is good to get into a consistent habit from the start of approaching the shot until the finish of the stroke, but what do those extra 3 strokes gain for you? You mention you stroke it when you are ready...but in a sense you shouldn't be thinking "I'm ready, shoot". It should be subconscious, so you think before you approach the table for the shot, and then when you start your mantra or routine 0 thought should be happening. If you do start thinking again I personally would stand back up and re address the table. Other than physical fatigue I don't see that many strokes probably doing much harm if you have a consistent routine you do...I just think that its extra practice strokes that aren't needed most of the time. On very difficult shots I do occasionally find myself taking that extra practice stroke which probably isn't a good thing...means I am thinking about the shot instead of just shooting it.

Sloppy Pockets said:
If I do more than three I can't make the ball. I think it's probably an individual thing, though.

BTW I like your current avatar pic the best of all of them. Smokin' hot IMHO, but I'm a jeans and tank top kinda guy.
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Haha...yeah I like this one for sure. Eliza is getting jealous though, so after I respond to her PM I may be changing it soon. Don't worry though, I will rotate them and try to be fair to both women.
 
12squared said:
In the late 60's, early 70's, a friend of mine used to play pool while on LSD. I asked him how he played so well on LSD and he replied "the pockets open and close, I just shoot when they're open".

Is this what you mean Mr. Balled when you say you have to pick the right swing? :)

Dave
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Crazy...LSD and pool has been a recurring theme of late. I wouldn't dare :eek:
 
the delay is not for thinking. I done this before!

It is to allow time for the cue to be at (find?) the right place.

Spimp13 said:
I think it is good to get into a consistent habit from the start of approaching the shot until the finish of the stroke, but what do those extra 3 strokes gain for you? You mention you stroke it when you are ready...but in a sense you shouldn't be thinking "I'm ready, shoot". It should be subconscious, so you think before you approach the table for the shot, and then when you start your mantra or routine 0 thought should be happening. If you do start thinking again I personally would stand back up and re address the table. Other than physical fatigue I don't see that many strokes probably doing much harm if you have a consistent routine you do...I just think that its extra practice strokes that aren't needed most of the time. On very difficult shots I do occasionally find myself taking that extra practice stroke which probably isn't a good thing...means I am thinking about the shot instead of just shooting it.



Haha...yeah I like this one for sure. Eliza is getting jealous though, so after I respond to her PM I may be changing it soon. Don't worry though, I will rotate them and try to be fair to both women.
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