...the only believable part of this story...
Secrets!
- Thread starter JoeyA
- Start date
...the only believable part of this story...
I guess your point is if one author doesn't teach everything you or I know then there are "secrets"? Or "secrets" are necessary for top level play? Or what?
If you want to talk you'll have to be less opaque.
LOL. My loss, I guess.
pj
chgo
My point is that everything is subject to variable degrees, even secrets. What makes it more or less of a secret depends on the number of people that knows about it. I believe there are things not written. I have yet to come across them.----My argument. I can be more transparent if you give me specific examples to analyze. It's not that I can't explain things in a simpler way, because I can. But I don't want to. It's too much work. Believe me, when someone way ahead of me told me something I didn't get until two years later, I realize the guy was right. And yet when I watch better players they are still years ahead.
You're right, I can't play much. But I'm open to the idea that there is much more to be learned. A lot of it, you will have to acquire on your own before someone can explain things that will make any sense.
As it's used in this thread, a "secret" is something that's being kept secret, and the implication is that there's no other place to get the information. In this sense there are no secrets in pool - all the information is out there for those who want to know. Most of it can be found in one place: on Dr. Daves website.
Get used to being misunderstood.
Sure, me too. But I don't believe there are any "secrets" that aren't already understood, used and clearly explained by others, and readily available to those who look. As an obvious example, Jay Helfert described a "drag" shot (hitting low to kill speed) that has been described and discussed right here on AzB many times.
pj
chgo
I don't believe in secrets, I believe in knowledge. I also believe that sharing knowledge will eventually make you a better player- increasing your awareness and being more open minded towards other ideas.
When otherwise intelligent posters like Jay and JB Cases contributes in the thread with posts like "I know stuff, but I am not telling", that's IMO an outdated "old school" way of thinking which will bring them nowhere.
So, here are some "secrets", I am sure some of you know them all, and all of you know some:
* Countless players have ran all balls, and missed the game ball, whether its in 8-ball, 9-ball or 10-ball. Try this: Play position for an imaginary next ball on the table. Often when we miss the game ball, its because we are not so concerned about exactly where on the table the CB will end up, resulting in awkward cue action or unnatural speed. By playing natural position to a non-existing next ball, the stroke and shot will be more fluid - and we achieve fewer missed game balls
* In straight pool shooting the break shot: When you have decided where the CB will hit the pack after coming of the break ball, forget the whole pack. Aim at the break ball, pretend its the match ball in a hill-hill game of 9-ball. Unless you are a natural choker:wink:, you will make that break ball more often than before.
* Shooting with the CB frozen to the rail: Many players struggle with this shot, hitting to high and mis-hit. Instead of aiming straight into the CB, try to shoot the tip of your cue into the cloth on the rail just in front of the CB. You will get a much purer hit on the CB this way.
* The towel secret. If you make a fantastic shot, how many times have you missed the following shot - an easy one? After a really great mindblowing shot, always always go to your chair, wipe your hands or wipe down your cue with a towel, take a deep breath and start from scratch. Lee van Corteza does this all the time..
* Listen to the little voices in your head. When you are at a certain level, your mind and body will know it if you are going to miss. "I knew I was going to miss, why didn't I do something about it?"
Pay attention to the messages your brain receives, you just have to stop being stubborn - having thoughts like: "I cant miss this" or "So, my stance is a bit off, but it looks like it goes anyway". Stop, get up, start over. Its much harder than it sounds to actually do this.
Keeping secrets results in stagnation, sharing knowledge develops all of us.
When otherwise intelligent posters like Jay and JB Cases contributes in the thread with posts like "I know stuff, but I am not telling", that's IMO an outdated "old school" way of thinking which will bring them nowhere.
So, here are some "secrets", I am sure some of you know them all, and all of you know some:
* Countless players have ran all balls, and missed the game ball, whether its in 8-ball, 9-ball or 10-ball. Try this: Play position for an imaginary next ball on the table. Often when we miss the game ball, its because we are not so concerned about exactly where on the table the CB will end up, resulting in awkward cue action or unnatural speed. By playing natural position to a non-existing next ball, the stroke and shot will be more fluid - and we achieve fewer missed game balls
* In straight pool shooting the break shot: When you have decided where the CB will hit the pack after coming of the break ball, forget the whole pack. Aim at the break ball, pretend its the match ball in a hill-hill game of 9-ball. Unless you are a natural choker:wink:, you will make that break ball more often than before.
* Shooting with the CB frozen to the rail: Many players struggle with this shot, hitting to high and mis-hit. Instead of aiming straight into the CB, try to shoot the tip of your cue into the cloth on the rail just in front of the CB. You will get a much purer hit on the CB this way.
* The towel secret. If you make a fantastic shot, how many times have you missed the following shot - an easy one? After a really great mindblowing shot, always always go to your chair, wipe your hands or wipe down your cue with a towel, take a deep breath and start from scratch. Lee van Corteza does this all the time..
* Listen to the little voices in your head. When you are at a certain level, your mind and body will know it if you are going to miss. "I knew I was going to miss, why didn't I do something about it?"
Pay attention to the messages your brain receives, you just have to stop being stubborn - having thoughts like: "I cant miss this" or "So, my stance is a bit off, but it looks like it goes anyway". Stop, get up, start over. Its much harder than it sounds to actually do this.
Keeping secrets results in stagnation, sharing knowledge develops all of us.
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You mean Dr. Dave's site? Here's what I said:
"...all the information is out there for those who want to know. Most of it can be found in one place: on Dr. Daves website."
"Most" is not "everything".
pj
chgo
almost all great advice!!
I was going to post "all great advice" until you said listen to the voices. Every time I start listening to the voices they up my med's and want to put me in a little white room!
Hu
I was going to post "all great advice" until you said listen to the voices. Every time I start listening to the voices they up my med's and want to put me in a little white room!
Hu
Gentlemen, I think we are arguing over semantics here. True, most of these little "tips" and other things are not really "secrets" per se. They are just that, little bits of knowledge that can be useful at times during the course of a pool game. And yes, many players know most (if not all) these things we like to call pool secrets. That said, there are many of these little tidbits of information that the vast majority of pool players do not know. Does that make them a secret? Technically speaking, no! But if you didn't know if before, it was kind of secret to you, wasn't it. 
Like I said earlier, even a player so esteemed as Efren Reyes can be shown something new. I have also clued Buddy in on how to make a trick shot once upon a time. He had no clue how to make it until I showed him. Does that make me a better player than either one of these guys? Hell No! I will agree 100% with Patrick that learning a bunch of "secret" little tips will not make you a top player. That takes years and years of practice and dedication. I think we all know that by now. But having some extra knowledge might help you win a game once in a while, regardless of the level you play at. I know from personal experience that I've out smarted more than one guy who shot a little straighter than me. Oh, did I love "Roll Out" pool! :thumbup:
Like I said earlier, even a player so esteemed as Efren Reyes can be shown something new. I have also clued Buddy in on how to make a trick shot once upon a time. He had no clue how to make it until I showed him. Does that make me a better player than either one of these guys? Hell No! I will agree 100% with Patrick that learning a bunch of "secret" little tips will not make you a top player. That takes years and years of practice and dedication. I think we all know that by now. But having some extra knowledge might help you win a game once in a while, regardless of the level you play at. I know from personal experience that I've out smarted more than one guy who shot a little straighter than me. Oh, did I love "Roll Out" pool! :thumbup:
Because you're a generous person who wants to help others improve at pool?
Or not.
pj
chgo
Have you forgotten what they did to Jesus?
the reason I'm only almost perfect
That is the reason I am only almost perfect. I remember what they did to the last perfect man . . . . . .
Hu
That is the reason I am only almost perfect. I remember what they did to the last perfect man . . . . . .
Hu
Some people see kindness as a sign of weakness Hu. Strangely, I found a species of animal with zero animosity towards anything, the Siberian Husky. They were bread from wolfs...how does that make sense?....but it does.
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Yeesh neil, that's an awfully mercenary way to look at it. By that perspective, it also makes no sense whatsoever to hold the door for someone or help your kid with his homework.
I love to give away what I learned. If I'm being 100% honest it's partly because it makes me feel clever. But also because I want to see them improve and come to love the game. The whole concept of "I'll hold on to pool secrets for the profit" seems weird to me because pool is one of the least profitable activities there is. You can shoot like jesus using 50 years of accumulated secrets and make less money than the guy who installed your shingles. Knowing one common and obvious thing about doing your taxes is probably more valuable than any 50 pool secrets put together.
Welcome back Bud...but I have to disagree. There are far more advantages of knowing how to play good pool than being a world class shingles installer. There is much more joy in being able to run a rack than illuminating grandma's roof. It's a trick Neil....take it to the grave man!
Thanks C.M
To me it sounded like Neil was talking about financial advantages though. Joywise, pool no doubt beats roofing. But financially? Let Neil sell his 35 years of tricks in a book and compare it to the guy who does shingles in malibu, and we'll see who walks out with a fatter wallet.
I guess maybe efren's secrets might earn him a few more dollars than the roofer makes, if they were genuinely useful to people other than efren (and the english translation was top notch).
They might not be called "secrets" but there Is alot about bank shots that most people don't know.I can't count the times I've watched a world class player hit a bank shot the exact wrong way.I wouldn't call what I know secrets,really just methods and techniques that most people just don't know.I'm not putting many out yet cause I'm In the process of making a dvd and book.When I do alot of players will be shocked to say the least.
If I have a secret with banks,It's that I make the pocket play like It's about 5in. when my opp.,on the same table at the same time are playing
on like 4in pockets.Pretty big difference. IMO to many people are looking for the holy grail when they should be putting alot of time In with practice.
I won't be around here much so let the bullets fly! lol
John B.
If I have a secret with banks,It's that I make the pocket play like It's about 5in. when my opp.,on the same table at the same time are playing
on like 4in pockets.Pretty big difference. IMO to many people are looking for the holy grail when they should be putting alot of time In with practice.
I won't be around here much so let the bullets fly! lol
John B.