Slow Down Before You Shoot 10-15 sec.

Johnnyt

Johnnyt

Burn all jump cues
Silver Member
I've played and watched 1000's of average to better than average players shoot pool and the one thing I believe that would bring up most of their games is SLOW DOWN. Before you get down to shoot, know where the CB is going. Whats the best route to send the CB safely for position. If its a tough shot and you feel you might miss, think how to play safe if you miss and still have a makeable shot if you make it. The list goes on and on what you should be thinking of. This way when you finally get down on the ball you won't have any negative thoughts in your head, because you had everything covered BEFORE you got down on the shot. Johnnyt
 
There's absolutely no reason you cannot do that quickly. Assessing a shot with speed is a skill in itself. Slow play is the death of pool. Pool is unwatchable when the snails are in town.

Time is a precious commodity. We simply don't live in an age where we can afford a sport where the spectator is watching a man watching a table for 10 mins at a time.

Bottom line: pool speeds up or pool dies completely. The message should not be 'slow down'. The message should be, for the common good, get on with it already!

Faster. More thrilling. More drama.
 
TheThaiger said:
There's absolutely no reason you cannot do that quickly. Assessing a shot with speed is a skill in itself. Slow play is the death of pool. Pool is unwatchable when the snails are in town.

Time is a precious commodity. We simply don't live in an age where we can afford a sport where the spectator is watching a man watching a table for 10 mins at a time.

Bottom line: pool speeds up or pool dies completely. The message should not be 'slow down'. The message should be, for the common good, get on with it already!

Faster. More thrilling. More drama.
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This thread is not about getting pool on tv in the US. It's a thread about one of the ways to play swarter and better.
 
I'm with Johnnyt. Taking 10-15 seconds to think is not exactly slow play. With experience you will recognize situations you have had before and the action will be more instinctive and faster, but on shots where you have a choice to make, take a few extra seconds to consider all of the consequences.
 
I agree in general that it is a good idea to treat each shot with care. However, I've found that if I take too long pondering a shot I lose rhythm.
 
westcoast said:
I agree in general that it is a good idea to treat each shot with care. However, I've found that if I take too long pondering a shot I lose rhythm.
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If you're thinking 3 balls ahead and staying close to in line most of your thinking is done before the next shot. I'm talking more about when you get out of line and have a tough shot or tough position to make. Johnnyt
 
Johnnyt said:
I've played and watched 1000's of average to better than average players shoot pool and the one thing I believe that would bring up most of their games is SLOW DOWN. Before you get down to shoot, know where the CB is going. Whats the best route to send the CB safely for position. If its a tough shot and you feel you might miss, think how to play safe if you miss and still have a makeable shot if you make it. The list goes on and on what you should be thinking of. This way when you finally get down on the ball you won't have any negative thoughts in your head, because you had everything covered BEFORE you got down on the shot. Johnnyt
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Playing slow can mess you up just as much as playing too fast.

I think people believe a PSR is just kind like a grocery list: get the milk, eggs, and bread in the basket and all is well. But for pool, I believe, it matters whether you put the milk in the basket before the eggs and how long you take before you put the bread in. I don't believe it is purely a checklist -- there is an element of body mechanics and sequencing that requires some rhythm, if not some measure of grace. At least you'll look good :-)

Lou Figueroa
 
jdxprs said:
you have any tips for improving speed control?
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Pay attention to the speed and rhythm you use when you think you're playing well.

I think many of us start shooting slower when we're under the heat because we're trying to be careful. But in doing so we screw things up.

Lou Figueroa
 
lfigueroa said:
Pay attention to the speed and rhythm you use when you think you're playing well.

I think many of us start shooting slower when we're under the heat because we're trying to be careful. But in doing so we screw things up.

Lou Figueroa
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i dont really feel "pressure" when playing pool. doesnt matter if it is for fun or money or a tournament. when im at the table i just kind of forget everything but the table.
 
jdxprs said:
i dont really feel "pressure" when playing pool. doesnt matter if it is for fun or money or a tournament. when im at the table i just kind of forget everything but the table.
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Well, to paraphrase Minnesota Fats: Raise the bet, you'll feel the pressure.

Lou Figueroa
what he actually said, when someone said the pockets on a particular table were too loose:
"Raise the bet, they'll tighten up."
 
lfigueroa said:
Well, to paraphrase Minnesota Fats: Raise the bet, you'll feel the pressure.

Lou Figueroa
what he actually said, when someone said the pockets on a particular table were too loose:
"Raise the bet, they'll tighten up."
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i've played for what i would consider a lot of money, but the key is, i've never played for more than i could afford to lose, and i never would.
 
jdxprs said:
i've played for what i would consider a lot of money, but the key is, i've never played for more than i could afford to lose, and i never would.
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Nothing wrong with staying in your comfort zone.

Lou Figueroa
 
There is a lot to be said for rhythm and cadence. It starts with your breathing while you are in the the chair. It continues with the way you walk to/around the table, the way you chalk your tip, the way you survey the table, the way you get down on a shot, the way you take warm up strokes and the way you execute the shot. Think about the last time that you were "in the zone". I'll bet you'll recall feeling a certain rhythm and how everything just felt so natural and connected. Not too slow... not to fast... just right.
 
custmqs said:
There is a lot to be said for rhythm and cadence. It starts with your breathing while you are in the the chair. It continues with the way you walk to/around the table, the way you chalk your tip, the way you survey the table, the way you get down on a shot, the way you take warm up strokes and the way you execute the shot. Think about the last time that you were "in the zone". I'll bet you'll recall feeling a certain rhythm and how everything just felt so natural and connected. Not too slow... not to fast... just right.
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Nicely said.

Lou Figueroa
 
Johnnyt said:
I've played and watched 1000's of average to better than average players shoot pool and the one thing I believe that would bring up most of their games is SLOW DOWN. Before you get down to shoot, know where the CB is going. Whats the best route to send the CB safely for position. If its a tough shot and you feel you might miss, think how to play safe if you miss and still have a makeable shot if you make it. The list goes on and on what you should be thinking of. This way when you finally get down on the ball you won't have any negative thoughts in your head, because you had everything covered BEFORE you got down on the shot. Johnnyt
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I agree with you Johhny. That's an area I am trying to improve on for tournaments. I'm a fast player and my biggest fault seems to be rushing to shoot. Nerves seem to make it worse. I'm not always 100% mentally ready when I'm down on the ball. My resolution is to give each shot a little more effort.
 
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custmqs...What a great description! Every player has their own "best" rhythm and cadence. Most players never find theirs, or at least not long enough to keep it. A good instructor can help you find yours, and learn how to keep it... forever.

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

custmqs said:
There is a lot to be said for rhythm and cadence. It starts with your breathing while you are in the the chair. It continues with the way you walk to/around the table, the way you chalk your tip, the way you survey the table, the way you get down on a shot, the way you take warm up strokes and the way you execute the shot. Think about the last time that you were "in the zone". I'll bet you'll recall feeling a certain rhythm and how everything just felt so natural and connected. Not too slow... not to fast... just right.
Click to expand...
 
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