So you've got some free time!

[JuicyGirl]

So you get let go from your job. Cash out your severance checks and do some chores around the house. And now you have some free time to do what you always wanted. Shoot pool. I need to learn the fundamentals. Where do I start? As for ball park idea's of where I am... still a 2 (APA). I've won all but 2 of my matches, make some safeties and some banks here and there.

Here's what I've figured out by now.
Punch hole stickers- check
Laser level- check
Rempe ball- check
Book "The 99 critical shots in pool"- check
A few more books- check
15 balls and a pool table- check and check
Video camera- check

Now what!

 

[Txstang1]

I would start with someone or some instructional material on proper stance/bridge/stroke, etc and work from there. With out those, you're spinning your wheels. I would look at CJ Wiley's website. www.cjwiley.com

 

[Scott Lee]

JuicyGirl...I thought you got some instruction from Donny Lutz. Didn't he give you any ideas of how to progress? Of course drills can only get you so far. You just have to get out there more in combat. Play more leagues, play some tournaments.

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com

So you get let go from your job. Cash out your severance checks and do some chores around the house. And now you have some free time to do what you always wanted. Shoot pool. I need to learn the fundamentals. Where do I start? As for ball park idea's of where I am... still a 2 (APA). I've won all but 2 of my matches, make some safeties and some banks here and there.

Here's what I've figured out by now.
Punch hole stickers- check
Laser level- check
Rempe ball- check
Book "The 99 critical shots in pool"- check
A few more books- check
15 balls and a pool table- check and check
Video camera- check

Now what!

 

[PaulieB]

So you get let go from your job. Cash out your severance checks and do some chores around the house. And now you have some free time to do what you always wanted. Shoot pool. I need to learn the fundamentals. Where do I start? As for ball park idea's of where I am... still a 2 (APA). I've won all but 2 of my matches, make some safeties and some banks here and there.

Here's what I've figured out by now.
Punch hole stickers- check
Laser level- check
Rempe ball- check
Book "The 99 critical shots in pool"- check
A few more books- check
15 balls and a pool table- check and check
Video camera- check

Now what!

No disrespect intended, and I am not an official instructor. but honestly ... you have all this material... USE THEM. There is no way in heck that you have "figured out" all the materials and books you have listed and still remain an APA 2. You have to put in more practice hours using the material you have... or even less than the material you have. Take a few selections of the material and practice them until you understand them. Hit a THOUSAND two rail position drills on your home table. Then hit TWO THOUSAND three rail position drills on your table.

Buying books and devices shows your dedication, actually using them shows your skill level.

 

[JuicyGirl]

No disrespect intended, and I am not an official instructor. but honestly ... you have all this material... USE THEM. There is no way in heck that you have "figured out" all the materials and books you have listed and still remain an APA 2. You have to put in more practice hours using the material you have... or even less than the material you have. Take a few selections of the material and practice them until you understand them. Hit a THOUSAND two rail position drills on your home table. Then hit TWO THOUSAND three rail position drills on your table.

Buying books and devices shows your dedication, actually using them shows your skill level.

You are right. I'm trying to organize myself. I'd also like to improve my game in less than 4 weeks and my books don't really say much in fundamentals. I don't want to be a 9 at the end of the month but I'd like to move the meter and continue to make progress.

Thanks for replying
Loren

 

[JuicyGirl]

JuicyGirl...I thought you got some instruction from Donny Lutz. Didn't he give you any ideas of how to progress? Of course drills can only get you so far. You just have to get out there more in combat. Play more leagues, play some tournaments.

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com

Donny and I worked in safeties. Which was a godsend.
I wish I could get my butt up there more. Donny is an awesome teacher. He mentioned fundamentals but we already had our hands full with safety lessons. That's why I was there.

Thanks
Loren

 

[randyg]

Scott Lee will be in your area this Feb. Book a lesson with him.

randyg

 

[Okie]

So you get let go from your job. Cash out your severance checks and do some chores around the house. And now you have some free time to do what you always wanted. Shoot pool. I need to learn the fundamentals. Where do I start? As for ball park idea's of where I am... still a 2 (APA). I've won all but 2 of my matches, make some safeties and some banks here and there.

Here's what I've figured out by now.
Punch hole stickers- check
Laser level- check
Rempe ball- check
Book "The 99 critical shots in pool"- check
A few more books- check
15 balls and a pool table- check and check
Video camera- check

Now what!

One thing you left off that list is the time you have set aside to practice. Determine what type of daily practice schedule you can commit to and then do it! Do not let anything stop you from making your daily practice a reality.

I would be willing to bet that if you practice every day for 30 days in a row the people around you will be telling you how much you have improved. However, you might still feel as though you are on square one. Take joy in their comments and push on to the next 30 days in a row...then repeat...and repeat. In a year you will look back and say "dang! I can't believe that want to make me a 4 already! I am not as good as those other 4's.". Take joy in the fact they are making you a 4 and use it to push on for another year...and repeat...

You get the idea I am sure! True competitors are never done but hard work and dedication will always pay off even if we don't notice it.

Good luck with it!

Ken

p.s. I started my daily practice routine in Nov. 2010. To date I have missed 4 days of practice.

 

[FranCrimi]

Well Loren, there are all different kinds of ways you can choose from to proceed. I remember the feeling of confusion at that level. You can pull out your books, do drills, watch videos and practice, practice, practice, but also I recommend that you get to know the better players in your home room and start to spend some time with them. Learn from them.

Of course, you can take a lesson or more, but it's that every day experience you get from being a 'regular' in a pool room that will help your game grow the most. Once you become part of that society of players, the better players will extend themselves to help you out.

At least, that's how it happened for me. It helps to be cute, which I believe you are (men are so easy).

 

[ENGLISH!]

Well Loren, there are all different kinds of ways you can choose from to proceed. I remember the feeling of confusion at that level. You can pull out your books, do drills, watch videos and practice, practice, practice, but also I recommend that you get to know the better players in your home room and start to spend some time with them. Learn from them.

Of course, you can take a lesson or more, but it's that every day experience you get from being a 'regular' in a pool room that will help your game grow the most. Once you become part of that society of players, the better players will extend themselves to help you out.

At least, that's how it happened for me. It helps to be cute, which I believe you are (men are so easy).

Fran,

I resemble that last remark.

 

[One Pocket John]

Please believe me when I say.....I'm not here to take business away from instructors.

Loren says she wants to improve in 4 weeks. Loren, studing the fundementals and having them become automatic takes more like a year of everyday practice. Over and over and over again.

What I would do, since you have your own table is to purchase Lee Brett's DVD "The Secret Art of Pool" and CJ Wileys DVD "Ultimate Pool Secrets".

This will get you started. You read like a very determined lady and I'm sure you will do well.

One on one instruction is always best, but in your position ya gotta do what ya gotta do.

Above all..........have fun with the game. :smile:

Go get em tiger

John

 

[BilliardsAbout]

Donny said you are great and were a responsive student as well who learned and practiced what she learned. You should come here and work on fundamentals with him.

Perhaps you'll let me watch, not just because you are cute and charming but I always learn watching Donny. He has a great way of innovating thinking about and teaching pool...

 

[Buzzard II]

I know of a well known school that runs classes down there each winter. But I've learned the hard way that some teach for money and others teach for the love of the game.

I learned more in a day with Scott Lee than a three day school and a half day private with brand X.

But...as One Pocket says, it takes more than a month.

Book with Scott.

 

[JuicyGirl]

I couldn't agree more with you guys. Yes it going to take more than a month. But if you had the time what would you do?

I have no reason to believe I will be next Black Widow next month. I can try to better my skills.
Loren

 

[Bob Jewett]

I couldn't agree more with you guys. Yes it going to take more than a month. But if you had the time what would you do? ...

Unless you are a very, very exceptional APA 2/3, you really need to work on your fundamentals. Work on a solid bridge. Learn to chalk. Many APA 5s have not learned to chalk so you almost certainly do it wrong. Work on a solid stance. Make sure you see the shot accurately. Work on a consistent, straight, stroke, and gradually increase the power of it until you can make the cue ball go more than 4 lengths up and down the center of the table.

That's more than a month's worth but much of that will take longer to ingrain anyway.

 

[ronscuba]

Learn to chalk. Many APA 5s have not learned to chalk so you almost certainly do it wrong..

Can you explain this a little further ? I never really thought about chalking and didn't know there is a right and wrong way to do it.

 

[JuicyGirl]

My understanding is that you don't need to bore a hole in your chalk. you just need to feather it across the tip lightly and evenly.

And it could be totally wrong.

 

[Bob Jewett]

Can you explain this a little further ? I never really thought about chalking and didn't know there is a right and wrong way to do it.

If you go to a room populated mostly by beginners, you see holes drilled into the chalk. If you go to a tournament with top players, you see chalk that's nearly flat on the working surface.

There are many ways to chalk correctly. The absolutely most important part is to look at your tip to see if it is chalked properly before you shoot a spin shot. If you do that you will learn a good way to chalk. It probably won't be by boring a hole into the chalk. And you probably will stop making those obnoxious squeaking sounds when you chalk.:wink:

 

[Okie]

My understanding is that you don't need to bore a hole in your chalk. you just need to feather it across the tip lightly and evenly.

And it could be totally wrong.

An example of where you know more than you give yourself credit for...see Mr. Jewett's answer.

My point...

You have read some good books, etc and studied via AZB. You are ready for the next step. Use the knowledge you have learned and hit balls till your hands bleed...oh wait that's golf. Old habits are hard to break.

Get that daily routine in gear and start moving towards your goals!

Ken

 

[EasyEJL]

One thing you left off that list is the time you have set aside to practice. Determine what type of daily practice schedule you can commit to and then do it! Do not let anything stop you from making your daily practice a reality.

We more or less practice every day as we have the table in the house. We don't necessarily do drills though, its playing 8 ball or 9 ball, sometimes equal offense. Is your daily practice game oriented or drill oriented

Of course, you can take a lesson or more, but it's that every day experience you get from being a 'regular' in a pool room that will help your game grow the most. Once you become part of that society of players, the better players will extend themselves to help you out.

At least, that's how it happened for me. It helps to be cute, which I believe you are (men are so easy).

We do have a few high end players at our pool hall, one is an ex pro who works on giving her tips every week as he is on our 9 ball team.




I'm just joining in as I'm a 2 who shoots great and wins against 4s and up (by rack playing 9 ball i've beaten a 7 about 1 game out of 3, maybe 1 out of 4), and I lose to 1s or 2s just about every time, and lose to 3s about half the time. I need to get things to click into gear myself.