I've been trying to make some mechanical improvements in my game and it's been very frustrating. Especially when my friends are watching or that I know I can play better than I am doing. I realize that in the long run the step backwards will be better for the future of my game... but it's tough.
Anyway, I was reading a very interesting article called 'Iron and the Soul' by singer/actor/spoken word guru Henry Rollins. It talks about him as a kid and how a teacher of his got him in to lifting weights and the lessons he learned from it.
"It took me years to fully appreciate the value of the lessons I have learned from the Iron. I used to think that it was my adversary, that I was trying to lift that which does not want to be lifted. I was wrong. When the Iron doesn't want to come off the mat, it's the kindest thing it can do for you. If it flew up and went through the ceiling, it wouldn't teach you anything. That's the way the Iron talks to you. It tells you that the material you work with is that which you will come to resemble. That which you work against will always work against you."
I realized that this is very similar to playing pool. If it were easy.. you wouldn't learn anything from it. Everyone would be great at the game and it just wouldn't be any fun. It wouldn't teach you discipline, humility, self-control, some social skills, pressure, and heart. The days that the balls just don't want to go in are the days you learn the most. The tournaments you lose are just as important as the ones you win.
There are a lot of players that like to play and are happy to do just that... play pool. But they don't seem to get better with time. Or their progress is very slow. It takes a lot to be willing to break down your game.. to admit you have weaknesses that need to be corrected. And most importantly, to be able to let go of the ego.
So, if you're not one of those naturally gifted players that don't have to practice and never miss a shot... don't get too frustrated. Instead, take a minute to appreciate all the lessons the game is giving you. Sometimes it's a lesson on mechanics, sometimes it's a mental lesson. Sometimes it's both.
Happy shooting.
Here is the Rollin's article
Anyway, I was reading a very interesting article called 'Iron and the Soul' by singer/actor/spoken word guru Henry Rollins. It talks about him as a kid and how a teacher of his got him in to lifting weights and the lessons he learned from it.
"It took me years to fully appreciate the value of the lessons I have learned from the Iron. I used to think that it was my adversary, that I was trying to lift that which does not want to be lifted. I was wrong. When the Iron doesn't want to come off the mat, it's the kindest thing it can do for you. If it flew up and went through the ceiling, it wouldn't teach you anything. That's the way the Iron talks to you. It tells you that the material you work with is that which you will come to resemble. That which you work against will always work against you."
I realized that this is very similar to playing pool. If it were easy.. you wouldn't learn anything from it. Everyone would be great at the game and it just wouldn't be any fun. It wouldn't teach you discipline, humility, self-control, some social skills, pressure, and heart. The days that the balls just don't want to go in are the days you learn the most. The tournaments you lose are just as important as the ones you win.
There are a lot of players that like to play and are happy to do just that... play pool. But they don't seem to get better with time. Or their progress is very slow. It takes a lot to be willing to break down your game.. to admit you have weaknesses that need to be corrected. And most importantly, to be able to let go of the ego.
So, if you're not one of those naturally gifted players that don't have to practice and never miss a shot... don't get too frustrated. Instead, take a minute to appreciate all the lessons the game is giving you. Sometimes it's a lesson on mechanics, sometimes it's a mental lesson. Sometimes it's both.
Happy shooting.
Here is the Rollin's article
