I've had a new job for the past 9 months that has allowed me the time to actively pursue my dream of becoming a proficient pool player. I thought I would pop out of the woodshed long enough to relate a FABULOUS series of lessons from Mark Wilson (the "St. Louis Shooter").
I visited Mark for a 4 day series of lessons; consider it a "pool boot camp" if you will. The general sequence is breakfast, 2 mile walk, shower, pool, lunch, pool, dinner, pool, midnight snack, more pool, sleep (light on the sleep), repeat.
We mainly played on a 10 foot Brunswick, and the answer to your not-yet-asked question is: NO, POOL IS NOT EASIER ON A BIGGER TABLE!! The bigger table puts tremendous pressure on your shotmaking.
Those that think the larger position areas make position play easier on such tables are WRONG. Yes, there is more room; but you MUST get the proper angle to move whitey around with the least effort; because obtaining that proper position requires moving whitey a LOT farther than on a smaller table. On a previous trip, that table just kicked my a$$, so I've been practicing hard for 6 weeks, hoping to return the favor this trip.
Day #1 = table kicks my a$$.
Day #2 = table kicks my a$$ again, but I have a couple of good games/drills.
Day #3 = I'm having a lot of good racks/drills, and occasionally forget how intimidating this freaking table is.
Day #4 = I don't even think about the size of the table, it's just where we play.
This sequence is the result of the training that Mark is providing. The larger table certainly makes it easier for him to put pressure on your stroke (a good stroke is certainly MUCH easier to deliver on an easy shot than a difficult shot; and Mark can find shots/positions on this table that even Efren would be sweating).
I've had a couple of lesson sessions from Mark per year for at least 2 or 3 years; but the new job schedule is allowing me more time this year, and the results are very gratifying. Anyone who can't run a hundred; anyone serious about improving; anyone who wants a mechanically simple, repeatable, and pressure resistant stroke; anyone who has always wondered how those pro's got so good - should RUN (not walk) over to St. Louis and look up Mark for some lessons. It is my impression that he is more interested in working with serious students, and I'm about as serious as a heart attack.
P.S. - did I mention that this was BIG FUN??? I just spent 2 weeks in Vegas; seeing shows, eating out, sightseeing, hanging out at the pool. Four days of pool with Mark was probably just a bit more fun.
I visited Mark for a 4 day series of lessons; consider it a "pool boot camp" if you will. The general sequence is breakfast, 2 mile walk, shower, pool, lunch, pool, dinner, pool, midnight snack, more pool, sleep (light on the sleep), repeat.
We mainly played on a 10 foot Brunswick, and the answer to your not-yet-asked question is: NO, POOL IS NOT EASIER ON A BIGGER TABLE!! The bigger table puts tremendous pressure on your shotmaking.
Those that think the larger position areas make position play easier on such tables are WRONG. Yes, there is more room; but you MUST get the proper angle to move whitey around with the least effort; because obtaining that proper position requires moving whitey a LOT farther than on a smaller table. On a previous trip, that table just kicked my a$$, so I've been practicing hard for 6 weeks, hoping to return the favor this trip.
Day #1 = table kicks my a$$.
Day #2 = table kicks my a$$ again, but I have a couple of good games/drills.
Day #3 = I'm having a lot of good racks/drills, and occasionally forget how intimidating this freaking table is.
Day #4 = I don't even think about the size of the table, it's just where we play.
This sequence is the result of the training that Mark is providing. The larger table certainly makes it easier for him to put pressure on your stroke (a good stroke is certainly MUCH easier to deliver on an easy shot than a difficult shot; and Mark can find shots/positions on this table that even Efren would be sweating).
I've had a couple of lesson sessions from Mark per year for at least 2 or 3 years; but the new job schedule is allowing me more time this year, and the results are very gratifying. Anyone who can't run a hundred; anyone serious about improving; anyone who wants a mechanically simple, repeatable, and pressure resistant stroke; anyone who has always wondered how those pro's got so good - should RUN (not walk) over to St. Louis and look up Mark for some lessons. It is my impression that he is more interested in working with serious students, and I'm about as serious as a heart attack.
P.S. - did I mention that this was BIG FUN??? I just spent 2 weeks in Vegas; seeing shows, eating out, sightseeing, hanging out at the pool. Four days of pool with Mark was probably just a bit more fun.
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