that one concept that really helped your game?

N

northman

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Hi all, I am a beginner player that has been struggling to find my game. A few nights ago I changed up my grip a bit, letting my index finger relax and gripping the cue primarily with my middle finger. Wow, all of a sudden my shots were going straight. Seems like my index finger makes my wrist turn a bit when I tighten it up a bit, I can even sense this now with my arm hanging by my side and slightly tensing the different fingers. Usually when something like this happens, the next day I try it again with no success, but this time the results seem to be sticking.

Did any of you have a revelation type experience that caused a sudden jump in shooting ability? So what tips or concepts noticeably helped your games?


Northman


Northman
 
Thumb down and looser grip for me.
I'm shooting so much straighter and with more spin.
 
northman said:
Hi all, I am a beginner player that has been struggling to find my game. A few nights ago I changed up my grip a bit, letting my index finger relax and gripping the cue primarily with my middle finger. Wow, all of a sudden my shots were going straight. Seems like my index finger makes my wrist turn a bit when I tighten it up a bit, I can even sense this now with my arm hanging by my side and slightly tensing the different fingers. Usually when something like this happens, the next day I try it again with no success, but this time the results seem to be sticking.

Did any of you have a revelation type experience that caused a sudden jump in shooting ability? So what tips or concepts noticeably helped your games?


Northman


Northman
Click to expand...


One revelation down...a million more to go....You will find "key" things that help your particular game for the rest of your life...

The real "key" that you have found is that you are not afraid of making a change to improve....

(some changes will make you get worse before you get better)
 
An "Ah-Ha" Moment

About 20 years ago I was struggling through some practice drills at the local pool hall without much success. An old timer was watching me for a while and he eventually passed by my table on the way out. He said "Straighten out your left arm and keep it that way when 'yer shootin'." (I shoot right handed). What a differrence! To this day I don't know if this is only something that helps me or if this is something in general that would help anyone's game. From the "For what it's worth" department.
 
northman said:
Hi all, I am a beginner player that has been struggling to find my game. A few nights ago I changed up my grip a bit, letting my index finger relax and gripping the cue primarily with my middle finger. Wow, all of a sudden my shots were going straight. Seems like my index finger makes my wrist turn a bit when I tighten it up a bit, I can even sense this now with my arm hanging by my side and slightly tensing the different fingers. Usually when something like this happens, the next day I try it again with no success, but this time the results seem to be sticking.

Did any of you have a revelation type experience that caused a sudden jump in shooting ability? So what tips or concepts noticeably helped your games?


Northman
Click to expand...
"Take what the table gives you!"

I know it's a cliche, but my game took a big step when I learned table management. Sometimes the perfect position isn't there. Sometimes you have to leave a little tougher shot than you would like. Learn to make that tougher shot and you'll find yourself getting out alot more.
 
Throw

When I first started (and for years) I had no idea that side spin on the cue ball would affect the direction of the object ball. I would miss shots and not know why. When a friend introduced me to the concept of "throw", I was amazed and my game improved dramatically.
 
Good question

I've found that my game excelled when I humbled myself to listen. Some folks won't offer advice as a matter of etiquette unless it is asked of them. I don't offer advice unless I'm asked. So I guess the point I'm trying to make is to ALWAYS ask questions wether it's John Nobody or John Archer. You'll have more light bulb moments that way. Hope this helps.
 
For me, that had to be learning the way a stop shot feels from various distances & speeds. After that my game/cueball control jumped up a few notches.
 
northman said:
Did any of you have a revelation type experience that caused a sudden jump in shooting ability? So what tips or concepts noticeably helped your games?
Click to expand...

This may sound dumb or obvious but one day in my VNEA league, I was shooting a difficult long 2-rail bank (an 'impossible' shot but the only shot I could envision from a difficult position) and was pleasantly suprised to make it. Thinking about it afterwards, I realised that I didn't have to miss a shot just because it was difficult. Think about that - it's like a lightbulb went on in my head.

Prior to that if the shot was difficult or awkward, I used to simply get down and shoot it with an air of resignation - fully expecting to miss. Now I shoot the same shots expecting to make them. What a difference.
 
northman said:
Did any of you have a revelation type experience that caused a sudden jump in shooting ability? So what tips or concepts noticeably helped your games?
Click to expand...

When I learned from Grady Matthews how to compensate for squirt (cueball deflection), my game leaped instantly from terrible SL-7 to pretty damned decent SL-7 (APA 8-ball).

Robert Byrne's Volume I or II (or both) also provided immediate insight for cueball patterns that gave an immediate leap in my game.

And then there's actually playing and practicing...


Fred
 
JoeyInCali said:
Thumb down and looser grip for me.
I'm shooting so much straighter and with more spin.
Click to expand...
Thumb down? Never heard that one before. Gotta try that one out. Thanks.
 
titlistsucker said:
i sobered up with the deflection tape frm Bert Kinister.. After that my game simply shot up..
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Raist, my friend. Every time I read your username, I have to do a double take.

Regards,

Fred
 
Cornerman said:
Raist, my friend. Every time I read your username, I have to do a double take.

Regards,

Fred
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That reminds me of a friend of mine that applied for a custom license plate... He wanted the plate to read "TITUP" ... for "Tee it up"

It got rejected by the DMV. :)
 
The realization of physics and pool.

I have to stop my cue on the back stroke before it moves forward. After I put a slight "pause" at my stroke, my delivery started to improve.

"All players have to pause on their backstroke, the good ones do it on purpose".....randyg
 
randyg said:
The realization of physics and pool.

I have to stop my cue on the back stroke before it moves forward. After I put a slight "pause" at my stroke, my delivery started to improve.

"All players have to pause on their backstroke, the good ones do it on purpose".....randyg
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I agree. I started doing this on my break and found I was hitting the cue ball and the object ball exactly where I wanted to. So I put it into my game. By the way my puase is very short but it's there!
 
I would say the other thing was realizing that I wasnt at a 90 degree angle with my arm perpendicular to the stick at impact on the cue ball. I simply moved my bridge closer to the cueball. I was actually about 10-12 inches away, now I average 8 inches give or take an inch. When putting anything but center hit on the cue the results are more consistant.
 
I had a big jump when I started trying to play pin point shape, NOT playing "area" type shape. I mean really making all efforts to put the cueball in a very small spot, like the size of a quarter. Playiing a ton of 9-bal you can get away with area shape. When I took up 14.1 and 1-pocket, there is NO place for area shape in those games. That and really having a very specific, clear plan for every shot in my head, BEFORE ever getting down to shoot. You'd be surprised how many times you take a quick look, and fire, then not get where you want because your plan was not solid.....Good luck....all the tips here are great, and will help you out.....Gerry
 
northman said:
So what tips or concepts noticeably helped your games?



Northman
Click to expand...

Analyzing why a particular shot was being missed consistently.
For example if you are always undercutting a certain shot then play it to overcut it and you may discover that you start making the shot more often than not.
 
northman said:
....
Did any of you have a revelation type experience that caused a sudden jump in shooting ability? So what tips or concepts noticeably helped your games?
Click to expand...
What David Malone said. It's amazing some of the shots you can make if you really try.

Also, when playing poorly, I've recently discovered it helps to admit that I'm not Mosconi or Butera and can't play at their pace. I go into "student of the game" mode which involves standing up straight between each shot, taking a breadth, resurveying the table along with my strategy, and approaching the next shot with the same freshness and care as the first. This one thing has pulled me out of a long downward spiral.

Jim
 
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