The most common mistake U see low SL's make?
- Thread starter Kickin' Chicken
- Start date
The best thing that could happen to people that don't know the importance of basic fundamentals is the beauty of playing an instrument. When you are playing an instrument, incorrectly, the sound it makes tells you right away, you don't have a clue.
The way you learn to play an instrument and the way you learn to play pool are very similar. Get familiar and comfortable with the instrument in your hands. That's when you can make some beautiful music.
_____________________________
http://tommcgonaglerightoncue.com
The way you learn to play an instrument and the way you learn to play pool are very similar. Get familiar and comfortable with the instrument in your hands. That's when you can make some beautiful music.
_____________________________
http://tommcgonaglerightoncue.com
Normally I would let this type of comment slide but full well knowing this may not be popular to disagree with you, I will on this occasion. I respect your opinion but...
Have you ever seen Willie Mosconi shoot pool, Willie along with a lot of old time great players had an upright stance and their chin was not on the cue as you suggest. I guess he never got better than decent huh...
check out these videos
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvdOk7TV0yo
That Luther Lassiter fellow probably wasn't much better than decent either.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eIE5AOayYvI&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k06-M12lQWE&feature=related
Irving Crane and Joe Balsis, i don't see a chin on the cue nor really near it. but WOW 150 and out is that "just decent"
Putting your chin on your cue might work for you but it might not work for everyone. Body type/shape, height etc may all come into play in my humble opinion.
I'm going to post another that I've observed quite a bit.
Not keeping the cue level enough. This, as many of you know, has big potential for sabotaging shots.
Only play jacked up when you must.
Best,
Brian kc
Not keeping the cue level enough. This, as many of you know, has big potential for sabotaging shots.
Only play jacked up when you must.
Best,
Brian kc
Not going to take proper mechanics into consideration or alignment and all that stuff, b/c thats a given to be improperly done for the lower levels.
-Alot of good posts so far on this thread. IMOP I would have to say Hitting the CB too hard. I tell newbies and intermediates quite often to remember "just because the shot is harder, doesn't mean you have to hit it harder" Its really easy to shoot the CB straight when your new and don't have a stroke if you hit it soft and controlled. I get them to shoot it just straight in the pocket slowly a few times and it helps them to realize their mistake of whacking at it.
-My second choice is PATTERN PLAY...besides not knowing the correct patterns I think what really affects this more is the HARD SHOOTING, they can never control their CB so why would they ever think any amount of balls ahead much less 3+
-Non existent safety play, especially in 8 ball...they are always trying to just run out EVERY rack and wonder why they lose more often than not. That's a good rule to teach beginers .
There are 2 types of shots in pool,
1) the kinds you make
2) the kinds you play safe on.
Beginers forget that the game also has defense, more often than not they are completely offensive. When you only play half of the complete game your always going to have trouble.
I'll go ahead and add one more on mechanics.
-THEY CHICKEN CHOKE THE CUE STICK!
hope that helps,
Grey Ghost
-Alot of good posts so far on this thread. IMOP I would have to say Hitting the CB too hard. I tell newbies and intermediates quite often to remember "just because the shot is harder, doesn't mean you have to hit it harder" Its really easy to shoot the CB straight when your new and don't have a stroke if you hit it soft and controlled. I get them to shoot it just straight in the pocket slowly a few times and it helps them to realize their mistake of whacking at it.
-My second choice is PATTERN PLAY...besides not knowing the correct patterns I think what really affects this more is the HARD SHOOTING, they can never control their CB so why would they ever think any amount of balls ahead much less 3+
-Non existent safety play, especially in 8 ball...they are always trying to just run out EVERY rack and wonder why they lose more often than not. That's a good rule to teach beginers .
There are 2 types of shots in pool,
1) the kinds you make
2) the kinds you play safe on.
Beginers forget that the game also has defense, more often than not they are completely offensive. When you only play half of the complete game your always going to have trouble.
I'll go ahead and add one more on mechanics.
-THEY CHICKEN CHOKE THE CUE STICK!
hope that helps,
Grey Ghost
Many of the newer players fail to "properly" watch a good match or a good player practice.
If you want to improve your game, you had better be doing a heck of a lot more than looking to see if the shooter made the object ball or watching where the cue ball finally came to settle on the table.
JoeyA
If you want to improve your game, you had better be doing a heck of a lot more than looking to see if the shooter made the object ball or watching where the cue ball finally came to settle on the table.
JoeyA
is it getting hot in here?
It's feeling like 180 degrees in here.
which is what I'm about to turn, 180 degrees...
I feel adequately spanked for my misstatement. Yes I do.
As I was typing my original post I did think of Fats, but to be candid, not Crane, Lassiter, and freaking Willie Mosconi. They were pretty good players. :thumbup:
Well, I am an educable man and I will humbly back off my 'chin close to the cue' universal recommendation. Physically, I am a big man and for me I run out of felt a whole lot sooner than, say Johnny Archer; so my chin isn't on the cue nearly as often as I'd like due to that limitation. And I play maybe a little better than decent myself so I know it is possible to do okay chin off the cue. What I witness at leagues, tourneys, etc., bore no resemblance to Crane, Balsis, Lassiter, et al.
I do think I placed too much emphasis, for sure, on today's stars and my own experience.
Thank you for pointing out what I should have known.
Humbly,
Brian kc
It's feeling like 180 degrees in here.
which is what I'm about to turn, 180 degrees... I feel adequately spanked for my misstatement. Yes I do.
As I was typing my original post I did think of Fats, but to be candid, not Crane, Lassiter, and freaking Willie Mosconi. They were pretty good players. :thumbup:
Well, I am an educable man and I will humbly back off my 'chin close to the cue' universal recommendation. Physically, I am a big man and for me I run out of felt a whole lot sooner than, say Johnny Archer; so my chin isn't on the cue nearly as often as I'd like due to that limitation. And I play maybe a little better than decent myself so I know it is possible to do okay chin off the cue. What I witness at leagues, tourneys, etc., bore no resemblance to Crane, Balsis, Lassiter, et al.
I do think I placed too much emphasis, for sure, on today's stars and my own experience.
Thank you for pointing out what I should have known.
Humbly,
Brian kc
In my opinion there are a number of problems that New Players make, and some of this forums members are responsible for encouraging or planting the seed for these bad habits.
First many new players do not know how to aim, and most importantly how to practice the proper fundamentals used for building good hand and eye coordination. This starts with dominate eye, a good stance that gives one good weight distribution and balance, and how to properly bridge and grip the cue. Without these fundamentals and the understanding of how important they are improvement is almost impossible.
Second, new players or those who are kinda inexperienced are easily lead by the comments of better players. I can not tell how many new players approach me because I build cues, own a Pool Hall, and sell retail merchandise to find out what the truth is about this or that new item and how it will effect their game. While I could make money off these people and sell them the latest item's or change perfectly good tips I try and dispel all the hype about these items first, if that doesn't work I will take their money like anyone else.
In the end these items will not really make any major changes in a new players game, like practice and focusing on fundamentals will. To the better players on forum if a beginner or inexperienced player asks what will improve their game just recommend that they practice, practice, practice!!
JIMO
Playing 8b it would b shot selection and 9b would b not knowing when to play safe thats my thoughts on it
I agree...and it's not just the low skill levels that do this. Jimmy Reid's video mentions the importance of staying down on the shot...something I have to keep reminding myself about.
If you like to gamble, and you see two players you know nothing about? Pick the guy who stays down on the shot longest. Test this out when watching streams...
DEFINITELY! I can't tell you how many times I've seen low-ranked players run through all the easy balls and then be stuck with no shot on the trouble ball(s). I swear they could double their skill level if they just had a run of the mill "B" player telling them what to shoot.
I don't think there is one thing in particular that they all do wrong, other than misaligne the shot. But they tend to,
-Adopt too wide a stance
-Adopt too narrow a stance
-not plant both feet on the floor
-not stand in the same way every time (or even close!)
-approaches the shot differently every time
-stand very awkwardly in general
-Hold the cue too tight,
-hold the cue too light,
-hold the cue with their thumb on top.
-hold the cue to close to their body
-hold the cue too far from their body
-grip the cue harder during the forward stroke
-snatches at the cue ball
-not worry about aiming the cue at all
-play too fast
-play too slow
-align to contact point rather than the aiming point.
-be overly creative with their bridging techniques
-utilize a misaligned bridge
-utilize a unstable bridge (not firmly planted)
-disregard the rest
-Use too much elbow
-Use too much shoulder
-use too long a stroke
-use too short a stroke
-has no rythem in their stroke
-has no discernable pause between practice and final strokes
-misalign their head
-not focus on anything in particular during the final stroke
-Move their head on the shot
-Move their entire body on the shot
-Assume doing a little dance step will help encourage a wayward shot to find a pocket
-One strokes the break shot
-One strokes everything
-One million strokes the break shot
-One million strokes EVERYTHING
-fail to follow through
-follow through too much
-Play too many bank shots
-play too many combinations
-Play the wrong shot entirely
-Play the right shot incorrectly
-Disregards any notion of position play
-Plays position for the wrong ball (like a straight back bank, even when they could have rolled forward a straight in shot)
-Only looks one shot ahead.
-Doesn't give equal consideration to pocketing the ball and playing shape ie. I'd rather miss the ball than miss position (who came up with this???)
-Disregard safety play entirely (9 ball isn't nearly as difficult when you don't go for everything)
-Hit the ball too hard
-play every shot at pocket speed
-chalks the cue incorrectly
-not chalk at all
-blow the chalk off after applying it
-buys a fiberglass black cue (seriously, house cues are better than these)
-buys a cue with a dragon spray painted on it, just tacky.
-play terrible music on the jukebox.
-twirl their cue
-think they were robbed when they jaw out a ball
-not practice
-not practice properly
In short they do everything wrong (I'm sure I missed some stuff), but if they didn't they wouldn't be low level right? But to be fair I think everyone has something in this list they are guilty of.
But the number one thing anyone can do wrong....is not play!
-Adopt too wide a stance
-Adopt too narrow a stance
-not plant both feet on the floor
-not stand in the same way every time (or even close!)
-approaches the shot differently every time
-stand very awkwardly in general
-Hold the cue too tight,
-hold the cue too light,
-hold the cue with their thumb on top.
-hold the cue to close to their body
-hold the cue too far from their body
-grip the cue harder during the forward stroke
-snatches at the cue ball
-not worry about aiming the cue at all
-play too fast
-play too slow
-align to contact point rather than the aiming point.
-be overly creative with their bridging techniques
-utilize a misaligned bridge
-utilize a unstable bridge (not firmly planted)
-disregard the rest
-Use too much elbow
-Use too much shoulder
-use too long a stroke
-use too short a stroke
-has no rythem in their stroke
-has no discernable pause between practice and final strokes
-misalign their head
-not focus on anything in particular during the final stroke
-Move their head on the shot
-Move their entire body on the shot
-Assume doing a little dance step will help encourage a wayward shot to find a pocket
-One strokes the break shot
-One strokes everything
-One million strokes the break shot
-One million strokes EVERYTHING
-fail to follow through
-follow through too much
-Play too many bank shots
-play too many combinations
-Play the wrong shot entirely
-Play the right shot incorrectly
-Disregards any notion of position play
-Plays position for the wrong ball (like a straight back bank, even when they could have rolled forward a straight in shot)
-Only looks one shot ahead.
-Doesn't give equal consideration to pocketing the ball and playing shape ie. I'd rather miss the ball than miss position (who came up with this???)
-Disregard safety play entirely (9 ball isn't nearly as difficult when you don't go for everything)
-Hit the ball too hard
-play every shot at pocket speed
-chalks the cue incorrectly
-not chalk at all
-blow the chalk off after applying it
-buys a fiberglass black cue (seriously, house cues are better than these)
-buys a cue with a dragon spray painted on it, just tacky.
-play terrible music on the jukebox.
-twirl their cue
-think they were robbed when they jaw out a ball
-not practice
-not practice properly
In short they do everything wrong (I'm sure I missed some stuff), but if they didn't they wouldn't be low level right? But to be fair I think everyone has something in this list they are guilty of.
But the number one thing anyone can do wrong....is not play!
I'm with you on the chin low thing. With the simple advice of getting down to where you can sight the shot... a lot of beginners start making at least the balls 3-8 inches from the hole.
The other thing is the bridge. To me, an open bridge is so natural and it seems like people would almost form one by instinct. But instead their instinct seems to make them form bridges such as the Angry Crab and Praying Mantis.
I've written a ton on mistakes beginners make, cuz they're all pretty fresh in my mind.
If you're super bored you can read them:
On the importance of not lying to yourself
Terrible habits I had to break
The other thing is the bridge. To me, an open bridge is so natural and it seems like people would almost form one by instinct. But instead their instinct seems to make them form bridges such as the Angry Crab and Praying Mantis.
I've written a ton on mistakes beginners make, cuz they're all pretty fresh in my mind.
If you're super bored you can read them:
On the importance of not lying to yourself
Terrible habits I had to break
I keep my head down low but I disagree that this is the only or best way to do it, plenty of great players are up higher off the cue.
Poor players do a lot of things wrong, mainly inconsistent shotmaking and poor control of the cue ball/no idea where it is going or how to make it go where they want.
At higher levels where the players are decent shotmakers and can control the cue ball, safety play becomes more of an issue.
Poor players do a lot of things wrong, mainly inconsistent shotmaking and poor control of the cue ball/no idea where it is going or how to make it go where they want.
At higher levels where the players are decent shotmakers and can control the cue ball, safety play becomes more of an issue.