The Placebo Effect In The Pocket Billiard Industry

Johnnyt

Johnnyt

Burn all jump cues
Silver Member
I thought the “placebo effect” worked well with pills in the medical field, but it works even better with the “silver bullet effect” pill in the pocket billiard industry. I’ve been guilty of falling for it myself a few times over the years.

I’ve bought new cues that for the first week I swore they made me play a ball or so better. I’ve bought DVD’s and got that silver bullet effect of playing better, when all it really was, was because I was paying more attention to my PSR. How many times have we seen guy’s come on here and give some new thing a raving review for a few days, then nothing until the next “new thing” comes out. He says, “Boy this sounds good. I’ve got to get it today”. But I thought that new silver bullet you bought last month took care of that? No answer. I’m not trying to tell anyone how to spend their money, or that some of the new stuff that comes out won’t make you a better player if you work on it. I’m saying most of the new stuff we buy that we feel makes us better is just in our heads. Johnnyt
 
There is truth in what you say Johnnyt. Learning new things or using new tools of the trade does help one focus. It might be a good idea to keep on buying those DVD's. I know I have learned something from just about everything I have spent money on. Some of the pool lessons I have paid for were worthless, while others that I received for free were some of the best that I ever had.

However, on another note, I must say that I have the best playing cue in the world. (And yes I am serious) I don't know how long the placebo effect lasts but this has been going on for a little over a year.

JoeyA


Johnnyt said:
I thought the “placebo effect” worked well with pills in the medical field, but it works even better with the “silver bullet effect” pill in the pocket billiard industry. I’ve been guilty of falling for it myself a few times over the years.

I’ve bought new cues that for the first week I swore they made me play a ball or so better. I’ve bought DVD’s and got that silver bullet effect of playing better, when all it really was, was because I was paying more attention to my PSR. How many times have we seen guy’s come on here and give some new thing a raving review for a few days, then nothing until the next “new thing” comes out. He says, “Boy this sounds good. I’ve got to get it today”. But I thought that new silver bullet you bought last month took care of that? No answer. I’m not trying to tell anyone how to spend their money, or that some of the new stuff that comes out won’t make you a better player if you work on it. I’m saying most of the new stuff we buy that we feel makes us better is just in our heads. Johnnyt
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Johnnyt said:
I thought the “placebo effect” worked well with pills in the medical field, but it works even better with the “silver bullet effect” pill in the pocket billiard industry. I’ve been guilty of falling for it myself a few times over the years.

I’ve bought new cues that for the first week I swore they made me play a ball or so better. I’ve bought DVD’s and got that silver bullet effect of playing better, when all it really was, was because I was paying more attention to my PSR. How many times have we seen guy’s come on here and give some new thing a raving review for a few days, then nothing until the next “new thing” comes out. He says, “Boy this sounds good. I’ve got to get it today”. But I thought that new silver bullet you bought last month took care of that? No answer. I’m not trying to tell anyone how to spend their money, or that some of the new stuff that comes out won’t make you a better player if you work on it. I’m saying most of the new stuff we buy that we feel makes us better is just in our heads. Johnnyt
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That is very true, it seems like before I was able to build my own cues all I was ever doing was waiting to the next cue that was going to be magical. None ever were. It was always just me with a different cue. At first you think "This is the cue" but soon reality set in and you realize it is just another cue.
The best cue I have ever used was one I built myself and that took a lot of tinkering to get it right. It can really be frustrating.

My last modification was thinning down the butt a little. This would be a major change for someone having it done to their custom cue but no problem for me. If it wrecked the cue, so what.
As it turned out I really love the cue thinner. It has been several years now and I still love it so sometimes it is not just in your head.

But ordering cues no matter who makes them is still a crap shoot. Usually after you just laid out $1500.00 for a cue and waited a year you have no choice but to convince yourself you love it. Even though that $150.00 Player cue sitting under the bed you will probably never play with it again you really like so much better.
 
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I volunteer to test your theory.

Send me a new cue; custom wrapless, soft tip preferred. No fancy, busy inlays please.

I will carefully document the results of the experiment and send you a full report!

:grin:
 
Best Playing Cue

JoeyA said:
There is truth in what you say Johnnyt. Learning new things or using new tools of the trade does help one focus. It might be a good idea to keep on buying those DVD's. I know I have learned something from just about everything I have spent money on. Some of the pool lessons I have paid for were worthless, while others that I received for free were some of the best that I ever had.

However, on another note, I must say that I have the best playing cue in the world. (And yes I am serious) I don't know how long the placebo effect lasts but this has been going on for a little over a year.

JoeyA
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Im not so sure about that. Ive a very nice playing South East and I know of a Longoni that I would love to get my hands on, I own an original Pechauer that plays awesome as well. Im just not sure you own the best one.
 
A new cue will just boost your confidence and this game is all about confidence.
 
My new girlfriend is much more attractive than her predecessor. I swear when she comes to watch me play it helps my game.
 
ChicagoJoe said:
I like to make minor changes from time to time for the same reason.
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That's interesting because most people who talk about a placebo effect mean it in a derogatory way, like saying the product doesn't really work and it's all in your imagination.

But placebo effects actually do work, that's the point. If you get excited about a new type of chalk or tip or grip or stance, and you put work into your game because of it, then maybe that's all that matters.
 
336Robin said:
Im not so sure about that. Ive a very nice playing South East and I know of a Longoni that I would love to get my hands on, I own an original Pechauer that plays awesome as well. Im just not sure you own the best one.
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We can put my boast to the test and you get to the be the judge. :smile:

JoeyA
 
I totally agree with the placebo effect, and that any confidence boost is a good one in this game, but I also know that it took a while for me to figure out my preferred cue specs when I first started plying seriously.. wrap, weight, shaft mm, etc. That fueled a lot of cue purchases for sure.

I can play decent with any reasonable stick, but there is something about finding EXACTLY what you like in a cue, and knowing it when you find it....or maybe that's just the placebo kickin' in.
 
Many times when I started missing more balls than normal I'd just switch from my Viking to my Cuetec or the other way around and my game would come right back up for a few days. I thought for years that it was the tip on the one that I was missing balls with. I even use to not play with the cue again W/O putting a new tip on it. One day I picked a cue back up a few days later W/O putting a new tip on and ran 40-50 balls right from the get-go. I remember thinking to myself, "I guess this tip had to rest awhile". :wink:. I had a hard time admitting it was all in my head. Johnnyt
 
In order to avoid the placebo effect, I played with a cheap Lucasi cue, cheap tips, simple shaft for the first few years until I understood what a better cues/low deflection shaft could bring to the table. Even though money wasn't an issue, I held off on any big purchases until I felt I was ready. And I'm glad I did because it helped me to stay in a position of learning and thinking even when I did get the low deflection shaft with the kamui tip, instead of it acting like a placebo and just getting frustrated when it wore off, which would've happened of I just went out and purchased high end stuff right away.
 
Hi there JoeyA... hope you are well. Next time our paths cross, I hope you will try my Guido Orlandi Cue. It is one fine playing instrument. Please notice that I said instrument, not stick.
 
JoeyA said:
There is truth in what you say Johnnyt. Learning new things or using new tools of the trade does help one focus. It might be a good idea to keep on buying those DVD's. I know I have learned something from just about everything I have spent money on. Some of the pool lessons I have paid for were worthless, while others that I received for free were some of the best that I ever had.

However, on another note, I must say that I have the best playing cue in the world. (And yes I am serious) I don't know how long the placebo effect lasts but this has been going on for a little over a year.

JoeyA
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However, on another note, I must say that I have the best playing cue in the world.

That just can not be, unless you stole mine in the last couple hours.
steven
well over twenty yrs, same cue.
 
I "found the answer" 30 times at least-Sometimes it lasted a week-sometimes just one night.:frown:
 
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