The secret to being great at pool

mullyman

mullyman

Hung Like a Gnat!
Silver Member
Ok, I'm going to let the secret out. If you want to be a great player this is what you'll need.

1) Hand/eye coordination
2) Determination to improve
3) Lots and lots of practice

Forget all these cockamamey systems, low deflection shafts, shorter ferrules, layered tips, etc... etc... If you want to play better you have to work at it. The truly great players have something that we don't, and it sure as he'll isn't some secret system.
MULLY
Wish I had it
 
The problem with your secret is it is too hard and it doesn't give immediate results. Plus no one would be willing to pay for it because no one wants the truth.
 
mullyman said:
Ok, I'm going to let the secret out. If you want to be a great player this is what you'll need.

1) Hand/eye coordination
2) Determination to improve
3) Lots and lots of practice

Forget all these cockamamey systems, low deflection shafts, shorter ferrules, layered tips, etc... etc... If you want to play better you have to work at it. The truly great players have something that we don't, and it sure as he'll isn't some secret system.
MULLY
Wish I had it
Click to expand...



I agree with you on all levels, find what works well for you by reading, by taking lessons and reinforce it through practice. In my opinion your rate of progression will be based upon a few simple things, your natural ability to apply what you have learned, to remember what you have learned, and last but not least to desire to learn.

Good Post Mullyman
 
That's what I love about billiards the most. It takes time and practice to improve....not a $1000 cue and a become great in 3 easy lessons scheme.
When others see me running a rack and say "Wow your good" it makes me glad I picked up my first cue in the 70's and stuck with it.
Most people these days give up when they can't become great overnight.
 
APA - 32920 said:
That's what I love about billiards the most. It takes time and practice to improve....not a $1000 cue and a become great in 3 easy lessons scheme.
When others see me running a rack and say "Wow your good" it makes me glad I picked up my first cue in the 70's and stuck with it.
Most people these days give up when they can't become great overnight.
Click to expand...

I agree, dedicating 6 plus hours a day to a table is more than most people are willing to spend. Not saying you can't play sporty with less time but the more you put into it the more you get back out of it.
 
Neil said:
You only touched the tip of the iceberg on what it takes to be great.:wink: One of those things is time. Some of the things you mentioned can knock down that time, some considerably. One of the big things is a tremendous passion to be great. So big, that you are willing to sacrifice almost everything else in life to attain it. Few ever have that kind of passion.
Click to expand...

I pretty much figured the "Lots and lots of practice" was pointing out the time it takes. As for the passion, I thought that "determination" was taking care of that one.:thumbup:
MULLY
 
APA - 32920 said:
That's what I love about billiards the most. It takes time and practice to improve....not a $1000 cue and a become great in 3 easy lessons scheme.
When others see me running a rack and say "Wow your good" it makes me glad I picked up my first cue in the 70's and stuck with it.
Most people these days give up when they can't become great overnight.
Click to expand...

Oh yeah, the more expensive the cue doesn't equal the ability you'll have. Has anyone ever seen Reyes' cues up close? I've seen prettier cues at Wal-mart.

I have a few high end cues but I tell ya what, I didn't buy any of them until I felt I had put enough time in to deserve them. Not saying that lower level players shouldn't buy expensive cues, just saying that *FOR MYSELF* the high end cue was my present to myself for getting ranked up into the A class.
MULLY
I got to the A class with a Cuetec
 
mullyman said:
Ok, I'm going to let the secret out. If you want to be a great player this is what you'll need.

1) Hand/eye coordination
2) Determination to improve
3) Lots and lots of practice

Forget all these cockamamey systems, low deflection shafts, shorter ferrules, layered tips, etc... etc... If you want to play better you have to work at it. The truly great players have something that we don't, and it sure as he'll isn't some secret system.
MULLY
Wish I had it
Click to expand...

#1 your right

#2... there are tons of very good players out there... I have a pretty high gear myself nowadays... got it through tons of practice just like everyone else..

but I can't maintain that level of play forever.. I can give you 2 or 3 top quality short races.. or one top quality long race..

then I'm done.. I can't keep coming with it... hour after hour day after day...

I can give you my best for a couple hours a day.. every other day

the truly great at this game can give you all you can handle ALL the time

I think that is the defining difference between Shortstops, Pro's, and Elite

they all have the same top gear... the difference is who can maintain the focus longer..

if someone has a way to train that.. I want it..
 
mullyman said:
I pretty much figured the "Lots and lots of practice" was pointing out the time it takes. As for the passion, I thought that "determination" was taking care of that one.:thumbup:
MULLY
Click to expand...

Practicing the wrong things or practicing with bad fundamentals, can make the process much longer than needed.

Deliberate Practice with some type of feedback mechanism and indicators that measure progress are key in my humble opinion to develop as a great player.

As you point out, it is not easy, and as such only a few will rise to the top.
 
dr9ball said:
Practicing the wrong things or practicing with bad fundamentals, can make the process much longer than needed.

Deliberate Practice with some type of feedback mechanism and indicators that measure progress are key in my humble opinion to develop as a great player.

As you point out, it is not easy, and as such only a few will rise to the top.
Click to expand...


Fair enough, all I'm trying to say is that learning some potting system, buying a 10,000 dollar cue, using layered tips, swinging your arm, twisting your bridge, 314 shafts etc... aren't going to be the keys to elevating your game to pro status. The pros have put in time and time and time and then even more time. Not to mention natural ability, stamina (as someone else pointed out) and ultimately, the desire to be the best. There are no shortcuts or simple ways around it. Even with the best fundamentals and feedback mechanism's it still takes years and years of fighting your way to the top.
MULLY
 
exceptions to every rule

mullyman said:
Fair enough, all I'm trying to say is that learning some potting system, buying a 10,000 dollar cue, using layered tips, swinging your arm, twisting your bridge, 314 shafts etc... aren't going to be the keys to elevating your game to pro status. The pros have put in time and time and time and then even more time. Not to mention natural ability, stamina (as someone else pointed out) and ultimately, the desire to be the best. There are no shortcuts or simple ways around it. Even with the best fundamentals and feedback mechanism's it still takes years and years of fighting your way to the top.
MULLY
Click to expand...


The occasional whiz kids prove there are exceptions to every rule. I think a twelve year old ran a perfect 147 on a 6x12 snooker table. Most people would never do that if they put in eight hours a day for twenty years. However as a general rule hard work and deep hunger overcome almost anything else. I do have to say that a little bit of good instruction early on and decent equipment can shorten the curve.

It doesn't matter if your shaft is low deflection or not although I am inclined to believe that low deflection shafts are a legitimate shortcut. What matters is that you have an at least decent shaft and that you know your shaft. I was putting on almost all layered tips for other people so I put them on all of my shafts. All the layered tips are coming off of my shafts when I get my lathe set up again. I believe a good single layer tip is superior to layered tips.

Ultimately what you are saying is true. There isn't any magic shortcut or gimmick piece of equipment that will move anyone to the elite level. There are things that can hold you back though. The first cars I drove on a dirt track were high horsepower late models and my abilities soared in the first season. Later I drove several of the typical foul handling underpowered hobby cars for other people. Had I started in Hobby Class as most people do it would have taken me years to advance as much as I did in six months in a late model. While a beginner doesn't need a five thousand dollar cue, a three to eight hundred dollar cue from a good shop is a wise investment. That way they know they have good equipment and there is never a question if the issues are with the shooter or equipment. Too, there is no sense in learning to play with crap and then having to relearn to play with good equipment.

I rarely play on a bar table but most of the nine footers were taken and it was crowded the last time I went to the pool hall. The bar table area was empty as is usual in the daytime. I got on a bar table. Adjustment for deflection and swerve are automatic with the Aramith or red circle cue balls on the big table but I was very aware of them being different using the Aramith cathead bar table ball. I have to make considerable adjustments to play on the bar table. The same is true making equipment changes. The low deflection shafts do minimize adjustments and for that reason alone they are worth considering playing with from day one.

Your basic statement is correct but we do have to sort out what are genuine benefits and what are gimmicks and magic feathers. Too, what can give a huge jump early in your playing days doesn't do much when you are an advanced player. When you only know 10% of the game it is easy to make a huge jump. When you know 90% of the game it is rare that you gain more than tiny increments from anything you learn or any equipment change.

Hu
 
mullyman said:
Ok, I'm going to let the secret out. If you want to be a great player this is what you'll need.

1) Hand/eye coordination
2) Determination to improve
3) Lots and lots of practice

Forget all these cockamamey systems, low deflection shafts, shorter ferrules, layered tips, etc... etc... If you want to play better you have to work at it. The truly great players have something that we don't, and it sure as he'll isn't some secret system.
MULLY
Wish I had it
Click to expand...


it's crystal meth. hit up your local guy and try it out. the best part is every time you feel like you're not shooting well enough just take another puff
 
I aggree that practice, eye-hand coordination,and a will to learn is important. But better equipment also helps.
Otherwise in a golf sense, they would all be using wooden clubs and steel shafts.But they don't.
I don't think Tony at Tiger Tips would have been persuing laminated tips if he seriously thought there were single layer tips that were better, same for Moori, just to name a couple.
All these things aside, it is afterall ,the ability to hit 1 ball with another and to make it go in a direction that you want.
 
WHEE!! I'm going to be GREAT!!!:woot::woot::woot:

I also think you need a Goal. My goal is to be the best woman shooter in the state. I don't care if it takes me 20 years to attain (I'll be 75). I'm going to hold that goal in my head, train hard, take lessons, immerse myself in the game and strive for it.

I'm well on my way. The power of positive thinking cannot be diminished. "I can do anything good, better than anyone else."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qR3rK0kZFkg
 
conetip said:
I aggree that practice, eye-hand coordination,and a will to learn is important. But better equipment also helps.
Otherwise in a golf sense, they would all be using wooden clubs and steel shafts.But they don't.
I don't think Tony at Tiger Tips would have been persuing laminated tips if he seriously thought there were single layer tips that were better, same for Moori, just to name a couple.
All these things aside, it is afterall ,the ability to hit 1 ball with another and to make it go in a direction that you want.
Click to expand...

most of the layered tip stuff is BS. the only benefit is that they don't really have a break in period
 
skiergirl55 said:
WHEE!! I'm going to be GREAT!!!:woot::woot::woot:

I also think you need a Goal. My goal is to be the best woman shooter in the state. I don't care if it takes me 20 years to attain (I'll be 75). I'm going to hold that goal in my head, train hard, take lessons, immerse myself in the game and strive for it.

I'm well on my way. The power of positive thinking cannot be diminished. "I can do anything good, better than anyone else."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qR3rK0kZFkg
Click to expand...

i thought that was goig to be a video of you playing. post up some 14.1 videos and i'll tell you what you're doing wrong/wright. i play great from behind this keyboard
 
I agree with everything you said for the begining of this game and then after that you'll need knowledge, and that comes with experience. Just like in ANYTHING else in life the people with the experience can help you to learn faster. Or you can go out and get your own the long way...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top