The single idea that will most improve your game - Voting Poll

[JoeyA]

Beautiful post, Joey.

On a more mundane level, I actually notice that, when I'm at my best, I do not look at the OB full-on in the center unless it's a straight in shot. Instead I look at the object ball where it's going to be struck and I maintain my commitment to that stroke path.

Oh, another thing that hasn't been mentioned in the poll, which I believe is of the utmost importance, is to assess your mistakes and maintain your composure when you flub it...

In the end, pool will not be played perfectly, no matter how accomplished one might be. I'm starting to realize that process is all that matters in this game. The pleasure derived from pool I think is more akin to a dance than a concrete accomplishment. Feeling your rhythm and your body movements is all there is to it. The balls are simply a conduit.

The other night I was playing a bank player some banks and while it is not my specialty I was hitting the banks very well. The bank player does not play on a regular basis and we have see-sawed and I have waxed him but not often. I like the guy because he has moxy. He ask for no weight nor quarter and I give neither. We play cheap and I was winning but disappointed that he wasn't coming with his A game and I let off puposefully hoping he would come out of his funk but he did not. I drank a beer which I seldom ever do gambling and I didn't try to make any of the banks but the object balls found the bottom of a pocket without any effort on my part. This is not the way I play pool normally. I normally make conscious effort on all my shots but this particular evening, I made shots instinctively with little effort. It was disconcerting and something that puzzled me as I was not trying to win. The next day I played in a tournament, mediocre at best with LIttle JOhn spanking me like a little boy. 5-2
JoeyA

 

[9ball_in_MN]

stay down on the shot just as if you were sighting down a gun then a good smooth stroke in the end the greatest pre shot rot.. will do nothing if your jumping up after the shot

 

[VIProfessor]

One thing that has not received sufficient attention on this thread, IMHO, is the importance of the grip. I have observed that the failure to maintain a consistent grip pressure through the stroke is a major obstacle to the improvement of one's physical game, and I believe it is a major cause of jumping up prematurely, of wrist twisting, and a number of other ills. In my own experience, as well as in that of my students, the tendency to anticipate contact with the cue ball is a major culprit. If you experience this problem, shoot a few shots in which you close your eyes before the final stroke, and you may notice a significant difference in the quality of the stroke.

So, therefore, let me add the importance of the grip to this discussion.

 

[Snapshot9]

I can honestly say

that the 1 thing that would improve my game the most right now, would be money, an influx of it ..... lol well, at least I would be playing a lot more then ...

 

[VIProfessor]

There's one more thing that no one has mentioned, and I believe it is the single most important thing you can do if you want your game to experience a quantum leap. Quit the gig and divorce the spouse! Jobs and marriage have ruined more good poolplayers than anything else!

BTW, I am happily married and employed.

 

[JoeyA]

Locus Positioning

Nice post! I just wanted to add another person who emphasized RHYTHM and that's Willie Mosconi. I can't recall the exact quotation, but he said that most pool players don't realize how important rhythm is when playing pool. One last thing, when focusing on the object ball, just before pulling the trigger, I have recently been trying to mentally MOVE MY LOCUS nearer the object ball, sort of anticipating the path the cue ball is going to take. I know I'm not saying this very well, but what I am doing is sort of like trying to have an "out of body experience" and moving yourself (your mental self) toward the object ball as you stroke forward on your final stroke and watch the cue ball move toward and strike the object ball. Please don't suggest psychotherapy, I promise I'm not developing schizophrenic delusions/hallucinations here!

I was revisiting this thread and re-read about your attempt to mentally move your locus nearer the object ball and realized that this is similar to one of my observations about being in stroke. I often use Shakespeare's word, "propinquity" to relate what I feel toward the object ball, when in stroke. Me being in stroke is so rare, it deserves a special word. It is a certain special closeness that I feel toward the object ball, so if you are in no need of psychotherapy, then neither am I. Maybe some conscious effort is in line as it would be nice if I could control when that closeness occurs. JoeyA (feeling psycho-comfy)

 

[Peer]

I voted "treat EVERY SHOT with the same respect" -- maybe because I seem to have problem with that myself.

Good poll, though.

-- peer

 

[ez2h8]

I remember reading a sports psychology book years ago and they talked about the super heavyweight lifter Vasily Alexeev the first man to lift 500 lb. He didn't think he could do it until his trainer tricked him and put 500 on the bar without him knowing it. Once the mental barrier was removed he went on to lift 560 lbs. Also once the 500 lb barrier was broken every super heavyweight did it.


Success breeds success and it is the same with what ever you do I don't care if you are a salesman or what ever. Being around losers will keep you down, in this case just bad players that may not take the game seriously. I remember reading Jack Nicholas saying he never hit a shot where he didn't try. You just have to be in a more serious atmosphere if you want to reach your best potential. In my opinion anyway.

Tap Tap....
It's not just being around other great players(it does help I agree), but around players or people that motivate you. I have been around many great players, some helped and some hindered my growth. Not all great players in this sport are willing "teachers" of the game. But while in Atlanta, I happened upon a lil known business owner who's father was a sports recruiter/agent and I didn't know this for a few weeks. During this few weeks, he watched me shot with the owner of the pool hall and finally suggested I meet his father for a possible sponsorship. It never panned out due to my then stuck financial needs, but meeting this guy gave my game and outlook towards the game a huge boost. Looking back, I wish I would have jumped on the offer and tried to make it happen. Positive people with positive attitudes can do amazing things together. Don't look a gift horse in the mouth either.

ez

 

[gpeezy]

pre shot

i said have a good pre shot routine.another thing i'm learning more and more is play within your character.if your a fast and loose type a person then thats how you should play.conservative,play that way.this might not be the same with everyone but from what i've noticed with especially me and some others it allows you to fall instroke easier.its calming to be yourself sounds crazy but everyone has seen someone play practice jam up and dog it playin action/tourny pool.something to think about.

 

[nyjoe14.1]

never over cut or under cut a ball. lol