What Do You Ask A Legend?

stljohnny

stljohnny

knowledge > execution. :(
Silver Member
So, in just over a week, I'm going to get to spend some time with both Johnny Archer and Nick Varner. I've been racking my brain on just what to ask these legends. I'd like to ask about breaking techniques, mechanics, speed control, reading caroms/breaking clusters... and a bunch of other things; but a) time is limited, and shared among 5 other "students". b) some of these sound more like questions I'd pose to a long-term coach.

I'm assuming each of them will have their own agenda to direct the clinic, but usually there's some sort of Q&A time, so... What would you ask about?

And if you're in the St. Louis area, Feb8th, be sure to call in sick to work and come out to Side Pockets, in St. Charles. Clinic starting at 11am, public exhibition starts in the evening. For more info, hit this flyer to get contact info.
 
I would do more listening than questioning. Listen, watch and observe.

For me, some of the best tips you can ever pick up are things you never new existed. So, how can you question something you don't know anything about?

A man never learns anything when he's talking. He already knows what he is going to say.
 
stljohnny said:
So, in just over a week, I'm going to get to spend some time with both Johnny Archer and Nick Varner. I've been racking my brain on just what to ask these legends. I'd like to ask about breaking techniques, mechanics, speed control, reading caroms/breaking clusters... and a bunch of other things; but a) time is limited, and shared among 5 other "students". b) some of these sound more like questions I'd pose to a long-term coach.

I'm assuming each of them will have their own agenda to direct the clinic, but usually there's some sort of Q&A time, so... What would you ask about?

And if you're in the St. Louis area, Feb8th, be sure to call in sick to work and come out to Side Pockets, in St. Charles. Clinic starting at 11am, public exhibition starts in the evening. For more info, hit this flyer to get contact info.
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Johnny, There will be more time than you think to get some questions answered. While in your group others may have some of the same questions you have and so some of your questions may be answered anyway. Also if you are in the clinic the guys usually have no problem continuing the conversation or taking extra time after or between break to make sure they address things that you want to know. Just FYI, don't be shy.
 
I would ask them to what they attribute their ability to play and be competitive at very high level pool for so many years. Also, what advice they would give me to raise the playing level of my worse game. A lot of very good players can play at a high level when in top form or when they catch a gear, but their worse game can be near miserable. One way a player can get better is to increase his worse game....narrow the range between a "bad" day and a "good day".

Kelly
 
jason said:
I would do more listening than questioning. Listen, watch and observe.

For me, some of the best tips you can ever pick up are things you never new existed. So, how can you question something you don't know anything about?

A man never learns anything when he's talking. He already knows what he is going to say.
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Oh you're absolutely right; but I would imagine that at some point they'll ask "what do you wanna learn? what do you wanna get better at?" etc.

I'm just trying to get my ducks in a row. ;)

OUSooner and Petey - LOL!

Kelly - ain't that the truth! I really like my "dead stroke" game; it's nothing to brag about, but it's impressive when compared to my "worst day" game. heh Trying to force yourself into 'the zone' can be difficult, that's a good question - how do they mentally re-center and re-focus themselves when they realize they're out of it?

Mark - thanks! I've been looking forward to this since we emailed way back in November or whenever that was. Now it's finally here and I realized I haven't thought about what I was going to at all... been too worried trying to get the word out. lol
 
stljohnny said:
Oh you're absolutely right; but I would imagine that at some point they'll ask "what do you wanna learn? what do you wanna get better at?" etc.

I'm just trying to get my ducks in a row. ;)

OUSooner and Petey - LOL!

Kelly - ain't that the truth! I really like my "dead stroke" game; it's nothing to brag about, but it's impressive when compared to my "worst day" game. heh Trying to force yourself into 'the zone' can be difficult, that's a good question - how do they mentally re-center and re-focus themselves when they realize they're out of it?

Mark - thanks! I've been looking forward to this since we emailed way back in November or whenever that was. Now it's finally here and I realized I haven't thought about what I was going to at all... been too worried trying to get the word out. lol
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I understand where you're coming from. So, I guess it all depends on what you think you need to work on. Banks, position, strategy etc.

I'm sure you won't be at a loss for questions. :)
 
The clinic that everyone should really come to is the one that I am holding myself. On April 2nd and 3rd. Its $1,000 per person and I have 4 bangers signed up. Archer, Buddy Hall, Nick and Earl have all signed up for my clinic.

The format is simple too. I will begin and end by just playing against each of them. This will be a "IN YOUR FACE" example of what NOT to do. Most will already know the things I am doing wrong but you will leave feeling sooo much better about your own game when you leave.

I once told a top Pro "Your playing ability don't impress me, I mean you are always in line for the next shot anyone can make balls like that. You should see me play, its like a tornado going through a trailer park. If you can get out from the positions I leave myself in then I will be impressed"
:) Thanks for your help
 
stljohnny said:
So, in just over a week, I'm going to get to spend some time with both Johnny Archer and Nick Varner. I've been racking my brain on just what to ask these legends. I'd like to ask about breaking techniques, mechanics, speed control, reading caroms/breaking clusters... and a bunch of other things; but a) time is limited, and shared among 5 other "students". b) some of these sound more like questions I'd pose to a long-term coach.

I'm assuming each of them will have their own agenda to direct the clinic, but usually there's some sort of Q&A time, so... What would you ask about?

And if you're in the St. Louis area, Feb8th, be sure to call in sick to work and come out to Side Pockets, in St. Charles. Clinic starting at 11am, public exhibition starts in the evening. For more info, hit this flyer to get contact info.
Click to expand...
What a great opportunity, I just want to hear the stories. It would be worth buying dinner for anyway to sit and listen. I am sure you are going to come away from your lessons with a couple of nuggets of info at least. Have fun with it.

Jess
 
bfdlad said:
The clinic that everyone should really come to is the one that I am holding myself. On April 2nd and 3rd. Its $1,000 per person and I have 4 bangers signed up. Archer, Buddy Hall, Nick and Earl have all signed up for my clinic.

The format is simple too. I will begin and end by just playing against each of them. This will be a "IN YOUR FACE" example of what NOT to do. Most will already know the things I am doing wrong but you will leave feeling sooo much better about your own game when you leave.

I once told a top Pro "Your playing ability don't impress me, I mean you are always in line for the next shot anyone can make balls like that. You should see me play, its like a tornado going through a trailer park. If you can get out from the positions I leave myself in then I will be impressed"
:) Thanks for your help
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Hmmmmm........ OK lol :eek:
 
I would ask ..what would be the most important part of your game that you would practice ? And if you would give one lesson to your son in pool what would you tell him ? Don't ask this one out loud.. the answer could be top secret.
 
I would ask about the mental part of the game. Since they obviously can switch gears and get "in the zone" quicker and stay in it for longer how did they learn to do it? I think mechanics most good teachers can teach but the mental part is what truly sets these guys apart. IMHO.
 
Neil said:
Having trouble trying to word this...... did they always feel that they were SUPPOSED to play pool? Did they always have a great passion for it. Or, did they go through periods where they just wanted to quit, but didn't because it was all they knew and knew they were good at it??
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That's a really good one there. I like that.

The other thing I would ask is: when they feel they are struggling at the table what do they specifically focus on? Do they ever do anything different mechanically in these situations? Or is it just something they focus on mentally (e.g. focus on staying down, walking through pre-shot routine, etc)?
 
Neil said:
Having trouble trying to word this...... did they always feel that they were SUPPOSED to play pool? Did they always have a great passion for it. Or, did they go through periods where they just wanted to quit, but didn't because it was all they knew and knew they were good at it??
Click to expand...



Thats a good question to ask Neil. Its in the same category of question I would ask whomever.

I'd ask questions having to do with their mental level, concentration, drive etc.........

as the playing is the easy part and the world class concentration is what is really most difficult to attain and hold onto....

I don't really care what any of the pros do physically.......what interests me is their thought process and the high ability to ZONE IN and stay there....completely oblivious to everything and just working on the task at hand.

and of course I'd have to ask them if they would do it all over again if given the opportunity..........


these are the things that make you scratch your head over someone like Earl........he seems to only be affected by his own head, sometimes its strong like donkey kong but at other times it can make him semi useless......I find this highly intriguing that his concentration level is not consistent.......can he turn it on and off? Is it just hit and miss mentally with high and low gears? If he can hold it together in instance "A" then why not instance "B"?

the mind is what makes a great athlete not the body........i don't care what sport your in its all about the state of our minds..........

-Grey Ghost-
 
greyghost said:
Thats a good question to ask Neil. Its in the same category of question I would ask whomever.

I'd ask questions having to do with their mental level, concentration, drive etc.........

as the playing is the easy part and the world class concentration is what is really most difficult to attain and hold onto....

I don't really care what any of the pros do physically.......what interests me is their thought process and the high ability to ZONE IN and stay there....completely oblivious to everything and just working on the task at hand.

and of course I'd have to ask them if they would do it all over again if given the opportunity..........


these are the things that make you scratch your head over someone like Earl........he seems to only be affected by his own head, sometimes its strong like donkey kong but at other times it can make him semi useless......I find this highly intriguing that his concentration level is not consistent.......can he turn it on and off? Is it just hit and miss mentally with high and low gears? If he can hold it together in instance "A" then why not instance "B"?

the mind is what makes a great athlete not the body........i don't care what sport your in its all about the state of our minds..........

-Grey Ghost-
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I agree with you Ghost and a couple other posters who have asked this question. I have seen these guys under A LOT of pressure in a finals or the one loss side down by 6-7 racks and come back to win. Thats always been my problem. I seem to feel like I am not getting any rolls once I get down a few rack and think well Its impossible now, I'm down 7 he's on the hill and I can't get a roll in a bakery so F*&K it.
However these guys have come back from these positions to win MAJOR events. Its a whole other realm of the game.
 
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