What do you think holds most players back ?

[Jaden]

I figured this would be misconstrued...

Hi Jaden,
"have more natural talent than most people could ever hope" did this guy win every tournament he enters in, certainly not, is he up there for sure yes.
If two pros of equal strengths play each other, i can assure you the one that have more continuous sleep that night will dominate
Other factor, free conscious, no one bothers you, no wife, no kids, no bills unpaid, employer looking for you...etc
Then level of knowledge
then how much they practice, and the proper timing between practice and the match, too much practice you will stress your brain, if it is two or three days before a match it might not be beneficial, because at this level you saturated you unconscious mind and cannot take any more learning.

Later

It doesn't matter. The point is that I don't think that most people that talk about natural talent are talking about picking up a cue and being able to play. They are referring to what your natural or innate ability will be and whether or not you can get farther with more and better knowledge and practice.

I don't think ANYONE That plays at a high level will tell you, that you can play the game at a top level without vast knowledge and experience. It just isn't possible.

MAybe for the one idiot savant in 2 billion, but not in general for sure.

But there is a limit for most people based on their innate ability and for most that "natural talent" just isn't going to let them play at a top level even though most CAN get to a VERY high level, A and above...

Hope that clarifies a little what I was trying to say...

Jaden

 

[Lock N Load]

I don't think that it's innate ability or natural talent that holds most people back from becoming better. I think it is personal choice, lack of true desire, dedication.

Almost everyone can become better and or more consistent than they are. I think innate ability prevents people from becoming top players and in some cases just super strong players.

It surely isn't practice. There are APA bangers out there that play 20-40 hours a week that will never get better than a C or B player.

It could be a combination of lack of knowledge and lack of GOOD practice for most people I would think.

But I think that the biggest hurdle for most people is DESIRE... and Dedication.

Jaden

What he said!!! Merry Christmas to you and your family.
Many Regards,
Lock N Load.

 

[lastdimetaker]

I think it is that in the beginning of a players career it is easy to move forward. As your skills get higher your growth slows to a stand still sometimes a player may have to back up a little. A player will find himself working extremely hard just to maintain his current abilities. So my answer is. A player will hit a mental wall that he must break through just to gain a little ground. And then he must push even harder to climb a bigger wall. The guys who are held back telax after a break through just to have to climb same wall. Give up go home and die, or stand an fight an die fighting. For me i fight everyday everynight i may never be a champion but i am better than i was yesterday nothing holds me back i just moving so slow u dont notice. Imo

 

[Ak Guy]

Priorities

I only have so much time every week to devote to pool. It is a hobby that I very much enjoy. But, God, my family and job are my priorities. In a couple of years I will retire, if my wife does not find out I may have more time to improve my game. How many pool players make a really good living playing pool? If any do it is a small percentage of the worlds shooters. Is pool more fun then fishing during an Alaskan summer? Not when the fish are biting and after that is hunting season. Pool is a winter sport for many Alaskan's.

 

[JoeyA]

I only have so much time every week to devote to pool. It is a hobby that I very much enjoy. But, God, my family and job are my priorities. In a couple of years I will retire, if my wife does not find out I may have more time to improve my game. How many pool players make a really good living playing pool? If any do it is a small percentage of the worlds shooters. Is pool more fun then fishing during an Alaskan summer? Not when the fish are biting and after that is hunting season. Pool is a winter sport for many Alaskan's.

One of YOUSE guys vacations in the winter down here in New Orleans EVERY year.

 

[Island Drive]

Don't know much about Hockey!!:smile:

You right, tho my dad played for the Chicago Black Hawks farm team before WWII and my grandfather was their team doctor, had his business across the street. Short track speed skating.........................now yer talkin'.:thumbup:

 

[ENGLISH!]

Since we are supposed to be talking about most people that are being held back in some way, I'll say this.

I think it is their perception that playing the game well is very difficult. Naturally the terms well & difficult are subjective terms. I started learning when I was 13 years old while watching a retired gentleman that knew it all & still played very well despite having to wear rather thick glasses. At 13, seeing this little old man with thick glasses do what he did, spinning the ball all over the table & making shots in ways that I did not even invision, made me say to myself, 'well if he can do that, so can I'.

I started trying all kinds of shots hitting almost every one with some form of spin just like he was doing. I was 13 & did not feel that anything was too difficult. At least not too difficult to try. Try it, mis. Try it again, mis. Try it again, make it. Okay, I got it. I understand how that works.

I was playing rather well before I ever took my 1st. physics class in high school.

So I would say that one's mind set is what holds them back. 13 year olds know little to no fear of embarassment when trying something new & they don't even know the phrase, 'I can't' even exists.

So...my advice to anyone trying to get better would be, 'play like a 13 year old'.

Oh yeah, 13 year olds really like to win, especially when playing adults.

Best Regards &

 

[duckie]

It all depends where you are in your development as a player.

Everyone knows the phrase, "To get better, play better players." What happens when you run out of better players?

If there is no one better, how can you get better? This can happen in local rooms that always has the "regulars." I'm frustrated in that there are few that want to play 14.1 heads up and as such I'm not improving fast enough for me. Once a week in a league is not enough for me.

So a steady source of better players can be a limiting factor in your overall devolpment as a player.