What does it take to become a Champion?

Gatz said:
I don't totally agree with this. I think anybody can become a world class pool player (champion) with enough practice, dedication and desire to the game.
The people you said you could show us that practice daily everyday of their lifes are missing something. Maybe they don't have enough of a desire to become world class player or don't want to be a world champion. Just because they practice or play everyday doesn't mean their goal is to become a world champion. Maybe they gave up early or thought they couldn't do it, that right there will destroy someones desire and motivation to improve and to become a better player.

Ralf Souquet is a perfect example of this. He used to be a really good draw in tournaments and he wasn't very good. If everyone had his mindset or motivation in the pool world you would see a shitload of world champions.
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with this logic, 99% of the people on the planet would decide to be, or raise their kids to be, professional athletes. i mean, who would want to become a garbage man or a grocery store manager when they know they could practice, practice, practice and become a professional golfer?!
 
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Long thread

Can't believe I read this whole thread in one setting. Now I'm tired and hungry and I've lost any desire and motivation to go down to the pool room. Thanks!:grin:
 
I've got the answer on what it takes to become a top pro....

It's different for all of them. Some have natural ability and some have some natural ability and put a lot of practice with it to reach that level. There is no right answer to this because everyone is different. I've seen people that have absolutely no ability whatsoever and no matter how much they practice they don't improve very much. On the other hand I've seen guys that don't put in much practice but they continue to get better. To get to that next level takes practice though. John Schmidt didn't get to running 400 balls on natural ability. He had practice time. He may not have played 14 hours a day but he didn't just pick up a cue and with no help from anyone else, and no practice whatsoever, just hop on a table and become a 400 ball runner. I believe he may be naturally gifted, but he practiced.
MULLY
 
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Quote
Yeah yeah yeah....

And by all accounts, Tommy Kennedy had no physical talent whatsoever, and he spanked Archer 10-1 to win a U.S. Open.

What Tommy had, was a hatred of losing, and the determination to practice away all the flaws in his game.

Russ
End of Quote




I can tell you one thing,

Tommy Kennedy got real good, real fast and if you don't think he has physical ability and hand eye coordination then you have never seen him play. Also Tommy loses better than any other player i have ever seen.
 
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Klink said:
Quote
Yeah yeah yeah....

And by all accounts, Tommy Kennedy had no physical talent whatsoever, and he spanked Archer 10-1 to win a U.S. Open.

What Tommy had, was a hatred of losing, and the determination to practice away all the flaws in his game.

Russ
End of Quote




I can tell you one thing,

Tommy Kennedy got real good, real fast and if you don't think he has physical ability and hand eye coordination then you have never seen him play. Also Tommy loses better than any other player i have ever seen.
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He has the physical and mental talents needed to be great at pool. Outside of that realm I could see him as a race horse jockey j/k

I will always say that it takes a lot more than just natural talent. It takes a great deal of drive and heart to keep your eye on the prize as well. I'm quite sure that we know a few ppl who were absolutely amazing when they came on the scene, but they faded away because of temptations that are often offered in a pool hall.
 
dmgwalsh said:
You are beating a dead horse.

This nature versus nurture debate has been going on for centuries with no resolution.

Genetics accounts for some talents. Training for others.

You've chased John away, now. Nice job. I think most of us would rather hear from him than you. Give it up already.
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pocketspeed said:
not necessarily

brian
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dmgwalsh,

truthfully i would much rather read hu's posts than js. while i respect that what the pro's can add to this forum so often i found js's posts offensive and disrectful to the the fans, as well as coming on looking for backers etc. i dont recall ever seeing a suggestion from js in one of the "how would you play this" threads.

while i dont always agree with hu i always find his posts interesting well though out and on topic. he always posts respectfully even for the most part when he is getting grief.

i dont know hu and can only go by what he says, but to me anyone who makes/made a living from pool has to be considered a pro, i consider him a pro since he made a living doing it.

i've seen js play in person and he is a great player. i have never met him personally. if in person he is anything like the way he posts then i dont believe i would care to meet him personally. hu, on the other hand, whoever he may be, i would love to meet.

imo just b/c youre a great player doesnt give you a free pass to be insulting to the fans.

hope that explains my comment

brian

ps doenst look js has really been run off anyway...
 
john schmidt said:
im going to make this as simple as i can.i thought about this for the last few days.
i was trying to one up a couple people and say smug things to make them mad etc.i guess it worked.
obviously ive offended half of az.didnt mean too.
basically im going to say i got carried away trying to win argument .
im going to extend an apology to gatz,hu,chewning and anybody else that took things to heart.
im going to stay off az though as im not sure im cut out for forums ,im better at talking and relating to people in person.

i know i said alot of arrogant stuff but seriously if i acted like that all the time i would get beat up twice a week. i said those things to aggravate as a last resort from frustration obviously.

im not pointing fingers i said alot of mean stuff and so did others . but
i say lets all forget it and and remember we all like pool so we all have something in common.a friendship has been built on less before.


ive blown up many times before , have been insulted for about 15 years as a player and sometimes i lose it.

anyway i understand if you guys hate me but one thing i cant stand for long is being mean to people or picking on someone, so for that im sorry to everybody .

arguing is like being drunk you say things you dont mean.
i wont hold a grudge because anything anybody said mean towards me or vice verca was during a heated argument.

im going to ohio tommorrow for a week and wont be on here.i had to set things right before i went though.


you know the fighting and insult threads go on for 10 pages but the apology threads die after 1 page,funny how that works.

i know its more exciting and fun when im going at it with people but i have more serious things to do and so do they so lets try too all get along .


hu,chewning and gatz if i see you at derby i owe you guys all a beer.

happy holidays
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John asked me to post this at the end of this thread.
 
talent

when it comes to being a champion you as a player have to have natural talent.mosy great players when they first picked up a cue knew they had talent.most players can play and practice all there lives and not any better.most players who pracyice alot will get better at certain aspects of billiards but will not get world class spead.look at it this way i can train all my life to run a 10 sec 100 yard dash and never get there but i can get a drunk bum up and he will run a 10 sec dash.some people have the internal ability for greatness and some no matter what does not.i think watching and playing better players does and will help but that isnt enough.growing up around reed pierce and his brother ronnie i watched ronnie and reed play for over 20 years and ronnie played just as many racks as reed but never became a good player as reed.billiards is just like any other sport you have players that are world beaters and you have players that are average.the reason being is you have to have the natural talen.you have only a few sp called world beaters and then you have great players aND THERE IS A DIFFERENCE.THE DIFFERENCE IS A GREAT PLKAYER FROM TIME TO time will beat a world beater but as usual if they play day in and day out the good player will lose cause talent raises to the top.
 
For anyone who is truly interested...

in this subject, and likes to read, there is a GREAT book on the subject which delves into a great amount of the research about it. The book is "Talent is Overrated/What really separates world class performers from everybody else" by Geoff Colvin.

I won't go into it, and the title shows which direction the author goes, but it is a very good read. It may, or may not help your game....:wink:

td
 
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grindz said:
in this subject, and likes to read, there is a GREAT book on the subject which delves into a great amount of the research about it. The book is "Talent is Overrated/What really separates world class performers from everybody else" by Geoff Colvin.

I won't go into it, and the title shows which direction the author goes, but it is a very good read. It may, or may not help your game....:wink:

td
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G-man,
There are many who will agree with him. Especially for a game like pool where the physical demands are minimal in comparison to boxing or football; great pool players COULD be made if great instruction was available and widespread. Of course, some players will progress more rapidly than others depending on their athleticism; but even players with modest abilities can attain proficiency if they are truly dedicated, and have appropriate direction and instruction.

I think the serious players on the forum will be quite surprised and impressed when Mark Wilson's book comes out; I believe he is the first serious instructor/player to address this subject in a detailed fashion in print. It will definitely be a one-of-a-kind treatise.
 
Williebetmore said:
G-man,
There are many who will agree with him. Especially for a game like pool where the physical demands are minimal in comparison to boxing or football; great pool players COULD be made if great instruction was available and widespread. Of course, some players will progress more rapidly than others depending on their athleticism; but even players with modest abilities can attain proficiency if they are truly dedicated, and have appropriate direction and instruction.

I think the serious players on the forum will be quite surprised and impressed when Mark Wilson's book comes out; I believe he is the first serious instructor/player to address this subject in a detailed fashion in print. It will definitely be a one-of-a-kind treatise.
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I look forward to reading it. As to the book I mentioned, it is a good read no matter the sport, occupation, or goal. A good one to read for everyone (if they like to read). I find that if I try hard to step outside my own personal paradigm, and check my ego at the door... there's always a lot to be learned from almost anyone, anywhere. To me that's as interesting as the game of pool. :wink: But I'm a little weird that way .....

td
 
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