What elevated your game the most

I have to agree with Don Purdy, Self confidence is a big deal

for me it was finding the right aiming system, once i get in the groove and my aim is on, i shoot really good.
 
Understanding the tangent, the diamond system, and the different actions of the stroking hand.
 
Putting myself in major pressure situations (first it was playing in men's open events where the AVERAGE player could give me some ridiculous spot, and then gambling out of my comfort zone)
 
watching and playing better players.
During my first few years I never saw anyone run 8 balls in eight ball and thought it was normal to not get out. Then I started playing in a pool hall and soon realized that if I didn't run 8 in 8ball or 9 in 9ball, etc. that I would be racking more than breaking. It's no coincidence that a lot of great players come from the same areas.
 
What elevated my game the most?

Playing in Denver, the mile high city, of course. Mostly, I hover around sea level.

Rick
 
my cuestick. seriously, it was my cue stick who made all the difference before i was playing using the regular house sticks. then it came all to me one by one, stroke discipline, stance, proper use of the bridge, when, where and what to use.
 
A tip from Cueless Joey on this board with a reminder to pause 2 seconds with intense concentration on the exact spot on the OB before beginning a slow back swing and pausing before stroking at pocket speed. That 2 seconds is critical for me and has helped raise the level of my game, such as it is.
 
1. Watching Accu-stats vids over and over til I know every word / shot from the announcers.
2. Paying attention at the pool rooms to pick up as much as possible before stepping up and paying my dues.
3. PACE, If I slow my game down I play terribly. If I play at a smooth quick pace it kinda dog proofs it for me, and keeps the mind games to a minimum. I find this comes out the most playing 14.1. I thought everyone played slow, took thier time, looked at every angle, NOT...then I got some tapes of old matches and what an eye opener. Guys like Lou Butera, Willie Mosconi, Balsis, to name a few play fast. Not reckless, but fast paced. Then the light bulb went off and I started picking up the pace and BAM, the runs got longer and longer, and I got my first 100 ball run....Gerry
 
Watching GREAT players...
we can all practice to hit the balls properly but we need to learn "what to do with them" the best ways....
 
The one very big thing that elevated my game and has just happend over the last year or so was the mental aspect.Playing smarter and paceing myself better made a big difference, also the new attitude i have developed twoard the game.. instead of getting quicly frustrated which creates a distraction i am now much more composed at the table..... these were the major keys in my game
 
Lets see...there are alot of things that have helped me. The one main thing that made the biggest improvement was my grip. I changed it so that I don't pinch the cue when I contact the CB. Once I got used to that, I started shooting much straighter. After that, I read this brilliant article by Max Eberle entitled "Threading the Needle", that brought my game way up. After that it was making sure I stay down on the shot, and keeping my body solid as a rock. Once you start to shoot really straight, aiming becomes natural, you just know where to hit the object ball. Pausing at the CB one or two seconds also helped a bit. Finding a comfortable and balanced stance helped a bit also. It's amazing how consistent you can play for hours and hours when you have a good stance. If you are a normal healthy individual with no joint problems, etc., and you get tired after playing for an hour or two, you should probably work on how you stand.
 
You guys really put some great stuff up here. The stop & pause with (EXTREME CONCENTRATION) for 2 seconds before a (SLOW) pull back is fantastic stuff. I spent the last 5 hours trying it and there is no question this is great stuff.the only problem is my eyes got tired focusing that hard. I've also tried it on my break and I'm hitting the 1 ball alot better.THANKS GUYS GREAT STUFF
 
English it all about the english the more i use longer u sit.And the break.Can;t win if u can't break good..
 
I don't mean to sound like an advertisement but it's true. 4 hours with Scott Lee did wonders for my game. I didn't realize how much improving basic mechanics could do.
 
For me the biggest improvement was when the shots started clicking in my head in an instant instead of trying to focus on all the components seperately.

I used to try an concentrate on aiming, cueball speed, direction, english......

NOW, it is much more natural. The entire shot clicks in my head at once and I dont even AIM anymore (in a sense). To me, pool is now reduced to the 2 things.

1. making the object ball go one direction (notice I didn't say pocket the ball)

2. making the cueball go another direction

When I am playing my best, it doesn't even feel like I am pocketing balls, it just feel like I am rolling the cueball around the table.
 
EL'nino said:
What one thing that you have learned would you say was the single biggest advancement in your game? I would say (STOP AND POINT) any others
Click to expand...

Since I was a little boy, constantly being around and playing next to world class world champions. You emulate what they do. The 2nd one was asking them questions, draining their brains and eventually knowing what they knew.

May God bless and peace be with you. May the wind be always on your back and
all 9 balls fall. VENI VIDI VICI, OMNIA VINCIT AMOR. Latin for “I came, I saw, I conquered, love conquerors all.
“Fast Larry” Guninger
:D
 
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