What is the one thing you did that improved your pool game a lot?

I forgot mentioning one important thing. Vice versa to the original question "What is the one thing you did that improved your pool game a lot?", I want to answer to the reversed question: "What is the one thing you did that worsens your pool game a lot?"

My answer: Echanging the materials too often! :speechless:

Due to my curiosity in questions and experimentations how changes in materials affect playability I have changed the butts, shafts, ferrules and tips much too much in last 2 years. I learned a lot with this and I'm very glad about everything, but: It wasn't possible to go one step further in improving my game to reach a higher level. This level that I'm trying to reach now is probably only possible to reach if you have your mind a 100% at the game and not thinking about the cuestick's feeling anymore.

:smile:

In consequence I decided before a couple of weeks to stop that neverending material exchanging and keep playing with ONE shaft and ONE butt and ONE type of tip.

:poke:

With my best regards
Michael
 
dkleather said:
Concentrated on staying still. If you stay still you hugely increase your chances of hitting the white where you address it which is incredibly important.

Also the thought is "stay still". It is not "don't move", because that is a negative thought.

"Stay still" is a positive thought.
Click to expand...

Being ''Nice'' to yourself during match play is a nice attribute to have.
 
Proper breathing. ( in through the nose out through the mouth ) This helps maintain a balanced heart rate to prevent or stave off the nerves.

Straight pool. A game that can be played alone and still be competitive to best your high run. Just look at the stats on all the past and current great players they all run over a hundred balls as thier high run.

Be a well rounded player and play as many different types of games and people as possible. Play these in fun, and competitive environments.

Play tournaments both open and handi-capped.( remembere if you get raised up in a handi-capped tournament DON'T BE UPSET take it as a compliment and consider it a promotion to a higher grade.) ( Where you upset to be promoted during your school days? You are in pool school for life).

Cofidence in your ability. After reading watching and learning different aspects you must accept them to be able to incorporate them into your game. You must go with the flow and not dictate to you subconsience, accept and let it happen.

Some of the best advice I got was from areally good player who saw the frustration I was expieriencing and said just to wait and let it happen. Well I see some improvement since then.

A thing I've noticed is that all the top players seem when they lose to identify something they did that didn't work or caused them to lose. Before leaving the table they practice this a couple of times to help identify where they went wrong.

Finally you learn from your mistakes provided you know what they are. IE: When you first learned how to play and had a ball hanging in the side and scratched in the corner it took a while for it to sink in and learn what not to do. So when ever you stand up and say man I always miss that shot or do that then this is something you are identifying and not correcting. Remember a sign of insanity is repeating the same thing over and over expecting different result. Look to identify and change the things you do wrong and make them right

Mosconi wrote hit the ball soft and at the end of the book said, YOU ARE STILL HITTING IT TOO HARD.

Good practice, good luck, and STRAIGHT-SHOOTING ULTIMATE-BILL
 
To be honest two things have helped my game.

1) Losing by one ball at singles nationals. Made me hate myself and become motivated enough to practice tirelessly like its my job.

2) And I'm not kidding about this one.... Shooting racks full of straight shots into the corner pocket for 3 hours straight every day for a week. I now have a deadon consistent stroke and everything is the same every time I shoot. It has helped me because now all I need to do is increase or decrease the velocity of my stroke to get the cue ball placement I need because I trust myself enough to know everything else about the stroke will remain the same.
 
Last edited:
Improving

The single most important thing I learned in pool came from a lesson I had with Mark Wilson, twelve years ago. Mark, former pro player, mosconi cup team member, commentator, and outstanding instructor, taught me the (weight of the ball concept). Though I have had many lessons since from prominent players, pro and amateur alike, I never learned a single thing that by itself has ever helped my game as much as what I learned from Mark Wilson, when he taught me that technique.

Cross-Side-Larry

"Learn from the best, and beat the rest"
 
CrossSideLarry said:
The single most important thing I learned in pool came from a lesson I had with Mark Wilson, twelve years ago. Mark, former pro player, mosconi cup team member, commentator, and outstanding instructor, taught me the (weight of the ball concept). Though I have had many lessons since from prominent players, pro and amateur alike, I never learned a single thing that by itself has ever helped my game as much as what I learned from Mark Wilson, when he taught me that technique.
Click to expand...

Okay, I'll bite. What is the weight of the ball concept?
 
riedmich said:
I forgot mentioning one important thing. Vice versa to the original question "What is the one thing you did that improved your pool game a lot?", I want to answer to the reversed question: "What is the one thing you did that worsens your pool game a lot?"

My answer: Echanging the materials too often! :speechless:

Due to my curiosity in questions and experimentations how changes in materials affect playability I have changed the butts, shafts, ferrules and tips much too much in last 2 years. I learned a lot with this and I'm very glad about everything, but: It wasn't possible to go one step further in improving my game to reach a higher level. This level that I'm trying to reach now is probably only possible to reach if you have your mind a 100% at the game and not thinking about the cuestick's feeling anymore.

:smile:

In consequence I decided before a couple of weeks to stop that neverending material exchanging and keep playing with ONE shaft and ONE butt and ONE type of tip.

:poke:

With my best regards
Michael
Click to expand...

Very good input. I play with a house cue. My cues never come out of the car. A good Valley #18 and I am ready to play. Thanks again.
Many Regards,
Lock N Load.
 
Lock N Load said:
I am talking about something that you found out about and tried it yourself and it worked real good! It does not matter what it was as long as it worked for your game improvement. Kicks, Banks, stance, aim, stroke, shooting slower, playing safeties, English, bridge position, more time on the table, and anything else that helped! Thanks.
Many Regards,
Lock n Load.
Click to expand...
I quit drinking while playing :smile:
 
Purchased a Predator Shaft, started with the 314 then graduated to the Z and when the Z2 became available I upgraded to it. And, this is the honest truth from day one with every shaft upgrade I improved with my accuracy and started pocketing balls with more consistancy when useing english.

Black Cat :cool:
 
Black Cat 5791 said:
Purchased a Predator Shaft, started with the 314 then graduated to the Z and when the Z2 became available I upgraded to it. And, this is the honest truth from day one with every shaft upgrade I improved with my accuracy and started pocketing balls with more consistancy when useing english.

Black Cat :cool:
Click to expand...

Very good input, Black Cat.
I appreciate it too.
Many Regards,
Lock N Load.
 
Neil said:
Three things, actually. Get my head on straight, learned what I could, pretend to be a surgeon- don't accept "about here" but instead be very precise in everything.
Click to expand...

That is exactly the Neil I know..... Great post too.
Many Regards,
Lock N Load.
 
I started to play 14.1 almost religiously.. After getting better at that game, every other game seemed alot easier to play!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top