What is your goal in pool?
- Thread starter ruzel78
- Start date
After being gone from the game for quite some time, almost 10 years, I have to say I've been bit by the bug again, and I'm ecstatic. Taking a different approach to my game this time and learning/watching everything I can from books and videos along with hours upon hours of practice and a little bit of competition thrown in to the mix, I have set some achievable goals for myself which are, learn 14.1 and reach a level that will allow me to run 75+ balls consistently. I also want to get a better grasp of one hole and be able to play it even with the better players in town, be that either the Tacoma, WA area (army) or Des Moines, IA (home).
I want you on your toes. I want anyone that steps to the table with me to think he's an underdog. If they think they are the favorite, I want them to walk away from the table when we are done and never be sure of that fact again.
For now, Id like to break & run a 5 pack.
For now, Id like to break & run a 5 pack.
Fixed,
Crush your enemy! See them driven before you, and hear the delamination of their shafts.
Crush your enemy! See them driven before you, and hear the delamination of their shafts.
I would like to be able to shoot at an object ball less than three times before I made it. I would also like to own my own poolhall with a cathouse on the second floor where I could play the piano and hand out free cigars. 
hmm
I would like to be the best in my city. I also want to qualify for tourneys like the Bar Box NC that is going on right now. Hopefully I am getting there. Since I stopped trying every aiming system under the sun, and just started "looking" at the line, my game has gone up quite a bit. Now I am not surprised when I run a rack. I am happy, but not surprised.
Leagues and bar boxes are all we have in my town. Eugene Oregon is 250,000 people and no pool halls. Leagues are taken more seriously here I guess because of that, and bar boxes can be considered "play toys" but I would much rather play 8 ball on a 9 foot table any day.
I would like to be the best in my city. I also want to qualify for tourneys like the Bar Box NC that is going on right now. Hopefully I am getting there. Since I stopped trying every aiming system under the sun, and just started "looking" at the line, my game has gone up quite a bit. Now I am not surprised when I run a rack. I am happy, but not surprised.
Leagues and bar boxes are all we have in my town. Eugene Oregon is 250,000 people and no pool halls. Leagues are taken more seriously here I guess because of that, and bar boxes can be considered "play toys" but I would much rather play 8 ball on a 9 foot table any day.
My goal is to achieve consistency. At which ever level I'm at, so that I can then work on improving to the next level.
The most frustrating part of the game for me is that I cannot count on being able to do the same things on a consistent basis, so just when I think I'm making progress, I seem to have to start all over again.
Consistency.
The most frustrating part of the game for me is that I cannot count on being able to do the same things on a consistent basis, so just when I think I'm making progress, I seem to have to start all over again.
Consistency.
My goal is to reach the level where I'm a threat to run 3 or 4 racks any time you leave me a shot. Obviously I never expect to reach the level where I can do it every time, but I want to reach the ability level where this could happen: I'm playing an excellent player who's familiar with my game in the finals of a local tournament, and he's up 6-3 in a race to 7, and he hangs the 5-ball in the pocket. I want to be good enough that he gets scared, worrying that he isn't going to come back to the table at all, because I'm known to run out the set in this situation from time to time.
It's a hard goal to measure, but I know I'm not there yet. Currently I'm only ever a threat to run out the set if I'm on the hill and breaking well.
-Andrew
It's a hard goal to measure, but I know I'm not there yet. Currently I'm only ever a threat to run out the set if I'm on the hill and breaking well.
-Andrew
Being that I'm fifty-nine years old, I have different goals than I did when I was a young man.
My goal when I was young was to prove to myself I could play and possibly beat some of the best players of my generation. I wasn't going to sit around, in my latter years, and lay claim to being able to beat these players, having never played them.
My dad did this when talking about baseball players. He would sit in his chair and tell me point blank, "I could have struck him out." My dad never got the chance to do it. His brother was killed in a car accident while playing minor league baseball and although my dad was offered a contract, he refused to sign. He couldn't put his mom through the same senario.
It was his unfortunate situation that gave me the drive I needed to play my best. I was three time New England Champion, back in the middle eighties. Despite working full time and raising a family. I surpassed all of my initial goals.
My goal these days is to help the game as much as possible. I teach the game and I even wrote a fiction novel about the game. It's title is, Right on Cue. My tournament in the book has a first place prize of $500,000. I'd like to see this become a reality. If I can sell enough books and get a movie deal, this is part of my plan.
I also, still compete and do quite well. I guess my ultimate goal is to never be known as , "A HAS BEEN."
__________________________
http://tommcgonaglerightoncue.com
My goal when I was young was to prove to myself I could play and possibly beat some of the best players of my generation. I wasn't going to sit around, in my latter years, and lay claim to being able to beat these players, having never played them.
My dad did this when talking about baseball players. He would sit in his chair and tell me point blank, "I could have struck him out." My dad never got the chance to do it. His brother was killed in a car accident while playing minor league baseball and although my dad was offered a contract, he refused to sign. He couldn't put his mom through the same senario.
It was his unfortunate situation that gave me the drive I needed to play my best. I was three time New England Champion, back in the middle eighties. Despite working full time and raising a family. I surpassed all of my initial goals.
My goal these days is to help the game as much as possible. I teach the game and I even wrote a fiction novel about the game. It's title is, Right on Cue. My tournament in the book has a first place prize of $500,000. I'd like to see this become a reality. If I can sell enough books and get a movie deal, this is part of my plan.
I also, still compete and do quite well. I guess my ultimate goal is to never be known as , "A HAS BEEN."
__________________________
http://tommcgonaglerightoncue.com
:thumbup:Well said Tom, I failed to mention it before, but I enjoyed reading the book. I look forward to participating in that event WHEN it comes around.
To expand on your final statement, although it will sound cliche, I would rather be remembered as a "has been", rather than a "never was."
My number one goal is to help as many players as I can reach their full potential. At 57, I still compete, but not at the highest level. For my personal game, I just want to keep learning, and improving. I hope I never reach a point where I am "satisfied" with my game. But my primary focus remains teaching, and helping others discover the game that I have loved pretty much my entire life.
Steve
Steve
My goal is to gain as much respect in the game of pool, as I have in the tricks...I guess I would like to win one title in every cue sport...
My goal is to make the next shot and repeat if necessary.