What single thing (theory,suggestion,equipment) has turned your game around?
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Plan well. Shut up and shoot.
In other words; Do all the planning while up and be as precise as possible. Then, while dropping, turn the shot over to the player inside you. Let him do the shooting. Once you're down.. no more inner talk. Let the player shoot the shot.
Thanks again to unknownpro for the one stroke practice advice. That tidbit changed my life.
If you've been doing your stroke practice you'll be amazed what that player within you can do once you get out of the way and let him shoot.
In other words; Do all the planning while up and be as precise as possible. Then, while dropping, turn the shot over to the player inside you. Let him do the shooting. Once you're down.. no more inner talk. Let the player shoot the shot.
Thanks again to unknownpro for the one stroke practice advice. That tidbit changed my life.
If you've been doing your stroke practice you'll be amazed what that player within you can do once you get out of the way and let him shoot.
If I could MASTER the MENTAL PART of the GAME, and DELIVER 100% of my KNOWLEDGE to the Cue Ball 100% of the TIME I would be GREAT AT POOL.
When I was a young novice, staying down on my shot.
In recent years, Kinister's method for applying inside english.
In recent years, Kinister's method for applying inside english.
shot rehearsal
Good post - I'll also go along with this as one of my 'eureka' moments. :grin:
I would go a little further: Once you have done planning, visualise what you are trying to do - ideally get a feeling of what is going to happen that you can almost taste - and keep that image/feeling in your mind as you drop.
Once you are down, switch off and let it happen.
One way I sometimes think of this, is concentrating early in the shot. If you start really focusing on what you want to make the balls do only when you have got down on the shot, then you are far too late imho.
There have also been a bunch of other discoveries that felt like light bulbs coming on. That is why I love playing pool - I just really enjoy learning about the game!
I am also blessed with having a crap memory and a tendency not to see things through. This means that I can get a buzz from rediscovering the same things over and over again! I think I am a bit like the goldfish with an 8 second memory that keeps getting surprised by the same bit of rock in its bowl. Lucky I'm not proud.
I will see if I can remember some more key moments...
JimS said:
Good post - I'll also go along with this as one of my 'eureka' moments. :grin:
I would go a little further: Once you have done planning, visualise what you are trying to do - ideally get a feeling of what is going to happen that you can almost taste - and keep that image/feeling in your mind as you drop.
Once you are down, switch off and let it happen.
One way I sometimes think of this, is concentrating early in the shot. If you start really focusing on what you want to make the balls do only when you have got down on the shot, then you are far too late imho.
There have also been a bunch of other discoveries that felt like light bulbs coming on. That is why I love playing pool - I just really enjoy learning about the game!
I am also blessed with having a crap memory and a tendency not to see things through. This means that I can get a buzz from rediscovering the same things over and over again! I think I am a bit like the goldfish with an 8 second memory that keeps getting surprised by the same bit of rock in its bowl. Lucky I'm not proud.
I will see if I can remember some more key moments...
Turn around
A good friend of mine taught me an aiming system that changed my game dramatically. He lives in another state and he taught it to me on the telephone!
I know you asked for a single thing, but in addition to the aiming system I switched to Predator shafts at the same time and those 2 things made a different player out of me. A lot of people don't care for LD shafts, but take my word for it they work! I've tried OB-1 shafts also and they play well too, but they hit a little softer than the predator.
James
A good friend of mine taught me an aiming system that changed my game dramatically. He lives in another state and he taught it to me on the telephone!
I know you asked for a single thing, but in addition to the aiming system I switched to Predator shafts at the same time and those 2 things made a different player out of me. A lot of people don't care for LD shafts, but take my word for it they work! I've tried OB-1 shafts also and they play well too, but they hit a little softer than the predator.
James
JimS said:
I agree here. Unknownpro's one stroke practice is really starting to improve my game. I never thought to plan while up.
Josh
Getting Lasik Surgery
One of my teachers, Christy Dickerson, christyd on AZ, told me to get contacts instead of my glasses.
Couldnt do contacts so I did the lasik.
Im 13/20 in both eyes from 200/20 uncorrected.
I am at least a ball better.
Second thing is to practice the right way, L-Drills, and other Drills, and as Christy says, "You cant beat table time".
Ken
One of my teachers, Christy Dickerson, christyd on AZ, told me to get contacts instead of my glasses.
Couldnt do contacts so I did the lasik.
Im 13/20 in both eyes from 200/20 uncorrected.
I am at least a ball better.
Second thing is to practice the right way, L-Drills, and other Drills, and as Christy says, "You cant beat table time".
Ken
Eye patterns ala Scott Lee.
Several key "aha" moments in my pool career:
- Initially, when just learning the game at 19 while in college, reading 99 Critical Shots and Byrne's book and literally going page by page and trying to learn each thing. Took me from a beginner with good eye hand coordination to an intermediate player with some fair knowledge of the game
- A few years later, losing my job! Seriously, I was out of work for 4 or 5 months when I was 23/24 and got some part time work at the pool hall and did some computer programming for them. Hanging out there 6 - 8 hours a day working and then playing for free and keeping my mind off being out of work did wonders for my pool game (not my bank account though... )
- A few years later, devouring more books and watching a bunch of Accustats tapes and really getting a good feel for position play and theory. Opened up my game a lot
- In recent times (20 elapsed years later), especially after my 5 year layoff, rededicating myself to basics, preshot routine, and letting the inner pool player shoot. Got my game back now and then some. Also help from some players better than me (thanks Fuji!) to work on the mental game and give me the confidence I needed to realize that I didn't suck as bad as I thought
Scott
- Initially, when just learning the game at 19 while in college, reading 99 Critical Shots and Byrne's book and literally going page by page and trying to learn each thing. Took me from a beginner with good eye hand coordination to an intermediate player with some fair knowledge of the game
- A few years later, losing my job! Seriously, I was out of work for 4 or 5 months when I was 23/24 and got some part time work at the pool hall and did some computer programming for them. Hanging out there 6 - 8 hours a day working and then playing for free and keeping my mind off being out of work did wonders for my pool game (not my bank account though... )
- A few years later, devouring more books and watching a bunch of Accustats tapes and really getting a good feel for position play and theory. Opened up my game a lot
- In recent times (20 elapsed years later), especially after my 5 year layoff, rededicating myself to basics, preshot routine, and letting the inner pool player shoot. Got my game back now and then some. Also help from some players better than me (thanks Fuji!) to work on the mental game and give me the confidence I needed to realize that I didn't suck as bad as I thought
Scott
A couple of learnings that have really helped:
A lighter grip lowers the mass of the cue stick stroking through the ball, reducing cue ball squirt and increasing spin
Making good enough position and taking a tougher shot is better than missing and watching your opponent run out
I will take a good enough safety over a blown perfect safety every day of the week
A lighter grip lowers the mass of the cue stick stroking through the ball, reducing cue ball squirt and increasing spin
Making good enough position and taking a tougher shot is better than missing and watching your opponent run out
I will take a good enough safety over a blown perfect safety every day of the week
Keep It Simple StupidTXsouthpaw said:
aka: K.I.S.S.
99 Critical Shots by Ray Martin.
Mastering Pool by George Fels.
A lesson from a road player.
A phone call to Hal Houle.
Not hitting the balls so hard. {see #2 above}
I know you asked for a single thing, but the above single things all made major contributions to my knowledge of the game today.
Mastering Pool by George Fels.
A lesson from a road player.
A phone call to Hal Houle.
Not hitting the balls so hard. {see #2 above}
I know you asked for a single thing, but the above single things all made major contributions to my knowledge of the game today.
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