devindra said:
The name of the topic pretty much sums up what I have to ask. I have to play at least an hour a day to play good and if I don't play everyday I suck
. What do you do to get back in stroke when you haven't played pool in a couple of days? Any advice? My shotmaking skills are usually there but my positioning is usually off.
I am willing to bet $100 that you don't suck. Well, not completely anyways. I am also willing to bet a $100 bucks that you only feel like you suck because you ain't doing what you want on the pool table.
Life in general is about setting goals. You have to set achievable, long term goals, and achieve them slowly by setting short, achievable goals. Get your local BCA instructor to help you with these goals. It'll be the best money spent in your entire pool playing career. It will help mold your patters and practice hours spent so that you aren't practicing mistakes over and over.
Practice drills. Shoot balls down the rail. Follow, stop and draw. See if you can draw your ball back into the pocket. Practice all the shots, and especially your trouble shots, but get good at one game first. Master 9 ball. Master the stroke and master yourself. Get your ass in the pool hall, watch some dvd's, more importantly, get a lesson. Make no mistake, there is no big secret, what I'm telling you is it. There is no other way, I'm sorry to be the one to tell you.
Over the course of time, you will want to think of yourself as being in permanent dead gear, because your stroke is dead nuts accurate. That's part of the reason for my so seemingly arrogant name (deadgearplyr). Actually it's not arrogant, it's humble in the fact I also feel as though I must keep my game in dead gear to be able to play well, just like anyone else. That's the reason I have spent nearly every day sometimes 5-6 hours a day on the table either practicing, or matched up. I now have the confidence that when I have to roll in the money ball for the cash, I gonna watch that pocket swallow up that ball and not even think twice.
I practice in the same pool hall as some of the world's best players. Buddy Hall, Brian Jones, Shane McMinn, Richard Pierce, John Gabriel, and so on. Most any of these guys are probably on the table more often than not. They are probably so familiar with their cue that they've memorized how every inch of their cue feels and could describe it without even looking at it.
I'm telling you man, it's all built up over the years. There is no short cut. Anyone who can really play well will tell you the same thing. You must have passion for the game. An hour every two days or so ain't gonna cut it. In pool, just the same as in life, you must pay. Nothing is free.
Tony, if you're still thinking about showing up at our Wednesday league we only have one week left before the end of season tournie & trophy night. Come on up! You could sub a week & play in the tourney the next week. Sure would be good to see you again.
