Whats your playing rhythm?

Matt Stockman

Matt Stockman

give me the 7 & a whiskey
Silver Member
Do you play fast and loose (Strickland, McCready) or do you play slow and calculated (Souquet,Basavich)?

Do you alter your approach by how you feel that day or is it the same each time you approach the table.

I've been trying lately - on my table at home - to stay in a fast and loose rhythm, there by letting muscle memory and feel take over, and keeping doubt and tension from creeping in. While I end up out of shape more often, I also notice my shotmaking skills on shots I would normally grind over have really improved.

Anyhow, I just wanted to hear from some of you sporty shootin fellas. I always enjoy your opinions.

Thanks,
Matt
 
Normally I play pretty slow. I find that, much like you, if I start playing fast I end up not getting good shape on the following shot. Can't say that I've ever tried it to see if my shot making improved, I might try it out today. As far as how I approach the table, it's all pretty much the same unless something has gotten me pissed off, then I might be a little bit more aggressive.
 
I played fast and loose for years, but when I came back to the table this time after 5 years away... that didn't work for me anymore. Now I take 3 or 4 times as long wth a lot of shots. I can't make the long cuts like I use to or do I have the stroke I use to have, but slowing it down and walking around the table more notice I don't make too many errors. I'd say I play very close to what I use to on a BB, so it has seemed to even out. Johnnyt
 
my rhythm

jump up, go to table, shoot, miss, sit down, watch, watch, jump up, shoot, ad infinitem(it seems). don't mean to get thread astray. couldn't resist! i do try to take a few strokes before pullimg the triger. i don't get to shoot a lot anymore, shooting suffers consequently. i don't rush shots if the game is somewhat important. i take my time, will even walk around the table like i should and check things out.
 
If I'm playing slow, I'm probably getting beat. Once I start to sweat, and run around the table, I catch "the gear" easier. 4-8 beers, and one hour on the table, and yeha!
 
paksat said:
I mimic corey deuel's tempo.

Slow is smooth, smooth is fast.
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Ya..Corey makes it look too easy!! He sure is a pleasure to watch. Sometimes I wonder about his track record as a money player? Of all the pros I watch on youtube he seems to motor through even the toughest outs without breaking a sweat. Seems like he would be a tough horse in a long race.

Does he ever get into any big action? I never read anyhting about him doing so. Id like to see him match up with Hatch (another guy who makes it look too easy) on TAR. That would be entertaining.
 
Matt Stockman said:
Ya..Corey makes it look too easy!! He sure is a pleasure to watch. Sometimes I wonder about his track record as a money player? Of all the pros I watch on youtube he seems to motor through even the toughest outs without breaking a sweat. Seems like he would be a tough horse in a long race.

Does he ever get into any big action? I never read anyhting about him doing so. Id like to see him match up with Hatch (another guy who makes it look too easy) on TAR. That would be entertaining.
Click to expand...

I duno about all that BUT..

Playing fast is all momentum, and when you don't have the momentum, it really really sucks. I haven't even been playing very long at all and it didn't take me long to figure that out.

I use to try and hit high gear right off the bat or try to jump all over my opponent. But if you don't do that ( and more often you won't ), you often times get mad alot easier when trying to play at that pace.
 
I play my best when I am playing in slow motion in my head but fast on the table. By fast on the table I mean get down two practice strokes and swing. If that makes any sense.
 
I try to play at the same medium speed all the time.

The only difference is in how much time I spend on step (1) below due to the overall difficulty of the table layout or subtle changes to clusters made by my opponent on their previous turn:

(1) Survey table layout
(2) Chalk cue
(3) Shoot shot

Once I've dediced what I want to do I try to keep the same medium pace for each shot and same focus no matter if the shot is hard or easy. If I find myself thinking about the shot (or the next shot) in the middle of my practice strokes, I step back and repeat the above sequence and reload.

The biggest difference that has made the most improvement in my game has been keeping focused on easy shots and treating all shots the same.
 
a hair slower than strickland. when playing quicker i tend to play better as long as i still pause to think about the trickier balls in the racks
 
You Gamblers all play quick

crawfish said:
If I'm playing slow, I'm probably getting beat. Once I start to sweat, and run around the table, I catch "the gear" easier. 4-8 beers, and one hour on the table, and yeha!
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I Havent played against or watched too many gamblers that didnt play balls out fast and loose. Its all about catching that gear and grabbing the momentum!!

You sound like the second incarnation of "The Hurricane". I wished I lived closer to some of you charecters. Although Id likely be donating my money, it sounds like it would still be good time. I never run into entertaining action around here All the rooms in my area are closing or dieing.
 
I've recently figured out that I play better and more consistently when I walk around the table at a casual pace... not fast, not slow, but casual, sort of like how Ronato Alcano casually walks around the table (from the matches that I've seen). If I play too fast, I often get out of position because I'm not really thinking about what I'm trying to do. A casual pace allows me time to think ahead in rack (2 or more balls), while at the same time focus on the current shot and keep in rhythm and not play so slow that I lose focus.
 
Matt Stockman said:
Do you play fast and loose (Strickland, McCready) or do you play slow and calculated (Souquet,Basavich)?
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Shots where the OB to be struck and the pocket to take it are obvious--I tend to play fast and loose.

Shots that require precision and care--I tend to take my time, plan out the whole shot. These include shots where part of the pocket is blocked, the path is tight, banks, kicks, and safety play.
 
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Matt Stockman said:
I Havent played against or watched too many gamblers that didnt play balls out fast and loose. Its all about catching that gear and grabbing the momentum!!

You sound like the second incarnation of "The Hurricane". I wished I lived closer to some of you charecters. Although Id likely be donating my money, it sounds like it would still be good time. I never run into entertaining action around here All the rooms in my area are closing or dieing.
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My dear man, there are 100 break and runout players within a 75 mile radius of me, right now. The Carolinas are a fu#$ing breeding ground for players. Makes me sick. Although I will never be "Little Tony" or Keith McCready, I know my niche. And yes, I do play that fast. If you ever walk in and see me running around the table, bet on me. Playing slow, offer me a hotdog after I pay my time. If you're ever around here, I'll be glad to show you around and introduce you to everyone.
 
I used to play fast and loose when i was younger but the older i get the more i think before i pull the trigger...I play much better this way...
 
Matt Stockman said:
Do you play fast and loose (Strickland, McCready) or do you play slow and calculated (Souquet,Basavich)?

Do you alter your approach by how you feel that day or is it the same each time you approach the table.

I've been trying lately - on my table at home - to stay in a fast and loose rhythm, there by letting muscle memory and feel take over, and keeping doubt and tension from creeping in. While I end up out of shape more often, I also notice my shotmaking skills on shots I would normally grind over have really improved.

Anyhow, I just wanted to hear from some of you sporty shootin fellas. I always enjoy your opinions.

Thanks,
Matt
Click to expand...
If you're looking for what's right, fast or slow or somewhere in between it's the same answer as the question - What's the best cue for me?

If you want to emulate someone emulate their consistent rhythm not the rhythm itself. Rhythm is personal. Yours will be different than mine which is different than anyone else.

Find the pace that puts you and keeps you "in gear" and stick with it till it's you. It's impossible to figure other things out when we are constantly changing 2 or 3 things.

Not accusing you of anything here, its just a point that matters to me. Changing rhythm is not sacrilege but allow you be a part of what it should be, not some superstar. They can only suggest something new if you can't find the gear.
 
Corey played a 3-day, race to 100 match, on TAR, for $20K, with Shane Van Boening, a couple years ago. Shane killed Corey, by almost 30 games. You can buy those dvds on TAR's website.

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

Matt Stockman said:
Ya..Corey makes it look too easy!! He sure is a pleasure to watch. Sometimes I wonder about his track record as a money player? Of all the pros I watch on youtube he seems to motor through even the toughest outs without breaking a sweat. Seems like he would be a tough horse in a long race.

Does he ever get into any big action? I never read anyhting about him doing so. Id like to see him match up with Hatch (another guy who makes it look too easy) on TAR. That would be entertaining.
Click to expand...
 
I play fast, about Strickland or McReady's tempo sometimes even faster, but when I'm playing badly, I'll slow down to what most people consider normal speed but it seems really slow to me, and I get back into stroke that way.
 
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