When did you start running racks regularly?

I was just a recreational ball banger my whole life until I got a pool table in my house a few months ago. I practice almost every day and ran my first rack within 2 months of getting the table, but its still a rare event for me.

One thing you have to consider is the learning curve can be very steep (fast) at first for talented players like yourself, but it slows down for everyone the better you get! Its unavoidable that your improvement rate has slowed, and now you dont see any progress.

Hu's advise was great, write down your progress which will help you see it, and keep you motivated. You will just have to accept that progess will be slower. (and it may even stop if you dont stay motivated)
 
After about a year or so playing "seriously" (10-15hrs/week) with drills and logging and whatnot, I got to a place where I'd run out from an opponent's dry break with an open table, *maybe* once a night. Playing the ghost (BIH), race to 9, last week I ran out twice; but that's my best score yet. Had to take about 4 months off for a broken hand and am just now getting back to where I was this time last year. I also only play about 6-10 hours a week these days... too many other things in the way.

So, regularly? Not so much, but the last month or so, I'm averaging about once a night. If I ever get my speed control down, I'll be dangerous. haha
 
Sounds like you are doing well for only 6 months of play.

Proper practice is key to improving, as well as other suggestions people have offered - competition, being honest in your game assessment and goals, etc.

One suggestion - might be cool to play with your friend since it sounds like he's a very good player, but unless he is teaching you while you are playing and taking the time to retry shots etc., it might not be the best thing for you. You may end up watching him shoot a bunch, and when you get to the table you might not like what you see. When I play against a few players in the room who I work with, I will often let them shoot shots over and continue if they make it the second (or third) time, and will also typically give them ball in hand after any open miss or position error that leads me to play a safety, just so they always have a good start to work on their patterns etc.

Scott
 
Taking a short break is great advice...another tip would be to change the game for a while...instead of shooting just 9 ball, broaden your horizons a bit and shoot 8 ball and one pocket exclusively for a month or so...it will enhance parts of your game you aren't exercising as much just shooting 9 ball racks, and then you can go back to 9 ball and 10 ball refreshed (and with a few more tools in your box).

Try and match up regularly with someone who's better than you. That's the only sure way I've found to keep improving. The ghost is the ghost; you need someone on the other side of the table who is out thinking you and out shooting you to learn more. Once you're beating him reliably, then move on to a stronger partner...and so on and so on. It really doesn't take that long to see yourself jump levels doing that. How? If you see a stronger player (usually older guys are great targets for this) shooting by himself, go right up, introduce yourself and ask to shoot some. Buy him a beverage. I'll bet you more often than not he'll take you up on it for no other reason than it's more fun than shooting by himself.
 
Everybody's got some pretty good advice here..

If I'm shooting poorly, I prefer to force myself through it. That's more being determined.. but, if I find myself just getting mad and the quality goes to spit, then I'll pack it up and head home.

Remember, you play pool because you enjoy it.

When I saw myself plateau, I'd get frustrated, but I'd know that a nice little boost was in the making. There were times that I could nearly bust my head through a wall, but at the same time I knew for a fact that I was still better than a year or two ago at a time when I played league and small tournaments fairly well.

There are always those mental steps that put themselves in the way.. it'll frustrate you for a bit, but once you figure it out you'll think to yourself, "How did I not see that before? It's so simple." And then in another year or two, you'll find something else to get hung up on.

Give it your best, keep working, but recognize when you need to say, "I'm going home for some tv, food and a beer."

As for the other.. I still prefer 8.. on a real good night, I'll be running out nearly every chance, BNR maybe once every 3 racks or so. Didn't start doing multis(2s and 3s so far) regularly until this past year and now it's about once a week. Started as a typical APA bar shooter 3 or 4 about 7 years ago, 7/9 now. The last 6 or so years, I've been my best regular competition, so don't fret if you're short on heavyweights.

Keep the game simple.. don't do things that aren't necessary.. try to play with the shot, not against it(avoid drawing 6 inches into a shot if an easy roll with top is there).
 
I'll try to touch on a few great posts on here already.....


Like you, my game skyrocketed in the beginning... Like you, I expected this to continue.... This is impossible.... Seems to me that the stronger the player, the longer/harder it is to continue to improve....


Breaks - This has always helped me for some reason.... To step away from the game a bit.... I stay in stroke mentally though by watching world class pool... Take it in, rewind, repeat....


Balance - Alot of players will tell you this is huge.... I can usually tell how one's life is going by how they're performing on the table....


Practice - I can't stress this enough... Step away from the table when the mind gets exhausted.... Nothing worse imo than playing dead pool...


Pressure - This is where I feel one's true speed is defined... At your level, nothing helped me more than league/tournies/gambling.... It's paramount to continue to constantly test/push yourself....


I also have a practice partner that I play very well at times on.... I have stretches of playing world class pool on him... But what good is it if I can't run 3 balls when I'm playing in a tourney in bfe, playin on gravel cloth, vs guys that play over my head????



Like many others on here, the key to my game is to be able to perform my speed or stronger when it matters... When your team needs a W and put you up, or in finals of local tourney, or gambling and your man is on the hill and you need 5.... That has been and continues to be my struggle in this beautiful, brutal game we play....



BOL.... Keep us updated... Stay Positive... I can't express enough how mental this game really is....;)
 
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