When you decided to Get Good!?

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RollOver

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Names Bryan. I'm 22 and just decided I want to really get serious with pool. I've actually ALWAYS wanted to play consistent but never had access to billiards tables on any kind of regular basis until now (old enough to get into bars and stuff). I've been practicing for the last 2 weeks just about every day and whenever I walk into the local pool hall it feels great!

I started playing pool when I was about 10 in my friends basements and at various sports bars when I'd go out to eat with parents; never had the ability to stay consitent though. I've only run a full set a handful of times in my life but I'm decent pocketing balls; other then that I need a LOT of work.

Just wanted to find out how everyone else got started playing, how they felt about it, and if you have any suggestions for a new player.

If anybody is in Wichita let me know!
 
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RollOver said:
Names Bryan. I'm 22 and just decided I want to really get serious with pool. I've actually ALWAYS wanted to play consistent but never had access to billiards tables on any kind of regular basis until now (old enough to get into bars and stuff). I've been practicing for the last 2 weeks just about every day and whenever I walk into the local pool hall it feels great!

I started playing pool when I was about 10 in my friends basements and at various sports bars when I'd go out to eat with parents; never had the ability to stay consitent though. I've only run a full set a handful of times in my life but I'm decent pocketing balls; other then that I need a LOT of work.

Just wanted to find out how everyone else got started playing, how they felt about it, and if you have any suggestions for a new player.

If anybody is in Wichita let me know!
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Get lessons and play players who are better than you. Practice daily, several hours. Work hard and have fun and don't let pool take a front seat in your life. There really is no future other than to have fun.

Keep the day job. :groucho:

Welcome to az!!
 
I was a lot like other kids, I wanted to be like my Dad. He was a road player in the late 1920's to late 1930's. I think that's why I never really got better after I could beat him 50% of the time. That was my goal from the first day I really tried to beat him. It didn't dawn on me that he was over 50 by then and had taken over 20 years off pool when he got married to my Mom. I guess he was about a very strong "B+" player by then. I know I was never a srtong "B+" player on a big table, the days I beat him must have been an off day for him and a "shoot over my head day for me".

I have no idea how good he really was was back in his road days. He never was one to brag about anything. Even a few months after he opened his poolroom and started playing again, I can't ever recall seeing him get beat, and that included some road players that came into the room. Maybe Gary Nolan or Chis McDonald know how good he was as they played him a lot when they were in their mid to late teens. All I know is he made a living at pool and boxing for about 10 years and there was no money in the lower weights in boxing back then. Johnnyt
 
When I started college there was a free table. I am the kind of person that just likes to conquer haha. I liked having to work hard. It was very rewarding going from a banger to beating guys that used to bark at me.

Learn how to get directly behind a shot and step in the same way every time. I think this is key for consistency and confidence. Find out your step pattern by setting up long straight in's until you get into comfortable position and are drilling them. If you are in the same "position" every time, then it makes it easier to learn everything and trust your stroke.

Get out there and find some tournaments. Watch the good players and how they play (strategy, position play, etc.) If anything confuses you figure it out! Try and get to a point where when you make a mistake you know why and it is doesn't suprise you ;)

NEVER think you have nothing left to learn.
 
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I played a little in high school and some more in college, and loved it. I told myself that when I was a "grownup" I'd get my own table. About 2 years ago, at the age 38, I found myself married with kids in a nice big house with a huge, empty (unfinished) basement. I bought a table and am now hooked.

So for me, my pattern may be different than most. I imagine the average guy (or girl) plays a lot less when the settle down and get domesticated. For me, it came about by my wanting to find something that made always being home fun. (Not that I don't adore my wife and kids or anything, but you know, we all get a little stir crazy when it's time to grow up...)
 
I decided to get good when I was about 8. Our neighbors had a table in their basement and would let me watch them but would not let me play,needless to say it made me very angry :angry:. One day they after much begging they let me roll a ball with my hands as soon as the ball left my hands I was moved away from the table by a bigger kid and that was it. I can still remember screaming that someday I was going to get good, buy my own table and I would never let any of them play on it.
Well 2 out of 3 ain't bad:grin-square: .
 
Different World

Bryan,

When I decided I wanted to get good, it meant going out and getting my butt kicked a lot. When the players one place couldn't beat me it was time to go find tougher competition.

Different world now though. Get Joe Villalpando's DVD's. Get Joe Tucker's DVD's. Get some good lessons. These three things will save you thousands of dollars and years off of what it took for me to learn how to play good enough to suit me.

Joe Tucker's DVD's will teach you the break and stroke. Finish cleaning up your stroke and learn how to tune it with a good instructor. Joe Villalpando's DVD's will let you own the cue ball if you actually learn what is on them. After I was a fairly decent player, it probably took me five years of playing more hours a week than most people work a full time job to gain the cue ball control that Joe V tells you how to get on his DVD's. The cue ball is harder to control than the object ball, focus on it.

Hu



RollOver said:
Names Bryan. I'm 22 and just decided I want to really get serious with pool. I've actually ALWAYS wanted to play consistent but never had access to billiards tables on any kind of regular basis until now (old enough to get into bars and stuff). I've been practicing for the last 2 weeks just about every day and whenever I walk into the local pool hall it feels great!

I started playing pool when I was about 10 in my friends basements and at various sports bars when I'd go out to eat with parents; never had the ability to stay consitent though. I've only run a full set a handful of times in my life but I'm decent pocketing balls; other then that I need a LOT of work.

Just wanted to find out how everyone else got started playing, how they felt about it, and if you have any suggestions for a new player.

If anybody is in Wichita let me know!
Click to expand...
 
Get in touch with Randyg or Scott Lee right here on this forum. Sign up for pool school. Be prepared to learn a lot. Be prepared to practice the things you learn in school a lot.
Above all, remember that pool is a game. It's supposed to be FUN.
If you plan on making a living playing pool, be prepared to be poor!

Good Luck
Steve
 
I'll second what others have said. Get yourself at least a couple of lessons to get pointed in the right direction. Depending on how you like to learn, get a couple of books and some videos, too. When I was in my late teens (that was when it was legal to hang in bars way back then!) I became a regular on bar boxes and was quickly good enough to win beers and small change.

But I felt pretty useless when I'd walk into a poolroom and see real shooters. It seemed an impossible mountain to climb. For the life of me, I couldn't figure out how to be consistent while using english, or with long shots on a 9-footer. This is where the lessons, etc. come in. You really can't figure this stuff all out by yourself. It's simple but maybe not so obvious. I still remember watching somebody getting a lesson in 14.1 when I was around 20 and being tempted to approach the teacher after, but for some reason I didn't. Always regretted that ... I didn't start to learn the right way till 20 years later!
 
my advice

Other players will tell you you have to play(them preferably) for $$ to get better.This is not true.Gambling may be one way to imrove your skills but it is not the only.

Watch lots of pool,as much as you can stand.Watch good players.See how they aproach each shot.
 
The book "99 shots in pool" by Ray Martin is easy to follow and has a wealth of information on throw and how balls react when they are tied up. I would read it. I had some guys to help me along and actually made a ten year plan and I play good but I am no giant killer. Be patient, confident, and use what works for you. Just like any other sport or activity it is important to develop good stance, balance, technique etc. (fundamentals) I would focus on that. People seem to have a tendency to want to learn the things that are cool. IE:Extreme draw, masse and so on while these things are usable tools the development of solid fundamentals will make the application advanced knowledge more usable later in your development. The most common mistake I see entry level players make is standing up during the execution of a shot especially when they are not confident in making it. Stay Down, practice, seek knowledge, practice, stay focused, practice. Good Luck it looks like so far you are doing the right things, you came here in search of knowledge and there are guys here with it. Be patient it will come if you stick with it and work at it.
 
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smoooothstroke said:
Other players will tell you you have to play(them preferably) for $$ to get better.This is not true.Gambling may be one way to imrove your skills but it is not the only.

Watch lots of pool,as much as you can stand.Watch good players.See how they aproach each shot.
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i think someone should teach you how to get good.
 
Pool

RollOver said:
Names Bryan. I'm 22 and just decided I want to really get serious with pool. I've actually ALWAYS wanted to play consistent but never had access to billiards tables on any kind of regular basis until now (old enough to get into bars and stuff). I've been practicing for the last 2 weeks just about every day and whenever I walk into the local pool hall it feels great!

I started playing pool when I was about 10 in my friends basements and at various sports bars when I'd go out to eat with parents; never had the ability to stay consitent though. I've only run a full set a handful of times in my life but I'm decent pocketing balls; other then that I need a LOT of work.

Just wanted to find out how everyone else got started playing, how they felt about it, and if you have any suggestions for a new player.

If anybody is in Wichita let me know!
Click to expand...


Wow! one post and all greenies!:thumbup:

Bryan I started out playing "snooker" one summer at a church rec. room when I was 12yrs......

but if you want to get good at pool, associate yourself with good players that have good attitudes and are of good character,... don't force pool, it will come.

And the players with bad attitudes, observe their play from a distance, for they too have quality shots that you can incorporate into your style of play!



David Harcrow
 
I too have decided to "get good"

I have played pool since I was about 14 (now 37). I started in a small pool hall with bar tables and I was hooked (back then I shot a mean game of bumper pool also). As I got older, I went to the bars to shoot pool, not so much to drink, but just to shoot pool. I have always been a good shot-maker, which was generally enough to win most of the time in the local bar aginast people that had too much to drink, but control has always been my weakness.

I took time off from the bar stuff to get marrired and find a way to make a living and I have recently built a new house with a "man-cave" with a nine-footer upstairs.

I had a plan; the table was installed on Nov 4th 2008. I told myself in one year, I am going to the local pool hall and start playing regularly. I live in a small town, but am very lucky to have a very nice room 20 minutes away with no beer/booze served, not that I am against beer/booze, but not when I want to play seriously. I have quickly realized I cannot wait 1 year to get out and play. I practice every night 1-3 hours....on the weekends more. I have ordered a couple of instructional videos but have not went through those yet.

Bottom line: scattering balls on the table and shooting for hours is not going to get it done for me. It takes instruction, in person if possible and most importantly PLAYING LIVE PEOPLE. It took me a couple of months to figure it out. Other than playing on a 9' table for 4 months, I am no better now than what I was when I was 20, because I have not challenged myself at all since I put my talbe in back in November '08.
 
I decided to get good when there was a guy I could not beat. I became addicted once I ran my first rack. The addiction made me better.
 
catpool9 said:
Wow! one post and all greenies!:thumbup:
It wasn't that way for me,it took a few average threads and many lame ones to get my reputation beyond repute.:D




Jim's just jealous:wink:
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catpool9 said:
Wow! one post and all greenies!:thumbup:

Bryan I started out playing "snooker" one summer at a church rec. room when I was 12yrs......

but if you want to get good at pool, associate yourself with good players that have good attitudes and are of good character,... don't force pool, it will come.

And the players with bad attitudes, observe their play from a distance, for they too have quality shots that you can incorporate into your style of play!



David Harcrow
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You know David, I think this would be ideal advice for any young person, but there is lot's to learn from all good players, good and bad. You don't have to like or admire them to respect their ability or talents. What fits for one person in this game often doesn't work for another.

There have been some tremendously good players and after watching them play, I would wonder how in the hell does that guy with that stanc e and that stroke ever get out. It would look so awkward and clumbsy. Just about as often I've seen some who looked near perfect at the table who couldn't get out if you opened every door in the building.

I think we lerean from all sorts. I think the one I leraned the most from and just idolized was Buddy. He was so very delliberated and meticulous about every aspect of his game. Often during routine outs he would do something so out of character to get to the short side of the ball out thn execute so smoothly. You would think about what you had just seen andd it would make all the sense in the world.

It is a commplex game and seems to me the more you learn the more complex it gets. There is a lot of good instruction these days and a lot of material to learn from, but, IMO, nobody has written the perfect book on it yet.
 
RollOver said:
Names Bryan. I'm 22 and just decided I want to really get serious with pool. I've actually ALWAYS wanted to play consistent but never had access to billiards tables on any kind of regular basis until now (old enough to get into bars and stuff). I've been practicing for the last 2 weeks just about every day and whenever I walk into the local pool hall it feels great!

I started playing pool when I was about 10 in my friends basements and at various sports bars when I'd go out to eat with parents; never had the ability to stay consitent though. I've only run a full set a handful of times in my life but I'm decent pocketing balls; other then that I need a LOT of work.

Just wanted to find out how everyone else got started playing, how they felt about it, and if you have any suggestions for a new player.

If anybody is in Wichita let me know!
Click to expand...

i goofed around a little in highschool and always liked playing pool but i didn't get serious until new years day 2003. the local dealership put up 800 for a new years day tournament with free entry. i decided i was going to spend as much time playing as i had to to win it before i left. i practiced day in and out ever chance i got. sometimes i slept on the couch and asked people to wake me when it was my turn to shoot.

i never realized how good i had it there until i got to san diego. in japan they had 2 brunswick tables with simonis on them and time was free. i spent like 300 on time my first week in san diego
 
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