Which of these characteristics is the most important to a pool player?

bomber

bomber

Jeopardy Is My Road Game
Silver Member
As a former baseball player and current coach of both baseball and football, I have studied athletics of all kinds throughout my life. There are striking similarities in all athletic contests. There are certain characteristics that athletes share whether it is baseball, golf, or billiards. I have listed some of these characteristics below. I would like to know which of these charactersitics is the most imporant to a pool player and why?

1. Vision
2. Wrist action
3. Strength
4. Stamina/Endurance
5. Intelligence/Knowledge
6. Spatial IQ
7. Conditioning
8. Patience
9. Determination
10. other? (you make the call)

You can only pick one. I know that a combo. of all these is important, but for arguement sake, lets try to decide the number one factor.
 
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Based on my own experiences, I'd hafta rate vision as the #1 factor in the ability to suceed in any sport. I used to be very good in several sports until age, and consequently bad vision, caught up with me. I believe that especially in pool/billiards, all the knowledge, stamina, patience, etc. ain't gonna amount to a hill-of-beans if you can't clearly see what the heck your'e aiming at. Just my opinion.

Maniac
 
I don't think wrist action is an appropriate choice. I think good "stroke fundamentals" would be a better choice and at the top of my list in importance. Just like in a golf swing you can't just use one portion of the swing to determine if it is a good swing. You have to look at stance, grip, tempo, swing path, etc.
 
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Buddy Hall once told me that "most anybody can learn a stroke...but you are born with good wrists. That is what seperates the men from the boys."
 
IMHO I believe you left out the most important factor: eye/hand coordination, which I suppose could fall under vision, but I believe is a separate skill that golfers, pool players, baseball players, horseshoe throwers, all have to have to succeed in their game/sport.
 
metal5d said:
I don't think wrist action is an appropriate choice. I think good "stroke fundamentals" would be a better choice and at the top of my list in importance. Just like in a golf swing you can't just use one portion of the swing to determine if it is a good swing. You have to look at stance, grip, tempo, swing path, etc.
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Since I had to pick just one, I would agree with you.
Steve
 
Confidence, you can have all nine on the list but without the confidence in yourself (trust) when the heat is on the list disappears. If I had a choice between a little less talent and total unwavering confidence in myself and ability I'd go with the confidence.
 
Maniac said:
Based on my own experiences, I'd hafta rate vision as the #1 factor in the ability to suceed in any sport. I used to be very good in several sports until age, and consequently bad vision, caught up with me. I believe that especially in pool/billiards, all the knowledge, stamina, patience, etc. ain't gonna amount to a hill-of-beans if you can't clearly see what the heck your'e aiming at. Just my opinion.

Maniac
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All of the above attributes are important. However, I would also select Vision as being the number 1 determinant in how well I play on any given day. I wear contacts and if I can't see the balls clearly, then the other attributes don't really matter.
 
knowledge

i've played for 55 years. its not the latest tip on the market, its not the taper of your shaft, its not wrap or no wrap, its not what chalk you use. its knowledge
 
spatial iq is similar to vision...it is the ability to percieve size and distance with great accuracy...nfl quaterbacks are said to have extremely high spatial iq's
 
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