bomber said:
Got to be 5. There are many, many people with the other attributes, but native intelligence and acquired knowledge are much rarer.
Which of these characteristics is the most important to a pool player?
- Thread starter bomber
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Got to be 5. There are many, many people with the other attributes, but native intelligence and acquired knowledge are much rarer.
Crawl before ya' walk
I feel the two most important are technique and concentration.
When you first learn the game it's 90% physical and 10% mental as you learn the fundamentals of stance, grip, aiming, stroke, follow through, etc.
Once you have mastered technique, I believe the game does a 180 degree flip flop, and becomes 90% MENTAL and 10% physical, as the physical is hopefully second nature, and is sub-conscious.
Once you have established good technique the difference between running 10 balls and a 110 balls, is CONCENTRATION!
It's mostly all mental at that point. 
While strength conditioning may be vital to one's performance in OTHER sports, I don't think it's as big a factor in billiards.
I feel the two most important are technique and concentration.
When you first learn the game it's 90% physical and 10% mental as you learn the fundamentals of stance, grip, aiming, stroke, follow through, etc.
Once you have mastered technique, I believe the game does a 180 degree flip flop, and becomes 90% MENTAL and 10% physical, as the physical is hopefully second nature, and is sub-conscious.
Once you have established good technique the difference between running 10 balls and a 110 balls, is CONCENTRATION!
It's mostly all mental at that point. While strength conditioning may be vital to one's performance in OTHER sports, I don't think it's as big a factor in billiards.
CrownCityCorey said:
That has been my contention for a long time, but people dismiss it. They just don't want to accept that there might truly be a physiological reason for the difference. I also maintain that generally overall physical coodination is innately better in men. Women are more coordinated in terms of dexterity, but men are more coordinated in terms of gross physical movements. I believe this is genetically based, having evolved due to the success of the early division of labor into hunters (men) needing greater spatial ability and gross physical coordination and gatherers (women) needing greater manual dexterity.
Call me crazy.
We can schedule before the Betmore vs Breakup Match
OK Maniac & PoolBum, we gotta bet! I'll bet the blind guy can pocket a ball --- You bet on the quadrapalegic with perfect vision making a ball!
Was kind of assuming some reasonable degree of vision in my earlier post when I mentioned hand/eye coordination.
Maniac said:Blind people are gonna struggle at pool??? Pardner, it's gonna be a whole lot worse than a struggle. Jigger, given all the other attributes, how many balls do ya think a blind player is gonna run
Maniac
OK Maniac & PoolBum, we gotta bet! I'll bet the blind guy can pocket a ball --- You bet on the quadrapalegic with perfect vision making a ball!
Was kind of assuming some reasonable degree of vision in my earlier post when I mentioned hand/eye coordination.
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haha thats funnybomber said:
Well ......
Iwould have to select number ..5. Intelligence/Knowledge.. since a player with great vision, stamina, patience and determination will not amount to a hill of beans without the complete understanding and comprehension of the GEOMETRY aspect of pool and with the understanding of how to read a table ! combined with the intelligence of how to put these factors together in a game!bomber said:
As far as all of the post regarding Vision...
I think it is automatically understood (perhaps another point for LOL! intelligence) that certain sports require standard capabilities ! For instance some one who is a quadraplegic would be at a distinct disadvantage trying to compete in Golf or Bowling!
So in the same light if you are BLIND! you certainly would not be competitve in pool or trap shooting for example! But if your vision was not 20/ 20 you could overcome that issue with ball control and knowledge in this sport! ie: being able to keep your shots short and within your range! and being able to use your skills to play safes when it wasn't within your accurate vision range!
I think it is automatically understood (perhaps another point for LOL! intelligence) that certain sports require standard capabilities ! For instance some one who is a quadraplegic would be at a distinct disadvantage trying to compete in Golf or Bowling!
So in the same light if you are BLIND! you certainly would not be competitve in pool or trap shooting for example! But if your vision was not 20/ 20 you could overcome that issue with ball control and knowledge in this sport! ie: being able to keep your shots short and within your range! and being able to use your skills to play safes when it wasn't within your accurate vision range!
Conditioning to me would equal, muscle memory through practice. This also leads to shot recognition and pattern play. I would go with #7.bomber said:
Tracy
To a beginning player, an intermediate player or a pro?
pahrolli said:
"Heart is what it takes to be a champion!" - told to me by Jose Parica some years back.
No doubt, he would know.
Heart
That's the real secret.
That's the real secret.
Well
from my 45 years of playing, I would have to say 'Vision', and I am not talking about your eyes (although I have never had good vision). I am talking about the visions that go on in your head, being able to 'see' the shot or recognize the 'safety' before you shoot it.
From Vision comes imagination and curiousity, 2 things that are definately needed to help you get to the next level. From Vision also comes inspiration.
I would say all great players would have to have vision to reach the ranks of being great.
from my 45 years of playing, I would have to say 'Vision', and I am not talking about your eyes (although I have never had good vision). I am talking about the visions that go on in your head, being able to 'see' the shot or recognize the 'safety' before you shoot it.
From Vision comes imagination and curiousity, 2 things that are definately needed to help you get to the next level. From Vision also comes inspiration.
I would say all great players would have to have vision to reach the ranks of being great.
MrLucky said:I think it is automatically understood (perhaps another point for LOL! intelligence) that certain sports require standard capabilities ! For instance some one who is a quadraplegic would be at a distinct disadvantage trying to compete in Golf or Bowling!
So in the same light if you are BLIND! you certainly would not be competitve in pool or trap shooting for example! But if your vision was not 20/ 20 you could overcome that issue with ball control and knowledge in this sport! ie: being able to keep your shots short and within your range! and being able to use your skills to play safes when it wasn't within your accurate vision range!
Very true. Even without 20/20 vision you can still become an excellent shot maker.
I agree everyone who said hand eye co-ordination. Not every person is capable of creating a repeatable stroke.
Without a doubt - (10)/coordination.
How can this not be on your list?!
I used to think vision, but ask anybody in Roanoke, Va. who the best pool player there ever was, and they will all say Bobby Thomas. And he wore friggin coke bottles for glasses. Now maybe if he had had good eyes he would have been world champ, but I think he had other attributes that were more important.
How can this not be on your list?!
I used to think vision, but ask anybody in Roanoke, Va. who the best pool player there ever was, and they will all say Bobby Thomas. And he wore friggin coke bottles for glasses. Now maybe if he had had good eyes he would have been world champ, but I think he had other attributes that were more important.