Why do Pool Players Unconsciously NOT Want to Improve?

Mr. Wilson said:
Strike 2.

3 will be permanent
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Mr. Wilson, could you (or would you) please explain to me, why you took my post to CJ, practically "ver batim"...as if I actually meant I would make CJ manager of his own joint, and Hawiian Eye, a dishwasher ?..Is my very OBVIOUS levity, grounds for a warning of banishment. ?

..Also, no mention that poster #29 (and many others) apparently share some of my opinions, 'without' bothering with any attempt at levity at all ?..Yet, the blatant, and VERY obvious insults fired at me, in posts number 32 and 35, are accepted by you, as not being worthy of even a public reprimand ?

Thank You,

SJD
 
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I remember an AMWAY spiel that was quite similar to CJ's intro. Basically the loser non-joiners didn't want, or believe they deserved, to be filthy rich. LOL
 
basically every pool players relies on a "system".

Its how he views the table, how he approaches the shot, the warm up swings etc... all is part of the players system to get comfortable.

The problem which we have in this thread is, once again, that all is about an aiming system, even though the TO sais it can help your overall game.

What most players (new unexpierenced players as well as seasoned players) struggle with is defining their own approach of the game, their "personal system". they forget to check the angles, the easiest way to get to the next ball, they approach shots differently at different speeds etc... which makes them, in a long term, inconsistent, especially under pressure situations.

Now, if the TO wants to sell his product here, i dont see a problem. Some players maybe need a "guide" how to approach every shot in the same way. I remember a german (or was he dutch? dont know ;) ) coach who had different "checkpoints" before going down to shoot, pretty much like a pilot before he starts the engines. The goals was to teach the student a routine he could rely on, because its the routine that gives us comfort, reduces stress and makes it possible for us to rely on our skillset.

The point is, and thats what most "nay sayers" (me included) try to point out (some through discussion, some with offending people), is that
a) not every "system" works for everyone
b) proper fundamentals are WAY more important cause you can plan, aim and develop every aspect of your game as much as you want, if you cant deliver propperly you gonna miss

which leads me to the final point :embarrassed2: a system is not a garanty to play good, its "only" there to put you into a comfort zone that your TECHNICAL skills to shoot one given ball at a given time can be used to 100%

Best Regards

Me
 
Unconsciously or Subconsciously?

I have to be in a coma to not want to improve?

I'm confused :shrug:
 
SJDinPHX said:
Mr. Wilson, could you (or would you) please explain to me, why you took my post to CJ, practically "ver batim"...as if I actually meant I would make CJ manager of his own joint, and Hawiian Eye, a dishwasher ?..Is my very OBVIOUS levity, grounds for a warning of banishment. ?

..Also, no mention that poster #29 (and many others) apparently share some of my opinions, 'without' bothering with any attempt at levity at all ?..Yet, the blatant, and VERY obvious insults fired at me, in posts number 32 and 35, are accepted by you, as not being worthy of even a public reprimand ?

Thank You,

SJD
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After your previous outbursts, your brand of levity is no longer welcome.
The standing instructions were to add constructively to the conversation or stay out.

The people you feel are insulting you have no more use for the humor you want to inject into the conversation either.

Should they? No.

Should you be in the conversation? No.

Take your second warning to heart.
 
How do you measure improvement? Can improvement be measured alone or does it have to be through competition? Do you measure through win percentage or do you have to go up in skill level?
 
Because a good Skill Level 3 is more valuable then an OK skill level 7.
 
There are several pieces to the improvement puzzle.

jburkm002 said:
How do you measure improvement? Can improvement be measured alone or does it have to be through competition? Do you measure through win percentage or do you have to go up in skill level?
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Improvement is something a players will feel intuitively, and {ideally} should be happening on a daily basis. Even if not on a pool table a players can improve by exercising, eating healthy and meditation.

There are several pieces to the improvement puzzle. they are physical, mental, emotional and even spiritual (the zone).
 
Here is where I struggle - if I improve, I don't know which 'Watchez' will show up. The improved one or the old one.

I tried to ask a player such as Gabe who I literally saw improve 3 balls in 6 months how he knew the 'new Gabe' would be there when he got up to the table but he couldn't put it into words.
 
GoldenFlash said:

View attachment 372131
SanJose Dick, You've got to be the most negative thinking pool hustler I've ever seen.
You need to learn from yourself......It's not all about YOU.
Why don't you just leave the man alone and mind your own business??
CJ is doing a lot of good for the game of pool. What have you done for anyone else lately?? All I see you do is run other people down and knock their successes.
:shakehead:
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Priceless picture LOL!! X2 for CJ, he's a credit to billiards and to AZ.
 
watchez said:
Here is where I struggle - if I improve, I don't know which 'Watchez' will show up. The improved one or the old one.

I tried to ask a player such as Gabe who I literally saw improve 3 balls in 6 months how he knew the 'new Gabe' would be there when he got up to the table but he couldn't put it into words.
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Personally I believe it has a lot to do with utilizing the proper side of the brain.
Look into some specific activities designed to engage right brain.
If one can learn to engage a specific side at will, one can be sure which player will show up at the table .
 
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As for players not wanting to improve, I don't think that's quite accurate.
Its more an issue of learning to be dumb.

"..so often times it happens, that we live our lives in chains, and we never even know we have the key
- The Eagles

Think about the common cow and how much it weighs. Any adult cow could walk up to a typical fence post and snap it in two with the greatest of ease, freeing itself from it's boundaries. But as a young calf, cows and bulls aren't strong enough to defeat a fence so they simply learn to stop trying, assuming that even as adults that it can't be done.
 
That's the key...

watchez said:
Here is where I struggle - if I improve, I don't know which 'Watchez' will show up. The improved one or the old one.

I tried to ask a player such as Gabe who I literally saw improve 3 balls in 6 months how he knew the 'new Gabe' would be there when he got up to the table but he couldn't put it into words.
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That's where playing close attention (which don't get me wrong is difficult) becomes REALLY important.

You have to be able to recognize what things you are doing differently when the new and improved you shows up. Then you can focus on purposely doing those things.

I truly think it is a mistake to try and rely on "getting in the zone". I used to do that, I used to be a total feel player.

It's taken me the better part of a decade to become a deliberate player and to discover the things I'm doing differently when I miss.

I was lucky in that I was able to get in a lot of sessions with Shawn Putnam and Donny Mills. During those sessions, I would miss shots that I would never miss in practice and I discovered that I was looking about a half ball above the OB as I pulled the trigger when I would miss and I was only doing this when I put mental pressure on myself to perform.

I've spent the last two years putting myself in as many of those pressure situations as possible and focusing on not doing those silly things (looking up from the OB, Jumping up on the shot, punch stroking etc...)

Different people will do different things when they mess up.

You've got to find those things that you do and work on eliminating them from your subconscious.

I think that's why people say you gotta gamble. Ideally, with enough experience, you take that internal pressure and nervousness off of yourself and you stop playing differently; however, not all people will EVER get used to being in those situations and they have to have a way of training those mistakes out of themselves.

Jaden
 
watchez said:
Here is where I struggle - if I improve, I don't know which 'Watchez' will show up. The improved one or the old one.

I tried to ask a player such as Gabe who I literally saw improve 3 balls in 6 months how he knew the 'new Gabe' would be there when he got up to the table but he couldn't put it into words.
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I think he knows when the "new Gabe" will show up when "new Gabe" is there so often he just becomes "Gabe".
 
make yourself break out of your standard routine.

Mr. Bond said:
Personally I believe it has a lot to do with utilizing the proper side of the brain.
Look into some specific activities designed to engage right brain.
If one can learn to engage a specific side at will, one can be sure which player will show up at the table .
Click to expand...

That's why it's very productive to play your game opposite handed a few hours. This will force a change in the thinking process and is really good to break a player out of a slump.

I even chalk opposite handed and sometimes before a match I'll brush my teeth opposite handed. The key is to make yourself change your standard routine.

This may sound too simple to be effective, however, I know from experience it works. My goal is to play my best game, and am willing to do what it takes, both on and off the pool table.
 
In the league I play in, there are players who routinely flub a match just to remain at their handicap.....they are not trying to improve, but to sandbag the next unsuspecting opponent. If they put the same skill involved in flubbing as they would at their game who knows the stars they could reach.
 
there will be another alternative before long.

rocket23 said:
In the league I play in, there are players who routinely flub a match just to remain at their handicap.....they are not trying to improve, but to sandbag the next unsuspecting opponent. If they put the same skill involved in flubbing as they would at their game who knows the stars they could reach.
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This has effected the growth of the game, it creates a scenario that prevents the passion for improvement.

Hopefully there will be another alternative before long.
 
a funny thought about the unconscious

Anybody ever stop to think there is much more involved in just getting up out of a chair and walking across the room than there is to playing championship pool?

Hu
 
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