Why is that guy better than me???

MilwShooter said:
I'd have to say it may go back to previous sports and games that were played growing up. I'd love to say that the hours of PONG helped me with angles, but I think my abilities come from when I was with the NPPA (National Paintball Players Association). I learned a lot about angles and how to maintain my own mental fortitude when faced with a stressful decision. Before that, I was a goalie in Hockey. This is another sport and position that deals a lot with different angles of play. My daughter plays soccer and I helped coach her team a few times...another "angles" game...See where I'm going with this? I think once you find ways to associate pool with other sports you are familiar with, the better you play.
Click to expand...

I disagree if that were the case I would be a world beater I played semi pro football ,OMHA hockey ,4 hcp golf, Industrial baseball ,soccer and box lacross alot of those sports are action reaction exept golf and that I had a hard time with adranalin took time to keep temper intact.
I think it may help some but there a plenty of great pool shooters around that could not play tee ball look as goofy as can be and play lights out

1stroke
 
Bigtruck said:
What makes one person play pool better than another?

Lets say both players practice about the same, read about the same, discuss pool about the same, go on the road together.........

But one guy plays 2 balls above the other consistently!!

Is it genetic? Is a propensity towards math and geometry?

Is it a carefree style vs a rigid discipline?

What is it?????


Help!!!!!

Ray
(anybody wanna buy a pool stick & case) :shocked:
Click to expand...


One can only assume that the second player's classification is NSG

Not So Good:yes::yes::yes:
 
I would say it is mainly genetic. Some people are naturally good at everything. They still have to work hard to get to the pro level, but a person with less natural abililty could work just as hard and not even come close to pro level.
 
Let's not overlook genetics...Shane Van Boening's family history is full of cue artists. With these people helping him, combined with the genetics of good eyesight? He was probably born as a good pool player.
 
You must be at peace, Grasshopper.....

Bigtruck said:
What makes one person play pool better than another?

Lets say both players practice about the same, read about the same, discuss pool about the same, go on the road together.........

But one guy plays 2 balls above the other consistently!!

Is it genetic? Is a propensity towards math and geometry?

Is it a carefree style vs a rigid discipline?

What is it?????


Help!!!!!

Ray
(anybody wanna buy a pool stick & case) :shocked:
Click to expand...

I'm only 39 and I learned this from Luther Lasiter....

Im asuming that what sets these players apart is nothing you can see (better shot maker, better stroke ect.) And lets rule out some people are just better at some things (the Jordan affect)....As hard as pool is, it is really a basic game and too be good ( great ) at it you have to have 1 thing far more than anything else ( Reyes survived a long time with what some would call a weak break)...There is not a great pol player anywhere that does not have.... ROCK SOLID NERVES !!!!!! Your emotions control every aspect of your being, If you cant control them, your done....

When your head comes away from your shoulders, its over....


That will be 55$ please. If I typed faster it wouldnt have been so much I only charge 32.50 per hour....:p
 
Bigtruck said:
What makes one person play pool better than another?

Lets say both players practice about the same, read about the same, discuss pool about the same, go on the road together.........

But one guy plays 2 balls above the other consistently!!

Is it genetic? Is a propensity towards math and geometry?

Is it a carefree style vs a rigid discipline?

What is it?????


Help!!!!!

Ray
(anybody wanna buy a pool stick & case) :shocked:
Click to expand...

Talent...........
 
Personally, I believe you must visualize each shot in order to win. If you can FOCUS and can see the rolls before they happen, you will win more games.

I have told a lot of people I have taught, to visualize the shot. Take one shot, put top on it, bottom, then center, see what happens. Translate that to other shots...you have to visualize it before it happens.

Next, this game isn't so much about being physically capable to perform. I have seen a 500 lb man play pool and he was a GREAT shot. It comes down to the subconscious and the mentality going into the shot. Work through your vices and make the shot.

Pool teachers will preach muscle memory, mechanics, and concentration. If you are paying more attention to what you are physically doing, you are putting less concentration into making the ball and getting shape.

Who here believes that pocketing the ball, is more important than getting perfect shape?? You have to make the ball to continue playing...don't let english cloud your judgement about where you want to be. Make that damn ball first.
 
I think it boils down to three things ..

Desire, one person may feel they have loads of desire, but in actuality it nowhere near matches the other fellows true depth of desire.

Ability to stay in the moment, become a part of the shot, and shut out all distractions.

Repeatable solid mechanics, So delicate is the need to be precise with stroke/eye coordination, follow through and delivery with complete confidence,and maintain the discipline never to waiver from that perfect execution.

Here's a good read ...

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Finding-Your-Zone/Michael-Lardon/e/9780399534270/?itm=1
 
I think an overrated aspect of it is talent/genetics.
An underrated aspect is intelligence.

Don't take offense, not saying anyone's dumb, but I notice people who are unusually bright do better at pool. You can explain that left spin on the CB transfers as right onto the OB, which results in a wider/narrower angle off the rail... and one guy 'gets it' and can start using the info immediately, and another guy just somehow can't figure it out or visualize it, and still mixes it up.

I was raving about this kid I saw in canada.. it's not just amazing that he can run 7 balls at the age of six. It's amazing that he knows the difference between a bad hit or a good one, and how to hide someone when playing safe, or when to call a ref to watch a hit. The kid is basically a genius and has this powerful tool he can use in a dozen different ways, and he just happens to be directing it at pool.

You'll see pool players who talk and write like they didn't make it out of high school, but if they take certain standardized IQ tests I they score surprisingly well because those tests deal with your ability to see things logically.

I think more intelligent players are also less likely to lie to themselves about specific game situations and shots, which is a huge obstacle in learning and getting better.

Also, don't discount the idea that no two players will truly have EXACTLY the same hours put into reading/practice etc. Even if the better player has just 10% more, it could be that ten percent that led to some kind of breakthrough in shooting ability. There are certain milestones you'll see players pass and their skill doesn't always increase in a smooth straight line.
 
Agreed

poolhustler said:
Focus

Concentration

Discipline

Eyesight

Pre-shot Routine

Dedication

Mechanics
Click to expand...

I completely agree with you. You are right on the money... Is also about natural skill. The other thing to look at is the mental aspect of the game what you can capture from everything you learned and how do you translate that to you your game. My background is 3 cushion billiards so my approach on the table on is different from somebody that does not have that support background. Just my 2 cents :)
 
CreeDo said:
I think an overrated aspect of it is talent/genetics.
An underrated aspect is intelligence.

Don't take offense, not saying anyone's dumb, but I notice people who are unusually bright do better at pool. You can explain that left spin on the CB transfers as right onto the OB, which results in a wider/narrower angle off the rail... and one guy 'gets it' and can start using the info immediately, and another guy just somehow can't figure it out or visualize it, and still mixes it up.

I was raving about this kid I saw in canada.. it's not just amazing that he can run 7 balls at the age of six. It's amazing that he knows the difference between a bad hit or a good one, and how to hide someone when playing safe, or when to call a ref to watch a hit. The kid is basically a genius and has this powerful tool he can use in a dozen different ways, and he just happens to be directing it at pool.

You'll see pool players who talk and write like they didn't make it out of high school, but if they take certain standardized IQ tests I they score surprisingly well because those tests deal with your ability to see things logically.

I think more intelligent players are also less likely to lie to themselves about specific game situations and shots, which is a huge obstacle in learning and getting better.

Also, don't discount the idea that no two players will truly have EXACTLY the same hours put into reading/practice etc. Even if the better player has just 10% more, it could be that ten percent that led to some kind of breakthrough in shooting ability. There are certain milestones you'll see players pass and their skill doesn't always increase in a smooth straight line.
Click to expand...

I can think of some great players that are uneducated.
 
3andstop said:
I think it boils down to three things ..

Desire, one person may feel they have loads of desire, but in actuality it nowhere near matches the other fellows true depth of desire.

Ability to stay in the moment, become a part of the shot, and shut out all distractions.

Repeatable solid mechanics, So delicate is the need to be precise with stroke/eye coordination, follow through and delivery with complete confidence,and maintain the discipline never to waiver from that perfect execution.

Here's a good read ...

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Finding-Your-Zone/Michael-Lardon/e/9780399534270/?itm=1
Click to expand...

When a person thinks it's "desire" when in fact it's "ego" -------- problems. If one cannot identify the "real" problem it will most likely go unresolved.

<"Male" ego is the worse -- guilty as charged>
 
CreeDo said:
I think an overrated aspect of it is talent/genetics.
An underrated aspect is intelligence.

Don't take offense, not saying anyone's dumb, but I notice people who are unusually bright do better at pool. You can explain that left spin on the CB transfers as right onto the OB, which results in a wider/narrower angle off the rail... and one guy 'gets it' and can start using the info immediately, and another guy just somehow can't figure it out or visualize it, and still mixes it up.

I was raving about this kid I saw in canada.. it's not just amazing that he can run 7 balls at the age of six. It's amazing that he knows the difference between a bad hit or a good one, and how to hide someone when playing safe, or when to call a ref to watch a hit. The kid is basically a genius and has this powerful tool he can use in a dozen different ways, and he just happens to be directing it at pool.

You'll see pool players who talk and write like they didn't make it out of high school, but if they take certain standardized IQ tests I they score surprisingly well because those tests deal with your ability to see things logically.

I think more intelligent players are also less likely to lie to themselves about specific game situations and shots, which is a huge obstacle in learning and getting better.

Also, don't discount the idea that no two players will truly have EXACTLY the same hours put into reading/practice etc. Even if the better player has just 10% more, it could be that ten percent that led to some kind of breakthrough in shooting ability. There are certain milestones you'll see players pass and their skill doesn't always increase in a smooth straight line.
Click to expand...

Possessing knowledge and the ability to learn and understand quickly certainly doesn't hurt you. But I have known some pretty smart people who struggle to play well on a pool table. At the same time I have known some people who aren't exactly the brightest colors in the box, and they play lights out.

I don't put much stock in this theory. I have seen genetics come into play a lot more often than intelligence.
 
Guys.......seriously, it is God-given ability that separates the good form the great. Not everyone is good at everything........that is the long and the short of it. If you were one of the lucky ones that have the predisposition to be great at this game and also have the love for it then the stars lined up. If not, you can spend your entire life trying to get "there" and never make it.

Learn to enjoy the game for what it is and what you are in it.

BTW--- having a little heart don't hurt either. That can take you further than any other one thing can.
 
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This is what an accurate, repeatable stroke will enable you to do. ALL superior athletes, at any sport, visualize a positive outcome milliseconds before letting their body work the process.

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

Neil said:
He visualizes the shot happening before it happens. Then he gets down and lets it happen. He shoots it with his subconcious mind.
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Because "that guy"...

plays with a Sugartree

breaks with a Varney

and carries them both in a fancy Justis case.

Also, he arrived at the poolhall in a white Rolls Royce.


Things like talent, learning ability, focus and dedication have nothing to do with it, so you might as well get with the program. :D
 
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