Your biggest secret ?

[9BallBust-O]

I think every player has a point when they realize something, or something clicks inside of them about the game, technique , stroke or something pool related.

What is the biggest revelation that you have had that made a big difference in your game?

 

[CaptainJR]

Do you still want to hear about it if I haven't yet perfected it? I'll guess that your answer is 'yes'.

Anyone here ever get any bad roles? I do, however a while back I finally admitted to myself that most of these are my own fault. Yes I said most, not all. And anyone that comes on here and says all of them are your own fault is an idiot.

Anyway about this large percentage that is my fault. You know what I'm talking about. When the cue ball roles behind the only other ball on the table, or you simply role to the other side of the next ball and discover that doing so didn't just leave you a little tougher but actually lost the game for you. Or your going two rails for position, you know your going to be close to the side pocket but think it will miss and it doesn't. Seems like that side pocket sucks up that cue ball like a vacuum. Bad role, right? WRONG. That kind of stuff.

So what is it that I've learned that I haven't perfected yet? To be totally aware of "Murphy's Law". Yup, it applies to pool big time. What can go wrong, will go wrong. So I'm sure that the more I get myself to be aware of Murphy's Law, the less 'bad roles' I'll get. I need to reassess after every shot and look again at what might go wrong. I think that is when it happens. When I'm in the middle of a plan, a plan that seems simple enough, but there was something in there that could ruin the plan. I either forgot about it or it was later in the plan and hadn't really addressed it at first. What ever the reason, I get to that shot playing it the way I thought was in the plan and, !@$%@#$^@##@#$%!@% (that is internet cussing in case you didn't know).

I'm doing better all the time, but I still get so much on a role sometimes that it happens. Being in the zone is great, but letting 'the zone' or 'being on a role' get you in trouble because you didn't foresee Murphy's Law coming at you, is not good.

 

[BillYards]

My game took several big jumps...

The first was after I took some lessons and was shown how to stroke correctly... that teacher also showed me stop shots and the 90 degree rule for cueball control.

I made a big jump after that.

Then, a few years later...

The best jump I ever made was discovering pattern play (on my own). Learning nice, easy, natural patterns is essential to anyone looking to increase their level.

 

[chefjeff]

I think every player has a point when they realize something, or something clicks inside of them about the game, technique , stroke or something pool related.

What is the biggest revelation that you have had that made a big difference in your game?

1.) On EVERY shot, be brutally honest with myself about why I missed (or made!) it.

2.) Integrate that honesty into EVERY shot that follows.

3.) Repeat on EVERY shot.

Jeff Livingston

 

[BillYards]

Ok... Per your PM request I have tried to expand on my post:

Well... I can tell you how I discovered what patterns worked for me... Remember that this was a process that took me a long time... it could have been shortened if I had a coach or teacher...

First off... nobody even told me that I needed to have better table management skills... which comes by playing better patterns... so you are already ahead of me in that regard…. At least you know what you are trying to improve…

Here is how it happened for me: I was playing 8-ball (bar table) leagues one or more nights a week… and running a Sunday tournament each week also… I was also practicing on big tables whenever I could, which was a few hours a week.

I also watched videos (very beneficial) of professional matches and watched other people play live (somewhat beneficial, as long as they were good players). And I paid close attention to my own games and where I was malfunctioning and where things were working (essential).

Pattern play is this: simplifying the game by taking shots that naturally track to the next ball’s position zone, requiring less effort and maybe less precision to get position… most of the position play is “built-in” for this type of play.

So… before you shoot your first ball (a very crucial choice!), you must survey the table and form a pattern that works. Some people benefit by looking at the balls in reverse… starting with the 8 or 9 ball and working backwards (depending on what game you are playing). Good patterns are defined by minimal cueball movement and position on the correct side of the object ball – leaving a nice path to the next ball. Good patterns also keep your cueball from running into other balls on the table, unless you need a breakout. Good 8 ball patterns also leave you one or two options on each shot… just in case you have to change to “Plan B”.

I noticed that if my cueball had to travel more than 3 or 4 feet for position, that I got into trouble more often... So pattern play kicked in with me and I worked hard to find routes that allowed me to move the cueball small distances for position.

Just being aware that you need to watch for patterns and playing and practicing with a SERIOUS attitude, while paying close attention to the strengths of your game, will eventually make the patterns stand out to you. When you start watching other players and know they are taking the wrong shot, you are well on your way. When you watch the pros on TV and know what positional shot they are going to play next, you are seeing the patterns.

Hope that helps! Anyone else with insight on this subject?

 

[Mr. Wilson]

Freddy's book.

Using aquired and throw english is one thing.

Really understanding it is a whole other.

 

[Gregg]

Getting my mental game in order, and having fun with my game, even during competition. I am sick of people who talk like they play for pleasure and fun, and act nothing like it.

Also getting on the correct side of the first ball to get position to the second and third balls. Beats coming off of three rails to recover from poor positioning. But, understanding this takes time, and many racks of balls.

 

[Billy_Bob]

The biggest "secret" I have, is if you frequently play with other non-pro players, then Share Your Secrets and Tips with them!

If you can help the other players in your area to improve their playing skills, then YOU will have stiffer competition. And this will inturn help to improve YOUR playing skills.

 

[I rack balls]

I have recently started to work on my speed of play, my style is too fast and I now realize it. I used to only take 2-3 practice strokes on each shot and make the majority of my shots out of my peripheral vision this resulted in me missing easy shots at key moments. Alot of people have been telling me that I shoot too quickly and just now have accepted the fact that I do. So I am aiming to take about 1/5 as long as Basavich and make sure and look at every shot from the appropriate angle. I have noticed more run outs for me since making an effort to fix my problems.

 

[CaptainJR]

Getting my mental game in order, and having fun with my game, even during competition. I am sick of people who talk like they play for pleasure and fun, and act nothing like it.

Also getting on the correct side of the first ball to get position to the second and third balls. Beats coming off of three rails to recover from poor positioning. But, understanding this takes time, and many racks of balls.

I couldn't talk about my mental game cause I haven't been able to fix that at all.

 

[supergreenman]

I think every player has a point when they realize something, or something clicks inside of them about the game, technique , stroke or something pool related.

What is the biggest revelation that you have had that made a big difference in your game?

I learned that if you beat someone consistantly you should buy them a "Betmore Rack" so they can rack the balls more efficiently for you.

 

[Harvywallbanger]

Angles. Come at your next ball in line so you don't have to play pin point position. As long as your on line you can miss your speed but still have the same shot to get to the next one. Thats not really a secret but thats what helped my game out to get me to the next level.

I'm still searching for "THE" secret.

 

[Varney Cues]

Realizing that I NEVER miss when I correctly follow my preshot routine...
-take my time but stay in rhythm
-walk into each shot
-touch chin too cue before beginning stroke
-make mean face
-smooooooooooth stroke
-stay down
-get up slowly...and have mean face again!!!!

 

[pool]

Glad you asked. I have a couple real "milestone moments" in my game development. Each one helped me advance in a significant manner.

1. Closed-bridge. I have short fingers and never though I could use a closed bridge. One time a trick-shot artist did a show and Q&A at the local college and he suggested I try it. He then showed me the proper technique which was not known to me. This helped a lot with my stroke and confidence. The plus side is that I can still play pretty well with an open bridge, but this gave me more consistency.

2. Stroke Speed. Like many, I thought that you had to hit the balls pretty firm to move them around. I learned through bitter experience that it doesn't take much to get a ball around the table, or to a pocket. This helped simplify my position play.

3. Safeties. For the longest time I would never play a safety because they were frowned upon in the banger environment I first started playing in. I also lacked the experience, or discipline to attempt one at the right moment. Once I realized they were not frowned upon and that a well played and timed safe would win games, I saw a big uptick in production.

4. English. More accurately, the effect of english on other balls...including throw. This burned me so much until I finally got it drilled into me. I finally got the point for right-hand english and could apply the opposite for left. Also realized that I was using it inadvertantly and was able to minimize it in my game unless required.

5. Line of Tangent. Man, did this tidbit ever help me out with position play. I was able to see when I was guaranteed to scratch, or where a ball might carom to, etc. This was huge for my safety game and helping me make something out of nothing in some situations. A must-know trick for straight pool as well.

6-???. PRACTICE!

As you can see, these are pretty common elements to the progression of somebody's game...but they were enormously important to my game because I sucked. I just suck a little less now.

 

[Andrew Manning]

Arm alignment and mirrors

I figured out that instead of paying an instructor for repeated lessons to continue getting my mechanics on track, I paid for one (very well taught) lesson to learn what I should look for in my mechanics, and used my bathroom mirror to teach the rest.

I'm sure there are still many ways a professional instructor could help my game, but I figured out exactly how to stand, balance, place my feet, place my hips, hold my head, and hold my shooting arm to get just the right alignment so that my lower arm was doing a pendulum stroke perfectly straight, aligned, and centered under my chin. I'd put my bridge hand on my bathroom sink, get into stance, and stroke directly at the mirror, and I could make small adjustments and build muscle-memory, visually checking myself for alignment in the mirror. Getting that aligned stroke motion has done wonders for my accuracy, consistency, and even power, since a well-aligned stroke is an efficient one, and efficiency is power.

-Andrew

 

[Cornerman]

I think every player has a point when they realize something, or something clicks inside of them about the game, technique , stroke or something pool related.

What is the biggest revelation that you have had that made a big difference in your game?

I'll say that there are a handful of things that I've learned that made an immediate surge on my level of play, and have had a long lasting effect. From learning how to draw a ball, to the tangent point concept, to throw, to squirt, to the Aim & Pivot Method and Backhand English.

Recognition of where you are skill-wise, and to be able to honestly assess your progress and goals are paramount, IMO. Here's a cut of a post I made a few years ago.

-----------------------------

What is good?

Anyway, my question and really my input is to the idea of
"what is good?"

When I was playing in the bars years ago, there were a bunch of guys that
were always on the table winning. I always thought that they were really
good. If you left them with 2 or 3 open balls and the 8, by God they were
out! They were *really* good.

Years later, I play against some of these same guys and they'd be lucky to
be able to breath on the same table as me. They'd say things like "remember
when I was really good?" Well, they play the same speed now as they did
then. But I've gotten better. And they haven't. If I look back, I ask
myself, "were they good?" And the answer is easy. No. They sucked . They
suck now, they sucked then. I was simply CLUELESS what good and bad pool is
all about.

Years later from that point (about 13 years ago), I look back at my own
level of play. Ten years ago, I was one of the big dogs in our league. I
really thought I was good. I was a threat to run out at any time. But if I
was to play against me back then, the player I am today would easily spot
the old Fred the 7 out and have my way (split personality and all). As
"good" as I thought I was then, especially compared to the other players, I
know today that I sucked then. I was an SL-6 in APA 8-ball.

A few years after that, after I became an SL-7 in the APA, I thought I was
*really* good. But in retrospect, my shotmaking wasn't exactly great and
neither was my safety play. And I was a SL-7 for pete's sake! Today, my
shotmaking is twice or three times as good as it was just 7 years ago. And
my safety game is about 9 million times better than it was then. So even as
a low SL-7 in the APA 8-ball league 7 years ago, compared to how I shoot
today, I sucked. I'd give *that* Fred the wild 8 and hand it to him.

Today, I'm shooting the best pool I have ever played. I've given up the
APA, and play in a BCA league. I've been the #1 or #2 rated player in our
league for the past couple of sessions. When I play tournaments, I normally
play in the "B" level tournaments. I am competitive in that level.
Occassionally, I place highly. I've played one Open tournament, and the
luck of the draw enabled me to place in the top half. Am I good? Sure, if
I get to choose who I compare to. But I'm done doing that. I know where my
game is, and what the next level is. And I know there's a level above that,
and another above that. That puts me somewhere in the middle of the road.
That's about all there is to it. At my current level, I am not competitive
with the best players in New England in any discipline.

In the martial arts, some of the discipline's philosophy says that a black
belt is actually the beginner's stage; a stage where you have finally
mastered the basics. Earning your black belt (in some disciplines) is far
from being an expert, and closer to being a neophyte. In my game, I'd say
I'm a brown belt.

Fred <~~~ almost up to a beginner

-----------------------------------------------------------

 

[CrownCityCorey]

I think every player has a point when they realize something, or something clicks inside of them about the game, technique , stroke or something pool related.

What is the biggest revelation that you have had that made a big difference in your game?

Have fun!!!

 

[Tom In Cincy]

No secrets,

When I learned HOW TO PRACTICE (Drills, problem shots, speed and rail for shape)

I've been playing pocket billiards for 40 years, the 1st 20 years was devoted to learning how to use english, the last 20 years is still being dedicated to 'not using english' but using speed and rails for shape.

When I learned HOW to compensate for English (left or right)

When I read the book "The Inner Game of Tennis)

When I read the book "Golf is not a game of Perfect"

When I learned my 'pre shot routine'

When I learned how to 'trust' what I know

When I learned how to 'accept' the results

When I learned how to keep my emotions in 'check' (on-going effort)

When I learned that gambling is easier (don't get me wrong, it's still tough)than tournament play. You don't get to make up your own rules or chose your opponent or determine the cash involved. You're told who to play and where and when. And you have to follow all the rules or suffer the penalties.

 

[Varney Cues]

Yes a light comes on when you see pros in person. Once I was a lowly league player that thought 7's rule...then I found Mother's poolroom. I miss that joint!!! Pros were everywhere often...and the chicken wing cook could drop apron and torture most all APA 7's giving up the 7.
Then starting a collection of Accustat tapes. What more can you ask than to watch two champions play...with 2 more champions in the booth explaining what they'd do on every shot & why! Fast, fast jumps in skill after that.



edited because I spell horrible

 

[Blackjack]

Don't ever quit. Many players are easily frustrated an abandon a remedy or a technique when it does not provide instantaneous results. Improvement occurs in stages and it requires patience. All of my books and articles can be summed up with this:

Always try
If trying doesn't work, try harder
Figure out where you want to go and take steps to get yourself there
If you get lost, ask for directions
Once you're back on the right track, run like hell in a positive direction
Don't ever quit.

That should work.