How do pool pros seem to make the game look so easy? In this video I try to find out if there's anything obvious average players are missing from their game.
I agree to what you are saying. But, when you are a pro player, you play 8 plus hours a day for a living. When you have to work a regular job with family and a life, just have fun and play the best as you can.
Also it's more about position play, and still playing defense and offense at the same time. Nothing about being the dictionary definition of aggressive . A 3x world champion of pool was the best safety player of all time. If he didn't have a for sure shot, he played safety that left.you with NOTHING. Also you should just practice long shots because you suck at them. If you practiced long shots and a lot of other shots you prob suck at (like single, 2, and 3 rail banks) you won't miss the long shot even IF you are out of position
I can rarely say this on pool advice channels but this is actually a very good point. One thing also is, don't overshoot. Learn to use technique and spin instead of force to move your ball. It is much easier to control. Play simple, pool is an easy game until you start overthinking and overanalyzing your game.
Once I stopped over thinking every single shot I got much better. I'm 50 and basically just started playing a year or so ago and have improved alot over past couple months. I got a new viking valhalla cue for Xmas and drastic improvement over my old Action cue. It feels amazing
I agree with most of what you said. Switch spin to the angles and I’d agree completely. Spin is very rarely needed once one learns how to use the angles to move the cue ball around the table.
I got better when i used more spin (left, right, follow and draw) when needed to and otherwise very little spin. Doing so, i naturally didnt need to stroke balls in harder and got my into position closer to the object ball. Another thing that helped me get better is choosing my English before getting down on the shot. You should only stroke the cueball with the correct speed when down on the shot - dont think about anything else.
This excellent advice definitely strikes close to home with me. I need to be less tentative when shooting for position and trying to always be perfect and hit a tiny zone when a larger one will do fine. Great video! Appreciate you sharing!
I do try to play like I'm ranked higher than I am. And I've been called a sandbagger many times because I'll miss a reasonably easy shot going for the position, which changes the shot. For me I'm slowly continuing to get better. Part time, student of the game and some practice. Knowing more about how the balls react to spin has been a real challenge. Still learning.
You're way of "faking it like pro" is a actually a technique described in "the inner game of tennis" (sport psychology classic from the 70s). It can be effective! Are you seeing a lot of progress? Sounds like you're on the right path!
What your referring to is called the margin of errors in pool , I suggest anyone look at it it's quick and concise, it takes a much more accurate hit at longer distances to pocket a ball literally. I know Robert Byrnes book covers tye topic and probably a few others . My problem is one that tables are so fast n slippery I cross my lines far to much , as a result I short stroke balls or not follow through and have become punchy
i went from shooting medium-hard speed on every shot to shooting medium-soft on every shot and it helped immensely with pocketing balls. over time i realized more often than not i'm not getting the shape i want on the next ball. i'm still trying to find the fabled 'medium-medium' speed
I agree. But that's only half the story. In more than 80% of all shots it is possible to get into the line of the next object ball. Avoid as much as possible to cross the line of the next object ball. The seemingly easiest direct way (no rail or 1 rail) to get position is often not the best, because you cross the line. If you cross the line there is often only a very small margin for errors. By playing into the line the angle for the next ball is nearly the same regardless of how good your pace was. To combine "try to get closer to the next object ball" with "try to get into the line of the next object ball" is therefore - in my opinion - the best way to improve fast in position play.
I agree. If I'd made the video today, I'd certainly added that nuance. Actually, if you do have to cross the position line, you should aim for some distance between the cue ball and object ball. The margin of error is larger there, since the position zone is bigger. Thanks for the comment!
I totally agree that I need to be more aggressive, I am one of those that slow rolls the ball and find that I miss often when I do. especially on longer shots. However when I shoot with a little more power I notice my shots are straight and true. The problem in my situation is that the tables I play on are VERY FAST and when I do shoot more aggressive the speed of the tables tend to move me out of position more times than not.
Play for the higher percentage shots, use natural angle as much as possible, visualize with preshot routine and execute with commitment while staying down. It seems easier said than done but it’s not rocket science
I heard a pro player say that the thing that separates an amateur from a pro is- “not knowing spin to speed ratio”. I think you’re video is very apropos actually!
Aggressive play is great, only if you understand when it is in your favor vs not. Depending on the layout of the table. Another level of skill is to understand when NOT to be aggressive. Even if you can make a shot, sometimes it's better to not to pocket a ball and play a safety instead.
Bonus tip: aim while standing. When you're down on the shot, do not think about pocketing the ball. Commit to the line you went down on and only focus on getting the position you need. This has helped me!
Also it's more about position play, and still playing defense and offense at the same time. Nothing about being the dictionary definition of aggressive . A 3x world champion of pool was the best safety player of all time. If he didn't have a for sure shot, he played safety that left you with NOTHING. Also you should just practice long shots because you suck at them. If you practiced long shots and a lot of other shots you prob suck at (like single, 2, and 3 rail banks) you won't miss the long shot even IF you are out of position
@@PoolProblems Brother I’m right there with you, it’s a passion of mine as well. What coffee are you drinking? I’ve actually wanted to try Turkish coffee for ages now but I haven’t bought an Ibrik yet!
It’s always back to the basics that’s where the difference always is it’s smaller than you believe it to be they also learn to play under pressure because there is no such thing it’s all in your head it’s you just playing yourself there is no one else playing when it’s your shot no one blocking your balls besides placement of balls find away around them over them bending or whatever it takes
Good advice to keep in mind, also it's better to miss a position once in a while and maybe still be able to play safe rather than missing a long shot and leaving the table open for the opponent.
Basically a pool player understood that potting is nothing without a position for the next shot. My advice - don't try snooker. Your little brain will break.
I was thinking about this Yesterday, its true that all the pros play short Position. Sometimes i play very very good and strong game, but when i play against someone whos game is not so strong as mine, my mind gets off and i miss shots, any one else have this issue like i do? By the way very good Video Greetings from Swiss
That's because you're not as focused playing people that aren't as good as you, couple ways to fix this is by playing more games for money (it forces you to buckle down and focus) or don't think about the other person but instead try to simply run the rack out.
This is nonsense. It is not about being aggressive, it is about being able to make shots and control the cue ball. In the example you gave with Kaci, he got where he got because he is skilled, not because he was aggressive. The shot was not aggressive, it was actually fairly simple if you can control the speed. The biggest issue with lower ranked players is shot making and cue ball control - it has nothing to do with being aggressive. Players naturally are more aggressive when they KNOW they can make the shot and they KNOW where the cue ball is going to go. I regularly see players make shots and they seem to have NO IDEA where the ball is actually going to go. I know of many players that can make tough shots and are aggressive in their play, but are bad players because they don't have a clue where the ball is going to go. The reason really good players are really good, is they understand patterns, and they are very comfortable knowing where the cue ball is going to go. You can be super aggressive and literally be a horrible player. After fundamentals here is what people need to work on: 1. Pocketing balls. The types of shots that come up REGULARLY in a game. 2. Know where the cue ball is going to go and know how to get the cue ball to where you want it to go. Has nothing to do with being aggressive. 3. Learn to run patters that make the game easier. 4. Learn to kick. 5. Learn to bank. 6. Learn safety play. The number one issue to being a good player is being able to consistently make a wide variety of COMMON SHOTS. If you cannot pocket balls you are f'd as a player. Then learn to figure out where the ball is going to go. After that the rest of the game becomes much easier.
That's it for now. Hope you liked the video!
Also: Do you often playing position further away than necessary, like I did? Feel free to comment!
I agree to what you are saying. But, when you are a pro player, you play 8 plus hours a day for a living. When you have to work a regular job with family and a life, just have fun and play the best as you can.
Also it's more about position play, and still playing defense and offense at the same time. Nothing about being the dictionary definition of aggressive . A 3x world champion of pool was the best safety player of all time. If he didn't have a for sure shot, he played safety that left.you with NOTHING.
Also you should just practice long shots because you suck at them. If you practiced long shots and a lot of other shots you prob suck at (like single, 2, and 3 rail banks) you won't miss the long shot even IF you are out of position
I can rarely say this on pool advice channels but this is actually a very good point. One thing also is, don't overshoot. Learn to use technique and spin instead of force to move your ball. It is much easier to control. Play simple, pool is an easy game until you start overthinking and overanalyzing your game.
Thank you, I really appreciate that.
Once I stopped over thinking every single shot I got much better. I'm 50 and basically just started playing a year or so ago and have improved alot over past couple months. I got a new viking valhalla cue for Xmas and drastic improvement over my old Action cue. It feels amazing
I agree with most of what you said. Switch spin to the angles and I’d agree completely. Spin is very rarely needed once one learns how to use the angles to move the cue ball around the table.
I got better when i used more spin (left, right, follow and draw) when needed to and otherwise very little spin. Doing so, i naturally didnt need to stroke balls in harder and got my into position closer to the object ball.
Another thing that helped me get better is choosing my English before getting down on the shot. You should only stroke the cueball with the correct speed when down on the shot - dont think about anything else.
A channel about the Average Pool Players struggles! Its definitely the channel for me!! Thx for a gr8 video
I'm blown away by all the quality, sensible pool channels there are. Excellent advice and research
This excellent advice definitely strikes close to home with me. I need to be less tentative when shooting for position and trying to always be perfect and hit a tiny zone when a larger one will do fine. Great video! Appreciate you sharing!
I allways enjoy watching your videos. Keep them coming. Very nice editing btw. Thanks for sharing
I do try to play like I'm ranked higher than I am. And I've been called a sandbagger many times because I'll miss a reasonably easy shot going for the position, which changes the shot. For me I'm slowly continuing to get better. Part time, student of the game and some practice.
Knowing more about how the balls react to spin has been a real challenge. Still learning.
You're way of "faking it like pro" is a actually a technique described in "the inner game of tennis" (sport psychology classic from the 70s). It can be effective! Are you seeing a lot of progress? Sounds like you're on the right path!
Another great video! Good point and definitely something that can help to run more racks! Thanks! 🙌
thanks for this video actually, made me realise how shy & afraid I was in stroking the cueball confidently for my next shot.
Man you spoke my mind. It's something I myself addressed mentally.
I was skeptical during the long intro but when you finally got to the point it's actually a very good point.
Glad you stayed!
This is such good advice. Thank you.
What your referring to is called the margin of errors in pool , I suggest anyone look at it it's quick and concise, it takes a much more accurate hit at longer distances to pocket a ball literally.
I know Robert Byrnes book covers tye topic and probably a few others .
My problem is one that tables are so fast n slippery I cross my lines far to much , as a result I short stroke balls or not follow through and have become punchy
Great content and your editing is on point! New sub
Thanks a lot! Much appreciated 🙏
Very good advice. I would also recommend working on your mental game.
Indeed. What books or resources do you recommend?
That's a great insight for many player's.
i went from shooting medium-hard speed on every shot to shooting medium-soft on every shot and it helped immensely with pocketing balls. over time i realized more often than not i'm not getting the shape i want on the next ball. i'm still trying to find the fabled 'medium-medium' speed
I agree. But that's only half the story. In more than 80% of all shots it is possible to get into the line of the next object ball. Avoid as much as possible to cross the line of the next object ball. The seemingly easiest direct way (no rail or 1 rail) to get position is often not the best, because you cross the line. If you cross the line there is often only a very small margin for errors. By playing into the line the angle for the next ball is nearly the same regardless of how good your pace was. To combine "try to get closer to the next object ball" with "try to get into the line of the next object ball" is therefore - in my opinion - the best way to improve fast in position play.
I agree. If I'd made the video today, I'd certainly added that nuance. Actually, if you do have to cross the position line, you should aim for some distance between the cue ball and object ball. The margin of error is larger there, since the position zone is bigger. Thanks for the comment!
I totally agree that I need to be more aggressive, I am one of those that slow rolls the ball and find that I miss often when I do. especially on longer shots. However when I shoot with a little more power I notice my shots are straight and true. The problem in my situation is that the tables I play on are VERY FAST and when I do shoot more aggressive the speed of the tables tend to move me out of position more times than not.
Playing good position equates to having ball in hand each shot, this is my goal!
Play for the higher percentage shots, use natural angle as much as possible, visualize with preshot routine and execute with commitment while staying down. It seems easier said than done but it’s not rocket science
That dynamic III table is so fucking beautiful ❤
Yup I always say this. Cue ball control is massive in your game. Position for easier shots by controlling your spins and cue ball better.
100%. That's how the pro's make the game look so effortless.
I heard a pro player say that the thing that separates an amateur from a pro is- “not knowing spin to speed ratio”.
I think you’re video is very apropos actually!
Speed control very important
Great video!
It is indeed. Happy to see you on my channel. Keep up the good work!
Aggressive play is great, only if you understand when it is in your favor vs not. Depending on the layout of the table. Another level of skill is to understand when NOT to be aggressive. Even if you can make a shot, sometimes it's better to not to pocket a ball and play a safety instead.
A good pool shot is how well you set yourself up for the next shot
Well said, my friend.
My problems are me not playing position and speed ball control. So thanks for this video
Bonus tip: aim while standing. When you're down on the shot, do not think about pocketing the ball. Commit to the line you went down on and only focus on getting the position you need. This has helped me!
@@PoolProblems thanks
"Aggressive leaves" is what I call them and I agree with you.
Yes you can see it. If you watch anyone play, their bad stroke, not playing for position, not aiming until after they are done, all kinds of issues
Also it's more about position play, and still playing defense and offense at the same time. Nothing about being the dictionary definition of aggressive . A 3x world champion of pool was the best safety player of all time. If he didn't have a for sure shot, he played safety that left you with NOTHING.
Also you should just practice long shots because you suck at them. If you practiced long shots and a lot of other shots you prob suck at (like single, 2, and 3 rail banks) you won't miss the long shot even IF you are out of position
Very simple, I see you with the pour over coffee, looks like a Chemex. I see pool advice, I subscribe. Thank you for your content
Planning the shots for this video, I really hoped at least one person would recognize my passion for coffee. Now that wish has come true. Thank you 🙏
@@PoolProblems Brother I’m right there with you, it’s a passion of mine as well. What coffee are you drinking? I’ve actually wanted to try Turkish coffee for ages now but I haven’t bought an Ibrik yet!
It’s also a dream of mine to play/own one of those Dynamic III pool tables. They look like a real treat to shoot on
Eller hva! nice video hahaha so true i can relate to this so much! Sheeesh keep up the good videos bro see you in Oslo or strømmen HAHAHA
It’s always back to the basics that’s where the difference always is it’s smaller than you believe it to be they also learn to play under pressure because there is no such thing it’s all in your head it’s you just playing yourself there is no one else playing when it’s your shot no one blocking your balls besides placement of balls find away around them over them bending or whatever it takes
That are true words!!!!
Not looking to position,which is enough! Look for the best position….imagine….shoot!🤓🙌🏻
You inspire me to make videos of me playing pool
Do it!
Well said, well said
Going for it and missing is definitely a lesson for the next time ...Even the pros miss .
Have to agree get close to your work and stay close now if i could only have the touch to do it.
Good job
thanks ;)
Good advice to keep in mind, also it's better to miss a position once in a while and maybe still be able to play safe rather than missing a long shot and leaving the table open for the opponent.
Exactly the same conclusion I came to about my game.
Love it
Good video 👍😊
❤️
This is good
This is kinda bullshit unless you are really missing by not putting enough strength. My problem is exactly the opposite.
Basically a pool player understood that potting is nothing without a position for the next shot.
My advice - don't try snooker. Your little brain will break.
Are we really going into that debate again? 😂
I was thinking about this Yesterday, its true that all the pros play short Position.
Sometimes i play very very good and strong game, but when i play against someone whos game is not so strong as mine, my mind gets off and i miss shots, any one else have this issue like i do?
By the way very good Video
Greetings from Swiss
That's because you're not as focused playing people that aren't as good as you, couple ways to fix this is by playing more games for money (it forces you to buckle down and focus) or don't think about the other person but instead try to simply run the rack out.
I’ll give it a try. It certainly can’t hurt. Lol!
Cool! Feel free to update us!
bro you sound exactly like sharivari
@Sharivari do you agree?
2 bacardi's before I start. That's how I do it.
😁😁😁👌
Lol makes sense!!
I already do this.
This is nonsense. It is not about being aggressive, it is about being able to make shots and control the cue ball. In the example you gave with Kaci, he got where he got because he is skilled, not because he was aggressive. The shot was not aggressive, it was actually fairly simple if you can control the speed.
The biggest issue with lower ranked players is shot making and cue ball control - it has nothing to do with being aggressive. Players naturally are more aggressive when they KNOW they can make the shot and they KNOW where the cue ball is going to go.
I regularly see players make shots and they seem to have NO IDEA where the ball is actually going to go. I know of many players that can make tough shots and are aggressive in their play, but are bad players because they don't have a clue where the ball is going to go.
The reason really good players are really good, is they understand patterns, and they are very comfortable knowing where the cue ball is going to go. You can be super aggressive and literally be a horrible player.
After fundamentals here is what people need to work on:
1. Pocketing balls. The types of shots that come up REGULARLY in a game.
2. Know where the cue ball is going to go and know how to get the cue ball to where you want it to go. Has nothing to do with being aggressive.
3. Learn to run patters that make the game easier.
4. Learn to kick.
5. Learn to bank.
6. Learn safety play.
The number one issue to being a good player is being able to consistently make a wide variety of COMMON SHOTS. If you cannot pocket balls you are f'd as a player.
Then learn to figure out where the ball is going to go.
After that the rest of the game becomes much easier.
Well no shit.