If you haven't already heard the name, let me introduce you to Skyler Woodward. Skyler, according to his Facebook fan page, is 21 years old and is from Ledbetter, Kentucky. I've been hearing his name more and more lately as he is starting to rack up top 5 finishes left and right. Starting in January 2014 at the Derby City Classic, he has continued to get hot. At the Derby City Classic, he placed pretty low in the 9-Ball Banks division at 65th, but placed 13th in the One Pocket tournament. He won the Bank Pool Ring Game, taking home $6,000 for that win alone.
The next month, February 24 - March 2, he placed 5th in the US Bar Box Championship in Reno, Nevada, and took 3rd in the 9-Ball division. But he was just getting warmed up...
In March 2014 he placed 5th in the Big Tyme Billiards One Pocket tournament and took home the top prize in the 9-Ball tournament ($4,000). Later that month, he played in the White Diamond Billiards annual tournament in Lafayette, Louisiana, placing 7th.
In a unique event, Skyler took on Jesse Bowman in Wisconsin June 13 - 14 for a 9-Ball race to 100 event for $20,000!! After the first night, Skyler was up by just 1 rack, 50-49. On day 2, after it was all over, Skyler came out on top 100-82. $20,000!!
July saw Skyler play in the 2014 BCAPL National 8-Ball Championships...he won it. Rounding out the top 5 were Charlie Bryant, Oscar Dominguez, Dennis Hatch, and Greg Harada, Jr. Stiff competition!
Lastly, Skyler just won the Smokin' Aces Bar Box Tournament...undefeated, I might add, held August 16-17, in Poplar Bluff, Missouri. Key to this win was defeating Shane Van Boening, not once, but twice!!
I predict we'll be seeing a lot of Skyler in the future!
If you would like to keep up with Skyler, you can follow his Facebook fan page.
Monday, August 18, 2014
Tuesday, June 17, 2014
Pool is dying in America. Can it make a comeback?
It's easy to see that over the last few decades pool in America has been on the decline. I personally can think of several places where I have played pool that are now closed. You don't see pool on tv anymore. I used to faithfully check the tv listings to see when pool was going to be on ESPN or ESPN2 and even record them on VHS. A media format that has gained steam since broadband internet, live streaming over the web, seems to be the future of pool events, but TAR closed it's production, due to presumably lack of viewers. Apparently snooker is broadcast on tv in Europe and people watch it. So what has caused the decline in the US?
In the 40's, 50's, and 60's, pool was thriving. Large cities had (and probably still have a few) famous pool halls where the greats such as Ralph Greenleaf, Willie Mosconi, Eddie Taylor, and Willie Hoppe played. Pool seemed to be classy back then. All the old photographs you see show these great pool players in suits, sure, that's how they dressed back then, but it gave pool a more elegant feel. After the movie, The Hustler, pool was probably at it's peak. Towards the 70's, 80's, and 90's, I feel that pool halls became places where the gamblers, criminal types, and seedier people hung out and they lost the elegance and nostalgia. Not all the pool halls had these types of people, but I believe the perception was there. Pool halls weren't somewhere you would go to take the kids or a date for an entertaining afternoon of pool. They were to be avoided.
Also, I believe part of the decline has been technology. Before cell phones and the internet, guys that traveled around playing pool, like most of the greats did, could walk into a place and if nobody knew them either win the tournament or clean the place out playing for money. There are several books out now that chronicle the life of some of these great pool players. I'm currently reading a book about Danny Diliberto and his life on the road. It's interesting reading about this age of pool that will never be again.
Good pool players today can't walk into a pool hall without being recognized or recorded and put on YouTube. Going on a road trip like they used to do back in the golden age of pool is tough. Everything is more expensive. Food, gas, hotel not to mention if you are recognized, not many people will play you for massive amounts of money. Makes it hard to make a living playing pool on the road these days. So where does that leave the guys that play pool really well? How do they make money? They either play in tournaments, challenge matches that are set up by folks like TAR, which is now shut down, Accu Stats, or they give up a lot of weight because everybody now knows them thanks to the internet age. You might ask, how has that added to the decline in pool in America? Well, why would you want to go on the road if you can't make any money? So I believe there has been a decline in the non-pro great pool players due to the fact they can't go on the road and make lots of money. They are relegated to playing locally or going to a few large tournaments if they can afford the entry, trip there, and hotel.
Can pool make a comeback? I think it can, but it's going to take a lot of work. Organizations like the American Pool Players Association and the BCA are making it happen. Mike Sigel is trying to start a pool league that looks interesting. I see pictures from the big amateur tournaments and it looks like there are literally thousands of people at those events, so the amateur side seems pretty well off. I think the professional side needs help. The men need a professional billiard association that regularly holds events that pay well. The women professional players (and men) need to have more events and more live streaming via the internet so people can watch.
There also needs to be more interest in watching pool. I think the Mosconi Cup event could be a way to do this. USA vs. Europe, I mean, what better way to get behind pool in America than watching YOUR team of the best American players compete against Europe's best. Marketing needs to happen to pump up this match and have it broadcast, if nothing else on a pay-per-view cable or satellite channel. I'm hoping to be able to watch some of this year's Mosconi Cup online.
Pool can make a comeback, so get out there and play some pool!!
In the 40's, 50's, and 60's, pool was thriving. Large cities had (and probably still have a few) famous pool halls where the greats such as Ralph Greenleaf, Willie Mosconi, Eddie Taylor, and Willie Hoppe played. Pool seemed to be classy back then. All the old photographs you see show these great pool players in suits, sure, that's how they dressed back then, but it gave pool a more elegant feel. After the movie, The Hustler, pool was probably at it's peak. Towards the 70's, 80's, and 90's, I feel that pool halls became places where the gamblers, criminal types, and seedier people hung out and they lost the elegance and nostalgia. Not all the pool halls had these types of people, but I believe the perception was there. Pool halls weren't somewhere you would go to take the kids or a date for an entertaining afternoon of pool. They were to be avoided.
Also, I believe part of the decline has been technology. Before cell phones and the internet, guys that traveled around playing pool, like most of the greats did, could walk into a place and if nobody knew them either win the tournament or clean the place out playing for money. There are several books out now that chronicle the life of some of these great pool players. I'm currently reading a book about Danny Diliberto and his life on the road. It's interesting reading about this age of pool that will never be again.
Good pool players today can't walk into a pool hall without being recognized or recorded and put on YouTube. Going on a road trip like they used to do back in the golden age of pool is tough. Everything is more expensive. Food, gas, hotel not to mention if you are recognized, not many people will play you for massive amounts of money. Makes it hard to make a living playing pool on the road these days. So where does that leave the guys that play pool really well? How do they make money? They either play in tournaments, challenge matches that are set up by folks like TAR, which is now shut down, Accu Stats, or they give up a lot of weight because everybody now knows them thanks to the internet age. You might ask, how has that added to the decline in pool in America? Well, why would you want to go on the road if you can't make any money? So I believe there has been a decline in the non-pro great pool players due to the fact they can't go on the road and make lots of money. They are relegated to playing locally or going to a few large tournaments if they can afford the entry, trip there, and hotel.
Can pool make a comeback? I think it can, but it's going to take a lot of work. Organizations like the American Pool Players Association and the BCA are making it happen. Mike Sigel is trying to start a pool league that looks interesting. I see pictures from the big amateur tournaments and it looks like there are literally thousands of people at those events, so the amateur side seems pretty well off. I think the professional side needs help. The men need a professional billiard association that regularly holds events that pay well. The women professional players (and men) need to have more events and more live streaming via the internet so people can watch.
There also needs to be more interest in watching pool. I think the Mosconi Cup event could be a way to do this. USA vs. Europe, I mean, what better way to get behind pool in America than watching YOUR team of the best American players compete against Europe's best. Marketing needs to happen to pump up this match and have it broadcast, if nothing else on a pay-per-view cable or satellite channel. I'm hoping to be able to watch some of this year's Mosconi Cup online.
Pool can make a comeback, so get out there and play some pool!!
Wednesday, June 11, 2014
Latest 2014 Mosconi Cup Team USA News
Not a whole lot has been mentioned lately about the 2014 Team USA Mosconi Cup Team. Team Captain Mark Wilson has stated in the past he probably won't make a decision on the final team of 5 until after the US Open in October.
Most of the candidates did assemble in San Diego, California for the first time for a team get-together in late May. According to Captain Mark Wilson, they discussed what is expected of the team, professionalism and dedication being two of the topics.
They also had some challenge matches for charity.
It's good to see Captain Mark Wilson is taking this serious and getting the team together early to provide some unity. I look forward to hearing more about this and can't wait to see who the final five team members will be!
Most of the candidates did assemble in San Diego, California for the first time for a team get-together in late May. According to Captain Mark Wilson, they discussed what is expected of the team, professionalism and dedication being two of the topics.
They also had some challenge matches for charity.
It's good to see Captain Mark Wilson is taking this serious and getting the team together early to provide some unity. I look forward to hearing more about this and can't wait to see who the final five team members will be!
Thursday, May 8, 2014
2014 Mosconi Cup Team USA and other news
2014 Mosconi Cup Team USA News
So those of you who have not been keeping up with the 2014 Mosconi Cup Team USA news, team captain, Mark Wilson has announced the 8 players vying for the 5 member team. The 8 players are Shane Van Boening, Corey Deuel, John Schmidt, Oscar Dominguez, Brandon Shuff, Justin Bergman, Justin Hall, and Jeremy Sossei.
Mark Wilson has been working on a practice routine to analyze player performance. He is doing some pretty high tech stuff with video analysis on an iPad and trying to get the players together to participate in various events together to build team unity and support.
Wilson plans to announce the final team of 5 in October, probably just after the US Open 9-ball Championships.
On another note, in an article in the May 2014 issue of Billiards Digest, Johnny Archer was quoted as saying, "I'm very disappointed. I don't understand why a few of us don't even have a chance to earn a spot on the team. I know they want to go young, but Corey and John [Schmidt] aren't young."
Here's my thoughts to that statement...STOP YOUR WHINING JOHNNY!!! It's time for CHANGE!! Johnny was a part of 17 Mosconi Cup teams and in my opinion, he seems like a nice guy, but only seems to care about himself. He was team captain a few times and never organized team practices, never brought the team together...it was just "We're team USA, we're badass, and we'll show up and kick Team Europe's butt." Guess what, Johnny, Team Europe united their team, organized team practices, and showed up to US soil and kicked OUR butts. Change was overdue.
Other Billiard News
The Billiard Congress of America will hold it's 31st annual Summit on June 24-27. The BCA's annual industry trade fair will return to Louisville, Kentucky, which has been the host city three times before, the last being in 1990. The event organizers expect only 75 vendors to show up, the lowest in the 31 year history of the event, however, more on-floor events are planned and more after-hours social events. The lack of vendors doesn't bode well for the future of the Summit, but the American pool industry seems to be in an evolving state right now. I'm sure it will be a great event and maybe the change of venue will make future Summits better.
The U.S. Amateur Championships are coming up in November. November 5-9, 2014 in Tampa, Florida. The entry window is April 1 - June 15, so if you plan on entering, get signed up. For more information, visit www.poolplayers.com/usam/
So those of you who have not been keeping up with the 2014 Mosconi Cup Team USA news, team captain, Mark Wilson has announced the 8 players vying for the 5 member team. The 8 players are Shane Van Boening, Corey Deuel, John Schmidt, Oscar Dominguez, Brandon Shuff, Justin Bergman, Justin Hall, and Jeremy Sossei.
Mark Wilson has been working on a practice routine to analyze player performance. He is doing some pretty high tech stuff with video analysis on an iPad and trying to get the players together to participate in various events together to build team unity and support.
Wilson plans to announce the final team of 5 in October, probably just after the US Open 9-ball Championships.
On another note, in an article in the May 2014 issue of Billiards Digest, Johnny Archer was quoted as saying, "I'm very disappointed. I don't understand why a few of us don't even have a chance to earn a spot on the team. I know they want to go young, but Corey and John [Schmidt] aren't young."
Here's my thoughts to that statement...STOP YOUR WHINING JOHNNY!!! It's time for CHANGE!! Johnny was a part of 17 Mosconi Cup teams and in my opinion, he seems like a nice guy, but only seems to care about himself. He was team captain a few times and never organized team practices, never brought the team together...it was just "We're team USA, we're badass, and we'll show up and kick Team Europe's butt." Guess what, Johnny, Team Europe united their team, organized team practices, and showed up to US soil and kicked OUR butts. Change was overdue.
Other Billiard News
The Billiard Congress of America will hold it's 31st annual Summit on June 24-27. The BCA's annual industry trade fair will return to Louisville, Kentucky, which has been the host city three times before, the last being in 1990. The event organizers expect only 75 vendors to show up, the lowest in the 31 year history of the event, however, more on-floor events are planned and more after-hours social events. The lack of vendors doesn't bode well for the future of the Summit, but the American pool industry seems to be in an evolving state right now. I'm sure it will be a great event and maybe the change of venue will make future Summits better.
The U.S. Amateur Championships are coming up in November. November 5-9, 2014 in Tampa, Florida. The entry window is April 1 - June 15, so if you plan on entering, get signed up. For more information, visit www.poolplayers.com/usam/
Thursday, April 17, 2014
2014 Accu-Stats "Make it Happen" All Star Invitational
I haven't been able to watch all the Accu-stats All Star Invitational matches...hey, some people have to work! I did watch last night's (April 16) matches between Darren Appleton and Dennis Orcollo at One Pocket and Thorsten Hohmann vs. Shane Van Boening at Straight Pool. It was WELL worth the money!!
Appleton vs. Orcollo One Pocket
Darren Appleton and Dennis Orcollo battled for nearly 4 hours in a race to 4 One Pocket match. Both players looked patient and in control, with Orcollo my early favorite. There were lots of safety moves and the first 2 games took a long time. Neither player made many mistakes. The only mistakes coming near the end of the set, Dennis Orcollo left some shots for Darren, which probably cost him the match.
The real highlight of the night was the last rack. The match went hill-hill at 3 games each. There was a 60 second shot clock, but the final rack lasted for what seemed like 2 hours. Both players eventually battled to where they each needed just one ball to win the rack and match. Darren out-maneuvered Dennis to get the last ball for the win, which put Appleton at a perfect 4-0 score so far in the round robin format of this tournament.
Hohmann vs. Van Boening Straight Pool
Thorsten Hohmann and Shane Van Boening squared off in a 150 point Straight Pool match. Darren Appleton joined Danny DiLiberto in the commentator booth after defeating Dennis Orcollo at One Pocket. Darren provided some good commentary throughout the match.
Thorsten Hohmann looked to be in control of the match early, going on a 70+ ball run before eventually missing in one of the lower pockets, which Darren Appleton mentioned several times were playing very tight on that particular Diamond table. Shane got to the table and ran a few before also missing in the lower pocket. An added bonus to the match was if a player ran 100 balls, he received a bonus of $500. For every 50 balls he ran after that, another $500. Thorsten looked to reach the 100 ball run before shooting an awkward shot down the rail, which almost looked as if he miscued.
Billy and Darren commented that Shane Van Boening really doesn't play or practice much Straight Pool, but said he will pick it up quick if he were to play and practice it more. They also predicted he would do well at the game due to his superior pocketing ability.
Shane eventually got the score to 113 before Thorsten got to the table and pocketed the remaining 3 balls he needed to win the match 150-113.
To check the current standings, visit the Accu-Stats website.
Appleton vs. Orcollo One Pocket
Darren Appleton and Dennis Orcollo battled for nearly 4 hours in a race to 4 One Pocket match. Both players looked patient and in control, with Orcollo my early favorite. There were lots of safety moves and the first 2 games took a long time. Neither player made many mistakes. The only mistakes coming near the end of the set, Dennis Orcollo left some shots for Darren, which probably cost him the match.
The real highlight of the night was the last rack. The match went hill-hill at 3 games each. There was a 60 second shot clock, but the final rack lasted for what seemed like 2 hours. Both players eventually battled to where they each needed just one ball to win the rack and match. Darren out-maneuvered Dennis to get the last ball for the win, which put Appleton at a perfect 4-0 score so far in the round robin format of this tournament.
Hohmann vs. Van Boening Straight Pool
Thorsten Hohmann and Shane Van Boening squared off in a 150 point Straight Pool match. Darren Appleton joined Danny DiLiberto in the commentator booth after defeating Dennis Orcollo at One Pocket. Darren provided some good commentary throughout the match.
Thorsten Hohmann looked to be in control of the match early, going on a 70+ ball run before eventually missing in one of the lower pockets, which Darren Appleton mentioned several times were playing very tight on that particular Diamond table. Shane got to the table and ran a few before also missing in the lower pocket. An added bonus to the match was if a player ran 100 balls, he received a bonus of $500. For every 50 balls he ran after that, another $500. Thorsten looked to reach the 100 ball run before shooting an awkward shot down the rail, which almost looked as if he miscued.
Billy and Darren commented that Shane Van Boening really doesn't play or practice much Straight Pool, but said he will pick it up quick if he were to play and practice it more. They also predicted he would do well at the game due to his superior pocketing ability.
Shane eventually got the score to 113 before Thorsten got to the table and pocketed the remaining 3 balls he needed to win the match 150-113.
To check the current standings, visit the Accu-Stats website.
Saturday, March 22, 2014
2014 Team USA
The team of 8:
Name, age
Shane Van Boening, 30
John Schmidt, 40
Corey Deuel, 36
Brandon Shuff, 30
Justin Hall, 26
Oscar Dominguez, 29
Justin Bergman, 26
Jeremy Sossei, 35
Having announced the potential team members this early will hopefully give them time to evaluate the 5 guys that will best work together toward a common goal of winning the Mosconi Cup. It has been five years since the USA won the Mosconi Cup and were getting left in the dust compared to Team Europe who worked together so much better as a team.
I feel like Mark Wilson has made huge leaps already by naming the potential team members early and making plans to pick the five based on who he feels will bring a good attitude and work ethic. In years past, Johnny Archer was the team captain, but he also played, which I feel hurt more than helped. Team USA also did not get together before the tournament to practice, build team unity, or put together a plan. I feel confident that if Mark Wilson does this and brings a solid, unified team to the 2014 Mosconi Cup, even if we don't win, it will be a huge step in the right direction.
So look for Mark Wilson to narrow this squad of 8 down in the coming months before the November showdown in Blackpool, England.
Monday, March 17, 2014
The 4 Types of Pool Practice
As I see it, there are 4 different types of practice in pool. I will break down each type of practice and give my opinion on why each is good or bad. Regardless of what you've heard about bad practice is bad, sometimes "bad" practice isn't all that bad. I'll explain later.
Here are my 4 types of pool practice, in order of less desirable to more desirable practice types:
1. Individual, relaxed, non-focused.
2. Partner/Group, relaxed, semi-focused.
3. Individual, structured, focused.
4. Partner/Group, structured (or semi-structured), focused.
Now for the break downs:
Why this is important.
You may be thinking, "Shouldn't I be playing somebody as good or better than me to get better?" or, "Playing pool without focus and determination will make me play worse." You need to occasionally play just for the fun of it. If you're constantly pushing yourself and practicing hard, you will get burned out and frustrated. You might even fall into a slump. See my article about dealing with the slump. You will definitely get better by practicing hard, but eventually you will reach a point where it's not fun anymore. A bad day of playing pool will turn into a bad week, month, etc. You might also be surprised when you relax and not worry so much about running racks or a high run in Straight pool, that you will fall into stroke easier than you might think. Now, I'm not saying it will happen to everybody, but I've noticed over the years of playing that after practicing hard for a while, then going to play pool in a more relaxed mindset of enjoyment of the game, I shoot pretty good without concentrating hard.
The flip-side.
If you are a serious pool player, should you do this all the time? Absolutely not. Taking a relaxed, just-shoot-for-fun mindset will not improve your game much over time. You have to put yourself in a more concentrated, focused mindset of practice to see improvement.
Why this is important.
You may have noticed instead of "non-focused" I used "semi-focused" as part of the practice type. The reason for this is when you are playing a partner or with a group, there is some degree of competition that goes on. Whether you are playing a beginner, an average, or a semi-pro player, at least for me, there is some level of "I'm going to beat my opponent until they leave crying." It happens, don't deny it. Just know when to ease up or you might end up on the couch if it was your significant other you just tortured on the pool table!!
Remember, HAVE FUN!! Pool is fun! I guarantee you the pros do this from time to time. They play because they love the game not just for a paycheck.
The flip-side.
So there's usually a flip-side to most things. Like I mentioned in the previous practice type, don't fall into a habit of always going out with a playing partner or group of players to just "knock balls around." You need concentrated, focused practice time more than relaxed, play-for-fun practice.
Why this is important.
What this type of practice means to you is different for everybody. There are countless ways to practice. Maybe you know your technique needs work, maybe you are having trouble with a particular cut shot, or maybe it's your bank shots that need more practice, whatever it is, you need the individual time on the table where you are really concentrating, bearing down, and giving focused effort. By structured, I mean set up a shot that is giving you trouble and shoot it until you can make it 8 or 9 times out of 10, or play the ghost in 9-ball until you reach an obtainable goal for yourself. Tell yourself, "Today I'm going to practice (insert shot, game, position play, senario, etc. here) until I master this goal." Whatever it is, practicing with an intense, focused, and structured effort and you will improve your game.
The flip-side.
The only real down-side to this type of practice is that sometimes it might be hard to gauge your improvement...which is where the last type of practice comes in.
Why this is important.
Practicing by yourself with concentration, structure, and focus, is good, but it's lacking one thing, competition. Find a practice partner who is as serious about improving their game as you are yours, and you will have struck gold. Not only will you have the competition factor, but another person (or persons) to split the table cost :) You will not get bored racking for yourself over and over, you will have a "bar" to gauge your playing, and someone to potentially learn from to further improve your game. Sometimes you shoot a particular shot a certain way, while your partner might shoot it differently...the different approach to the shot might come it handy down the road.
The flip-side.
About the only thing I can think of is if you have found a good practice partner, just make sure it's understood from the beginning that the relationship is for practicing and improving each other's game. I wouldn't let the competition get to the point where a friendship is broken. Nor would I play each other for money. It should be a positive, beneficial situation, with the goal being to improve each other's game.
GO FORTH AND PRACTICE!!!!
Here are my 4 types of pool practice, in order of less desirable to more desirable practice types:
1. Individual, relaxed, non-focused.
2. Partner/Group, relaxed, semi-focused.
3. Individual, structured, focused.
4. Partner/Group, structured (or semi-structured), focused.
Now for the break downs:
Individual, relaxed, non-focused
In this type of practice, maybe you are at your favorite pool hall killing some time or at home playing (if you have a table at home). You are not bearing down trying to pocket each shot, trying to run racks of 9 or 10-ball, nor are you concentrating on technique, aiming, or cue ball control. You're just playing pool for the fun of playing.Why this is important.
You may be thinking, "Shouldn't I be playing somebody as good or better than me to get better?" or, "Playing pool without focus and determination will make me play worse." You need to occasionally play just for the fun of it. If you're constantly pushing yourself and practicing hard, you will get burned out and frustrated. You might even fall into a slump. See my article about dealing with the slump. You will definitely get better by practicing hard, but eventually you will reach a point where it's not fun anymore. A bad day of playing pool will turn into a bad week, month, etc. You might also be surprised when you relax and not worry so much about running racks or a high run in Straight pool, that you will fall into stroke easier than you might think. Now, I'm not saying it will happen to everybody, but I've noticed over the years of playing that after practicing hard for a while, then going to play pool in a more relaxed mindset of enjoyment of the game, I shoot pretty good without concentrating hard.
The flip-side.
If you are a serious pool player, should you do this all the time? Absolutely not. Taking a relaxed, just-shoot-for-fun mindset will not improve your game much over time. You have to put yourself in a more concentrated, focused mindset of practice to see improvement.
Partner/Group, relaxed, semi-focused
This type of practice is similar to Individual, relaxed, non-focused, except as the name suggests, you are playing with a partner or group of players. This is also an important form of practice in that you are playing in a more relaxed, enjoyment of the game mindset, only with another individual or group of players, which adds an important factor...competition.Why this is important.
You may have noticed instead of "non-focused" I used "semi-focused" as part of the practice type. The reason for this is when you are playing a partner or with a group, there is some degree of competition that goes on. Whether you are playing a beginner, an average, or a semi-pro player, at least for me, there is some level of "I'm going to beat my opponent until they leave crying." It happens, don't deny it. Just know when to ease up or you might end up on the couch if it was your significant other you just tortured on the pool table!!
Remember, HAVE FUN!! Pool is fun! I guarantee you the pros do this from time to time. They play because they love the game not just for a paycheck.
The flip-side.
So there's usually a flip-side to most things. Like I mentioned in the previous practice type, don't fall into a habit of always going out with a playing partner or group of players to just "knock balls around." You need concentrated, focused practice time more than relaxed, play-for-fun practice.
Individual, structured, focused
OK, now we are starting to get serious. If you want to improve your game, this is where you need to pay attention. Having individual, structured, and focused practice WILL IMPROVE YOUR GAME.Why this is important.
What this type of practice means to you is different for everybody. There are countless ways to practice. Maybe you know your technique needs work, maybe you are having trouble with a particular cut shot, or maybe it's your bank shots that need more practice, whatever it is, you need the individual time on the table where you are really concentrating, bearing down, and giving focused effort. By structured, I mean set up a shot that is giving you trouble and shoot it until you can make it 8 or 9 times out of 10, or play the ghost in 9-ball until you reach an obtainable goal for yourself. Tell yourself, "Today I'm going to practice (insert shot, game, position play, senario, etc. here) until I master this goal." Whatever it is, practicing with an intense, focused, and structured effort and you will improve your game.
The flip-side.
The only real down-side to this type of practice is that sometimes it might be hard to gauge your improvement...which is where the last type of practice comes in.
Partner/Group, structured (or semi-structured), focused
This last type of practice, in my opinion, is probably the best type of practice, provided you can find a practice partner(s) that is good for you. Finding a good practice partner who is around your playing speed or slightly better WILL IMPROVE YOUR GAME.Why this is important.
Practicing by yourself with concentration, structure, and focus, is good, but it's lacking one thing, competition. Find a practice partner who is as serious about improving their game as you are yours, and you will have struck gold. Not only will you have the competition factor, but another person (or persons) to split the table cost :) You will not get bored racking for yourself over and over, you will have a "bar" to gauge your playing, and someone to potentially learn from to further improve your game. Sometimes you shoot a particular shot a certain way, while your partner might shoot it differently...the different approach to the shot might come it handy down the road.
The flip-side.
About the only thing I can think of is if you have found a good practice partner, just make sure it's understood from the beginning that the relationship is for practicing and improving each other's game. I wouldn't let the competition get to the point where a friendship is broken. Nor would I play each other for money. It should be a positive, beneficial situation, with the goal being to improve each other's game.
GO FORTH AND PRACTICE!!!!
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