Alright, so I’m gonna share my journey on how I tried to level up my pool game. It’s been a real grind, but I think I’m finally seeing some progress.
It all started when I realized I was consistently getting my butt kicked by my buddies. Like, every. single. time. I was tired of paying for all the games, so I decided to actually put in some effort.
First thing I did was watch a ton of YouTube videos. Seriously, hours and hours. I looked for stuff on basic techniques, like stance, grip, and aiming. I even watched some videos on advanced stuff, like spin and bank shots, even though I knew I was nowhere near that level yet. I figured, can’t hurt to learn, right?
Next up: practice, practice, practice. I started hitting the pool hall like two or three times a week. At first, I was just messing around, trying to get a feel for the cue and the balls. I focused on hitting straight shots, just trying to get the cue ball to go where I wanted it to go. That alone was a challenge!
I quickly realized I needed to slow down and be more deliberate. I was rushing my shots, not really taking the time to line things up properly. So, I started a little routine: walk around the table, visualize the shot, line up my cue, take a few practice strokes, and then finally take the shot. Sounds simple, but it made a huge difference.
One of the biggest things I struggled with was my stance. I was all hunched over, my balance was off, and I was all wobbly. I watched some more videos and realized I needed to widen my stance, bend my knees a little, and keep my head still. It felt weird at first, but it helped me get a much more stable base.
Then I started focusing on my grip. I was gripping the cue way too tight, which was causing me to jerk the cue and miss my shots. I loosened my grip, focused on a smooth stroke, and tried to let the weight of the cue do the work. It took some getting used to, but it definitely helped improve my accuracy.
After a while, I started working on my aiming. I was just eyeballing it before, which wasn’t working too well. I learned about the “ghost ball” method, where you visualize an imaginary ball where you want the cue ball to hit the object ball. It’s kinda weird, but it actually helps you aim more precisely. I tried that and it improved a little bit.
I also started practicing specific drills. I found some online that focused on different skills, like position play, break shots, and safety play. These drills helped me improve specific areas of my game and gave me something to focus on during practice.
And of course, I played a lot of games. Not just messing around, but actually trying to apply what I was learning in practice. This was where I really started to see the fruits of my labor. I was making more shots, controlling the cue ball better, and even winning a few games!
One thing that helped me a ton was getting feedback from other players. I asked my buddies who were better than me for tips and advice. They pointed out flaws in my technique that I wasn’t even aware of. It’s tough to hear sometimes, but it’s the only way to improve.
I’m still not a pro or anything, but I’m definitely a much better pool player than I was before. It took a lot of time, effort, and frustration, but it was worth it. Plus, now I’m winning more games, which is always a good thing!
Here’s a quick recap of what I did:
- Watched a bunch of YouTube videos
- Practiced regularly
- Slowed down and focused on my technique
- Improved my stance and grip
- Worked on my aiming
- Practiced specific drills
- Played a lot of games
- Got feedback from other players
So, if you’re looking to get better at pool, just remember to be patient, persistent, and willing to learn. And don’t be afraid to ask for help. Good luck!
