January 23, 2006
In this Issue:
The Four Stages of Pocket Billiards
The Comeback Kid
Interest Equals Focus
My Students From HELL
Check Out The Masters' Essays
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I believe we deal with a special group of players. Our mailing list numbers several thousand yet not all readers open this newsletter. But I believe a special group does. And it is to these wonderful friends, I share my strengths, hopes and experiences. |
The Four Stages of Pocket Billiards
Stage One: Shotmaking
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SHOTMAKING We
begin our experience in this game when we become a shot maker. We only
care about making the ball we are facing. All our attention is on the
shot at hand. This helps us to improve our ball pocketing skills. Most
players stay in this stage for about a year. Then they realize that shot
making is not enough to win games. They need to play a position on the
next shot. But first they must master shot making.
I had a player begin her training in the second stage. After a
time, I realized she needed to go back and master shot making. So I
created the twelve-ball exercise and the fourteen-ball exercise just for
her.
When you practice, spend some time in the first stage of pocket
billiards. Have some fun making tough shots.
A great way to practice shot making is to play rotation. You can
take this even further by playing the game of eight ball in rotation.
You will find yourself making shots you thought you could never make.
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Stage Two: The Four Strokes of Pool
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This is the one stage most player skip. They move
from SHOTMAKING to CUE BALL SPEED. We must master the Four Strokes of
Pool if we are ever to reach the top of our game. http://www.themonk.com/four-strokes.htm
The
stroke determines the track line of the cue ball.
You will never be able to master cue ball speed (position play)
if you don’t master the Four Strokes of Pool. The stroke determines
the speed of the cue ball. If you are not using the right stroke, your
cue ball will not reach the location you intend. The stroke affects safety play. The stroke has
everything to do with banking and kicking. The four strokes are: Follow. Punch.
Draw. Spin.
The draw strokes features four different strokes. Follow through draw Snap back draw. Snip draw. Bounce back draw.
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Stage Three: Cue Ball Speed
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you master the Four Strokes of Pool, you can then begin to master
position play. Until you become a good position player, you will not be
running a lot of racks, nor will you have the ability to control the
table. Often times, players
will learn to play position by using extreme English or spin. When we
use English, we must allow for deflection on the cue ball, throw on the
object ball, and we must develop the instincts to measure the distance
the spinning cue ball will travel when it contacts the rails. It is far
better to use the stroke.
Develop the ability to feel the stroke. Develop the ability to anticipate the sound of the stroke. Use feel and sound to determine how far the cue ball will go. Once you have this instinct, you will know immediately if you have hit the shot well. I have filled my Lesson Book with speed exercises. “When you
practice, you should focus on one specific stage” |
Stage Four: Mastering Self
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You have heard it said, “thou I conquer a
thousand men a thousand times I am not the master until I conquer
self”. And in pool, this
is the final stage. We must conquer self before we can conquer anyone
else. And this comes from taking the time to develop the skills that
will serve us well in battle. It is tough to stand over a shot and not
really know what to do. When you are not sure of the path, you will
tread with uncertainty.
A tentative player hangs balls in the pocket.
You will not succeed if you have not mastered self.
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The Comeback Kid
I have had player after player tell me they fought back from behind only to lose on the hill. The cause for this is found in their interest skills. While they were behind, they were totally focused on catching up and tying the score.Get back into the game, was their primary focus. When they reached the hill, they lost some of their interest and intensity. We must understand that tying a match does not mean we have won it.
The next time you find yourself down in a match, don't try to get back into the match. Try to win the match. Be an I Came to Win player on every shot, every game, until the match is over.
Interest Equals Focus
Sometimes we agonize about breaking open a cluster of balls and focus all our ability on that task. When we open the cluster and get our clear chance for the run out, we blow it.Stay in the present. Place no value on any shot. All shots are the same. All shots have the same value. There are no hard shots. There are no easy shots. There is only this shot.
See the shot, know the stroke and then shoot the shot.
My Students From HELL
I have written a new book. This book took almost two years to write, and twelve years to research. It was a wonderful experience I want to share with you. My new book is filled with incredible teaching material that will help you improve your game. It is also filled with my unique sense of humor. The title of the book is:
You can guess what its about. Yes, I outline how difficult it is to teach players who have attitudes. Perhaps you have met a few. Please order my book today. The normal cost is $39.95. I offer you a special price of just $19.95. If your any reason, you do not like this book, I will refund your entire cost and you get to keep the book. Thank you so much for traveling this road with me. I hope you don't see part of yourself in this book but if you do, you will have the wonderful opportunity to experience a break through in your game. When you finish reading this book, please send along your comments. I will set you up with a real nice download of a new training book I am putting together absolutely free.
Thank you so much for all your support down through the years. I know our paths will cross one day as we both travel in the winner's circle.
Check out The Masters Essays
Five new masters joined our family in The Masters of Art in Pocket Billiards this past week. They have submitted their essays on www.themonk.com. If you would like some info on this incredible home training program, feel free to email me.I'll send along some documents for you to look at.
Work In Progress
I am in the final editing stage of The Four Strokes of Pool DVD. It will come in a double disk set. The material is incredible. I will announce it to be ready in the next email.