The Small Difference Between Becoming Good or Great in Pool

[@Sharivari]

During my time as both a player and a coach, I've seen tons of skilled players who find it tough to handle feedback on their game. Esepcially when it's about strategy, because that's critiquing their thinking, not just their physical actions. And let's not forget, pattern play is definitely a huge strategic part. But if you want to improve, you just have to be open for new perspectives. Personally, the more I've learned about pool, the more I've realized how much there is that I don't know yet. So you've got to be hungry for new knowledge, try to squeeze every percentage of your game, and just be open minded. This will already do wonders! Bonus video for this lesson: www.patreon.com/posts/92557537

[@shader26]

@@europe-number-1 I am not totally immune, but I never really understood people that discard any critique out of hand without even checking if it is good advice. Those people seem to me to have too much ego tied into it all. Nobody is perfect, you may get bad advice, or bad advice for your strengths and weaknesses, but one ought to always reason it out. Obviously Sharivari has a great point about percentages and about “you shouldn’t get to that point in the first place”.

[@rickshanteau3211]

YUP.....it's about the Mental Aspect of the game. I know players who are so good at pool, until the money ball comes up or someone says something.

[@Goynes42]

Spot on! One thing I say quite often is “I missed that shot three shots ago.”

[@Sharivari]

I am going to use that phrase from now on!

[@att_ronez9993]

That’s a good mental note. I’m gonna add that to my bag of self trash talk

[@Erich_U]

That's a great phrase.

[@anthonykeller5120]

That’s a great meme that I will use in the future.

[@philmann3476]

Been shooting pool for over half a century now and wish we had resources like these back when we were young. Back then, tricks of the trade were largely kept secret by top players. If you were lucky, some might share them with you, but more likely you were on your own and learned, if at all, by trial and error. Many thanks for sharing.

[@bertblue9683]

You're my favorite billiards channel in the world. All around A+

[@Sharivari]

Thanks man!

[@ChimeraActual]

So good! Getting position by running more or less parallel to the shot line as opposed to crossing the shot line is so important -- and a challenge for me. Last weekend I played a local Scotch Doubles tournament with a fellow APA team member, and coachability issues came up. I'm 77, it took me until I was in my 40's to become coachable. Still not perfect, but I understand how important it is, not just in pool, but in life. After the tournament my teammate and I had good discussion about it that should help us both in the future.

[@allstar1336]

Excellent video, this is the more advanced content i love to see from this channel! I feel my pure shot-making skill is less than other top players in my area however i still beat them regularly due to this type knowledge and pattern play. It's interesting to watch your opponent shoot and choose a bad pattern, route knowing it can likely cause issues 3 shots later. With limited table time i focus really hard on choosing the easiest/most consistent patterns.

[@melvinjohncayas5128]

Excellent video! I've been playing in league for less than a year and the best way to improve is to accept feedback from other players. Be open to new perspectives because everyone sees things differently.

[@coldred9639]

This is Advanced. If I had 5 years less my 25+ years I wouldn't have truly understood. I do, brilliant, and SOO TRUE!!!! Percentage on just about every shot. Eventually becomes natural to you. Unless harder shot with a close alternative. Also years don't compare. It's hours on table! You're the best Sharivari ❤

[@goofya6633]

You’re awesome man. I’ve been watching your videos for a long time mostly on facebook and you’ve helped me more than you know keep it up.

[@valentenicoletti3622]

I use allways the buddy hall line : ' don t play Position if you allready have ' , but you made a really good point !

[@maurersascha6236]

Super erklärt! Wie immer! Dankeschön😊

[@Sharivari]

Danke, gerne :)

[@jarrets2292]

Great stuff!! I have a lot to learn!

[@mccon13]

Awesome video, never disappoint when it comes to helping us improve

[@daygrindtroy]

Your tutorial on finding center vision changed my game. 4 years ago I played around a 680 Fargo level. I quit for 6 months played some more and then quit again for 9 months. When I came back my center of vision was off but I didn't realize it. I chalked it up to age and having a bad eye, like yours. I had my cue over the inside of my left eye (also left handed) and it forced me to compensate on every single shot for over a year. My shot making took a huge hit, but just today I played around with adjusting a little more left which felt slightly uncomfortable at first, but realized the balls were going exactly where I thought they were going to go, just like years ago. Man, I'm excited. I feel like I can be a 700+ now. It will take time because I havent played in so long but Id say maybe a month or so. Thanks a lot man.

[@Sharivari]

Awesome man, glad to help!

[@daygrindtroy]

@@Sharivari I made a question in your newest video bro please help, I keep losing center vision also my upper back and neck hurt while trying to perfectly align my face on the shot line (x, y and Z axis).

[@MOH2009ERIC]

Thanks for another great video!

[@Sharivari]

Glad you liked it!

[@jacques_vanjaarsvelt]

Best content out there.💯

[@ghost5horse6]

As a great player myself, I agree with your shot selectios 😎

[@shader26]

One thing I would love to see is… you and most others that are showing how to run the balls break (usually) very well. Unfortunately many players aren’t that good at breaking, which can mean lots of clusters, cue ball ending up on a rail, no shot or only one decent shot. Would be a great instructional video to show how to best run or play a bad break. One where balls are still clustered where they were racked, and just not great options.

[@shader26]

I love this video! I can hear a little frustration, and I have had the same in other endeavors where I KNOW my logic is solid, but others “feel” that it isn’t that important. You have devoted yourself to teaching, and I understand what you are saying and to me it makes perfects sense. It’s simple really, even if you are great at control of the cue ball your way goes along a line that gives good results even if you are a little off, where the other requires perfection or close to it. Do they also play English when the tangent line is already going to give a natural position? Or go for draw when follow (which is always easier) would work as well? Some people are entrenched in their beliefs. You tried, and I think had the most logical and correct advice, but they didn’t want to hear it. One thing, I have been watching some of your matches, and also other high rated players like you, and I see that though you all are on another plane I aspire to (but probably will only get so far with) still, pros occasionally shoot imperfect. I find it really interesting that at times even the best players, even an Ephron Reyes, make small mistakes of inches or more. It happens at least in one of a couple games, so of course, the percentages play a part.

[@valentenicoletti3622]

Really good Video

[@SethSchneiderw]

I agree with that shot choice for sure. I'd love to hear Thorsten Hommen's take.

[@miguelpereira5582]

man i love your cue! looks very nice.😁

[@anthonykeller5120]

I would like to see you make that 14:1 break the way Mosconi broke the rack by making the cue ball jump into the middle of the rack after hitting the the object ball.

[@rickshanteau3211]

I truly feel that one very important trait in a GREAT pool player is in the mental aspect of the game.

[@tanyamcdon]

Great stuff

[@kb3170]

I love playing 14.1 continuous straight pool. Problem is opponents lose interest because of not getting a shot ... when they do get one: they shoot the wrong one lol.

[@billmaurer7161]

This is an “ah-ha!” video. Thank you!

[@richardnicholas2957]

But... As you say, with your way you have to know exactly how much left to use on the 2nd ball for all of the starting points after the 1st ball. That could be harder for people than getting the speed right on the first way. ?

[@Cinema.Carlos]

Thanks for the great content as always. What type of camera do you use to record on your tripod? Also, do you stream too?

[@rifqifalih1968]

Hei man did you ever see CJ Wiley’s footage? About getting down to the shot is to pushing the hip back first and then the rest will be automatic. Is that accurate stance?

[@Sharivari]

Hey. Never seen his footage, so I can't say anything about it.

[@chadrichard4327]

Are you going to play at the Derby City classic

[@Sharivari]

Yes I will.

[@adamreid5143]

Those were each decent line ups on the 9 ball

[@JH-ji6cj]

You just missed the whole point of the video. It had absolutely nothing to do with (in fact, it was explaining and demonstrating the exact opposite point) whether the shot was makeable or not.

[@brandongrablachoff]

Most pros also use that extra rail as well when playing position.

[@timothypoe3056]

What kind of chalk do you recommend

[@Sharivari]

I love the KAMUI RoKu.

[@BlackWat3rGTR]

I've had great success with Great White chalk

[@scottisitoro3953]

The great Earl Strickland, 5x US Open 9 ball winner still uses Blue Masters chalk, about $8 for 12 cubes. Maybe he's old school, maybe he's under contract with Tweeten out of Chicago, or maybe the $30 cubes are nonsensical rubbish.@@Sharivari

[@brandongrablachoff]

Coming into the line of the shot instead of crossing the line is always the way to go! Less margin of error!

[@seamusmcfadden994]

"More" margin for error 😊

[@brandongrablachoff]

@@seamusmcfadden994 Yes ty.

[@LoydHaveMercy]

Obviously, I need to learn the rules to straight pool.

[@bobhog3969]

I’m a break where you’re from do you not have to hit 4 balls against a rail?

[@Sharivari]

That's a different game I am playing.

[@bloamy8498]

The player who is 1% better on every individual shot is 100% better over 100 shots. 10% Better every shot, 1000% better over 100 shots.

[@TimDEagle]

Putting his friends on blast lol

[@willlinke2849]

Its a wasted effort trying to educate people that dont want to learn.

[@francissarandi2098]

Tomuch talking

[@sinjinsison2702]

I think the biggest error these players made was playing straight pool.