Is the gap closing?

CIC flurry · Post by **CIC flurry** » 25 Feb 2007 21:32

I've never seen Vasek play in person. I have seen David and Jorden play in person.

Though I'm not very observant of every component in a video. The basic feeling I get is that the gap is closing.

I've also kicked with James Risden many times. And have seen a bunch of other people progress. From this I think that Vasek's level is certainly attainable/surpassable with enough practice.

Wumbo · Post by **Wumbo** » 27 Feb 2007 08:15

i agree with anz. what gap are you talking about? vasek plays in a different league so no gap is closing. watch vasek01 where he plays with the nike shoes at the age of 14(?) and youÂ´ll know what i mean!

Blue_turnip · Post by **Blue_turnip** » 03 Mar 2007 01:47

I reckon the gap is closing. I'm not an expert on footbag but there is a limit on what the body can do. You won't be seeing Vasek hit any moves that are vastly superior to the best we have seen by other players and as far as consistency goes, it has a limit as well, which is 100%. Vasek is extremely consistent right now - extremely consistent. He can only go so much further.

Now lets look at a guy who has been playing for a month and has just purchased some quantums and a sexy 32p. I don't think anyone can say he's not gonna improve faster than Vasek is.

Further up in the hierarchy of footbag ability you will find other poeple who are good at footbag, just not as good as Vasek. They'll have further to go and so they'll get there faster. I can't help but be nerdy here - its like a graph with an asymptote, lol. You can get closer to the asymptote but you're gonna keep slowing as you get there.

Of course I'm assuming that everyone has equal potential - which is clearly not the case - Vasek would have more potential than most people I assume. However we can't really just assume that because we can't actually see accurately what player's potentials are.

Even if I'm wrong and Vasek is, somehow, improving at the same rate as everyone else, the gap is going to start closing soon - it has to.

Oh i might also just point out that while the gap is closing - it doesn't necessarily mean Vasek won't remain the best, but many people will be closer to his ability, definately.

EDIT: I got so wrapped up in reading the few pages of this thread that I forgot the specifics of the topic hehe, and so this post doesn't directly apply.

King Monkey · Post by **King Monkey** » 03 Mar 2007 09:42

So far though there is nobody on earth who has close to the level of perfection in form that Vasek has, and the ease with which moves are hit.

Colin · Post by **Colin** » 03 Mar 2007 11:58

Ales' form is sharper, and Lon's is easier.

All this hero worship is depressing. You act as if the global shred community has been defeated by Vasek's heroic efforts rather than inspired. For shame!

Edit: And yes, the gap is closing.

Pyroman924 · Post by **Pyroman924** » 03 Mar 2007 12:16

I don't know if the gap is closing. But I do think that some progress faster than others due to age. I'm sure most if not all of us have heard that as you age, your ability to learn slows. Now I'm not saying this is necessarily completely true. I am a firm believer in the saying "The only thing that can inhibit your ability is yourself." but I think in some cases it does hold merit. Vasek was considerably young when he started. Not everybody starts that young. How many master Instrumentalists started around their 20's? Or just any master of any practice really. I think a lot may play into that fact. Though once again, I'm not saying that is a deciding factor.

Also, people have varying degrees of free time. A teenager in High School who doesn't work is going to have much more time to practice than someone in College holding down a job at the same time.

Motivation is a huge factor as well.

In short, there is a vast amount of reasons that could either lessen or enlarge the gap. I'd spend less time focusing on a gap to fill but rather spend that time pushing yourself to your full potential and most of all, have fun.

zach4th · Post by **zach4th** » 03 Mar 2007 20:51

quote"But one thing no one has addressed is what about when vasek stops playing altogether, and the next generations of players to follow him then surpass him in "skill". Although he won't be playing to defend himself, whats not to say this same topic gets posted with the title being "would vasek been able to beat _(new world champs name here)__ if he was still around?".

Footbag will be too popular for shredders to talk to other shredder about that sort of thing by then.

HG · Post by HG » 04 Mar 2007 09:34

Ok, footbag is getting more popular. Yes. But honestly, its never going to be a regular program on ESPN like streetball or billiards, or even curling. Not enough people have the drive to be good, and people honestly just dont care about it. Its never going to be so popular that we cant talk about stuff like this.

zach4th · Post by **zach4th** » 04 Mar 2007 09:39

It dosn't help that some shredders don't even corect their peers at school when referd to a hackysack. Negitve attitudes = negitive results.

dp · Post by dp » 04 Mar 2007 09:55

zach4th wrote: Footbag will be too popular for shredders to talk to other shredder about that sort of thing by then.

What are you talking about? Explain what you mean cuz this doesn't make any sense to me.

zach4th · Post by **zach4th** » 04 Mar 2007 10:10

it doesn't make sence to me either anymore. Thought i was on to somthing but i'm not. Oopsadaisy.

The gap gets smaller ever year. Its a big gap for me though really big.

ObArA'BaRs · Post by **ObArA'BaRs** » 05 Mar 2007 10:08

as long as hes alive he'll always be getting better and better. I dont think anyone is going to catch up to him any time soon.

slapdash21 · Post by **slapdash21** » 05 Mar 2007 10:18

ObArA'BaRs wrote:as long as hes alive he'll always be getting better and better. I dont think anyone is going to catch up to him any time soon.

that ALSO makes no sense. i would say as long as he is younger than 25 (give or take, and its different for everyone so none of you old timers even think about bitching me out) he has POTENTIAL to get better. just a rough estimate, but i do not believe he will be improving after 30, thats for sure.

ObArA'BaRs · Post by **ObArA'BaRs** » 05 Mar 2007 15:43

we'll see how long he lives

slapdash21 · Post by **slapdash21** » 05 Mar 2007 15:46

oh yes. good response. im convinced.

ObArA'BaRs · Post by **ObArA'BaRs** » 05 Mar 2007 16:48

Will Digges · Post by **Will Digges** » 06 Mar 2007 08:00

I don't think vasek uses his full potential, he just does what he needs to in order to win. I think if you got him shredding hardcore in a circle, you would see some crazy stuff.

ObArA'BaRs · Post by **ObArA'BaRs** » 06 Mar 2007 08:03

he needs a challange!

james · Post by **james** » 06 Mar 2007 11:02

He doesn't give a shit and he doesn't need to. All this talk of 'rate of improvement' is pure bullshit. It means nothing. He doesn't need to improve anymore. He's already beyond what anyone is going to be able to do for an as yet undetermined time.
I also don't know why it matters.
No one has a monopoly on style or combos, take satisfaction in that if you're upset you will never be that good.
Now shut the hell up!

modified

Is the gap closing?

Is the gap closer than it was in past years?