Ron Swanson
Banned
Sooner or later it's inevitable; you must learn pocket speed. It's boring. It takes the fun out of the game, but it must be done.
Question is, how?
Question is, how?
playing pocket speed
- Thread starter Ron Swanson
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Experience.
For me, a D level player, I was hitting every shot with pretty much the same speed. I started practicing making shallow angle shots into the side pocket. If you're hitting too hard then the pocket rejects it.
A couple of seasons of straight pool also help develop a sense for slower speeds.
A couple of seasons of straight pool also help develop a sense for slower speeds.
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Ron Swanson
Banned
A factor, of course, but that is not all.
Ron Swanson
Banned
That is when it matters most.
Experience is everything.
If you walk up to a brand new table, that was made by some unknown manufacturer, how to do you know what pocket speed is? You don't. You hit a ball and see what happens. If you hit it hard and it doesn't work, you hit it softer.
The term pocket speed is as broad of a term as saying "Hit the ball well, so it goes in the pocket without rattling."
Edit-
I'd also like to add, that you questioned us, but you are trying to tell us we are wrong... THAT is what is wrong with these forums.
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I play one pocket on a triple shim and that ball has to drop soooo impossibly slow if your not dead center. Have you played on triple shimmed? The edges are very sharp.
Starting to play straight pool has helped me with this a lot. You just find a lot of shots where playing position requires shooting with nothing more than pocket speed.
Some years ago I realized that you hardly ever see a ball come up short of the pocket. So, during practice, I tried to hit softer and softer, to the point where the object ball would stop a little short of the pocket. That is how I learned "pocket speed".
Dave
Dave
Ron Swanson
Banned
Ron Swanson
Banned
Of course, which is why you have to play pocket speed.
Ron Swanson
Banned
Somebody needs a nap!
Ron, I play on double shimmed 80% of the time and I know what you mean about pocket speed. Dropping a slow ball that rattles into a triple or double shimmed pocket is somewhat lucky. Me, I'm a feel player and when I am on I can rifle balls into shimmed pockets. Personally if I had to think about pocket speed on every shot it would be classic paralysis through analysis. I think I have too much on my mind when I shoot now. LOL. But that's just me.
Ron Swanson
Banned
That is not playing pocket speed. You have to hit the ball with sufficient energy to a) make the ball and b) gain shape.
It is not about hitting the ball slowly. It is about hitting the ball correctly. This is crucial on tough tables.