Shotmaking break-through

Andrew Manning

Andrew Manning

Aspiring know-it-all
Silver Member
Ever have one of those moments where something just clicks into place in your game, execution-wise?

Last night I played a little local 9-ball tournament, which I won. I play in this tournament fairly regularly, and have a history of under-achieving lately. Last night the difference was something that clicked into place during warm-up.

I don't remember why I decided to try this, but I tried a new technique while practicing long-ish shots to dial in my accuracy: never taking my eyes off the object ball. I stood behind the shot and focused in on the point of aim on the object ball, and then literally kept my eye frozen on that spot while stepping into the shot, sliding my bridge hand into place, getting my body into position, taking 2 practice strokes, and pulling the trigger. Kept my eye glued to the OB until the CB made contact, and kept watching it all the way to the pocket. And it was like I forgot how to miss.

I moved into practicing running a few balls this way. My touch on the CB was a little off (sometimes I wouldn't get the intended spin), but I was still draining every shot, including ones that are usually inconsistent for me.

I played the ghost this way, just for fun. I lost 7-5 on a tight table, which is the best I've ever done. I was actually ahead 5-4, before failing on the last 3 outs, each of which had congestion problems.

I went on to play in the tournament, and modified the new "eye pattern" (or lack thereof, if you prefer), just by adding one very quick glance to the CB during the practice strokes, just to make sure I had my tip in the right area on the cue ball. And I was getting out all over the place. My opponents were all guys who know my game, and all of them commented on how much better I was shooting.

Anyone have similar stories of something they did one day that catapulted their game off a plateau? Or similar stories of success from having a starting contest with the object ball?

-Andrew
 
Sounds like you were focusing more than you might usually be, and as a result hit a gear. I know the feeling although they are few and far between lol.
I won a local mini tourny a few weeks ago and for some reason I was focusing more on the matches than I usually do, I didnt notice anyone watching me, nor did I hear the music or noise that was going on, I just played pool and blocked everything out. Now if only I could do that everytime :(
 
Tony Robles just had an article in BD about consistent eye movement and how important it is. The first time I have ever seen it mentioned in an instructional article or book, and I am glad to see it!

The eye movement pattern you have described here is the exact same one that I use and figured out on my own. I realized one day how can you shot consistently if you don't look at the same things every time you shoot?

The only issue I have with this pattern sometimes is different shots require different bridge lengths so when getting down I will get up and adjust that length a couple of times cuz your not looking at the cue ball.

With this pattern and good fundamentals I never miss as long as my position is at least ok. The only times I miss now is when i gotta do something crazy with cue ball i.e ridiculous spin or shooting to hard.

So now that your shooting better remember that pattern for ever. Now start perfecting position!

Congrats!!!
 
I have recently been there and it is one of the greatest feeling in the world knowing that now you can play this game. My experience came after the Viking Tour left Atlanta and Mike Janis had the ball in hand format. I did not qualify for the tournament but it showed me my short comings and watching the other players make balls and get shape was an eye opening moment for me. A lot of things that I had read, heard, seen and I had been told time and time again came to the surface like a seed that had been planted finally seeing the sun. It is like having sex for the first time there is no going back now. I wish you well and don't forget that you must do that all the time or old habits will find a way to creep back in.
 
I have always believed that keeping my eyes on the OB more than on the CB results in improved accuracy. Which is why I'm a firm believer of drills that improve my ability to cue the CB where I intend to. IMO the better you can get at being accurate with your stroke concerning point of contact on the OB without having to look at it, the more you can trust your stroke which frees up your eyes to look more at the OB.
dave
 
center pocket said:
Tony Robles just had an article in BD about consistent eye movement and how important it is. The first time I have ever seen it mentioned in an instructional article or book, and I am glad to see it!

The eye movement pattern you have described here is the exact same one that I use and figured out on my own. I realized one day how can you shot consistently if you don't look at the same things every time you shoot?

The only issue I have with this pattern sometimes is different shots require different bridge lengths so when getting down I will get up and adjust that length a couple of times cuz your not looking at the cue ball.

With this pattern and good fundamentals I never miss as long as my position is at least ok. The only times I miss now is when i gotta do something crazy with cue ball i.e ridiculous spin or shooting to hard.

So now that your shooting better remember that pattern for ever. Now start perfecting position!

Congrats!!!
Click to expand...

I'm really eager to get back in the pool hall now and start working on getting my tip placement fine-tuned without looking at the CB except for one quick glance. It's a lot easier than I thought it would be, though, since my bridge hand does a lot of "height control" for me. I was definitely manipulating the CB last night, not just pocketing the ball and hoping. I just need to get more confident in using heavy follow and draw without spending any significant time looking at the CB.

-Andrew
 
Andrew Manning said:
Anyone have similar stories of something they did one day that catapulted their game off a plateau? Or similar stories of success from having a starting contest with the object ball?
Click to expand...
For some time I've thought that in the early years I used to set up much like you described, but wasn't sure if that was a distortion. The cueball would hardly merit a glance. Whether I did or not, it's good to hear of someone else doing it and having success. Making shots seemed easier back then, for whatever reason.

Taking a short but deliberate break between each shot to re-evaluate strategy, and to "freshen up" a bit, instantly turned my game around when it was on a long retrograde slide.

Jim
 
Not to pimp out Scott Lee/Randy G's "Pool School" but one of the very first things they teach you is Personal Eye Patterns (PEP).

What was described in the 1st post is almost exactly what they are teaching.

Keep with it, there is a reason why this works!!!
 
Jal said:
Taking a short but deliberate break between each shot to re-evaluate strategy, and to "freshen up" a bit, instantly turned my game around when it was on a long retrograde slide.

Jim
Click to expand...

I have to remind myself of this one sometimes as well, especially when playing 8-ball. I get out with a lot more consistency if I just take the time to "reset", double-check my pattern to make sure it's still the best way to move forward from my current position, and only then shoot the next shot.

-Andrew
 
Gregg said:
Not to pimp out Scott Lee/Randy G's "Pool School" but one of the very first things they teach you is Personal Eye Patterns (PEP).

What was described in the 1st post is almost exactly what they are teaching.

Keep with it, there is a reason why this works!!!
Click to expand...

I took a lesson from Scott Lee, and the pattern I'm using is sort of a simplified and more extreme version of what he taught me (which I'm sad to say I was never successfully in training myself to execute consistently). I've dramatically lengthened the time of focus on the OB, and cut out all "dwell time" on the CB; just a single rapid glance.

-Andrew
 
Focusing on the aim point while getting down is really good. Try this for grins...

After you've done that, and are down, do a few practice strokes, paying REAL close attention to where your tip is positioned. (use your normal eye pattern for this) When you're sure it's where you want it, then take a small moment to focus (really focus) back on the aim point, and then let the magic happen.

I think the key to what you are doing is in your lining up the shot as you get down.

If this doesn't work for you... that's okay too.. just something to help you zero in on your CB control as well..
 
Congrats on the break-through

Andrew- I had a similar awakening in 2007. It was at the SoCal qualifier for the '07 US Amateur Championships held at Jolt 'n Joes (La Mesa, CA). I wasn't warming up very well, took a short break, and when I got back to the tables I noticed myself visually "locking" in on the object ball. From then on I couldn't miss... it felt really good. I ended up winning my side of the board to be one of two sent to the big tourny.

Since then I feel that my speed has gone up significantly. I'm definitely more focused and disciplined. And having more fun too. :)

You continue to do the same! :thumbup:

All the Best,
 
i4pool said:
Andrew- I had a similar awakening in 2007. It was at the SoCal qualifier for the '07 US Amateur Championships held at Jolt 'n Joes (La Mesa, CA). I wasn't warming up very well, took a short break, and when I got back to the tables I noticed myself visually "locking" in on the object ball. From then on I couldn't miss... it felt really good. I ended up winning my side of the board to be one of two sent to the big tourny.

Since then I feel that my speed has gone up significantly. I'm definitely more focused and disciplined. And having more fun too. :)

You continue to do the same! :thumbup:

All the Best,
Click to expand...

It's encouraging to hear that others have had the same "awakening" as you put it. It's even more encouraging to hear that when it happened for you, it was apparently permanent, evidenced by you referring to that moment 2 years later using the phrase "since then".

-Andrew
 
Andrew Manning said:
It's encouraging to hear that others have had the same "awakening" as you put it. It's even more encouraging to hear that when it happened for you, it was apparently permanent, evidenced by you referring to that moment 2 years later using the phrase "since then".

-Andrew
Click to expand...


LOL... "Permanent" maybe?? But I'm still working on the consistency part. One thing's for sure though... the "eye's on CB" is #1 on my checklist when trying to troubleshoot a bad shooting session.

My top checklist items look something like this:
  1. Are your eyes on the CB at final stroke?
  2. Are you keeping your head steady?
  3. Are you following through on your final stroke?

Without that experience in 2007, number 1 would not be on my list above. :) :grin:


-Abe
 
Andrew Manning said:
Ever have one of those moments where something just clicks into place in your game, execution-wise?

Last night I played a little local 9-ball tournament, which I won. I play in this tournament fairly regularly, and have a history of under-achieving lately. Last night the difference was something that clicked into place during warm-up.

I don't remember why I decided to try this, but I tried a new technique while practicing long-ish shots to dial in my accuracy: never taking my eyes off the object ball. I stood behind the shot and focused in on the point of aim on the object ball, and then literally kept my eye frozen on that spot while stepping into the shot, sliding my bridge hand into place, getting my body into position, taking 2 practice strokes, and pulling the trigger. Kept my eye glued to the OB until the CB made contact, and kept watching it all the way to the pocket. And it was like I forgot how to miss.

I moved into practicing running a few balls this way. My touch on the CB was a little off (sometimes I wouldn't get the intended spin), but I was still draining every shot, including ones that are usually inconsistent for me.

I played the ghost this way, just for fun. I lost 7-5 on a tight table, which is the best I've ever done. I was actually ahead 5-4, before failing on the last 3 outs, each of which had congestion problems.

I went on to play in the tournament, and modified the new "eye pattern" (or lack thereof, if you prefer), just by adding one very quick glance to the CB during the practice strokes, just to make sure I had my tip in the right area on the cue ball. And I was getting out all over the place. My opponents were all guys who know my game, and all of them commented on how much better I was shooting.

Anyone have similar stories of something they did one day that catapulted their game off a plateau? Or similar stories of success from having a starting contest with the object ball?

-Andrew
Click to expand...

If you feel you have really found something that adds to your game you have to work on it till it is second nature. What happens when you are in competition is, everything goes out the window once the pressure is on. All you have left is what you can do automatically without thinking. So, work on your new found method and try to build it into your game. It may be a good thing or it may just be something that works today and not tomorrow. You know, sometimes you are just playing good. You don't have to go looking for why. It may have more to do with all that good practice you have been doing coming together then a new found gimmick. It is interesting, from years of hanging around the pool rooms you see people who all of a sudden jump up in speed. They are over night better players. Things just seem come together for them.
 
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