Been making good progress... But...

JasonS

JasonS

jason-sadler.com
Silver Member
When I last posted here I was a "b" level player but I've moved up in the last few months to an "a" (in 9-ball terms). I've really been buckling down and ironing out my flaws (been puting in 8 hrs at a time every other day and when I'm not playing I put on videos from bcn on YouTube). Offensively I'm doing everything right except my kick shots and banks have turned to crap. Are there any kick-shot drills I could give a try?

Maybe what's happened is I've dwelled on center-ball position and natural angle play so much that I've just forgotten how to kick properly, or perhaps my run-out and ball making abilities have well surpassed any expectations so that my kick/bank shots have stayed the same but look relatively weak.

Any thoughts?
 
JasonS said:
I don't feel very comfortable with that... Completely different game. Geometrically very, very similar but so is soccer and football.
Click to expand...

Don't worry about being comfortable with it. The key is to learn from it. You want to learn to use the rails better, right? Then why not play a game where the primary objective is to use the rails?
 
Masayoshi said:
Don't worry about being comfortable with it. The key is to learn from it. You want to learn to use the rails better, right? Then why not play a game where the primary objective is to use the rails?
Click to expand...

I cannot stress enough how much progress I've made in 9-ball in the last couple months and I'm completely focusing on pocket billiard play. I'm not being picky, it's just an entirely different game...
 
I took a lesson from a Dutch pro player. To improve shots that are not used as often as 'normal' shots, he suggested a game called 'honolulu' I believe. You score only by making a ball using anything other than a direct pot. Only called kicks, banks, caroms and combinations allowed. It is the most fun way of learning those shots, whether you're alone or playing against someone. If you practice a lot anyway, spend some time on it every time you get to the table, but not too much...
Try it...
 
predator: Thanks! I'll have to give that a try... never heard of it but sounds fun

Neil: I'll have to start doing that from now on. Sounds like a great routine to get into



its just funny how one area goes up and one goes down... just need to keep practicing
 
A lot can be said for practicing but there's no substitute for head to head combat. If your kicking skill and banking skills are not as god as you would like them to be then your opponent is probably going to pick-up on these weaknesses and every chance they have to play safe or leave you a bank. These are the situations you're going to find yourself in.

Practice improving your weaknesses until they don't exist any more. Also learn the equipment and the conditions that your playing on. Some tables play short and slow under certain weather conditions. Others play long and fast. You have to recognize what's going on right away.

If your kicking, try to come off the rail closest to the object -ball last, whenever possible. There's no greater sin than giving up ball-in-hand.
 
Thats hilarious because the same has happened to me. I use to bank real well and even though my postion play lacked, I would bank a ball in to get back in line. Well now my position play and shotmaking have improved so I natrually bank less and cut everything under the sun in! Well now I need to bank alot more!!! Banks used to be my favorite shot, now I try to cut before banking.

This game is hilarious sometimes
 
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