the value of drills

alphadog

alphadog

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Often people post drills do not help a player to improve as much as
playing will.
Doing drills properly help to improve a players skills-both physical
and mental.
Successfully doing a drill allows for confidence when the shot comes
up in a game.On the other knowing you don't play a shot well may
point to other choices.Maybe even needing to practice more drills.
Playing to improve does not allow for reppitition to get it right.
Playing and seeing new shots does not make for a better player if
you can't execute the shots.
Just my 2cents,Jack
P.S. Learn in practice-then learn in play,and you might learn that you
need to play more:thumbup:
 
Great post. Drills are definitely one of the best ways to make dramatic improvement in a short amount of time. The problem with a lot of people, including myself, is that my run outs usually end when I miss the same types of shots (angle of shot/english applied). The key is to take your weaknesses and practice them in a controlled drill setting. I've witnessed many Taiwanese pro pool players in pool rooms still doing drills or repeatedly practice the same shots over and over again.
 
I've been really working on my game the last few months after starting to play again - new aiming system, new preshot routine, new appreciation for center ball, etc. Been a lot of changes, frustrating at times, but I feel like I'm close to coming out the other side a better player, we'll see... :)

I have a binder full of drills I've collected from various sources - PAT, Joe Tucker, Pro Skills Drills, Kinister, internet and forum, etc. I will go through 6 - 12 of them in a given night from time to time, mostly to work on specific repetitive patterns and overall concentration. I do think they are valuable, because you will see those types of shots or patterns come up in a game and feel very confident over the shot.

I also will do what was mentioned before, practicing weaknesses. Especially if during practice I miss a particular type of shot more than once, I will stop (or make a note to come back to it) and shoot at least a rack or two of the same sort of shot or position until I feel like I corrected my mistake. Ideally I would hit it a hundred times so I never miss it again, but I'm not that OCD - yet...

As much as I want to improve, reality sets in with time constraints and other obligations, it's always a balance. But I always remember what someone told me - amateurs practice a shot until they make it and move on to the next thing, pro level players will practice a shot until they never miss it. Subtle difference but one worth remembering when trying to improve weaknesses. The best thing is when one of your weaknesses actually turns into a strength.

Scott
 
Thanks for posting.

Now what I would like to know is when you are running drills, what would be the magic number of making a shot repeatively before changing up to the next drill.

I was thinking if you make the same drill shot 10 times with out missing, then switch to the next drill shot, or do you keep shotting until you feel comfortable that you can make this shot everytime ?
 
And the sun rises in the east and sets in the west.

When is practice NOT a good thing.
 
I think the point being made is drills offer more benefit than simply "practicing" which typically means...throw the balls out & try to run out.

BTW, I've been practicing a long, straight-in stun/draw/follow drill a lot lately as I've been working on my stroke/stance/etc. A tough shot of that type came up in a ring game this last weekend & I didn't sweat it because I had seen it 100's of times over the last few weeks. I fired it in & went about my business.
 
Spantiznik...Good question. A drill done with purpose (one that has an achievable goal & measureable result) is best done in short bursts, with a lot of focus. 5-10 reps, measuring results...gets much better ROI than shooting the same shot 100x-200x, over and over (plus it takes a long time).

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

Spantiznik said:
Thanks for posting.

Now what I would like to know is when you are running drills, what would be the magic number of making a shot repeatively before changing up to the next drill.

I was thinking if you make the same drill shot 10 times with out missing, then switch to the next drill shot, or do you keep shotting until you feel comfortable that you can make this shot everytime ?
Click to expand...
 
I have a buddy who me and him started out playing pool such as leagues, then we both moved away. Seen him bout two years ago at the state tournament and he was telling me all he does now is just practices safeties, as he has the break and run down pack. He made me laugh but i think drills do help but for me i dont have the patience and my mind starts to wonder then i start doing bad habits. What ive been doing now is practicing a solid preshot routine right down to feet movement. I can recall hearing Allison Fisher would mark where her feet would be in her stance when she is shooting.
 
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the OP asked 'the value of drills'

One of my favorite times in a match is coming up on a shot to get shape on the out ball and the shot is 'deadon' one of my drills. I crack a little smile, hold back (just a little) my beaming confidenc and execute a shot I've hit and made over a 1000 times and get perfect on the out ball.

I also like drills and practicing them everytime I go to the pool hall. Warmup drills just allow me to focus on tuning up my stroke. Drills can be used to quickly re-establish your confidence in your stroke. Another big Value.
 
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