HAMB in the long run

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duckie

GregH
Silver Member
I'm a big fan of the concept of the HAMB form of practice and the use of all 15 balls for drill for the majority of practice time.

For my tourney play, I use a training practice where I will play in tourneys or 14.1 leagues for a bit, and cut back on practice time somewhat. Then, I will stop doing both for a bit and go into hard time practice mode, HAMB. Sorta on and off seasons.

I use my performance in competition to gauge how well I practice and what I need to practice. It is during the HAMB training that I work on these areas.

I've been doing this for about 2 years now. Last night was the season opener for me. I played the most comfortable I ever have. From the hours of hitting all types of shots from all sorts of positions on the table, for the first time ever did not ever question my skill. If I missed a shot, it was from poor execution and not lack of skill. There is a big difference.

If I miss, I knew why and not wondered why.

From the hours of hitting banks, I was able to hit my balls during safety battles and not have to wonder what to do, I knew what to do.

From the hours of hitting balls in clusters, I was able to break out my balls in clusters and place my opponents balls where I wanted.

From the hours of using nothing but pocket speed, I was able to keep CB movement to the minimum which make getting positions alot easier than you think.

From the hours of using inside spin, I was able to put the CB anywhere I wanted.

I've been having a urge/hunger in me lately about my pool playing. Last night, I understood.

FWIW
 
duckie said:
I'm a big fan of the concept of the HAMB form of practice and the use of all 15 balls for drill for the majority of practice time.

For my tourney play, I use a training practice where I will play in tourneys or 14.1 leagues for a bit, and cut back on practice time somewhat. Then, I will stop doing both for a bit and go into hard time practice mode, HAMB. Sorta on and off seasons.

I use my performance in competition to gauge how well I practice and what I need to practice. It is during the HAMB training that I work on these areas.

I've been doing this for about 2 years now. Last night was the season opener for me. I played the most comfortable I ever have. From the hours of hitting all types of shots from all sorts of positions on the table, for the first time ever did not ever question my skill. If I missed a shot, it was from poor execution and not lack of skill. There is a big difference.

If I miss, I knew why and not wondered why.

From the hours of hitting banks, I was able to hit my balls during safety battles and not have to wonder what to do, I knew what to do.

From the hours of hitting balls in clusters, I was able to break out my balls in clusters and place my opponents balls where I wanted.

From the hours of using nothing but pocket speed, I was able to keep CB movement to the minimum which make getting positions alot easier than you think.

From the hours of using inside spin, I was able to put the CB anywhere I wanted.

I've been having a urge/hunger in me lately about my pool playing. Last night, I understood.

FWIW
Click to expand...


Congratulations!
 
duckie said:
I'm a big fan of the concept of the HAMB form of practice and the use of all 15 balls for drill for the majority of practice time.

For my tourney play, I use a training practice where I will play in tourneys or 14.1 leagues for a bit, and cut back on practice time somewhat. Then, I will stop doing both for a bit and go into hard time practice mode, HAMB. Sorta on and off seasons.

I use my performance in competition to gauge how well I practice and what I need to practice. It is during the HAMB training that I work on these areas.

I've been doing this for about 2 years now. Last night was the season opener for me. I played the most comfortable I ever have. From the hours of hitting all types of shots from all sorts of positions on the table, for the first time ever did not ever question my skill. If I missed a shot, it was from poor execution and not lack of skill. There is a big difference.

If I miss, I knew why and not wondered why.

From the hours of hitting banks, I was able to hit my balls during safety battles and not have to wonder what to do, I knew what to do.

From the hours of hitting balls in clusters, I was able to break out my balls in clusters and place my opponents balls where I wanted.

From the hours of using nothing but pocket speed, I was able to keep CB movement to the minimum which make getting positions alot easier than you think.

From the hours of using inside spin, I was able to put the CB anywhere I wanted.

I've been having a urge/hunger in me lately about my pool playing. Last night, I understood.

FWIW
Click to expand...

for us dummies what does HAMB mean? thanks, congrats !
 
Last week I played in the 9 ball tourney here. I do not play alot of 9 ball, but I need time in tourney play as that is my weakest area now.

I was surprised at how easily I won the first two matches. Since I normally practice with all 15 balls on the table, just having 9 or less was just fun. Plus I can use all pockets equally in making balls. This really helps in being able to get easy position on all shots.

The third match, down the tubes. Lost badly. All due to not staying committed to why I was there. Committed to placing the best I can. The why I lost this commit, I have not figured out yet.

Tuesday was the 8 ball tourney. One match, I played a local heavy hitter. I got a up close lesson on real 8 ball. I struggled at times, played great at times, and only because the handicapp, him 9, me 3, I won, Him 6, me 3.

Next three matches I was more relaxed and won easily. One was a him 6, me 3 match I won him 2, me 3. The last match was against another local heavy hitter. Again, him 9, me 3. I did once that night, but I really struggle and lost real bad, him 9, me 1.

I did place 2nd out of a 32 player field, so I did OK. It seems now that because of HAMB, I have alot of faith in my skills and really need to learn more about myself when it comes to competition and how to apply those skills.

Every shot I missed, I have made during practice over and over again. I mean alot because of HAMB.

BTW, my goal is to become one that has to give up 9 games and I'm on my way to just that.

Because of the past experiences in the tourneys, I know what I need to work on in practice and its all between the ears and it gonna take HAMB to get the right mental aspect for tournament play.

It is war, a life and death battle, and that attitude is what I have to add to my practice. The way of the sword......
 
duckie said:
Last week I played in the 9 ball tourney here. I do not play alot of 9 ball, but I need time in tourney play as that is my weakest area now.

I was surprised at how easily I won the first two matches. Since I normally practice with all 15 balls on the table, just having 9 or less was just fun. Plus I can use all pockets equally in making balls. This really helps in being able to get easy position on all shots.

The third match, down the tubes. Lost badly. All due to not staying committed to why I was there. Committed to placing the best I can. The why I lost this commit, I have not figured out yet.

Tuesday was the 8 ball tourney. One match, I played a local heavy hitter. I got a up close lesson on real 8 ball. I struggled at times, played great at times, and only because the handicapp, him 9, me 3, I won, Him 6, me 3.

Next three matches I was more relaxed and won easily. One was a him 6, me 3 match I won him 2, me 3. The last match was against another local heavy hitter. Again, him 9, me 3. I did once that night, but I really struggle and lost real bad, him 9, me 1.

I did place 2nd out of a 32 player field, so I did OK. It seems now that because of HAMB, I have alot of faith in my skills and really need to learn more about myself when it comes to competition and how to apply those skills.

Every shot I missed, I have made during practice over and over again. I mean alot because of HAMB.

BTW, my goal is to become one that has to give up 9 games and I'm on my way to just that.

Because of the past experiences in the tourneys, I know what I need to work on in practice and its all between the ears and it gonna take HAMB to get the right mental aspect for tournament play.

It is war, a life and death battle, and that attitude is what I have to add to my practice. The way of the sword......
Click to expand...

This is just bizarre to me. It seems you have taken this HAMB concept to a completely illogical conclusion. I must have missed this turn somewhere along the way, during all the back and forth regarding the different approaches to improving.

I'm all for hitting as many balls as is possible...maybe even a million. And I'm sure there is improvement that comes from just banging away on the table. But when it comes to my game I've found that it's not just the climb up the million ball mountain that leads me to better pool. Instead, it is the stops along the way. Along these stops, you discover something that was wrong about your stroke, or a particular way to hit a certain shot, or different way to grip your cue, and on and on and on. Sometimes you even have to set up camp for a while and work on shots that you really have trouble with until you feel that you "own" them (that may be Renfro's term). Maybe you even have to rebuild your stroke or preshot routine.

What I'm trying to say is - it sounds like you're putting in the work but you seem to be giving all the credit to this HAMB method.

Maybe I just don't understand what this HAMB method really is.:scratchhead:
 
Even with using aiming systems you still have to hit a miillion balls to feel comfortable. Most aiming systems are predicated on center ball, so if you can't hit it your gonna miss the shot.

I use Pro One and still practice shots all the time, I found it helps.

There is no magic wand that will help you make every shot, you have to practice and spend time at the table.

Just my 2 cents...............TommyT
 
duckie said:
Last week I played in the 9 ball tourney here. I do not play alot of 9 ball, but I need time in tourney play as that is my weakest area now.

I was surprised at how easily I won the first two matches. Since I normally practice with all 15 balls on the table, just having 9 or less was just fun. Plus I can use all pockets equally in making balls. This really helps in being able to get easy position on all shots.

The third match, down the tubes. Lost badly. All due to not staying committed to why I was there. Committed to placing the best I can. The why I lost this commit, I have not figured out yet.

Tuesday was the 8 ball tourney. One match, I played a local heavy hitter. I got a up close lesson on real 8 ball. I struggled at times, played great at times, and only because the handicapp, him 9, me 3, I won, Him 6, me 3.

Next three matches I was more relaxed and won easily. One was a him 6, me 3 match I won him 2, me 3. The last match was against another local heavy hitter. Again, him 9, me 3. I did once that night, but I really struggle and lost real bad, him 9, me 1.

I did place 2nd out of a 32 player field, so I did OK. It seems now that because of HAMB, I have alot of faith in my skills and really need to learn more about myself when it comes to competition and how to apply those skills.

Every shot I missed, I have made during practice over and over again. I mean alot because of HAMB.

BTW, my goal is to become one that has to give up 9 games and I'm on my way to just that.

Because of the past experiences in the tourneys, I know what I need to work on in practice and its all between the ears and it gonna take HAMB to get the right mental aspect for tournament play.

It is war, a life and death battle, and that attitude is what I have to add to my practice. The way of the sword......
Click to expand...

Maybe I should have highlighted the above quote (in red) to point out my confusion about HAMB. Explain exactly how Hitting A Million Balls is going to help someone "get the right mental aspect for tournament play"? I don't get this.
 
BasementDweller said:
Maybe I should have highlighted the above quote (in red) to point out my confusion about HAMB. Explain exactly how Hitting A Million Balls is going to help someone "get the right mental aspect for tournament play"? I don't get this.
Click to expand...

I'm guessing he means that certain shots have become so second nature to him that he couldn't miss them even if he tried. While the heat of the moment might get into his head, it won't affect the shotmaking that has been ingrained. I know certainly for myself, every time in a league match I aim by practice stroking the OB towards the pocket to determine hit location, I miss the shot more often than if I just let my body figure it out itself.
 
worth hitting a million balls just for this

duckie said:
I've been doing this for about 2 years now. Last night was the season opener for me. I played the most comfortable I ever have. From the hours of hitting all types of shots from all sorts of positions on the table, for the first time ever did not ever question my skill. If I missed a shot, it was from poor execution and not lack of skill. There is a big difference.
Click to expand...



It is worth all the effort when you get to the mental place that you realize that the miss or missed position is the exception for you and the well executed shot is the rule. Laughing at yourself for your misses and truly putting them out of your mind is a huge advantage. Dwelling on misses that should be long forgotten costs people many a match.

Hu
 
Now c'mon guys.... Duckie titled this HAMB in the long run... We have no clue how many of the million he has hit yet.... Only 999970 to go if he has just thrown 15 out twice........... At 999910 he may move up to a 4 :poke:
 
The issue for me is trying to get as consistent as I am during practice in competition. The shots are second nature during practice, but then it seems I get in the way during tourney's.

When I miss in practice, there is no punishment like during competition.

One of the reason for the wide spread is because I have not played in this tourney long enough to get a true handicapp established. Trust me, after the last three finishes, I'll be the one giving up the games, which is what I want.
I want to have to give 9 games, thats my goal.

Back when I first got back into pool and playing tourneys, I did not know what I did wrong when I missed, certain shots were intimidating to me. I knew nothing about safety play. After a night of bad play I was so frustrated and would just be disgusted with myself.

Every shot I missed Tuesday, I've made over a hundreds times in practice. This is how I know that my issue is more in my head than in my skills which was part of the problem when I first returned to pool.

It like the final level.......getting out of ones way to just let what is there out to do its thing.
 
duckie said:
Every shot I missed Tuesday, I've made over a hundreds times in practice.
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Is this the shot you've made over a hundred times in practice? AHHAHAHAHAHAAAAAA

imag0020l.jpg
 
Did I read this right? In your local 9 ball tournament you are a 3 and the ratings go up to 9 or more?

I haven't been a 3 in pool since I was 12 years old. In all local tournaments I have ever played in after the age of 20 I have always been at least in the top 25% of the regular field.

I would not presume to tell anyone anything about playing pool if I were rated a three on a scale that goes up to at least nine.

I thought this whole time you were at least an APA 7 or better.

If you are choosing the HAMB method as your primary means of getting better and you are still a 3 then I'd estimate you have about 997,850 shots to go.
 
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Masayoshi said:
Did you really think that? I had him pegged much lower from the videos he posted a while back.
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I never got the privilege of seeing the videos. Got a link? I was only responding to the way he writes about how he practices.
 
HAMB is a great way to improve. However, you still have to hit them the right way.
One can think that he is doing something right and be totally wrong.
Along the way one needs help and guidance.
Conclusions must be drawn, processes refined, superfluous discarded, etc.
Feedback from ball reactions is one thing, another feedback on stroke, routine from an observer combined with your own impressions is needed too.
That’s how a solid base can be build.

I think you mentioned specialty shots and how the fundamentals don't apply to them.
Well, once again exceptions have their own sets of rules and fundamentals.
If you need that much weight than you are in very early stages of your development.
I would get qualified help and work more on fundamentals.
 
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