Minimum time between shots.
- Thread starter nataddrho
- Start date
I would love to be able to shoot fast, its my natural tempo. Of course if I do that I cant hit the broadside of a barn, and am way off on position when i do hit something. I slowly and methodically work through the shot - keep to a preshot routine where you decide on cue tip placement aimline, cue ball speed etc each time. Over time I expect I will get better at it and it will get quicker.
I don't mean to be vague but, you don't want to shoot before you know what you want to do, but you don't want to shoot too long after knowing what you want to do.
Make a decision and try not to second guess yourself. The length of time between shots will likely be influenced by the time it takes to process the situation.
Make a decision and try not to second guess yourself. The length of time between shots will likely be influenced by the time it takes to process the situation.
It won't work time em. They need a GPS Quick solutions are not available mentally anymore. Need a srceen with multiple choice answers to move things along. Like Player 1 play balls 8-2-3 next. Oh OK. An App for each table.
I think it really depends on what you want to accomplish. I'm still a beginner, and it's taken me a while to figure out that I'm a slow player. I just don't know enough about the game to be able to quickly move through all the steps. I don't think you get to shoot at the speeds you see better players shooting at, if you don't have the same amount of information/skill/and familiarity with the game. You CAN shoot as fast as them, but you're going to be terrible, because they already know the game, and you don't.
For example my routine for each shot is for a rack of 8-ball.
-Determine what is the best order to run the remaining balls in.
-Identify problems and clusters that I need to break out, and what is the best way to get shape on balls that will help me solve those problems, as well as making sure you have an insurance ball.
On a shot to shot basis:
-Determine where I need to go to get on the next ball, and figuring out which is the best way to get shape on that ball. Determining which is the right side of the ball to get shape on, to get to the next ball, and trying to move through the positional zone, instead of across it (usually involving multiple rails).
-Determine what english I need to use, how it will effect the ball, exactly where I want the cue ball to go, and how much do I need to compensate for throw.
-Pick an exact spot I can legitimately get to (I know for a long time, I thought I could get the cue ball to do things that weren't legitimately going to happen physics-wise.
That's just the thinking planning portion. Now comes the execution:
-Line up the shot line, and making sure my back foot is on the line when I step into the shot. I've been learning CTE, so there's a whole other bunch of steps I wont get into.
-Land, making sure that my bridge arm is as straight as possible.
-Make sure that my aim looks appropriate before I even start my warm-up strokes.
-While doing my warm-up strokes, making sure that my stroke is lose and fluid and without any hitches, and that I'm stroking at the same spot on the cue-ball.
-Pausing at the cue-ball to get everything to settle before I begin a slow back-swing.
-Pause on the swing, and focus on the object ball before stroking forward, and following through.
-Making sure I stay down after the shot.
I think I missed some stuff but that's the general idea. When you've played enough, this will all be natural, and you won't have to think about it, but we haven't, so it isn't. A lot of stuff actually goes into playing pool, and I don't think making sure your shots take more than 10 seconds, completely covers the complexity of the subject.
I think this stuff is a lot, and if you don't want to touch it, that's fine. So I think for the moment, focusing your attention on trying to have a good solid, smooth stroke would be a better goal, than trying to take more than 10 seconds. Instead, try focusing on pausing after your warm up strokes with your tip at the cueball, nice smooth backswing, pause, accelerate, follow-through-pause.
For example my routine for each shot is for a rack of 8-ball.
-Determine what is the best order to run the remaining balls in.
-Identify problems and clusters that I need to break out, and what is the best way to get shape on balls that will help me solve those problems, as well as making sure you have an insurance ball.
On a shot to shot basis:
-Determine where I need to go to get on the next ball, and figuring out which is the best way to get shape on that ball. Determining which is the right side of the ball to get shape on, to get to the next ball, and trying to move through the positional zone, instead of across it (usually involving multiple rails).
-Determine what english I need to use, how it will effect the ball, exactly where I want the cue ball to go, and how much do I need to compensate for throw.
-Pick an exact spot I can legitimately get to (I know for a long time, I thought I could get the cue ball to do things that weren't legitimately going to happen physics-wise.
That's just the thinking planning portion. Now comes the execution:
-Line up the shot line, and making sure my back foot is on the line when I step into the shot. I've been learning CTE, so there's a whole other bunch of steps I wont get into.
-Land, making sure that my bridge arm is as straight as possible.
-Make sure that my aim looks appropriate before I even start my warm-up strokes.
-While doing my warm-up strokes, making sure that my stroke is lose and fluid and without any hitches, and that I'm stroking at the same spot on the cue-ball.
-Pausing at the cue-ball to get everything to settle before I begin a slow back-swing.
-Pause on the swing, and focus on the object ball before stroking forward, and following through.
-Making sure I stay down after the shot.
I think I missed some stuff but that's the general idea. When you've played enough, this will all be natural, and you won't have to think about it, but we haven't, so it isn't. A lot of stuff actually goes into playing pool, and I don't think making sure your shots take more than 10 seconds, completely covers the complexity of the subject.
I think this stuff is a lot, and if you don't want to touch it, that's fine. So I think for the moment, focusing your attention on trying to have a good solid, smooth stroke would be a better goal, than trying to take more than 10 seconds. Instead, try focusing on pausing after your warm up strokes with your tip at the cueball, nice smooth backswing, pause, accelerate, follow-through-pause.
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I sould suggest just doing what feels natural for you.
Some players are slow and that works for them. For me I have to keep a little faster pace. If I don't then I tend to miss more. I suppose it's the whole study long study wrong.
I agree with this. A beginner will not get down on the shot the same every time, so they need a little wiggle room.
It all depends on whether or not I got the position I wanted on the next ball.
If so, my PSR probably takes 7-10 seconds.
If not, it's PSR + 20 seconds or so. Anything longer than that and I'll forget where I am and what I'm doing. :grin:
Safety battles are another story; figuring out a good kick shot might go 30+ seconds.
IMHO, only you can determine your pace. Maybe set a timer (iphone, friend, etc) for 20 seconds and see if that's rushing you or comfortable. Adjust and adjust again.
If so, my PSR probably takes 7-10 seconds.
If not, it's PSR + 20 seconds or so. Anything longer than that and I'll forget where I am and what I'm doing. :grin:
Safety battles are another story; figuring out a good kick shot might go 30+ seconds.
IMHO, only you can determine your pace. Maybe set a timer (iphone, friend, etc) for 20 seconds and see if that's rushing you or comfortable. Adjust and adjust again.
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minimum
I think the OP is looking for a minimum time needed between shots, not a maximum for the shot. In other words, they're asking if five seconds between shots is enough time to choose and execute effectively.
There is a paradox here. An experienced player needs less time than an intermediate player to plan and execute most shots, but will take more time than a beginner in difficult situations.
A beginner looks for the easiest shot to pocket and fires away. A player choosing a shot that increases their chance of winning the game generally takes just a bit longer.
I see patterns and options pretty quickly, but there have been many times when it took me more than 30 seconds to choose and execute a critical shot from a difficult position. On the other side of the coin, even if I'm in dead stroke, I would rarely shoot two shots in five seconds, at least not in competition.
I think the OP is looking for a minimum time needed between shots, not a maximum for the shot. In other words, they're asking if five seconds between shots is enough time to choose and execute effectively.
There is a paradox here. An experienced player needs less time than an intermediate player to plan and execute most shots, but will take more time than a beginner in difficult situations.
A beginner looks for the easiest shot to pocket and fires away. A player choosing a shot that increases their chance of winning the game generally takes just a bit longer.
I see patterns and options pretty quickly, but there have been many times when it took me more than 30 seconds to choose and execute a critical shot from a difficult position. On the other side of the coin, even if I'm in dead stroke, I would rarely shoot two shots in five seconds, at least not in competition.
Thanks. And yes, looking for opinions on minimum reasonable time. Example, there are situations, say in straight pool, where you can make two or three shots in five seconds each. But are you just getting over zealous in that moment because they're easy shots, and forgetting to think about precision? Will something that warns you that you're playing faster than you should be help keep players from losing focus?
This is a question without an answer.
You can explain what they need to do, but not how long they should do that in. It's a "PER SHOT SITUATION".
Look at some players like Baretta, she spends half a minute just getting into her stance for each shot.
You can explain what they need to do, but not how long they should do that in. It's a "PER SHOT SITUATION".
Look at some players like Baretta, she spends half a minute just getting into her stance for each shot.
You cant really determine how long it takes to analyze three or four shots or a table run. Every shot is different. People set up shots different ways. You have to go through your progressions. Figure out what 3-4 shots you want to pocket. How your going to pocket them. Where you want the cue ball. Wether you need english, draw, or follow to get it in that spot. etc....... The more you play the less you have to think about these type of things. Go through your pre shot routine. Pool takes time. If you/someone is just starting STOP WORRYING HOW FAST you need to go. Take your time. Pool is a very complicated game and it takes awhile to learn. Kids learn to walk before they can run. We all need to see that pool is the same way. ENJOY IT.
Mike
Mike
I think it is good for a beginner to go through a complete shot routine. The start of that is deciding what to do. It takes some beginner a long time to do that.
How long does it take you to go through your shot routine? What do you include in that routine?
You have to take long enough to figure out what shot you're going to shoot; this might take a while if you'e in a tough situation, or might take no time at all if you already figured out the whole run before your last shot, and you got the position you wanted for this shot. But in either case, if you didn't take long enough to mentally commit to exactly what shot you're trying to shoot, and visualize the exact action of each ball, you shot too soon.
Then you have to take enough time to execute your preshot routine. Mine currently goes: chalk, stand on the line from the OB to the pocket to judge the angle, stand back from the table on the line from the CB to OB, step into the shot and get into my stance, practice stroke two or 3 times, pause, focus on the OB, fire. For me, if I skipped any of those steps or did any of them halfway, I shot too soon. For you, it'll probably be slightly different steps, but you have to know them and you have to allow enough time to complete them every single shot.
There's an extra bit of time you need sometimes to compose yourself, and it's difficult to learn how to tell when you need it. Sometimes it's after a good shot, where you have to give yourself an extra moment to "come down" before you can expect your best results on the next shot. Sometimes it's after a bad shot where you have to forgive yourself and recompose before you can move on. Sometimes it's after a distraction. If you needed this extra moment, and you didn't allow time for it, you shot too soon.
What does it all add up to, numerically? No idea. Hopefully the preshot routine itself isn't too long (10 seconds, maybe?), but the other two factors are highly variable shot to shot.
-Andrew
Then you have to take enough time to execute your preshot routine. Mine currently goes: chalk, stand on the line from the OB to the pocket to judge the angle, stand back from the table on the line from the CB to OB, step into the shot and get into my stance, practice stroke two or 3 times, pause, focus on the OB, fire. For me, if I skipped any of those steps or did any of them halfway, I shot too soon. For you, it'll probably be slightly different steps, but you have to know them and you have to allow enough time to complete them every single shot.
There's an extra bit of time you need sometimes to compose yourself, and it's difficult to learn how to tell when you need it. Sometimes it's after a good shot, where you have to give yourself an extra moment to "come down" before you can expect your best results on the next shot. Sometimes it's after a bad shot where you have to forgive yourself and recompose before you can move on. Sometimes it's after a distraction. If you needed this extra moment, and you didn't allow time for it, you shot too soon.
What does it all add up to, numerically? No idea. Hopefully the preshot routine itself isn't too long (10 seconds, maybe?), but the other two factors are highly variable shot to shot.
-Andrew
You can always take half as much time as you did on the shot before.
Ga-ron-teed.
Ga-ron-teed.