Pre-shot routine
- Thread starter SeniorTom
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SeniorTom
Well-known member
I appreciate all the reply so far, thanks! A problem of buying that Creeps in to my shot is probably something that haunts a lot of people. That being missing my shot because I am focused too much on where the cue ball is going to end up at. I seem to focus back and forth between making my shot and being concerned where the cue ball is going to end up, hence missing the shot too often. I was wondering if anybody includes an item in the PSR to help with this particular issue?
Another good book is "In Pursuit of Excellence" by Terry Orlick.
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I think the final decision for that has to be when you are down on the shot. If it doesn't feel like "ball in the hole, cue ball to its spot", then you have to get back up and regroup.
As far as practice for that, you need to start practicing precise position. The Wagon Wheel is one such exercise. There are a bunch of them in the Billiard University stuff. Put an object ball on the foot spot, cue ball in hand, make the OB in a pocket and leave the cue ball on the head spot without touching a cushion. Do that for all six pockets.
I try to never glance the rail until after the pocket opens. The tighter the pocket the more this rule applies.
tomatoshooter
Well-known member
I started focusing on starting firm on the shot and really noticing exactly where the cue ball was when it hit the object ball,I found out stating down on the spot is not just important from a "mechanical" perspective, but from an observational one, too.
I learned to count down my practice strokes 3-2-1- SHOOT! I've since adjusted my PSR to fit me a bit, and I'm still fine tuning it.
Here's Barry on the PSR.
1. Stand on the line of centers between CB and OB, your navel on that line and your body perpendicular to this line, ignoring the pocket
2. Note the aim target from here
3. Step into the full stance, right handers will often have part of their foot on the shot line and the left foot parallel to the shot line, one comfortable step forward
4. Assess CB aim with cue tip/tip gap -- if too far from CB, stand up again and start again, standing closer to the CB
5. Assess OB and start practice strokes
Every pool pro has a PSR.
Tim Gallway in Tennis and Inner Game of Golf describes his PSRs for both spots.
What you are describing is a good way to increase awareness, to build a PSR from scratch/tear down and rebuild a pool PSR.
Work with a “certified” SPF instructor… it’s a great system. If you cannot get live/personal lessons try it virtually. It’ll set you straight.. no pun
Having well rehearsed PSR in your back pocket will pull you out of playing slumps within racks, rather than have you struggling for days. An ingrained PSR will square away your mechanics and settle you mentally. I consider mine a coping mechanism these days, when things are going bad.
Day in, day out, I don't follow my PSR. However when I'm attempting to get dialed in, focused, or need to ignore outside influence (music, moving crowds) I'll bring it out. It used to start with my chalking in my snooker days, but now it's more so when I step into the shot. Anyone that suggests that you don't need one, just wants your money.
If there is a strong and more importantly very consistent shooter at your local room. I suggest watching for his PSR and copy it. If you're so new that you can't spot a PSR, then simply ask the regulars who the top player is and go from there. If that fails, then I'll repeat researching Ronnie O'Sullivan. He's a rather fast shooter, but his PSR from step in is as good as it gets.
Day in, day out, I don't follow my PSR. However when I'm attempting to get dialed in, focused, or need to ignore outside influence (music, moving crowds) I'll bring it out. It used to start with my chalking in my snooker days, but now it's more so when I step into the shot. Anyone that suggests that you don't need one, just wants your money.
If there is a strong and more importantly very consistent shooter at your local room. I suggest watching for his PSR and copy it. If you're so new that you can't spot a PSR, then simply ask the regulars who the top player is and go from there. If that fails, then I'll repeat researching Ronnie O'Sullivan. He's a rather fast shooter, but his PSR from step in is as good as it gets.
WobblyStroke
Well-known member
This often stems from a poor conceptualization of the shot....which is obv a part of every preshot routine. When you visualize the shot, it should be the full shot....pot and CB position. The two lines of the balls in your mind need to make sense and 'fit'. This is actually a part of my aiming in that planning for how the CB will react off the OB helps me hit the OB in the spot it needs to be hit for the CB to do what I want. That spot needs to be a match to the spot on the OB that sends the ball in the pocket. But, if I mess up how I conceptualize the shot and the lines in my head for the two balls don't fit, a different contact with the OB is required for each, and I'm left in an either-or spot where I can pot the ball and miss the shape, or make sure of the shape at the cost of the pot.
This issue is closely related to the important 'analysis' portion of the shot routine in which we assess what happened and if it fit our expectations for how the balls would behave. If they didn't, we use that information to build a better conceptualization of the shot next time. You can work on learning ball reactions in a variety of drills like the wheelwagon drill like Bob suggested or Buddy Hall's clock drill for a set shot that allows you to see how the CB behaves when hit at 1 o'clock, 2 o'clock, etc. and remember those tracks on the table so that next time you are faced with the shot you will at least conceptualize it correctly and match up tip position with the intended paths of both the OB and CB.
As your conceptualization of shots gets better and the lines match up more, you will find yourself in fewer either-or spots where you are left to choose between focusing on the pot and missing position or focusing on position and missing the pot. It is as much a game knowledge thing as it is a focus thing.
Maryjane and jaegermeister
Can you introduce me to Mary J Baggs? I hear she did great work for everyone.
I don't feel I plan where the CB goes, rather I recognize where it will go. We aren't defying physics up in hrrre.
Once one has an accurate recognition of what is actually happening, English and speed can then tweak the end result, but the possibile outcome(s) of a given shot are not infinite.
A wise manen.says, '...players often say they've missed a shot because of incorrect speed, English or contact point, though.the primary reason is they have chosen the wrong shot.'
And jaegermeister.
Absolutely! I still remember in my first Big event, when I was oh so nervous.......self to self was. Just do it by the numbers. Of course after all these years I don't use the numbers but the steps are still there.
It's a habit now. Building good habits from day 1 is so much easier than modifying or breaking bad habits.WobblyStroke
Well-known member
Ye it's generally a good idea for one's plans to not be in disagreement with physics.
...and jaegermeister
If in the course of practice I find myself abbreviating, it's time for a break.
See Mark Wilson's "Play Great Pool". He describes in great detail all the steps he advocates from the PSR to striking the cue ball, which includes proper grip, proper stance, how to bridge, proper bridge length, and what your eyes should be doing during your practice strokes. He also wants players to do an honest self evaluation every so often to determine if they are doing all the steps fully and correctly. It's a super high quality, hard cover book.
Mark Wilson comes from the Jerry Briesath line of teaching.
Mark Wilson comes from the Jerry Briesath line of teaching.
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