Talking about practice
- Thread starter couldnthinkof01
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Outstanding watch! Worth every minute!
My key takeaways:
- Playing the ghost is better than drilling (random progressive practice)
- PSR for every ball
- HAMB
My key takeaways:
- Playing the ghost is better than drilling (random progressive practice)
- PSR for every ball
- HAMB
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So much good information packed into an hour
I don't know about that--because you don't see all the shots you need playing the ghost. What I would take away from the golf video instead is: don't do the Mighty X drill for an hour (something I do). Instead, hit a Mighty X shot, then hit a shot down the rail into the corner pocket, then hit a middle of the table shot into the corner pocket with follow, then hit a thin cut into the side pocket going 2/3 rails with running english for position, then hit some sort of draw shot, then hit a stun shot for position, then start the sequence over. In other words, package 4 or more shots that you want to work on in a sequence rather than block practicing each one for 20 minutes (which is what I do).
Then play the ghost some.
The result: you will most likely miss more of your Mighty X shots, which will make you think you aren't improving at the Mighty X drill, but your overall shot making WILL improve. The reason: your brain quickly adapts to the same shot over and over again, and it doesn't learn anything new repeating the same shot more than a couple of times in a row. But when you stress your brain by changing up the shot, it has a harder time figuring out the different shots, which makes your brain learn more.
Interesting video. Thanks for sharing it.
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I did not say that drills should be avoided. I was and am making a comparison to the ideas presented in the video.I don't know about that--because you don't see all the shots you need playing the ghost. What I would take away from the golf video instead is: don't do the Mighty X drill for an hour (something I do). Instead, hit a Mighty X shot, then hit a shot down the rail into the corner pocket, then hit a middle of the table shot into the corner pocket with follow, then hit a thin cut into the side pocket going 2/3 rails with running english for position, then hit some sort of draw shot, then hit a stun shot for position, then start the sequence over. In other words, package 4 or more shots that you want to work on in a sequence rather than block practicing each one for 20 minutes (which is what I do).
Then play the ghost some.
The result: you will most likely miss more of your Mighty X shots, which will make you think you aren't improving at the Mighty X drill, but your overall shot making WILL improve. The reason: your brain quickly adapts to the same shot over and over again, and it doesn't learn anything new repeating the same shot more than a couple of times in a row. But when you stress your brain by changing up the shot, it has a harder time figuring out the different shots, which makes your brain learn more.
Interesting video. Thanks for sharing it.
If I spend 80% of the time doing drills, I equate that to just hitting balls on the driving range or hitting 5’ putts on the chalk line. If I am only hitting balls and not practicing random jump shots or working on safety play or practicing my 1-hole break. It is like the pro in the video just using his 60* for all his chips and pitches. So finding the right % and dialing in the ideas around more goal oriented practice is my absolute key takeaway.
As the instructor’s point in the video was, I already know that 5x5=25
ETA: Pool seems to be a game of controlled randomness. I would rather drill than play the ghost but, for me, I need to spend more time with that bastard…
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Honestly I definitely stick to those 3 things. I try to mix up doing some drills in between playing the ghost. But my drills these days is more stroke drills then anything. Long straight draw, stop and follow shots. Things that take a strong consistent stroke.
I say over and over that truly beneficial practice requires feedback- either from a person present with you who knows how to analyze your stroke or by video and video review of your practice sessions.
Your results in this game ( ball pocketing and cue ball landing spot) are a direct result of your aim and stroke. Aim is learned by trial and error with resulting adjustments . Stroke cannot be seen unless one of the two options above is present during your practice.
Your results in this game ( ball pocketing and cue ball landing spot) are a direct result of your aim and stroke. Aim is learned by trial and error with resulting adjustments . Stroke cannot be seen unless one of the two options above is present during your practice.
Why play the Ghost? Well if you have both hands, play one against the other.
Sometimes you can feel that your stroke was off, and sometimes it feels great and the cue ball does exactly the right thing. Even when it feels great, you could still have a flaw that needs a different viewpoint.
Here's a kind of drill that doesn't fall into the repeated shot category. It's for players who need work on their position play. I call it bump pool, not to be confused with "bumps" which is another word for bank pool.
Break open a rack of 10 or 15 balls. Free break, scratches don't count. On every shot you have cue ball in hand. On the first shot, choose any ball to be pocketed and also call the next ball. The called next ball has to move during the shot. The easiest way to make the next ball move is by shooting in the first ball and then bumping the next ball with the cue ball. There are other ways to make the next ball move during the shot. Hint: think combinations and kiss shots as well as hitting the next ball first.
Where you bump the next ball to is important, but that will require more advanced skill.
A much harder version of this is rotation with either six or nine balls. You have to hit the lowest first and pocket some ball and move what will be the next. For this, you can repeat each shot up to three times because the bump requirement is really, really hard at rotation.
A general comment about drills: I think each shot during practice should be at least a little different than the one before. That's a fundamental principle in the progressive practice style of drill. Maybe have three identical shots in a row at maximum, unless you are working on a specific problem with your mechanics.
Break open a rack of 10 or 15 balls. Free break, scratches don't count. On every shot you have cue ball in hand. On the first shot, choose any ball to be pocketed and also call the next ball. The called next ball has to move during the shot. The easiest way to make the next ball move is by shooting in the first ball and then bumping the next ball with the cue ball. There are other ways to make the next ball move during the shot. Hint: think combinations and kiss shots as well as hitting the next ball first.
Where you bump the next ball to is important, but that will require more advanced skill.
A much harder version of this is rotation with either six or nine balls. You have to hit the lowest first and pocket some ball and move what will be the next. For this, you can repeat each shot up to three times because the bump requirement is really, really hard at rotation.
A general comment about drills: I think each shot during practice should be at least a little different than the one before. That's a fundamental principle in the progressive practice style of drill. Maybe have three identical shots in a row at maximum, unless you are working on a specific problem with your mechanics.
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Practice is hard. I mean that to practice as you play the game and not goof off during your session. When I goof off by one or two stroking shots, not caring if I miss and not bearing down that actually hurts your game. I try to end every session by trying as hard as I can to execute the drill exactly as I would during a match.
I don’t think that practicing the same shot
over and over is productive unless it is a shot that always gives you trouble and you need to build some confidence, but even then don’t get burned out on it.
Devote some time to practice on what you need for your whole game, draw, follow, stop .. etc.
I think one of the most productive practice sessions, for me, is to set a ball off the second diamond of a long rail and shoot it into the corner pocket. The CB should come straight across to the second diamond of the opposite long rail. Start with CB at approx a 30 degree angle. Once you’ve mastered that have the CB go to the diamond closest to the corner on the opposite rail and then the side. Then alter the angle of the CB or place OB off another diamond and send CB to different targets.
This works for your whole game off any rail. I am surprised at how many players I’ve watched lose a game because they couldn’t make their ball on one short rail and simply move the CB to a spot on the short rail on the other end of the table
over and over is productive unless it is a shot that always gives you trouble and you need to build some confidence, but even then don’t get burned out on it.
Devote some time to practice on what you need for your whole game, draw, follow, stop .. etc.
I think one of the most productive practice sessions, for me, is to set a ball off the second diamond of a long rail and shoot it into the corner pocket. The CB should come straight across to the second diamond of the opposite long rail. Start with CB at approx a 30 degree angle. Once you’ve mastered that have the CB go to the diamond closest to the corner on the opposite rail and then the side. Then alter the angle of the CB or place OB off another diamond and send CB to different targets.
This works for your whole game off any rail. I am surprised at how many players I’ve watched lose a game because they couldn’t make their ball on one short rail and simply move the CB to a spot on the short rail on the other end of the table