Starting again after 20 years - where to start, please?

G

Gloor

Member
Hello everyone,

after 20+ years I've decided to pick this sport up again. Got a new cue, found a nice pool hall and started going 2x a week. Once I play with a friend and the second time I go and practice. My weakness in the past was draw shots and V (bank shots).
Went to a tournament and played with a pro who mentioned that my stroke could need improvement as he noticed that my draw shot is forcefully stopped instead of letting it go all the way to the chest (or so).

Anyway,
I'd like to ask what are the really good drills to practice overall. I've started with straight stop shots but I wonder what to do more.
Youtube is flooded with tons of drills but not all are beginners friendly which I've learnt the hard way when I tried to do 6 balls in L shape and 2 frozen on each side of the rail.

Any recommendations, please?

Anything you know is good for start is super helpful for me. Thank you kindly

P.s.: I got P3 with Revo 12.4
 
For where you're at right now, I would say focus on the basics, mechanics and just pocketing balls. If you're trying to look for stuff all on line, look for videos on stance, stroke, bridges, etc.

I found some basic books to be very helpful when I got started 30 years ago. 99 Critical Shots by Ray Martin is still my favorite book to recommend to new players, but I have a penchant for the classics. You can still get it on Amazon:


When you start to pocket balls with some confidence, you can go back to some of the "beginner's" drills you thought were too hard. The more you play, the easier it will be for you to define clear goals. That will make it easier to figure out what you need to work on. Right now, have fun playing the game and improving.
 
Gloor said:
Hello everyone,

after 20+ years I've decided to pick this sport up again. Got a new cue, found a nice pool hall and started going 2x a week. Once I play with a friend and the second time I go and practice. My weakness in the past was draw shots and V (bank shots).
Went to a tournament and played with a pro who mentioned that my stroke could need improvement as he noticed that my draw shot is forcefully stopped instead of letting it go all the way to the chest (or so).

Anyway,
I'd like to ask what are the really good drills to practice overall. I've started with straight stop shots but I wonder what to do more.
Youtube is flooded with tons of drills but not all are beginners friendly which I've learnt the hard way when I tried to do 6 balls in L shape and 2 frozen on each side of the rail.

Any recommendations, please?

Anything you know is good for start is super helpful for me. Thank you kindly

P.s.: I got P3 with Revo 12.4
Click to expand...
Gloor said:
Hello everyone,

after 20+ years I've decided to pick this sport up again. Got a new cue, found a nice pool hall and started going 2x a week. Once I play with a friend and the second time I go and practice. My weakness in the past was draw shots and V (bank shots).
Went to a tournament and played with a pro who mentioned that my stroke could need improvement as he noticed that my draw shot is forcefully stopped instead of letting it go all the way to the chest (or so).

Anyway,
I'd like to ask what are the really good drills to practice overall. I've started with straight stop shots but I wonder what to do more.
Youtube is flooded with tons of drills but not all are beginners friendly which I've learnt the hard way when I tried to do 6 balls in L shape and 2 frozen on each side of the rail.

Any recommendations, please?

Anything you know is good for start is super helpful for me. Thank you kindly

P.s.: I got P3 with Revo 12.4
Click to expand...
Gloor said:
Hello everyone,

after 20+ years I've decided to pick this sport up again. Got a new cue, found a nice pool hall and started going 2x a week. Once I play with a friend and the second time I go and practice. My weakness in the past was draw shots and V (bank shots).
Went to a tournament and played with a pro who mentioned that my stroke could need improvement as he noticed that my draw shot is forcefully stopped instead of letting it go all the way to the chest (or so).

Anyway,
I'd like to ask what are the really good drills to practice overall. I've started with straight stop shots but I wonder what to do more.
Youtube is flooded with tons of drills but not all are beginners friendly which I've learnt the hard way when I tried to do 6 balls in L shape and 2 frozen on each side of the rail.

Any recommendations, please?

Anything you know is good for start is super helpful for me. Thank you kindly

P.s.: I got P3 with Revo 12.4
Click to expand...

I would start with Dr. Dave’s videos on YouTube (and materials on his website).
 
Gloor said:
Hello everyone,

after 20+ years I've decided to pick this sport up again. Got a new cue, found a nice pool hall and started going 2x a week. Once I play with a friend and the second time I go and practice. My weakness in the past was draw shots and V (bank shots).
Went to a tournament and played with a pro who mentioned that my stroke could need improvement as he noticed that my draw shot is forcefully stopped instead of letting it go all the way to the chest (or so).

Anyway,
I'd like to ask what are the really good drills to practice overall. I've started with straight stop shots but I wonder what to do more.
Youtube is flooded with tons of drills but not all are beginners friendly which I've learnt the hard way when I tried to do 6 balls in L shape and 2 frozen on each side of the rail.

Any recommendations, please?

Anything you know is good for start is super helpful for me. Thank you kindly

P.s.: I got P3 with Revo 12.4
Click to expand...
go to youtube....
watch Lee Brett-
Excellent instruction for free-
He has 5 15 minute vids-starting from Bridging and and grip,
stance , etc.
Then maybe watch Youtube Tor Lowry-He also lists great Free vids...
THEN,'PRACTICE, PRACTICE , PRACTICE
 
A word of caution. When I came back after a long break, one of my biggest challenges was the tables themselves. All the bars and halls around my area switched from Valley's to Diamond's. "Systems" and "Drills" had to be adjusted for the bouncier rails.
 
Gloor said:
Hello everyone,

after 20+ years I've decided to pick this sport up again. Got a new cue, found a nice pool hall and started going 2x a week. Once I play with a friend and the second time I go and practice. My weakness in the past was draw shots and V (bank shots).
Went to a tournament and played with a pro who mentioned that my stroke could need improvement as he noticed that my draw shot is forcefully stopped instead of letting it go all the way to the chest (or so).

Anyway,
I'd like to ask what are the really good drills to practice overall. I've started with straight stop shots but I wonder what to do more.
Youtube is flooded with tons of drills but not all are beginners friendly which I've learnt the hard way when I tried to do 6 balls in L shape and 2 frozen on each side of the rail.

Any recommendations, please?

Anything you know is good for start is super helpful for me. Thank you kindly

P.s.: I got P3 with Revo 12.4
Click to expand...
I went on a long hiatus and came back but I was a pretty damn good pool player. Now I'm just pretty sporty one. How good are you is all I can ask?

I've had guys tell me they came back after 20 years and they shoot like shit so I know they didn't play that much from the past.

If you're a high level player then all you need to do is throw some balls on the table and start pocketing them. You will get back your stroke but if you're playing in tournaments after a long hiatus then things will be different. I had to get use to the players I was playing and everyone got better is what I noticed and playing with top notch equipment. The racks are with a template so everyone is not breaking dry.

If you never played much in the past then you will have to start from scratch. If you've played plenty than just throwing balls out there and playing other players will get you back to wherever you were.

My biggest obstacle was getting over people staring at me. It was a weird feeling to get back to people watching you.
 
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When I came back after a long vacation from pool, I got this advise, get the 9 and 10, throw it randomly on the table, ball in hand pocket the 9 ball and make sure you have shape for the 10, Repeat 5 times, if you can make this "drill" without missing for 5 times, add the 8 ball, repeat. if you miss remove the lowest numbered ball,if you make it 5 times without missing, add another ball....
 
still just shooting lots of balls will bring you to where you was.

its like walking you dont lose the basics.

you need to play more than what you imply.
 
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Welcome back and great choice of cue, P3 with a Revo is a fantastic choice for a great modern playing cue.

For instruction, I really like the material Tor Lowry puts out:

www.zerox-billiards.com

Zero-X Billiards - Free Pool Lessons

Dive into Zero-X Billiards' collection of free pool instruction videos. Elevate your game with expert tutorials and insights without spending a dime. Start learning today!
www.zerox-billiards.com www.zerox-billiards.com

I've watched some of his free videos and purchased his PKF book as well which I've really liked

www.zerox-billiards.com

PKF Pool Instruction | Zero-X Billiards | United States

PKF is a new book from Zero-X Billiards. This book covers over 100 topics of pool including 8-Ball strategy, 9-Ball strategy, fundamentals, ball pocketing, etc.
www.zerox-billiards.com www.zerox-billiards.com

But if you can find someone local to you who's regarded as a good instructor a couple sessions with them where you can get direct feedback in the moment that would likely be the best option.
 
There are 9 diamond positions lengthwise and 5 diamond positions widthwise; giving 45 positions for CB and another 44 positions for OB.

Place CB at the intersection of a lengthwise and widthwise diamond, and OB at a different intersection of diamond positions. Soot this shot 10 times. If you make the shot 8 times move positions until tired.

If you can make all 1980 shots over 90% of the time, it is time to play for real.
 
Gloor said:
Hello everyone,

after 20+ years I've decided to pick this sport up again. Got a new cue, found a nice pool hall and started going 2x a week. Once I play with a friend and the second time I go and practice. My weakness in the past was draw shots and V (bank shots).
Went to a tournament and played with a pro who mentioned that my stroke could need improvement as he noticed that my draw shot is forcefully stopped instead of letting it go all the way to the chest (or so).

Anyway,
I'd like to ask what are the really good drills to practice overall. I've started with straight stop shots but I wonder what to do more.
Youtube is flooded with tons of drills but not all are beginners friendly which I've learnt the hard way when I tried to do 6 balls in L shape and 2 frozen on each side of the rail.

Any recommendations, please?

Anything you know is good for start is super helpful for me. Thank you kindly

P.s.: I got P3 with Revo 12.4
Click to expand...
Don't let the looks of these shots fool you. They need practice to do perfectly. Very good drills and they allow you to keep track of your progress, if you want to record results.


They look easy but are pretty humbling.
 
Last edited:
I too returned after about a 20 year layoff. The thing that helped me most was “getting in the grease.“ Good luck.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Fore Rail said:
Where to you start?

You start by running away from these forums as fast as you possible can.
Click to expand...
Yes and no. There's good info, good instructors, repairs and table mechanics. Be selective who gets the attention.
 
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