New practice drill; please tell me what you think.

I like it although the standard Ghost Ball match has an edge...IMHO...since the first two innings of your drill...3-4...are pretty much a given for reasonably strong players.

In the Ghost, you are faced with 7-9 blockers which is a whole different ball game.

In addition, your drill, like the Ghost, lacks the CRITICAL element of safeties and escapes.

I'm working up a version of Ghost that permits safeties. I'm still tinkering but basically, if you call a safety (no slop) and leave the Ghost with at least a 2 rail kick, then you get BIH and continue the run.

I'm also messing around with allowing any hook...but if less than 2 rails, you shoot the Ghost's shot and if you escape, you have to play from where the balls end up. That allows for an intentionally poor escape shot but you would only be cheating yourself.

Regards,
Jim

You've re-invented one of the most common practice routines. It's called "progressive rotation", and is good because it keeps score for you, which is a strong incentive. The usual way of keeping score is to just keep on playing, adding or subtracting a ball after every success or failure. You'll hover around the number of balls you can consistently run out. I think the usual scoring method has the advantage of pushing you to improve your average rather than your occasional best.

pj
chgo

I personally like the 10 ball drill from Joe Tucker's Racking Secrets.

tjlmbklr said:

That is always been the reason i have trouble with these types of drills. There isn't any safety play I use safety play as much as I would a shot making play. It's all in the percentages. But that is why they are "These type of drills" Shot making is the key and only key.

I'd like to see you variation of the ghost drill. Please post when you work out the kinks.

Click to expand...

I've decided not to allow shooting the Ghost's shot. The Ghost is perfect...never misses...so if he escaped, he would leave you hooked back.

So, I am going the leave the game the way I originally posted it.

Here ya go.

Ghost Plus

Playing the Ghost has come up recently so I thought I'd offer a suggestion on a different way to play the Ghost.

My problem with using the traditional method in practice is that it is 100% offensive and therefore, ignores a very significant aspect of the game....safety play. So, I modified the game as follows:

1. Break the rack and remove any ball(s) as necessary to play the Ghost number you choose.

2. Play as normal EXCEPT you have the option to play a safety. If you achieve a hook, then you get ball in hand and continue. You get only 1 safety opportunity per rack. If you don't run out after the safety the Ghost wins.

3. Advanced Version. In order to get BIH, you must force a jump or at least a 2 rail kick. If you fail to do so, the Ghost wins that rack.

PS:
Some have commented that they would rather practice safeties separately and I agree with that. Ghost Plus is not a "drill." Rather, it is a practice "game" but one that allows both offense and defense and therefore, more closely measures the player's overall skill.