PoolSharkAllen said:Willie,
What's this 3 phase, 6 week program that you're in? Are there any tips on practicing that you can share with us?
Shark-man,
Well, I will post this info; but ONLY because you asked. I am not promoting any "miracle cure" regimens; but I can tell you what I've been doing. The program was set up for me (loosely) by Mark Wilson (4 visits over about 2 years). Each area is designed to improve a perceived area of my weakness, may not be suitable for everyone. In addition, there are a LOT of guidelines for each of these drills that I am not posting, that are specific so that the drill will reinforce the stroke principles that he teaches.
The initial work was on developing a consistent stroke - ultra-precise, ultra-repeatable, pressure resistant. This took me about a year working on little else other than the "Power Stroke" drills (I have detailed them several other places here on the forum). At the end of that time, he thought that my best stroke was good enough (if I could just repeat it every time).
Once I developed an understanding of the mechanics necessary for an ultra-precise stroke; I found that I still would miss makeable balls on occasion; and still could not run more than 30 or 40 in straight pool without missing. It was then necessary for Mark to set up a program to help develop the necessary "mental toughness" and focus necessary to keep a consistent stroke going long enough to run a significant number of balls. In addition he added a number of drills to start me working on some of the finer points of pool like breaking/caroms/kicking/defense (which I had totally neglected in my single-minded drive to develop a decent stroke). This is the 3 phase program I mentioned. Here it is:
Phase 1 – The main thing is to deliver your absolute best stroke mechanics on EVERY shot in the drill. There is little point to this workout if you do not already have a “perfect stroke” that you are trying to groove – the objective is to deliver this stroke perfectly for longer and longer periods of time. Do these 5 exercises every day for 14 days ( I am actually doubling this to 28 days, with the approval of the instructor). This phase takes close to 2 hours to complete if you are diligent in your setup and analysis.
#1 - 10 power breaks; 1 point for each ball made, 1 point each time the cue ball rests in the middle zone of the table (one diamond on either side of the side pockets.
#2 – 10 lags. Shoot from foot spot to center of head rail, back to foot rail; 1 point for each time the cue ball passes directly over the foot spot (dead center). This is the Steve Davis drill (he likes it).
#3 – Break 10 full racks. Take ball in hand each time and try to run the entire rack without missing. Your score is the number of balls you make each time (max = 150 for the 10 racks) before missing. You can’t run balls in straight pool without the mental and physical consistency necessary to run balls in this drill.
#4 – 10 rail shots. Place cue ball on the foot spot. Freeze an object ball to the rail, one diamond past the side pocket, shoot 5 cutting to your right, then 5 from the other side, cutting to your left; 1 point for each ball made (if you delivered a perfect stroke – be honest).
#5 – 10 position shots. Put an 8 ½ x 11 piece of paper in the center of the table (long axis towards the side pockets). Object ball on the foot spot, cue ball near the paper (on a line between the side pockets) so you have about a 45 degree cut on the object ball. Pocket the object ball, and bring the cue ball 2 rails back onto the paper – USING NO SIDE ENGLISH, striking the cueball on the vertical axis (ie. using forward stun to achieve the position). Shoot 5 on each side, one point for landing the cue ball on the paper (you must also pocket the object ball successfully, but no extra points for that).
Phase 2 – This phase is done daily for 3 weeks.
#1 – 10 lags. This time with 3 rails of speed, start at foot spot, shoot to head rail to foot rail back to freeze on head rail. One point for every one that passes back directly over the foot spot.
#2 – 30 straight shots. Shoot cue ball directly into a far corner pocket. Set up a “gauntlet” of 2 balls about a diamond and a half away from the target pocket; the space between the 2 gauntlet balls is 2 3/4 inches (room for the cue ball plus an extra ½ inch). Shoot 10 with center ball, 10 with extreme draw, and 10 with extreme follow. One point for each shot made without touching a “gauntlet ball”.
#3 – 10 “Stun off the rail” shots. Set cueball at the 2nd diamond of a long rail, set the cue ball ¼ to ½ inch off the rail. You will be shooting a straight in shot at the corner pocket on the same end of the table, object ball about halfway between the cue ball and the corner pocket. Now elevate the cue and deliver a stop shot one point for every success (no draw or follow, cue ball must stop and object ball must drop).
#4 – 150 bank shots. Scatter all 15 balls (away from the pockets). Now bank all 15 in (ball in hand for EVERY shot). Do 10 racks, just keep track of your “high run” (most made in a row without missing) for each 10 rack session.
#5 – Eye motion/setup exercise – Cue ball on head spot, object ball at the far end, near a corner pocket (at the intersection of the first diamonds away from that corner pocket). Go through your pre-shot routine, get down to the ball, then examine the cueball & object ball to see if you are lined up properly. NO PRACTICE SWINGS. If you do not feel alignment is correct, then stand up and start over. Keep repeating until you succeed in getting down in perfect alignment. Once that is achieved, then move your eyes back and forth from cue ball to object ball confirming alignment (again, NO PRACTICE SWINGS). With eyes on cue ball start your backswing as you simultaneously move your eyes to focus on the object ball. Main goals are to make the eye movement routine part of your swing routine, and to standardize the rhythm of these. Also to improve your ability to "step into the shot" and set up properly and EXACTLY without a lot of adjustment once you are down (in this drill there is NO adjustment or practice swings when down, you've got to get it right as you move into the stance).
Phase 3 – Daily for 1 week
#1 – Billiard exercise. Place 2 object balls close together, cue ball in hand. Make cue ball contact both balls. If a ball goes into a pocket, spot it. Play 10 minutes, keep track of your high run. Study Daly’s billiard book before starting; to learn the subtleties of driving, gathering, and nursing.
#2 – Rotation. Full rack. Power break. Ball in hand. Play a set of 10 racks. A rack is over when you fail to pocket a ball. Record the number of balls pocketed each rack.
#3 – Object ball position drill. Put cue ball in center of table, object ball frozen on the short rail just to one side of center. Place a piece of paper (8 ½ x 11) along the long rail at the 2nd diamond. Take 10 shots at driving the object ball to come to rest on the piece of paper. One point for each success (object ball resting on paper). Now do 10 more, this time sideways; cue ball and object ball lined up at about the 2nd diamond on the long rail with the target at the center of the short rail. Give yourself a slight angle.
#4 – Kick caroms. Place 2 object balls close together. Now take cue ball in hand, kick to a rail, and hit both object balls after the cue ball hits a rail. Accept balls where they lie and try again. Cue ball must always touch a rail first, then must hit both object balls to be a success. When you miss, re-set the 2 object balls close together and try again. Play for 10 minutes, note your high run (3 is very, very, very good).
#5 – Nomination drill. Full rack. Power break. Now you may pocket any ball, but you MUST declare your next ball before shooting each shot (and you MUST subsequently shoot at the one you declared no matter how hideously you missed shape). Do 10 racks. Your rack ends when you fail to make a ball.
P.S. - I have several "straight pool drills" that I do daily during 14.1 league season that are specific to the game and only take about 15 minutes to complete.
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. other poolhalls are either filled with mafia , too dangourous, or im not alowed to train for hours. the owner usually kicks me out after a hour. now ive got to take public transport.. blahaha im babling. (it frustrates me, but ive got alot of time ahead of me) 
what im saying is that this is my first year only, and i just cant afford to really be training. BUT that doesnt stop me from starting to make my own training shedule for later. and your post couldnt have helped me more on finding a good training. feel free to pm me or post here more posts. each letter is worth its weight in gold.
will u mary me and train me? 
