Anyone try Darren's "around the houses" drill? It's tough but fun.

[CreeDo]

I tried this drill with a buddy, scotch doubles style, and we struggled to
even get 3 balls. I love it though because it focuses on a common position shot
that requires a lot of touch and carries some risk.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cgEZpg2swKI

The basic pattern can be done with inside or outside english, 2 rails,
I find I really struggle with doing the inside english path and outside
feels a lot easier to judge. But if I'm being honest I struggle with both.

Has anyone tried it? Do you tend to do these shots with lots of spin
or more vertical axis and judging the speed? Do you find inside or outside
routes easier?

Darren makes it look so easy, spins the ball so effortlessly. The shots later on,
where you go to the side rail first, are so touchy... they're mostly a dead scratch
in the side so you need good touch to float just above the pocket and spin downhill.

 

[ChicagoJoe]

Wonder why inside feels so much different (and harder) than outside when there really shouldn't be a difference.

I've seen some of the drills that darren does and i really don't have the patience for them.

 

[garczar]

That's sick. That's way harder than he makes it look.

 

[garczar]

Wonder why inside feels so much different (and harder) than outside when there really shouldn't be a difference.

I've seen some of the drills that darren does and i really don't have the patience for them.

Inside English is a product of the Devil's workshop. It shouldn't be harder but it is.

 

[Spimp13]

That's sick. That's way harder than he makes it look.

I agree. That looks like a VERY challenging drill if you can't touch the balls that line up from side pocket to side pocket.

 

[Straightpool_99]

I tried this drill with a buddy, scotch doubles style, and we struggled to
even get 3 balls. I love it though because it focuses on a common position shot
that requires a lot of touch and carries some risk.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cgEZpg2swKI

The basic pattern can be done with inside or outside english, 2 rails,
I find I really struggle with doing the inside english path and outside
feels a lot easier to judge. But if I'm being honest I struggle with both.

Has anyone tried it? Do you tend to do these shots with lots of spin
or more vertical axis and judging the speed? Do you find inside or outside
routes easier?

Darren makes it look so easy, spins the ball so effortlessly. The shots later on,
where you go to the side rail first, are so touchy... they're mostly a dead scratch
in the side so you need good touch to float just above the pocket and spin downhill.

Not going to try this particular drill. I love challenging drills, but this seems to reinforce dangerous position play (flirting with scratches). It is impressively skillful and entertaining to watch though.

 

[Tooler]

I think trying it first with 3 balls lined up (side to side) then transitioning to 5 as you get comfortable (ha) with it, would keep mere mortals using it.

Way tough, but I love these kind of drills.

 

[drhanson]

I'm impressed by how well he went through that drill. The burning question I have: Is the dog in the upper left hand corner alive?

 

[CreeDo]

Wonder why inside feels so much different (and harder) than outside when there really shouldn't be a difference.

I've seen some of the drills that darren does and i really don't have the patience for them.

There's a sort of scientific reason actually.

All shots undercut a little due to collision induced throw, even if you have no spin.
Usually it's not enough to matter, but at some angles, if the shot's far from the pocket,
you might miss. You have to overcut a little on purpose to hit the middle of the pocket.

With outside english (gearing english) you can cancel that effect,
and make the ball go where you'd expect.
But with inside english, not only do you have the ball undercutting already from
collision induced throw, it might undercut even more due to spin induced throw.
So you really have to aim to completely overcut the shot, which just looks and feels weird.

 

[CreeDo]

I'm impressed by how well he went through that drill. The burning question I have: Is the dog in the upper left hand corner alive?

Modern science doesn't have all the answers. We may never know.
It could be that this is darren's secret.