Best Shape Drills

[dimeshooter]

I need to improve my cue ball control. I am looking to master up to 3 drills over the summer that will significantly improve my shape overall. I am a 580 Fargo Rate, so I am looking for more advanced drills. Any instructors have any recommendations?

Much appreciated!

Mike

 

[WobblyStroke]

Bert Kinister has excellent drills, many of which are on YT. Neils, a former student of his also posted some of them on his channel, including 'the 6-pointed star' which Feijen claims is the single best positional drill that works on many critical shots. He has broken that all-encompassing drill into segments that focus on just 2-3 shots as well, but the 6-pointed star is a monster drill. Don't expect to master it in a summer

 

[FranCrimi]

All drills aren't for everyone. They should be tailored for the individual player.
What is your game of preference?
On what size table?
How often do you play/practice?
Do you have a table at home? If so, what size?
What is your style of play? Do you prefer to use stun or do you prefer to roll the cue ball? Do you use a lot or a little side spin when you play?
Have you noticed a pattern when you miss position? A certain type of shot? A certain time in the game?

 

[dimeshooter]

All drills aren't for everyone. They should be tailored for the individual player.
What is your game of preference?
On what size table?
How often do you play/practice?
Do you have a table at home? If so, what size?
What is your style of play? Do you prefer to use stun or do you prefer to roll the cue ball? Do you use a lot or a little side spin when you play?
Have you noticed a pattern when you miss position? A certain type of shot? A certain time in the game?

Hi Fran,

Thanks for the response. We play mostly 8ball on 7 foot tables. I would say I average 1.5 hours a day. I have a 7foot valley at home. I rarely roll the cue ball. I am comfortable spinning the cue ball. I am the type of player who is always scrambling and making tough shots to run out. I feel like I am always out of line.

 

[WobblyStroke]

Hi Fran,

Thanks for the response. We play mostly 8ball on 7 foot tables. I would say I average 1.5 hours a day. I have a 7foot valley at home. I rarely roll the cue ball. I am comfortable spinning the cue ball. I am the type of player who is always scrambling and making tough shots to run out. I feel like I am always out of line.

I'd recommend Tor's pattern puzzle book. Esp for 8ball, choosing the correct, high percentage pattern for your current shot repertoire is half the battle if not more. The advanced drill I posted above is more for rotation players who are forced into those shots all the time. As an 8ball player, you'd often be choosing patterns full of simpler shots and only shoot those if absolutely necessary, so not the best fit for you.

I know you said you are looking for advanced drills, but if you are constantly out of line and having to shoot your way out racks then you either have a severe pattern problem or you really could use a lot more work on the basics of cue ball control. Doing ladder drills for stops, follows, and draws is a great way to become way more proficient at 'easy shots'....which they are, IF you practice them enough. If you're always out of line, you likely haven't.

Also, you say you don't really roll the ball much. Well a very good position/pattern drill is to find the easiest pattern where you can only stun/roll the ball. The simplest outs are full of simple natural rolls. Recognizing them and seeing how balls are connected is a huge part of 8 ball. It's great that you are comfortable spinning the ball but you are playing good 8ball when you don't have to.

Given that you are a 580fr, I'm sure you aren't out of line as often as you feel and likely have a solid understanding of positional principles. Just in case you need a refresher, Dr. Dave has some positional fundamentals vids as does Tor Lowry on YT, which will show you how to choose shots that make staying in line easier. Coming into the line of position instead of across it makes a massive difference in how often you are in line and the big difference is in shot choice, not shot execution.

So ye, long story short, as an 8baller, if you want to stay in line more, work on pattern puzzles and choose higher percentage positional shots. Simple ladder drills will help in execution but the big gains will come from decision making.

 

[FranCrimi]

Hi Fran,

Thanks for the response. We play mostly 8ball on 7 foot tables. I would say I average 1.5 hours a day. I have a 7foot valley at home. I rarely roll the cue ball. I am comfortable spinning the cue ball. I am the type of player who is always scrambling and making tough shots to run out. I feel like I am always out of line.

Great. Thanks for the info. So you're not playing on coin-ops with an oversized cue ball. That's important info. First, learn about the balls you're using. In many cases, the cb and ob weights don't match. If the cb is lighter, you'll get more draw than you expect and less follow. The opposite is true for a heavier cb. As you change tables, check for changes in the types of balls. In many cases, the cb gets replaced and it often doesn't match the set.

Also, if the balls you use at home don't match the ones you play with in league, you will have to make some adjustments because you won't get the reaction you practiced. All this is part of practicing your awareness and being able to adjust to changing conditions.

As you become aware of these things, you will learn to feel the differences and adjust accordingly during match play. You don't have to weigh the balls to feel the differences. So, remember: Knowledge is power. Understand variations in the equipment and you'll be ahead of your opponents.

I'm always cautious of drills because they can lock you into a particular mindset that doesn't necessarily benefit you in real game play.

To me, the most important aspect of position play that made me a better player was improving my observation, awareness and memory. If you make a mistake and then forget what it was, you're doomed to repeat it. Many times, all you need is to say after the mistake is: Okay. I hit that too hard, used too much spin, not enough spin, too soft, etc. and bank it in your memory. Take it to the practice table and practice it. THAT'S your drill.

If you can improve one shot every time you practice, think of how many shots you'll improve in a week, or a year! And --- you'll be addressing YOUR specific issues.

 

[Bob Jewett]

I need to improve my cue ball control. I am looking to master up to 3 drills over the summer that will significantly improve my shape overall. I am a 580 Fargo Rate, so I am looking for more advanced drills. Any instructors have any recommendations? ...

The Wagon Wheel -- Dr. Dave has a video of this.

An advanced form of the Wagon Wheel that I call the A to B Drill: Pick a random spot on the long string between the foot spot and the head spot (A) and another random spot anywhere on the table (B). On each shot, a ball goes on the A spot. You pick one of the six pockets. You have cue ball in hand and have to make the shot and leave the cue ball "close enough" to the B spot. The cue ball should not hit a cushion unless B is close to that cushion. See how well you can do in three or five tries for each of the six pockets. Second part: You have to use one cushion, so you have to choose the pocket and one of the six cushion sections. There are usually lots of different combinations of pocket and rail that can be made to work. Third phase: more than one cushion.

 

[Bob Jewett]

Hi Fran,

Thanks for the response. We play mostly 8ball on 7 foot tables. I would say I average 1.5 hours a day. I have a 7foot valley at home. I rarely roll the cue ball. I am comfortable spinning the cue ball. I am the type of player who is always scrambling and making tough shots to run out. I feel like I am always out of line.

Your first question on playing position from one ball to the next should be: Will it work to simply roll the cue ball?

 

[Bob Jewett]

... including 'the 6-pointed star' which Feijen claims is the single best positional drill that works on many critical shots. ....

I strongly disagree, at least for the original 6-pointed star. It has the object balls frozen on the cushions. Such shots are relatively rare, but there is a larger problem in practicing them. It is often hard for students to tell if they hit the ball too full or too thin. Move the balls a ball or even a chalk off the cushion and it is a much better drill.

 

[Bob Jewett]

There are a bunch of scored drills that are mostly position play in the Billiard University Exams. It's important to measure your progress They're free. Here's the website:

Billiard University (BU) - Billiard University (BU)

… training and testing for pool-playing excellence Reserve a spot now in a BU course to raise your game to the next level: Announcements Dr. Dave and the BU now offer a wide range of billiard-theme merchandise with a wide selection of graphic designs, print colors, shirt colors, shirt sizes, and...

billiarduniversity.org

Dr. Dave and I did a video series just on pool practice. You can buy it here or you can just look at the free accompanying material:

Video Encyclopedia of Pool Practice (VEPP) - Dr. Dave Billiards Instructional Products

“Drills for Skills … Your Guide to Perfect Pool Practice” by Dr. Dave Alciatore, PhD and Bob Jewett click on the Vol. links below to view example video clips from each DVD Vol. I – Fundamentals and Basic Position ControlVol. II – Position Control and EnglishVol. III – Patterns and Safety...

drdavebilliards.com

Here's the outline: https://drdavebilliards.com/documents/vepp/vepp_outline.pdf

But along the way, you have to figure out the shots you have trouble with. You need to find or make drills for those shots.

 

[WobblyStroke]

I strongly disagree, at least for the original 6-pointed star. It has the object balls frozen on the cushions. Such shots are relatively rare, but there is a larger problem in practicing them. It is often hard for students to tell if they hit the ball too full or too thin. Move the balls a ball or even a chalk off the cushion and it is a much better drill.

I wasn't aware that the Bert's original is frozen. Thought that was the advanced progression as Niels lays it out, suggesting players do indeed start with the balls off the cushion. Personally I love this drill for rotation. It just forces you into hitting tough unavoidable shots that always come up in 9b and 10b. But for OP, as an 8ball player, it is pretty useless.

 

[dimeshooter]

Thank you everyone for the responses!

 

[BC21]

Great. Thanks for the info. So you're not playing on coin-ops with an oversized cue ball. That's important info. First, learn about the balls you're using. In many cases, the cb and ob weights don't match. If the cb is lighter, you'll get more draw than you expect and less follow. The opposite is true for a heavier cb. As you change tables, check for changes in the types of balls. In many cases, the cb gets replaced and it often doesn't match the set.

Also, if the balls you use at home don't match the ones you play with in league, you will have to make some adjustments because you won't get the reaction you practiced. All this is part of practicing your awareness and being able to adjust to changing conditions.

As you become aware of these things, you will learn to feel the differences and adjust accordingly during match play. You don't have to weigh the balls to feel the differences. So, remember: Knowledge is power. Understand variations in the equipment and you'll be ahead of your opponents.

I'm always cautious of drills because they can lock you into a particular mindset that doesn't necessarily benefit you in real game play.

To me, the most important aspect of position play that made me a better player was improving my observation, awareness and memory. If you make a mistake and then forget what it was, you're doomed to repeat it. Many times, all you need is to say after the mistake is: Okay. I hit that too hard, used too much spin, not enough spin, too soft, etc. and bank it in your memory. Take it to the practice table and practice it. THAT'S your drill.

If you can improve one shot every time you practice, think of how many shots you'll improve in a week, or a year! And --- you'll be addressing YOUR specific issues.

100% agree that good awareness/observation is a must. That and the standard postional concept of sending the cb toward/into the next shot's postion zone (rather than across it) can drastically improve a player's postion play very quickly.