Caught a two-pack on camera.

[Double-Dave]

I brought my camera to the poolhall yesterday thinking I'd try and tape a break and run. After warming up for half an hour I racked for a game of 8-ball and set up the camera. I broke off, ran the rack, set it up again and ran the table again! Obviously this isn't my average result on a first try but still I couldn't resist posting the video. I'm still learning the camera, the video keeps going in and out of focus, I think I need to get the table more centered in the shot. The video seems to stay in focus better when I'm at the table shooting.

The first break went well, I tried to get the 15 earlier but had too much angle after potting the ball in the side. I didn't get a good angle of the third to last object ball either, so I had to kiss the 6 which went badly aswell. Got a little (uhuh) lucky on the position on the 8 and a little cocky on the commentary please forgive. I was expecting some sort of shot on the 8 with the speed I had in the cueball, but not this easy.
The second break I lost the rock, but the runout went pretty much as planned, except for the position on the 7, I underhit the 6 a little. Came up dry on the next break.
Any comments are appreciated.

gr. Dave

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQpwbfx7bgU

 

[StevenPWaldon]

If it's got a manual setting, set it manually to focus on the table. The auto-focus can't tell whether you're trying to tape the table or what's happening fore or aft of it when there's no movement on it.

 

[Solartje]

IS THERE LIFE ON PLUTOOOOOOOO......
WONNA DANCE ON THE MOOOOOON.... TRALALALALA

got to love the music on the background how can u concentrate with THAT

nice break, not the most powerfull, but effective. really helped the runout.

ok first things id notice (maybe because im working on those area's too)

first rack: your elbow is dropping alot in the adressing strokes. im not a big fan of the biscicle movement. But your bodymovement is still, you dont move your head, so the body movement is ok.
you dont forget to chalk with each shot.

what i notice on the next shots, is something im doing ALOT too, and ... well it aint good. we walk around the table (close to the cussions) and stop once we are close to being in place and then just throw our body on the table. Try to walk further from the table. I suggest u check up blackjacks instructional video where he talks about the different 3d space around a table. There are 2 zones. U have to walk around the table, further from the table, then align your body and cue to the shot, and then STEP IN the playing Zone.


on my picture, u can see 2 zones. the outer zone is where u walk around, where u check the spread, where balls can be pocket, where u chalk, where u do ALL the thinking part. once ive got you PLAN mastered.

Walk in the outerzone untill u are STRAIGHT on the shot. then relax, chalk up, and Step slowly into the second inner zone. usually 1 or 2 steps. not much more. once you are close to the table, and your feet are in the right place, slowly put your cue one handed on the table and watch from ABOVE if you are aligned. you eyes can see the alignment BETTER from above. Once u SEE you cue is aligned, bend you body down and around the cue.

Look at the snookerplayers on BBC this weekend, and check what i mean.

your adressing strokes are almost always identical. 4 quick strokes and SHOOT. so uve got that part already equal on almost all shots of same difficulty.

i would have played the first shot differently. instead of drawing it back wich makes the shot alot harder, and makes u shoot the shot with more power (aka more deflection trow etc... wich makes it harder to pot), just let the CB run true and make a 1 rail positional shot with the short rail (if possible, hard ro judge from this angle). and the last positional shot... 1 rail would have been enough


2d rack: here is a perfect example of not using the 2 zones. u put your tshirt in your pants in the innerzone CLOSE to the table. this zone is ONLY for bending down and shooting. All the thinking and preparation work (like putting your tshirts in the pants, should be done in the outer zone) once that is done, STEP IN the inner zone.

On the third shot, you are already adressing the CB before you are fully bend down... first put your body in position, only then start doing the preparation work for the actual shot.


ps nice 2rack i just tried to post EVERYTHING that i could find that u might change, u wont improve with just saying: WOW nice racks m8 gratz

try to find this blackjack video im talking about... cant remember and cant check the name where he talks about the 2 zones around a table. u will see that doing this will make you more consistent.

Body aligment is THE main raison why many people miss shots, ME including, and dont worry, im doing the SAME mistakes you are doing, its hard to change habits...

hope my post helped you ...

greats m8 ! and hope to play vs you one day keep up the good work

 

[Double-Dave]

Thanks Solly! That's a lot of info to take in, let me work on it! Rep coming your way!

It's the first "real" video I shot of myself, and one can learn alot from it. The elbow drop for example, is not something I do consciously, I also grew up watching snooker on the BBC (some display by Ronnie a few days back huh, 98% potting....insane!) and took my approach of off them. It's hard to judge, but I do think it only happens after contacting the cueball. Same with lining up the shot, I started off a long time ago, laying my cue on the rail in line with the shot, and then step into it. That must have worn off somewhere down the line, but it comes back to me when I'm struggling. Indeed something I can work on. I'm also noticing more body movement when I can't get completely down on a shot, another area I can improve.

The very first shot was too straight for follow, I could have played it with more draw and less power I guess, but this is what felt best to play at the time. Position on the 8 was pure luck obviously, I expected to hit the 8 or the 3 and didn't want to get hooked, juiced it a bit too much.

gr. Dave

 

[Solartje]

glad i could point u out some points with my not so big pool knowledge

thx for the reps