Rock Chalk
Registered
Hmmm... My first post and I don't know where to start. I'm a new member to the forum, however have actively read posts on the site for the past 5 months. I've always had a dormant passion for the game. Picked up a cue for the first time when I was 5-7 years old. So I guess you can say that I've been playing for about 25 years, but really only played regularly a few years back when in college and for the past year. I never gave much thought to my game, just played with friends here and there, a small tournament once in a while and whenever there was free time and a table. More recently, 4-5 months ago I became bored with the game. I should rephrase that. I wasn't bored with the game; I was bored with how I played the game.
It's not easy putting in words, "how I played the game," but I will give it a shot. I almost never ever played for position; I would just take what was given to me after each and every shot. I never thought too much about speed and control of the cue ball, although I did learn early on to shoot soft. I gave no thought about my preshot routine. And I never ever intentionally put side spin(English) on the cue ball. I always hit the ball in the middle, usually with a little top spin. I almost never put backspin on the ball. Up until now my philosophy was "Keep It Simple Stupid." I only played 8-Ball and 9-Ball once in a while. I don't think until this time I ever ran a table in either format.
So, instead of playing the same way I always have I decided to do a little research. That research included, purchasing a couple videos, books and reading everything I could find on the web. And most recently a TV Tuner card for my PC so I could record and replay pro matches. Unfortunately I don't have a table in my home and don't have room for one, so practicing everything I have learned is a bit more challenging. Kind of difficult having to go to a pool hall and try to recall what I watched or read. So what I decided is to develop a plan of attack.
First I analyzed everything I didn't know or didn't ever think about. My pre-shot routine, aiming, stroke, banking, kicking, speed, position, cue ball hits(english, stun, stop, etc...) and most importantly mental game. At first I went about improving/changing how I approached these parts of the game with the process of learning everything at once, meaning practice a little of everything every time I practice. Looking back on it this was an alright approach, but sticking with it would never make me any better or it would take a lot longer than it needed to. In a sense it put things into perspective that this is going to take time and a lot of patience. I realized I need to practice one specific thing over and over and over until I take the guess work out or it becomes as automatic as it can be so I don't have to think about it, just do it. So here is what I have been doing and would like to hear any and all opinions.
I know I need to take some lessons, I need some feedback, but I believed that before doing so there are some things that I could do before getting one on one instruction. I purchased one of the buddy hall stroke trainers a few months back. I used that quite a bit and I know it has helped. At first it was a struggle to stroke through the tube without hitting the sides, now I can go straight through over and over with my eyes closed. It has also helped out conditioning the muscles in my shoulder and under my shoulder blade (old injury). I then fumbled around with the approach and actual stroke. Having the straight stroke wasn't enough it was delivering the stroke that needed to be developed. In my experience this was difficult, only because I didn't have any feedback. While practicing, specifically, banking and one rail kick shots I found that my stroke felt a lot more fluid than stroking a straight shot at a ball in a pocket. So for a month I practice banks only. I experimented with a couple systems for determining how to bank. Not a single one was complete. All written and video references that I have come across explain how to determine the angle into the rail to get it to reflect into the place you want it to go. What none of them really explained is that unless it is straight on natural angle you need to apply different amounts of side english to get the ball to spin off the rail in the correct direction you intend for the ball to go. Before when I hit everything with a straight center ball hit I would guess at how much I would need to under cut or over cut a ball to get it in the direction I wanted it to go. I would say this approach was about 20% accurate. Applying the new techniques I learned helped me start developing the necessary touch and correct amount of english that has raised my one rail bank shots to about 70-80% accuracy. Practicing the banks has actually helped with delivering a better stroke and enhancing my understanding of english.
Since I never played for position and realizing this is going to be the hardest thing to learn, because it involves many factors, I decided next to figure out how to do one rail kick shots. Because of the primitive way I've played in the past finding myself blocked by another ball was all too common. Until I figure out how to play for position and apply the correct speed I know I'm going to continue to run into this same situation. And I'll run into it even if I do become proficient at position and speed control. All I can say is after a month of one rail kick practice, I am loving it. Every time I run into a kick situation my confidence is sky high. My education background is in mathematics and after having an understanding of table dimensions and utilizing the diamonds and rail points I have been able to consistently determine how and where I need to hit the rail to kick into an object ball. I still have some work to do on short rail angles into the long rail, but I’m starting to get it and feel in a short time I will be able to get to any ball that I need to with a one rail kick shot. Like I said before, practicing and learning the kick shots has helped develop my speed and stroke. After I pick a point for a natural kick the stroke and speed needs to be just right for it to go exactly where I want it to. My stroke has become more consistent on all shots, because of the greater degree of precision needed to hit kick shots just right.
I have also experimented with two rail and three rail shots. I actually feel more confident about my 3 rail kicking systems than my 2 rail, but I haven't spent as much time on them as I have 1 rail kicks. For the time being, when the situation comes up for these shots, I have applied what I have learned. At some time down the road I will try to increase my proficiency on these type shots. Up until now I have spent a minimal amount of time on cue ball into object ball shots. Stop shots I'm fairly good at. Backspin and Follow with speed control needs work.
For now, I believe I have learned enough on my own and am ready to get some personal instructions. I see that Jerry Briesath is now living in Phoenix during the winters. I plan on contacting him in the next couple weeks to see if he is available for a 3 day training and see how that goes. Since he is only here during the winter I may look for further instruction from some one on the bca list http://www.bca-pool.com/play/instruction/BCA_Instructors_Active.htm. Any suggestions about the Phoenix area instructors would be appreciated.
Ok, I don't want to over do it, maybe I already have. And to wrap up I think I'm on the right track to changing my play. At least I am on a track maybe slower than could be, I don't know, but as I said before I never ran a rack, well in the last few months I have quite a few times, so something is going right.
Any thoughts, wisdom?
It's not easy putting in words, "how I played the game," but I will give it a shot. I almost never ever played for position; I would just take what was given to me after each and every shot. I never thought too much about speed and control of the cue ball, although I did learn early on to shoot soft. I gave no thought about my preshot routine. And I never ever intentionally put side spin(English) on the cue ball. I always hit the ball in the middle, usually with a little top spin. I almost never put backspin on the ball. Up until now my philosophy was "Keep It Simple Stupid." I only played 8-Ball and 9-Ball once in a while. I don't think until this time I ever ran a table in either format.
So, instead of playing the same way I always have I decided to do a little research. That research included, purchasing a couple videos, books and reading everything I could find on the web. And most recently a TV Tuner card for my PC so I could record and replay pro matches. Unfortunately I don't have a table in my home and don't have room for one, so practicing everything I have learned is a bit more challenging. Kind of difficult having to go to a pool hall and try to recall what I watched or read. So what I decided is to develop a plan of attack.
First I analyzed everything I didn't know or didn't ever think about. My pre-shot routine, aiming, stroke, banking, kicking, speed, position, cue ball hits(english, stun, stop, etc...) and most importantly mental game. At first I went about improving/changing how I approached these parts of the game with the process of learning everything at once, meaning practice a little of everything every time I practice. Looking back on it this was an alright approach, but sticking with it would never make me any better or it would take a lot longer than it needed to. In a sense it put things into perspective that this is going to take time and a lot of patience. I realized I need to practice one specific thing over and over and over until I take the guess work out or it becomes as automatic as it can be so I don't have to think about it, just do it. So here is what I have been doing and would like to hear any and all opinions.
I know I need to take some lessons, I need some feedback, but I believed that before doing so there are some things that I could do before getting one on one instruction. I purchased one of the buddy hall stroke trainers a few months back. I used that quite a bit and I know it has helped. At first it was a struggle to stroke through the tube without hitting the sides, now I can go straight through over and over with my eyes closed. It has also helped out conditioning the muscles in my shoulder and under my shoulder blade (old injury). I then fumbled around with the approach and actual stroke. Having the straight stroke wasn't enough it was delivering the stroke that needed to be developed. In my experience this was difficult, only because I didn't have any feedback. While practicing, specifically, banking and one rail kick shots I found that my stroke felt a lot more fluid than stroking a straight shot at a ball in a pocket. So for a month I practice banks only. I experimented with a couple systems for determining how to bank. Not a single one was complete. All written and video references that I have come across explain how to determine the angle into the rail to get it to reflect into the place you want it to go. What none of them really explained is that unless it is straight on natural angle you need to apply different amounts of side english to get the ball to spin off the rail in the correct direction you intend for the ball to go. Before when I hit everything with a straight center ball hit I would guess at how much I would need to under cut or over cut a ball to get it in the direction I wanted it to go. I would say this approach was about 20% accurate. Applying the new techniques I learned helped me start developing the necessary touch and correct amount of english that has raised my one rail bank shots to about 70-80% accuracy. Practicing the banks has actually helped with delivering a better stroke and enhancing my understanding of english.
Since I never played for position and realizing this is going to be the hardest thing to learn, because it involves many factors, I decided next to figure out how to do one rail kick shots. Because of the primitive way I've played in the past finding myself blocked by another ball was all too common. Until I figure out how to play for position and apply the correct speed I know I'm going to continue to run into this same situation. And I'll run into it even if I do become proficient at position and speed control. All I can say is after a month of one rail kick practice, I am loving it. Every time I run into a kick situation my confidence is sky high. My education background is in mathematics and after having an understanding of table dimensions and utilizing the diamonds and rail points I have been able to consistently determine how and where I need to hit the rail to kick into an object ball. I still have some work to do on short rail angles into the long rail, but I’m starting to get it and feel in a short time I will be able to get to any ball that I need to with a one rail kick shot. Like I said before, practicing and learning the kick shots has helped develop my speed and stroke. After I pick a point for a natural kick the stroke and speed needs to be just right for it to go exactly where I want it to. My stroke has become more consistent on all shots, because of the greater degree of precision needed to hit kick shots just right.
I have also experimented with two rail and three rail shots. I actually feel more confident about my 3 rail kicking systems than my 2 rail, but I haven't spent as much time on them as I have 1 rail kicks. For the time being, when the situation comes up for these shots, I have applied what I have learned. At some time down the road I will try to increase my proficiency on these type shots. Up until now I have spent a minimal amount of time on cue ball into object ball shots. Stop shots I'm fairly good at. Backspin and Follow with speed control needs work.
For now, I believe I have learned enough on my own and am ready to get some personal instructions. I see that Jerry Briesath is now living in Phoenix during the winters. I plan on contacting him in the next couple weeks to see if he is available for a 3 day training and see how that goes. Since he is only here during the winter I may look for further instruction from some one on the bca list http://www.bca-pool.com/play/instruction/BCA_Instructors_Active.htm. Any suggestions about the Phoenix area instructors would be appreciated.
Ok, I don't want to over do it, maybe I already have. And to wrap up I think I'm on the right track to changing my play. At least I am on a track maybe slower than could be, I don't know, but as I said before I never ran a rack, well in the last few months I have quite a few times, so something is going right.
Any thoughts, wisdom?
. Third, to it sounds as if you've put the cart before the horse. Your logic make sense, but it sounds as if you're giving up on playing position by learning banks and kick shots first. With this logic you'll be learning masse and jump shots next. I would spend the amount of time on position and speed control drills. You'll be better off in the long run if you did/do. They are boring but essential.
) I don't much like the other place because the lights above the tables are too big and low. I can't even count how many times I've hit my head or cue on them.