Consistency and Fundamentals.

P

pip9ball

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Hello All,

I've been playing pool on and off for about 15 years and although I've never been a world beater, I used to play at a higher level but more importantly I was consistent. The knowledge I've learned over the past several years hasn't been forgotten and I can visualize very clearly what needs to be done at the table. My problem stems from the fact that I can longer execute shots as consistently as I could before.

I've been thinking about this for some time now, and the one thing that can really inhibit consistency is fundamentals. I've always felt that my fundamentals were strong and just dismissed the idea that this could be it. I tried throwing some balls on the table and made a conscious effort of: Alignment, stroke, PSR, follow through, etc. The problem is this is a very difficult method to find one's own faults as what we perceive to be correct (by feel) is just what we've cemented into our brains...if that makes any sense.

So, I took it a step further and got out an old video camera and gave that a shot. This was a very good tool that allowed me to initially see some things I had no idea I as doing, such has:


  • My back arm has a tendency to rise up during the backswing of my final stroke
  • My head isn't exactly stable
  • What I perceive to be center ball is actually a bit of draw. This could be due to the angle I'm holding my stick?

Here is a little video of the footage I shot:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rzSy0jlJ3Y

I welcome any feedback (positive/negative). Over the next few days I'm going to work on each of these flaws one at a time and shoot another video to compare.

Thanks for listening!

-P
 
Video is good for seeing things in your setup stroke etc but it's hard to see your eye patterns.

What is your method for this?

There seems to be a lot of movement in the head, body and your cue is coming up on some shots.

sighting the shot in the upright position and then walking into the shot is a good way to ensure proper alignment like in this clip.
http://youtu.be/B8v_jrVhIWw
 
I do not think there is anything particularly wrong with your fundamentals, at least from the video. If you feel your game is off you probably just need the time at the table to get comfortable with your stroke again.

Only suggestion I can think of is line up so you are standing closer to the cueball when addressing it. It seems like you are just slightly too far back, and in order to follow through comfortably you have to pick your body up on your final stroke.
 
WOW, nice job. You stroke very clean.

Your elbow tugs down because you are about and inch ahead of perpendicular.

randyg
 
Slasher said:
Video is good for seeing things in your setup stroke etc but it's hard to see your eye patterns.

What is your method for this?

Agreed, the video doesn't show my eye movements. I generally approach each shot as follows:

  1. Identify contact point on object ball from standing position. Also I determine what english I need to get shap on next shot.
  2. As I'm getting down into the shot, my eyes are locked onto the contact point.
  3. When I'm down, I will transfer focus to the cueball to ensure I'm striking it with the desired english.
  4. I will continue to focus back and forth during war up strokes.
  5. Final stroke I am looking at object ball.

There seems to be a lot of movement in the head, body and your cue is coming up on some shots.

Yep, I've noticed this as well. I'm going to try and work on this...didn't know this was happening.

sighting the shot in the upright position and then walking into the shot is a good way to ensure proper alignment like in this clip.

I do sight while upright, although sometimes I am guilty of adjusting without getting up :-)
http://youtu.be/B8v_jrVhIWw
Click to expand...


Thanks for the feedback, much appreciated
 
pip9ball said:
Thanks for the feedback, much appreciated
Click to expand...

all good.
If you are still have an issue with striking a bit low once you sort out the body movement it could be the timing from the last look at the CB and moving your focus to the OB, as you don't have much of a pause on the backswing this timing can cause an issue (I have very short pause as well)

good luck
 
pip9ball said:
Hello All,

I've been playing pool on and off for about 15 years and although I've never been a world beater, I used to play at a higher level but more importantly I was consistent. The knowledge I've learned over the past several years hasn't been forgotten and I can visualize very clearly what needs to be done at the table. My problem stems from the fact that I can longer execute shots as consistently as I could before.

I've been thinking about this for some time now, and the one thing that can really inhibit consistency is fundamentals. I've always felt that my fundamentals were strong and just dismissed the idea that this could be it. I tried throwing some balls on the table and made a conscious effort of: Alignment, stroke, PSR, follow through, etc. The problem is this is a very difficult method to find one's own faults as what we perceive to be correct (by feel) is just what we've cemented into our brains...if that makes any sense.

So, I took it a step further and got out an old video camera and gave that a shot. This was a very good tool that allowed me to initially see some things I had no idea I as doing, such has:


  • My back arm has a tendency to rise up during the backswing of my final stroke
  • My head isn't exactly stable
  • What I perceive to be center ball is actually a bit of draw. This could be due to the angle I'm holding my stick?

Here is a little video of the footage I shot:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rzSy0jlJ3Y

I welcome any feedback (positive/negative). Over the next few days I'm going to work on each of these flaws one at a time and shoot another video to compare.

Thanks for listening!

-P
Click to expand...

seems to me your doing just fine, all it comes down to is pocketing the balls. If you can do that then your fine, I dont care if your shooting between your legs. Try and not think to much.:thumbup:
 
I'd suggest starting with shortening your bridge, this will have a chain reaction

pip9ball said:
Hello All,

I've been playing pool on and off for about 15 years and although I've never been a world beater, I used to play at a higher level but more importantly I was consistent. The knowledge I've learned over the past several years hasn't been forgotten and I can visualize very clearly what needs to be done at the table. My problem stems from the fact that I can longer execute shots as consistently as I could before.

I've been thinking about this for some time now, and the one thing that can really inhibit consistency is fundamentals. I've always felt that my fundamentals were strong and just dismissed the idea that this could be it. I tried throwing some balls on the table and made a conscious effort of: Alignment, stroke, PSR, follow through, etc. The problem is this is a very difficult method to find one's own faults as what we perceive to be correct (by feel) is just what we've cemented into our brains...if that makes any sense.

So, I took it a step further and got out an old video camera and gave that a shot. This was a very good tool that allowed me to initially see some things I had no idea I as doing, such has:


  • My back arm has a tendency to rise up during the backswing of my final stroke
  • My head isn't exactly stable
  • What I perceive to be center ball is actually a bit of draw. This could be due to the angle I'm holding my stick?

Here is a little video of the footage I shot:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rzSy0jlJ3Y

I welcome any feedback (positive/negative). Over the next few days I'm going to work on each of these flaws one at a time and shoot another video to compare.

Thanks for listening!

-P
Click to expand...

There's a couple of things, however, I'd suggest starting with shortening your bridge, this will have a chain reaction that will have a positive impact on your game.

If this works out for you I can give you the next "piece of the puzzle".

CJ Wiley 'The Game is the Teacher' www.cjwiley.com
 
If you ask me I think you need to pause, I didn't see any pause when you were stroking. Here is a very good video where a pro player (John Schmidt) explains what it is.
This is actually a part of a series of videos that someone posted when getting lessons from John. I hope this helps you and others. Here you go : -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwPqrVk7AL8
 
You have a nice stroke. One thing you don't have, at least in this video, is a consistent practice stroke routine.

In particular, your practice strokes tend to be shorter than your final stroke. I've found it's easier to gauge speed control when your practice strokes are as similar as possible to your final stroke.

Sometimes you will see pros do it your way (especially pros who are known as "feel players"). They can get away with that because they play all. the. time. For us mortals, every little bit of consistency helps.
 
Thanks for all the comments! I'm going to try and work on these one at a time over the next few weeks.

-P
 
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