Extremely elaborate pre-shot routines

Tony_in_MD said:
I do know I am smart enough to not get into this with someone that seems to have issues.
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You didn't give any answers to my questions. What's wrong with my post ? Ohhh, I see..... I have issues. So, this is your style. And you are an instructor ????

Let me tell you something sir. I have spent thousands of hours practicing. I know exactly what I am talking about. And I know things you don't even imagine.

Any answers on my previous post ? Any answers on the Back Cut ??? Or how to recognize Back Cuts ??? And how they should be played ????

Don't want to answer my questions???

Ok, let's go back to our favorite lesson. The stance, the grip and the stroke. The fundamentals......
 
I think we need to outlaw public pool for anyone without an advanced degree in mathematics, doesn't walk directly to the cueball on EVERY shot and takes more than 3.14 seconds to shoot......
 
I saw a guy that came through town once, who had a helluva pre-shot routine.
He did a song and dance number from the musical Oklahoma.
He was from Texas. :smile:
 
Straightpool_99 said:
There is a coach (that I will not name) that recommends an extremely elaborate pre-shot routine, which among other things recommend physically moving to the side to look at the contact point line on every shot, standing on the contact point to pocket line. There are lots of other steps as well. For a big cut a table length away, that's quite a walk. I see lots of people using this, but funnily enough they often take their eyes off that point when they take their long walk back to the cue ball! That time spent walking is wasted as long as you don't keep your eyes on the object ball. What do you think?

Not only that but for rhytm games like straight pool and snooker it completely destroys the dead punch rhytm you get into on a run. By that I mean when you are on a run in these games your speed tends to pick up, there is less doubt and you hit balls cleaner and with more authority. What you are in fact doing with this dance routine is to override your instincts, making it harder to get in dead stroke.
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I think you should do it when you're uncertain about the ob's path to the pocket. I do it on certain cut shots. It helps me visualize the ball traveling to the pocket which is what I do before I shoot the shot.

As far as taking your eye off the contact point on the ob -- I agree. Once you let go of it, it's pretty much gone. You should keep your eye on it as you walk back around and begin your approach. It's really not that difficult to do once you get the hang of it.

As for rhythm issues, there are two types of rhythm --- 1.) Your rhythm of moving around the table from shot to shot, and 2.) Your shot-making rhythm as you are down on the shot. Players will often fall in and out of the first one in order to double-check something on the table, or study a shot. The second one is more important to the outcome of the shot.
 
^ ^ ^ ^

It's nice to see you posting here in the main. Many can benefit from your experience & insight.
 
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LegitStick1234 said:
I think that statement is horrible. "The game is for smart people". I think there are probably a lot of players that aren't familiar with trigonometry and geometry that would probably show you a few things on the pool table. This game is sometimes for fun and for competition. I think we need more "smart" people like you teaching newbies how to play and then everyone can be smart and more people can enjoy the game.
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Hey, LegitStick.
:thumbup:He was being sarcastic.
 
DaveM said:
There are all level of skill players. I've just started and a lot of my playing is league on 7 ft tables. On those I have a "pocket sense" that I do not have on a 9ft table. I do find myself subconsciously, (I know, how would I know...) or sometimes consciously referencing the table, where the other pockets are etc. as a check on some shots. Some players do not have that, even on a smaller table, so they look at the shot from an angle or two. I don't mind as long as it doesn't take too long. Not everyone is a "great potter".
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I agree such things can be helpful to guide perception to some degree, particularly for beginners, getting one's visuals back on track or on an unfamiliar table size.

I still think having it as part of one's Pre-Stroke-Routine is a tad pedantic.

Trying to keep one's eye on a contact point while walking back, taking the stance etc seems unrealistic to me. It may distract one from learning to visualize the shot line from the stance position.

At some point, we have to start learning to visualize the shot line from the visuals offered to us while down in the stance.

Cheers,
Colin
 
Colin Colenso said:
I agree such things can be helpful to guide perception to some degree, particularly for beginners, getting one's visuals back on track or on an unfamiliar table size.

I still think having it as part of one's Pre-Stroke-Routine is a tad pedantic.

Trying to keep one's eye on a contact point while walking back, taking the stance etc seems unrealistic to me. It may distract one from learning to visualize the shot line from the stance position.

At some point, we have to start learning to visualize the shot line from the visuals offered to us while down in the stance.

Cheers,
Colin
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I think the instructor with the elaborate PSR was likely working with beginners who as a rule have no consistency in approaching the table. Checking the angle of the shot does not seem like too much to me depending on the shot and the player's experience level. However, I do agree that if you look at the shot line then take your eye from it while you get to position it was mostly a waste of time. I aspire to having a real pocket sense/spatial memory/comfort on 9ft tables. I'll get there, it just takes work.
 
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