Found a horrible habit

mullyman

mullyman

Hung Like a Gnat!
Silver Member
So I took my video camera to the pool hall and got some footage of a friend and myself playing straight pool. I noticed a horrible habit that I must have picked up since I came back to pool, and it could be the reason why I'm missing a lot of shots that I shouldn't. When I get down to site at the ball I notice that my eyes are watching the cue ball and then when I go to look at the OB I actually raise my head up quite a bit to see it. I think I'm getting down too low in my stance. Since I noticed that on video I've been trying to be aware of it when I'm playing. I swear, seeing it on video I look like a moron getting down on the shot and then raising my head up. It really really looks stupid.

Anyway, last night I had been shooting like shite all evening and I don't know why but I realized that I was raising my head again. So from that point forward I concentrated on keeping my eyes on the OB as I was getting down in my stance and noticed that I don't get down as low as I had been and I wasn't having to raise my head. From that point forward I started making more and more balls and I could see the angles much better.

My advice, if you're in a slump, take a video camera to the pool hall with you and record yourself playing........not practicing, playing. In practice with the video camera on you'll most likely subconsciously make adjustments to your form etc.... Tape yourself playing a match and don't think about the camera. Then you'll be getting your natural habits out in the open.

Oh, as for the raising the head thing, it was never like that before I quit playing for a while. I was away from it for about 6 years. This is a newly formed habit and "I must destroy it." <said in my best Ivan Drago, RockyIV, voice>

MULLY
 
I video myself a lot in practice and find it very instructive. I wish I had done it 15 years ago. I mentioned it in the pool room and got a couple of remarks that make me believe the camera would not be welcome there.

Dave Nelson
 
Good luck with that Mully...

I've been thinking about taking a camera down to the ole hall myself... I was wondering what angle would you suggest... from the end table, from the side pocket, from a corner to corner kind of angle?
Head end or Foot end (to include your break shot)

I realize that you could just move the camera around while you're shooting, but that seems like it'd be hard to forget the camera is there (if you're constantly moving it around)
So i'd like to just set it up with the right angle the first time, and go.

Any suggestions?
 
Missed shots

Look at your approach before you even start down on the cueball. That is where almost all shots are missed by players with ability.
Take a second to look at the object ball through the cueball.
You are looking for the point you want to hit. Not a angle.
Then get down and shoot. When you set your feet that is the point most shots are missed. You will either set up in line or not. Your body will move on the line you set up on. The trick is to keep your head and eyes on the same line.
If you miss the set up your chance of missing is more likely.
I have heard Rick Howard call it the approach. I called it the non approach!
Good luck,
Nick :)
 
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mullyman said:
So I took my video camera to the pool hall and got some footage of a friend and myself playing straight pool. I noticed a horrible habit that I must have picked up since I came back to pool, and it could be the reason why I'm missing a lot of shots that I shouldn't. When I get down to site at the ball I notice that my eyes are watching the cue ball and then when I go to look at the OB I actually raise my head up quite a bit to see it. I think I'm getting down too low in my stance. Since I noticed that on video I've been trying to be aware of it when I'm playing. I swear, seeing it on video I look like a moron getting down on the shot and then raising my head up. It really really looks stupid.

Anyway, last night I had been shooting like shite all evening and I don't know why but I realized that I was raising my head again. So from that point forward I concentrated on keeping my eyes on the OB as I was getting down in my stance and noticed that I don't get down as low as I had been and I wasn't having to raise my head. From that point forward I started making more and more balls and I could see the angles much better.

My advice, if you're in a slump, take a video camera to the pool hall with you and record yourself playing........not practicing, playing. In practice with the video camera on you'll most likely subconsciously make adjustments to your form etc.... Tape yourself playing a match and don't think about the camera. Then you'll be getting your natural habits out in the open.

Oh, as for the raising the head thing, it was never like that before I quit playing for a while. I was away from it for about 6 years. This is a newly formed habit and "I must destroy it." <said in my best Ivan Drago, RockyIV, voice>

MULLY
Click to expand...
Good idea - one small suggestion -if you could get video of yourself
playing well - you would have a 'base point' to start from.

Might make it easier to pick out what has changed.

Dale
 
pdcue said:
Good idea - one small suggestion -if you could get video of yourself
playing well - you would have a 'base point' to start from.

Might make it easier to pick out what has changed.

Dale
Click to expand...

Just watching myself I can see tons of problems that were never there when I was playing regularly and competing all the time. I knew 6 years away from it was going to take some things away but I didn't imagine my form got that out of whack. I've put weight on over the years too so that doesn't help.
MULLY
 
we used to have a camera on the front table on the room i play at, and i used to tape myself all the time. and yeah you are right. while practicing you are more focussed on doing everything right, that your funndamentals would probably be sound.

I have caught and corrected many an error, while recording myself in matches.

i wish they still had the camera hooked up! actually they do but there is no longer a table there! maybe i will ask them if i can move it to another table!


Very good post! You get some Rep!

Steve
 
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I used to record playing on my cellphone camera. But I don't have that phone anymore, and my new one isn't as nice. I don't have a digital camera, I hate taking pictures. But I have thought about buying one of those small digital camcorders just to record myself at the pool hall.
 
I recorded myself once with a video camera in the room I used to work at. The next day when I showed the guys on my team how good I am, they just said, " Damn, your wife is hot!":D
 
mullyman said:
Just watching myself I can see tons of problems that were never there when I was playing regularly and competing all the time. I knew 6 years away from it was going to take some things away but I didn't imagine my form got that out of whack. I've put weight on over the years too so that doesn't help.
MULLY
Click to expand...


Mully how do you know you didn't have them before? Did you ever tape yourself (playing pool) before?

I've wanted to do that for a log time myself. I think I'll break out the old Camcorder tomorrow.
 
APA sleeper said:
I recorded myself once with a video camera in the room I used to work at. The next day when I showed the guys on my team how good I am, they just said, " Damn, your wife is hot!":D
Click to expand...

What exactly were you recording? :rolleyes:
 
Pii said:
Mully how do you know you didn't have them before? Did you ever tape yourself (playing pool) before?
Click to expand...

Well, back in the 90's was my peak. At that time I was ranked number 1 here in my prefecture and was the captain of the state team going to the All-Japan tournament. So, I'm not a beginner or mid level player finding bad habits that need to be fixed. I stopped playing pool at the end of 99 because of a bunch of political shit going on here with the billiards association. Long story short they pissed me off so bad I literally stopped playing pool because I didn't want any part of it. I was off until about December of 2005 so I had a 5 year break of not even walking into a pool room.

I started back at the end of 2005 but was only going about once or twice a month for the first few months. Even now I go 2 to 3 times a week and I mainly shoot straight pool. I still have no desire to enter organized competition. I also have no patience to shoot drills and do a bunch of practice crap. What for? I shoot fine enough to enjoy myself. I've got enough trophies on my wall and enough money envelopes next to them, from winning tournaments, that I have nothing to prove to anyone any more. Sure, people can say I'm a has been but it's better to be a has been than a never will be. hehe!! Anyway, I shoot well enough that I can still win sets in recreational play. I joined a house tournament about 2 weeks ago and came in 5-6th out of 64. Good enough. I never expected to even cash but I guess I still have a few gears to catch here and there. hehe!!

This habit I found of raising my head up was never in my game before. I've taped myself plenty of times. I'm working it out though. It's not happening as much and since I've been paying attention to it I've been playing much better. Just a little kink.
MULLY
 
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