GOOD TIMING in Pool … What Does It Mean?

[dr_dave]

FYI, pro player Tin Man (Demetrius Jelatis) and I just posted a new video that demonstrates what it means to have “good timing” in pool. Check it out:

Contents (with timestamp links):
0:00 – Intro
0:24 – Good Stroke Timing
3:13 – Rushed/Impulsive Stroke
3:49 – Decelerating Stroke
4:40 – Constant Speed Stroke
5:10 – Bad Elbow Drop Timing
6:03 – Bad Eye Pattern Timing
6:59 – Bad Pre-Shot Routine Timing
8:16 – Bad Break Shot Timing
10:20 – Wrap Up

As always, I look forward to your feedback, comments, questions, complaints, and requests.

Enjoy!

 

[fastone371]

You hit it out of the park again, Dr. Dave!!! I frequently wondered exactly what people meant when they talked about timing or tempo, now I know, thank you. Happy New Year to you guys!!!

 

[dr_dave]

You hit it out of the park again, Dr. Dave!!! I frequently wondered exactly what people meant when they talked about timing or tempo, now I know, thank you. Happy New Year to you guys!!!

I'm glad you liked the video. This one took a lot of work, but I am happy with the result.

Tempo can mean something else (e.g., the pace of play). I probably should have mentioned that in the video.

Happy New year!

 

[bignick31985]

Nice one there.

 

[dquarasr]

As I posted this week elsewhere, a major revelation for me was finding good stroke timing. I struggled this past year with the ability to fall into a good stroke, where accuracy came naturally. I watched Earl play fast and loose. I gave up on a mechanical, forced approach and stroke. For about an hour I ignored my mechanical perceived perfect alignment and forced-perfect stroke and just looked at each shot, trusted my alignment, got down and stroked. So many misses. But toward the end of that hour, it started to click. I started making nearly everything I shot at.

I analyzed “what was different?” “What feels so great about the last 10 minutes that was lacking before?” My answer was stroke timing! I realized that the shots that “felt right” were those where my cue acceleration culminated in max speed right at CB contact. I experimented further, and realized that when my stroke timing was off, accuracy suffered. When stroke timing was relaxed, natural, and resulted in targeted speed at contact point, my accuracy was dramatically improved. Even position play was better. It was the first time I really understood what everyone here meant by good timing. Truly a revelation I have been able to replicate across multiple sessions and across multiple days at the table.

Dr Dave’s video is gold!!

 

[Fatboy]

Timing?

Yes that’s exactly what I don’t have, never had and can’t get.

Can’t train in what God left out. But you sure can try.

Great stuff guys!

Fatboy Approved

Best
Fatboy

 

[Blue]

Another great video from Dr Dave.

Thumbs up

 

[David in FL]

I was thinking more along the lines that it’s good timing when the much better player than me experiences a very rare occurrence of being temporary out of stroke, that somehow coincides with my equally rare occurrence of being in stroke.

 

[hotelyorba]

Very interesting stuff. I think my timing is fairly good on most shots, but I know that I'm rushing it on longer backspin shots. The longer the shot is, the more I tend to rush it I think. Also, I feel I sometimes use a constant speed stroke on long safety shots, but I do generally have good success with that (as far as ball speed, that is).

 

[dr_dave]

Nice one there.

Thanks.

 

[dr_dave]

As I posted this week elsewhere, a major revelation for me was finding good stroke timing. I struggled this past year with the ability to fall into a good stroke, where accuracy came naturally. I watched Earl play fast and loose. I gave up on a mechanical, forced approach and stroke. For about an hour I ignored my mechanical perceived perfect alignment and forced-perfect stroke and just looked at each shot, trusted my alignment, got down and stroked. So many misses. But toward the end of that hour, it started to click. I started making nearly everything I shot at.

I analyzed “what was different?” “What feels so great about the last 10 minutes that was lacking before?” My answer was stroke timing! I realized that the shots that “felt right” were those where my cue acceleration culminated in max speed right at CB contact. I experimented further, and realized that when my stroke timing was off, accuracy suffered. When stroke timing was relaxed, natural, and resulted in targeted speed at contact point, my accuracy was dramatically improved. Even position play was better. It was the first time I really understood what everyone here meant by good timing. Truly a revelation I have been able to replicate across multiple sessions and across multiple days at the table.

Thank you for sharing. I think the most important words in your story are "relaxed, natural."

Dr Dave’s video is gold!!

I'm glad you think so. Thanks.

 

[dr_dave]

Great stuff guys!

Thanks!

Fatboy Approved

Again, now I can sleep at night.

 

[dr_dave]

Another great video from Dr Dave.

Thumbs up

Thanks.

 

[boogieman]

FYI, pro player Tin Man (Demetrius Jelatis) and I just posted a new video that demonstrates what it means to have “good timing” in pool. Check it out:

Contents (with timestamp links):
0:00 – Intro
0:24 – Good Stroke Timing
3:13 – Rushed/Impulsive Stroke
3:49 – Decelerating Stroke
4:40 – Constant Speed Stroke
5:10 – Bad Elbow Drop Timing
6:03 – Bad Eye Pattern Timing
6:59 – Bad Pre-Shot Routine Timing
8:16 – Bad Break Shot Timing
10:20 – Wrap Up

As always, I look forward to your feedback, comments, questions, complaints, and requests.

Enjoy!

I thought good timing was when the cheeseballs arrive just as you're finishing your match!

Great video!

 

[dr_dave]

I feel I sometimes use a constant speed stroke on long safety shots, but I do generally have good success with that (as far as ball speed, that is).

Many top players do this (not just on long safeties, but all shots), and they seem to master it well. I used to do this also, but when I switched to varying my stroke length with shot speed, still using similar smooth acceleration on every shot, my speed control got better immediately. For those who are interested, I cover this in more detail here:

speed control advice​

 

[dr_dave]

Great video!

Thanks! This was a tough one. I ended up throwing out most of the footage we recorded for this video (especially tons of break stuff), and I changed things around quite a few times before I settled on the final presentation, where I used more footage from other past videos. Based on the positive feedback, the extra work was worth it.

 

[chefjeff]

I was thinking more along the lines that it’s good timing when the much better player than me experiences a very rare occurrence of being temporary out of stroke, that somehow coincides with my equally rare occurrence of being in stroke.

Or timing, as in, don't post how-to videos when all of us are drinking.


Jeff Livingston

 

[dr_dave]

Or timing, as in, don't post how-to videos when all of us are drinking.

Consider it a New Year "present," especially for those with New Year's resolutions to improve their stroke mechanics.

And when you are drinking shots, remember: "Back slow ... and ... accelerate."

 

[chefjeff]

I had half of one beer. I forgot to drink the last half.

Then fell asleep at about 10ish.

I've lost my break shot, too. Oh well.


Jeff Livingston

 

[Poolmanis]

I had coaching session with lil sister yesterday and recommended to her this video. I think she can find answers to couple problems she still have with speed control problems. You 2 nailed illustrating timing perfectly.
TinMan looked like Efren when he did shoot de-acclerated shot HAHA.