I am a developing player, with no clue what my rating would be, and I don't claim to be good. But something happened this weekend that really helped.
Friday I am practicing on a 9-ft Diamond at the Fox & Hound (play is free between 11am and 2pm here). I usually concentrate on my aim at the ghost ball and never really think about my stroke. On this particular day, I really start to really focus on my stroke.
During my prctice strokes I noticed that my tip was wavering back and forth, not much, but it was there. Then I really started to focus, I mean like a laser beam, to make the tip move rythmically back and forth - as much as possible in the exact same line - like a mechanical piston.
My shot accuracy really improved, especially on the long shots. I was making very difficult long combinations. It seems my drawing power went up too. Two guys at the next table, who had stopped to eat lunch, noticed the shots I was making. The result was so dramatic I was laughing to myself. Why did I wait so long to work on this? I usually blamed missed shots on my bad aim, but now I know my sloppy stroke contributed too.
Many of you better players are thinking, "Well, DUH!" but I post this in hopes it helps someone else like me.
My new routine:
Choose my shot/shape
Aim (with chosen contact point)
Stroke, stroke, and stroke some more (until I see the "piston effect")
Fire
Friday I am practicing on a 9-ft Diamond at the Fox & Hound (play is free between 11am and 2pm here). I usually concentrate on my aim at the ghost ball and never really think about my stroke. On this particular day, I really start to really focus on my stroke.
During my prctice strokes I noticed that my tip was wavering back and forth, not much, but it was there. Then I really started to focus, I mean like a laser beam, to make the tip move rythmically back and forth - as much as possible in the exact same line - like a mechanical piston.
My shot accuracy really improved, especially on the long shots. I was making very difficult long combinations. It seems my drawing power went up too. Two guys at the next table, who had stopped to eat lunch, noticed the shots I was making. The result was so dramatic I was laughing to myself. Why did I wait so long to work on this? I usually blamed missed shots on my bad aim, but now I know my sloppy stroke contributed too.
Many of you better players are thinking, "Well, DUH!" but I post this in hopes it helps someone else like me.
My new routine:
Choose my shot/shape
Aim (with chosen contact point)
Stroke, stroke, and stroke some more (until I see the "piston effect")
Fire
