Helping beginning players

[klockdoc]

I play at a local pool room and try to help out some of the newer players that come in. I had a newbie come over to me and talk about the game the other day and by his conversation, I could tell he was wanting some help with his game. While noticing him playing, I made a suggestion that he keep his stick level because he was always shooting down on the ball and imparting english on it when he shot. Also, I noticed that that he was stopping at the cue ball with his stroke when hitting a ball, instead of following through.

Any suggestions on how to "train" a person to follow through on the cue ball? I told him to pick a spot beyond the cue ball and try to follow through to that point. Maybe have him practice on his draw shot to get there?

Thanks

 

[pooltchr]

We don't train players to "follow through", but rather focus on teaching them to finish their stroke. Follow through is the result of a proper stroke. If a player hasn't developed a good stroke, practicing draw shots could be a little frustrating.
Steve

 

[Koopa]

Have him watch a few videos online of pro matches. Watching how the pros stroke the ball might give him the visuals he needs to develop a better stroke.

 

[TX Poolnut]

In one of Robert Byrnes' videos, he suggests setting up a straight in shot and putting a paper reinforcment ring on the cloth where the tip should end up. Execute the shot and try to make your tip stop where the paper ring thingy is.

Hopefully, this will lead to a change in the bad habit.

 

[Neil]

..................

 

[Ballistic Billiards]

Spf

In one of Robert Byrnes' videos, he suggests setting up a straight in shot and putting a paper reinforcment ring on the cloth where the tip should end up. Execute the shot and try to make your tip stop where the paper ring thingy is.

Hopefully, this will lead to a change in the bad habit.

This works well but you have to know where the ring is supposed to go.

-cOOp-SPF covers everything and is easy to teach.

 

[mikepage]

We don't train players to "follow through", but rather focus on teaching them to finish their stroke. Follow through is the result of a proper stroke. If a player hasn't developed a good stroke, practicing draw shots could be a little frustrating.
Steve

Yes. Have then insure their grip hand finishes near their chest/armpit. This will take care of the follow through.

 

[PoolSponge]

I teach by placing an object ball on the spot and get them to draw the CB back into the tip. Gradually making the shot longer strengthens fundamentals.

 

[I rack balls]

Check their grip and stance, loose and stable. Fix bridge problems and they should be on their way. Make him pause and hit thru the cue ball, tell him to let his arm stop the cue when it doesn't bend anymore...........

Eric.

 

[lodini]

We don't train players to "follow through", but rather focus on teaching them to finish their stroke. Follow through is the result of a proper stroke.

This was one of the best pieces of advice I ever got, actually. It makes so much more sense than to just tell someone to "follow through".

 

[third_i]

I've taught a few people how to shoot properly. My favorite way is to exaggerate the follow through by doing Tom Rossman's imposible combo shot. If they don't follow through and follow through straight they won't make the "combo." I've tried a few different ways to teach people a solid and straight follow through and it's weird but I find that this is the most effective way... I think it's because you either make it or you miss. There's no "I still made the shot" kind of mentality.

 

[poolhustler]

I think that your advice was fine for a newbie !!

Also, when you strike the cue ball with an elevated cue, you are "imparting" english, not "impacting" english.

Good job helping out a fellow player!!!!

Russ.....

 

[PKM]

I've taught a few people how to shoot properly. My favorite way is to exaggerate the follow through by doing Tom Rossman's imposible combo shot. If they don't follow through and follow through straight they won't make the "combo." I've tried a few different ways to teach people a solid and straight follow through and it's weird but I find that this is the most effective way... I think it's because you either make it or you miss. There's no "I still made the shot" kind of mentality.

What is the shot?

 

[klockdoc]

We don't train players to "follow through", but rather focus on teaching them to finish their stroke. Follow through is the result of a proper stroke. If a player hasn't developed a good stroke, practicing draw shots could be a little frustrating.
Steve

I am going to switch this back to you to understand better. Isn't "finishing your stroke" a result of following through the shot? That is why I suggested the draw shot. I know that when I originally started playing, I, (as I think most new players have), had the problem with drawing the ball. Once I acquired the ability to perform this shot, the follow and stop shot were easier to perform.

Or, how do you explain in words to a new player, your definition of "finishing their stroke"?

Also, when you strike the cue ball with an elevated cue, you are "imparting" english, not "impacting" english.

Good job helping out a fellow player!!!!

Russ.....

Corrected that in the post. Uh, would you believe it was a keyboard error? LOL. Thanks for correcting the meaning of transferring english.

 

[third_i]

What is the shot?

Basically, you take three balls the CB, the 2-ball and the 9-ball and place them in a straight line to the corner pocket. Each ball is about 2.5" apart and then you place the 1-ball inbetween the CB and 2-ball at an angle that will result in the 1-ball cutting about 45degrees into the rail and the CB going to the opposite side of the rail. If you stroke it properly neither the CB or the 1-ball will directly come in contact with the 2-ball. The "trick" here is to follow through extremely straight and smooth(as in seemless) because what you're doing is following through to hit the 2-ball with the tip of your cue to make the 9-ball.

While this seems to be pointless, it will give you direct feedback to where you're follow through is going. You can see if it's going left or right, up or down, all based on the english put on the 2-ball.