Here's My Practice Routine - Suggestions?

D

DrCue'sProtege

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
ok, taking into account the knowledge/ideas i received from Mark Wilson, and from other instructors (Tom Rossman/Diana Minor) and tapes (Bob Byrne/Bert Kinister) i think my practice routine is going to look something like this:

1) using the elephant ball, stroke it up and down the table about 10 times to be sure you are hitting where you are aiming.

2) with the elephant ball, work on some longer straight in draw shots. this is the hardest shot for me to hit accurately, and the initial shot i messed up when i started the lesson with Mark Wilson. check and be sure i am hitting it where i aim.

3) seems like there are a handful of "routine" shots one must master to play top notch 9 ball. i am going to practice these, as well as some speed control shots, also using the elephant ball to again give feedback in determining if i struck the cue ball where i was aiming. this should constitute the majority of the time involved with this routine.

during all of this practice the following are going to be points of emphasis:
A) turning the shoulders and hips, but just a little, so i can swing/stroke freely
B) grip hand back, but just slightly
C) dont "wobble in" to the cue ball, find the aim point, and hold
D) slow practice strokes, shoot, hit the aim point, follow through
E) stay down, freeze the cue, check the follow through
F) Each and Every Stroke is quality.

and if i have time after all of this i might break some racks and see if i can accomplish any runouts.

comments/suggestions/ideas?
DCP
 
DrCue'sProtege said:
ok, taking into account the knowledge/ideas i received from Mark Wilson, and from other instructors (Tom Rossman/Diana Minor) and tapes (Bob Byrne/Bert Kinister) i think my practice routine is going to look something like this:

1) using the elephant ball, stroke it up and down the table about 10 times to be sure you are hitting where you are aiming.

2) with the elephant ball, work on some longer straight in draw shots. this is the hardest shot for me to hit accurately, and the initial shot i messed up when i started the lesson with Mark Wilson. check and be sure i am hitting it where i aim.

3) seems like there are a handful of "routine" shots one must master to play top notch 9 ball. i am going to practice these, as well as some speed control shots, also using the elephant ball to again give feedback in determining if i struck the cue ball where i was aiming. this should constitute the majority of the time involved with this routine.

during all of this practice the following are going to be points of emphasis:
A) turning the shoulders and hips, but just a little, so i can swing/stroke freely
B) grip hand back, but just slightly
C) dont "wobble in" to the cue ball, find the aim point, and hold
D) slow practice strokes, shoot, hit the aim point, follow through
E) stay down, freeze the cue, check the follow through
F) Each and Every Stroke is quality.

and if i have time after all of this i might break some racks and see if i can accomplish any runouts.

comments/suggestions/ideas?
DCP
Click to expand...

You don't break stuff anymore when you miss, do you?
 
DrCue'sProtege said:
comments/suggestions/ideas?
DCP
Click to expand...

DCP,
I have a suggestion: you ought to come up to Indy once a month and let me run you through one of my "practice days", keep track of the results, and see if your new stroke is helping (it definitely will). This kind of competitive practice is MUCH more rewarding than practicing alone - it definitely helps you focus better on your drills. I had a friend that used to come over every week for practice, and then play. It helped both our games tremendously; then he moved to Florida (bastard) slowing my progress a little.
 
A spirited attempt, DCP, and you have certainly managed to include most of the key elements of practice in your post. My real problem with your proposed practice routine is the lack of organization. To me, a lot of it amounts to focusing on too many things at once.

When you’re working on your fundamentals, focus on your fundamentals. When you’re working on your shots, focus on your execution. So often on this forum, we discuss the problems inherent in focusing on your fundamentals when you should be focusing on your shot planning, pre-shot routine and shot execution. Information overload doesn’t work in practice or in competition.

Finally, I don’t see defense, kicking, two way shots or the nine ball break on your practice agenda, but I think I’ll let you slide as long as you pay Williebetmore a monthly visit. Without those critical elements, you won’t compete successfully.
 
I'm glad to see a beginning of documenting your game. Progress will show in time, just don't want to much too quick, it takes time.

To add I’ll say it is important to have the grip hand perpendicular to the cue. If it is to far forward your back hand is already rising before impact. That means with a true pendulum stroke the tip is going towards the cloth at impact. By keeping it perpendicular, the stroke is on a level plane at contact, which is desirable for an accurate hit. Don't discount this area, it is important for consistant c/b contact.

Rod
 
sjm said:
A spirited attempt, DCP, and you have certainly managed to include most of the key elements of practice in your post. My real problem with your proposed practice routine is the lack of organization. To me, a lot of it amounts to focusing on too many things at once.

When you’re working on your fundamentals, focus on your fundamentals. When you’re working on your shots, focus on your execution. So often on this forum, we discuss the problems inherent in focusing on your fundamentals when you should be focusing on your shot planning, pre-shot routine and shot execution. Information overload doesn’t work in practice or in competition.

Finally, I don’t see defense, kicking, two way shots or the nine ball break on your practice agenda, but I think I’ll let you slide as long as you pay Williebetmore a monthly visit. Without those critical elements, you won’t compete successfully.
Click to expand...

SJM,

I greatly admire your knowledge of the game and your ability to clearly articulate concepts and ideas through only text.

I'm taking your suggestion and focusing purely on pre-shot routine per your recommendation in another thread. I'm trying not to let position play and shot accuracy distract me from this development. You (and others) have expressed that a pre-shot routine should be the same regardless of difficulty of shot.

In terms of timing, what is the ideal speed for warm-up backstroke, warm-up forward stroke, final backstroke, final forward stroke in relation to the speed of the shot?

I do something like this...

Warm-up stroke 1: 1/2 second backstroke, 1/2 second forward stroke
Warm-up stroke 2: 1/2 second backstroke, 1/2 second forward stroke
Final stroke: 1 second backstroke, 1/2 second forward stroke with follow through.

In other words, the speed of the shot is irrelevant. Stroke will be slower on slower shots to fill 1/2 second of time and faster on harder shots to fill 1/2 second of time.

Other threads have discussed Wilson's teachings of having slow backstroke. Is that on all warm-ups or just final stroke?

Thanks!
 
papercut said:
Other threads have discussed Wilson's teachings of having slow backstroke. Is that on all warm-ups or just final stroke?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

Papercut,
Not to jump in where I'm not wanted, but both Jerry B. and Mark W. have recommended that your backswing for the 2 practice strokes and the backswing for the actual stroke be exactly the same (I've had lessons from both). I'm sure there are other ways to do it, but that is what they recommend.
 
papercut said:
Other threads have discussed Wilson's teachings of having slow backstroke. Is that on all warm-ups or just final stroke?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

i would assume thats for the last stroke or maybe a few before the last. as some people have different "rythm". case in point jimmy reid, he starts with fast and loose strokes, then slows down at the end before pausing and stroking.

thanks
 
Mistakes happen when there's inconsistency in your stroke! Your 2 practice strokes MUST be the same as your shot stroke! Your cue must be level when contacting the cue ball otherwise you'll drive the tip off center of the cue ball. To keep a level cue, your grip hand and forearm must be straight vertical when in the SET position (tip 1/4"-1/2" from CB), this sets the SWEET SPOT in your pendulum. To hit a softer or harder shot, you simply slide your bridge hand position on the shaft and your grip hand an equal distance on the butt and continue with the SAME stroke (pendulum).

Zim
 
Another thing you might want to add to your practice routine is the STOP SHOT! Shoot a stop shot from different distances and slight angles.

Zim
 
And be very wary of anyone who tells you you must...

-piga

Zims Rack said:
Mistakes happen when there's inconsistency in your stroke! Your 2 practice strokes MUST be the same as your shot stroke! Your cue must be level when contacting the cue ball otherwise you'll drive the tip off center of the cue ball. To keep a level cue, your grip hand and forearm must be straight vertical when in the SET position (tip 1/4"-1/2" from CB), this sets the SWEET SPOT in your pendulum. To hit a softer or harder shot, you simply slide your bridge hand position on the shaft and your grip hand an equal distance on the butt and continue with the SAME stroke (pendulum).

Zim
Click to expand...
 
piglit said:
And be very wary of anyone who tells you you must...

-piga
Click to expand...
Okay, Okay...maybe MUST wasn't the appropriate word! You SHOULD use the same stroke, consistency, consistency, consistency!

Zim
 
vapoolplayer- Even your "signature" states what I was saying! Repitition and consistency basically mean the same thing. If you take 2 back strokes that only go 1/2 way back and your shot stroke goes all the way back, how is that consistent?

Zim
 
papercut said:
SJM,

I greatly admire your knowledge of the game and your ability to clearly articulate concepts and ideas through only text.

I'm taking your suggestion and focusing purely on pre-shot routine per your recommendation in another thread. I'm trying not to let position play and shot accuracy distract me from this development. You (and others) have expressed that a pre-shot routine should be the same regardless of difficulty of shot.

In terms of timing, what is the ideal speed for warm-up backstroke, warm-up forward stroke, final backstroke, final forward stroke in relation to the speed of the shot?

I do something like this...

Warm-up stroke 1: 1/2 second backstroke, 1/2 second forward stroke
Warm-up stroke 2: 1/2 second backstroke, 1/2 second forward stroke
Final stroke: 1 second backstroke, 1/2 second forward stroke with follow through.

In other words, the speed of the shot is irrelevant. Stroke will be slower on slower shots to fill 1/2 second of time and faster on harder shots to fill 1/2 second of time.

Other threads have discussed Wilson's teachings of having slow backstroke. Is that on all warm-ups or just final stroke?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

First, thank you for the kind words. I'm delighted to hear that you are taking the development and solidification of your pre-shot routine so seriously, and I do hope you keep us advised of your progress on the forum.

As for your question, I think Williebetmore and Zim, who are very well-versed in Wilson's methods, have answered it well. Still, I'm not sure I'm in 100% agreement. As Drivermaker has often noted, the real key is that your stroke must be repeatable. Perhaps it can be argued that Wilson's method is the best approach to this, but it's definitely not the only one.
 
Zims Rack said:
If you take 2 back strokes that only go 1/2 way back and your shot stroke goes all the way back, how is that consistent?

Zim
Click to expand...

If you did it the same way every time, that would be consistent. ;)
 
Zims Rack said:
Inconsistant pendulum, therefore, inconsistant stroke speeds!

Zim
Click to expand...

i'm just commenting on the "MUST" part thats all. you're constantly stating the same thing over and over. a pendulum stroke with two warm ups. there isn't any MUST in pool, except for you must make the ball and you must attain position on the next ball. case in point, i believe allen hopkins only "pokes" at the ball during his warm up, then he fully strokes the ball. jimmy reid takes "fast and loose" warm ups before slowing down. your way works too i'm sure. but there isn't any "MUST". no offense but i'm firmly against anyone who regardless of the person's ability to play with a certain stroke still tries to get them to have a "perfect" stroke. i'm not saying this is how you teach, as i don't know you. in my opinion and my opinion only, the consistentcy is in the forward motion of the actual stroke. is it consitently hitting the intended spot on the cue, is the person consistently making the intended shot and position? you are aware i'm sure that there are more strokes out there besides the pendulum? for example, the slip stroke, or the stroke slip.

as jimmy said, if the person used a 1/2 warmup ever time, then a full stroke everytime, wouldn't that be consistent? take baseball for example, how many players do you see that have the same batting stance? they are all different, but when they swing or stroke, that motion is the same. they didn't have their feet in the same place, but when they deliver the swing, if you look they all do the same. point being, everyone doesn't have to have the picture perfect pendulum stroke with 2 warm up strokes that mirror the final stroke. if they do and it works for them great, but there is no need to preach and preach and preach this perfect pendulum. if you don't know the other strokes that are out there, i'd suggest that you familarize yourself with them, as they may not be your stroke of choice, but you may find that one of your students may find one of them the holy grail of strokes.


thanks
 
Great points vapoolplayer! I'm aware of different stroke techniques. The "slip stroke" you referred to is still used with a pendulum, all strokes are on a pendulum. How good of a pendulum is up to the player!

Thanks,
Zim
 
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