Where this whole idea of anticipating what patterns a pro will choose gets real interesting is when the game is straight pool. :wink:
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How do you know which path to take for position?
- Thread starter Tech77
- Start date
I found the article especially interesting because of his thoughts on centerball. He practically rants about other instructors' insistence of using only centerball (I suppose Tucker meant verticle on the cueball). For me, playing with no side english is very difficult. Basically, using your stroke instead of tips of english to play position. Point of aim changes with centerball according to speed,draw, follow, or stun. Not to mention table conditions. I find it much easier to use some helping or reverse english especially when my stroke isn't perfect.
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As an instructor who works with all levels of students, I find that with beginning to intermediate level players, getting them to focus on cue ball control while remaining on the vertical center is a very good way of teaching. When they understand how to use vertical spin to deliver the cue ball, then is time to start with side spin. Once you realize that you can control cue ball position with nothing but vertical spin, then you learn how to incorporate side spin into your game. When you learn that way, you might be surprised how little side spin you actually need to use. And reducing the use of side spin means you aren't having to compensate for throw, squirt, or swerve.
Side spin is very useful, don't get me wrong. But, in my opinion, it is over used by many players, and frequently, doesn't even give the result that the shooter was looking for.
Steve
Stun
Killing speed using low and the old stun shot are huge shots that should be in your arsenal. Another biggie is the tangent line. Tangent line will change depending on how cue ball is struck. This is why so many players don't know what a scratch shot is. Wow, I didn't see that scratch. It was the tangent line! Cue ball went exactly where you sent it.
Killing speed using low and the old stun shot are huge shots that should be in your arsenal. Another biggie is the tangent line. Tangent line will change depending on how cue ball is struck. This is why so many players don't know what a scratch shot is. Wow, I didn't see that scratch. It was the tangent line! Cue ball went exactly where you sent it.
Hi Frank,
I have a question for you if you don't mind. Are you asking:
a) what is the best way to get from point A to point B
or are you asking
b)how do you know which is the best place to land the cue ball?
Two different things.
The first one assumes that you already know where the cue ball should land on a given shot and are just asking the best way to get there. The second one is asking for the best place to land the cue ball on any given shot.
If you're willing to take some notes, here is an interesting excercise. Find some matches online and pay special attention to routine positions that you may have less than 80-90% success with (as far as position is concerned). Take note of what you would do, and if the pro does something different again take note. Bring these notes to the practice table and try the professional route and see how you do.
Professionals play position in a manner which gives them maximum margin for error. They can control the cue ball to a dime, however in a tough match you want to give yourself a larger landing zone (whilst still aiming small).
The general rule for 9 ball is that your next shot is always two rails away. This isn't an absolute, but following to the rails makes speed control so much easier. Furthermore, you want to come into the line of your next shot rather than across it. For example, the easiest approach may be to follow to the end rail and back out, but you would have a small landing zone where if you come too far the angle is wide and if you don't come far enough you need to pound the ball to get position. Taking the two rail route coming off the end and side rails would take you into the path of the angle giving you a three foot margin for error.
If you can learn these positional routes it makes a huge difference for your game. Snooker players who have little 9 ball experience tend to rely on their speed control and shotmaking which generally results in weaker run out percentage. They can pot all the balls but I don't care who you are no one can keep potting them off the lampshades all week. It will catch up with them.
Professionals play position in a manner which gives them maximum margin for error. They can control the cue ball to a dime, however in a tough match you want to give yourself a larger landing zone (whilst still aiming small).
The general rule for 9 ball is that your next shot is always two rails away. This isn't an absolute, but following to the rails makes speed control so much easier. Furthermore, you want to come into the line of your next shot rather than across it. For example, the easiest approach may be to follow to the end rail and back out, but you would have a small landing zone where if you come too far the angle is wide and if you don't come far enough you need to pound the ball to get position. Taking the two rail route coming off the end and side rails would take you into the path of the angle giving you a three foot margin for error.
If you can learn these positional routes it makes a huge difference for your game. Snooker players who have little 9 ball experience tend to rely on their speed control and shotmaking which generally results in weaker run out percentage. They can pot all the balls but I don't care who you are no one can keep potting them off the lampshades all week. It will catch up with them.
Great Posting- definitly one of the most important points in my opinion, too.
Keep it simple is the key to reach the next level.
lg
Ingo
Oftentimes, when you examine the language that the commentators you see on TV use, you will quickly notice that the way they call shots is often done in such a way as to cover themselves.
One commentator that I see on the accustat's tapes calls the obvious pocket, waits until the player gets down on his shot and looks at the where the player is planning to strike the cueball and states "I think he should go...".
There are commentators which don't do this as much such as Grady but the general moral is, don't buy into their pretence of omniscience.
Playing position is best learnt by experimentation. Playing games brings up too many different types of shots. I would recommend throwing three balls on the table and marking them and after you pot all three, just put them back. Just keep the cueball where it was on the last shot and keep running these balls continuously over and over again. Try different shots and find out what's your high percentage way of running them out.
One commentator that I see on the accustat's tapes calls the obvious pocket, waits until the player gets down on his shot and looks at the where the player is planning to strike the cueball and states "I think he should go...".
There are commentators which don't do this as much such as Grady but the general moral is, don't buy into their pretence of omniscience.
Playing position is best learnt by experimentation. Playing games brings up too many different types of shots. I would recommend throwing three balls on the table and marking them and after you pot all three, just put them back. Just keep the cueball where it was on the last shot and keep running these balls continuously over and over again. Try different shots and find out what's your high percentage way of running them out.
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