How Do You Practice Mechanics?

[DrCue'sProtege]

ok, most instructors/top players always talk about how you need to spend some time working on your mechanics. i assume they are talking about the following aspects of the game:

1) Pre-shot routine
2) set-up and alignment
3) Aim
4) Stroke

how do you actually practice these things? Randy G. told me in Vegas at the BCA that a good practice routine should start with first working on your mechanics. Allison always talks about the importance of her mechanics, and other top pros say the same things.

so, how do you work on your mechanics?

DCP

 

[StevenPWaldon]

My most useful tool for mechanics are a mirror and a video camera.

 

[TommyT]

I use the stroketrainer daily, and have been for almost 3 years. It helps with your stroke and alignment. Shhhh. Don't tell anyone how effective this is. We don't want a lot of people playing with a great stroke.

TommyT

 

[RSB-Refugee]

I use the stroketrainer daily, and have been for almost 3 years. It helps with your stroke and alignment. Shhhh. Don't tell anyone how effective this is. We don't want a lot of people playing with a great stroke.

TommyT

Tommy does have a very nice stroke. I played him on the AZB-1P table at DCC.

I think another great thing for your mechanics, is to learn to relax at the table plus confidence. The two, relaxation and confidence, really go hand in hand. If you can achieve one of the two, it will lead to the other.

Tracy

 

[TommyT]

Tommy does have a very nice stroke. I played him on the AZB-1P table at DCC.

Thanks brother.

 

[Cameron Smith]

ok, most instructors/top players always talk about how you need to spend some time working on your mechanics. i assume they are talking about the following aspects of the game:

1) Pre-shot routine
2) set-up and alignment
3) Aim
4) Stroke

how do you actually practice these things? Randy G. told me in Vegas at the BCA that a good practice routine should start with first working on your mechanics. Allison always talks about the importance of her mechanics, and other top pros say the same things.

so, how do you work on your mechanics?

DCP

The best drill to work on your mechanics is this. Line all 15 balls across the centre of the table, from side pocket to side pocket. Put you cue ball on the head string and line up a straight in shot. Pot the ball and draw the cue ball back to the cusion. Take the cue ball and line up the next straight in shot and repeat. It's a great warm up and it is pretty tough to make all 15 and draw back to the end cusion each time without missing.

Throw 15 balls randomly on the table and get back to the basics. Practice the set up as though you were a beginner. Align the right hand side (assuming you are right handed) of you body to the shot. Put your cue on the line of the shot with the tip at the cue ball. Then step forward and build your stance around the cue. On your practice stroke make sure they are straight each time. If you can't keep them straight try standing up and re-aligning yourself. Do this for every shot.

I mentione in another thread that the most important part of pool are your fundamentals. People put far too much time into developing aiming systems. If I am missing lots of shots, it is probably because of poor alignment or a kink in my stroke. Not because I don't know the angles. I have seen them, and made them, far too many times.

 

[TheConArtist]

The best drill to work on your mechanics is this. Line all 15 balls across the centre of the table, from side pocket to side pocket. Put you cue ball on the head string and line up a straight in shot. Pot the ball and draw the cue ball back to the cusion. Take the cue ball and line up the next straight in shot and repeat. It's a great warm up and it is pretty tough to make all 15 and draw back to the end cusion each time without missing.

Throw 15 balls randomly on the table and get back to the basics. Practice the set up as though you were a beginner. Align the right hand side (assuming you are right handed) of you body to the shot. Put your cue on the line of the shot with the tip at the cue ball. Then step forward and build your stance around the cue. On your practice stroke make sure they are straight each time. If you can't keep them straight try standing up and re-aligning yourself. Do this for every shot.

I mentione in another thread that the most important part of pool are your fundamentals. People put far too much time into developing aiming systems. If I am missing lots of shots, it is probably because of poor alignment or a kink in my stroke. Not because I don't know the angles. I have seen them, and made them, far too many times.

Yeppers, i think i posted this drill on the DCP's thread your favorite drills. Great Post Cameron.

 

[TheConArtist]

ok, most instructors/top players always talk about how you need to spend some time working on your mechanics. i assume they are talking about the following aspects of the game:

1) Pre-shot routine
2) set-up and alignment
3) Aim
4) Stroke

how do you actually practice these things? Randy G. told me in Vegas at the BCA that a good practice routine should start with first working on your mechanics. Allison always talks about the importance of her mechanics, and other top pros say the same things.

so, how do you work on your mechanics?

DCP

I recall Allison saying she works on Body Base Mechanics. To put herself in position for certain shots idk. But sounds kewl huh . Like i said i use to be so certain there was a certain way to get down on a shot that if i did it this way the ball would go in, to the point where i would look at the objectballs left edge then at the cueballs left edge, back to the objectballs right edge then get down over the cueball then look at the cueballs right edge, thinking this would give me a half ball hit, then i would do the whole aiming thing over down on the cueball. I was strangely weird like that I know some people use to say they would look at each shot like it was straight in, so i just came up with seeing the shot straight in by looking at the NG spot, meaning looking at the poiint past the ball on the rail while getting down. Worked fyne, but i must say learning Hals 2 angles system changed everything For Me. For my stroke i always had a good habit or holding the cue at six inches past the balance point i know some shots you have to hold the cue further back, but i made shure i always keep my hand there if i can. This and staying down on the shot and always giving a extra practice stroke after i already shot the shot, giving me a good practice routine and habit of staying down on the shot.