How Does Your Potting Rate - Potting Test.

[Colin Colenso]

Colin, thanks for the test, I really learned a lot in a short period of time.

I am a C+ player, Valley 7 ft. bar box. factory pockets and felt, new.

1st time,

1a 3 1d 4
2a 4 2d 5
3a 4 3d 5
4a 4 4d 4
5a 5 5d 5
6a 5 6d 3
7a 5 7d 5
8a 3 8d 3
33 34 total-67

I repeated the test to evaluate my aiming system (see ball, hit ball) by shooting each shot in numerical order one at a time and then repeating.
ie. 1a, 2a, 3a to the end and then repeat 5 times. I had about the same results with a 65 total.

Things I discovered:

1. I address the ball a little different shooting at pocket a as opposed to pocket d.

2. I perceive the same shot in d as a different angle in a. I perceive 3a as about 5% but 3b as about 8%.

3. I have a harder time with the straight shots compared to the hard cuts. I practice maximum cuts frequently.

4. I need to use what I learned from Earl and practice my rail bridge. I have always used a closed low bridge when shooting from the rail and in the test I had an easier time aiming with a rail bridge.

Next I am going to choose a target area for the cue ball and not count the pocket unless I can get the cue ball in the target area. How large do you think the target area should be?????

Thanks again,
Mark

Good shooting Mark.
It would be good if you can try this out on a 9 footer one day so we can get an idea of how much that tends to affect the scoring.

Re: Target Area. It depends on the shot and where you place the target. No.1 would be very different than the straight in for example. I'm thinking of developing a test that incorporates positional targets and a scoring system. The difficulty lies in producing a large enough array of shots that cover the various positional skills without making it too long and complex.

Colin

 

[JB Cases]

Wow ... those are about the tightest pockets I've every seen!

Can we conclude from your test that Hal's aiming method does not work very well, or was it just the tight pockets? :wink:

Thank you for sharing your cute video. I liked it,
Dave

We can conclude that there are a lot more factors to pocketing a ball than just aiming. I think a lot of the shots I tried in practice would have gone on a table with looser pockets

Being very serious for just a moment. I am considering trying to develop a scale model of a pool table that really works.

This little toy table is fun and with a little practice to get the feel of the cues and balls I was actually able to run a few balls and play shape. I was even able to get the cue ball to draw.

I put it on a lazy susan so I could rotate the table to the shot line. This is quite instructive on it's own. Sort of like virtual reality in real life. (there's a conundrum for you)

I bought some marbles which are heavier than the plastic balls. Those seemed to work better but were a pain to aim being that they are clear and also they weren't really round.

I think such a scale model table could be very good for instruction purposes if everything works as it should. Not to mention that it would be quite fun to play on I think.

What do you all think? Is is worth pursuing? What would you pay for such a table? $100 $200 - I paid $5 for this little plastic one. I'd probably pay up to $100 for a table that reacted like a full sized one complete with balls and real cue in miniature.

John

 

[iusedtoberich]

Equipment: 9ft GC3, worn 860, no shim pockets
My speed: B
My aiming method: Completely by feel


TRIAL ONE
....A..D
1: 0 4
2: 2 2
3: 5 4
4: 2 1
5: 2 1
6: 0 2
7: 1 3
8: 4 4

Scores: A: 16, D: 21, Total: 37


TRIAL TWO (immediately after trial 1)

....A..D
1: 4 3
2: 2 0
3: 5 4
4: 4 2
5: 4 4
6: 2 2
7: 3 4
8: 1 4

Scores: A: 25, D: 23, Total: 48

I've become a recent believer in drills. I have been a C for 10 years, and after 2 months of drills, I'm a B now. That said, I was very diligent in this exercise. I put donuts on all the ball locations. I kept notes on if I noticed any trends. Each trial took me 45 minutes. I am certain my score will go up the next few times I do this exercise. I know this from experiencing my improvements in the other drills I've been doing the past 2 months.

I did play postion on each shot, but the postions I played is what afforded me the best chance to make each shot.

Shot 1: Center top, cue goes up and down to middle of table
Shot 2: Center top, cue goes 2 rails and lands on the nameplate
Shot 3: Stop shot
Shot 4: High, touch of outside, cue goes 2 rails and lands near side pocket
Shot 5: Bottom outside, cue spins back one rail to about a diamond out from the side pocket on the same side of the table
Shot 6: High, touch of outside, cue goes one rail and lays on the end rail (like a 1 pocket shot)
Shot 7: Low, touch of outside, cue comes back slightly and moves sideways about a foot
Shot 8:Middle outside, cue comes 1 rail to about the starting point

I learned a lot during this hour and half of shooting:

Shot 6 I kept hitting too thin. Every time. I just coldn't believe it because it looked perfect to me but I was too thin almost every time.

Shot 7 I kept overcutting. I think the english I was putting on the ball threw it much more than I was expecting. I improved this shot quite a bit on my second trial, after noting this on my first trial.

Shot 4 was tough for me. I kept missing it different ways each time.

Shot 5 and 8 have always been trouble for me. I would habitually undercut these types of shots. This drill allowed me to set these up repeatedly and I am slowly getting this shot down.

 

[Colin Colenso]

Being very serious for just a moment. I am considering trying to develop a scale model of a pool table that really works.

John

JB,
I think it's a great idea if you can get it to market for around or under $100.

What pool playing dad wouldn't want to give their kids a table that actually works. I wouldn't mind playing on one too for a giggle.

I had a little 2 foot table when I was about 6yo. That never saw the light of day when I got a 6 foot fold up the next year, and then that didn't get much play when we got a 12' snooker table the year after that.

Colin

 

[Colin Colenso]

Equipment: 9ft GC3, worn 860, no shim pockets
My speed: B
My aiming method: Completely by feel


TRIAL ONE
....A..D
1: 0 4
2: 2 2
3: 5 4
4: 2 1
5: 2 1
6: 0 2
7: 1 3
8: 4 4

Scores: A: 16, D: 21, Total: 37


TRIAL TWO (immediately after trial 1)

....A..D
1: 4 3
2: 2 0
3: 5 4
4: 4 2
5: 4 4
6: 2 2
7: 3 4
8: 1 4

Scores: A: 25, D: 23, Total: 48

Thanks for the detailed report IUTBR,

You're only about 4 more shots of being middle B accoriding to the rating guide I set up. I'd expect you'll climb up a bit once you've worked on those shots some more.

Colin

 

[Pete]

OK, I am a banger I guess. But I will add to this as I continue working with this.

1R 1 1L1
2R 2 2L 2
3R 3 3L 1
4R 3 4L 1
5R2 5L 3
6R 3 6L 1
7R 2 7L 2 (this was done on the first cue ball location)
8R 0 8L 1

I will say, as much as it hurts to see that result, it's better to know that about yourself than to go on not knowing it. So I can see that I need to improve my shot making.

This was done on a table at the Elks club (a 9" with Champ cloth, and 4 3/4" pockets).

I will work on shots 4, 5, 7, 8 (these had results that really surprised me).

I'll update this by the end of the week.

Thanks Colin...

Pete

 

[Eric.]

OK, Colin. Sorry for the delay, I got around to filming.

I only shot two shots per, due to pure laziness.

9' Brunswick GC II, double shimmed pockets.

I was rated an APA 6 a few years ago. I guess might be a lil better, now.

I use an aiming system based on Hal Houle, which I modified slightly.

To be honest, the vid is my second take. My stupid dog, "Dumb Dog" sharked me constantly. In fact, on the second take, Dumb Dog was sniffing my nuts while I was about to pull the trigger on a shot Regardless, I finished filming, for better or worse.

I thought the first two shots were the hardest. I felt that this was a good drill/ way to access one's potting skill. Also, I think what table matters a lot. If I shot this on a 7' Valley barbox, I might count my misses by the day :wink:

http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=azb+thing&emb=0&aq=f#

*edit- I'm always open to constructive criticism from anyone.


Eric

 

[SpiderWebComm]

Good job Eric - you pocket balls well. My only critique would be your CB position on the first two shots looked like it was on the headstring, when it should be 1/2 diamond behind it. However, the dog sharking your nuts offset that slight advantage so it's a fair test, imo. I can't believe you made the shot when he snouted your johnson. If you can play well with sharks like that, you can play well anywhere.

Will see ya at SBE-
Dave

 

[Eric.]

Will see ya at SBE-
Dave

You can count on it. In fact, you and I have a double date with a couple of beers :wink:

*Edit-Oops! I must have brain-farted. Shot 1 AND shot 2 I shot with the CB on the footspot, instead of a 1/2 diamond back. Crap!

Eric

 

[PastPrime]

Potting.

8 ft. table with very tight pockets and deep porch. Nothing falls by chance.
Used the Aiming System written up by av84fun except for the "throwing" system by Spidy that I use for all straight-in's/nearly straights.

The first 3 positions I shot at I hit 10 shots each. Why, don't know. I divided the results by half.
1. 4
2. 3
3. 5 - Made 16 in a row until my wife came in to talk.
4. 4
5. 3
6. 5 - Made 10 in a row.
7. 4 - Missed my 1st shot then made 10 in a row.
8. 4
_____
32

I went back and shot #2 after I was through and made 6 in a row.

I have all this on Video but I doubt if anyone is really interested because of the extra shots (and I'm wearing pajama's) so I'm just giving you the total.

I will do the other side tonight or tomorrow morning.

PastPrime.

 

[Dave Nelson]

I just finished my second try at the test and it was disappointing. The details were very close to those on the first try so I wont bother to post them. I picked up 1 ball, from 32 to 33. I had practiced pretty hard and yesterday at the pool room I was shooting Quite well.

I practiced hard at shot #1 which for me is the hardest. I think this was a mistake. I'm going to back up and pick what seem to me to be the 2 easiest and work on them. None of these shots is what I would consider easy.

Dave Nelson

 

[devindra]

I will do this today and post video later. I will only take 2 shots because it gets really boring after a while.

Edit: I just decided to take a shot at this but without the camera on because I am too lazy to go set up the camera. Well I managed to get 14/16 which isn't that bad for a 15 year old (16 in two weeks). My table is a 8ft with 4 1/2inch pockets. I started to feel the pressure when I was coming down to the end. I didn't want to miss. When I feel bored I will go set up the camera and maybe score 16/16.

 

[scottjen26]

Don't normally like cross posting, since I put part of this post in one of the aiming threads, but since not everyone is reading those anymore...

OK, I finally had the chance to do the workout - sorry, forgot the video camera, if I have time maybe I'll do that sometime.

I only had 45 minutes or so, and I think I rushed a few shots and bobbled them in the pocket (also easy to do on the Olhausen I was playing on) so I may be good for a another 1 or 2 on each side with more concentration.

Results (shot on a 9' Olhausen with 4 5/8 pockets I think, just slightly more than 2 balls wide):

1R - 1 ..... 1L - 2 (this was no fun at all)
2R - 3 ..... 2L - 3
3R - 4 ..... 3L - 5 (can't believe I missed 1!!)
4R - 4 ..... 4L - 4
5R - 4 ..... 5L - 4
6R - 3 ..... 6L - 4
7R - 3 ..... 7L - 4
8R - 4 ..... 8L - 3
-------------------------------------------
26 ........... 29

Total: 54


Respectable I guess, especially since I never fancied myself a pure shotmaker, more of a position player, my eyes just aren't that good... Again, I think 60 is quite possible even in the next session with some true concentration and not rushing, but this is a great collection of shots, thanks Colin!

Scott

 

[Cameron Smith]

Shot a 62. Though I was setting the shots up from memory. I'll print this out and try again on wednesday, the angles I was shooting were quite a bit more difficult.

 

[Joe T]

I goofed and got caught up in the aiming thread and posted this there earlier instead of here. I think if Colin keeps at it we could come up with a pretty standard scoring system which I think is fun, reminds me of my own aiming workout.

Getting better but 70's are going to be tough! I believe I have to figure on at least 6 misses from the first 20 shots and I think that's more than reasonable. That leaves me 4 misses for the remaining 60 shots. You'll need real good focus. I took the 63 down and replaced it with a 67 from this morning.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-prVQMEHgg&feature=PlayList&p=A770848BF74375DD&index=0&playnext=1 There's no instruction on this video. I was just trying to focus and practice, my cat would have none of that!

I would like to see some complete 80 shot videos, it takes under an hr to complete the workout and I'm on board to add some incentives if anyone comes up with a contest. Doesn't have to best score, could be whoever posted a complete workout is eliglible to win whatever it is we have to win.

 

[Colin Colenso]

I just finished my second try at the test and it was disappointing. The details were very close to those on the first try so I wont bother to post them. I picked up 1 ball, from 32 to 33. I had practiced pretty hard and yesterday at the pool room I was shooting Quite well.

I practiced hard at shot #1 which for me is the hardest. I think this was a mistake. I'm going to back up and pick what seem to me to be the 2 easiest and work on them. None of these shots is what I would consider easy.

Dave Nelson

Dave,
Sometimes learning to pot better is like trying to pull wrinkles out of a bed sheet. You pull the wrinkles out of one side which makes some new wrinkles on the other side.

So sometimes you start making the cut shots and the straight shots go offline and vice versa ad nauseum. It can be a slow process and all I can suggest is that you try to keep your alignment method and body and eye positioning as consistant as is possible relative to the cue. I don't mean to not try focusing on some different points to experiment, but be careful that this doesn't start to produce a wandering head over the cue that varies with different angles. This is very hard to adjust for.

If your set up remains constant your results should at least be repeatable and then you can start to adjust your aim thinner or fuller as is required until you get to know what is close for each shot.

Colin

 

[Colin Colenso]

I will do this today and post video later. I will only take 2 shots because it gets really boring after a while.

Edit: I just decided to take a shot at this but without the camera on because I am too lazy to go set up the camera. Well I managed to get 14/16 which isn't that bad for a 15 year old (16 in two weeks). My table is a 8ft with 4 1/2inch pockets. I started to feel the pressure when I was coming down to the end. I didn't want to miss. When I feel bored I will go set up the camera and maybe score 16/16.

Uh oh, the young guns with sharp eyes and fearless strokes are coming to get us

Good shooting Devindra!

Colin

 

[Colin Colenso]

I goofed and got caught up in the aiming thread and posted this there earlier instead of here. I think if Colin keeps at it we could come up with a pretty standard scoring system which I think is fun, reminds me of my own aiming workout.

Getting better but 70's are going to be tough! I believe I have to figure on at least 6 misses from the first 20 shots and I think that's more than reasonable. That leaves me 4 misses for the remaining 60 shots. You'll need real good focus. I took the 63 down and replaced it with a 67 from this morning.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-prVQMEHgg&feature=PlayList&p=A770848BF74375DD&index=0&playnext=1 There's no instruction on this video. I was just trying to focus and practice, my cat would have none of that!

I would like to see some complete 80 shot videos, it takes under an hr to complete the workout and I'm on board to add some incentives if anyone comes up with a contest. Doesn't have to best score, could be whoever posted a complete workout is eliglible to win whatever it is we have to win.

At ease private! ;-)

Seems to me you just need to do some work on that #1 shot Joe. Once you get you're eye in with that one, say 7 or 8 out of 10, we could almost pencil you in for a 70.

I was waiting for the trick shots with that Semih Sayginer music going on in the background. lol

Colin

 

[Dave Nelson]

Maybe some Cue Table Guru could do us a favor and divide the diagram into two parts. Left and right would be nice. Those lines get pretty hard to follow. Today is a busy day, but I hope to get in some practice and run the test again tomorrow.

Dave Nelson

 

[Dave Nelson]

Is there a way to rotate the table 90 degrees so that we could get a larger image on the paper?

Dave Nelson