I'll be doing the drill later this morning. Results to follow.
Dave Nelson
Dave Nelson
How Does Your Potting Rate - Potting Test.
- Thread starter Colin Colenso
- Start date
I play mostly straight pool, so most of these shots are much longer than what I encounter during play.. But, I'm happy to report a score of 42 without a warm up.
I'm about to go try again and I'll report back. If I don't post again soon, just assume it didn't go well!
I'm about to go try again and I'll report back. If I don't post again soon, just assume it didn't go well!
54
Hello,
This is the second time I have run the drill and did much better then the first. The first go I posted a 34 but new I could do better, I just had a rough go and was practically playing in the dark ( no joke ). This time around I posted a 54 and that is around what I expected of myself. I've been told that I'm a B player, so I was hoping to be no lower then 45.
Shot 1 - R-3, L-3
Shot 2 - R-1, L-1
Shot 3 - R-5, L-4
Shot 4 - R-4, L-4
Shot 5 - R-5, L-4
Shot 6 - R-2, L-3
Shot 7 - R-4, L-5
Shot 8 - R-3, L-3
54
If I didn't have so many problems with shot #2, I would have done farely well I think. I use CTE and I just wasn't sure if the shot was thick or thin and I think the confusion carried over into my stroke. I really think with practice I can get up there, but I'm happy anyhow.
P.S. Thanks for the recent help Spidey.
J.W.
Hello,
This is the second time I have run the drill and did much better then the first. The first go I posted a 34 but new I could do better, I just had a rough go and was practically playing in the dark ( no joke ). This time around I posted a 54 and that is around what I expected of myself. I've been told that I'm a B player, so I was hoping to be no lower then 45.
Shot 1 - R-3, L-3
Shot 2 - R-1, L-1
Shot 3 - R-5, L-4
Shot 4 - R-4, L-4
Shot 5 - R-5, L-4
Shot 6 - R-2, L-3
Shot 7 - R-4, L-5
Shot 8 - R-3, L-3
54
If I didn't have so many problems with shot #2, I would have done farely well I think. I use CTE and I just wasn't sure if the shot was thick or thin and I think the confusion carried over into my stroke. I really think with practice I can get up there, but I'm happy anyhow.
P.S. Thanks for the recent help Spidey.
J.W.
You know, for shot #2 I've had better luck trying to aim so that the cue ball scratches in the opposite corner than I have actually aiming so the object ball goes in. In theory those two points should be the same, but for some reason it seemed easier that way.
It's time for some humble pie!!!
On a Gandy big G 9' wi/5" pockets and 760 on it
Starting cold 40/80 then 45/80 That's a tough pill to swallow!!!:angry:
I consider myself a high B player, and do above avg. when competing with other B players. I do have some age and physical deficiencies going on, but this kind of hurts! I haven't been a 'shotmaker' for the last 20 years, and always prided myself (and needed to be!) a position player to succeed.
My cue ball path and position knowledge are what enable me to play my best but this just shows me how weak my shotmaking has become.
I'm going to try again earlier in the day with fresh contacts and bear down on each shot and see how I can better my score. I wanted to keep this score to myself, but it's good to be humbled in public and it gives some better incentive to GRIND it out a little! :smile:
See if I can improve my actual and my estimated from here .... I'm determined to shoot at least 60 by year end!!!
I give myself
shot making = low B
Positional play = high B/Low A
Game knowledge = high B/Low A
Safety play = low A
Thx for the test!!
On a Gandy big G 9' wi/5" pockets and 760 on it
Starting cold 40/80 then 45/80 That's a tough pill to swallow!!!:angry:
I consider myself a high B player, and do above avg. when competing with other B players. I do have some age and physical deficiencies going on, but this kind of hurts! I haven't been a 'shotmaker' for the last 20 years, and always prided myself (and needed to be!) a position player to succeed.
My cue ball path and position knowledge are what enable me to play my best but this just shows me how weak my shotmaking has become.
I'm going to try again earlier in the day with fresh contacts and bear down on each shot and see how I can better my score. I wanted to keep this score to myself, but it's good to be humbled in public and it gives some better incentive to GRIND it out a little! :smile:
See if I can improve my actual and my estimated from here .... I'm determined to shoot at least 60 by year end!!!
I give myself
shot making = low B
Positional play = high B/Low A
Game knowledge = high B/Low A
Safety play = low A
Thx for the test!!
Thanks for the detailed report grindz and glad that the test has shown you where improvement is possible.grindz said:
I agree that experienced players with good position skills and shot choice knowledge can get away with a lot when their potting is off a bit, but the game sure is more fun and a lot easier when potting feels strong.
Hope to see you climbing through the 50s.
Colin
I printed this out the other day but added a little score chart underneath the table layout. I usually get to the PH early on league nights & this week I'll take it along with me, see how it goes. I have a feeling there may be a few players who'd like to try it. I will post my score & let you guys know how interested others are, and how they do.
Thanks for starting this Colin!
Thanks for starting this Colin!
I think it's interesting..
to see how different parts of ones game improve to make up for the shortfalls in other areas. With age and the internet my mental game has easily doubled if not more in the last 20 years, but my shot making percentage has dropped off dramatically also. Must be why I like the bar box so much these days!! :wink:
I'm not sure which came first though...... the chicken or the egg.
I'll be trying this again today.... and if I don't hit 50's.... it's drill time until I get to 60!!!!
They didn't call me grindz for nothin'
td
Colin Colenso said:
to see how different parts of ones game improve to make up for the shortfalls in other areas. With age and the internet my mental game has easily doubled if not more in the last 20 years, but my shot making percentage has dropped off dramatically also. Must be why I like the bar box so much these days!! :wink:
I'm not sure which came first though...... the chicken or the egg.
I'll be trying this again today.... and if I don't hit 50's.... it's drill time until I get to 60!!!!
They didn't call me grindz for nothin'
td
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OK, did this again but this time with cameras rolling and concentrating at least a little bit. Took about 40 minutes to do all 80 shots.
Shot 56 - 26 on the left, 30 on the right. I left the details at home, can edit and post later or you can watch all 40 minutes and count for yourselves...
I was a little disappointed - I wasn't "feeling" it that night (and apparently that carried over to the tournament I played yesterday - uggghhh). I think I missed the almost straight in shot (#3) once on each side, which I normally wouldn't expect to do. Also got 3's on some of the more simple cut shots that I would have expected 4's or even a 5 on one side. I think 60 - 64 would be my normal expected range, anything worse I'm a little off, anything more I'm in dead stroke. Not sure if I will try again or not, but I may.
Nice drill though, as I metioned before I don't really consider myself a pure shotmaker, so this shows me when I have those long or off angle shots the amount of concentration that is necessary to repeatedly make the ball, not just that one time in a match but each and every time it comes up. Lesson learned...
Enjoy!
Scott
Note: Just checked poolvids.com (where I uploaded the vids over the weekend), there is a note there saying they have had issues with recently uploaded videos. I'll post back when the links are there and active, or you can check and search for my username (scottjen26), I named the videos Colin Test - Right and Colin Test - Left.
Shot 56 - 26 on the left, 30 on the right. I left the details at home, can edit and post later or you can watch all 40 minutes and count for yourselves...
I was a little disappointed - I wasn't "feeling" it that night (and apparently that carried over to the tournament I played yesterday - uggghhh). I think I missed the almost straight in shot (#3) once on each side, which I normally wouldn't expect to do. Also got 3's on some of the more simple cut shots that I would have expected 4's or even a 5 on one side. I think 60 - 64 would be my normal expected range, anything worse I'm a little off, anything more I'm in dead stroke. Not sure if I will try again or not, but I may.
Nice drill though, as I metioned before I don't really consider myself a pure shotmaker, so this shows me when I have those long or off angle shots the amount of concentration that is necessary to repeatedly make the ball, not just that one time in a match but each and every time it comes up. Lesson learned...
Enjoy!
Scott
Note: Just checked poolvids.com (where I uploaded the vids over the weekend), there is a note there saying they have had issues with recently uploaded videos. I'll post back when the links are there and active, or you can check and search for my username (scottjen26), I named the videos Colin Test - Right and Colin Test - Left.
Revisit...
After a week of just hitting around and playing some ghost to try to get my grip back (I've been experimenting with my stroke and grip) and without practicing the shots in the test I revisited the test. Improved a bit into mid 50's (54) but barely jawed 4 #1's and jawed multiple others. I'm going to hit it again in a week with some help (brewskis) :smile: to make sure I am into the 60's. Time to redeem myself from the my self diagnosed dose of 'humble pie'.
My EGO needs to PROVE to myself that I'm not just a 'banger' after 30 years!!!
Have a Merry Christmas all!!!
td
After a week of just hitting around and playing some ghost to try to get my grip back (I've been experimenting with my stroke and grip) and without practicing the shots in the test I revisited the test. Improved a bit into mid 50's (54) but barely jawed 4 #1's and jawed multiple others. I'm going to hit it again in a week with some help (brewskis) :smile: to make sure I am into the 60's. Time to redeem myself from the my self diagnosed dose of 'humble pie'.
My EGO needs to PROVE to myself that I'm not just a 'banger' after 30 years!!!
Have a Merry Christmas all!!!
td
My last try was so bad that I just quit. I'll go back to hitting straight in stop shots for awhile and video my stroke to see if I can spot what's wrong. Then I'll try again.
Dave Nelson
Dave Nelson
Dave Nelson said:
Hi Dave,
I in no means am great, but have had to grind for whatever skill I have. So over the years I learned some methods that worked. Here is one.
A great drill, or method of practice I learned a (long) while back is to practice whatever shot needs work "at the point of failure". i.e. shoot the shot at an easier level where you make it each time, then move the OB to 1 ball width farther or harder and repeat. When you get to the point where you find that you're missing then move a little easier, then back out when you succeed there.
That point of failure is where you should practice most of the time. It's just past where the muscle memory is engrained and where you need to really focus to achieve results. You'll find if you do this for 10-15 minutes each time you play, for whatever shot or thing is on the agenda that day....you'll see good progress. Track the results... you will impress yourself when you look back in a few months!!!
Try JoeyA's "power stroke drill". The thread is a ways back, but you can find it. Helped me build my stroke up, by using the above method.
Hope that helps.
Tim
I read this post at work today, so I thought I'd give it a shot. No practice, just shot it. My high in 14.1 is 65 to give you an idea how I shoot. It was on a 7' dynamo. Right corner is less then 4.5 and Left corner is a hair bigger then 4.5. I will try it also after several hours of doing my drills and straight pool practice. I would like to think that I could give a better score if I was warmed up good, but maybe not.
1R-2 1L-4
2R-4 2L-5
3R-4 3L-3
4R-3 4L-3
5R-4 5L-5
6R-4 6L-3
7R-4 7L-3
8R-5 8L-4
Total R30, L30 for a score of 60.
I'm dissapointed in shots 3 and 4 as they look easy. Just can't explain those misses, will have to practice that shot. I don't have an aiming method, I suppose it would be like a ghost ball method.
1R-2 1L-4
2R-4 2L-5
3R-4 3L-3
4R-3 4L-3
5R-4 5L-5
6R-4 6L-3
7R-4 7L-3
8R-5 8L-4
Total R30, L30 for a score of 60.
I'm dissapointed in shots 3 and 4 as they look easy. Just can't explain those misses, will have to practice that shot. I don't have an aiming method, I suppose it would be like a ghost ball method.
Grindz
Thanks for the reply. Those are good suggestions and I appreciate it.
Dave Nelson
Thanks for the reply. Those are good suggestions and I appreciate it.
Dave Nelson
Total of 40....9 foot table, level, pockets large enough to just wedge two balls....
1st set of shots were the hardest.....was on a bit of a clock, did this at the end of my session and needed to leave shortly.....shots take a bit to set up so set aside a lot of time.....missed many more shots than expected.....also, found myself focusing on results as opposed to execution.....plan to make appx 50-60 next go-around....
Good drill, thanks to op for putting this up....
1st set of shots were the hardest.....was on a bit of a clock, did this at the end of my session and needed to leave shortly.....shots take a bit to set up so set aside a lot of time.....missed many more shots than expected.....also, found myself focusing on results as opposed to execution.....plan to make appx 50-60 next go-around....
Good drill, thanks to op for putting this up....
BUMP
I don't play a lot of tournaments so I don't have a really solid handicap. In APA I am a 6 and I attribute that more to safety play and decision making than pocketing ability.
I also have JoeT's Guaranteed Improvement which gives some guidelines for handicap based on the drills in it. I am a pretty strong C, but whenever I play a handicapped tournament, they wont let me play as a C because all the other C's play as B's.
Anyways, enough rambling. First attempt cold, I shot:
1R - 0 1L - 0
2R - 1 2L - 1
3R - 4 3L - 4
4R - 4 4L - 3
5R - 2 5L - 3
6R - 3 6L - 2
7R - 3 7L - 2
8R - 2 8L - 4
19 19
thanks for the drill, I will try again. I have missed 7 and 8 a lot in matches and not realized how much focus they require. I am giving myself some leniency with 1 and 2 because they are tough. 5 is a known problem and I am working on it. I tend to overcut those shots.
And for the comment awhile back about potting being nothing without position play. I couldn't disagree more. Position play makes the shots easier. But the guy who doesn't miss from anywhere on the table will win.
my $.02
Oh and this was a 9' Anniversary with standard 5" pockets.
I don't play a lot of tournaments so I don't have a really solid handicap. In APA I am a 6 and I attribute that more to safety play and decision making than pocketing ability.
I also have JoeT's Guaranteed Improvement which gives some guidelines for handicap based on the drills in it. I am a pretty strong C, but whenever I play a handicapped tournament, they wont let me play as a C because all the other C's play as B's.
Anyways, enough rambling. First attempt cold, I shot:
1R - 0 1L - 0
2R - 1 2L - 1
3R - 4 3L - 4
4R - 4 4L - 3
5R - 2 5L - 3
6R - 3 6L - 2
7R - 3 7L - 2
8R - 2 8L - 4
19 19
thanks for the drill, I will try again. I have missed 7 and 8 a lot in matches and not realized how much focus they require. I am giving myself some leniency with 1 and 2 because they are tough. 5 is a known problem and I am working on it. I tend to overcut those shots.
And for the comment awhile back about potting being nothing without position play. I couldn't disagree more. Position play makes the shots easier. But the guy who doesn't miss from anywhere on the table will win.
my $.02
Oh and this was a 9' Anniversary with standard 5" pockets.
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