How to build a routine

elvicash

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Planning Stage
Pre shot routine
Execution
Evaluation
Repeat

I want to make all of this faster/smoother and less script like, I do not have a trainer or a psychologist. Has anyone worked on this aspect of the game to burn in habits or process. I have not played much in last 5 or 6 weeks but I am going to make a push for the next month or so. Just want to make my time in the box have value so trying work on some of my process.
 
Sorry I can't help you, elvicash. My routine looks like it was built with duct tape and a claw hammer :o!!!

Maniac
 
It helps a LOT if you can play at least a little every day. EVERY time you approach the table, try and do it the same way. It soon will become habit, and you won't even have to think about it anymore.

This is true but keep in mind, if you develop a habit and it is a BAD one, it's damn hard to get rid of it on down the road. This is where lessons/instruction can come in VERY handy to a beginning player (not that the OP is a beginner). All I'm saying here is that in your daily routine, make sure you are doing it right!!!

Maniac
 
We help students build 3 checklists in pool school, each one having 4 or 5 items to be completed at each part of the shooting process (Studying, Standing, and Shooting).

Writing it down, helps you really plan, and organize your thoughts. Once you have written it down, it becomes easier to repeat the process every time.

By nature, your routine should be scripted...what you want to accomplish, is to make it automatic.

Steve
 
I would recommend getting a hold of Scott Lee, RandyG or anyone in the SPF family. Those boys have your answer.

Good luck.

Dean:D
 
Whats the typical going rate for a spf instructor? I have been wanting to try to get a session or two with a quailty instructor but the finincies havn't been the best as of late. My dad is giving me an older valley bar box he has in his workshop. I've talked to a few guys locally about getting it reclothed and the rails reworked as well. Once i get it setup and ready to go I want to get some instructional time so I can work on my game at home.
 
Not a wildly popular answer but I hope you'll consider it -

Many top players never CONSCIOUSLY chose to work on their preshot routine. No, I have no proof of that. But I think preshot routine is misunderstood. Preshot routine doesn't cause good shooting. Good shooting causes preshot routine.

Basically you hit a million balls, and take FULL CARE on each one, skipping and rushing nothing in terms of planning and execution. If you treat all the steps as important (even on the easy shots), you'll end up doing effectively the same thing on every shot. There's your routine.

I know, preshot routine is just one of your steps. But let's just call what you're talking about the entire shot routine. Same advice applies.

When someone talks about making something more rhythmic or less scripted or smoother, what they really mean is "faster". Oh wait, you actually typed it outright =) Let me ask you, why is faster better? When guys are playing in the us open... how many of them seem to be shooting fast? You see shane, ralf, mika, or johnny winning majors 'faster'? Who got it in your head that you need to speed up? Maybe your opponent?

At this point someone will point out that it's not the speed, that it's the rhythm, virtually every shot seems to go the same way. I won't argue with that, you can detect a clear rhythm in guys like earl and efren going 1-2-shoot, 1-2-shoot.

What I'm gonna say is that focusing on it will not help you as much as following all the important steps and allowing it to happen naturally.

This is especially true about "Preshot routine" - some guys focus excessively on foot placement, how your bridge hand gets onto the felt, how many practice strokes you take... overthinking these things can put the Mongolian Death Jinx on your shooting. They will all come naturally from hitting a million balls. Use common sense and get into your stance comfortably and change it if it feels even a little wrong. Don't sweat how many practice strokes you're taking and NEVER shoot a ball before you're ready to fire. If that takes a while, so be it... but it shouldn't take a while unless you're subconsciously stressed by the shot in some way. If you find yourself sawing wood uselessly, it is a sign of being unsure about the shot. Probably you need to go back to the planning stage and figure out if something's bothering you and if you wanna change the gameplan. If not, commit to it and shoot it when you're done aiming.

Evaluation's gonna happen automatically and you have all the time in the world to do it from the chair if you missed the shot or blew shape badly.

Don't hesitate to go to one of the instructors. I may disagree slightly with them on this subject but I have no doubt they can and will improve your game.
 
I have had some lessons from some of the best teachers in the world Scott L, Stan S, Mark W. all in the last 2 or 3 years. I actually have a decent game according to some people who would know about that sort of thing. However I fell that I am still just a decent B player.

The thought on playing faster was introduced to me when I was just rooming in Vegas with a real strong player who posts on here Bankin B "Brian Gregg" and he told me a big thing holding me back was my overthinking and slow play which burns up alot of energy and also keeps me out of a rhythm. So it was not an opponent but my slow play has been mentioned a few times in the past by my friends and opponents. I do not want to play fast but I want to be smooth and sure.

I definitely want to break out into the next level, I know I got some skills that are only starting to develop and my rhythm and flow of the game are part of the need to improve. Just looking for ideas, i know 10K hours with max effort on each shot will work but I want to get something out of the last 3 or 4 K hours I have put in so far.
 
Sounds like you're maybe where I am. If a guy of brian's caliber says speed it up, I'd listen. With that in mind, I guess analyze what part of the game takes a long time for you... all parts? Maybe you do 15 practice swings instead of 4 or 5? You take a long time to decide your plan? Definitely once you're down on the shot, the thinking and english selection should be all wrapped up. So it's just a question of getting a line of aim you like and firing. Maybe you have trouble finding that line?
 
Agent Bankin-B

Sounds like you're maybe where I am. If a guy of brian's caliber says speed it up, I'd listen. With that in mind, I guess analyze what part of the game takes a long time for you... all parts? Maybe you do 15 practice swings instead of 4 or 5? You take a long time to decide your plan? Definitely once you're down on the shot, the thinking and english selection should be all wrapped up. So it's just a question of getting a line of aim you like and firing. Maybe you have trouble finding that line?
Great comment CreeDo, Sounds like you have done your homework. One of my theories with building a consistant stroke is to have a consistant stroke pattern. One of the things that burn to much energy is time and an inconsistant stroke pattern soaks up energy which makes a person play worse sooner at the end of his or her night. A good stroke pattern that I find is consistant and conservative is a 1,2,3 break 1,2 break 1. My intrpratation of that statement is stroke 1,2,3 times and stop at the contact point for a breif second and then proceed to stroke 1,2, times and stop at the contact point of the cueball and fire the trigger with 1 stroke. This will also help you with consistant cue ball speed because when you stop at the cueball and then pull the trigger you can determine how much stroke to pull back for better precision. Wich comes to a conclusion that a constant srtoke will destroy power and delicacy and the ability to control the cueball properly. This is Agent Bankin-B signing off untill next Episode of Billiard Education.
 
Brian, I'll give it a try. Didn't know you were on these forums, but I've seen you take down the DCC ring game a bunch of times on youtube. Hope to see you posting more. ^
 
Brian, I'll give it a try. Didn't know you were on these forums, but I've seen you take down the DCC ring game a bunch of times on youtube. Hope to see you posting more. ^

Not a problem, talk to ya soon and wish you the best.
 
Great comment CreeDo, Sounds like you have done your homework. One of my theories with building a consistant stroke is to have a consistant stroke pattern. One of the things that burn to much energy is time and an inconsistant stroke pattern soaks up energy which makes a person play worse sooner at the end of his or her night. A good stroke pattern that I find is consistant and conservative is a 1,2,3 break 1,2 break 1. My intrpratation of that statement is stroke 1,2,3 times and stop at the contact point for a breif second and then proceed to stroke 1,2, times and stop at the contact point of the cueball and fire the trigger with 1 stroke. This will also help you with consistant cue ball speed because when you stop at the cueball and then pull the trigger you can determine how much stroke to pull back for better precision. Wich comes to a conclusion that a constant srtoke will destroy power and delicacy and the ability to control the cueball properly. This is Agent Bankin-B signing off untill next Episode of Billiard Education.

Wat up B-WABBIT? LOL...GOTCHA BRO...great information brian,it sure would be nice to have a player of your caliber close to me...i could pick his brain a little.whens the next episode of billiard education??
 
I have had some lessons from some of the best teachers in the world Scott L, Stan S, Mark W. all in the last 2 or 3 years. I actually have a decent game according to some people who would know about that sort of thing. However I fell that I am still just a decent B player.

The thought on playing faster was introduced to me when I was just rooming in Vegas with a real strong player who posts on here Bankin B "Brian Gregg" and he told me a big thing holding me back was my overthinking and slow play which burns up alot of energy and also keeps me out of a rhythm. So it was not an opponent but my slow play has been mentioned a few times in the past by my friends and opponents. I do not want to play fast but I want to be smooth and sure.

Elvi: After playing with you a lot and watching you play, you know I agree with Brian. I think your stroke looks fine. You just take way too much time thinking about what you are going to do next. I've seen you run a couple of racks of straight pool that way but it has to be grueling. If you could force yourself to get moving quicker you might find yourself in a nice rhythm.
 
Great comment CreeDo, Sounds like you have done your homework. One of my theories with building a consistant stroke is to have a consistant stroke pattern. One of the things that burn to much energy is time and an inconsistant stroke pattern soaks up energy which makes a person play worse sooner at the end of his or her night. A good stroke pattern that I find is consistant and conservative is a 1,2,3 break 1,2 break 1. My intrpratation of that statement is stroke 1,2,3 times and stop at the contact point for a breif second and then proceed to stroke 1,2, times and stop at the contact point of the cueball and fire the trigger with 1 stroke. This will also help you with consistant cue ball speed because when you stop at the cueball and then pull the trigger you can determine how much stroke to pull back for better precision. Wich comes to a conclusion that a constant srtoke will destroy power and delicacy and the ability to control the cueball properly. This is Agent Bankin-B signing off untill next Episode of Billiard Education.

OK B I am taking on the assignement. I played a little since my Vegas trip. I am now 1-2 Stop (Optional 1-2 Stop) - Slow Back - Fire - Check Tip If I am not good after a second 1-2 then I will stand up.

This worked great in practice need to burn it in.

I think theres more to my building a routine quest than just stroke pattern though and i will think on it some and post again in this thread.
 
We help students build 3 checklists in pool school, each one having 4 or 5 items to be completed at each part of the shooting process (Studying, Standing, and Shooting).

Writing it down, helps you really plan, and organize your thoughts. Once you have written it down, it becomes easier to repeat the process every time.

By nature, your routine should be scripted...what you want to accomplish, is to make it automatic.

Steve


Thanks for the PM and wish I as closer would love to get alittle of your time.

On your post you mention scripting studying and standing, I am working on shooting with Brian hear and focusing on my stroke pattern. I am using the silent eye process as well ala Scott Lee
For me that process is have an oB path pictured, goingting into my stance I am looking at the OB and moving to CB after I am mostly down where I place my tip as near as possible to CB in correct location and check alignment. Once this is correct begin my stroke pattern, focus on CB while moving stick, look at OB and check aim while stick is stopped and the entire back stroke to finish during the actual shot. Tring to minimize eye movements.

Another step I have is I currently am trying to use the setting down the chalk to trigger the change from plan/decision-->chalk down-->execute a shot.

Enough of my process, could you please enlighten us with a short intro into the the basic process for study and standing. I would like to include these into my routine.
 
It helps a LOT if you can play at least a little every day. EVERY time you approach the table, try and do it the same way. It soon will become habit, and you won't even have to think about it anymore.

I know when when I play 10 days in a row I feel totally different than I do if I play some and miss a few days and play some more and miss a few more, i never get that punch going. I am trying to WORK on a habit so the process flows.

When I play alot I am a different player than I am right now.

Neil, I want play you some if I ever make it back up to Grand Rapids.
 
Wat up B-WABBIT? LOL...GOTCHA BRO...great information brian,it sure would be nice to have a player of your caliber close to me...i could pick his brain a little.whens the next episode of billiard education??

You ever been to Denny's?????

Watch out for the cotttage cheese, that is all I am saying on that one.
 
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