How to practice?

Zerksies said:
The key to pool is consistency. If you can't repeat what you are doing 99%+ of the time your playing is going to suffer. I've always felt the X drill works wonders on consistent straight stroke.
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I tell the lower level players to start out shooting the cue ball the length of the table to make it come back to your tip. Something I start and end every practice doing. If you can’t do that consistently you need to figure out why because until you can Consistently hit the cue ball center nothing else matters.
 
trob said:
I tell the lower level players to start out shooting the cue ball the length of the table to make it come back to your tip. Something I start and end every practice doing. If you can’t do that consistently you need to figure out why because until you can Consistently hit the cue ball center nothing else matters.
Click to expand...
I don't do it as often as I should and a few minutes a day helps. I try with various speeds .
 
greatergood.berkeley.edu

How to Motivate Kids to Practice Hard Things

Recent research can help us teach kids to practice the right way to reach their goals.
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Bavafongoul said:
Video yourself doing 1/2 dozen hard drills. Come up with your own or just use what others do or in a pool book.
If you cannot see your mistakes, not just feel them, you cannot & will not fix your flaws faster or even completely.

I have 7-8 drills I’ve done for the past 50 years. The drills are hard which makes it all the more satisfying. When I go to
a pool hall, I never scatter balls on a table and shoot or just play racks. That is really a waste of my time. My stepdad
was a hustler back in the 30’s playing pool in NY’s Bowery District. He played the best pool players and there was a
lot of men looking for a quick sawbuck. Times were tough and money was tight….high unemployment….it was hard .
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By specifying difficult routines, the article presumes an advanced level of craft and study. The OP in stark contrast complains that he doesn't get out "Pro" or even play consistently. This tells me there may be fundamental layers missing. Throwing the balls out allows a routine closer to game layouts. Makes more sense than trying for 20 reps of the same 4 rail shape or 50 spot shots in a row. Cart before the horse - always.
 
There's no getting around it. There are no shortcuts. Practice, practice, practice. And tons of it if you really want to get better. Hundreds of hours.

I started with stroke drills - hitting the cueball straight. Then onto centerball training to try to master follow, center and stun. Other than short draws, hitting really low on the cueball should wait.

From there I moved to clock drills to work on centerball and to learn spin. I did dozens of different shots, using Tory Lowry's drills.

From those drills, I gained knowledge not only about pocketing balls at different angles. But also finding out how hitting the CB in different spots would send it to different spots on the table.

These drills also require you to use different speeds when shooting to see how the path of the CB ball changes.

I then moved to principles of pattern play.

Banks and kicks came next. Breaking techniques also - I kept a sheet listing where I spotted the ball, what spin I used and what I got in.

Finally, I went back to learning draw. Spent months learning how to draw consistently and at length.

The only area I haven't dived into yet is safeties. I will do that early next year and concentrate on safeties for a few months.

Right now I am doing a variety of advanced drills.
 
trob said:
I tell the lower level players to start out shooting the cue ball the length of the table to make it come back to your tip. Something I start and end every practice doing. If you can’t do that consistently you need to figure out why because until you can Consistently hit the cue ball center nothing else matters.
Click to expand...
I agree mostly with your comment, but there are other things that do matter besides being consistent in hitting the cue ball. I'm not perfect in being consistent, but I practice all sorts of things and continue to work on my stroke.
 
SeniorTom said:
I agree mostly with your comment, but there are other things that do matter besides being consistent in hitting the cue ball. I'm not perfect in being consistent, but I practice all sorts of things and continue to work on my stroke.
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It’s the starting point. I’m talking about very new players. I practice all sorts of things to but as a new player being able to consistantly hit the cue ball where your aiming has to be the foundation
 
markjames said:
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Something that these virtuosi never go into is that the deeper (slower) you get into the playing, the more detail and subtlety you'll be able to observe and produce. There are tools that will slow down music as well; to stabilize your practice. No longer must you be a vampire to acquire magic fingers.

So pool, slowly... Well try cue ball direction and landings for detail and subtlety. Mentally rehearse the shot _at the speed of the shot_. IOW if a shot will take 10 seconds to transpire, visualize it at that pace.
 
Nothing is a better substitute for a straight stroke and masterful cue ball speed.

The drill I mentioned merely illustrates a routine for practicing both and it is much
harder than one might imagine and just perhaps by doing this drill you’d agree.

It is not complicated…..play shape on the spot shot for one corner pocket may
seem easy, at least until you see what your average score is. Get straight on the
corner pocket and you can repeatedly sink the OB using a draw stroke….I do and
you can start a run going without losing shape. But you have to still master keeping
position for a long run like my best friend can do but then again, he’s pro caliber.

Let’s admit it’s not hard to pocket 7-10 balls consecutively to a CP using this drill.
But running a couple dozen is so much more challenging that some players give up.

And when you miss, you must switch corner pockets. You’ll likely favor one over the
other and your averages will be different. To get a long run going. You have to use
both inside and outside English on different shots and avoid over cutting the OB.

Anyway, it’s just my suggestion for a practice drill that challenges you every time you
do it. Just how many can you run to either pocket and what’s your very best high run?

For example, if you are averaging 6-7 balls and then you break thru & run 12 in a row,
it’s a great feeling of satisfaction. When you do it just once, you’ll start thinking I should
do that every time and start trying even harder to establish a new high run, or at least
I did. if I can run 10, why not 20, 30 balls? Well, sooner or later your stroke betrays you.

Repetition …..consistency……knowledge + practice = improvement……..how fast is
determined by your approach, adaptability, persistence and willingness to learn.

Some players are imbued with better physical skills than others. Their anatomy, eyesight,
steadiness is just flat out better than yours but you can still become the better player. It is
your approach to the game that decides how good you will ever become and also remain.

No matter what anyone ever says differently, the game of pool is always played between
your ears first and foremost before you ever bend to assume your shooting stance. Drills
are a way to improve but it is certainly not the only way. Everyone learns in their own style.

Maybe…..just a thought…….a reader should attempt this drill and see firsthand it is a lot
harder than it seems. Sometimes just making a spot shot can be a struggle on some days.

A drill is meant to make you a better player……not instantly and permanently……it is only
through practice and repetition. However, if anyone has a better approach, good for them.

Don’t be so stingy with information that can help others improve. Post on this thread & explain
what you do to improve your pool skills or maybe you don’t need to? It would be unusual but
I tend to think that even pros, like Shane Van Boeung, has his own approach to practicing pool.
 
sifu said:

How to Practice?​

I have my own 9' table, <snip>

I feel like my biggest weakness, at the moment, is inconsistency in my stroke. Next biggest problem, is my actual stroke technique.
Click to expand...
When practicing, if you miss a shot:: return table to previous position, and shoot the shot you missed 10 times (without missing) before going on with the rest of the table.
 
The way to practice varies based on your skill level
Sounds really simple but I see a lot of guys learning things they don't need to learn at their skill level
A lot of guys just need to work on basic fundamentals then stroke and how to move the white ball around the table
Practice is too boring for a lot of people so they just play all the time without practice and never get over the hump
 
A lot of good practice advice in this thread. One thing I have noticed for myself, and I am about a 480 Fargo, is playing with the right cue stick that fits you. Strangely enough, my best shooter is the first stick I ever purchased for myself. This stick is the Cuetec Avid era Sneaky Pete with linen rap. I like their wood shafts, but on this particular stick I have a Cynergy 12.5 mm carbon fiber shaft. Of all the sticks I own, this one seems to fit me well, over all my other sticks. I just shot with it today at the hall and stayed right with a 580 Fargo individual playing 10 ball. Things I have been concentrating on is maintaining a smooth consistent stroke, staying down while I stroke the ball, and some good positive affirmations allowing my subconscious to do its job. We all have made most every shot many many times before, so our brain knows how to pot balls, it's just that we need to allow our brain to do it's work when we shoot.
 
Bavafongoul said:
Nothing is a better substitute for a straight stroke and masterful cue ball speed.

The drill I mentioned merely illustrates a routine for practicing both and it is much
harder than one might imagine and just perhaps by doing this drill you’d agree.

It is not complicated…..play shape on the spot shot for one corner pocket may
seem easy, at least until you see what your average score is. Get straight on the
corner pocket and you can repeatedly sink the OB using a draw stroke….I do and
you can start a run going without losing shape. But you have to still master keeping
position for a long run like my best friend can do but then again, he’s pro caliber.

Let’s admit it’s not hard to pocket 7-10 balls consecutively to a CP using this drill.
But running a couple dozen is so much more challenging that some players give up.

And when you miss, you must switch corner pockets. You’ll likely favor one over the
other and your averages will be different. To get a long run going. You have to use
both inside and outside English on different shots and avoid over cutting the OB.

Anyway, it’s just my suggestion for a practice drill that challenges you every time you
do it. Just how many can you run to either pocket and what’s your very best high run?

For example, if you are averaging 6-7 balls and then you break thru & run 12 in a row,
it’s a great feeling of satisfaction. When you do it just once, you’ll start thinking I should
do that every time and start trying even harder to establish a new high run, or at least
I did. if I can run 10, why not 20, 30 balls? Well, sooner or later your stroke betrays you.

Repetition …..consistency……knowledge + practice = improvement……..how fast is
determined by your approach, adaptability, persistence and willingness to learn.

Some players are imbued with better physical skills than others. Their anatomy, eyesight,
steadiness is just flat out better than yours but you can still become the better player. It is
your approach to the game that decides how good you will ever become and also remain.

No matter what anyone ever says differently, the game of pool is always played between
your ears first and foremost before you ever bend to assume your shooting stance. Drills
are a way to improve but it is certainly not the only way. Everyone learns in their own style.

Maybe…..just a thought…….a reader should attempt this drill and see firsthand it is a lot
harder than it seems. Sometimes just making a spot shot can be a struggle on some days.

A drill is meant to make you a better player……not instantly and permanently……it is only
through practice and repetition. However, if anyone has a better approach, good for them.

Don’t be so stingy with information that can help others improve. Post on this thread & explain
what you do to improve your pool skills or maybe you don’t need to? It would be unusual but
I tend to think that even pros, like Shane Van Boeung, has his own approach to practicing pool.
Click to expand...
No problem with, lets call them advancing drills. The article (somebody's deadline on the clock probably) is about that.

The OP though, indicated a need for 'therapeutic' drills. The goals here are anatomical; often involving an errant ligament or two. They aren't very interesting. They represent a critical obstacle yet are easily pushed aside for more entertaining work.
 
Here is one of my practice exercises. I have been working on putting spin on the cue ball, both top/left and bottom/right from the same shot, and it has been moderately successful. In the photo it shows where the cue ball hits the cushion after potting the ball into the corner. It hits off the long rail right after contact of course, and the chalk in the photo shows where it hits the rail again. That is quite a wide range considering it's the same shot. It shows how much flexibility you have with cue ball position from the same particular location.

20241027_145506~2.jpg
 
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Bob Jewett said:
Here's the outline I use for beginners' clinics. It has some stroke/mechanics drills. Also, if you don't understand all of the points in the Basics I and II outlines, you have some studying to do.


As @bbb pointed out, what you probably need is a good instructor -- one that can check your fundamentals and suggest fixes.

If you really want to get better, you are going to have to put in time on the table. From your post, it sounds like you are unable to put in any useful practice time -- you just mindlessly hit the balls. I don't think anyone here can help you with that problem. Maybe find practice drills that are scored and keep track of your scores.
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I took a look at that link. I started practicing a version of the progressive drills for draw stroke. I think it’s just what the doctor ordered. Thank you sir. I think you may know a thing or two about this teaching pool thing. Just my 2 cents.
 
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