I Must Have A Serious Problem?

try this

Try using the eight ball instead of the cue ball. Position the
middle of the number eight upright and exactly where you are
attempting to hit the cue ball. Then look at the chalk mark on
the eight ball, especially when you miss the shot, and that will
tell you if you are hitting the "cue" ball where you intend to.

If you are not, you must work on that first. But even if you do
hit that mark (almost) exactly in the center, then there are
other things, like steering the cue ball, that could be causing you
to miss.

Let us know how the results of the eight ball tests.
 
stroke training exercises

Robert Byrne has something he calls the progressive method.What this is is a variation in distance.Start close,about a diamond apart.If you make it there move back a diamond,so on,and so on.If you miss,move back to ground zero and start over.If you are having miscue problems,you are either having tip problems(shaping mostly nut if you are using a layer tip you may have a problem with the glue used to put the tip together glazing the tip and causing a slick surface that can be fixed with light sandpaper)or stroke,or even your bridge.Bryne has a real good fundamental's tape that has some real good exercises to bring one's game up.It may be worth looking at although I'm sure Scott would help probally as soon as he see's you shoot the shot.
 
the Progressive Method is what you are referring to. Rossman had me doing that during one of his lessons.

and one of the useful hints gleamed from my time with Mark Wilson was that you have to hit the cue ball right where you want to. not close or in the area, but right on the money! i have worked with the Rempe and Elephant Ball, and i dont think this is the problem. i seem to be right on line here.

i am starting to think its my setup, alignment, aim, whatever. hopefully Scott Lee can find the solution.

DCP
 
Just a question DRCue... how long have you been playing pool and what is your age? Also, do you have an athletic background of any sort?
 
DCP,
Whatever stroke you have chosen to go with; it must be precise and repeatable. You have either not done the necessary work to get it there; or your stroke is so flawed that it can't deliver the necessary repeatability and precision. Period.

All of the instructor's I know, recommend certain strokes because it is easier and quicker for the student to develop precision and repeatability with these "simple" strokes (ie. fewer moving parts, everything on plane) than it is with more unorthodox strokes. If you have chosen the unorthodox path, then you just have to work on it harder/longer. Even the best unorthodox players have limitations; watch Allen Hopkins struggle with the long power draw. He seems to have worked around his limitations fairly well.
 
Snorks said:
Just a question DRCue... how long have you been playing pool and what is your age? Also, do you have an athletic background of any sort?
Click to expand...

been playing about 9 years now, late 40s, and yes, always participated in athletics. never was real fast, quick, and couldnt jump (like Larry Bird) but i did play high school basketball, and baseball (my #1 sport) and also got to the point where i was a scratch golfer.

and speaking of the stroke, i was watching one of my old ESPN tapes from the late 1980s, with Mike Sigel and Buddy Hall playing. i noticed on one of Sigel's shots that his cue swerved to his right (he's a lefty) about the same manner that mine swerves to the left.

thats Mike Sigel, now, mind you............

DCP
 
Williebetmore said:
DCP,
Whatever stroke you have chosen to go with; it must be precise and repeatable. You have either not done the necessary work to get it there; or your stroke is so flawed that it can't deliver the necessary repeatability and precision. Period.

All of the instructor's I know, recommend certain strokes because it is easier and quicker for the student to develop precision and repeatability with these "simple" strokes (ie. fewer moving parts, everything on plane) than it is with more unorthodox strokes. If you have chosen the unorthodox path, then you just have to work on it harder/longer. Even the best unorthodox players have limitations; watch Allen Hopkins struggle with the long power draw. He seems to have worked around his limitations fairly well.
Click to expand...

i dont think Mark Wilson wanted me to change the stroke, i believe he said it was ok. i think he was wanting me to change my stance, that was his main thrust. but he wanted me so wide open, to turn my hips/shoulders so much, etc, that it practically hurt just to try and sight the shot. i suppose if Scott Lee tells me i need to change the stance i will finally get it through my head its a good idea.

i am going to try and check the notes Mark Wilson gave me and see exactly what his evaluation was. i do know that on the long, straight draw shot i was not hitting the cue ball right where i wanted to.

DCP
 
DrCue'sProtege said:
been playing about 9 years now, late 40s, and yes, always participated in athletics. never was real fast, quick, and couldnt jump (like Larry Bird) but i did play high school basketball, and baseball (my #1 sport) and also got to the point where i was a scratch golfer.

and speaking of the stroke, i was watching one of my old ESPN tapes from the late 1980s, with Mike Sigel and Buddy Hall playing. i noticed on one of Sigel's shots that his cue swerved to his right (he's a lefty) about the same manner that mine swerves to the left.

thats Mike Sigel, now, mind you............

DCP
Click to expand...

Sounds like you definitely have the potential to improve (age and physical ability as well as previous experience with pressure in sports).

Now, as many have said, listen closely to Scott. As he will tell you, you must empty the jar before the class in order to learn new stuff.

As for your long draw stroke, one thing to remember is that even the pros don't play position for that shot. It is a shot that is great to have, but at the end of the day, 90% of the time or more you have missed position to get straight on (pay attention to your previous shot).

All the best.
 
DrCue'sProtege said:
i dont think Mark Wilson wanted me to change the stroke, i believe he said it was ok. i think he was wanting me to change my stance, that was his main thrust. but he wanted me so wide open, to turn my hips/shoulders so much, etc, that it practically hurt just to try and sight the shot. i suppose if Scott Lee tells me i need to change the stance i will finally get it through my head its a good idea.

i am going to try and check the notes Mark Wilson gave me and see exactly what his evaluation was. i do know that on the long, straight draw shot i was not hitting the cue ball right where i wanted to.

DCP
Click to expand...

Dude,
A change in your stance IS a change in your stroke. Stance is an integral part of the way you move the cue. Any slight variation in your stance alters all of the planes of the stroke, and must be adjusted for accordingly. It's not rocket science, but it isn't as easy as you seem to think.
 
well, i can recall shortly after my lesson with Mark Wilson using the Rempe training ball when i was running, er, uh, make that, trying to run racks.

i would reset it on every shot, so that i knew exactly where i was supposed to hit the cue ball. almost every time the chalk was right on the money, but not every time did i make the shot. or get the position i wanted.

not sure what all of that would mean, perhaps what i have pondered all along? that its not my stroke, but my aim, alignment, setup, etc.

DCP
 
DrCue'sProtege said:
well, i can recall shortly after my lesson with Mark Wilson using the Rempe training ball when i was running, er, uh, make that, trying to run racks.

i would reset it on every shot, so that i knew exactly where i was supposed to hit the cue ball. almost every time the chalk was right on the money, but not every time did i make the shot. or get the position i wanted.

not sure what all of that would mean, perhaps what i have pondered all along? that its not my stroke, but my aim, alignment, setup, etc.

DCP
Click to expand...

If you take a moderate cut shot and shoot it with a tad bit of anything on the cue ball, you will get different results once the cue ball hits the object ball. Shoot it harder and even more things will change; ditto for softer.

Shoot the shot with one tip of follow at these speeds: soft, medium, firm, break speed, and watch what happens to the object ball, to the cue ball, and if the cue ball contacts the rails, note the differences.

These changes are only in the firmness at which the shot is made. With this alone, you can dramatically change your position play...

Flex
 
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