in the quest to progress, what stats are worth keeping track of?

evergruven

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I've played ghost in the past, kept track of scores, and tried to take notes on why I missed
in friendly games I've played, I've been keeping track of makes, misses, and session scores
my goal is to be able to objectively diagnose my game, for the purposes of getting better
wondering what instructors et al. think are worthy stats/things to keep track of, to that end?
 
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Try "progressive" practice - you don't have to keep track of anything, and you can practice any game or shot.

Start with the number of balls you think you can consistently run. If you run them, add a ball and go again. If you don't run them, subtract a ball and go again. Rinse, repeat. The format keeps score for you.

You can also do it with a particular shot - say a draw shot: place the OB a given distance from a pocket (say 1 diamond away), and the CB a given distance from the OB (say another diamond) for a straight-in shot. Try to make the shot and draw the CB a given distance (say back 1 diamond to where the CB started). If you're successful, move the CB farther from the OB (and/or try to draw the CB farther). If you're not successful, shorten the distance(s). Again, the format keeps score for you.

pj
chgo
 
I started typing an answer and it got longer and longer and longer.... and I thought, what the heck?? There's no one-way to go about this.

You can be more conscious when you're practicing, but when you're performing, you shouldn't be disrupting your flow, even when you're in the chair. Jotting down one or two things that jump out at you when you're competing is fine, but the more conscious you are during a match, the less opportunity you have for falling into the zone, which is a natural flow between conscious and unconscious actions.

As for what stats to focus on, try to envision a game broken into 3 parts --- beginning, middle and end. For example: If you're breaking, then the break and your first turn at the table after that are key to setting the stage of the game.

Then there's the middle: Do you get stuck in the middle? After 3 balls are down, are you successful in maintaining control of the table?

And of course, the end. Are you able to close out the game? What's your success rate?

These are things you can think about after the game is over.
 
Progressive drills are good, but repetition is more beneficial. In other words, setting up a particular shot and setting a goal to make the shot and get a desired cb position X amount of times before moving onto another shot, will train your mind and muscles much quicker than the random repetition that sometimes occurs with a progressive drill.

Setting realistic goals and pushing yourself to achieve them is a great way to practice, and a great way to learn your current limitations and shot percentages.
 
Progressive drills are good, but repetition is more beneficial. In other words, setting up a particular shot and setting a goal to make the shot and get a desired cb position X amount of times before moving onto another shot, will train your mind and muscles much quicker than the random repetition that sometimes occurs with a progressive drill.

Setting realistic goals and pushing yourself to achieve them is a great way to practice, and a great way to learn your current limitations and shot percentages.
nice to see you posting brian
hope all is well
larry
 
...setting up a particular shot and setting a goal to make the shot and get a desired cb position X amount of times before moving onto another shot, will train your mind and muscles
Yes, that's a common adjustment in progressive drills. You set the "success" level higher to spend more time on each shot or lower for more variety. Position is also typically included in the definition of success.

pj
chgo
 
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