Instructor review

nataddrho

nataddrho

www.digicue.net
Silver Member
Ahh. heeeres the instructor forum. I thought it went away. I wanted to post this here originally.

I've improved in the past year (Since TRIAL #0), but still always looking for some feedback in my game.

Watch TRIAL#2. I'm aware of all of the positional mistakes I made.

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CHALLENGE: 10 racks of 10 ball vs. ghost, 1 point per ball.
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TRIAL #2
SCORE: 64 / 100
Date: 2/20/2014
Peer Rating: B
Peer Recommendations: ?
Video: http://youtu.be/iQBoLiAUjMU

TRIAL #1
SCORE: 41 / 100
Date: 2/17/2014
Peer Rating: C to C+
Peer Recommendations:
1) Improve stroke
2) Take more time aligning to shot line before dropping
3) Keep self conversations internal, no gestures.
Videos:
Part 1: http://youtu.be/7XrD9tvh4k8
Part 2: http://youtu.be/SLzqUEhnr4I

TRIAL #0
SCORE: 46 / 100
Date: 5/2/2013
Self Rating: C-
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMcRDwRdETs
 
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critique

nataddrho said:
Ahh. heeeres the instructor forum. I thought it went away. I wanted to post this here originally.

I've improved in the past year (Since TRIAL #0), but still always looking for some feedback.

Watch TRIAL#2. I'm aware of all of the positional mistakes I made.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CHALLENGE: 10 racks of 10 ball vs. ghost, 1 point per ball.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

TRIAL #2
SCORE: 64 / 100
Date: 2/20/2014
Peer Rating: ?
Peer Recommendations: ?
Video: http://youtu.be/iQBoLiAUjMU

TRIAL #1
SCORE: 41 / 100
Date: 2/17/2014
Peer Rating: C to C+
Peer Recommendations:
1) Improve stroke
2) Take more time aligning to shot line before dropping
3) Keep self conversations internal, no gestures.
Videos:
Part 1: http://youtu.be/7XrD9tvh4k8
Part 2: http://youtu.be/SLzqUEhnr4I

TRIAL #0
SCORE: 46 / 100
Date: 5/2/2013
Self Rating: C-
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMcRDwRdETs
Click to expand...

Watched only the third video.

Noticed that you seemed to break from a slightly different spot each time you broke...kind of like it didn't matter exactly where you set the CB. You could be much more accurate with your break.

You sometimes have lazy feet, - resulting in a variety of stances rather than one or two that are consistent.

You take time planning some shots and very little time on others...and you seem to be in a hurry in your execution on about 1/4 or your shots.

Make the same commitment on every shot...you shot one shot late in the set without really aiming or taking even one practice stroke.

The shot that you repeated in about the third last rack was not as difficult as you saw it. You missed the shot, and set it up again, but not in the same place it was. Better focus on each shot will help you repeat shots exactly as they were positioned. With this particular shot, you tried several ways to get position, failed each time, and then gave up. You had options that didn't occur to you.

So basically, you need to tighten up your planning and execution...you will become a good player.
 
Bob Jewett said:
In the first rack, which shots do you think could have been played better?
Click to expand...

1st rack:
1 ball: Better if I followed into the rail and gotten closer to the 3
3 ball: Closer zone for 4 ball is between 7 and 10, though both are tight. Good job with speed.
4 ball: Excellent shot to get on the 5.
5 ball: Could have come up closer to the side pocket to bounce out closer to the 6.
6 ball: Good.
7 ball: Good.
8 ball: Straight draw would have been fine. I meant to, and should have, dragged a little more with low inside and gotten a wider swing, ending up higher on the 9. Low outside would have been fine too.
9 ball: Not a great shot, should have gotten center pocket. Hit it a tad thick to keep cue ball low.
10 ball: Good.

2nd rack:
1 ball: Good.
3 ball: I got ahead of myself on this one. I put the cue ball there I wanted it for the 5, not the 4. Spaced out for a second.
4 ball: Had an unnecessary cut into the side pocket. Good use of the 5 as a stop.
5 ball: I was trying a shot here I never tried before. I wanted to come under the six, then back above it. I normally would have just player the curve with low outside and come up for the 6.
6 ball: Good recovery.
7 ball: Good.
8 ball: I expected the cue ball to come back a little more. Maybe a touch more straight draw, touch less outside.
9 ball: I'm comfortable with this shot and should have made it. My rail target is right below the right side pocket, ended up too low - almost scratched in the other side. Must have rushed it.

3rd rack:
1 ball: Good.
2 ball: Good.
3 ball: Dogged it, should have come much closer to the 5.
5 ball: Should have commited to going 2 rails onto the 6, not just 1. Caused some mental disturbance.

4th rack:
slugged myself...
1 ball: Good
2 ball: Nothing was really a problem in the cluster. I think I just wanted to break it open for fun, got a lucky shot on the 3. Better shot would have been to follow to the end rail and bounce up to the left of the cluster for the 3, careful of the 6. Next time I'll resist my 14.1 urges.
3 ball: Tough shot to get back on the 4. Almost got the window but missed the 3. Next...

5th rack:
1 ball: Could have come up a bit further from the rail, but ok.
2 ball: Good!
3 ball: I wanted to go below the 4 and put it in the side, but also didn't want to hit the 4. The mental conflict caused the latter to happen more, and I didn't go far enough. Better shot would have been inside stun straight across, and let the spin carry the cue ball off the end rail into the 4's side-pocket-zone. Next time.
4 ball: Ugh! Combo is too hard. Ugly cut, but executed well. It looked like I wacked it, but I had a little bit of feel for the 5-rail thing going on. Not a bad recovery.
5 ball: Wobbly. I think i had an itch on my hand or something cause it was freaking out before the shot, lol. Could have been more precise with this one.
6 ball: Good.
7 ball: Good.
8 ball: Little too far
9 ball: Again, my target was right below the right side pocket, way too low. But maybe I meant for the long shot, I don't remember. If I were to do it now, I'd go for the side.
10 ball: Good.

6th rack:
1 ball: Didn't mean to hit the 7. Could have been bad. Needed to play it a little flatter and harder.
2 ball: Good.
3 ball: I didn't want to get hooked behind the 9, and didn't trust the side pocket. Got perfect on the 4.
4 ball: Great shot, just what I wanted.
5 ball: Good.
6 ball: Good.
7 ball: Good, I bumped the 10 but knew what I was doing.
8 ball: Bad choice. End rail would have been better.
9 ball: I trust my stroke, and it pays off.
10 ball: A little wide but ok. Prefer center pocket.
 
Donny Lutz said:
The shot that you repeated in about the third last rack was not as difficult as you saw it. You missed the shot, and set it up again, but not in the same place it was. Better focus on each shot will help you repeat shots exactly as they were positioned. With this particular shot, you tried several ways to get position, failed each time, and then gave up. You had options that didn't occur to you.
.
Click to expand...

The solution was low inside, drag it out and play the curve, take the cut. Got stuck with the idea of 4 rails.
 
Donny Lutz said:
Watched only the third video.

Noticed that you seemed to break from a slightly different spot each time you broke...kind of like it didn't matter exactly where you set the CB. You could be much more accurate with your break.

You sometimes have lazy feet, - resulting in a variety of stances rather than one or two that are consistent.

You take time planning some shots and very little time on others...and you seem to be in a hurry in your execution on about 1/4 or your shots.

Make the same commitment on every shot...you shot one shot late in the set without really aiming or taking even one practice stroke.

The shot that you repeated in about the third last rack was not as difficult as you saw it. You missed the shot, and set it up again, but not in the same place it was. Better focus on each shot will help you repeat shots exactly as they were positioned. With this particular shot, you tried several ways to get position, failed each time, and then gave up. You had options that didn't occur to you.

So basically, you need to tighten up your planning and execution...you will become a good player.
Click to expand...

Donnie has most of this spot on to what I was thinking.

PRE SHOT ROUTINE!!! you want to build consistency then work on setting up for each shot the same way. Focus more on the setup and execution of a smooth stroke with a good follow through.

A lot of shots look like you are really quick through a couple practice strokes then your final stroke is a different speed. Use your practice strokes to find the right speed and feel of the hit.

Try visualizing yourself shooting the shot. This should help with staying smooth and executing better.
 
To the OP:

It's not a break and run when you take ball in hand after your break.

There's quite a bit of poking going on due to bad stroke timing ---- due to a fast backstroke. If you're going to take that fast of a backstroke, then you should take a pause at the end of your backstroke to negate the negative effect.

If you can take a slower backstroke then you may not have to take that pause.
 
Thanks for your advice so far, I'm kind of looking more for feedback on my pattern. I'm happy with my stroke consistency.
 
nataddrho said:
Thanks for your advice so far, I'm kind of looking more for feedback on my pattern. I'm happy with my stroke consistency.
Click to expand...

No offense meant but you shouldn't be happy with your stroke. You can do better. You got position on some of your shots by pure luck. Your poking stroke hurts your ability to control the cue ball. It will come back to bite you in competition. You asked for an assessment. You got one.
 
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FranCrimi said:
No offense meant but you shouldn't be happy with your stroke. You can do better. You got position on some of your shots by pure luck. Your poking stroke hurts your ability to control the cue ball. It will come back to bite you in competition. You asked for an assessment. You got one.
Click to expand...

Which shots were pure luck, and how can I do better without changing my stance and keeping the cue on my chin?
 
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Stroke

nataddrho said:
7 years, 3 with an excellent instructor.
Click to expand...

3 years working with an instructor and you must of skipped stroke training.

I've seen players capable of running out with a poor stroke, but imho it always seems to be an uphill battle.

Your stroke timing is off and should look effortless but it doesn't. Practice strokes are quick and jerky. Some shots you only take 1 or 2 short strokes then you shoot. Its like your rushing into every shot.

Breaking - watch your videos again and see how during your practice strokes your moving your body up and down (watch your head). Try to keep your body perfectly still and get your power from your stroke. This should help controlling the cue ball on the break.
 
RWOJO said:
3 years working with an instructor and you must of skipped stroke training.
Click to expand...

Game first, stroke then evolves on your own once you learn to cueball control.


RWOJO said:
Breaking - watch your videos again and see how during your practice strokes your moving your body up and down (watch your head). Try to keep your body perfectly still and get your power from your stroke. This should help controlling the cue ball on the break.
Click to expand...

Thank you..
 
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nataddrho said:
Which shots were pure luck, and how can I do better without changing my stance and keeping the cue on my chin?
Click to expand...

Sorry, I'm not going back over your videos but you can take my word for it or not. I've already given your videos a significant amount of time and review. Being a player myself, I can tell what your intention was, and the number of times you passed your intended position spot and caught it on the way back as one example. I can tell the difference between when something like that is intended or an accident. Another error I noticed was you falling short of your mark and having to take the next shot a more of an angle than you would have liked.

Your stroke is hurting your ability to play position. Here's how you can tell: Take a business card and place it on the table where you would like your cue ball to wind up. Then shoot the shot and gauge the results. I think you will find that it's not your choices so much that are the problem but your execution.

You do have a decent follow-through going for you which I think saves you on a lot of shots. If you couple that with an improved stroke timing you will be in great shape.
 
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FranCrimi said:
Sorry, I'm not going back over your videos but you can take my word for it or not. I've already given your videos a significant amount of time and review. Being a player myself, I can tell what your intention was, and the number of times you passed your intended position spot and caught it on the way back as one example. I can tell the difference between when something like that is intended or an accident. Another error I noticed was you falling short of your mark and having to take the next shot a more of an angle than you would have liked.

Your stroke is hurting your ability to play position. Here's how you can tell: Take a business card and place it on the table where you would like your cue ball to wind up. Then shoot the shot and gauge the results. I think you will find that it's not your choices so much that are the problem but your execution.

You do have a decent follow-through going for you which I think saves you on a lot of shots. If you couple that with an improved stroke timing you will be in great shape.
Click to expand...

Timing is something I can work on, thanks Fran!!
 
goettlicher said:
That's backwards!

The stroke controls the cue ball not the other way around!

randyg
Click to expand...

Randy G is 100% correct. So later when you realize this and you work on your stroke, you will lose control of the cue ball. You will start over doing position because you will still be hitting too hard or start overspinning the ball because of your stroke.

If you start to develop a good stroke before you get to working on position play then you are ahead of the curve. But If you are playing position with a poor stroke then the transition will be constantly changing and be more difficult. I'd recommending spending weeks working only on your stroke. Once you get a smoother and consistent stroke, then go back to position play from the very beginning (stop shots from all distances, controlled draw and follow, and how the balls natural roll is...).
 
nataddrho said:
Game first, stroke then evolves on your own once you learn to cueball control.




Thank you..
Click to expand...

Nope...Stroke comes before anything else if you want to achieve a high level of skill. If you disagree with that then you in the wrong place to get advice. If this is what your "instructor" told you, they are a poor instructor, not an "excellent" one. You don't know what you don't know.

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com
 
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