ISO: Position Zone Tool

erhino41 said:
One more thing to consider, and this is just a side note, watch alot of pros, you will see alot of three foot shots even though they could've moved it to within a foot and a half. The closer you get to the ball the more you risk error even for the best shooters.I certainly understand the concept your going for I'm sure will see improvement in this regard using this practice method, however, some improvement will be made just by changing your mindset of what is good enough. Just some food for thought.
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Usually the better of a player you are the closer you can play the cue ball to the object ball. Many times the pro's will leave longer shots on big tables because they know it's easier to shoot a longer shot than get out the bridge to shoot a shorter shot.

I am not leaving myself 3' away because I like being there. I am leaving myself 3' away because I am not confident enough in my abilities to get closer without risking the overshot. With more practice I should be able to get closer with the same amount of risk as the 3' shot.
 
The yarn idea is pretty good if it does not steer the cue ball. On most shots I would think you would be looking at a triangle shaped position zone. Probably even more important than actual target spot is the line you are taking to get position, always trying to roll cue ball along shot line, not across the shot line.
 
I've seen some very good players, wet their finger and touch the table where they want the cue ball to land.
 
Flip_dat_Quarta said:
Usually the better of a player you are the closer you can play the cue ball to the object ball. Many times the pro's will leave longer shots on big tables because they know it's easier to shoot a longer shot than get out the bridge to shoot a shorter shot.

I am not leaving myself 3' away because I like being there. I am leaving myself 3' away because I am not confident enough in my abilities to get closer without risking the overshot. With more practice I should be able to get closer with the same amount of risk as the 3' shot.
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This is all well understood. You should strive to get s close to the shot as you are comfortable with. Alot of good can come from the understanding that a three foot shot if just as easy as a one foot shot.
 
Don't act like there are rules in how you have to practice. re-shoot any shot you feel you need work on. Shoot it 100 or 1000 times if necessary. Shoot it until you feel it's so ridiculously easy there's no longer a way you could do it wrong. The only rule is do whatever it takes to get better. Repetition is key.
 
erhino41 said:
You know if you hit your position or not just by looking at your next shot. There is no piece of paper in actual game play.I personally don't think it is helpful to use these sort of tools to practice with. You need to learn to see the position zones without a marker. Having said that, there are some really good ideas already posted.
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There are all sorts of things we can do to practice that are not in an actual game. Haven't you ever practiced a shot more than once to get the feel for it? That is also a useful tool that you cannot do in a game. Doesn't mean it's a waste of time. Whatever it takes to improve any type of shot or position or table awareness is ok in my book.
 
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RussPrince said:
There are all sorts of things we can do to practice that are not in an actual game. Haven't you ever practiced a shot more than once to get the feel for it? That is also a useful tool that you cannot do in a game. Doesn't mean it's bad for you. Whatever it takes to improve any type of shot or position or table awareness is ok in my book.
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I practice the same shot over and over again all the time.i am just of the mind set that I do not want anything on the table that I would not have in an actual game. I have very rarely used donuts to set up shots in practice. I like the approach of having to micro adjust to each shot in practice just the way you would in a game. I find using aids such as these to be pointless, only in my opinion of course. I was only offering one possible solution to the op's problem. I was not telling him he was wrong for wanting to do it, he should practice as he sees fit.
 
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