In recent months, one of the things that I have been working on is to learn my limitations in different areas.
This means being honest with yourself but it also means evaluating your equipment and talent. This doesn't mean that you can't change your ability and learn how to do something better. It just means that when you are under duress and a part of you says, I "think" that I can do that but it sure "looks" like it won't go, you can think back to some of your limitation exercises and determine if it's worth risking the attempt.
One of the things that I have challenged myself to do is to find out what my limitations are when drawing the cue ball.
Now everyone knows that when the cue ball is 12-24 inches from the object ball it is easy to draw the cue ball long distances.
Do you know how far you can draw the cue ball when the cue is certain distances away from the object ball? I'm not talking about using the rails and side spin on the cue ball, just striaght draw.
If you would like to give yourself a reality check and some data to help you improve your pool game try this:
Set up some draw shots where the object ball is in the jaws of a corner pocket, then place the cue ball at different distances away from the object ball, using the diamonds to approximate the distance. You can keep track of the number of diamonds that the cue ball travels, BOTH to and FROM the object ball.
You may want to start out with the cue ball only two diamonds away from the object ball. See how far you can draw the cue ball. Count the number of diamonds that the cue ball travels when you draw the cue ball. It is an excellent idea to know what your maximum capabilities are with your stroke, your equipment and the current shot you are faced with.
There will be some commonalities no matter how far the cue ball is from the object ball. When you start recognizing this common data, it will give you a good idea as to whether you should attempt a shot a certain way or not.
For me, my maximum amount of cue ball travel is ten diamonds WHEN THE CUE BALL IS 6 diamonds away from a jawed object ball. This means that the maximum number of diamonds that I can draw the cue ball on this shot (without using SIDE SPIN and bouncing off one of the rails) is 4 diamonds. I can consistently draw approximately 3 diamonds and sometimes if I do not hit the cue ball with a good accelerating stroke at the spot I am attempting to hit the cue ball and at the speed I am attempting to swing the cue, I can sometimes be limited to no draw at all or only one or two diamonds of draw.
This is a telling exercise and it provides valuable information that can enhance your level of play. I've provided the diagram below to help you visualize the exercise of limitations. You can do this with other things such as putting the object ball on the spot and then placing the cue ball in a particular fixed location and find out as you cut the object ball into the pocket, what is the maximum amount that you can widen the angle as the cue ball comes off the rail. These are eye opening exercises of your current personal limitations and that of the equipment that you are using.
Try placing the cue ball different distances from the Object ball and you may find out some things about your game that you never dreamed of.
Another limitations exercise that I like to do is to place the object ball on the spot and then place the cue ball two diamonds away from the object ball and use different amounts of side spin and combinations of high and low with the side spin to see how I can affect the angle as it bounces off of the rail after pocketing the object ball. You might discover some things about your game and clear up some misconceptions about how low right differs greatly from just right spin. I did and I've been playing a long time.
Hope you enjoy the limitation exercises. Post your results here. I may not be able to respond to all of them but if you have a unique limitation exercise, let us know what it is and what your limitations are. (I might be able to use it against you in some future match between us.
)
JoeyA
This means being honest with yourself but it also means evaluating your equipment and talent. This doesn't mean that you can't change your ability and learn how to do something better. It just means that when you are under duress and a part of you says, I "think" that I can do that but it sure "looks" like it won't go, you can think back to some of your limitation exercises and determine if it's worth risking the attempt.
One of the things that I have challenged myself to do is to find out what my limitations are when drawing the cue ball.
Now everyone knows that when the cue ball is 12-24 inches from the object ball it is easy to draw the cue ball long distances.
Do you know how far you can draw the cue ball when the cue is certain distances away from the object ball? I'm not talking about using the rails and side spin on the cue ball, just striaght draw.
If you would like to give yourself a reality check and some data to help you improve your pool game try this:
Set up some draw shots where the object ball is in the jaws of a corner pocket, then place the cue ball at different distances away from the object ball, using the diamonds to approximate the distance. You can keep track of the number of diamonds that the cue ball travels, BOTH to and FROM the object ball.
You may want to start out with the cue ball only two diamonds away from the object ball. See how far you can draw the cue ball. Count the number of diamonds that the cue ball travels when you draw the cue ball. It is an excellent idea to know what your maximum capabilities are with your stroke, your equipment and the current shot you are faced with.
There will be some commonalities no matter how far the cue ball is from the object ball. When you start recognizing this common data, it will give you a good idea as to whether you should attempt a shot a certain way or not.
For me, my maximum amount of cue ball travel is ten diamonds WHEN THE CUE BALL IS 6 diamonds away from a jawed object ball. This means that the maximum number of diamonds that I can draw the cue ball on this shot (without using SIDE SPIN and bouncing off one of the rails) is 4 diamonds. I can consistently draw approximately 3 diamonds and sometimes if I do not hit the cue ball with a good accelerating stroke at the spot I am attempting to hit the cue ball and at the speed I am attempting to swing the cue, I can sometimes be limited to no draw at all or only one or two diamonds of draw.
This is a telling exercise and it provides valuable information that can enhance your level of play. I've provided the diagram below to help you visualize the exercise of limitations. You can do this with other things such as putting the object ball on the spot and then placing the cue ball in a particular fixed location and find out as you cut the object ball into the pocket, what is the maximum amount that you can widen the angle as the cue ball comes off the rail. These are eye opening exercises of your current personal limitations and that of the equipment that you are using.
Try placing the cue ball different distances from the Object ball and you may find out some things about your game that you never dreamed of.
Another limitations exercise that I like to do is to place the object ball on the spot and then place the cue ball two diamonds away from the object ball and use different amounts of side spin and combinations of high and low with the side spin to see how I can affect the angle as it bounces off of the rail after pocketing the object ball. You might discover some things about your game and clear up some misconceptions about how low right differs greatly from just right spin. I did and I've been playing a long time.
Hope you enjoy the limitation exercises. Post your results here. I may not be able to respond to all of them but if you have a unique limitation exercise, let us know what it is and what your limitations are. (I might be able to use it against you in some future match between us.
)JoeyA
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