L drill anyone?

predator

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Hi!

Just yesterday I started doing this L drill in an effort to improve my speed control.

For those who do not know, balls must be shot in rotation, from bottom left to top right in the same pocket. No balls touching, etc. Here it is:

START(
%AO0J2%BM4O6%CC9O6%DN8F9%EO1O5%FH8O6%GG0O6%HO0K8%IO1M4%JN8E3
%KE4O6%LN9H3%MK9O6%NJ2O6%ON9C8%PD4T5
)END

The results were a bit shocking to me. I know that this drill isn't easy, but I needed like 15-20 attempts on average to successfully finish one! :eek: And even when I did finish, I didn't look pretty...left myself too many long thin cuts...etc. Nearly made two in a row though, so it's not all that bad. Guess I'll need to work more on this, speed control won't come by itself.

Is there anyone out here who can finish this drill with let's say 50% success? I think a pro level player should be able to finish this drill nearly every time?
 
Last edited:
predator said:
Hi!

Just yesterday I started doing this L drill in an effort to improve my speed control.

For those who do not know, balls must be shot in rotation, from bottom left to top right in the same pocket. No balls touching, etc. Here it is:

START(
%AO0J2%BM4O6%CC9O6%DN8F9%EO1O5%FH8O6%GG0O6%HO0K8%IO1M4%JN8E3
%KE4O6%LN9H3%MK9O6%NJ2O6%ON9C8%PD4T5
)END

The results were a bit shocking to me. I know that this drill isn't easy, but I needed like 15-20 attempts on average to successfully finish one! :eek: And even when I did finish, I didn't look pretty...left myself too many long thin cuts...etc. Nearly made two in a row though, so it's not all that bad. Guess I'll need to work more on this, speed control won't come by itself.

Is there anyone out here who can finish this drill with let's say 50% success? I think a pro level player should be able to finish this drill nearly every time?
That's one of the first drills I ever tried. I got pretty good at it. I haven't done it in a while. I'd say I can do it 50% or better.
 
This is the one I'm doing now. I'm having a real hard time with it. Shoot 1, 2, 3 in the same corner. You have to shoot them in rotation. It's tough. I haven't done it yet. It's easier with the balls off the rail a few inches. I'm trying to do it with them frozen to the rail.

START(
%AC8V1%BC8O6%CC6I0%PF4R3

)END
 
predator said:
Hi!

Just yesterday I started doing this L drill in an effort to improve my speed control.

For those who do not know, balls must be shot in rotation, from bottom left to top right in the same pocket. No balls touching, etc. Here it is:

START(
%AO0J2%BM4O6%CC9O6%DN8F9%EO1O5%FH8O6%GG0O6%HO0K8%IO1M4%JN8E3
%KE4O6%LN9H3%MK9O6%NJ2O6%ON9C8%PD4T5
)END

The results were a bit shocking to me. I know that this drill isn't easy, but I needed like 15-20 attempts on average to successfully finish one! :eek: And even when I did finish, I didn't look pretty...left myself too many long thin cuts...etc. Nearly made two in a row though, so it's not all that bad. Guess I'll need to work more on this, speed control won't come by itself.

Is there anyone out here who can finish this drill with let's say 50% success? I think a pro level player should be able to finish this drill nearly every time?

Are you right-handed ? That particular drill is easier for the right-handed player. Make a mirror of that drill and find out that you're often streching over a shot. Makes it even harder.

I haven't done it for a while, but last time I tried it, got that one on the second try and the mirrored one on the first try.
 
Hal said:
This is the one I'm doing now. I'm having a real hard time with it. Shoot 1, 2, 3 in the same corner. You have to shoot them in rotation. It's tough. I haven't done it yet. It's easier with the balls off the rail a few inches. I'm trying to do it with them frozen to the rail.

START(
%AC8V1%BC8O6%CC6I0%PF4R3

)END

Just curious, What route are you taking to run them? Are you going around the table 2-3 rails? Or are they set up to draw out?

Mike
 
mjantti said:
Are you right-handed ? That particular drill is easier for the right-handed player. Make a mirror of that drill and find out that you're often streching over a shot. Makes it even harder.

In the mirrored version I use right english for the first few critical balls which is actually easier for me as I'm right-handed. When I'm done with, I switch to the other. Got to get better at this. It's hard to believe that I got to 4th rack at 14.1 a few times in my pool playing life with such terrible speed control...
 
CantEverWin said:
Just curious, What route are you taking to run them? Are you going around the table 2-3 rails? Or are they set up to draw out?

Mike
I've come close to completing the drill by going straight up table one rail and back down. When I shoot the second ball, I always come down on top of the 3rd ball or I scratch. I'm still experimenting.
 
Drills are good but sometimes I think all they do is make you good at doing that drill. Drills are almost like a puzzle, you have to figure out the pattern, speed, stroke and english.

Bert Kinister's tapes involve some pros that Berts gives a drill to do. I have never seen one where the student gets it the first time. It makes them look as if they can't shoot. After many tries may get it or will say that they will be practicing it when they leave.

They can be frustrating and get to be boring. I think you have to mix up the practice session with a little bit of everything to keep it interesting.
 
predator said:
Hi!

Just yesterday I started doing this L drill in an effort to improve my speed control.

I think a pro level player should be able to finish this drill nearly every time?

The "L" Drill is a great speed tester. Everyone, even Pros, should practice this drill on a weekly basis.

I would think most Pros will get out about 70% of their attempts.
 
Skeptical!!!

While I've never tried the drill with 15 balls (I usually use fewer balls, 1 1/2 diamonds from the pocket, bigger spaces), even with fewer balls its fairly difficult. Are you guys really, honestly completing 15 balls, in sequence, 50% of the time. In my book by Irving Crane he describes this as a very difficult drill that is hardly ever completed (though I believe he insists on perfect shape for each ball). Maybe we need some videotape proof; I'm a little skeptical. :) :)
 
this is a proposition shot...I lucked out and got it on my first try doing it the 'wrong' way...which is getting short side shape for a thin cut on the 3.

There's actually a trick to doing the prop shot, which lets you have ball in hand on the 1


Hal said:
This is the one I'm doing now. I'm having a real hard time with it. Shoot 1, 2, 3 in the same corner. You have to shoot them in rotation. It's tough. I haven't done it yet. It's easier with the balls off the rail a few inches. I'm trying to do it with them frozen to the rail.

START(
%AC8V1%BC8O6%CC6I0%PF4R3

)END
 
Question

Hal said:
This is the one I'm doing now. I'm having a real hard time with it. Shoot 1, 2, 3 in the same corner. You have to shoot them in rotation. It's tough. I haven't done it yet. It's easier with the balls off the rail a few inches. I'm trying to do it with them frozen to the rail.

START(
%AC8V1%BC8O6%CC6I0%PF4R3

)END
Hal, are you supposed to come on the short side of the three? I'll try it later, but if you come to the long side, it seems there is no risk of scratching.
 
lewdo26 said:
Hal, are you supposed to come on the short side of the three? I'll try it later, but if you come to the long side, it seems there is no risk of scratching.
I think you have to make all of the balls in the same corner pocket.
 
lewdo26 said:
Hal, are you supposed to come on the short side of the three? I'll try it later, but if you come to the long side, it seems there is no risk of scratching.

he's shooting all the balls in the same corner...so he has to get on the short side
 
Hal said:
This is the one I'm doing now. I'm having a real hard time with it. Shoot 1, 2, 3 in the same corner...
START(
%AC8V1%BC8O6%CC6I0%PF4R3

)END
If the 3 is frozen, play the inside-english spin shot and don't try to get a normal cut on the short side. The 1-2 should be almost routine with ball in hand to start. Or that's the way it seems without trying it.
 
Kinda strange I do the l drill with 15 balls but a little diffrent. When I set them up I freeze them, not sure if that makes it easier or harder. I start on either side to the ball frozen to the rail, once I get to the ball by the corner I go around the table and shoot the other side. I'm about 10% on that drill. I'll have to tri it the other way.

Mike
 
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