Mark Wilson Lessons

[cut shot]

After DCP described the angle of attack on the cueball per Mark Wilson I tried it. Guess what.. my shots are straighter than ever! I tried it today for 20 minutes and my back is still sore! I can see why DCP was so resistant. It uses back muceles very seldom used. I got the rock to touch my tip 5 times, 4 times it was about 1/8 of an inch away from the tip, one time was a far miss but my back was aching. Oh well, I can get used to torture!

 

[deadstroke32]

After DCP described the angle of attack on the cueball per Mark Wilson I tried it. Guess what.. my shots are straighter than ever! I tried it today for 20 minutes and my back is still sore! I can see why DCP was so resistant. It uses back muceles very seldom used. I got the rock to touch my tip 5 times, 4 times it was about 1/8 of an inch away from the tip, one time was a far miss but my back was aching. Oh well, I can get used to torture!

Were can u get the info on the shots ?

 

[cut shot]

It is a simple stroke test to see if your hitting the cueball close to center. Heres how I do it.. cueball on the headspot stroke it to the rail. When it comes back and touches the tip of your cue or close to it, it shows your stroke is straight. I usually do it only 10 times as it gets kinda boring.

 

[Banker Burt]

I am a professional billiard instructor also, and have received excellent info on Mark's teaching techniques.

Wanting to expand on this particular exercise, and not meaning to speak on Mark's behalf, I must say that this is one of the most elementary exercise of all, but to say that it gets boring is falling short of the mark, as in "Mark" Wilson's suggested drill.

First of all, if any player does this exercise long enough their stroke will straighten. If it gets boring may I suggestion adding these three components (then interpret the results) -

1) Increase the speed of your stroke

2) Increase the speed using draw english

3) Decrease the speed using draw english.

I don't know exactly what is going on with the back problems, but what I can tell you is this - player's physiques are different. Each player must not only develop a straight stroke, but find "True" center ball form.

Once accomplished your game will become more enjoyable, so will the game and the desire to play.

Good info Mr. Wilson.
PS I work with hundreds of students annually. Sometimes I must remind them that the information I offer may seem quite elementary (not to mention how change can be uncomfortable). I then assure them that these are the same exercises I use daily when in training, and have been doing so for over 40 years.
Fundamentals are what they are and can never be forgotten. This is the foundation for improvement.

 

[cut shot]

Thanks Banker Burt! I will try out your suggestions. Its rough but, you are correct in that the basics must be Mastered.

 

[crawdaddio]

I would expand this drill and offer the next step, for those who can successfully complete (most of the time) the above mentioned exercises.

http://onepocket.org/table/pooltable2.html

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%AR3M2%BL4Q6%CG4Q7%DG7M2%EN9M3%FJ1Q6%GJ2M1%HO0Q6%IL8M2%JU8M2
%K]2M2%LY7M2%MY4Q6%NR1Q7%OU7Q6%Pg7O5%WC6O8%Xf7O5%[f0O6%\C4O8
)END

It gets more difficult with balls to distract you....................forget about 'em, stroke straight and follow through................it's fun, no really, it is......wait, no, I must be thinking of something else.

Enjoy
~DC

 

[JimS]

It is a simple stroke test to see if your hitting the cueball close to center. Heres how I do it.. cueball on the headspot stroke it to the rail. When it comes back and touches the tip of your cue or close to it, it shows your stroke is straight. I usually do it only 10 times as it gets kinda boring.

This is a good practice routine to help determine whether the cb is being struck on center with regards to the horizontal line but does not give feedback regarding where the cb is being struck on the vertical line.

What drill can I use to help determine whether I am hitting the cb in the center with respect to the vertical line?

 

[DrCue'sProtege]

do you have an elephant ball?
with the black stripe that shows the chalk mark?
this is pretty much the recommended ball for this exercise, but i believe a striped ball would work too.

DCP

 

[woody_968]

This is a good practice routine to help determine whether the cb is being struck on center with regards to the horizontal line but does not give feedback regarding where the cb is being struck on the vertical line.

What drill can I use to help determine whether I am hitting the cb in the center with respect to the vertical line?

As DCP said, the elephant ball is probably best for this because it has a small single dot making it very easy to see exactly where you hit or missed it. The Rempe ball is pretty good, but I dont care for the larger "pool player" image in the middle. If you dont have either of those use a stripe ball, just remember to put the number right side up so you know if you hit it high or low.

On a side note the Rempe ball is very good for practice on draw and other shots. I tend to miss a little high when working on the drill in the original post, this caries over to my draw shot! I almost always strike higher on the cueball than I wanted to, but at least now I know I need to work on it.

Woody

 

[Stretch]

This is a good practice routine to help determine whether the cb is being struck on center with regards to the horizontal line but does not give feedback regarding where the cb is being struck on the vertical line.

What drill can I use to help determine whether I am hitting the cb in the center with respect to the vertical line?

It's easy. Just set up full ball stop shots and observe which way the cue ball turns when it stops (or a stripe ball, which is easier to see). Most of the time you will have a dendency to always put either right of verticle, or left of verticle on the cue ball. Adjust your stroke so that your stop shots are sticking with NO spin. No spin equals dead verticle hit.

I also liked the idea of the other poster on this thread to work from varying distances, and speeds. This will show if your technique will hold up. St.

 

[JimS]

It's easy. Just set up full ball stop shots and observe which way the cue ball turns when it stops (or a stripe ball, which is easier to see). Most of the time you will have a dendency to always put either right of verticle, or left of verticle on the cue ball. Adjust your stroke so that your stop shots are sticking with NO spin. No spin equals dead verticle hit.

I also liked the idea of the other poster on this thread to work from varying distances, and speeds. This will show if your technique will hold up. St.

As the day went on and while at work I ran my question through my head I decided that instead of doing the "head spot to foot spot to head spot drill" I'd shoot straight in, diagonal corner to corner, shots and do pretty much as you suggested Stretch. That is: shooting these diagonal corner to corner shots, using my new "measles" cue ball, which easily shows any side english applied to the cb, I'll also hit a stun shot and if the cb either follows or draws I'll know that I was not hitting direct center.

I can also practice drawing different differences and/or following certain different distances while practicing not hitting any side english and while also practicing aiming skills makeing the very long diagonal corner to corner shots on a 9 ft, tight pocketed table.