My favorite "basics" drill

Missing Link

Missing Link

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I haven't seen this particular practice method posted here, so I thought I would share. I used this to build my skill as I was first learning the basics and still use it now as a slump buster. It is very simple, yet seems to pay off.

Place 2 balls randomly on the table (beginner), choose your pockets ahead of time, and with ball in hand for the first shot, make them in numerical order. If you can do this 8 out of 10 times, add balls, continuing to run them in order in called pockets.

This teaches patterns, position play, shot making, and helps establish table speed.

I typically warm up by placing 3 balls near the foot spot, and 3 balls near the head spot...making the three balls on the foot spot and then the three around the head spot, in called pockets in numerical order.

I feel this helps me get in the right frame of and get my speed down (I play alot of diffrent speed tables in a given week.)

I know this is a simple drill, but it puts me "at home" after a rack or 2. Variations, such as banking every other ball or shooting every ball in the side pockets break up the pace...but the principle should always be to run the balls in order, increasing the number of balls, until you are running all 15 in order 8 out of 10 times.
 
Missing Link said:
I haven't seen this particular practice method posted here, so I thought I would share. I used this to build my skill as I was first learning the basics and still use it now as a slump buster. It is very simple, yet seems to pay off.

Place 2 balls randomly on the table (beginner), choose your pockets ahead of time, and with ball in hand for the first shot, make them in numerical order. If you can do this 8 out of 10 times, add balls, continuing to run them in order in called pockets. This teaches patterns, position play, shot making, and helps establish table speed.

I typically warm up by placing 3 balls near the foot spot, and 3 balls near the head spot...making the three balls on the foot spot and then the three around the head spot, in called pockets in numerical order.

I feel this helps me get in the right frame of and get my speed down (I play alot of diffrent speed tables in a given week.)

I know this is a simple drill, but it puts me "at home" after a rack or 2. Variations, such as banking every other ball or shooting every ball in the side pockets break up the pace...but the principle should always be to run the balls in order, increasing the number of balls, until you are running all 15 in order 8 out of 10 times.
Click to expand...

do you mean call the pockets for each ball BEFORE you make the first ball?? so you are calling your runout before you start??
or do you mean each ball is pocketed in the called pocket ?? no luck allowed

how many people can run 15 and out in rotation 8 out of 10 times????
im up to 5 balls against the ghost now......:o
 
it's really interesting if you call ALL your pockets before you make the first ball to really be forced to get the right shapes.
 
Apologies for taking so long to respond...I work third shift and was asleep.

The rule is to call all of the pockets before your run...thus making you shoot for perfect shape.

I realize that not many people can run 15 straight, calling 3 to 4 pockets ahead...but that is the goal, high as it may be.
 
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