Need advice on pratice.

OrigZaphod

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Ok,

Figured I'd throw this one out for you guys.

Years and years ago, I was a pretty decent player. (won more then I lost) Played some One pocket, stright pool, but mostly 8-ball and 9-ball.

I took quite a few years off and have recently taken the game up again. I figure I am at about 30% of my game right now. (better then I was a year ago) But I am considering taking it more and more seriously now and Have a few tournys coming up in my area that I will be playing in. (mostly local event sponsored, like the VNEA team one in bloomington IL in Nov.)

What I am in need of is some advice on ways to improve my game, pratice drills etc...

My main problem areas that I think are there now are Speed, and any rail shot.

Thank you for any input and direction I can get.
ALso if there are any really good players in the northern IL area, that would like to beat up on me, let me know...

Dennis
 
The rail shot drill, place two balls between each pocket about a foot away from each other, and place the remaining three balls in the middle of the table and try to pocket each rail shot with out disturbing the three balls in the middle of the table, this helped me out with the rail shots, for the speed i place a cut shot and place a ball where i want to get next position then get to know my own stroke and speed of the table by shooting the shot over and over again with different types of english. I do this with different types of positioning shots so i know what speed i need to get on the right angle of the shot. Just a few i do. Cole.
 
OrigZaphod said:
Ok,

What I am in need of is some advice on ways to improve my game, pratice drills etc...

Dennis

Dennis

I used to play very often in my younger days and picked up the cue again after a 30 year absence. My skills are coming along but I could not figure out how or what to practice. There were many inputs but the best solution that is starting to work for me is the Bert Kinister Instructional DVDs and the only one I would buy is volume 1. It is loaded with 21 practice shots and he talks about how to make them. It is a good buy and if you search the threads this one volume is on the to buy list.

Good Luck and enjoy the game...
 
Practice

I did not play for about 15 years and when I started again, I had a hell of a time. I took lessons and was put on video tape, I couldn't believe it was me. I was doing so many things wrong. Put your self on video tape and I will bet you will be able to correct any problems you have.
I also think Bert's work out is a great way to improve.

JPALEXIS
 
OrigZaphod said:
Ok,
...
Figured I'd throw this one out for you guys.
...
What I am in need of is some advice on ways to improve my game, pratice drills etc...

Dennis

It keeps getting buried, but at least this is a start, and it's free. I've been doing these for years. They may, or may not, help you.

If you're unfamiliar with this site, there's the link.

Adjust to what standards your looking for, out of your own performance.

Goals:
All balls are frozen to the rail.
All balls that are frozen, must travel down a rail to a corner pocket.
Other three balls are obsticles.
You start where the cue ball is.
Pick you're own route.
Can't hit any balls except when pocketing it.
If you do hit a ball, the table is reset and you start over.
Pocket last three remaining balls once all rail shots are complete, in any pocket.
If you miss at anytime, reset the table.

START(
%AU3D0%BC7I2%CN9O5%DH6[0%EH8D0%Fs0H8%Gn0C9%HU3Z9%IC9V0%Ja6C9
%Km7Z9%Lg7O5%Mr9V0%Na5Z9%O[8O7%PZ3O7
)END

Goals:
Use cue ball to set object balls (1) ball length away from the rail.
Balls should be 1.5 ball distance away from the corner pockets and from each other.
Place cue ball for each shot perpendicular to the rail, and the ball, before each shot.
Pick a corner and shoot all balls to that corner, per rail.
Set it up again and shoot to the side pocket.

START(
%AT9Z2%BR4Z1%CM2Z1%DH1Z1%EO8Z0%Fp0Z1%Gm0Z1%HJ7Z2%I F0Z1%J^4Z0
%Kd5Z1%Lg4Z1%Mj0Z1%Na6Z0%OW5Z2%P^7P7
)END

Goals:
Set is same as before, except down the middle of the table, and 1.5 ball lengths away from the short rails.

START(
%AV3O4%BS6O5%CM9O5%DH3O5%EP9O4%Fp5O5%Gn0O5%HK1O5%I E8O4%J`7O7
%Ke8O4%Lh5O4%Mk4O4%Nc2O5%OX7O4%PE8X2
)END

Goals:
Best played with 2 or more people.
Set up a 9 ball rack in the middle of the table. (9-ball should lay at center of table)
Set up the 10-15 balls in the center of the pockets, and on the frindge of falling in.
From behind the kitchen string, your first stoke is your own. Pick any ball(s) to start with.
All future "frindge" shots are called by your oppent, until all are down.
(EDIT) You can't touch any balls in the rack until the "frindge" balls are down.
Then, you get free rein at the 9-ball rack. Must strike the 1 first, just like in a normal game of 9 ball.
You have 9 strokes (including the break stroke) to clear all nine balls.
If you miss any, reset the table and start over with next in coming player.
This game is usually played as a ring game, usually a dollar a round (until you get good at it). When completed, and everyone that round had a shot at it, if 2 or more winners, they split the pot.
It's also good practice solo.
This game is sometimes refered to as French Pool.

START(
%A^3O3%B]1N4%C]0O9%D[7P5%E[9M6%FZ5O8%GZ5N6%HY3O3%I[8O1%Js0Z9
%K[4D3%L[3Z8%MC9D0%Ns1C6%OC8[1%Pj6O4
)END

Goals:
Setup of object balls one(1) cue ball's distance away from the short rails, and 1.5 ball distance from each other starting at a coner pocket.
Start with cue ball on the disecting line that goes between the side pockets.
Line up cue ball to an object ball, so that the attack angle is perpendicular to the ball and the rail.
First ball stuck will be the center ball of either short rail you start with.
Pick one corner pocket that the full set that's lying on a rail will go to.
Any shot missed, reset, and start over.
Progressivly move your line of balls 1/2 diamond, unil you reach the 1/2 diamond from center pocket.

START(
%Aq9F5%Bq9I2%Cq9L2%Dq9S7%Eq8N8%Fq9V0%Gr2X5%HE3F9%I q9Q1%JE2M1
%KE0S0%LE1P1%MD9U9%NE2I9%OD8X6%P[3P0
)END

Goals:
Set up balls at the center of each pocket, on the "frindge".
Make all 6 balls with the cue ball starting at the head spot.
All shots are 2 rail kicks.
When you make all 6 without missing, reset table and start at the center of the table with cue ball. Then move onto the foot spot.
Any miss, start over.
Try this doing all 3 rail shots too.

START(
%Js1Z9%K[2[1%L[4D1%MC9C9%Ns2C8%OC7[1%P[3P0

)END

Hope these help.
 
Last edited:
OrigZaphod said:
Ok,

Figured I'd throw this one out for you guys.

Years and years ago, I was a pretty decent player. (won more then I lost) Played some One pocket, stright pool, but mostly 8-ball and 9-ball.

I took quite a few years off and have recently taken the game up again. I figure I am at about 30% of my game right now. (better then I was a year ago) But I am considering taking it more and more seriously now and Have a few tournys coming up in my area that I will be playing in. (mostly local event sponsored, like the VNEA team one in bloomington IL in Nov.)

What I am in need of is some advice on ways to improve my game, pratice drills etc...

My main problem areas that I think are there now are Speed, and any rail shot.

Thank you for any input and direction I can get.
ALso if there are any really good players in the northern IL area, that would like to beat up on me, let me know...

Dennis
I'll give ya a try... email me at chardtke@comcast.net to set up a game...

I live in the south suburbs, but I get around since I am a Limo Driver... I play alot at Chris' II in Des Plaines and Pro Tyme in Orland Park.
 
Ronoh said:
Goals:
Use cue ball to set object balls (1) ball length away from the rail.
Balls should be 1.5 ball distance away from the corner pockets and from each other.
Place cue ball for each shot perpendicular to the rail, and the ball, before each shot.
Pick a corner and shoot all balls to that corner, per rail.
Set it up again and shoot to the side pocket.

START(
%AT9Z2%BR4Z1%CM2Z1%DH1Z1%EO8Z0%Fp0Z1%Gm0Z1%HJ7Z2%I F0Z1%J^4Z0
%Kd5Z1%Lg4Z1%Mj0Z1%Na6Z0%OW5Z2%P^7P7
)END

Hope these help.

You never mention it within the goals...

But with the cue ball set up perpendicular to the object ball and the rail, it appears that you are banking each of the balls.
Is that correct or did I mis-read something?

Thanks for your response...
 
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