Newbie looking to improve

gap22

New member
Hello everyone - been coming to this site for a while but this is my first post. I've been a pool hack for most of my life but have found passion for improving my game. i recently bought an 8' table for my home and have started putting in some serious practice time.

I've spent most of the past month working on my stroke - ensuring i'm in good body position, my stroke is level and straight, and i've been learning the fundamentals of aim. Most of the time i spend practicing is pure knocking in balls. I've been pocketing about 1000~ a week and have seen my aim and stroke improve steadily with this practice. I want to keep improving my game and would like everyone's opinion on what my be the best next step in my training.

Do I keep going trying to hit 1200, 1500, 2000 balls a week ...

Do i start working on various practice routines on learning ball position

Do i start working on tougher elements of the game such as banking or shots i have difficulty with

some combination....

I'd appreciate any comments any may have as i enjoy this site and have learned a great deal by reading the posts here.

cheers
GAP
 
The L drill is good practice, box off a corner pocket (use a ball as a spacer) start with ball in hand and sink all balls in corner without touching balls or missing.(pictured)
Similar drills make a circle of balls in center of table, place cue ball in center and sink all balls. Another good one is putting a ball at each diamond (make harder by potting in order).
Play a set against the "Goast" rack a normal 9 ball rack (or game of choise), break and take ball in hand if you get out you win any mistakes he does. (I like this one it's good practice for your break)
A good warm up drill is to try to lag the cue ball back to the tip of your cue it's a good test to see how straight your stroke is (keeps you down on your shot also).
IMO A good drill needs some form of punishment so you'll remember your mistakes (such as setting the balls up again over and over) besides working on specific shots just beating balls around is not the best practice (no pressure).Hopefully this helps.
 

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thank you all for the help. I'm reading through Barenada's site now - wow, lot's of info.

i'll try the L routine tonight and post my results. thanks again and if anyone else has ideas, please share.
 
gap22 said:
Hello everyone - been coming to this site for a while but this is my first post. I've been a pool hack for most of my life but have found passion for improving my game. i recently bought an 8' table for my home and have started putting in some serious practice time.

I've spent most of the past month working on my stroke - ensuring i'm in good body position, my stroke is level and straight, and i've been learning the fundamentals of aim. Most of the time i spend practicing is pure knocking in balls. I've been pocketing about 1000~ a week and have seen my aim and stroke improve steadily with this practice. I want to keep improving my game and would like everyone's opinion on what my be the best next step in my training.

Do I keep going trying to hit 1200, 1500, 2000 balls a week ...

Do i start working on various practice routines on learning ball position

Do i start working on tougher elements of the game such as banking or shots i have difficulty with

some combination....

I'd appreciate any comments any may have as i enjoy this site and have learned a great deal by reading the posts here.

cheers
GAP

Welcome to azb!


If you want to improve, the best way to do it is to play as much as possible (so long as it never feels like work). The moment you start to get bored, take a break and get back to it later. Honestly, I don't own my own table and probably hit around 300-500 balls daily. 1000 a week isn't a whole lot. You'll see improvement but nowhere near as dramatically as you would if you could devote just 1 more hour a day. Try breaking it up a little if you begin to lose your attention span. I usually get to the poolroom around 6:30 and will stay there until midnight and I ALWAYS take a dinner break. That way, I get the itch to play twice a day!
 
Jude Rosenstock said:
...... I usually get to the poolroom around 6:30 and will stay there until midnight and I ALWAYS take a dinner break. That way, I get the itch to play twice a day!
And, your girlfriend puts up with this??? She got a sister??? :p
 
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