Perfect Practice Makes Perfect - How to Train your Tempo for Ideal Speed Control

mark187 said:
The 4/4 time doesn't really matter. 72bpm at 3/4 or 2/4 time will still be the same speed. Other than that, my thoughts were that most coaches recommend a pause on the final back swing before taking the shot. I get that rhythm is important, but losing the pause seems like it would be detrimental. Also, do you recommend feathering in time with the metronome? I notice you have zero feathers in your video, but presume that isn't how you actually shoot. Losing all feathers and the pause on the backswing seems like it would be a step backwards for most people. Whilst I appreciate the sentiment of using a metronome, this all seems like trying to force a square peg into a round whole, and raises as many disbenefits as benefits.
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^^^This..... At least for me.

4/4 time means nothing different, then why did CJ even suggest applying it...? Again, I'm clueless in the realm of music so I simply don't understand the application of 4/4 time with 72bpm. What I thought I knew was, when I found that metronome app that included a timing function I thought the idea was to perform the steps of the shooting process on the completion of 4/4 time, not 72bpm, so every fourh beat. I simply don't move fast enough to perform the shooting steps at 72bpm. Not to mention a slower back stroke, and the pause before shooting.
 
Patrick Johnson said:
They have nothing to do with each other.

4/4, 3/4, 2/4, etc. refer to the the pattern of emphasis:
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Exactly, what I thought.... So I also thought that the suggestion of 4/4 time meant my rhythm through the stages of the shot were performed on the
emphasized beat.

Whatever... moving on...lol
 
chasrwest said:
CJ, thanks for this video. I have been a musician my whole life and have applied this same technique for golf, shooting basketballs, helping my son with timing for pitching baseballs, fly fishing, even shooting, as you mentioned, but strangely, I have never applied it to my pool stroke. I have a pretty good rhythm in my stroke but sometimes rush the release step. I will spend an hour or two with my trusty old metronome in the next couple of days. I cannot believe that I have never considered this. If people have any musical instinct, it might help to use a specific, song that you know well, of the right tempo in your head when stroking the ball. That is how I timed my golf swing and other activities.
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Yes, pocket billiards is an art form more than a regular game or sport. I played classical music contests and was the school Jazz Band piano player so I had to practice a lot with a metronome before I was 12 years old. There is a tempo to someone's entire game and most players are unaware so they can't tap into this hidden power.

You're right, the golf swing is also good to practice with a metronome because better tempo results in more power, consistency and accuracy just like pool. I always enjoy teaching golfers and martial artists because they already understand how important footwork, tempo and hip clearance is and are able to bridge their experiences to pool quickly once I show them how they are specifically connected.

Hope your practice goes well, I'd recommend doing it for at least an hour straight 3 times and you'll benefit noticeably.

The Game is the Teacher
 
The_JV said:
Exactly, what I thought.... So I also thought that the suggestion of 4/4 time meant my rhythm through the stages of the shot were performed on the
emphasized beat.

Whatever... moving on...lol
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That's why I made the video so even the dullest musical understanding could catch on.

Watch the video so you can see why the 4/4 time is important, I break the drill into 4 parts.....it couldn't be any more simple.
 
Speculating: Do you think 72 is the recommended bps because for most healthy adults across many age groups (for men; women ever so slightly higher) it approximates the natural average resting heart beat and therefore has a calming effect?
 
dquarasr said:
Speculating: Do you think 72 is the recommended bps because for most healthy adults across many age groups (for men; women ever so slightly higher) it approximates the natural average resting heart beat and therefore has a calming effect?
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I've experimented with several speeds and 72 works best with everyone. The heartbeat resting at 72 is a good point, temperature ideal at 72.....maybe it is a natural tempo for the human body, I never tried to figure out why 72 is best, after 5 hours of experimenting that's the tempo best for the pre shot routing and stroke.

As far as the calming effect, that is certain, after doing it for 3 hours straight my first time I had the best sleep in years. Even after 20 minutes of doing this drill you'll fall into a trance, or "the zone" as it's commonly called in sports/games/art forms.

There's not a lot of drills that will give immediate, long lasting results like this one, and when you add in another drill like the "no practice stroke" it's amazing how much your game can benefit, just takes the willingness to put in some time......on this Perfect Tempo Training.

The Game is the Teacher
 
I used advanced search here, a google internet search, and a Yahoo! search for “no practice stroke drill”; didn’t find it. Where may I find a detailed description, or is it really as simple as shooting with no practice strokes? (Sorry if it’s so obvious I’m missing it.)
 
CJ Wiley said:
That's why I made the video so even the dullest musical understanding could catch on.
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One more time for the reading impaired....

I have watched your video mulitple times. The speed at which you cycle through the steps of the routine are too fast for my liking. My record breaking "dull-ness" of musical understanding doesn't matter beyond that point. I have stated clearly in earlier posts that your speed is to great for my game. In response you stated that the 72bpm is perfectly fine, and I should follow 4/4 time. Yet apparently 4/4 time means nothing..?...lol. Not sure how that advice was meant to help. Fortunately I have gotten used to scratching my bald spot after reading most of your replys on the forum.

I fully buy in to practicing tempo, and the use of the metronome seems to be the perfect tool. Thank you. However, I think it best I just walk away with that nugget of info, and I'll just find a tempo that works for me. Unfortunately the chatter beyond the first post has really just muddied the waters.

Regards, and thanks again.
 
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CJ Wiley said:
The heartbeat resting at 72 is a good point, temperature ideal at 72.....maybe it is a natural tempo for the human body, I never tried to figure out why 72 is best,
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So then if you're playing outside the USA, is around 20 bpm recommended?
 
CJ Wiley said:
Have you ever heard you need better speed control and tempo? To master this element, and the speed control required to compete at the highest levels you want a way that guarantees improvement. I'm sharing the ultimate way to develop these skills so there's no excuse, when you commit to 3 hours this drill will guarantee your tempo will hold up under the most severe pressure! Let me know if you have any questions, this is your *gravy* for you pocket billiard biscuits!

Click here for the video - https://youtu.be/rDQjv6JakRw

The Game is the Teacher
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Thanks CJ
 
The_JV said:
One more time for the reading impaired....

I have watched your video mulitple times. The speed at which you cycle through the steps of the routine are too fast for my liking. My record breaking "dull-ness" of musical understanding doesn't matter beyond that point. I have stated clearly in earlier posts that your speed is to great for my game. In response you stated that the 72bpm is perfectly fine, and I should follow 4/4 time. Yet apparently 4/4 time means nothing..?...lol. Not sure how that advice was meant to help. Fortunately I have gotten used to scratching my bald spot after reading most of your replys on the forum.

I fully buy in to practicing tempo, and the use of the metronome seems to be the perfect tool. Thank you. However, I think it best I just walk away with that nugget of info, and I'll just find a tempo that works for me. Unfortunately the chatter beyond the first post has really just muddied the waters.

Regards, and thanks again.
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dquarasr said:
I used advanced search here, a google internet search, and a Yahoo! search for “no practice stroke drill”; didn’t find it. Where may I find a detailed description, or is it really as simple as shooting with no practice strokes? (Sorry if it’s so obvious I’m missing it.)
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This is a drill I featured in my 'Precision Pool Drills' that shows how to get down on each shot more precisely....at first you may have trouble doing this because of a flaw in your alignment, it will become obvious very quickly when you have to commit to every shot without adjustments.

Most players use the practice strokes to make micro adjustments because they aren't going down on the cue ball consistently into the shooting position. It's very important to initiate this motion with the center of your body, not your head. What happens in many cases is the shooter will see the line of the shot FIRST, then position their body. The champion level players do the opposite, we put our body in the ideal position FIRST, then we align to the object ball.

The human body was not designed to play pool or golf, that's why the footwork is soooo important, your feet control the left and right side of your body including your hand positions. I show a detailed way to put your body in the ideal position, this information is very important, however, most players don't have a clue because it's never been brought to their attention. Remember, set your foundation (feet position) FIRST before you worry about the upper floor (head position) and you'll be on the path to become a Pool Playing Machine!

The Game is the Teacher
 
Having fought with accuracy so much I am acutely aware that footwork is extremely important. But I don’t understand your comment about champion players positioning first then seeing the shot. How can the feet be positioned without first seeing the shot line?
 
CJ,
I don't know much about music either. You said you're using 4/4 time. Are you doing a specific thing on each count? Or just trying to let your subconscious adjust to that tempo?
 
dquarasr said:
Having fought with accuracy so much I am acutely aware that footwork is extremely important. But I don’t understand your comment about champion players positioning first then seeing the shot. How can the feet be positioned without first seeing the shot line?
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There is a foot position that puts the human body in the ideal position, especially the right hip. The reason the right hip (for rt handed player) is so important is it naturally gets in the way and doesn't allow you to feel like you're shooting out of the center of your body/vision. The challenge all players face is when their eyes are on the line of the shot, their hips can't be and when their right hip is on the line their eyes can't be.

There are two ways players usually deal with this, one is they stand more sideways so the right hip isn't blocking, the problem with this is there eyes/vision isn't on the line of the shot, it will be 2-6 inches to the left (of the target line).

The other way they deal with their body not being designed to play pool is they face the shot, but since their hip is in the way they swivel, or take some stutter steps to try to keep their vision and cue on the line of the shot.....this doesn't work well either, their head will deviate off the line. (there are other ways snooker players use, but I'm speaking on pocket billiards which requires a more powerful stroke).

To solve these issues I teach players to get in a position that will enable EVERYTHING to be lined up AND they can aim ABOVE the shot instead of down in the shooting position. This is what separates the champions and allows them to get into the same body position, aim above then shot, and turn their body, that's not made for pool into a pool playing machine. This, like in the golf swing requires the downward motion to be engaged by the hips, not the upper body.

When a seasoned golfer sees someone that doesn't know how to clear his hips they know their golfing abilities are limited, it's the same with pool, there is a relationship between how the feet are positioned and what the hips must do to keep the head/vision on the Line of the Shot from start to finish. This allows the player to do their visual aiming ABOVE the shot, and in the shooting position they can stop visually aiming and CONNECT to the shot using their kinesthetic sense (Feel and Touch) which will improve their cue ball control and give them a FEEL for the pocket and the object ball like never before.

The GAME is the Teacher
 
brigeton said:
CJ,
I don't know much about music either. You said you're using 4/4 time. Are you doing a specific thing on each count? Or just trying to let your subconscious adjust to that tempo?
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Did you watch the video, it's a routine I do......using 72 BPM in 4/4 time....without the video it's very difficult to learn, it's like this.....

1) Get Ready
2) Get Set
3) Focus
4) (Look at the object ball), Draw the Cue Back and Accelerate (Or release)

4/4 time on the metronome makes all four quarter beats sound the same, this is important for overall tempo. The entire pool pre shot routine should have a temp to it, every great player had their own personal tempo that was highly effective. The 72 Beats per Minute is an ideal moderate tempo, when you learn that one you can easily make it fit your style/personality.

The Game is the Teacher
 
CJ Wiley said:
Watch the video so you can see why the 4/4 time is important, I break the drill into 4 parts.....it couldn't be any more simple.
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So there's the 72 bpm tempo and the 4/4 rhythm.

Your rhythm sounds more like 2/4 to me...

beat - Ready
beat
beat - Set
beat
beat - OB
beat - Draw Back
beat - Release
beat

...but I suppose that's a choice, like the exact tempo (bpm) is?

pj
chgo
 
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