While I agree that playing pocket speed is important, it seems that it is not nearly as important that some would have it in rotation games and snooker (while no one can deny the importance in straight pool and one pocket). Watching professional standard pool and snooker shows that they prefer to hit shots with a medium/firm speed and positive cueing whenever possible, even when slower alternatives are available (the two universal exceptions being balls on or extremely close to the rail in snooker and of course pocket cheating shots in pool.)
I guess why many instructors recommend amateurs to play certain shots slowly ,in contrast to professionals, is to increase their success with these shots since their make percentage with higher speed may be suspect. while for the pros (whose make percentage on the same shots are almost 100%) the element of risk of a bad contact at slower speed and avoiding "getting out of stroke" is more important. I find that the better I'm playing, the harder I'm hitting shots (not like Ram shots but quite firm). I remember watching one match with Efren Reyes where he was playing terribly (relative to his normal standard) and one commentator very astutely observed that he was "babying the ball". His standard of play immidiately improved when he started shooting shots more firmly.
The easiest way to learn pocket speed IMHO is the so called brainwashing drill where you throw 15 balls out and try to run them off whithout touching a rail. The L-drill, when played properly will also give you opportunities to practice this.
I guess why many instructors recommend amateurs to play certain shots slowly ,in contrast to professionals, is to increase their success with these shots since their make percentage with higher speed may be suspect. while for the pros (whose make percentage on the same shots are almost 100%) the element of risk of a bad contact at slower speed and avoiding "getting out of stroke" is more important. I find that the better I'm playing, the harder I'm hitting shots (not like Ram shots but quite firm). I remember watching one match with Efren Reyes where he was playing terribly (relative to his normal standard) and one commentator very astutely observed that he was "babying the ball". His standard of play immidiately improved when he started shooting shots more firmly.
The easiest way to learn pocket speed IMHO is the so called brainwashing drill where you throw 15 balls out and try to run them off whithout touching a rail. The L-drill, when played properly will also give you opportunities to practice this.
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