PlynSets Video Thread (Practice)

mnShooter said:
I would suggest to hold the cue back a little farther. The reason you have this pump action is because your elbow is already fully extended before you hit the cueball. This may mean either shortening your bridge or gripping farther back on the cue.
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...and I would suggest shortening the bridge as the way to go; it will allow the "train" or pumping motion to be corrected, with the extra benefit of a bit more precision in all aspects of aiming / where the cue tip touches the cue ball when imparting english, draw, follow...

all that said, you got nice rhythm, nice game... and, like Colin observed nearly a 100% feel player. Good eyes too - helps to be young! I could only watch the first session, as I'm on the road so my connection is too slow to wait for more than that...I'll try to catch the second session later.
 
I'm no instructer either but I have noticed when you get long you shoot HARD. I am going to go out on a limb here and say that you are not totally confident in your long straight in shots. If I am correct try this because it is what got me to the next level...When you practice shoot long straight in shots. Practice them untill you can't miss them anymore. You will be surprised at how much this improves your all around game. Then shoot spot shots untill you are totally comfortable with them. Once you master it you will start to see this shot all over the table. You will see the angle and it will remind you that this ball is the exact angle as a spot shot.

IMHO your next step is to go back and master the LONG straight in shot and spot shot. Keep in mind that by practicing these shots you are also practicing practically every shot on the table because it is refining your stroke and aim to perfection.

Once you(maybe you already are) are confident in making a long straight in and spot shot 10 out of 10 times block the pocket a little with an object ball and practice them all over again untill your aim is leathal. I know it gets boring but trust me it will be worth it. Your all around shot making capability will skyrocket.


...and yeah your head is sideways big time. It doesn't even seem like either of your eyes are over the cue but...if its comfortable to you its up to you.
 
I'll edit up a couple more (only takes me 2 minutes to make a video) games that I already have taped, then try to incorporate some of the suggestions from here and try again.. :)

Don't be surprised if I can't make a ball after I start changin shiznit up. LOL

DJ
 
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Last video from that day.. I have more tape, but it's basically the same shiznit over and over again. Run about 1/2 a rack miss a ball then run the other half. I'm going to try to incorporate some of the tips given in the thread already, and then record some video over the weekend and post for next week. :)

Video # 3

Practice Session 3

DJ
 
Nice vid Plynsets!

I see you slowed down a bit, played more carefully / deliberately. Some nice shots there and a couple where you probably could have worked out your weren't lined up well if you had looked at them a bit harder.

I can see those pockets are very tight:D

There is quite a bit of side ways action going on with your cueing, but it would be a lot of work straightening that out and would probably mess with your game a lot during the transition. Maybe just try to smooth it out a bit.

It's great to see you just showing your typical session. I look forward to seeing you matching up :)
 
PlynSets said:
I appreciate all the comments so far!! Keep em coming! :)

I especially like Collins post, as well as Eric's about crossing the lines in position. I'd like to explore that further in the future.

Incidentally Collin, that wasn't Pink Floyd it's a remake of the wall.. I think it was done by Korn?

A couple of things I wanted to say though, this is literally just breaking and shooting some balls. I.E. It's hard to put down the concentration banging em around by yourself then it is while your playing sets/tournaments etc.. The vids are put up in the order they were shot with "zero" editing.. Believe me I could whip up a vid in about 10 minutes that'd make it look like I just ran 10 racks, but I figure what the hell it is what it is.. Lunch time practice, I can't see anyone judging too hard on that. ;) But an excuse for those that do.. I don't think many could run racks on this table as tight as it is.. Unless their a solid A. <--- (By SD standards)

Here's video # 2..



Practice Video # 2



That's a joke at the end by the way about "knowing that shot." For those that lack humour..

DJ
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I think you are right. My table is a nine foot with 3 and 7/8 corner pockets and I know for a fact that top players will not play the 9 ball ghost on it racing to 11. I bet on a normal table your game is probably a ball better, I know mine is... Thanks for posting.
 
Harvywallbanger said:
...and yeah your head is sideways big time. It doesn't even seem like either of your eyes are over the cue but...if its comfortable to you its up to you.
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Who really cares where his head is, if he's shooting ok and potting the balls? Everybody's eyes are different, and our brains "see" things differently. This thing about one eye being dominant is pretty interesting; however, what if that "dominant" eye is 78% dominant??

I'd not change where your head is. If it feels right go with it.

Flex
 
PlynSets said:
Last video from that day.. I have more tape, but it's basically the same shiznit over and over again. Run about 1/2 a rack miss a ball then run the other half. I'm going to try to incorporate some of the tips given in the thread already, and then record some video over the weekend and post for next week. :)

Video # 3

Practice Session 3

DJ
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Since you're looking for criticisms, I have a quick comment on the 7 ball you missed in the last video. It was a tough shot, and it's understandable that you missed it on a tight table. But it looks like you lined up to hit it with low english to try and hold up your cue ball, and then changed your mind because you decided you couldn't hold it up from that angle, and you switched to a high hit to go across the table and back for the 8. So without moving, you changed how you were going to hit the shot, while down in your stance, while taking practice strokes (or at least that's what it looked like to me). In my experience, you make the shot a lot more often if you stand up and start over when you change your mind.

-Andrew
 
PlynSets said:
Game definately needs some work.. I'll play and start stringing racks, then 2 minutes later I can't make 2 balls. :( I'm working on it though.. ;) I'm actually going to start recording some sets and throw those up here as well.

Not too get to serious about it, but I have another camera here so I was going to add in a couple angles and splice em together etc..

DJ
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Come on man , get real. You have 2 cameras, your own table but every video you put up you miss at least 1 ball?
OTOH, if you want to be a good player you cant care what others think of you and I think you have made the first step. :)
You have a good stroke but its sloppy. You are a natural player who could be be a very good player but at the momment, you dont know what you are doing or what you should be doing or why you should be doing it. If you were living in Holland I would teach you for free because I really think you have potential.
There is a big difference in being good and REALLY good. With the right instruction and your 100% dedication, you could be a top player in 4/5 years. Its JMO.

Look forward to the next episode.
take it easy 'Dude'.:)

Gabber..quite like the music........... what about for the next vid,


Wheatus- the deck

or

Cypress Hill- Hand on the pump

Or, .............and I think you will like this one,

Smashinig Pumpkins- Cherub Rock.............??????????;)
 
3 general suggestions:
1) risky position vs. taking harder shots - my opinion is that if you're a good enough shotmaker that you can afford it, take the harder shot vs trickier position
2) you punch a couple shots.
3) be decisive about whether you're going to come off that 2nd rail or not

here are my comments for your out:

1 ball - go opposite direction - around over the top of the 7 instead of underneath it. This is to guarantee you don't safe yourself.

2 ball (1st try) - trying to draw back for 3 - you overdraw and miss. When you need to draw on a shot like this and you still want to put a good stroke on it, don't aim so low on the cueball. 1 tip or so will do it, just make sure you stroke it, which brings us to why you missed. You didn't follow through well on the shot - and a couple other shots too.

3 to 4 - you might want to play this with a little inside so you can take a line
that gives you more room to get away from the 2nd rail and maintain your angle. it's absolutely critical that you're not too close to the rail for the 4 ball.

4 to 5 - you followed it 2 rails. I'd have hit it with a bit of low and outside to go off bottom rail and come off the side rail about where the cue ball was before the shot. This way you avoid a lot of the traffic.
 
Lots of great input in here!!

Andrew your 100% right on that 7 ball. I even thought about it when I shot it.. Shoulda stood up and re-evaluated the shot. Honestly playing on tables with big pockets has made me kind of "lazy." Now playing at home on tighter pockets I'm suffering some of the repercussions of that. On the flipside though I'm quite looking forward to heading down to some of the tourny's around here with the bigger pockets again. ;) :D

Flex, changing my head is one of the thigns I wanted to do anyways.. On some long shots it seems I can't get my neck in the right position to see the object ball. I have to stand up a little higher then I like too which changes my already bad mechanics into something different and I feel this is the reason I miss alot of balls.

Somebody originally said they believe I don't have enough "confidence" in my aiming "system" (or lack there of) and that is about right on IMO. Never used to have any problems potting long shots, or more difficult long cut shots, but as of late I'm not giving myself as high %'s in my head.. My confidence has dropped substantially which is all of a sudden why I'm looking to head back to the basics.

I definatley appreciate the different thoughts on "outs" from various posters : Egg Mcdogit, Andrew Manning, HarveyWallbanger, Colin, and Eric..

I don't have as much time to go over the vids and look at the suggestions, as far as changing the outs, as I'd like right now becuase as most of you know my g/f just got a boob job yesterday and she's sitting right behind me recovering right now. I'm going to definately get into it over the weekend though, and try to impliment a few of the mechanics suggestions into next weeks vids. :)

DJ
 
Gabber said:
Come on man , get real. You have 2 cameras, your own table but every video you put up you miss at least 1 ball?
OTOH, if you want to be a good player you cant care what others think of you and I think you have made the first step. :)
You have a good stroke but its sloppy. You are a natural player who could be be a very good player but at the momment, you dont know what you are doing or what you should be doing or why you should be doing it. If you were living in Holland I would teach you for free because I really think you have potential.
There is a big difference in being good and REALLY good. With the right instruction and your 100% dedication, you could be a top player in 4/5 years. Its JMO.

Look forward to the next episode.
take it easy 'Dude'.:)

Gabber..quite like the music........... what about for the next vid,


Wheatus- the deck

or

Cypress Hill- Hand on the pump

Or, .............and I think you will like this one,

Smashinig Pumpkins- Cherub Rock.............??????????;)
Click to expand...


Camera never seems to be on when I finally do put a rack or two together.. LOL I just got the table a few weeks ago (maybe 3?) and I just haven't had a chance to play on it as much as I'd like too as the last few weeks have been kinda hectic. I mostly come home for lunch and play, then a little at night before I hit the sack.

The music playing in the vids is what I was listening too on the house stereo while shooting.. I could d/l the songs and put em on the house stereo, or clip the video "noise" out and just input music over it.. You wouldn't hear the balls though. I'll see if my roomate has the songs and check em out. ;)

DJ
 
Ok, lets start by saying I am an instructor. I'll also say that you seem to have somewhat of a decent skill set, and I wish you were on the right coast because you would be fun to work with. I assume you posted these because you are truly looking to improve, it is with that understanding I offer you the following.

Now about your stroke, first off your shoulder drop is just horrible and will keep you from ever gaining any real consistency in your game. Your follow thru is also way to long and exagerated. I have to beleive at some point someone told you the old lie about keeping a level cue thru the shot.

Your pump stroke also has to go, you just have too many things in motion at once to maintain any kind of consistency, you need to limit you moving parts. Your stoke will work fine when everything is timed perfectly but if your timing gets off I am sure you have had days you couldn't make a thing and didn't know why.

Lastly a small stance change whould help you bring your head more inline with your shot and should help both your stroke and aim.

Feel free to PM me if you have any questions.
 
PlynSets said:
I appreciate all the comments so far!! Keep em coming! :)

I especially like Collins post, as well as Eric's about crossing the lines in position. I'd like to explore that further in the future.

Incidentally Collin, that wasn't Pink Floyd it's a remake of the wall.. I think it was done by Korn?

A couple of things I wanted to say though, this is literally just breaking and shooting some balls. I.E. It's hard to put down the concentration banging em around by yourself then it is while your playing sets/tournaments etc.. The vids are put up in the order they were shot with "zero" editing.. Believe me I could whip up a vid in about 10 minutes that'd make it look like I just ran 10 racks, but I figure what the hell it is what it is.. Lunch time practice, I can't see anyone judging too hard on that. ;) But an excuse for those that do.. I don't think many could run racks on this table as tight as it is.. Unless their a solid A. <--- (By SD standards)

Here's video # 2..



Practice Video # 2



That's a joke at the end by the way about "knowing that shot." For those that lack humour..

DJ
Click to expand...


I like your style alot, you look good and comfortable over the ball.
I would would work on position, maybe actually touch the area of the table you are going to put the cue ball at. This will do two things get you to slow down, increase your concentration and will straighten up your position routes. I see you every few shots getting out line then having to really move the cue ball to get back where you need to be.

Also how would you rate your speed? A,B,C + - ?

I will try to record myself, and post up here next week.

Mack
 
Roadwarrior I sent you a PM.

I appreciate all the input so far from everyone! I'm very realistic about my game, and know that I'm good, but not that good as they say.. ;) I'll match up with most any B player in San Diego.. Not saying that I'll win, but I'll say my odds aren't terrible. I also realize that B's are a dime a dozen.. More or less the guys that took the time to learn the subtleties of the game, but haven't mastered them.

I personally believe I do have quite a bit of ball knowledge that most "B's" wouldn't have just from playing so many A's over the years. I don't say that to sound cocky, but quite the opposite.. I think I know what I know, but am quite aware that once you know you really begin to realized thing the more you realize "You don't know." (Damn that's alot of knows..)

Stolz, I rate myself an average "B" player in San Diego.. Not in the upper eschelon's of B's, but not necesarrily a high C low B either. I seem to be able to "rise to the occasion" when playing better players, but I also seem to fall to the occasion when practicing and playing lower players.

I think now that I have a table at home and am taking an "outside" look at my game (video camera) and have some input on here from outside sources my game will improve dramatically.. Not necesarily becoming that much "better" but but hopefully more consistent (taking out more of the bad days is my immediate goal.)

As ya already probably surmised by now I'm not exactly a "shy" guy, and I'm pretty used to the internet forums from being on boating boards (which are more like shark tanks then forums). So I'm not worried about haters etc..

DJ
 
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Dave...Although Raodwarrior is an instructor, neither he nor anyone else has noticed what seems glaringly obvious to me. That may be because all I do is travel around the country working with all kinds of players, improving their concept of what a stroke is, and how to make it more repeatable and sustainable. Although the comment was made that you shoot many shots hard, no mention has been made between what I call "muscle pool" and "finesse pool". Your entire game consists of muscle pool. You do have a very nice natural rythym, and that can be incorporated into the small changes that could radically improve your game. The elbow drop, the forearm completely out of perpendicular at contact, no consistent setup or pre-shot routine, and no natural finish, all contribute to inconsistency, as Colin noted. You have a very good eye for pocketing balls, but like you admitted, you've had no formal education on the difference between ramming the OB into the pocket, and finesse stroking it into the pocket. The ultimate truth is that one can pocket every ball and manipulate the CB around the table using force, as you do...and still win. However, the very best players have learned how to utilize the weight of the cue and timing, to create the speed of the shot, and by using a finesse stroke, can move the CB effortlessly, at half the stroke speed you're shooting, or less.
IMO, the greatest consistency comes when a player makes the jump to learning (or re-learning) a finesse stroke. Randyg usually brings one of our 'road show' pool schools to San Diego or L.A. at least once a year. I believe you would benefit greatly from attending one of our 3-day schools. If you're interested, PM me, and I'll give you the information. Remember, I'm not trying to knock your game...just give you some positive constructive criticism, which is what you were asking for. :D

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
 
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Hey, man. First off, congratulations on having the guts to post your videos. I know I wouldn't.

My game needs more work than yours, but I'm just going to risk saying this because amazingly, no one seems to have said it yet: you move your head up and down when your eyes switch from the cueball the object ball and back.

Good luck man, and keep 'em coming.
 
Scott is right, 100%. Focus on your stroke and mechanics. Level smooth stroke, about 6" follow through is more than enough most of the time, many times less. Line up on the shot before you get down. I noticed that you turn your hips quite far, for some people thats Ok, others it helps to square up a little more so that your arm is a little closer to your body and not subject to as much movement and will move in a straight line more naturally. Its great that you are really trying to get better. You really have to be driven to change habits and not fall back, and it seems that you may get there. Get instruction from a well qualified instructor soon, the pros do it when they get a little out of wack so don't be shy. You will be amazed at what you can learn is such a short time. It will greatly accelerate your improvement and raise your ultimate potential.

I wish you luck.
 
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Scott Lee said:
IMO, the greatest consistency comes when a player makes the jump to learning (or re-learning) a finesse stroke.
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Wow, is that ever an understatement. I never knew what I was missing until a figured out how to shoot those finesse shots with english and having virtually no squirt on the cue ball. It's a different way of stroking the ball. A little bit too hard and the squirt monster jumps up and the balls don't pot. Huge...

Flex
 
PlynSets said:
I appreciate all the comments so far!! Keep em coming! :)



Incidentally Collin, that wasn't Pink Floyd it's a remake of the wall.. I think it was done by Korn?
Click to expand...

It is in fact Korn doin a rendition of The Wall.

Nice vids there play.....i may have to do some as well. You seem pretty strong ther. Can I get the 5 ball?


Jamie
 
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