POCKET HANGERS … Everything You Need to Know

[dr_dave]

Dr Dave...

I like the format of the way you put together the video on "Pocket Hangers"... it brings into play a whole lot of options players can take... which is great because everybody plays differently & have their own strength when shooting... some can draw better then others so giving options help with weaker players that have trouble drawing the cue ball as an example... or don't know English well.

Thank you for the feedback. I hope to hear from many people concerning the format, amount of content, speed of presentation, video length, etc. I plan to do a lot more videos in the "Everything You Need to Know" series, and I would like to cater them to what people like/want/need.

I think doing a video on When a player should do a safety play & how to help them to make the game more into their own favor will certainly help... most lower level players play shoots too aggressively & leave table wide open for their opponents... making them aware of playing safe might help them win more games & make them enjoy playing more. Just my 2 cents...

I already have lots of good info and videos on this topic here:

safety resource page

But maybe I'll do a "When and How to Play Safe ... Everything You Need to Know" video as part of my series.

Thanks for all you do...

You're welcome, and thank you for the feedback and suggestions.

Regards,
Dave

 

[dr_dave]

Great video, Dave. I was not aware of the half ball hit reference shots you showed.

Thanks. I'm glad you learned something new.

The video might be overwhelming to lower skilled players.

I think this is an issue with many of my YouTube videos. They are not geared specifically to lower-level players. It seems like the pool instructional videos that are watched the most on YouTube are ones that are very basic (or the ones that have fancy trick shots with sexy models laying on the table). Maybe I need to "dumb down" my stuff, hire some scantily-clad women, and add more high-production graphics and music.

Recently I was coaching a SL4 on hangers. I taught him The ¼ ball hit system I believe Jerry Briesath created. There is a great page in Mark Wilson’s book, Play Great Pool, that summarizes it.

Tom Ross taught me a lot of the hanger reference stuff. We also figured many of them out when filming VEPS in 2009. I also heard about some of them from Jerry. Tom and I present all of them on VEPS.

Dave, I realize you did show various ¼ hits. My suggestion is to put all ¼ hit shots at the beginning of the video, then move on to ½ ball hits

I only included a few of the reference directions from VEPS. I like your suggestion of grouping them into 1/4-ball and 1/2-ball instead of based on CB position like I did.

Thanks for the input,
Dave

 

[dr_dave]

Thanks Dr. Dave, nice video. Since you are asking, this is my take after watching the entire video.

I think it is great that you point out how the point will get you in trouble. Two things to watch out for, scratching and the point. Everything else is cue ball control. At first, I thought the tracks information was a bit boring and overdone but then you came with useful application of those tracks. Another great move on your part.

Your videos are useful for amateur players at all levels. Thanks for your contribution to the pool experience.

Thank you for the feedback.

Maybe I should have put the CB control stuff and drills in separate videos?

Regards,
Dave

 

[dr_dave]

Very good video.

Thanks.

You made me think much more about using reference paths out of the hangars in relation to 1/4 and 1/2 ball hits to analyze the shot to make. A much better way to organize the thought process.

The ball-hit-fraction reference directions are useful, and they do come in handy at times.

Regards,
Dave

 

[dr_dave]

I just posted a new video on YouTube that demonstrates everything you need to know about dealing with and taking best advantage of a pocket “hanger.” Here it is:

NV J.28 – POCKET HANGERS … Everything You Need to Know​

Topics covered include:
- good things about hangers (0:06)
- things that can go wrong with hangers (0:40)
- avoiding a scratch (1:25)
- driving a ball through a hanger (2:24)
- cue ball control (3:16)
- cue ball reference directions (5:28)
- speed/cut/spin effects (7:05)
- game-situation examples (9:13)
- useful target drills (10:19)
- shooting along a rail (10:44)
- shooting along a diagonal (13:02)

This video is a little on the longer side (15 minutes), but the material in presented very concisely (but still completely). Multiple viewings (and/or pause/rewind cycles) might be required for everything to sink in.

Thanks to "Tin Man" for suggesting this video topic along with some good ideas.

Please let me know what you think, and let me know if anything is unclear or if you have any questions.

Some people have suggested that my videos are too long and contain too much information presented too quickly. What do you guys think about this? Should I present a video like this instead as multiple shorter videos with many more examples for each concept? Or do you guys think the dense/concise-info approach is better?

Thank you in advance for your feedback, input, and suggestions,
Dave

I still hope to get more feedback and suggestions concerning this (see above).

Thank you,
Dave

 

[Scratch85]

I still hope to get more feedback and suggestions concerning this (see above).

Thank you,
Dave

IMO, multiple shorter videos are better.


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[Dave-Kat]

Thank you once again Dr. Dave. Another stellar and most helpful video production full of very useful information well demonstrated/explained for hacks like me. These are shots I have consistently made bad decisions on leaving me in bad shape for easy winner.

Keep up the good work. Your Videos have come along way and are only getting better:thumbup:



Cheers,

-Kat,

 

[dr_dave]

IMO, multiple shorter videos are better.

Thanks for the input. I agree that 15 minutes is too long for a YouTube instructional video, and the amount of content is probably overwhelming to the majority of people who watch these types of videos.

Regards,
Dave

 

[dr_dave]

Thank you once again Dr. Dave. Another stellar and most helpful video production full of very useful information well demonstrated/explained for hacks like me.

Thank you for the positive feedback.

These are shots I have consistently made bad decisions on leaving me in bad shape for easy winner.

I'm sure you're not the only one (me included).

Keep up the good work. Your Videos have come along way and are only getting better:thumbup:

Thanks again.

Regards,
Dave

 

[Scratch85]

Thanks for the input. I agree that 15 minutes is too long for a YouTube instructional video, and the amount of content is probably overwhelming to the majority of people who watch these types of videos.



Regards,

Dave

I think it is difficult to stay on point for longer videos. This video is about hangers. Only the first part was wholly about hangers. Once you moved to tracks, which was interesting, it was more about CB control than hangers.

Not sure where I stand in the skill sets of most people watching, but the tracks and practice part are all CB control. If I was overwhelmed by any of it, it would be nice to have someone who understood it all breaking it into manageable parts.

Just an opinion. Love all of your videos.


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[iusedtoberich]

Man, every time I watch your videos the only thing I can think about is how you don't have pool playing glasses, but you have every other gadget under the sun. I see on this video the new gadget is the cue extension

Even for regular type glasses, the pair you do have is the worst kind, the lens is on the compact side (by regular glasses standard).

I had to turn it off 2 or 3 min in as I was shaking my head:grin-square::grin-square::grin-square: Carry on:grin-square:

 

[Benward452]

I would agree with a previous poster, the content was too long and a lot to process. There was a lot of information påcked in that 15 minute video. For me, too much.

I agree that if you had split it before you started about the tracks of the cue ball it would have been, for me, a next to perfect video.

Thanks for the content as always, Dave. Super informative and I always learn something I haven't seen.

All the best,
Ben

 

[jay helfert]

My tip for playing hangers - Go rail first for position and control most of the time. It's a natural three rail position shot that you can adjust for by using speed control. You can get pretty much anywhere on the table shooting a hanger this way.

 

[erhino41]

I would agree with a previous poster, the content was too long and a lot to process. There was a lot of information påcked in that 15 minute video. For me, too much.



I agree that if you had split it before you started about the tracks of the cue ball it would have been, for me, a next to perfect video.



Thanks for the content as always, Dave. Super informative and I always learn something I haven't seen.



All the best,

Ben

Multiple views should take care of that. Learn one thing at a time then tackle the next thing.

I love how much information are in these videos and how efficiently they are presented. Simple explanation and then a well executed example. Other instructional videos would've contained far less information in a much longer video.

Your videos are great, Dave! I "learn" a lot of things I already know subconsciously. Hearing them described so succinctly and seeing an exact example of the explanation really cements the ideas, even if they are already known.

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[dr_dave]

I think it is difficult to stay on point for longer videos. This video is about hangers. Only the first part was wholly about hangers. Once you moved to tracks, which was interesting, it was more about CB control than hangers.

I personally think this is the most important aspect of dealing with hangers.

Not sure where I stand in the skill sets of most people watching, but the tracks and practice part are all CB control. If I was overwhelmed by any of it, it would be nice to have someone who understood it all breaking it into manageable parts.

Good point. Thanks for the input.

Regards,
Dave

 

[dr_dave]

Man, every time I watch your videos the only thing I can think about is how you don't have pool playing glasses

They honestly don't bother me. I have them adjusted so they sit high on my nose, with the top rim buried in my eyebrows (so it is difficult to look over them).

but you have every other gadget under the sun.

I am actually a pool minimalist with almost nothing in my case. I also use no gadgets at all when I teach (except a camera when needed).

I see on this video the new gadget is the cue extension

I finally got tired of people telling me that I need a longer cue since my grip was very close to the end of the butt. The extra length definitely helps with long-reach shots, and I have grown to like the added weight also.

Even for regular type glasses, the pair you do have is the worst kind, the lens is on the compact side (by regular glasses standard).

Again, I have them adjusted high. I also like being able to look under my glasses to see things clearly up close (without having to take my glasses off). I only need the glasses for distance.

I had to turn it off 2 or 3 min in as I was shaking my head:grin-square::grin-square::grin-square: Carry on:grin-square:

I'm sorry my videos are so painful to watch. :grin-square:

Regards,
Dave

 

[dr_dave]

I would agree with a previous poster, the content was too long and a lot to process. There was a lot of information påcked in that 15 minute video. For me, too much.

Thanks for the feedback. I'm always torn my this. I don't want my videos to be long, but I did want this one to include "Everything You Need to Know" in one video.

I agree that if you had split it before you started about the tracks of the cue ball it would have been, for me, a next to perfect video.

In retrospect, I agree.

Thanks for the content as always, Dave. Super informative and I always learn something I haven't seen.

You're welcome ... and thank you!

Thanks for the feedback and input,
Dave

 

[dr_dave]

My tip for playing hangers - Go rail first for position and control most of the time. It's a natural three rail position shot that you can adjust for by using speed control. You can get pretty much anywhere on the table shooting a hanger this way.

I disagree. I don't think going rail first for CB control is the best advice for most people. I suspect you did not watch the entire video. If not, check it out. If you know the CB reference directions, and how to modify them with amount of cut, sidespin, and speed, you can easily and reliably position the CB anywhere on the table without needing to go rail first (as clearly demonstrated in the video). It is too difficult to control the exact amount of cut when going rail first, and the amount of cut has a big effect on CB speed and direction off a hanger (as clearly demonstrated in the video).

Regards,
Dave

 

[dr_dave]

Multiple views should take care of that. Learn one thing at a time then tackle the next thing.

I love how much information are in these videos and how efficiently they are presented. Simple explanation and then a well executed example. Other instructional videos would've contained far less information in a much longer video.

Your videos are great, Dave! I "learn" a lot of things I already know subconsciously. Hearing them described so succinctly and seeing an exact example of the explanation really cements the ideas, even if they are already known.

Thank you for you input and feedback. I appreciate your supportive comments.

Regards,
Dave

 

[dr_dave]

My tip for playing hangers - Go rail first for position and control most of the time. It's a natural three rail position shot that you can adjust for by using speed control. You can get pretty much anywhere on the table shooting a hanger this way.

I disagree. I don't think going rail first for CB control is the best advice for most people. I suspect you did not watch the entire video. If not, check it out. If you know the CB reference directions, and how to modify them with amount of cut, sidespin, and speed, you can easily and reliably position the CB anywhere on the table without needing to go rail first (as clearly demonstrated in the video). It is too difficult to control the exact amount of cut when going rail first, and the amount of cut has a big effect on CB speed and direction off a hanger (as clearly demonstrated in the video).

Does anybody agree with Jay on this? I am curious about what others think about going rail-first for position when it is not required (e.g., to avoid an obstacle ball or the point of the pocket).

Regards,
Dave