Pool Journal

[RWOJO]

I recently saw a video and a player had a "Pool journal". This was a little notebook that he kept in his case. He showed he had draw specific shots he had difficulty with so he could practice them later. He also wrote little comments about what other things he had difficulty with or what was working great.

I got a small notebook and some index cards last week. I try to write down information right after a match. Just from using this twice I am noticing a trend. The same things are the main reasons why I missed shots. Example of key missed shots that I can definitely work on: Bridging over a ball (particularly long shots), Cue ball near a rail and I need draw for position, and long distance safeties (distance between Cueball and object ball). A couple other key misses I had have a more general concept behind the miss: I wasn't confident in the shot, I was indecisive on position (so I missed position), rushed the shot.

Does anyone out there keep track with a notebook like this?

 

[Bob Jewett]

I recently saw a video and a player had a "Pool journal". This was a little notebook that he kept in his case. He showed he had draw specific shots he had difficulty with so he could practice them later. He also wrote little comments about what other things he had difficulty with or what was working great.

I got a small notebook and some index cards last week. I try to write down information right after a match. Just from using this twice I am noticing a trend. The same things are the main reasons why I missed shots. Example of key missed shots that I can definitely work on: Bridging over a ball (particularly long shots), Cue ball near a rail and I need draw for position, and long distance safeties (distance between Cueball and object ball). A couple other key misses I had have a more general concept behind the miss: I wasn't confident in the shot, I was indecisive on position (so I missed position), rushed the shot.

Does anyone out there keep track with a notebook like this?

Yes, I kept fairly careful notebooks the first 20 years or so that I played. I think you already have the most important entries: shots that you miss. Other things to put in are new shots you don't understand, good drills, various kinds of systems you have worked on and your observations of them, and any observations when you go to major tournaments.

 

[RWOJO]

Yes, I kept fairly careful notebooks the first 20 years or so that I played. I think you already have the most important entries: shots that you miss. Other things to put in are new shots you don't understand, good drills, various kinds of systems you have worked on and your observations of them, and any observations when you go to major tournaments.

Thank you for the input. I will definitely do that. I am already familiar with lots of good drills and systems. I help at the Georgia Billiard Academy and we have a extensive but constantly growing list of drills.

This journal will help me on the key missed shots (or even position play I had trouble with) and the second part is to devote focused practice toward these shots. I think I will start using a section of the journal for another aspect players might not think of. That is when I play for money I will start out with a predetermined amount of money (Bankroll) and keep track of wins and losses. Also who I play, what game, what weight and such so on. I did this with poker in college and realized I made more money in cash games then I did tournaments so I limited the tournaments and played more cash games.