Position Drills
- Thread starter BeiberLvr
- Start date
That's true.
I'm usually all alone on this subject anyway. I could be wrong. Only time will tell.
Now back to your regularly scheduled programing.
Thanks for thread.
Edit - I have no idea who Warren Bennis is anyways.
Pathetic Shark
Banned
I suspect the reasoning from the pros is, practicing your fundamentals, and getting them down pat, will negate any need for easy drills like these - you'll be able to pot anything anyway.
Neil nailed this one in his first post. It is astonishing how many times I end up frozen to a rail because I say to myself 'the OB is near the rail, just make sure the CB is near the rail as well, and you can't go wrong". Play for where you'd put BIH.
Pathetic Shark
Banned
I have seen players go from A to semi pro (ish) in a little over a year or so by obsessively practicing the shots by SVB & Daz you referenced earlier. I've got to do that as well - but I'm too lazy.
After a few years play or so, I don't think there's a lot to be learned about the game, so you have to just improve what you already do, and that is where it becomes boring.
I have seen players go from A to semi pro (ish) in a little over a year or so by obsessively practicing the shots by SVB & Daz you referenced earlier. I've got to do that as well - but I'm too lazy.
After a few years play or so, I don't think there's a lot to be learned about the game, so you have to just improve what you already do, and that is where it becomes boring.
Improving what you already do involves learning. So there is plenty to be learned after a few years of playing.
Are you one of those types who stand there and say, "Go ahead, amuse me."?
I have seen players go from A to semi pro (ish) in a little over a year or so by obsessively practicing the shots by SVB & Daz you referenced earlier. I've got to do that as well - but I'm too lazy.
After a few years play or so, I don't think there's a lot to be learned about the game, so you have to just improve what you already do, and that is where it becomes boring.
Shhh....don't say that so loud. I want everybody to keep thinking they have to master each and every shot on the table in order to get good at this game.
It's funny...I tend to agree with what you are saying about the simplicity of the game too. I think it's the pool players egos that cause them to get so defensive when you mention that there really isn't that much to be learned. Try telling this to a one-pocket player. They will absolutely flip out. Calculus is hard. Brain surgery is tough. Chess can be pretty complicated. Pool -- not so much.
However, I will say the further you go with this game the more profound the small things can be. How just a small change in grip pressure can help you cue straighter or slightly changing a foot's position can perfectly square up your stance. Those little things can be so big.
Now if I just had more time to put in the work.
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Pathetic Shark
Banned
Stands where and says that?
It's all good. I'll add something else that might get us on the same page.
You think practicing those rail shots and long straight-ins like Shane does is the way to go, and that positional drills aren't beneficial.
Well that's all fine and dandy if every shot you had was a straight-in shot. My suggestion for you is to keep on practicing those difficult shots, but make it meaningful. What good is making a difficult shot if the only reward is making the ball (unless it's the money ball, of course)?
So set up those tough shots, but put another ball on the table, and try to get shape.
Pathetic Shark
Banned
I don't think anyone is saying that but being able to hit EXACTLY where you are aiming is more more beneficial than knowing the correct shot.
Get that bit right and the rest will happen naturally and more quickly.
The only point I was attempting to make is that being able to make a tough shot is great, but knowing how to make that same tough and get the CB where you need it go is better.
if you master position play you dont shoot tough shots....
For sure, but unfortunately we don't always get to start off with an easy shot.
My advice
- Practice position play using simple to medium difficulty shots.
- Practice just making tough shots.
- Practice position play using tough shots.
The other night I rented my first video from Accu-Stats' Pay-Per-View.
It was Buddy Hall's 9 Ball video. To my surprise, it was just a bunch of shots like these. Most of the shots weren't hard shots, but a lot of them do require a good stroke.
This is just one of the many shots he goes over (hope it's okay for me to post this).
I honestly never thought about playing it this way. Usually I would play it like this (2nd image), and the scratch in the corner is risky. I like his way, because I think hitting deep on the first short rail pretty much takes that risk away.
It was Buddy Hall's 9 Ball video. To my surprise, it was just a bunch of shots like these. Most of the shots weren't hard shots, but a lot of them do require a good stroke.
This is just one of the many shots he goes over (hope it's okay for me to post this).
I honestly never thought about playing it this way. Usually I would play it like this (2nd image), and the scratch in the corner is risky. I like his way, because I think hitting deep on the first short rail pretty much takes that risk away.
Neil - looking at where you want to the CB to end up was a huge help to me. Thank you. I found I was not being very specific in my mind on what my intended path for the CB was and the exact spot of where I wanted it to stop. Max Eberle mentions this in his instructional material, but, again, I was not being specific enough. As I think about this, I believe my preshot routine was more concentrated on making the shot than specific CB position. I am going to concentrate more on CB position. Once that is done, I will focus on the shot and leave the CB position to my subconscious. Is that a good approach?.
That is the approach one should take. Do all your thinking standing up, then when down, let your subconscious take over and shoot the shot. While standing, see in your mind exactly what you want to have happen, just like it already did happen. Then, when you get down to shoot, you will have much better results.
Stan Shuffett showed me a nice method for practicing CB position control. He uses a golf ball. Put the golf ball on the spot where you want the CB to end up. Its so light it wont have a noticeable affect on the CB. That gives you a 3d visual aid for where you want the CB to be.
Here's another good one for 9 ball. Pocket the 1 ball, and go two rails to hit the 2, 3, 4, and 5 ball (one at a time, of course).
Do each shot 10 times (for a total of 40 shots). Each successful attempt is worth 1 point.
don't stop there put a ball at each diamond in the lower half of the table ie add 5 more targets
lee brett home webpage has a lot of free drill diagrams
you might find something you like
home page
http://leebrettpool.com/
drills
http://leebrettpool.com/?page_id=2077
p.s.
the layouts are drawn on wei table diagrams but dont take you to weiis site
you might find something you like
home page
http://leebrettpool.com/
drills
http://leebrettpool.com/?page_id=2077
p.s.
the layouts are drawn on wei table diagrams but dont take you to weiis site
Attachments
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Position Play
Beginner:
Imagine the table split into 6 zones (down the table length wise, then at 2 1/2 diamonds from the head and foot of the able). Setup any shot on the table and mark where he cue ball and object ball are (binder reinforcement stickers are great for repeating the exact same shot over and over). Now shoot the shot and play position to each zone 2 or 3 times before moving on to the next zone. Repeat until you can get all the different zones. You can do this with any possible shot and discover what is tougher than others.
Intermediate:
setup a shot and place a menu (if its flat, if not a piece of notebook paper) anywhere on the table - Play position to get the cue ball on the menu/paper
Advanced:
Use a napkin or dollar bill
Game:
Play against any number of players, setup a shot and mark where the balls are. Everyone gets one try and who ever gets closest to the target wins a point. Play to any number of points or a given time.
Beginner:
Imagine the table split into 6 zones (down the table length wise, then at 2 1/2 diamonds from the head and foot of the able). Setup any shot on the table and mark where he cue ball and object ball are (binder reinforcement stickers are great for repeating the exact same shot over and over). Now shoot the shot and play position to each zone 2 or 3 times before moving on to the next zone. Repeat until you can get all the different zones. You can do this with any possible shot and discover what is tougher than others.
Intermediate:
setup a shot and place a menu (if its flat, if not a piece of notebook paper) anywhere on the table - Play position to get the cue ball on the menu/paper
Advanced:
Use a napkin or dollar bill
Game:
Play against any number of players, setup a shot and mark where the balls are. Everyone gets one try and who ever gets closest to the target wins a point. Play to any number of points or a given time.