Potting is secondary

[chefjeff]

Hi again, newbie here...

As I've been practicing 14.1, I've discovered that I've unconsciously put the potting of the ball as a secondary goal in my shot. The first goal has now become position, and potting has almost magically taken care of itself but better than before.

That is, I've become a better maker of balls while at the same time, I've become a better position player, too. This has come from putting potting as a secondary goal, if that makes sense.

It seems counter-intuitive but is real, for sure, for me anyway.

Anyone else have this experience? I can't wait to play some competitive 8-ball with this new power.

Jeff Livingston

 

[CueAndMe]

I agree with you. When I'm playing well, I'm mostly not thinking about how to pot balls. I'm thinking insurance, position, and patterns. But I make aiming mistakes too often that stop my runs, so I think there has to be an abundant resource of ball pocketing that you can draw from before you can forget about it altogether.

 

[pdcue]

I agree with you. When I'm playing well, I'm mostly not thinking about how to pot balls. I'm thinking insurance, position, and patterns. But I make aiming mistakes too often that stop my runs, so I think there has to be an abundant resource of ball pocketing that you can draw from before you can forget about it altogether.

Get that horse back in front of the cart!

All us aspiring 'ball runners' tend to focus too much on the cueball
from time to time. But, most all hundred ball runners have
awesome cue ball control.

The short version is:
you should play position before you ever get down into
your stance. If you make the shot, the cue ball will do
exactly what it is supposed to. If it doesn't, that means it is
time to start working on position drills.

Dale

 

[3andstop]

I believe I understand what you are saying. I think the key is that when we are playing well, we draw a much more precise mental picture of the shot in its entirety. We have a much more specific destination for the cue ball and the whole execution improves as a result.

 

[chefjeff]

I believe I understand what you are saying. I think the key is that when we are playing well, we draw a much more precise mental picture of the shot in its entirety. We have a much more specific destination for the cue ball and the whole execution improves as a result.

Maybe the word "secondary" was mispoken by me.

How about, "Potting is a given"? That is, I'm so sure that I'm going to make the shot that that process is a given and therefore I can think more about shape. I still have to do my recipe to pot it, but my confidence level of doing that has become so fully ingrained (from practicing 14.1) that it doesn't require the full conscious level of effort that usually goes into simply potting a ball.

Anyway, the whole shot process seems to have done a switch-a-roo on me....and that doesn't seem to be a bad thing.

Jeff Livingston

 

[chefjeff]

Get that horse back in front of the cart!

All us aspiring 'ball runners' tend to focus too much on the cueball
from time to time. But, most all hundred ball runners have
awesome cue ball control.

The short version is:
you should play position before you ever get down into
your stance. If you make the shot, the cue ball will do
exactly what it is supposed to. If it doesn't, that means it is
time to start working on position drills.

Dale

I like that....thanks.

Jeff Livingston

 

[Colin Colenso]

That is, I've become a better maker of balls while at the same time, I've become a better position player, too. This has come from putting potting as a secondary goal, if that makes sense.

It seems counter-intuitive but is real, for sure, for me anyway.


Jeff Livingston

Jeff,
I think when we are picturing the CB positional path we are actually increasing the perceptive data we are taking in.

For example, if the CB doesn't look like it will take the path we've pictured from above we tend to re-access the alignment. I think many have heard the advice to play position when potting the last ball. Doing so does tend to help, probably because we look not only at the pot angle but at the expected cue ball path, effectively confirming two sets of data.

That said, I focus primarily on potting and more so intuitively on the positional aspect, having predicted the requirements while standing over the shot.

An interesting aside is that snooker amateurs, who alternate with billiards 6 months a year, usually notice that their potting becomes poorer after the billiard season, due to focusing mainly on CB cannons and scratches, and less so on potting.

Colin

 

[chefjeff]

Jeff,
I think when we are picturing the CB positional path we are actually increasing the perceptive data we are taking in.

For example, if the CB doesn't look like it will take the path we've pictured from above we tend to re-access the alignment. I think many have heard the advice to play position when potting the last ball. Doing so does tend to help, probably because we look not only at the pot angle but at the expected cue ball path, effectively confirming two sets of data.

That said, I focus primarily on potting and more so intuitively on the positional aspect, having predicted the requirements while standing over the shot.

An interesting aside is that snooker amateurs, who alternate with billiards 6 months a year, usually notice that their potting becomes poorer after the billiard season, due to focusing mainly on CB cannons and scratches, and less so on potting.

Colin

Maybe 14.1 is forcing me to integrate more of the shot's details into my mind and that leads to better play....Is that what your'e saying?

I do play position when I'm shooting the 8-ball in an 8-ball game...I've always tried to get it to one of the end rails, middle diamond, just to have a place for it. Now, I'm finding that when I shoot the 8-ball I am wanting to put the cb where it could make a nice shot on one of my opponent's balls for a 14.1 break shot...lol.

This game is like exercising....It is so hard to "lift those weights" but it becomes easier the more I do it. And when I have to lift something light-weight ( a simple pot) that seems easier than before, maybe. And so when I have a difficult pot, I'm used to the difficulty and can therefore give more attention to the shape and just let the pot happen.

Whatever it is, I like it.

Jeff Livingston

 

[Colin Colenso]

Maybe 14.1 is forcing me to integrate more of the shot's details into my mind and that leads to better play....Is that what your'e saying?

Jeff Livingston

Yes, basically. Maybe by paying more attention to position you've become better and perceiving the shape lines and the pot lines all coming together to the required contact point.

And it could help that you've been playing more, or enjoying play more. Sometimes when I play a lot and am in the right frame of mind all the pot and position angles just look super clear and easy. The bridge just slides into perfect position for the stroke.

 

[chefjeff]

Yes, basically. Maybe by paying more attention to position you've become better and perceiving the shape lines and the pot lines all coming together to the required contact point.

And it could help that you've been playing more, or enjoying play more. Sometimes when I play a lot and am in the right frame of mind all the pot and position angles just look super clear and easy. The bridge just slides into perfect position for the stroke.

That sounds about right, my friend.

I just got back from playing with my friend who has run 98 before. He practices 14.1 and play on my 8-ball team. I've had a few runs in the 20s but today...

...I ran 30...Yeah! :grin: I made #31 but scratched in the side.:frown:

A new high for ol' ChefJeff. I couldn't have done it without ol' AZ. Thanks all.

Jeff Livingston