Practice Drills/Warm Up Drills

[BrooklynJay]

Just wondering if anyone had any good practice drills. My "practice" seems to be me just putting 4 or 5 balls on the table randomly and running them. (Or trying to at least.) Just wanted to see if anyone had something more structured or a set of drills that they work on when practicing.

And in the same sense, does anyone have any good warm up drills? Say you had only half an hour before a match - what do you work on before the match? Just pocketing balls to get the feel of the cloth, rails,pockets, etc? Or do you have a set routine?

Thanks.

 

[tjlmbklr]

Just wondering if anyone had any good practice drills. My "practice" seems to be me just putting 4 or 5 balls on the table randomly and running them. (Or trying to at least.) Just wanted to see if anyone had something more structured or a set of drills that they work on when practicing.

And in the same sense, does anyone have any good warm up drills? Say you had only half an hour before a match - what do you work on before the match? Just pocketing balls to get the feel of the cloth, rails,pockets, etc? Or do you have a set routine?

Thanks.

I myself have several books on the subject, but never had the luxury of a table to do drills till just recently. I have been for the last couple days been composing several drills on printed tables that you can find here TABLES or here 4 in 1 tables. I am making it so it has different levels and various 1,2,3 rail posistion drills as well as many others. Then I intend to put it all in a binder, and go to town with it.
I guess the point is make up your own drills of different things you know you need work on and go with it. Otherwise there are many different publications of books even free stuff on the web that focus on drills and practice. Who knows if it turns outgood maybe I'll publish it...lol

 

[BrooklynJay]

I guess the other part of my question having to do with the warm up is what do you do to get into stroke/into the mental state of the game quickly? I often have to run from work directly to a match and have a real short time to get ready. I guess I'm a "slow starter" who wants to pick up the pace and not start ever match 2 to 3 games down and playing catch up.

Any tips would be appreciated.

 

[tjlmbklr]

I guess the other part of my question having to do with the warm up is what do you do to get into stroke/into the mental state of the game quickly? I often have to run from work directly to a match and have a real short time to get ready. I guess I'm a "slow starter" who wants to pick up the pace and not start ever match 2 to 3 games down and playing catch up.

Any tips would be appreciated.

I am almost in the same boat, and I am sure a lot people are. some just pick it up better then others(naturally gifted). And then there's me who shoots way better when I have a nap before hand(hardly ever possible though). My problem now is I don't gamble becuase I never know how I am going to shoot. I love this game but never said I was any good. So as far as warming up, if you can find time that is, just shoot shoot shoot! Sorry to be that guy but I am the least disiplined person when it comes to pool.

 

[pooltchr]

To warm up, I start on my stroke drills. Just line up a few balls and shoot them into the pockets, focusing on nothing but stroke mechanics. Then a little speed drill to find out how fast or slow the table is, and a few standard 3 rail kicks to see if the table is playing short or long. Once that is done, I'm as ready as I can be.
Steve

 

[Cameron Smith]

Just wondering if anyone had any good practice drills. My "practice" seems to be me just putting 4 or 5 balls on the table randomly and running them. (Or trying to at least.) Just wanted to see if anyone had something more structured or a set of drills that they work on when practicing.

And in the same sense, does anyone have any good warm up drills? Say you had only half an hour before a match - what do you work on before the match? Just pocketing balls to get the feel of the cloth, rails,pockets, etc? Or do you have a set routine?

Thanks.

I like to do some long straight in shots, and some stroke drills (just like pootchr). After that I will keep throwing 15 balls on the table and just pocket balls until I have run a certain amount. Then I put another 15 on the table and run them into one pocket. After that I'm good to go. All in all it takes about an hour to get warmed up.

The first drill gets me comfortable with my stroke. The second gets me into the rythm of pocketing lots of balls. The third focuses alot on position play.

 

[renard]

To warm up, I start on my stroke drills. Just line up a few balls and shoot them into the pockets, focusing on nothing but stroke mechanics. Then a little speed drill to find out how fast or slow the table is, and a few standard 3 rail kicks to see if the table is playing short or long. Once that is done, I'm as ready as I can be.
Steve

I do this as well to warm up.

Then I add to it with practice on my break, combinations, jumpshots, caroms and banks. The last four I at least try to do 15 balls (a racks worth) minimum. All this depends on if I'm really concentrating during the drills. Some days I can go for extended periods, other times I cant. As soon as I feel the intrest start to wane I change what I'm doing. Usually straight pool nowdays.

 

[stroke]

Best Practice Drill

And in the same sense, does anyone have any good warm up drills? Say you had only half an hour before a match - what do you work on before the match? Just pocketing balls to get the feel of the cloth, rails,pockets, etc? Or do you have a set routine?

Thanks.

Scatter all of the balls on the table keeping them at least 4" from the cushions. Just evenly space them, the pattern does not matter. Then place the cue anywhere on the table and shoot them all in without hitting a rail or missing a shot.

I first found this drill in Robert Byrn's book but decided to do it more often after seeing Jim Rempe's video on straight pool. And boy does it work. Everything improves; Your ability to "read" the table, your stroke, your position, your confidence, your concentration et..... It is THE single best drill that I know of. If it gets easy, just speed up your play. Soon you'll be popping in balls and getting position like a pro.