Practice practice practice

Addindumb: 😉
Over two years now since I got knocked by a car.
As soon as I could get to the pool room I was practicing one handed employing the best form I was capable of. That practice helped lock in my address and footing. Must have been at least a week or two as left arm was in a sling.
 
Whew finally found my way back to my Sandbox. My iPhone had a stroke and died. Shoot it had all my passwords.....much happier with my Moto e.
Today's sermon:
Half the game is 80% mental.

I always endeavor to enjoy the competition without emotions attached to the outcome.(well until it is over)
The karmic aspect has always been obvious in my game. When my mind/life is in a good place I can perform to my maximum capacity.
As a Recreational player Not Amature! 😉
 
Ahhh, routine:
My latest additional to my dance.(not PSR but FSD, full shot dance). I think of watching the arm wrestling and the grip. The perfect grip negotiating . I do that as I take my air strokes while survey is up.
As a catcher and pitcher I am aware of how much influence my fingers can change the delivery ever so slightly. The difference in a good change up pitch was the fingers.
In a real fight the fingers are key.
Ring finger=Trigger finger.
 
The basics:
It has been my experience that the most common error that my opponents (well the ones I beat) made was they wanted to run before they could walk. In their desire to be (or be considered) an advanced player, they skimmed the basics and went straight to the advanced techniques and shots.
My basic center ball game often led them to believe that they played better than me. Their skills with certain shots led them to believe that they played better than they actually did. Displayed temper is a symptom of that malady.
 
The skills involved with center ball can go undetected for a long time. Placing the cue ball on the proper side of the line can leave basic shots. Never alerting the prey. 🤷
 
Aiming:
Once I have the stable shooting platform and the optimal mechanics to deliver the tip of my cue to the ball, my aim consists of the point I want to strike and where the tip would exit on the back side of the cue ball. If and when I focus on that part of the cue path I achieve my best results.
 
Note to Self:
Sunday is the only day We use chalk in practice.
I enjoy the sound of clank! Especially when I still pocket the ball!
 
gregcantrall said:
The skills involved with center ball can go undetected for a long time. Placing the cue ball on the proper side of the line can leave basic shots. Never alerting the prey. 🤷
Click to expand...
I got busted:
I developed the habit of one lap around the table on all new layouts. I then developed the plan whilst carefully chalking the cue. I then walked to the position I wanted on the next shot. ( Gabby taught me the scotch doubles technique by just moving to where he wanted to stand giving me a stationary target.) On that line I casually brushed my tip one last stroke and placed it on the line, As I was departing. I mean that would be where I would need it again. I was aware that this was in the relm of marking the table.
My theory was it just expedited the shot. Therefore I employed it with the personal rule that I would never do it again if called on it.( Most likely a warning).
Years later Stan(@725 Fargo) was getting a little pissy. As I had taken the cheese from him before and was set to do it again.(little $5 tournaments) I had just placed the chalk and was turning to walk.....Stan leapt from his chair, walked to the table to gently pick up the chalk and hand it to me. I think I did proceed to win but have never done it since.
 
Rain day mulling:
Different styles suited for 8 ball vs 9 ball.
I have noticed the skills involved in straight pool are key to good 8 ball. Short precise shape was what I noticed Ray Martin exhibit playing 9 ball. Surgical placement of the cue ball. He did have the horsepower to move the cue ball but his precise placement was a beautiful thing.
 
gregcantrall said:
I got busted:
I developed the habit of one lap around the table on all new layouts. I then developed the plan whilst carefully chalking the cue. I then walked to the position I wanted on the next shot. ( Gabby taught me the scotch doubles technique by just moving to where he wanted to stand giving me a stationary target.) On that line I casually brushed my tip one last stroke and placed it on the line, As I was departing. I mean that would be where I would need it again. I was aware that this was in the relm of marking the table.
My theory was it just expedited the shot. Therefore I employed it with the personal rule that I would never do it again if called on it.( Most likely a warning).
Years later Stan(@725 Fargo) was getting a little pissy. As I had taken the cheese from him before and was set to do it again.(little $5 tournaments) I had just placed the chalk and was turning to walk.....Stan leapt from his chair, walked to the table to gently pick up the chalk and hand it to me. I think I did proceed to win but have never done it since.
Click to expand...
I don't see it as a big deal cause you still gotta hit the shot to get there. I seen a guy that would heavily chalk his tip and use his stick to point at angles etc while doing the walk around and would kinda dragged his tip in his landing zone and of course leaving a faint mark, very sneaky LoL
 
PracticeChampion said:
I don't see it as a big deal cause you still gotta hit the shot to get there. I seen a guy that would heavily chalk his tip and use his stick to point at angles etc while doing the walk around and would kinda dragged his tip in his landing zone and of course leaving a faint mark, very sneaky LoL
Click to expand...
Reminds me of the days of talcum powder. The white spots providing land marks. Landmarks can be very helpful. Remembering the race car driver that used the cow in the adjacent pasture to time his braking for the corner.......then the cow moved. Ooops
 
I always found that playing someone on par or better than me for money improves my game much more than any practice ever could. The only problem is that can get a bit expensive! I used to spot some players the 4 out in 9ball. Sets of 5 for $20. Not because I was that good, because it helped my game. If I missed any of those balls I might very well be in trouble. We were probably even had I given somewhere in the 5-7out range.

Ill practice some low percentage slices on a rare occasion. But once you are good enough it seems most shots are pretty much muscle memory. Other than the slices it’s usually me playing 8, 9, 10 or banks by myself.

And seriously now. It doesn’t matter how good you can make or place balls if you have no strategy in your play.

Plus for me personally(back to strategy). and probably others here you don’t really get practice as much on safeties by yourself. What works against yourself might not work against 85% of other players. Plus how others safe you or their strategies can also improve your game.
Another example is I have a bad habit of shooting like shit after 1 or 2 consecutive safe shots in a real game. It’s a different transition in practice than in a game because typically in practice you safe the 2, then try to hit the 2, then make the 2. In a real game you safe the 2 then your next shot is to make the 2.

and nothing beats a little competition either
 
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Math was my strong suit in school. Well untill I fell behind as a cadet at USAFA. I always attack the game as a math problem. Grady Mathews expounded on percentage.
Sooo my methods evolve as I continue to learn.(the upside of CRS) My day one came after I built my first table in 1974. So I had the equipment and a pamphlet by Willie Mosconi. I understood the value of book learning based on my success with Jui Jitsu that I learned from a book.
My experience is that the toughest players came from a tight group that sparred together. (Small money games) I t was my method to involve with the competition as much as I could afford. 😉 I tried to stay even balanced play. Sometimes weaker and then challenge the big boys. I played every night and practice every day.
I got lucky when I encountered Backward Jan. He had a weekly route. When he came in I would shoot $20 at him, with the "how long can I last" method. It didn't take long for me to figure out that it lasted as long as he chooses. (About an hour) So on the next meet, I just asked him for $20/hr lessons. I knew him as a one pocket master and thought I wanted him to teach me one pocket.
His reply hit me like a bolt of lightning.(notice my favorite theme) His reply was, "I will give you lessons on one condition."
"Ok, uh What Condition?" I inquired. " That we go back to basics." Was music to my ears. Oh and there was another stipulation and an understanding. There would be no gambling while under his tutoring. And unspoken but as a matter of respect to your master you never consult another master while his student.
I struck gold! 6 weeks of one hour lessons with one hour nightly practice (after work). It took me from a mid B to a contender in 1989.
That obviously had to be modified over time as my life situations change was uh well my lifestyle. I am a survivor.
I am of the opinion that a good balance between practice and competition is the optimal situation. I am familiar with the significance of both. Pretty sure Grady would give it a good 90% chance of being successful.
 
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Ode to Backward Jan:
One lesson per week. With the first being stance. Then the next week bridge, etc.
Jan had a great respect for Buddy Hall and his style. Me too!
 
Be a shot maker, and the rest can follow, I learned from Jan.
My theory is if you want to do the fine. Art with off center strikes to the cue ball. It starts with being able to strike pure center ball.
Long range shooting should be my strong suit. Ah, remember the good old days of push out.
 
Robotic performance vs the Keith method.
Training can provide the solid foundation you will need to survive an Earthquake. ;)
 
Uh oh story rerun:
Rail first practice played a big part in my maturing as a Player. I used 3 ball break followed with kick shots. Because I was on a limited income. ;) I got to where I was running 3s and sometimes 4s in a session(+ could catch the pocket bound balls and recycle). My ring game name became, Kicks Like A Mule.
Ok the story:
The weekly Wednesday night 9 ball at the White Spot (now The Right Spot). Fields of greater than 32 were common. I played in it for 2 years before I won a beer for 7-8th.
It is a race to 3 on bar boxes. A real crap shoot with the strength of the field. Lenny kept a roster of winners after a while. Anyways at a time before I had made the board with a win, I was playing Don Whirtaman. He was one of the craftiest players. I have my Cole Dixon Joss thanks to him. He busted Cole + 500. So ooo we were 2-2 going to 3. I had broke making a ball. But! Bad news the one is about 4 inches off the side rail at the second diamond but blocked. Interesting News.! The five nine combination is wired and sitting a couple inches off the end rail adiamondand half out of the same pocket the one would go into but for blocking balls. So my plan was to push behind the 7 leaving a kick that would require special sauce, as the 5-9 was a huge target. I figured it better be tough or he will take it. It hooked it but left the absolute dead natural kick at the bank to the wired combo. I was disappointed and let it leak. Don, seeing my genuine disappoinment, didn't even get out of the chair. He just motioned shoot. My excitement meter hit the top. As I was not sure if he could retract the Shoot Again! I hit it dead nuts. He spent the rest of the evening crying to anyone that would listen, how he got knocked out by this No Shooting Lucky Guy.
 
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Note to Self:
My biggest( well most often) flaw is raising uh no rushing the final steps. Losing rythem. Noticed something similar with John Higgins playing Ronnie. His miss was quick at the end.
Ok Self just remembered what the South Carolina Kid said, "I can't beat your slow game."
 
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