Practice practice practice

Competition and practice:
Competition is my affliction. Not addiction. The two are close.
I have studied the use of drugs and performance. 😉 So I feel that I can speak with authority. If I suspected or reasonably concluded that my opponent was playing "enhanced." That was a point of information for planning the conflict on the table. I liked the idea that they felt the need for a helper. Showed fear or weakness. The helper probably enhanced the near or final focus to incredible shot making ability but the mental ability was hindered.
My study said that the stimulants trigger the fight or flight endorfins. Which can be addicting. I prefer to come by that high the natural way.
I have never been able to set records in practice. There are instances where I walk away from the table and think, I could never do that in practice. That means I had engaged the FoF.
 
Advantage of Shot Making:
I think of the game as a battle on the table. If I can register a couple of long range shots with snooker like precision......it gives my opponent something to think about. Kind of like mortar rounds dropping from a range that they can't reach.
If they get weak it can be a walk over. If they fire back....it can be fun.
Ronnie O'Sullivan vs John Higgins are on the Short list of 3 for GOAT. What Fun!
 
A full clip:
For me a full clip was 10 barrels. Big check point if I got 10 down. At times I had multiple clips. Others just one. My first win was with an empty clip. Well the opponents being world champion bulldogers gave me an incentive to break and run. My first ever.
I did empty my clip at $110 to the 3 brothers on a Friday night.(I had a week's paycheck, so needed to get rid of the old money.) It was the dance place in Redmond. We hooked up for$10 a game. The only way to get room to shoot was spread my arms gently and gently back up, till I had a pocket to shoot. Then shoot quick. Just couldn't get the big ball solved. Middle brother got me $80 stuck and I was starting to make it tough. He bailed, as he had enough for a good Friday night. Little brother stepped in and bailed at even as I was too tough with middle having adequate party funds. Then older brother stepped in and finished me off. I got to be a part of the party till close
time.
The fun part is; For the next 2 years, every time I encountered one of them in a tavern. We played until he was busted. Usually about $40. Had at least 5 of those. 🤷
 
Camera Time:
Not sure if I have been neglecting or just saving for, "when all else fails". A great tool.
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Story time:
The Ronnie/Selby Hit 'em hard remind me of a pool story.
In the Scotch Triple tournament. Shortly after the break my opponent made an intentional foul to give me ball in hand . I was incredulous. 7 foot Diamond playing 9 ball. Seems like 3 different locations with balls tied up. Well after his foul there were 3. One of the tie ups was the 9-7 married, near the spot. With the tangent line sending the 9 just side rail side of the pocket..... but! The one ball was near mid table with a companion six ball. One of the other two problem areas. With the ability to stick the cue ball to the 6 and hide almost 3/4 table the decision wasn't hard.
I was so surprised that I asked him twice if that was ball in hand(knowing full well that it was). The purist in me saw a way to put the 1 and 9 in close proximity with a handcuffs hook. The nine ball in me said, Hit 'em hard and wish them well. A good ride goes past 3 pockets and odds are I can keep the 1 in a solid hook by having it hit the 9 full. POW SPLAT!! The 9 went straight into the corner. Must have gotten it airborne.
 
gregcantrall said:
Camera Time:
Not sure if I have been neglecting or just saving for, "when all else fails". A great tool.View attachment 616759
Click to expand...
Ships log:
I now remember my first use of the replay was in highschool football. Coach McHargue had a control connect to the ??mm movie projector. The good or bad plays would get multiple reruns.
Using my old camera uh er cell phone for surveillance of the practice session is an idea that was over due. Handy tool. The very first session I was able to notice a slight flaw and traced it back to a slight closing of the stance. Pretty simple but had gone unnoticed.
I have archived that file. My phone seems to shut down at around a half hour. My best practice interval. Plan to have it on when ever at the table and just dispose of files daily.
 
Excuse of the day:
I got boosted yesterday and my arm is talking to me 😉
What the hey, I am adult and can cut practice short any time.
 
Study study study:
The U K Championship on Matchroom now is a treat. I really enjoy trying to predict the safety play. Very enlightening when they execute shots that I never imagined.
The camera work and commentary also provide a chance for me to learn.
 
Ships log:
Have neglected the eyes closed practice. The neglected camera got me thinking....hmmmm Mark Williams potting no look is inspiration. Compromise with floppy hat. To give cue ball only at finish. Another home made tool.
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Ships log:
I have started recording my practice sessions, with the intent of review at times when I would be watching TV. Then just delete. Had a problem playing to the tv from my photos, so I uploaded The tail end of my morning practice to YouTube.(I know how to get that on the tv) In the interest of transparency I make it available unedited ;).
Most times it takes about a half hour to complete the 17 shots in my opening drill with the left and right hands competing. This picks up the last 10 minutes of a morning session. Some of the audio is to give me a marker for my review to help me remember how I felt about my effort. Other parts of the audio are just....uh brain damage. Or as in the case of "on the hill" a flash back.
Story time:
On the Hill comes from my match with Daniel B. in the Washington State Championship bar table 8 ball event at the Golden Fleece a long time ago.
I met Daniel in the third round on the winners side. I had worked the previous week in Kelso and had a Diamond table to practice on. It was blue label and these were red lable 7 foot. I was playing..... well not great but good.
I won the opening break with alternate break race to 5. I hit the break nice parking the cue ball mid table and spreading the balls nicely. However the last moving ball came around and knocked whitey into the side pocket. Daniel with ball in hand to get started ran out with perfect shape on every ball. GULP! Ok. Then he broke and sent whitey straight into the side. I was a little tight but up to the fight. I was out of line on every ball except for the 8. My run included a bank and a jump. Possibly even a kick. I just refused to miss and made the score 1-1. After that I was in dead punch. I think the final score was 5-2. When I got to the hill he reminded me twice. "You're on the hill" Good luck thrown in. So I kinda flashed on the scene from The Hustler when the guy told Paul Newman, "Don't Miss". Pretty sure I broke and ran that one too.
Anyone that watches the whole thing either has or is vulnerable to brain damage. Maybe turn the sound down. ;)
 
More uh guidance:
Ronnie Allen was known for his one handed game specifically jacked up. This alone is reason to include one handed in the practice. One handed spot shot for all the dough. In Tacoma at Whitey's place (just before Whitey died). The proposition was one attempt with the cue ball not touch a rail. The pockets of the table were filled with money. Ronnie did it.
Was attempting to do a short/merciful introduction with the newfound tool. ;) Probably PEBKAC but the camera didn't capture my opening one handed shot. No really I made it. Probably better not to publish, better as rambling of that Old.......I mean Mature Gentleman. ;)
Ronnie made the whole room pay admission to see that.
 
One other thing:
If you watched the video in it's entirely......Do Not admit it! I won't even admit to watching it. ;)
 
Review:
Colin's drill
image.png
stolen from
Dr Dave.
I have made shot 1 my #8. It's so difficult I like finishing with it. On the 10 foot Diamond it could be abandoned if it just wouldn't go in the pocket. On my modified Fisher 8' table, I am running right around a half hour. A good morning stretch and flex. The cold weather reminds me of the importance. My 69+1 body style reminds me as well. ;) I remember a player that wore a gee and made a big show of stretching. It's definitely a part of preparation to play my best.
Review too:
So anyways, I open with the head spot to foot spot double kiss. That gives me 17 shots for a race to 9.
I like learning. Have to chuckle at myself.....all these years and still learning. Well the CRS helps 😉
 
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gregcantrall said:
How to do it right:
1. Why are you practicing? What are your goals?
2. Start with the beginning. The foundation or shooting platform.
I think of a dance step as I first find the line of aim, placing my belly button on it. I think Briesath teaches the chin. Possibly better. Then stride onto that line. Placing my body into an orientation to shoot one handed. Practice this for at least a week by completing the shot.
The most stable platform is a tripod. I try for a wide base for stability. Cole took the leg spread to the extreme. I noticed Incardona does much the same. Both known for their shot making. I was taught and espouse to be a shooter first. Think of Quigly Down Under. Snooker players have pretty much a universal stance. With the bridge hand emulating the broadest tripod possible.
This should take another week.
See Barry Stark on YouTube and learn how he teaches the stance. And on thru to the fingers. He teaches object ball last but that’s the only thing I differ with him on. His reasoning is vague to me. I am confident in my choice but will save that for later.
3. Absolutely make sure you are practicing right. Practice forms habits. Bad habits are hard to break. It’s so much easier to have a good solid foundation before adding the ornaments. I started lessons with the piano in the 1950s. An hour lesson each week with one hour practice each day. My daily practice started with the scales. I emulate that with my shot making drill. Which is based on Colin’s shot making drill which I got from Dr Dave(excellent source like my encyclopedia). I have recently modified the drill to include phenolic tip with no chalk. Oh yeah!! I am so happy with what I am learning or relearning.
Second scales drill is based on the snooker based drill I got from uh maybe Scott Lee. Gets into shape precision.
I compete with left hand against the right to emulate competition.
I try execute each dance step precisely thru all things I practice and stay alert for any laziness.
After the scales it’s game competition left against right. I used to give the left a spot but not any more. 3 ball, 9 ball and 8 ball are my favorites.
I try not to go beyond my attention span. Practice that’s fun is much more effective for me 😎😀.
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What are your goals?
 
gypsy_soul said:
What are your goals?
Click to expand...
At this time..,... Survival is still #1 Finding joy #2 makes #1 doable. 😉
My goals on the pool table fall in the #2 catagory.
I once took uh not offense but a mild feeling along that line, when an acquaintance told me I was an amateur. I corrected him with, "I am semi-pro." Now with Ronnie claiming to be a Hobbiest, I will make the same claim. Mature Gentleman Hobbiest will be my next self appointed title.😉
Currently I am including my retirement pace renovation of our fixer in my daily regimen. Between visits to the table in "my shop".
I am still in the persuit of perfection on the table. With the ability to find humor in my less than perfect moments and exhilarating highs in the success full moments.
My table time comes under the therapy heading. Both physical and mental.
"You Wanna' play some?" Is still music to my ears.
 
Sunday morning rambling:
Seeing the snooker play out with all the top players going by the wayside, has me thinking. Remembering, all my competition in a long list of sports.
Side rambling; As a cadet I played Lacrosse in intermurals. I had never even heard the word no less played the game. My education started with if they have the ball the only thing you can't do to get them to relinquish it was swing your stick like a bat. My inexperience led to me having no skill throwing the ball. Being a midfielder my stick was mid length. When I tried to shoot at the net, I would aim for over the goalies shoulder. My incompetence led to the ball staying in my stick thing too long. This led to a shot that hit at the goalies feet. Giving an awquard short hop. I became the teams leading scorer. However when I had a game with multiple goals we lost. The games we won were when I didn't score. HmmmmmmWhew; Where was I going with this? Oh yeah the difficulty of having a number rating. And the expectation of knowing your opponents number. I was taught by Mr Herb playing baseball that keeping the batting average was not helpful and discouraged (possibly forbidden).
My Fargo rate has touched 630 and most recently 545. Hmmmmm, I feel strong er now than then. I don't try to manipulate ratings but it seems my level of play varies widely. I have to attribute that to my mental. I perform better if I have no opinion of my opponent's ability. Kind of like I play looser expecting more chances with weaker players.
 
The Perfect Practice:
No such thing? I guess! I mean I am searching for imperfections and have been quite successful finding them. So success brings joy. Ok it doesn't have to be perfect.
So shooting left against right gives me the brotherly rivalry. Makes this solitaire practice fun.
Ring game rules for the snippy commentary
 
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