Practice practice practice

I found the 5 rail shot. The cue is on the launch line. Center ball(go figure 🤷‍♂️). The funny part is ....Lefty hit it before Right. Right kept falling short while the weak hand was able to run long. Proof of the Theory that the timing and application of the Ring finger adds considerable velocity. The Right was tensing in attempting to add power. It doesn't work! A smooth confident stroke can get 'er done.
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Oh yeah almost forgot , that's an 8 point shot.
5 for the rails
2 for 15 on the pad
1 for white over the pad
What Fun. Whoopee
 
The Mechanical Advantage: is Jui Jitsu. My first study regarding self defense. Learned the Power of the advantage of mechanical leverage.. My treetopped one handed station tests balance and mechanics along with observation and adjustments.
My first observation is Form. That's why it's Practice. My ideal form would have me matching Ronnie. While it's usually at least uncomfortable often painful... reviewing the video. Steve Davis points out the importance of the mechanics working with gravity and eliminating the unnecessary variation from plumb.
 
My left vs right competition provides the opportunity to mix strategy with tactics. The Delta Formation Challenge is A-1.....on the field of friendly strife. Exercise proves the importance of keeping the Routine, just that. Exactly the same each time. Having the other hand to throw the flag on any infraction.
Gotta love the near miss that comes, oh so close to perfect but still scores zero.
 
While station 1 is heavy on tactics, station 2 is heavy on strategy. The 2 rail shot giving 2 points for a simple hit. A perfect shot would produce 11. So lock in the line first then fine tune. I always look for the center ball solutions first......strategy 🤷‍♂️
 
No Chalk is a big part of my Discipline Training. Some would call it cruel and unusual. I call it Discipline. It is so effective. Finding center ball is job 1. Knowing what the slightest variation can produce is Priceless. Employing the variations sparingly is one of my strategies.
 
Variety of spice: Well changing the variables gives my table more even wear. I enjoy solving problems. It's not difficult to find new challenges.
MY first drill came from Willie Mosconi, as I got it from his writings back around 1974. It was a 5 ball arch set up about a foot from the side pocket. Taking ball in hand shoot them in using short draw. No rails allowed. Short draw precision is Huge playing 8 ball. Well straight pool is the place he used it. Funny thing is I haven't run the drill in years. Will be interesting to see how long until I can Run 'em out. ☺
Thinking of Stephen Hendry speaking of required 10 runs of the line up drill. Or start again! Heck my goal was 1 rack. 🤷‍♂️
 
OK back to The Basics. The Delta Formation is my morning challenge. The Willie drill can wait for afternoon break.
Point
Line
Velocity
Are the Big 3 Of the Day. Following the prescribed air chalk, squat while finding the point of contact desired. Then set the ball striking robot. Using the cue cradled in the relaxed Grip(see Barry Stark), I use my barrel point skill that I developed with a bb gun, to find the line through the ball. The mechanical part being the delivery of the tip to the ball is always open to experiment.
Part of the Challenge-O is finding the level of difficulty. Too easy gets uninteresting quickly and can give the illusion of skills that can be further honed. Too difficult and it can discourage or become Unobtainium. The discipline creed requires that I complete each new Challenge at least once. Then renegotiate. Since my morning program is for 1 hour, the challenge can be declared Unobtainium after an hour but not before. 🤷‍♂️
 
4 Rail Fun:
Well the class would be called ....The Kicks Like A Mule Delta Formation Basic Training.
Successful completion of the first 2 stations is required.
The M C Esher reflection in a ball is where I am when playing my best. Planning my shot through the reflection image, requires a motionless image. That tests my shooting platform that I constructed at the first 2 shooting stations. If the platform is stable I can focus on the slightest variation from the centerball. In aiming for the bb centerball or at least an attempt at a precise variation from dead center.
The 4 rail challenge is a fun way to get the physical therapy through reps. 😉 The added familiarity with
The Angles
The Velocity
The Spin
Gives me the balance of fun and therapy, physical and mental. The learning has always been fun and my reasoning behind pool as a hobby. 🤷‍♂️
 
Sunday Mindfulness: My level of play being attached to where my head was at is a fact.
My daughter is teaching Mindfulness at Happy Kids. A non profit and my choice for charitable donations. 🤷‍♂️ Go Figure 😉
Spread the Love. An early and perhaps final nickname was Smiley or Smiles. Well that exclude Old CSer. I always strive to conduct myself as an Ambassador to the Game. I prefer the love games over the war games. However war tactics can be employed without being warlike. The planning and surveillance and execution, when performed to precision can make for a good performance.
 
I have espoused walking before running as the logic to my Method. I overlooked the learning to stand before walk. 🤷‍♂️
Kind of a sneak into the treetopped or better still tree stand first shooting station.
One handed
No chalk
So target shooting from the tree stand is "the code". 😉 Since I do this for the physical therapy it's natural to have no care as to the results. Funny how that's when I post the biggest numbers.
 
For any donation to The Happy Kids I will handcraft and personalize a set of 4 Alien target and shooting stations. Just shoot me a PM and I will get em in the mail.
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Pretty easy coming up with a new Challenge. Often the execution is more difficult than anticipated. 🤷‍♂️
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Perhaps Atomic Challenge would be a good name. Now to figure out the rules.
 
Independent Day Soap Box Speach
Seems funny espousing the Freedom and exhilaration of Variety as I engage in my Routine. Go figure. Perhaps The Freedom of my Chains? So the quicker I accomplish The Challenge-O the morning.....I can
Explore
Experiment And Excell .
Well since it's a holiday...Chalk allowed!
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Race to 9
alter Nut shot
Sportsmanship rules 😉
Find a 1 railer is task 1.0
 
Starting well.....with Right allowed 1 point for the hit even though it was at the 12 on the 5 point pad(Reserved). Sportsmanship wink 😉. Sooooo Lefty jumps up and scores 1 to the obvious easiest one railer to the 11! He does it with a full bridge and marvelous Stance. Claiming his 1 point equalizer. Both agree to strict enforcement from now on. 😉
 
Enjoy the Chalk reminds me of the levels in Purgatory joke ending in, "OK break over. Back on your heads"
 
Practice the Slow Game and The Rest Stop:
My physical therapist requires ability to rest indefinitely at all rest stops. The musical training? I could have done better. 🤷‍♂️
I guess being a good drummer adds strength to the pool game. 🤷‍♂️
The Pause that refreshing
 
The Kicks Like A Mule training that I promise won't hurt you. Has a strong foundation in....Grady Mathews. His coaching on how to get simple practice on a simple task.
Going up the rail with the pocket as the target gives simple display of the effect of the speed and spin as the angle changes. A good one ball starter. Look how long one of the greatest practiced with only one ball.
Walter Lindrum, if I remember correctly.
 
Enlightening was yesterday's drivers license test. A test that has never been difficult. It was with my best glasses and struggled with a couple and missed 1 and ahalf. So we proceeded to the picture station where she gave the test again new chart but same distance and equal blurry. Then she stood next to it and put a flashlight on the chart and it was clear as....day. hmmmmm Then when I took the glasses off for the picture I remembered that I had been working in them for a couple of days. Note to Self. Wash the windshield. Well and Often. 😉
The Slow Roll, is bad in poker, good in Pool.
 
The Twitch and the Body Shot could be the chapter on the Treetoped one handed.
I must put all fingers At Rest
With the ability to clench on demand. Removing my rifle from my hand while standing at Attention was a Challenge that I passed. If an upperclassman got your M-1 rifle any time other than at Present Arms, it would be disassembled and spread around amongst the upperclassmen.
I passed but my roommate didn't. While at Attention during a twin Special Inspection, they got his M-1. Before they could speak through the big smiles, I asked,
"Sir! May I ask a question? Sir"
"Yeah, go ahead Cantrall."
"Sir if I can accomplish 73 push ups will you return his rifle? Sir!"
My best well in the PFT was 36. Shrug 🤷‍♂️
Sure, knock them out. We managed 73 well pretty sloppy but we got the rifle back. Not sure how many I got out before Kimberling joined me.
Class of 73. Sir 😉
 
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