Practice sessions..........suggestions?

[IA8baller]

I decided to go down to my local bar where I play leagues tonight and do some serious practicing. I didn't get to get into it very long before I was giving lessons to a younger gal who has seen me shooting a few times, I just love to give some basic lessons to those who need them and are willing to learn and take it seriously. After her lessons were over I decided to do 100 shots in a row in 5 shot runs from 20 different positions ranging from aprox 15-75 degree cuts from 1/4 to 3/4 table length shots ranging from center table to against the rail shots and 1/2 of them from one side of the table and the other 1/2 from the other side. My first 100 shots I made 97 of them, the 2nd 100 shots I made 95 and my final 100 I made 93. I could tell I was getting a little more fatigued after each session so I wasn't surprised my % of success went down a bit each time but overall I was pretty satisfied with my results. I'll be back at it tomorrow.

Who else does some serious practicing and what would be some suggestions for other ways to practice?

 

[av84fun]

I decided to go down to my local bar where I play leagues tonight and do some serious practicing. I didn't get to get into it very long before I was giving lessons to a younger gal who has seen me shooting a few times, I just love to give some basic lessons to those who need them and are willing to learn and take it seriously. After her lessons were over I decided to do 100 shots in a row in 5 shot runs from 20 different positions ranging from aprox 15-75 degree cuts from 1/4 to 3/4 table length shots ranging from center table to against the rail shots and 1/2 of them from one side of the table and the other 1/2 from the other side. My first 100 shots I made 97 of them, the 2nd 100 shots I made 95 and my final 100 I made 93. I could tell I was getting a little more fatigued after each session so I wasn't surprised my % of success went down a bit each time but overall I was pretty satisfied with my results. I'll be back at it tomorrow.

Who else does some serious practicing and what would be some suggestions for other ways to practice?

Pocketing that many balls out of 100 shows that you have way more than a decent game so you have have read some of the most respected authors who have devoted a lot of space to practice.

But it is such an important and broadly based subject that an entire book could be written about it...and may have been.

But if you are serious about your goal of mastering the game and possibly becoming an instructor, then if you haven't already done so, you should seriously consider spending time with one or more of the TOP flight instructors who post here and/or consider attending Allison and Gerda's pool school.

The first step is to obtain rock solid fundamental mechanics without which when you practice, you are only "grooving your flaws" as a golf instructor put it to me back in the day.

You could structure such a session as a half day on mechanics and a half day on practice routines/drills which is pretty much how the SPF family instruction is structured.

And one point that I think is SUPER -critical. If I were to assign "Importance Percentages" to the main disciplines in pool, this is how they would look.

1. Shot making 20% (which is what you practiced)
2. Route selection 20%
3. Position Play 40%
4. Defense 20%

Let me justify my percentages.

Position play is BY FAR the #1 skill because with it, you don't need to be a shot maker.

Route selection is important because with that skill your position play will be made easier.

Defense is important because sometimes there IS no route and sometimes it can be used offensively.

Shotmaking is important because sometimes you have a difficult route at best or will miss your position.

But Position is KING because when skillfully executed, it diminishes the need for any other skill...but none of the other skills diminish the need to get optimal position!

So, bottom line...I would conform my practice time in keeping with the above Importance Percentages and regarding shotmaking, I would spend 100% of that 20% practicing my Most Often Missed types of shots. (sse my New Years Resolutions thread that I am about to start.

Regards,
Jim

 

[IA8baller]

Thanks Jim. I agree with your percentages.

Yes I have read a few of the books out there (Phil Capelle mainly) and have some other materials at my disposal (Pro Skill Drills, The Pro Book DVD by Bob Henning, Secret of Aiming, etc)

I am also thinking about attending the Cue U College in Rockford, IL sometime in the next few months while I'm layed off from work for the winter. (I was just at their website earlier.)

In all seriousness I would like to get my game to a "Master" level or very close to it and eventually become a certified instructor. I would love to be able to teach pool to beginners who really have a passion for pool. In the past few years I have given some lessons to a few teenagers (one of which is my 16 yr old son) and a couple of other begginer type players. Of course my lessons were free and I do it just because I love to.

Anyway, thanks again for your detailed response, I appreciate it.

Trevor

 

[RunoutalloverU]

Play on 9 foot tables with 4 inch pockets playing 10 ball and rotation pool. Your game will skyrocket on the bar tables.

 

[Wazuela]

Don't take this the wrong way......But you asked.
Why would you shoot 300 shots that you make at a 95% pocket ratio rate?
There's no learning here.

Suggestions:
1. Practice shots where you're success rate is low.
2. Practice positional shots using various types of spin & speed.
3. Practice kick shots. Check out Lil Joe's Pool IQ for that.
4. Practice bank shots.
5. Practice safeties.
6. Practice long straight-in draw shots.
7. Practice different games- straight pool, rotation.
8. Mix it up, and above all have fun.

Remember, pool is a "feel'' game. Being a good shot maker is a great thing, but if you constrict yourself to practice sessions like that, you became a robot & the game that you enjoy so much, starts to become boring.

I like to practice rotation games. Start with 9-ball and just spread them out on the table. Run them out without missing. Once you do that add the 10-ball. Run them out without missing. Add the 11-ball. And so forth, until you have all 15 balls on the table. Rotation is an excellent game to play because it forces you to play & practice different shots--kicks, banks, caroms.

These are just my suggestions. I've only been playing pool for 5 years, but I've learned that quality practice time will improve your game and make it more enjoyable.

Good luck to you on your journey through this beautiful game we call Pool.

 

[IA8baller]

Why would you shoot 300 shots that you make at a 95% pocket ratio rate?
There's no learning here.

Suggestions:
1. Practice shots where you're success rate is low.
2. Practice positional shots using various types of spin & speed.
3. Practice kick shots. Check out Lil Joe's Pool IQ for that.
4. Practice bank shots.
5. Practice safeties.
6. Practice long straight-in draw shots.
7. Practice different games- straight pool, rotation.
8. Mix it up, and above all have fun.

QUOTE]

I would have to disagree that there is no learning in the 100 shot drill I was doing, I learn to try and stay focused on EVERY shot and keeping track of my % of success helps me gauge where I'm at as far as being able to stay focused. Plus those shots are the shots I'm having to make in competition and I like being able to get to the point of not second guessing myself on aiming on those shots during competition.

I do most of the other drills you mentioned, I was just doing my 100 shot drill vs. some of the other kinds of drills last night. I did actually spend some time on my banking last night as well and a short amount of time on my long, straight in draw shots.

I DO need to spend more practice time on safeties, I do know that, and my banking/kicking practice I try to do at a different location since the tables here in town are 8' Valleys and are notorious for the rails loosening and being untrue.

I might have to check out Lil Joe's Pool IQ like you suggested, I haven't seen that info yet.

Thanks for the tips.

Trevor

 

[Thunderball]

After her lessons were over I decided to do 100 shots in a row in 5 shot runs from 20 different positions ranging from aprox 15-75 degree cuts from 1/4 to 3/4 table length shots ranging from center table to against the rail shots and 1/2 of them from one side of the table and the other 1/2 from the other side.

I'll be watching this thread also...I need some drills as well.

I quoted the above sentence because....well...I'm trying to decide if its the longest I have ever read .

 

[IA8baller]

I'll be watching this thread also...I need some drills as well.

I quoted the above sentence because....well...I'm trying to decide if its the longest I have ever read .

LOL ........ I guess you're right. I could have used a comma or two and maybe another period here and there, but I guess I'm kind of lazy when typing at times.

 

[bsmutz]

I have a stack of drills at home that I printed out from various sites on the web. It has to be at least 200 pages, not to mention 4 or 5 books that I own that have shots to practice. It's not hard to find drills for free out here in the ether.

 

[Billy_Bob]

Keep some blank paper and a pen in your cue bag. Then when at tournaments, diagram shots you miss or need to work on. (The shot(s) which cost you the game, etc.)

Then practice these shots. Practice what you are not good at. The shots which you might say to yourself "I hate these shots!".

This is frustrating and difficult, but will pay off big time in the long run.

I mark my table at home with white blackboard chalk for a specific shot. Where the cue ball is and object ball is. Then shoot the same exact shot over and over.

And of course a "shot" is actually two shots in one. One is pocketing the object ball and the other is leaving the cue ball where you want after the shot...

 

[av84fun]

IA8baller...

would have to disagree that there is no learning in the 100 shot drill I was doing, I learn to try and stay focused on EVERY shot and keeping track of my % of success helps me gauge where I'm at as far as being able to stay focused.

I agree that it is important to learn how to stay focused. One of the MAIN reasons for pro misses is a loss of concentration...like the dogs Efren hit recently. Clearly, he knew how to aim those shots so he just lost focus.

Normally, I start all practice sessions by tossing out a cosmo rack of 15 balls and run them out without worrying about leaving a break shot. Shooting that many "baby shots" is boring and leads to a loss of concentration which lets the dog out.

Like everything else, focus can and shyould be practiced. There is probalby no more successful pratitioner of intense commitment to every shot than Tiger Woods.

Regards,
Jim

 

[tjlmbklr]

My advice and this is from a guy that has no discipline to practice but could easily play 8hrs. straight a day of pool with an opponent. Do any drill that requires you so start over from the top when you make a mistake. Scott lee taught me a drill like this with 11 balls in a particular position that you have to always call 2 shots ahead even when you miss your leave you call 2 shots ahead. If you miss or run whitey into another ball you replace the balls and start over. Robert Byrnes has a drill like this but with 15 balls.

It really teaches you discipline

TJ

 

[Scott Lee]

TJ...Watch your video again. The drill uses 13 balls, all positioned in one quadrant of the table. No misses, no banks, no combos, and you can't touch another OB with the CB. Excellent drill...can you run it out yet?

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

Do any drill that requires you so start over from the top when you make a mistake. Scott lee taught me a drill like this with 11 balls in a particular position that you have to always call 2 shots ahead even when you miss your leave you call 2 shots ahead. If you miss or run whitey into another ball you replace the balls and start over.

It really teaches you discipline

TJ

 

[SoundWaves]

TJ...Watch your video again. The drill uses 13 balls, all positioned in one quadrant of the table. No misses, no banks, no combos, and you can't touch another OB with the CB. Excellent drill...can you run it out yet?

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

I agree with this question, Great drill for your shot making as well as your position play and run out strategy. Any drill that requires full focus on what you are trying to learn, should help your game. I haven't spent a ton of time on this drill but it has made me realize that when I am playing or doing other drills I don't always think that far ahead, or at least I don't always try to get "exact" position. Practice to built confidence, make shots that you need, try to get perfect position on your next shot every time. Pay attention to all aspects of all your shots and your practice will pay off regardless of what if is.

 

[tjlmbklr]

TJ...Watch your video again. The drill uses 13 balls, all positioned in one quadrant of the table. No misses, no banks, no combos, and you can't touch another OB with the CB. Excellent drill...can you run it out yet?

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

My bad. I was counting the balls in my head while at work. The rest I was trying to leave out details because I paid for that drill...lol

 

[tjlmbklr]

TJ...Watch your video again. The drill uses 13 balls, all positioned in one quadrant of the table. No misses, no banks, no combos, and you can't touch another OB with the CB. Excellent drill...can you run it out yet?

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

My bad. I was counting the balls in my head while at work. The rest I was trying to leave out details because I invested for that drill...lol

 

[IA8baller]

Keep some blank paper and a pen in your cue bag. Then when at tournaments, diagram shots you miss or need to work on. (The shot(s) which cost you the game, etc.)

Then practice these shots. Practice what you are not good at. The shots which you might say to yourself "I hate these shots!".

This is frustrating and difficult, but will pay off big time in the long run.

Excellent idea. Thanks.

 

[9 ball]

IA8Baller there is one simple solution here and that is to get yourself a copy of the fantastic book by AZ's very own Joe Tucker called gauranteed improvement, I have it and it works great (for me anyway).

The book itself is split into 2 sections:

1. Drills

2.Shots

I would advise getting the dvd that accompanies the book as it is really helpful seeing joe play the shots and showing different outcomes in position depending on where the cb is hit.

Here's a link:

http://www.joetucker.net/start.html

Just click products and then Gauranteed Improvement with dvd in the top right hand corner of the screen and all the details are there.

 

[midnightpulp]

My bad. I was counting the balls in my head while at work. The rest I was trying to leave out details because I invested for that drill...lol

Sounds like a great drill.

Would you (or Scott) mind diagramming it?

(I understand if you guys refuse since it's part of Scott's instructional package.)

Thanks!

 

[Ltldebbie]

Going to Practise now

Sounds like a great drill.

Would you (or Scott) mind diagramming it?

(I understand if you guys refuse since it's part of Scott's instructional package.)

Thanks!

Good idea I think I'll practise now. Yesterday I actually learned a few new things. Eddie go to PM in about 5 I have a ??? about the writers strike.