Practice w/o table time.
- Thread starter Skratch
- Start date
I use my dining table to practice different bridge hands & stance changes. Sometimes I will get in front of my dresser mirror & see what my alignment over the cue looks like as I stroke the cue. I also have a homemade "Buddy Hall cue guide" to practice strokes, yeah I'm too cheap to purchase one for 10 bucks.
Not really practice but watching videos of some top pros & seeing how they stroke the ball, their pre-shot routine's, how they handle certain shots & safety play. I also read over a few books I have & look for new things to work on for when I do get back into the pool hall. Getting your mental game together is just as important as physical playing time IMO.
Not really practice but watching videos of some top pros & seeing how they stroke the ball, their pre-shot routine's, how they handle certain shots & safety play. I also read over a few books I have & look for new things to work on for when I do get back into the pool hall. Getting your mental game together is just as important as physical playing time IMO.
Only way without a table is to watch videos, instructional and matches. Books also.
I watch videos more than anything else. Just seeing how the pros think and play can help out a lot. I used to be a very aggressive player and it cost me a lot of games. Now that I know how to play defensively and when to play defensively; I have been winning a lot more games, because I can get ball in hand more often.
I watch a lot of pool on youtube. I'm specifically looking at tbe differnt pre shot routines. ..how are they the same as me....how are tbey different. Try things that look like they might work for you.
Last edited:
It's a shame that there isn't more of a market for a pool table "scratch pad".
I can not fit a table in my home and with my rotating work schedule I can not always make it to the pool hall, but i'd love to have a small 2' x 3' "table"... with 3 drop pockets (think 2 corner 1 side). Just some place for me to practice my stroke and some minor placement shots.
The potential to develop bad habits, because of the small playing area is there. But understanding it is a stop gap and not a true replacement may alleviate that.
Thanks,
Mark
I can not fit a table in my home and with my rotating work schedule I can not always make it to the pool hall, but i'd love to have a small 2' x 3' "table"... with 3 drop pockets (think 2 corner 1 side). Just some place for me to practice my stroke and some minor placement shots.
The potential to develop bad habits, because of the small playing area is there. But understanding it is a stop gap and not a true replacement may alleviate that.
Thanks,
Mark
mr8ball
Active member
You might like this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEcUkTjqXYM I can make some more if I get a few orders. Guaranteed to give you a good true stroke. Someone might have one laying around that they would sell. You can use it on any flat surface around 30 inches high. Joe tucker also has things that will help. Feel free to PM with any questions. You cane never learn to much when it comes to pool. Best of luck.
I've been reading up a lot about these things, and self-hypnosis techniques as well. Like several others mentioned, I watch a ton of top players on streamed events and YouTube. Adding visualization techniques that have you moving like the best players, or even visualizing what you look like yourself when you are really in stroke can work wonders, at least in the short term.
Ralf Souquet seems to use some sort of visualization or self-hypnosis techniques when he has to sit during a match. He never looks out of stroke, even after sitting for several racks.
So, build one. I'm sure a post inquiring into used rails and cloth would get several offers to give you stuff from junked and rebuilt tables. Go to Lowes and get them to cut you a piece of MDF into the size you want (you could even laminate two pieces together for added stability), cover the bed with the used cloth, bolt on your scrap rails and you have something you can practice a lot of things on.
It sounds like a plan; but I have never taken a table apart, so learning to put one together will be an adventure on its own.
-Mark
Thank you everyone for the responses. I already watch enough video, and read what I can. I know my issues lie with my stroke. Its not bad, but I don't get to spend alot of table time to improve it. I was hoping to find out how others might compensate for table time at home to work on your stroke. All suggestions were good though. I appreciate it.
This is correct. University research has actually proven that minute muscle memory occurs from visualizing an actual sport activity. Meditation and self-hypnosis are means to assist in developing this skill.
We have floor to ceiling mirrors on one wall of our dining room and I will confess to occasionally putting a CB on the table, setting up and watching the mirror. But as I have said, going back to the days of RSB, I believe what's important is to check how you get into shooting position. That's what determines how your stroke looks. If the stroke looks bad, go back and watch what you're doing to set up that way.
On a related note, I have never understood why someone doesn't design and sell a small, narrow practice table that would fold up and store in a closet. You know, just something like two foot wide, maybe five foot long, with Simonis, rails, and maybe a pocket or two, wide enough to make a bridge on and practice shots on the bed of the table and off the rail.
Lou Figueroa
When I was doing a stretch of time for the government, I played a lot of one pocket and nine ball in my head.
It helped pass the time, and it allowed me to focus on grouping shots together verses thinking of individual shots.
It was there that I developed a system, basically a step forward of "shooting the lights out" aiming technique taught to me years ago by a true hustler of the past. While most have heard the term of "shooting the lights out", it has a meaning more than just a catchy phrase. It actually has to do with lights above the table, reflecting off the ball that gives a perfect aiming point. I have asked many pros and many top younger players this technic and none of them were aware of it. After I showed them 2-3 shots using it, they were amazed at how little they knew, or thought they knew. It was used in the 1930-1950's, and without a doubt is the best aiming system as it foolproof and works every time, no matter what size or type of table. It was shown to me by a guy in his late 70's at the time. New York Blackie was a user of this technic, but few knew it.
So yes, it has been done.
Ken
It helped pass the time, and it allowed me to focus on grouping shots together verses thinking of individual shots.
It was there that I developed a system, basically a step forward of "shooting the lights out" aiming technique taught to me years ago by a true hustler of the past. While most have heard the term of "shooting the lights out", it has a meaning more than just a catchy phrase. It actually has to do with lights above the table, reflecting off the ball that gives a perfect aiming point. I have asked many pros and many top younger players this technic and none of them were aware of it. After I showed them 2-3 shots using it, they were amazed at how little they knew, or thought they knew. It was used in the 1930-1950's, and without a doubt is the best aiming system as it foolproof and works every time, no matter what size or type of table. It was shown to me by a guy in his late 70's at the time. New York Blackie was a user of this technic, but few knew it.
So yes, it has been done.
Ken
Last edited:
I watch YouTube videos on things I want to work on and read billiard books... also watch the never ending amount of professional matches on YouTube.
When I see shots I want to practice I draw them out and bring them with me when I visit the poolhall to practice them. For instance, I learned some solid position play by practicing stuff Dr. Dave has produced.
Learned long power draws by watching videos then practicing later.
When I see shots I want to practice I draw them out and bring them with me when I visit the poolhall to practice them. For instance, I learned some solid position play by practicing stuff Dr. Dave has produced.
Learned long power draws by watching videos then practicing later.
So, this is the original TOI? (Touch Of Illumination)