O
ohplayer
Guest
When you guys practice do you like to practice alone or with another player and what are some of the drills that you use?
Thanks,
John
Thanks,
John
pooltablemech
Banned
A good simple practice routine I always liked is playing the ghost. And trying not to have to use the Ball in Hand. Play a few races to 9. I know you were probbaly looking for some info on drills....but that is what I use to do. But everybody is different. I saw an old one pocket player that would practice between matchs by getting all 15 balls at one corner of the table. And he would just lag each ball 3 rails or 4 rails....and then go where they landed and lag them to another hole.
pooltablemech said:
Ouch! That'll stop you from aiming, won't it!?
I like to play sessions vs. the ghost too. A good variation is playing no safes, like in a ring game.
Sometimes when I miss, I'll put the shot back up and proceed from there (usually my opponent will notice and get mad though!
).And certainly, one needs to practice specific trouble shots. Repitition leads to perfection...
-pigr
I always like to warm-up with a center-ball stroke end to end. Then I'll set up a couple of pre-determined patterns. Then I play the ghost. It's just a routine I've fallen into. It's almost superstition at this point.
When I practice alone, I set up simple straight in shots. Shoot about 5/draw, 5/top, 5/left, 5/right, then set up a slight cut shot and again shoot 5 each. Then I set up long rail cut shots and again 5 each. Next I set up cross side banks and take only 5 shots, then back cut banks and take 5 shots. I then set an OB in front of a side pocket and kick 1 rail, 2 rails, 3 rails and take 5 shots on each. I close out my practice with a game of 9 and 8 vs. the ghost, in a race to 3 each.
I generally practice playing someone else though. When I do, I practice banks, kicks and caroms.
Good luck and have fun!
Zim
I generally practice playing someone else though. When I do, I practice banks, kicks and caroms.
Good luck and have fun!
Zim
Practice....what is that? Been so long I can't remember. Nah just kidding. The thing that frustrates me about moving from Seattle to Vancouver WA is that there is only one pool hall with 9 footers and it has rails that bounce the ball off faster than when it arrived. So you can't practice on them with any sort of consistency. So that leaves the 7 foot bar tables. Not a great place to practice....but if that is what the tourneys are on might as well play there.
I primarily practice on stroke shots to make sure I have my english and deflection down right before I play in the tourney. I will also play the ghost...and several of the table layouts for 9ball that mean you have to have good cueball control and keep the right angles. Gets me in the frame of mind of concentrating on the precise area I want the cueball...instead of rolling it to a general location...where more than often it leads to a bad angle or wrong angle...and onto a bank or long thin cut down the road.
We have all shot the each shot we need hundreds/thousands of times on the table, for me it is the concentration aspect of the game. Thinking three+ balls ahead...what english do I need to keep the cueball on the right path for the right angle? Do I ned to brak a cluster...which ball can I do it off of? Should I make it or play safe? Which is more beneficial? Will he be able to kick out of it, or can I make it frozen to a ball? Etc,etc. These are the things that end up getting me in trouble...the shot is just muscle memory...as long as you keep a consistent pre shot routine...which I do. I see a lot of people varying how long they are down on shots...how many practice strokes. Once you bend to the table to take the shot there should be no doubt in your mind that you are going to make it. If there is...stand up and go through your preshot again until you are confident.
A little off the thread...but oh well....LOL
I primarily practice on stroke shots to make sure I have my english and deflection down right before I play in the tourney. I will also play the ghost...and several of the table layouts for 9ball that mean you have to have good cueball control and keep the right angles. Gets me in the frame of mind of concentrating on the precise area I want the cueball...instead of rolling it to a general location...where more than often it leads to a bad angle or wrong angle...and onto a bank or long thin cut down the road.
We have all shot the each shot we need hundreds/thousands of times on the table, for me it is the concentration aspect of the game. Thinking three+ balls ahead...what english do I need to keep the cueball on the right path for the right angle? Do I ned to brak a cluster...which ball can I do it off of? Should I make it or play safe? Which is more beneficial? Will he be able to kick out of it, or can I make it frozen to a ball? Etc,etc. These are the things that end up getting me in trouble...the shot is just muscle memory...as long as you keep a consistent pre shot routine...which I do. I see a lot of people varying how long they are down on shots...how many practice strokes. Once you bend to the table to take the shot there should be no doubt in your mind that you are going to make it. If there is...stand up and go through your preshot again until you are confident.
A little off the thread...but oh well....LOL
I practice alone. I practice similar to Zim except I do a rack of each:centerball, center top, center bottom and the same for left and right. Then I practice banks, kicks and a few masse shots.
I start every practice with a rack of relaxed shooting to groove my stroke and end each practice practicing the lag.
When I play with others, I am either getting tips on position or playing to win.
Laura
I start every practice with a rack of relaxed shooting to groove my stroke and end each practice practicing the lag.
When I play with others, I am either getting tips on position or playing to win.
Laura
I throw balls on the table and run them out.
If I'm shooting crooked, I'll do Kinnister's shot number 1 over and over again.
If I'm shooting crooked, I'll do Kinnister's shot number 1 over and over again.
what is kinisters shot 1? thanks
Place a ball about 4 diamonds away from the cb, straight to a corner pocket.Micktmason said:
Pocket the ball and make the cueball replace the object ball.
When I started playing I saw a guy practicing this shot. At the time I wondered why the heck he was trying to make the cueball hit the OB and roll one inch forward. When I got better I realized that at some point that is the only shot that will leave you an out so I started trying it. Has helped out lots of times since.
I practice those shots also. same shot but draw 6 inches, same shot but stun and follow 6 inches etc.
S
Sputnik
Guest
Zim's practice is okay with me. In the last stage though, I like practicing the different releases and english with the same ball position and try to get the cue ball to only one place (draw, english, follow, etc.) Potting the ball is muscle memory and vision. Executing different strokes is more muscle memory and a lot of estimation. I tend to concentrate on the cue ball.
The hardest part in practicing is taking each shot with intense seriousness. Don't practice if you will just goof around. It's a waste of time.
The hardest part in practicing is taking each shot with intense seriousness. Don't practice if you will just goof around. It's a waste of time.
I practice stroke shots. Shots that I know I have to be in stroke to execute.
I have some of these drills diagramed on my website..
www.geocities.com/cincytom314
Also, there is a blank table diagram there that is a 9 foot scalled table, with grid lines, available that can be printed for your use.
I have some of these drills diagramed on my website..
www.geocities.com/cincytom314
Also, there is a blank table diagram there that is a 9 foot scalled table, with grid lines, available that can be printed for your use.
piglit said:
The 8 ball shot is not one of the practice drills. I should have mentioned that. This shot was included just to show off.
The 8 is not supose to go into the corner pocket. BUT, with enough draw (cue ball still has draw when hitting the 8 ball) the 8 will go into the corner pocket. Medium speed. Try it.
... one thought to remember is this "Perfect Practice makes perfect". Repetition is the key to good performance. Hitting the same shot, dozens of times, gives you that repetition. I heard a little boy ask a practicing Professional why he keeps shooting the same shot over & over. The pro said, "this shot comes up in every game".
The words play & practice mean two different things. "Playing" Pool is the arena for performing your skills. "Practice" is the effort you put forth, to become what you desire to be. If you don't invest some time in good practice, you won't become more than mediocre.
There are NATURALS & we all know that, but they number less than 10,000... there are 39,990,000 estimated wannabees that can all become better players by practicing & taking lessons.
Read your Pool Books, watch your Instruction Videos & do the shot along with the Instructor. Do the Drills, until you don't miss.
It's more fun playing the Game of Billiards, when you play well.
The words play & practice mean two different things. "Playing" Pool is the arena for performing your skills. "Practice" is the effort you put forth, to become what you desire to be. If you don't invest some time in good practice, you won't become more than mediocre.
There are NATURALS & we all know that, but they number less than 10,000... there are 39,990,000 estimated wannabees that can all become better players by practicing & taking lessons.
Read your Pool Books, watch your Instruction Videos & do the shot along with the Instructor. Do the Drills, until you don't miss.
It's more fun playing the Game of Billiards, when you play well.
I have tried and practiced countless drills. There just are too many to go over in a short span. Bert's 60 minute workout has a bunch of good drills. I too like the straight in stop shot #1. I like to do it on the diagonal too. And it can be done with just stop. Stop and roll forward. Follow and draw.
Steve Campana's book of drills is also excellent.
What I found about Steve's book so rewarding is how much I learned from the shots that I couldn't execute at first. And as I worked on them all of a sudden the light bulb would come on and it would be a great feeling knowing that I now know why I couldn't do the shot. And finding what was wrong with my aim, stroke, or thought process.
Lately I find myself practicing THE shot that I missed in a tournament or during league play.
And maybe one day I will actually be able to do the zero tolerance absolute stop shot with some sort of consistency.
Jake
Steve Campana's book of drills is also excellent.
What I found about Steve's book so rewarding is how much I learned from the shots that I couldn't execute at first. And as I worked on them all of a sudden the light bulb would come on and it would be a great feeling knowing that I now know why I couldn't do the shot. And finding what was wrong with my aim, stroke, or thought process.
Lately I find myself practicing THE shot that I missed in a tournament or during league play.
And maybe one day I will actually be able to do the zero tolerance absolute stop shot with some sort of consistency.
Jake
I practice several aspects of the game. One of my favorite practice techniques is to throw all 15 balls out on the table and try to run them all in no particular order. I keep setting them out and running them until I miss. Its similar to 14.1 but you dont have to worry about not coming up with a shot. My high run in the game is 352 balls. The second way that I like to practice is using Pool and Billiard Magazine's 99 game. I love it! You can compare your score with hypothetical pro scores. I also practice breaks, banks, and defense. To be successful at this game you need to work on all aspects not just one area.