I'm curious about what most of you do for your pre shot routine? Would you mind explaining how you line up to the shot and get down in your stance? I'm looking for a more consistent way to line up to the shot, like an exact method that gets your body in the same exact place every time.
Pre Shot Routine
- Thread starter LastTwo
- Start date
LastTwo said:
I have been working on this myself and I actually have a few different methods I have been experimenting with.
One I call the "preload setup". You basically stand behind the shot the way you plan to stand when taking the shot. So if you are going to stand facing the shot when you shoot you stand behind the shot facing the shot, if you are going to stand at a 45 degree angle to the shot when you shoot, you stand behind the cueball at a 45 degree angle.
Another is one I call the "snooker slide"
. If you prefer a more frontal stance "snooker stance" you face the shot and slide your front (left foot for a righty) to the left and get into the stance. You kind of keep your weight over the right leg as you slide your left leg over. You can slide it more forward or more directly to the left depending what is comfortable to you. Another is the "forward back 2-step" You step directly forward with the left foot and directly back with the right foot. (I experimented with this setup) Its easy to repeat, but it didn't work good for me. Might work for someone who is more comfortable with a frontal stance.
The preshot routine I am currently experimenting with is to stand directly behind the shot facing the shot. As I get down into the stance I move my feet so they are at a about a 45 degree angle to the shot. It's kind of like turning into the stance. I make sure I don't take my eyes off the targets as I get into the stance. I've seen good results with this stance and it feels most natural and is easy to repeat.
These are hard to explain in words. Check out Buddy halls video and he does a good deomonstration of how he gets into his stance. I think the video was "star system" or "9ball instructional". I am pretty sure it was the "star system" video.
If a more frontal stance is comfortable to you, you may want to check out the Billiards Santuary DVD's. They have some great information on how to get into a repeatable stance.
christopheradam said:
just and FYI, the reason it doesn't work for you is that its not a very good way to line up a shot.
when you step forward with your front leg, there should be NO movement in the back leg. it should already be in line.
moving the back leg after moving the front leg, will almost always throw you out of line.
VAP
What I do ...
I just get down on the shot, and stroke the cue 3 or 4 times before my
final stroke. Usually I am already pretty well aimed when I get down on
the shot, or make slight adjustments if needed. I guess you could call
this my 'go' or green mode.
If I judge the shot to be difficult, for some reason, I think about my form
and my stroke before I shoot, and take a couple of more strokes than
normal before pulling the trigger. This would be my 'caution' or yellow mode.
If it is a long shot with the cue on the rail, I sort of have a little different
raised up form I use, and concentrate on my form and a smooth stroke
before I shoot. This would be my 'concentrate' or red mode. This also
applies to extremely difficult shots or kicks or jumps.
I just get down on the shot, and stroke the cue 3 or 4 times before my
final stroke. Usually I am already pretty well aimed when I get down on
the shot, or make slight adjustments if needed. I guess you could call
this my 'go' or green mode.
If I judge the shot to be difficult, for some reason, I think about my form
and my stroke before I shoot, and take a couple of more strokes than
normal before pulling the trigger. This would be my 'caution' or yellow mode.
If it is a long shot with the cue on the rail, I sort of have a little different
raised up form I use, and concentrate on my form and a smooth stroke
before I shoot. This would be my 'concentrate' or red mode. This also
applies to extremely difficult shots or kicks or jumps.
vapoolplayer said:
If you move the back leg directly back it should stay in line with the shot. If you moved it back and to the left or right it would throw you out of line.
Thanks for the comment though. Like I said, it was just something I was experimenting with.
LastTwo said:
This all assumed that I've figured out a shot (like '2 into the side, draw the cb around two rails to over there' ). I select a contact point on the object ball standing directly behind the line to the pocket. I then move to behind the cue ball and see the line/shot. I'm chalking while doing this. Then I lower the cue so that it hangs on a straight grip arm with my left hand holding the shaft in my closed bridge, and I align the shot direction with the cue, standing upright behind the ball still, using a ball-overlap judgement to hit the contact point. After moving closer or further back, and adjusting my right foot so that the cue hangs straight down past my right side, I am in a position to get down into the shot, so I pull back the cue and bend over the shot. While bending down I take a couple of long loose practice strokes. Once down my 2 or 3 practice strokes become very short as I fine tune the alignment. I take one last look at the entire-shot-head-movie instantly after my 2nd or third practice stroke, the one where I feel the alignment is correct, and if it works I take my complete stroke. Then the object ball drops into the intended pocket and the cueball follows the planned path to the exact destination I planned. Wait, that's not part of the "preshot routine" ! Good thing too, as somehow that part is a problem sometimes for me ...
Note that this is typical for my open cuing shots. As other have pointed out, unusual bridging or stroking shots require modifications or additions to the proshot routine, from my perspective. I also play most kicks with a completely different preshot routine.
Dave
For an article mostly about preshot routine see item 33 onLastTwo said:
http://www.sfbilliards.com/misc.htm
The diagram for the "runout with no cushion" drill is not there, but you don't really need it.
Pre-shot set up
When standing behind the shot,i place the tip of my stick over the cue ball about six inchs in front,resting on the table,point the tip at the contact point,set your feet,pull the cue up and over the cue ball,lower into your stance,this will get you close to the same position everytime,or you can just point right behind the cue ball if this feels better,just place the tip as close to cue ball without interferance,line stick/tip up with contact point, set feet,address cue ball for contact,now look at object ball contact point,draw back&then forward to cue ball,repeat stroke until you feel good,set,pause,release,hope this helps.sometimes ill walk right behind the object ball set the tip at the contact point,visualize point,then address cueball as above. Good Luck!
When standing behind the shot,i place the tip of my stick over the cue ball about six inchs in front,resting on the table,point the tip at the contact point,set your feet,pull the cue up and over the cue ball,lower into your stance,this will get you close to the same position everytime,or you can just point right behind the cue ball if this feels better,just place the tip as close to cue ball without interferance,line stick/tip up with contact point, set feet,address cue ball for contact,now look at object ball contact point,draw back&then forward to cue ball,repeat stroke until you feel good,set,pause,release,hope this helps.sometimes ill walk right behind the object ball set the tip at the contact point,visualize point,then address cueball as above. Good Luck!
Hi Nat:
I am not to aware of my preshot routine but I mainly use what CJ Wiley says in his tapes. I see the contact point while standing then bring my cue down straight on this line, if you have the correct contact point then you should make the shot. (Of course he goes into a lot more detail).
A drill that I use to make sure I am hitting (pretty) perfect is to place the 15 balls across the center of the table (from one side pocket to the other) then from 2 diamonds back run all of the balls straight in using a stop shot(you are placing the cueball so each shot is straight). I do this until I make between 15 and 30 in a row. Then from the same position I draw back a diamond, then follow between 1 and 2 diamonds, then draw to the back rail or further, then follow to try to scratch each time.
If you do this for awhile then you will at least know that your stroke is straight for each type of shot. For some reason it also forces you to get into a same routine (or you will miss).
If I lose interest in this then I switch to shooting spot shots and do this until I make between 15 and 30 in a row, which lets me know I am hitting my half ball shots perfectly.
Wayne
I am not to aware of my preshot routine but I mainly use what CJ Wiley says in his tapes. I see the contact point while standing then bring my cue down straight on this line, if you have the correct contact point then you should make the shot. (Of course he goes into a lot more detail).
A drill that I use to make sure I am hitting (pretty) perfect is to place the 15 balls across the center of the table (from one side pocket to the other) then from 2 diamonds back run all of the balls straight in using a stop shot(you are placing the cueball so each shot is straight). I do this until I make between 15 and 30 in a row. Then from the same position I draw back a diamond, then follow between 1 and 2 diamonds, then draw to the back rail or further, then follow to try to scratch each time.
If you do this for awhile then you will at least know that your stroke is straight for each type of shot. For some reason it also forces you to get into a same routine (or you will miss).
If I lose interest in this then I switch to shooting spot shots and do this until I make between 15 and 30 in a row, which lets me know I am hitting my half ball shots perfectly.
Wayne
Oh, and one more thing. If you are doing drills or following anyone's advise do not do exactly what they do. Change the drill or routine somehow so that it is your drill or routine and not someone else's. You always want to be the one who is making things happen (you da man).
Wayne
Wayne
Stance Drill & Pre Shot Routine
A drill I use from time to time is to get down in my stance to shoot, just before I shoot I get up, keeping my feet where they are and put a coin just in front of or behind my front or back foot. Then I step away from the table and set back up and actually shoot the shot, after shooting I check to see where my foot is in relation to the coin (usually within an inch or two).
As far as pre shot routine goes I chalk my cue 8 times, get down in my stance, stroke twice while looking at the object ball, stroke once while looking at the cue ball, stroke once again at the ob, then one more time while looking at the cb, after this stroke I have a brief pause while I shift my eyes to the ob and then I fire away. Sounds lengthy but it actually only takes a few seconds. This has also helped me during pressure situations because I have something to fall back on. If I don't feel right while down on the shot then I get up and start over.
Steve <--- hope this helps
A drill I use from time to time is to get down in my stance to shoot, just before I shoot I get up, keeping my feet where they are and put a coin just in front of or behind my front or back foot. Then I step away from the table and set back up and actually shoot the shot, after shooting I check to see where my foot is in relation to the coin (usually within an inch or two).
As far as pre shot routine goes I chalk my cue 8 times, get down in my stance, stroke twice while looking at the object ball, stroke once while looking at the cue ball, stroke once again at the ob, then one more time while looking at the cb, after this stroke I have a brief pause while I shift my eyes to the ob and then I fire away. Sounds lengthy but it actually only takes a few seconds. This has also helped me during pressure situations because I have something to fall back on. If I don't feel right while down on the shot then I get up and start over.
Steve <--- hope this helps
My Pre-Shot routine
I grasp it between my thumb and forefinger, then toast the cheap bastard that finally picked up a round. I align it carefully, then tip the glass quickly and smoothly into the hole that is usually spouting smartarse remarks.
As for my pre-shot routine at the pool table, I square my back foot perpendicular with the point I'm going to aim, bend over, practice stroke about three times looking from OB to CB, pick my exact point of aim on OB, then on CB, back to OB, then backstroke, pause slightly, and let loose.
LastTwo said:
I grasp it between my thumb and forefinger, then toast the cheap bastard that finally picked up a round. I align it carefully, then tip the glass quickly and smoothly into the hole that is usually spouting smartarse remarks.
As for my pre-shot routine at the pool table, I square my back foot perpendicular with the point I'm going to aim, bend over, practice stroke about three times looking from OB to CB, pick my exact point of aim on OB, then on CB, back to OB, then backstroke, pause slightly, and let loose.
I line up my cue while standing holding it near my hip, after picturing the shot I get down find my balance point and take 3-4 strokes. I used to line up with my right foot (right handed) behind the shot first but found myself having to step up or back, using my cue to measure I find my feet are just naturally there and it's very repeatable.
I look behind me before I bend over to shoot; especially after a glass of beer and some peanuts.
Besides that, I plant by back foot first on the line of shot. I line up my right eye, grip and bridge and elbow on the line of shot.
Then I miss.
Besides that, I plant by back foot first on the line of shot. I line up my right eye, grip and bridge and elbow on the line of shot.
Then I miss.