Pre Shot Routine

[Mark Avlon]

Looks like a couple of instructors are saying "HERE'S HOW YOU HAVE TO DO IT!" and to me that is 100% wrong. Johnny Archer and Ralf Souquet have said recently they look at the CB last.

You're right. You don't have do do things any particular way, and you can still be very successful.

Happy Gilmore can play a mean game of pool. The problem is that it's very difficult for most to learn how to shoot pool like Happy, and be good at it.

An alternative to to boil things down so that they are simple and easily learned and performed. This is what the SPF instructors have done. We provide a simple way most players can quickly learn to shoot consistently and accurately.

You don't have to do any or all of it this way, but those that have improved quickly and dramatically.

 

[Scott Lee]

Mark...You're absolutely right here, and one of the reasons Mike has such a hard time improving, is that he resists "suggestions" (not demands that "you HAVE to do it THIS way only"), on what true experts in many fields relate that might be the most easy, effective, or consistent method of learning. Nothing is cast in stone...and you can succeed with alternative ways of doing things...through years of trial and error. I'd just rather teach people things that we know work for almost anybody...just like you do! :thumbup:

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

You're right. You don't have do do things any particular way, and you can still be very successful.

Happy Gilmore can play a mean game of pool. The problem is that it's very difficult for most to learn how to shoot pool like Happy, and be good at it.

An alternative to to boil things down so that they are simple and easily learned and performed. This is what the SPF instructors have done. We provide a simple way most players can quickly learn to shoot consistently and accurately.

You don't have to do any or all of it this way, but those that have improved quickly and dramatically.

 

[real bartram]

Katie,
Its up to you what you believe and feel works best for you. All i am saying is you be the judge for your own personal stroke and after receiving quality instruction and tips you should make your own decisions.

Looks like a couple of instructors are saying "HERE'S HOW YOU HAVE TO DO IT!" and to me that is 100% wrong. Johnny Archer and Ralf Souquet have said recently they look at the CB last.

and as far as "The cue goes where the eyes go" comment......sorry, to me that is just plain ridiculous. somebody told me its like riding a motorcycle down the middle of the road and then looking over into the ditch. i was told the motorcycle would go into the ditch because thats where the eyes were looking. my motorcycle would go straight down the middle of the road.

Mike

i find it hard to bel they look at the cue ball last .
when you break you can look at the cue bal last i think
it helps.

 

[mikepage]

[...]Will someone please give me an example of what a solid pre shot routine looks/feels like? I understand that it's personal and different for everyone... I'd just like some guidance on what must be included, what should be included, what could be included, and what really should not be included. And also, how best to effectly apply and utilize a pre shot routine for maximum gain and benefit.

I'm really having a great time hanging out with you all here on AZB. Thank you for taking the time to help a girl out.

Katie

Here is some discussion of the PSR that is part of the materials for out Foundation Level I course

THE PRESHOT ROUTINE

So far we’ve started every drill in the SET position. In the real world though, there
are things that need to happen before this.

You need to decide what shot to try—which ball and pocket
You need to chalk the tip
You need to decide how hard you are going to hit the ball
You need to decide where you are going to hit the cueball (high, low, to one
side or the other)
You need to approach the table and get down in your stance
You may need to walk around the table to get the view from the other side
You may need to scratch your nose
How you get through these tasks and get to the set position is the purview of the

PRESHOT ROUTINE.

Your preshot routine is exactly that: your preshot routine. What is important is
that you have one and that it contains the essential elements.
We recommend you walk around the table as much as necessary analyzing the
table and deciding your plan. Keep the cue vertical while you do this. Don’t be
afraid to take laps around the table to get different perspectives. During the
foundations courses, always walk over to view the line from the object ball to the
pocket.
Chalk your tip. This can be done before, during, or after the analysis. But pick
one and keep it consistent.
Be honest with yourself. You must develop an instinct about your actual chances
of making any shot, because this is part of the planning.
When you are confident in your plan, step back from the table and then approach
the table along the line of the shot.
Fall into your stance, placing first your rear foot on the shot line.

The next step is called Fiddle. Fiddle is a combination of aiming and warm-up
strokes. During your warm-up strokes, the tip should go from very close to the
cueball all the way back to your bridge hand. The moving cue gives you
information about whether your stroke is straight and properly aligned. Your
gaze should switch slowly and deliberately back and forth a couple of times from
the tip at the cueball to the target location, i.e., to the vicinity of the object ball.
While we will pay more attention to aiming in session C, recognize now this gaze
switch is an important part of aiming.
When all feels right, stop with your tip at the cueball. You are now at the SET
position. You will recognize this as where your say “tip it” in the Mama Drill.
Every part of your body is completely still in the set position. From here, paused
in the set position, switch your gaze to the target location. You are now ready for
PONR2.

If all is good with the world, then
LOCK,
SLOW BACK,
SHOOT,
and HOME .
There will be times when the path of a ball requires you get the cue out of the
way, and we will discuss those in session D. For most of your shots, though,
freeze in the HOME position for several seconds. Your tip likely is on the cloth,
your elbow is in place, and your grip hand is at its familiar home position.

Sample Shot Routine
1. Walk around the table (i.e.,plan)
2. Chalk
--PONR1--
3. Approach the table
4. Fall into your stance
5. Fiddle
6. Set
--PONR2—
7. Lock
8. Slow Back
9. Shoot
10. Home

If, during steps 3-6 of the preshot routine, the shot doesn’t feel
right, then just go back to PONR1 and begin approaching the
table again.

Once PONR2 is reached, there is no more information to get from the outside
world. The fuse is lit.

 

[JolietJames]

Let me start by saying I am not an instructor. I did take lessons years ago for about a year. I personally look at the OB last but once you are set I don't think it's that important. I've done many drills with my eyes closed after getting set and didn't notice missing any more often than while looking at the OB. Those were straight in drills to which I was referring. I strongly feel I notice an improvement in accuracy while doing runout drills when I focus on the object ball and follow through to the target. That's what works for me.