Speed control drills
- Thread starter asn130
- Start date
practice your lag
then practice lagging to the next cushion
then lag to the 4th rail.
then practice lagging to the next cushion
then lag to the 4th rail.
coopdeville said:
Thats a good one Coop. I was taught to learn a fast/medium/slow stroke. Like, Slow = 1/2 table distance the CB will travel. Medium = 1 full table length, Fast = 2 table lengths. That way you have a 'reference' for gauging a shot. i.e., from the center of the table to the end rail and then back to the center is about 1 table length. = Medium stroke needed.
The lag is 1 speed and the break is 9.
Cyrex, you must play on one of those carpeted tables
I run into on league night.
Cyrex, you must play on one of those carpeted tables
I run into on league night.
sorry, i guess i should have been more specific...
I'm looking for drills to fine-tune speed control.
One pocket has helped a bunch, & i really enjoy the game.
but lately in 9ball, i'm either under-running my postition or over running it. It's like i can't dial it in.
I guess i could start putting an index card on the table where i expect to get postition & play the ghost, i was just wondering if there was a drill to help fine tune.
I'm looking for drills to fine-tune speed control.
One pocket has helped a bunch, & i really enjoy the game.
but lately in 9ball, i'm either under-running my postition or over running it. It's like i can't dial it in.
I guess i could start putting an index card on the table where i expect to get postition & play the ghost, i was just wondering if there was a drill to help fine tune.
asn130 said:
This is going to depend on which type of shots you're over/under-running.
It seems you could be misjudging the amount of speed the CB will retain
after contact with the OB or you're playing on a table that you're not
confident in the playability of the cushions, or anything in between.
What I described in my first post will help you.
The lag is a speed 1.
the two rail is a 5
and the three rail is a 9.
practice these and try to find 2-4 and 6-8 and see how often you
hit the number you want and see if you can improve on your practice
percentages.
Sure. The progressive practice drills in the "Basics" handout on the website in my signature are nearly all speed control drills. They're free. They allow you to easily measure your progress. Good luck.asn130 said:
I think this is one of the Kinister drills. I've diagrammed the easiest case, no rail. You can extend this to 1 and 2 rails. Make sure to hit the cueball on its vertical center for multiple rail attempts, slightly above center for consistency.
Add balls to increase difficulty. Each ball must pass the last ball. No bumping of balls. You cannot hit the next rail with the last ball.
Add balls to increase difficulty. Each ball must pass the last ball. No bumping of balls. You cannot hit the next rail with the last ball.
Franky said:
That's my favorite speed control drill, and I found it in Glenn Bond's video/book of drills. If you can do it easily with 10 balls on a fast table, you have pretty good speed control IMO. I've been able to get up to 12 balls with no rail, but only 9 with the 1 rail variation. Another variation is to use the cueball to strike the object balls and take ball in hand for each shot.
This is a fun drill that you can use to measure the speed of the rails and the speed of the cloth. Set up the balls about 1/4 of an inch from the rails and even with the center diamond. The object is to pocket one ball and get position on the other. Once a ball is pocketed, it is re-spotted back to its original position.
This is an endless drill. You can also increase the difficulty by limiting the number of rails you use to attain position on the next ball - or - by restricting yourself one pocket on each end of the table. You can challenge yourself to see how many you can make in a row without missing (My record is 33 in a row). While doing this drill, you will be acclimating yourself to the speed of the cloth and rails - and learning how the table is reacting.
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Hit cut shots from any length and any position. Pocket the OB and come off a rail to within 2 balls of the Center spot.
Do this 10 times from the same position and give yourself a point each time you do it.
Hit cut shots from a different length and location and try to beat your score.
Once you can do it 7 out of 10 times try it using 2 rails.
Do this 10 times from the same position and give yourself a point each time you do it.
Hit cut shots from a different length and location and try to beat your score.
Once you can do it 7 out of 10 times try it using 2 rails.
Here is one that I like to practice from time to time. I have a grid drawn on my table from diamond to diamond. I usually choose a grid that I want to practice landing the CB....you could use a sheet of paper or something similar. This drill is also handy for practicing tip position.
I see some good examples on here for speed control. You should have a good reference point for speed of a table and the lag in a great way to judge. If you have a hard time adjusting or knowing how hard to hit the CB then practice the lag. You should be finishing inside the first diamond. Try this for the side rails also. You will be surprised at the stroke required to hit this shot. Until you get the feel for how hard to hit balls try using the diamonds as a reference. I practice the drill posted by Franky's post. The only difference is I use diamonds.
1. On the first shot I am a diamond away from OB and try to draw back one diamond ( so back to original CB position. If you count the diamonds traveled, 1 to OB and 1 back to starting point... you just hit 2 diamonds of back spin.
2. Set the CB 2 diamonds from OB ball and draw back 2 diamonds to CB starting point. You just moved 2 diamonds to OB and back 2 diamonds so 4 diamonds of back spin.
Practice those until you build a feel for a 4, 6, 8 diamonds draw and try the following.
Use your 4 diamond draw shot (example 2) and place you CB 1 diamond from OB. Let use know how many diamond back from the OB your CB travels.
When you finish the draw try same practice with top...
1. On the first shot I am a diamond away from OB and try to draw back one diamond ( so back to original CB position. If you count the diamonds traveled, 1 to OB and 1 back to starting point... you just hit 2 diamonds of back spin.
2. Set the CB 2 diamonds from OB ball and draw back 2 diamonds to CB starting point. You just moved 2 diamonds to OB and back 2 diamonds so 4 diamonds of back spin.
Practice those until you build a feel for a 4, 6, 8 diamonds draw and try the following.
Use your 4 diamond draw shot (example 2) and place you CB 1 diamond from OB. Let use know how many diamond back from the OB your CB travels.
When you finish the draw try same practice with top...
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I think the Kinister drills diagramed are good but should have a stipulation that the first ball travel up table at least the distance of one diamond.
i hope nobody misunderstands me here, but............
how on earth can you practice speed control without actually shooting a shot??? that completely baffles me! there is a WORLD OF DIFFERENCE comparing just rolling a ball down the table by itself, and actually shooting an object ball and concentrating on cue ball speed that way.
Blackjack's speed control drill is a good one, and its one i use. i have a handful of "Routine" speed control drills that i practice, and i can flat out guarantee you that i shoot a shot first, and not just roll a ball down the table.
DCP
how on earth can you practice speed control without actually shooting a shot??? that completely baffles me! there is a WORLD OF DIFFERENCE comparing just rolling a ball down the table by itself, and actually shooting an object ball and concentrating on cue ball speed that way.
Blackjack's speed control drill is a good one, and its one i use. i have a handful of "Routine" speed control drills that i practice, and i can flat out guarantee you that i shoot a shot first, and not just roll a ball down the table.
DCP
DrCue'sProtege said:
Open your mind man ... the speed of the cue ball is the only speed you have control over. Yes, there are spin issues that affect the cueball after impact, but the speed at which the cue ball leaves your cue is quite relevant to the overall position play. If that completely baffles you then we've discovered one more reason why you seem to have such difficulties with the game of pool.
Dave
Speed Control
I actually had pretty good results when I used to play "Target Pool". The game itself is a beating, but it sure will help you "dial in" your speed on many different kinds of shots....
asn130 said:
I actually had pretty good results when I used to play "Target Pool". The game itself is a beating, but it sure will help you "dial in" your speed on many different kinds of shots....
DaveK said:
i agree, i suppose, that practicing speed by just rolling a ball down the table could every so slightly be of benefit. but just barely, barely a little. in my opinion not enough to be useful.
however, the speed you hit the cue ball is GREATLY, TREMENDOUSLY, OVERWHELMINGLY impacted by the collision it has with the object ball. therefore it seems logical to me that to work on speed control you have to have that collision/impact which effects the speed of the cue ball.
and remember, there is also another HUGE, HUGE difference between just rolling the cue ball with center ball, and having to hit it low or high. or with left and right english. sorry, but i cant see any benefit to just rolling a ball by itself.
just my $.02
DCP