Stick and Tuck

[Walt Frazier]

))))))TuckNRoll(((((((

All of you players that's been around the game long enough know what I am talking about.Buddy Hall is the master of this type of cueball position;and this is the prefered play of mine as well..In order to use this style effectively you must be proficient in all the different types of strokes..particularly the "stun" stroke, the "drag" stroke and the "kill" stroke.

most 9ballers of today play "bounce off the rail" position for every shot.I find running out much easier to do using the tuck and roll cueball approach. While only going to the rail when absolutely necessary.

Squirrel once taught me a drill that would immensly help my cueball postion.You place eight balls a few inches apart in the shape of a circle in the middle of the table with your cueball in the center..at an equal distance from each ball..the object is to pocket every ball without allowing your cueball to hit a rail or another ball..After I did this for a few months,I noticed my cueball position was much more precise..I had the cueball on a string..And the "easy outs" get a lot easier .Even today,when I feel the need to pracitice or to "get in stroke" to prepare for a match ,I will do this drill and it always locks me in.

The problem with playing "bounce off the rail" shape a lot of times is the unpredictability of the rails.Anytime I play for big money I always check the rails for consistency.The worst thing in the world is to play position for a shot while your cueball is coming(or dying) off of a dead rail.And if you rely on the rails on almost every shot, your game could be subject to the table conditions and if your speed is a little off(new cloth,hot lights,air humidity,etc) you could be screwed.

I've played on some crappy tables .And one thing that has taught me is to always play good enough position so that you won't have to rely on a lucky bounce here or there.The table is never an excuse to play bad,period.

I think it was Buddy Hall that said "Don't play position if you already have it".I always follow the K.I.S.S. method...works for me.

 

[TX Poolnut]

You can step up that drill by keeping the cue ball inside the circle and trying to run 'em numerically.

 

[Walt Frazier]

"Stick and Tuck" also known as Tuck and Roll

 

[ez2h8]

I use a similiar drill as well when my cue ball control is out of line. I will place about 10 balls in a 15 inch circle (giver or take a few inches) and not let the cue ball go outside the imaginary circle or hit another ball.

I never tried shooting them in numerical order. I did see a guy shot them in left to right or right to left order around the circle without missing. That impressed the hell out of me.

It's a good drill especially since you are jacked up a bit as well. I will do this drill about 4 times in a row as practice.

Nice post
ez

 

[instroke75]

i learned to play from a straight pool player, and his favorite drill was similiar to yours except i believe a little harder, you simply put all the balls in the middle of the table randomly spread out, and you must run out without touching another ball, or rail, without missing! it teachs all the strokes you named earlier, which i agree is the more consistent way to play.(especially in straight pool, or one-pocket)

 

[poolnut]

i learned to play from a straight pool player, and his favorite drill was similiar to yours except i believe a little harder, you simply put all the balls in the middle of the table randomly spread out, and you must run out without touching another ball, or rail, without missing! it teachs all the strokes you named earlier, which i agree is the more consistent way to play.(especially in straight pool, or one-pocket)

I do this every morning when I get off work. I do try to avoid going off the rail or another ball, but I don't rule it out. I think you need to be able to do those things also to have complete control over the cue ball. I also only use 10 balls, one of which is the 8 ball and has to be made last.