Straight Pool Drill/Game of "4.1"

[CueAndMe]

I was futzing around today on my table at home, which I hardly ever play on because of close walls requiring a small cue, and came up with a mini game of straight pool that gets me into the mode of planning out and executing the last few shots before the next rack. This has most likely been invented before, but I think it's really a good one that I'll continue using.

It goes like this:
You set up an initial break shot. You put 4 balls anywhere in the triangle together in a diamond or whatever shape, so that you can contact them during the break shot. Make the break shot and then plan your entire route towards the next break shot before pocketing the first of the balls on the table. And of course, keep on running rack after rack.

Here's a 6-page example of a sequence:

CueTable Help

I think it's great practice and can be done with any number of balls. 3.1, 4.1, 5.1, all the way up to 14.1, though the purpose is to get you to see the ending patterns, so I wonder how useful it would be above about 8.1

I haven't figured out what would be best if you miss a shot or the cueball strays. Probably, if you can set the same shot back up and hit it until you learn it, that would be best. But you could make it a scoring game as well.

Jeff

 

[CueAndMe]

I also haven't figured out what to do when you end up with no shot after the break. One possibility is to allow yourself one push shot to get the cueball in a decent position to run the balls.

Also, learning the subtleties of how a 4-ball cluster will break open could be a nice side effect to playing this game.

Jeff

 

[Steve Lipsky]

This is a great drill, Jeff. More than anything, it teaches careful separation of mini-clusters.

I would suggest that it should be done with at least six balls, to maximize the chances that you'll wind up with another break ball (or at least have time to create one).

Thanks for sharing; this will be helpful to many.

- Steve

 

[Blackjack]

Jeff

I agree with Steve. I have a similar drill where I use 10 balls racked in a triangle, but 6 will also work very well.

The trouble with using 4 balls is that more times than not - those wing balls are gonna travel... lol

Great idea - just keep the spaghetti out of it!

 

[CueAndMe]

Jeff

I agree with Steve. I have a similar drill where I use 10 balls racked in a triangle, but 6 will also work very well.

The trouble with using 4 balls is that more times than not - those wing balls are gonna travel... lol

Great idea - just keep the spaghetti out of it!

I'm glad you guys like it. I think you're both right that 6 balls or more may be better. But the spaghetti can help with keeping score.

Jeff

 

[OneArmed]

I'm going to give this drill a try this afternoon, thanks for sharing!