Since you're the zen master of tai chi, chi (chop suey and kung fuDhakala said:
), I presume you never miss a shot? 
stroke critique: video
- Thread starter Solartje
- Start date
), I presume you never miss a shot? 
Solly,
Basically I'm gonna emphasize that your planning/thinking and shot preparation are your most significant and crucial flaws at this stage, as many posters have suggested.
If I were to see you play one shot from across the room, I would guess your level straight away. Just as you could spot a not so rhythmic dancer from across a room.
You need to seperate out the processes and refine them, and as you learn and perfect them they will blend together.
Look at the shot choices, decide the shot you want to make, then stand on the line of the shot.
Next move SMOOTHLY down into the shot being very attentive to your body, head and hand position so that they are aligned smoothly and well for the shot. Each stance position should be almost identical, though there will be some variation when you are elevated over a rail or ball.
Do this often and you'll begin to see higher consistancy and start to look and feel like a player.
I'm not surprised you play worse when you think about it and slow down. The reason is that you don't know your alignment and stroke. But you'll need to slow down and analyze where you think you are lined up and where you need to hit, to begin to understand your alignment and the tendencies you have for missing thick or thin for various shots.
Eventually it will become more automatic, but you should know how to line up with care for those times when nothing feels right or when the pressure seems to choke our intuitive faculties.
As for your stroke, I think it's pretty good. Way ahead of your shot preparation. Guys with terrible stroke fundamentals can often play very well because they do all the other stuff right. I wouldn't even worry about your stroke if I were you, other than keep on stroking quite straight.
Work on your preparation as I suggested. Never practice like you showed in those videos. That can create bad habits.
Joe Davis' coach used to send Joe home if ever he caught him playing without great care.
Do this while you work on lots of different drills to build your shot and angle knowledge. A year of hard work on this and you'll be a much improved player I believe.
ps: Let me add one more thing to keep in mind. They are the 3 rules of Chess: Carefully, Carefully, Carefully. You should remain conscious of being careful throughout all physical and mental phases of the shot. This is a game of precision and coordination.
Good luck,
Colin
Basically I'm gonna emphasize that your planning/thinking and shot preparation are your most significant and crucial flaws at this stage, as many posters have suggested.
If I were to see you play one shot from across the room, I would guess your level straight away. Just as you could spot a not so rhythmic dancer from across a room.
You need to seperate out the processes and refine them, and as you learn and perfect them they will blend together.
Look at the shot choices, decide the shot you want to make, then stand on the line of the shot.
Next move SMOOTHLY down into the shot being very attentive to your body, head and hand position so that they are aligned smoothly and well for the shot. Each stance position should be almost identical, though there will be some variation when you are elevated over a rail or ball.
Do this often and you'll begin to see higher consistancy and start to look and feel like a player.
I'm not surprised you play worse when you think about it and slow down. The reason is that you don't know your alignment and stroke. But you'll need to slow down and analyze where you think you are lined up and where you need to hit, to begin to understand your alignment and the tendencies you have for missing thick or thin for various shots.
Eventually it will become more automatic, but you should know how to line up with care for those times when nothing feels right or when the pressure seems to choke our intuitive faculties.
As for your stroke, I think it's pretty good. Way ahead of your shot preparation. Guys with terrible stroke fundamentals can often play very well because they do all the other stuff right. I wouldn't even worry about your stroke if I were you, other than keep on stroking quite straight.
Work on your preparation as I suggested. Never practice like you showed in those videos. That can create bad habits.
Joe Davis' coach used to send Joe home if ever he caught him playing without great care.
Do this while you work on lots of different drills to build your shot and angle knowledge. A year of hard work on this and you'll be a much improved player I believe.
ps: Let me add one more thing to keep in mind. They are the 3 rules of Chess: Carefully, Carefully, Carefully. You should remain conscious of being careful throughout all physical and mental phases of the shot. This is a game of precision and coordination.
Good luck,
Colin
Last edited:
sorry to bump up, but after doing things like some told me, ive got to update you all at least.
ok, i had been training a preshotroutine at home (kind of silly on the table, but hey thats all the man had to work with :s no poolhall near). so after i think a good 4 weeks of not having hold a cue in my hand, ive finale had a tournament. team state competition. i did ALL the things u said, the concentration level was WAY above normal, i felt like i had found the 'trick' that made me invinsible, my pre shot routine is working like a charm, the not playing for 4 weeks had made me REALLY eager to play again AND i was in the zone.
result: i played the Lights out. im a B- a B+ at best, today i played like a A+/shortstop. i know real training cant beat anything, BUT after not playing for 4 weeks, and just training my brain and body on the table to remember the things u said, i made a HUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGE leap forward in my game. where i used to B&r at 5-10% before, today im in the high 40%. in my straightpool warmup, i was making 20's like i was making 5-10's before.
aah well, just the best feeling of my life, and having had my bday just passed, i couldnt have wished for a better bday present. i feel GREATH! and i own it all (ok partly
) to you guys for helping me out. i can only wish this change will be here to stay. going from B to A level really is something, i could only dream to achieven in one year. i would have been happy with this change ever in my life, but now after 1 year thats just over the top
(sorry guys, im just so happy forgive me to be over positive)
cool thing, this death stroke, even felt better then all the once before. i broke, and just saw one line , separated in 8 pieces (stripes+8) that i just had to roll the cb on. it was as easy as connecting 2 dots. (ow and i enjoyed the looks of the other teams, and my teammate when they saw it )
thx again.
(ps small bad news: i FREAKING forgot to take my camera with me to tape this moment :'( REALLY F*****n but hey, ill have this stroke later too so no woorries
i hope ull all see the change too.
ok, i had been training a preshotroutine at home (kind of silly on the table, but hey thats all the man had to work with :s no poolhall near). so after i think a good 4 weeks of not having hold a cue in my hand, ive finale had a tournament. team state competition. i did ALL the things u said, the concentration level was WAY above normal, i felt like i had found the 'trick' that made me invinsible, my pre shot routine is working like a charm, the not playing for 4 weeks had made me REALLY eager to play again AND i was in the zone.
result: i played the Lights out. im a B- a B+ at best, today i played like a A+/shortstop. i know real training cant beat anything, BUT after not playing for 4 weeks, and just training my brain and body on the table to remember the things u said, i made a HUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGE leap forward in my game. where i used to B&r at 5-10% before, today im in the high 40%. in my straightpool warmup, i was making 20's like i was making 5-10's before.
aah well, just the best feeling of my life, and having had my bday just passed, i couldnt have wished for a better bday present. i feel GREATH! and i own it all (ok partly
) to you guys for helping me out. i can only wish this change will be here to stay. going from B to A level really is something, i could only dream to achieven in one year. i would have been happy with this change ever in my life, but now after 1 year thats just over the top (sorry guys, im just so happy
forgive me to be over positive)cool thing, this death stroke, even felt better then all the once before. i broke, and just saw one line , separated in 8 pieces (stripes+8) that i just had to roll the cb on. it was as easy as connecting 2 dots. (ow and i enjoyed the looks of the other teams, and my teammate when they saw it
) thx again.
(ps small bad news: i FREAKING forgot to take my camera with me to tape this moment :'( REALLY F*****n but hey, ill have this stroke later too so no woorries
i hope ull all see the change too.
