Stroke Refreshing drill

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GregH
Silver Member
Whenever I feel my stroke needs refreshing I do this drill. I put the balls in random order like below,always between the sides pockets and corner pockets at one of the table.

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The first goal is to take CB BIH and run all 15 balls in any order into any pocket.

The only conditions are no hitting the rail or hitting another ball.

Its a very changing drill that you will be surprised at what you will learn from it.

Like there is no such thing as a set home positon for the end of your cue. Where the cue tip ends totally depends on the shot. It is a bad habit to get into if you do cause you will have to learn to break it later.

That one stance, one bridge length does not work for all shots. That one must adapt their stance and bridge for the shot not try to adapt the shot to their stance or bridge.

Like you really don't need that much speed to pocket a ball.

Stuns shots, stops shots,follow shots and draw shots are your friend. Side spins is not alwasy needed.

The closer the CB and OB are and the slower you hit the greater the transfer of English.

Shot selection will make or break your runout. You will learn to think ahead.

Learning how to use natural shape instead of having to get shape.

Seeing the different ways a CB comes off a OB.

And most important POSITION PLAY IS EVERYTHING. In 9 ball you can be off quite a bit in still have a shot. In this drill, 1 mm can mean everything.

And more

Do it for a hour at least.

FWIW
 
Good ball pocketing drill, I like it. I'm a little confused on how this is a "stroke refresher"?......SPF=randyg
 
Good ball pocketing drill, I like it. I'm a little confused on how this is a "stroke refresher"?......SPF=randyg

I can see this. Most do not think about refreshing their stroke.

Refreshing is a new term to pool also.

Hmmm,,,,,,refreshing ones stroke...........I know what it means to me but is useless if I can not explain it further.

Stroke.............that is what it all comes down to, no more and no less. Just knowing what to do with that arm.

But, like a string instrument, it can get out of tune.

So, how do you get it back into tune?

For me, this drill is how.
 
Not to be mean, but there were some points in your post that I don't agree with.

Like there is no such thing as a set home positon for the end of your cue. Where the cue tip ends totally depends on the shot. It is a bad habit to get into if you do cause you will have to learn to break it later.

There are many well respected members on this forums that would strongly disagree with you here. Although, personally, I am neither for or against a 'home' position. I think you have to just figure out what works best for you.

Stuns shots, stops shots,follow shots and draw shots are your friend. Side spins is not alwasy needed.

If your goal is not to hit a rail, you should probably never be using side spin.

The closer the CB and OB are and the slower you hit the greater the transfer of English.

English transfer only matters when the object ball hits a rail.

And as another pointed out, what does this drill have to do with stroke?
 
Good ball pocketing drill, I like it. I'm a little confused on how this is a "stroke refresher"?......SPF=randyg

My only guess is that you are going to be using a lot of stun strokes, and it can make you feel like you've got the cue ball on a string if you get in stroke practicing lots of shots like that.
 
I think this drill would more benefit your pattern selection...

For me...when I want to refresh my stroke I shoot shots with my eyes closed (right before the final stroke)

When you close your eyes you will be much more aware of any stroke issues...It also helps your eye pattern and focus...IMO because when you close your eyes the image you should retain is whatever you look at last..
 
Jim Rempe has recommended this for years. I do it quite often, sometimes forgetting the "no rail" and have to start over:p
 
This is commonly referred to as "The Brainwashing Drill" - most recently made popular by Samm Diep; but I'm sure it's been around for a long time.

Masayoshi - Using english in your shot selections will help throw the OB into the pocket while keeping a shorter rebound angle for the CB. So it's possible to shoot, essentially a stop-shot with a slight angle, using english to the throw the OB and have the CB dead stop as if it were straight in. It's also useful when you don't have enough view of the OB. You can either shorten or lengthen the cut angle using proper speed and english to make a shot, unmakeable by using center-ball. That's what the OP was talking about, I'm sure.

This isn't really a "stroke refresher"... but it is a good way to make balls, plan routes and patterns and get a good feel for the speed necessary to make balls on that table.
 
Johnny beat me to it. This is referred to as the Brainwash Drill. More commonly, in my experiences, the balls were spread throughout the entire length of the table. It's a fantastic drill for 14.1 players as well as 8 ball players. It really helps develop pattern awareness as well as helping a player hone in on the all-important soft stun shot.
 
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