The Value of Drills

The Dragon

The Dragon

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I recently took a lesson from a Korean Pro player. Very down to earth guy.

I'm a 5 or 6 not great but not bad either.

The lesson went like this, we agreed on the price and then he walked me through rack after rack of Ten ball. there was a small language barrier.

His evaluation was

Stroke good
Aim great
Stance good
Bridge a little loose
Postion play not as good
Power way too much.

He gave me about 7-8 center table track drills, and all I've been doing for two weeks is shooting these three hours or more a day. I have to say I've noticed a dramatic improvement over all. I really have become a believer in Shot drills.


Anyone have Drills that they feel have helped them ?
 
The Dragon said:
I recently took a lesson from a Korean Pro player. Very down to earth guy.

I'm a 5 or 6 not great but not bad either.

The lesson went like this, we agreed on the price and then he walked me through rack after rack of Ten ball. there was a small language barrier.

His evaluation was

Stroke good
Aim great
Stance good
Bridge a little loose
Postion play not as good
Power way too much.

He gave me about 7-8 center table track drills, and all I've been doing for two weeks is shooting these three hours or more a day. I have to say I've noticed a dramatic improvement over all. I really have become a believer in Shot drills.


Anyone have Drills that they feel have helped them ?
Click to expand...

Long diagonal stop shots. Various distance stop shots. Various 1 and 2 rail banks.
 
The Dragon said:
I recently took a lesson from a Korean Pro player. Very down to earth guy.

I'm a 5 or 6 not great but not bad either.

The lesson went like this, we agreed on the price and then he walked me through rack after rack of Ten ball. there was a small language barrier.

His evaluation was

Stroke good
Aim great
Stance good
Bridge a little loose
Postion play not as good
Power way too much.

He gave me about 7-8 center table track drills, and all I've been doing for two weeks is shooting these three hours or more a day. I have to say I've noticed a dramatic improvement over all. I really have become a believer in Shot drills.


Anyone have Drills that they feel have helped them ?
Click to expand...

Let me throw in my .02..Although I may not be a good one to ask..Mainly because I never really practiced anything ever, much less repetitious drills !..Having said that, assuming you've learned the basics, if what you are doing seems to be working for you, and you enjoy practicing by yourself, then go for it !

My philosophy has always been..STAY IN ACTION, and compete with live opponents, as much as you possibly can !...In any pool session, you will face many hundreds of different demands on your skills !..Practicing a few specific 'drills', (until your eyes bleed) will not prepare you for 95% of what you will face regularly, in just a few games of REAL competition !

PS..Of course, back when I was playing every day, I had no shortage of willing opponents...I always matched up, stayed in action, and gambled !..If thats not your case, or gambling's not your bag, my advice will probably not work for you !;)

SJD
 
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take 3-8 balsl string them from the 2nd diamond on the long rail towards the foot spot
on the opposite long rail string 3 -7 balls from the second diamond to the head spot
starting with the ball ifarthest from the rail
practice going from one row of balls to the other shooting into the corner pocket of the side the balls are strung on
..........
i hope you can follow that...:o
 
bbb said:
take 3-8 balsl string them from the 2nd diamond on the long rail towards the foot spot
on the opposite long rail string 3 -7 balls from the second diamond to the head spot
starting with the ball ifarthest from the rail
practice going from one row of balls to the other shooting into the corner pocket of the side the balls are strung on
..........
i hope you can follow that...:o
Click to expand...

Larry old friend, please realize something...Practicing, is like taking a shower with your clothes on !..I really want to see you improve your game, but the ONLY way to do that, is to get down and gamble with tough action..I can tell by your attitude, and your frequent questions, that is probably something you don't care to be involved in...and thats just FINE !!!

You have a very good life going on, and, I know you love pool !..But don't think you have to become a top contender to enjoy it !..Stay in your comfort zone, and just know that 99% of all the top notch pool player's, would give their left nut to be as successful as you have been with your life...Enjoy the game, (especially one pocket) but don't take it so serious ! ..You can't possibly learn it all..Just realize that you will never be an Efren Reyes, or an Eddie Taylor...I did a long time ago, and I have learned to be very content with it ! :p

Best always,

Dick
 
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lately I came to a conclusion that various drills (there are many very valuable and helpful) can help one to expand their abilities as a player. But I'm yet to see a drill that could make a player be consistent and bring the number of misses close to zero. This lies beyond what drill can do and in another sphere (mental).
 
Vahmurka said:
lately I came to a conclusion that various drills (there are many very valuable and helpful) can help one to expand their abilities as a player. But I'm yet to see a drill that could make a player be consistent and bring the number of misses close to zero. This lies beyond what drill can do and in another sphere (mental).
Click to expand...

I'm a big fan of drills and I've absolutely improved from playing them. However I think there is something to what Vahmurka says here. I have a buddy that typically beats me 60% of the time. But every time I've shown him a drill I'm good at, he can't do it to save his life. I mean he's worse at it then when I first learned the drill. He's an old school bar player so maybe he hates drills...

But certainly you do need a mix of natural talent + drills + experience playing under pressure against live opponents.
 
Makes sense to me....

Here is an excerpt of a conversation that Jordan Spieth (recent Master's winner) made to a reporter, regarding his views on practice drills... It was rewarding to see, that his outlook on the value of practicing is very similar to mine, and it can definitely relate to pool !

"In two trips to the Masters, Spieth has navigated 144 holes in 23 under par and has a green jacket and a runner-up finish to show for it. All this on a prestigious course that some of the game's best player's need years to solve. How could that be? Why the instant connection?..."I think it's imagination," Spieth said. "I think it's very 'feel based'. I grew up playing a lot more, than I did hitting balls on the range and just hitting the same shots, over and over again." So many shots around Augusta are unique. Feel-based. Which Spieth considers one of his biggest strengths. The shaped approaches, and looping putts, are something that practicing, per say, will yield very limited benefits" !
 
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Wagon wheel drill.

Bert Kinister has a ton of great drills to learn, some of his stuff is on youtube...he charges for his dvd's. They helped me a lot.
 
I think much of your improvement is the time invested and the critique you got from pro player.
 
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