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n2pool
Guest
I was wondering if there are any worth while training aids that would help my 9 year old son. As other fathers know sometimes advice from dad is not always taking. Thanks in advance for any helpful info.
n2pool said:
Although it's boring (you may need to pay him some small reward) it would be valuable if he worked on the basics such a learning to cue straight with excellent control.
For this you can use a beer bottle and just cue in and out of the hole going in several inches and coming back out several inches without touching the sides.
Also get him to cue back and forth toward a mirror in between two sticks trying to keep the cue in a straight line. The mirror helps him to see if he is moving the cue straight.
I once made an upside down V shaped device and attached it to my chin. If your head remains still, moving the cue between this V and a steady bridge guarantees a perfectly straight cueing action. Practicing this trains muscle memory ( what the experts call neuromuscular memory training). It is good to alternate between this drill and the others to constantly reinforce the feeling of straight cueing.
Straight cueing saves many years of confusion about whether you are missing due to bad allignment or bad cueing.
Another is to hit a single ball up and down the table back to the cue tip. Then put a ball on the cusion and have him double kiss it trying to bring the white ball straight back. If he can keep postion for 10 shots then he is starting to cue and aim pretty straight.
If he masters these he will progress more quickly through more complex potting and positional drills.
Hope that helps.
Colin
www.hamcorp.com
Re: Re: Training aids for my son (9years old)
I forgot another great one that I used with good success.
Get a laser pointer and stick it to the cue with blue-tak or something else that won't damage the cue. Check by looking with your eye down the cue that the laser is pointing reasonably accurately down the line of the cue.
The place a peice of white paper with a two line marking a cross and place it on something about 5-10 feet from the cue. Cue back and forth making sure to keep the laser spot as close as possible to the centre vertical line. Some movement up and down is ok, but it is a good rule to minimise it.
Good luck,
Colin
www.hamcorp.com
I forgot another great one that I used with good success.
Get a laser pointer and stick it to the cue with blue-tak or something else that won't damage the cue. Check by looking with your eye down the cue that the laser is pointing reasonably accurately down the line of the cue.
The place a peice of white paper with a two line marking a cross and place it on something about 5-10 feet from the cue. Cue back and forth making sure to keep the laser spot as close as possible to the centre vertical line. Some movement up and down is ok, but it is a good rule to minimise it.
Good luck,
Colin
www.hamcorp.com
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n2pool
Guest
Great info!! Thanks
I think the most important thing to teach is proper fundamentals, thats what my father showed me when I started to play. If he can start playing without learning bad habits he will be very much ahead of the game.
I think the most important thing to show him is the simple stuff like how to bridge, and the stance. My dad stressed these things when I started to play and within 6 months I was beating guys who had been playing 20+ years.
Once he starts to get the hang of it he will start playing better and once he starts to play better the more he will enjoy it and will want to play more. I bet soon enough he will be very a very good shooter.
I think the most important thing to show him is the simple stuff like how to bridge, and the stance. My dad stressed these things when I started to play and within 6 months I was beating guys who had been playing 20+ years.
Once he starts to get the hang of it he will start playing better and once he starts to play better the more he will enjoy it and will want to play more. I bet soon enough he will be very a very good shooter.
K
King Cueball
Guest
I think the best way to teach is just to let him play, let him have his own style of play try not to make him your clone.
I've heard that when you teach young children to play you should get them a platform to stand on if the are not tall enough to set up straight when bridging on a pool table.Many children are too short and develop a sidearm stroke to compensate. Once this sidearm is locked into their muscle memory it may be hard to undo down the road.If your son is tall enough to line up a shot with a straight back elbow....disregard what I've said.
I also have a12 old grandson that i am helping, after the basic Ihave him practice a drill that will help his nine ball game. He recks 3 ball breaks takes cue in hand and runs out, when he does this 3 times succesfil ,we add aball try it . hope it helps. p.s. my grand son won the first 14-under tourny he entered. proud grandfather!!!!!!!!!!! STICK
mr8ball
Active member
Hi there i read your post about your son. I have a training aid that will help him quicker then anything out there. I have a 13 year old on it and he finished 2nd in the jr. nationals last year. It is highly recommended and endorsed by a lot of the top players and instructors. It is worth a look you can start him out on the right track. Have a look http://billiardsgamestroketrainer.com/ Thanks for your time. Doug