Transitioning player questions

Gerry

Gerry

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Hi Guys,

I'm jumping into 3c head first and have a few questions for you all. My GC2 10' is being installed in my basement (waiting for cloth) and I'm going nuts waiting.

1> I wanted to ask how you all practice? regimented routine? or just any shot giving you issues?

2> how many of you use systems consistently? or just for certain types of positions/banks?

3> How about gambling? Are there standard 3c bets like in pool? It seems 3c would be easy to handicap like one pocket.....giving balls, or points.

Thanks, Gerry
 
Hey...

In my experience, folks who play 3c generally play for the game. I have often seen people play for the table time, but I guess that wont be an issue at your house.

As far as practice, I just do game play, rotating cue balls. If there is a shot I hit poorly or want to try differenly, I grab my balls and try again.

When's the opening party?
 
Gerry writes: Hi Guys,

I'm jumping into 3c head first and have a few questions for you all. My GC2 10' is being installed in my basement (waiting for cloth) and I'm going nuts waiting.
Welcome Gerry. You will find most everyone quite pleasant
1> I wanted to ask how you all practice? regimented routine? or just any shot giving you issues? practice the break shot every time you play,
practice short shots everytime time you play, find where the corner is on almost every shot you have
2> how many of you use systems consistently? or just for certain types of positions/banks? I don't know how many use them but I use some systems but don't get bogged down with too many systems initially.
3> How about gambling? Are there standard 3c bets like in pool? It seems 3c would be easy to handicap like one pocket.....giving balls, or points. Usually your opponent races to x and you race to y

Thanks, Gerry I wouldn't be too open about transitioning to 3C. People may start questioning whether you have a death wish. :wink:




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No short term memory and no expectation!=Dead stroke!
 
Black-Balled said:
Hey...


When's the opening party?
Click to expand...

Well, 2 things, I"m waiting for freaking Simonis to catch up on Carom cloth and fill my order!

and then Rob from tabletek has to come back to complete the install. We have the table frame and slates on top in the basement now "seasoning" or acclimating. I walk down there 3 times a day hoping somehow it magically assembled itself! :)

Then it's game on! I still have my 9' together waiting to get rolled to the other side of the basement once I re-engineer the staircase platform.

Maybe someday I will get a barbox and have the total package right here in my basement! :)

G.
 
Thanks Steve! I have been playing weekly at Classic Billiards here in Phoenixville. The table there is AWESOME! if any of you are close by.....try it. The only local room with snooker, billiards and diamonds/crowns. My Buddy Jimmy has put together a GREAT room, and only $7 all day specials! Super deal.

I have really taken to 3c. I had a long time wish to have a Billiard table, but never really thought it would happen because of expense, but I tripped over a stupidly sweet deal on the GC, and I'm working with Rob on the install. He needs plumbing work done......and that is what I do! :)

G.

QUOTE=zensteve;5071476]Gerry writes: Hi Guys,

I'm jumping into 3c head first and have a few questions for you all. My GC2 10' is being installed in my basement (waiting for cloth) and I'm going nuts waiting.
Welcome Gerry. You will find most everyone quite pleasant
1> I wanted to ask how you all practice? regimented routine? or just any shot giving you issues? practice the break shot every time you play,
practice short shots everytime time you play, find where the corner is on almost every shot you have
2> how many of you use systems consistently? or just for certain types of positions/banks? I don't know how many use them but I use some systems but don't get bogged down with too many systems initially.
3> How about gambling? Are there standard 3c bets like in pool? It seems 3c would be easy to handicap like one pocket.....giving balls, or points. Usually your opponent races to x and you race to y

Thanks, Gerry I wouldn't be too open about transitioning to 3C. People may start questioning whether you have a death wish. :wink:





--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


No short term memory and no expectation!=Dead stroke![/QUOTE]
 
zensteve said:
Gerry writes: Hi Guys,

I'm jumping into 3c head first and have a few questions for you all. My GC2 10' is being installed in my basement (waiting for cloth) and I'm going nuts waiting.
Welcome Gerry. You will find most everyone quite pleasant
1> I wanted to ask how you all practice? regimented routine? or just any shot giving you issues? practice the break shot every time you play,
practice short shots everytime time you play, find where the corner is on almost every shot you have
2> how many of you use systems consistently? or just for certain types of positions/banks? I don't know how many use them but I use some systems but don't get bogged down with too many systems initially.
3> How about gambling? Are there standard 3c bets like in pool? It seems 3c would be easy to handicap like one pocket.....giving balls, or points. Usually your opponent races to x and you race to y

Thanks, Gerry I wouldn't be too open about transitioning to 3C. People may start questioning whether you have a death wish. :wink:




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Click to expand...

^^^ What He Said^^^

Another overlooked practice shot is the lag.

Basic systems are nice to know as a check but like Steve says don't get too bogged down with it. I do clock as lot of shots. Clocking usually works well on any table. Adjustments are always needed no matter.

As always I suggest practicing 1 rail with the added rule that only 1 rail shots count. Theory is, after contacting the second rail the 3rd rail is defined. In this practice the 2nd rail is ball 3. What's also cool about this practice is sometimes when you screw up you'll hit a 3 railer you never knew existed.
 
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Gerry said:
Hi Guys,

I'm jumping into 3c head first and have a few questions for you all. My GC2 10' is being installed in my basement (waiting for cloth) and I'm going nuts waiting.

1> I wanted to ask how you all practice? regimented routine? or just any shot giving you issues?

2> how many of you use systems consistently? or just for certain types of positions/banks?

3> How about gambling? Are there standard 3c bets like in pool? It seems 3c would be easy to handicap like one pocket.....giving balls, or points.

Thanks, Gerry
Click to expand...

There are shot routines you can work on, straight rail is a good starting point, at the same time you can play 1, 2, 3 rails.

There are different ways to approach it, keep it simple for now. Get a book of shots and try them out, the cue ball is amazing, the ultimate accomplishment, knowing that cue ball.

I am a track line player. I will use a system as a check valve, maybe on a bank or zep type shots, two of the same.
If I am practicing I will choose shots where I need to create the angle to get into the track line, instead of taking the natural shot, they are more difficult so I practice them more often, I also shoot the naturals.

Work on the thickness of hit and the stroke to send the cue ball into the desired track, spin and all the other goodies will happen in due time. Repetition and memory will kick in.

As to playing games, the most common is points, an even race to 15…. 25-20…..50-35…..there are other ways to play, this is the most common.

It's an awesome game and the most fun to play.
Most of all.....Imagination

Best of luck and enjoy your new table
Sincerely: SS
 
If you want to take it serious and play good, you will always need to know some systems and use them regularly. Even the pro's use the systems every shot, every shot its different maybe you don't see it at first, but after some time you will start to think about out different solutions that leave a better shot after it or defends if you miss, you will want to control the kiss and the position play. There is systems for everything, but first play freely and enjoy it, this game is to enjoy and takes lots of time (years) to be good at.
Wish I could have a table in my house too, I would be playing and training 6 or 7 hours a day! xD

Stay cool!

GR
 
To bbb (Can't send you pm)

Hey! I've tried to send you 2 messages but this always bugged, and I've wrote a lot. The resume is this.
Just go for the classic Systems first, this meaning the Raymond Cuelman KL and LL they are basic, and give you good lights in the game, You can search it on google, and you might find them. Then you want to go for the RC Plus easy one too, you just need to memorize some points. If you don't find them online I can check if I have some files here. Don't go for the japanese ones or Tuzul anything like that its difficult for the begginers and still difficult for the more experienced ones!
This is a little resume of what I've tried to send you.

Anything just send me a message!

See ya and have a good carom training.

Gil
 
Some other points....

Get Robert Byrne's "New Standard Book of Pool and Billiards". Work through each of the 3-cushion shots he shows. Basically, he shows with excellent diagrams pretty much every shot a beginner needs to know.

Byrne also covers the basic diamond systems. Unlike most books that have the systems, he has a good explanation of how to make them work and when they will work less well.

A fun gambling game for three or more players is "fifth billiard". You shoot in turn with the incoming player taking the "still" ball. You keep score on a single string (if you have beads) or count. The person who scores the fifth billiard (5, or 10, or 15, or...) gets a quarter from each of the other players. Any fifth billiard in a run of 5 or more pays double.

Byrne describes some other multi-player games either in NSBoP&B or in one of the two other books based on his Billiards Digest columns.

A practice technique I've used is to start from a break shot and then repeat each shot until I make it. It helps to have little paper markers to reset the shots. On some shots you will change your mind on the best way to shoot it.
 
You are already a good pool player so it will be a fun transition - and welcome to the game I used to love, but do not play anymore due to no tables around. It's a game you could lose yourself in.

My thoughts on practice and to not duplicate posts, practice the lag; the break (already mentioned); practice how many tips of english it takes to move one full diamond the length of the table, 2 diamonds, 3 diamonds, etc (half that distance the short way on the table); and if you have a buddy, it is really helpful when you want to practice certain shots, that they can replace the balls so you can remain near the cue ball to try it again and again. Then you can do it for them and you learn by watching.

The two strangest spots I ever tried to give up for a little money (not much) was 1) every billiard my opponent makes I have to remove a billiard from my score (it's like up to 24 points in a 50 point game when going to 25; and I played 7 or no count with my opponent going to 25 - I had to make one run of 7 to win. Both were super tough but equally as fun to play. I only mention this so you kow you can come up with any spot or game both agree on to make it fun and challenging.

I would suggest learning the basic systems (corner 5, plus 2, etc) and as Mr. Jewett mentioned, Bob Byrne's book is a good place to start. Eventually you do not want to get bogged down counting diamonds interrupting the flow of the game, but it's a must in the beginning. Just think about the times you don't have the feel on the pool table and you have to trust a system or something to get you through it - that happens in spades playing 3-cushion, you have to have the diamonds to trust you are following the right path to get you back in stroke and flow.

Enjoy the game.
Dave
 
Thanks for all the great info guys! 3C Learning is coming along GREAT, and faster then I expected. My table is playing fine, but obviously slower then the Kronos down at the pool room. I think that helps me because there are many shots that I cannot force to go on my table that you can on the heated table. It forces me to create other options.

I have been practicing like you suggested Bob by replaying any missed shots til I learn a few different ways to shoot them if available. I have the Byrne books here and forgot they had all the 3C info!:) thanks for the reminder my good man!

I also start with a break shot and race to 10 to see how many innings it takes. This REALLY forces me to focus so I don't waste innings. With this same game I will also use differing technique like aiming with sectioning, or ghost ball, or line of sight/angle, along with different cueing technique and I can track which combo is working best for me.

Back down to the basement now for another race to 10! :)

have fun,

G.
 
Hello
About this subject, i've read all this posts with great interess, and i must say that one of the beauties of the game among others, it's the different opinions about how to get the best result, in this particular case the transitioning player. In my modest opinion all are good, i'm more fond of ones than others, but following the book mentioned by Mr. Jewett - Byrne's new standard book..., wich i don´t have, but i have one other book of the same author, and i like his vision, he is not "conserver" he is a "feel good" wathever way you choose to go, in my opinion he's also very similiar with the opinions of Mr. Bert Van Manen, and that's also my opinion, you should choose the way that makes you confortable and happy on the table, that´s the most important, all the rest will came with time and some interess from you, and it will be a time that you will say or wright" for me in my opinion the best is..."

Kind regards
Francisco
 
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