Using sound to improve pattern play

[iusedtoberich]

Update:

Since starting this thread, I have been using this technique every day, of obtaining angles that allow a soft hit. I've been playing this game for 20 years, on a competitive level (relative to my speed at the time...). I finally feel like I understand pattern and position play, after all these years.

Obviously, many shots require a different hit, but this technique has taught me what the ideal angles are for an "effortless" game.

I will keep at it

YMMV

 

[iusedtoberich]

Your neighbors are complaining about balls being hit on a pool table. Good thing they don't live near me where kids practice hockey by shooting tennis balls into the garage door, practice tennis into the garage door, bounce basketballs up and down the driveway, yell and scream while in the swimming pool, and etc. This is not including the radios that are blaring while doing that.

I live in an apartment building. I snuck a table in, and don't want any of my neighbors to hear anything and complain to the main office, so that they don't let me play. Hence, I'm trying to be as quiet as possible.

I play during the day when everyone is at work, with the radio fairly loud, to mask any noise if any neighbors are home. At night, I play only soft shots.

 

[FreeShot]

I call this 'tai chi' pool....find out where 'whitey' wants to go....
...and just help it.

Irving Crane was a great exponent of this method.

Or like the Zen master in the Zen in the Art of Archery, "let the shot shoot itself."

 

[2andOUT]

SVB played our house Pro, Rory Hendrickson, on a 9 footer, and Rory said the amazing thing was Shane played all but just a couple of shots the same speed. That was during a session of playing over 2 hours. That is an amazing feat, and where consistency comes from. So I wouldn't say it is about soft, but finding the speed that works best for you.

I saw a kinister video once where I think he said to shoot and make the cueball replace the OB with another half roll. Once you can do that, he said ALL shots should be shot with that same speed.

Since I can't replace the OB with the CB all the time, I just whack 'em. :grin:

 

[ChopStick]

Pattern play selection is something I have been wanting to focus on to improve my runout percentage in 9 ball.

I came across something yesterday, in order to keep the sound low on my home table (neighbors), I decided to hit every shot softly. This really reinforced getting the angle that would allow you to have a slow, rolling cue ball on every shot. If you are too straight, you have to pop it to move the cue ball, and get a "loud" hit.

I've been randomly placing 4 balls on one half of the table, and trying to think through a rotation pattern where each shot will be "quiet".

When I get through a whole sequence as planned, the out really feels effortless. All soft, quiet, rolling cue balls.

As I was writing this, I think Corey Deuel plays this style more than the other current pros. He really makes the game look effortless. Shane, in contrast, seems to pound the balls more, with straighter angles. He makes the game look more difficult (IMO).

Thoughts? Anyone do something similar?

OK. This is going to be hard to explain so bear with me. You should not be "rolling the cue ball". This is a bad practice to get into. Even at the same slow speed, there is a big difference in a ball that is stroked and a ball that is rolled. A rolled ball will pick up drift or be vulnerable to every imperfection of the table. A stroked ball will remain truer longer. There are some shots that cannot be made rolling the ball. They must be stroked even at low speed.

A low speed stroke is a tremendous asset even in 9 ball. Most players never develop this capability. Kinnister mentions it in one of his videos. Cutting balls down the long rail and the cue ball comes back across the table and does not touch the other long rail. Many years ago I learned a shot that is more demanding.

Take the cue ball and put it in front of one of the corner pockets. Take two object balls and go over to the opposing side pocket. Use the two balls to measure and place one object ball exactly one balls width out from the long rail near the side pocket, on the same end of the table as the cue ball of course. You are going to cut the ball in the side pocket. After you make the ball, set it up again and move the object ball farther down the rail away from the side pocket. Always exactly one balls width from the rail.

Believe it or not. With that ball one half diamond down and one balls width out, you can cut that ball in the side. How far down you can go will vary from table to table but it will be a lot further down than you think it is. Obviously you cannot make this shot at a firm or medium speed and this shot cannot be slow rolled. You MUST stroke this shot at low speed or you will not be able to make it.

Long drag/slider shots are also fun. You have to be careful about english because you will curve the cueball. Setup a spot shot and shot it from the kitchen without the cueball touching the end rail. No, you don't draw it to the side rail. The cue ball slides down to the object ball and dies before it gets to the end rail.

 

[ChopStick]

Or like the Zen master in the Zen in the Art of Archery, "let the shot shoot itself."

I believe the term used was "It shoots". A very relevant book for pool especially the section in the back about the psychology of developing swordsmen.

I read it 30 years ago. I have been meaning to read it again. I just found an e-book version of it recently on Amazon I think.