Ways to practice pool without pool table
- Thread starter krlk
- Start date
I used ironing board in the back yard to practice break shot and i did bottle thing for stroke. Anything else you guys think can be done to help improve in any way? thanks.
p.s. i do own set of balls
On a table in front of a mirror to see and make sure your stroke is straight.You can work on your bridges and stance at the same time too, if it's tall enough. John B.
Are you talking about pocket pool, because I know you can do that without a pool table. :smile:
I used ironing board in the back yard to practice break shot and i did bottle thing for stroke. Anything else you guys think can be done to help improve in any way? thanks.
p.s. i do own set of balls
They have some good pool video games on the market. I forget the name of the Xbox one but it released a couple months ago and is pretty dang good. On the PC side they have Virtual Pool. Both are good because they will help with angles and strategy.
In my humble opinion, there is no substitute for watching pool videos. If you're going to try to devote some time to your game and you can't get to a table, watching videos is the best use of time. I think also reading a few books, going over some diagrams of unusual situations can be very helpful.
Watch videos of professional matches. Especially watch pros who have great pattern play and/or a rhythm at the table that you particularly like.
Recently I didn't play for about a week (which is typical for me) but made sure to watch a few minutes here and there of Efren's matches on Youtube (which is atypical for me). When I next played, my stroke was rusty but my pattern play was better than usual. So much of this game is mental that you can keep yourself mentally in stroke even if you are not physically in stroke.
Edit: In order, I would say the best things you can do are:
1) Watch videos of professional matches. The more you watch great players, the more you start to internalize their decision making, their mechanics, and their level of focus. This will stay with you when you get to the table.
2) Learn. Watch instructional videos, read instructional books, etc. There's a limit to what you can learn without being able to try it yourself, however.
3) Practice your stroke. Unless you're a beginner or are working on a very specific mechanical issue, I think practicing your stroke at home without a pool table is only marginally helpful. You're not lining up on a real shot, you're not actually striking a cue ball, and you don't have any real world feedback to tell you what you did right or wrong. It's so different from playing that I don't think it's that helpful.
Recently I didn't play for about a week (which is typical for me) but made sure to watch a few minutes here and there of Efren's matches on Youtube (which is atypical for me). When I next played, my stroke was rusty but my pattern play was better than usual. So much of this game is mental that you can keep yourself mentally in stroke even if you are not physically in stroke.
Edit: In order, I would say the best things you can do are:
1) Watch videos of professional matches. The more you watch great players, the more you start to internalize their decision making, their mechanics, and their level of focus. This will stay with you when you get to the table.
2) Learn. Watch instructional videos, read instructional books, etc. There's a limit to what you can learn without being able to try it yourself, however.
3) Practice your stroke. Unless you're a beginner or are working on a very specific mechanical issue, I think practicing your stroke at home without a pool table is only marginally helpful. You're not lining up on a real shot, you're not actually striking a cue ball, and you don't have any real world feedback to tell you what you did right or wrong. It's so different from playing that I don't think it's that helpful.
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would not buy
i would not spend money on thing like that. it so easy ta make. plus every time you miss that thing will be flying of the table. i just stick two tooth picks in an eraser and voilia.
The Buddy Hall cue guide is used similar to the bottle method but is adjustable for height/angle. It is on Ebay for less than $10. And you dont have to empty one to use it.
i would not spend money on thing like that. it so easy ta make. plus every time you miss that thing will be flying of the table.
i just stick two tooth picks in an eraser and voilia. 
Gonna toss in another vote for the soda bottle.... I did this all the time when I was learning to play.... And got to where I could do it at warp speed..
I think this is why I tend to disregard much of the pendulum stroke discussion and discussions on stroke fundamentals... I figure if I can do the bottle drill on high speed my stroke is straight and I will be hitting the cue ball with accuracy....
Chris
I think this is why I tend to disregard much of the pendulum stroke discussion and discussions on stroke fundamentals... I figure if I can do the bottle drill on high speed my stroke is straight and I will be hitting the cue ball with accuracy....
Chris
Whenever I want to practice and there is no table, I practice by visualization.
http://www.sportpsychologytoday.com/sport-psychology-for-coaches/the-power-of-visualization/
http://www.sportpsychologytoday.com/sport-psychology-for-coaches/the-power-of-visualization/
Bingo! University research has shown that minute muscle memory occurs when we visualize a sport technique. Also, you can develop pattern play and positioning by imagining a "run out."
The unconscious mind is visual, and it is your unconscious mind that helps you in your mental game, which like golf is a precision, non-reactive sport, as defined by the World Games.
Haven't done it in years, but I used to practice with the bottle method and when I was lined, up, I would close my eyes and keep stroking to see how many times I could hit the back of the bottle before I would strike the side.
Yes, watch!
I agree. We are animals that learned mostly by imitation.
A study done years ago showed that basketball players could actually improve their free throw percentage by simply watching good shooters shoot.
Realizing this, one would do well NOT to watch amateurs with bad habits. Pick out a top player with a style similar to yours, and then watch every detail of their game.
I agree. We are animals that learned mostly by imitation.
A study done years ago showed that basketball players could actually improve their free throw percentage by simply watching good shooters shoot.
Realizing this, one would do well NOT to watch amateurs with bad habits. Pick out a top player with a style similar to yours, and then watch every detail of their game.
I used ironing board in the back yard to practice break shot and i did bottle thing for stroke. Anything else you guys think can be done to help improve in any way? thanks.
p.s. i do own set of balls
You can porobably find a smaller table for next to nothing. When I was 16 I traded a motorcycle for a Valley bar table, put it in the garage, and I was off to the races.
Before I had a pool table I bought a cue ball and an object ball. I took the large piece of felt from my gf's roulette game and weighted it down with a bunch of old phone books which acted as rails.
I wedged a big plastic cup and elevated it so when the ball rolled in it would roll back out. I practiced all different angled shots until I bought a pool table.
I wedged a big plastic cup and elevated it so when the ball rolled in it would roll back out. I practiced all different angled shots until I bought a pool table.
Do you know the name of the XBOX game?? I can't seem to find anything on it. Thanks
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