What drills are best to get that smooth stroke like Buddy Hall , or Chris Melling?

[BasementDweller]

after a certain point, if your regularly in action. you dont need practice, itll just help you get comfortable playing with nothing on the line

There's just no way this is true for many players. I understand that you can stay "in stroke" for the most part if you're playing all the time, but I think there are maintenance shots that you just have to practice because they don't come up in competition enough to keep them fresh. Jacked up, frozen to the rail, long straight draw and follow shots, those are just 3 shots that I have to practice to keep them in line.

 

[Texas Carom Club]

There's just no way this is true for many players. I understand that you can stay "in stroke" for the most part if you're playing all the time, but I think there are maintenance shots that you just have to practice because they don't come up in competition enough to keep them fresh. Jacked up, frozen to the rail, long straight draw and follow shots, those are just 3 shots that I have to practice to keep them in line.

if you play all the time and cant do long draw or follow you got different issues because those 3 i see come up regularly

 

[The Old Jaybird]

Counter example: Dick Lane mostly played by himself.

I used to play with myself all the time, my pool game didn't improve much.

Oh, never mind.

 

[jimstone]

I really appreciate all these comments. I'm trying to really focus on a slow, smooth backswing, and pulling back almost to my bridge hand.

 

[mikemosconi]

I like your comment, and mine is work in progress. Also, play on 9 ft tables with tight pockets, this forces you to play a good stroke.

There have also been many down the years who say that a stroke should be developed on looser pockets and adapted to tighter pockets.

I only recommend trying to fix a broken stroke on tight pockets if you have visual feedback or on site coaching otherwise you will end up choking your stroke even more!

 

[boogieman]

Jacked up, frozen to the rail, long straight draw and follow shots, those are just 3 shots that I have to practice to keep them in line.

If you shot as bad as I do you would play all of the above in almost every rack!

 

[BasementDweller]

if you play all the time and cant do long draw or follow you got different issues because those 3 i see come up regularly

If you're playing the extreme versions of all those shots while you're playing, you must really be playing a lot.

 

[maha]

it doesnt matter at all what you do. just get your stroke to go straight on all shots. smooth, pokey, jerky, all the same as long as its straight.

***your body controls the stroke. your mind controls the speed.***

and few have a straight stroke as it wrongly changes for them, based on the shots and pressure.

and its the easiest thing to practice and do. and you dont even have to be at a pool table.