What drills are you running these days?

[SmoothStroke]

this is what I do just lay em all out randomly and try to run the table

To run 15 balls randomly, spread open, is no great feat; it may be the easiest thing to do, unless you are an absolute beginner. This does not come highly recommended.

Throw 5 balls around the lower corner pockets
Throw 5 balls around the upper corner pockets
Throw 5 balls around the side pockets
Basically breaking the table up into thirds (3 sections, lower, middle, upper)

Take ball in hand and run out each section of 5 balls into the 2 designated pockets. Switch it up, start in a different section every time and run them all.
Now you are shooting fairly easy shots and having to use your brain a little.

Sincerely: SS

 

[TheBook]

Doing drills are fine for learning how to control the CB but I think sometimes players get carried away with it.

At one tournament there was a player doing the L drill. He had it mastered and looked as if he would be the player to beat. Problem was that he could do the L drill but didn't know to implement any of that skill. He ended up being one of the worse players in the tournament. i don't think he won a game, he didn't have any other knowledge of playing.

 

[Seth C.]

Perfecting your stroke: Object ball at center table. Cue ball 12 inches in front of corner pocket so you can make a good bridge. Shoot OB into opposite corner pocket with follow. This is the "corner to corner" shot. You should be able to follow the cue ball into the pocket. If you can't, spend the next 12 months pulling your hair out trying to figure it out until one day you actually do! Doing this drill with a stop shot is cheating as it is infinitely easier to hit a good shot with center ball than with high follow..

Dan -- Just a note to say that I just read a bit from Dr. Dave (about his MOFUDAT drill) in which he says that it is easier for many to execute a straight stroke with high center than with center ball:

"Step 6 above implies your consistency and accuracy might be different with different tip placements on the vertical centerline. Online video HSV B.10 demonstrates the effects of above and below center hits and explains some of the reasons why an above-center hit seems to provide the best success with the drill. Here’s a summary of some of the reasons why:
• The cue can be more level (less elevated) for an above center hit, with the same clearance between the cue and the rail. This will reduce the amount of swerve (cue ball curve) if the cue ball is hit unintentionally off center.
• The slowing drag effect of a below-center hit, with unintentional English, increases the effective sidespin off the rail. The drag action slows the ball’s speed more than with a roll shot, but the sidespin doesn’t wear off any faster. With the same spin and less speed, the rebound angle off the rail will be larger for the drag shot.
• It might be easier for some people to position the tip on the cue ball centerline when the tip is closer to the top edge of the ball, where there is clearer alignment with the top of the tip and the top of the ball (although, this reason might be debatable)."

Food for thought.

 

[Zphix]

Believe it or more I've been drilling alot lately. I've become very serious about improving and at the moment my biggest strength of the big three (speed control, position, pocketing ability) is definitely pocketing and my stroke is POWERFUL.

The guy I look up to in pool was talking to me a few days ago and I asked him if he thought it was possible for me to become an A rated player by the end of summer and he said I've got the stroke (one of the best he's ever seen) and if I can tune up my pattern and position play then I would become an A/AA very fast.

So I've been shooting lots of position and pattern play drills like the L drill, and several of Darren Appletons drills as well.

Sent from my X501_USA_Cricket using Tapatalk 2

 

[Tony_in_MD]

Two that I like, I call them endless drills.

Set up a spotshot with BIH in the kitchen, make the ball in either corner, them replace the ball and shoot again (from where the cueball lays) It is not just important in this drill to make the ball, but you need to keep control of the cueball to continue the run. Keep going until you miss. You can keep track of how many successful shot you do in a row, for those that like to measure their performance and track it over time.

A second one has two balls a ball diameter off the short rail at the center diamond, start with ball in hand, pocket one of the balls and get position on the other ball on the other end of the table. (you will have to replace the ball you pocketed of course) Shoot the second ball (replace it ) and get position on the other end of the table. Remember you only get BIH on the first shot at the of the run, every other shot in this drill is done from where the CB lays. Keep going until you miss.

Again you can track how many times you can do this in a row to measure your performance over time.

 

[Dan White]

Dan -- Just a note to say that I just read a bit from Dr. Dave (about his MOFUDAT drill) in which he says that it is easier for many to execute a straight stroke with high center than with center ball:
...
Food for thought.

That's interesting, Seth. I learned a few things there. I do think there is a difference in the shot I was describing, though. In my shot a center ball hit is going to be sliding the whole way to the object ball, which eliminates any english taking over. Actually there is no rebound in this shot, so the english isn't as troublesome as in the MOFUDAT drill. With a high follow, let's say a "pro grade" follow for argument's sake, I think a little english error in vertical axis puts more spin on the cue ball than an equal error at the equator. Also, many (most?) people do not keep their cue level enough, even with high follow, so that could cause more of a masse effect than with a center ball hit. I guess there are a lot of "what if's" but I think the vase majority of players are going to have a much higher success with a center, or just below center ball hit rather than pro-grade follow.

Dave's discussion as to why draw results in a lot of side spin was interesting. One thing I was surprised he didn't mention is that with a draw shot your cue is likely pointing down much more than with a natural roll follow shot. The downward component of the stroke will create a masse effect in the draw shot, which could also account for the error seen.

Also, I just happened to be browsing through PGP this morning and read about Mark's visit to Steve Davis. Davis was a master at the MOFUDAT drill, and is said to have done it for hours at a time!