what is YOUR preshot routine?

A

Andrewjoseph

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
In my humble opinion the pre shot routine is one of the most important factors in being a run out player. I also feel it's one of the most over looked.

So i thought it would be fun to hear what everyone's specific routine is and see if there is anything to add our take away from mine. Here's mine:

Chalk
Take a step back
Look at table
Decide on shot or safety
Look at OB straight to pocket or intended target
See where stun takes the CB then use that as a point of reference to decide where to hit the CB
Step into shot.
Practice stroke. pause. Smooth follow through.

Yes i know it's pretty generic but i have only played Pool for 18 months. But i find when i start sloping steps is 4 or 5 balls into my run and that's when i miss.

Lets hear yours!



Posted from Azbilliards.com App for Android
 
couple of things that might help.

- Step on the line of aim with your back foot as you step into the shot.

- Stare at the contact point (or whatever you use) as you bend down to the shot. This allows the brain to determine the exact spot to hit as you arrive at your shooting position.

- you should be staring at the contact point for a bit when you are down (1 second)?

- After all the fiddling is done, you should again be staring at the contact point for about 1 - 2 seconds before the final stroke.

There is more but that is enough for now. Others will add more than you may find useful.
 
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Since I'm a beginner I can't offer much...but I'm going to be watching this thread very closely. Thanks for asking!
 
I’ll add a couple more that might be of help to the newbies

The first thing I do when I am on the shot is to have a straight bridge arm (for consistency).

Then I check that my swing arm is vertical. I do this by feel and adjust my grip as needed.

Next, I check that my chin is over (or touching) the cue stick. After a few swings I raise my head a little. Touching the stick with my chin is a physical reminder to have my eyes in the same place on every shot. Your face placement will be different based on dominant eye preferences.

During the preliminary swings I am center ball and want to see the cue stick on the line from my back hand through the cue ball. On long shots I often use a target on the cloth about half way to the object ball and determine if my swing hand, cue stick, intermediate point and contact point are all on line.

During my final preliminary swings I try to visualize the cue ball hitting the object ball and try hard to see the object ball actually move down the line.

I also try to see where my cue stick tip will be when the swing is completed.
If English is needed I use Joe Tucker’s approach to front and back hand English. (He has videos on Youtube).

When I am ready to shoot I stare at the contact point for a full second, sometimes two seconds on a tough shot. Then I just let go.

I forgot to mention that during the standing phase, before bending over, I take one or two deep breaths, breathing in through the nose and exhaling through the mouth. This is a meditation technique that helps to quiet the body. If I am wound up I use deep breathing while sitting in the chair. Nobody but me knows I am doing it. To learn more about the technique see this link to an article I wrote a few years ago. It is a long article and the breathing stuff is near the end.

http://billiards.colostate.edu/PBReview/Competitive_Anxiety.htm

There can be many different elements to a PSR and you will hear all kinds of stuff from people. Pick and choose what works ro you.

You will hear it in many ways and it can often take years for it to really sink in. So save yourself lots of aggravation and learn now that the single most import thing for a good game is your full concentration on every shot. The ability to go into and out of this highly focused, intense concentration can often lead to a feeling of effortlessness that is commonly called "the zone." You can't force it but you will get to it when you learn to turn on and off your full concentration.
 
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I step to the table, look around the room to see if any chicks are watching, then shoot. It's simple, yet effective. :smile:
 
Eye Placement

To determine your individual eye placement make a small hole using both hands and the area between you thumbs and first fingers. Hold your hands at arms’ length and look at a very small object about ten feet away. When you have the object in focus close one eye and then the other eye. One of your eyes will not be able to see the object the other eye will see it clearly. This is where your head should be relative to the cue stick.
 
Andrewjoseph said:
Lets hear yours!
Click to expand...




JoeW said:
couple of things that might help.

- Step on the line of aim with your back foot as you step into the shot.

- Stare at the contact point (or whatever you use) as you bend down to the shot. This allows the brain to determine the exact spot to hit as you arrive at your shooting position.

- you should be staring at the contact point for a bit when you are down (1 second)?

- After all the fiddling is done, you should again be staring at the contact point for about 1 - 2 seconds before the final stroke.

There is more but that is enough for now. Others will add more than you may find useful.
Click to expand...





JoeW said:
I’ll add a couple more that might be of help to the newbies

The first thing I do when I am on the shot is to have a straight bridge arm (for consistency).

Then I check that my swing arm is vertical. I do this by feel and adjust my grip as needed.

Next, I check that my chin is over (or touching) the cue stick. After a few swings I raise my head a little. Touching the stick with my chin is a physical reminder to have my eyes in the same place on every shot. Your face placement will be different based on dominant eye preferences.

During the preliminary swings I am center ball and want to see the cue stick on the line from my back hand through the cue ball. On long shots I often use a target on the cloth about half way to the object ball and determine if my swing hand, cue stick, intermediate point and contact point are all on line.

During my final preliminary swings I try to visualize the cue ball hitting the object ball and try hard to see the object ball actually move down the line.

I also try to see where my cue stick tip will be when the swing is completed.
If English is needed I use Joe Tucker’s approach to front and back hand English. (He has videos on Youtube).

When I am ready to shoot I stare at the contact point for a full second, sometimes two seconds on a tough shot. Then I just let go.

I forgot to mention that during the standing phase, before bending over, I take one or two deep breaths, breathing in through the nose and exhaling through the mouth. This is a meditation technique that helps to quiet the body. If I am wound up I use deep breathing while sitting in the chair. Nobody but me knows I am doing it. To learn more about the technique see this link to an article I wrote a few years ago. It is a long article and the breathing stuff is near the end.

http://billiards.colostate.edu/PBReview/Competitive_Anxiety.htm

There can be many different elements to a PSR and you will hear all kinds of stuff from people. Pick and choose what works ro you.

You will hear it in many ways and it can often take years for it to really sink in. So save yourself lots of aggravation and learn now that the single most import thing for a good game is your full concentration on every shot. The ability to go into and out of this highly focused, intense concentration can often lead to a feeling of effortlessness that is commonly called "the zone." You can't force it but you will get to it when you learn to turn on and off your full concentration.
Click to expand...



JoeW said:
To determine your individual eye placement make a small hole using both hands and the area between you thumbs and first fingers. Hold your hands at arms’ length and look at a very small object about ten feet away. When you have the object in focus close one eye and then the other eye. One of your eyes will not be able to see the object the other eye will see it clearly. This is where your head should be relative to the cue stick.
Click to expand...

So do you actually have a PSR or not?

:)

Or is ALL of that your PSR on each shot. Ooof Ah.

:D
 
RRfireblade said:
So do you actually have a PSR or not?

:)

Or is ALL of that your PSR on each shot. Ooof Ah.

:D
Click to expand...

Yep that is most of it. Takes a lot longer to state than it does to do it. Like most things pool related it requires lots of practice until it becomes automatic. And of course it is still evolving when I find new things.

Talked about eye placement and breathing to get the new people a running start developing their own PSR.
 
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Andrewjoseph said:
In my humble opinion the pre shot routine is one of the most important factors in being a run out player. I also feel it's one of the most over looked.

So i thought it would be fun to hear what everyone's specific routine is and see if there is anything to add our take away from mine. Here's mine:

Chalk
Take a step back
Look at table
Decide on shot or safety
Look at OB straight to pocket or intended target
See where stun takes the CB then use that as a point of reference to decide where to hit the CB
Step into shot.
Practice stroke. pause. Smooth follow through.

Yes i know it's pretty generic but i have only played Pool for 18 months. But i find when i start sloping steps is 4 or 5 balls into my run and that's when i miss.

Lets hear yours!



Posted from Azbilliards.com App for Android
Click to expand...


http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=279581
 
Aim, Aim and Aim some more.............

Andrewjoseph said:
In my humble opinion the pre shot routine is one of the most important factors in being a run out player. I also feel it's one of the most over looked.

So i thought it would be fun to hear what everyone's specific routine is and see if there is anything to add our take away from mine. Here's mine:

Chalk
Take a step back
Look at table
Decide on shot or safety
Look at OB straight to pocket or intended target
See where stun takes the CB then use that as a point of reference to decide where to hit the CB
Step into shot.
Practice stroke. pause. Smooth follow through.

Yes i know it's pretty generic but i have only played Pool for 18 months. But i find when i start sloping steps is 4 or 5 balls into my run and that's when i miss.

Lets hear yours!



Posted from Azbilliards.com App for Android
Click to expand...

It's basically as easy as that..........The physical stuff is easy....
 
This thread got me thinking so I figured the best thing to do was to write it all down. I'm a beginner so all comments and suggestions are appreciated.

1. Quick look at the entire table, focusing on the line between the CB, OB and target (probably a pocket but might be elsewhere on a safety). Chalk.
2. Determine what direction the CB will take after striking the OB with a centerball hit. Determine if draw or follow are needed (not using English yet - too new). Determine best CB speed to get shape on next shot.
3. Stand in line behind the OB and the target, and fix ghost ball image in mind. Chalk again (it's a nervous habit).
4. Walk back behind the CB and place right foot on the shot line.
5. Do a couple of warm up strokes into the air (in other words, while still standing straight up).
6. Slowly bend over bringing the cue into the target line. Now I'm lined up and down on the ball. If it doesn't feel right start again at #4.
7. Re-check ghost ball image.
8. Take 4-6 practice strokes until I feel like my stroke is straight and make sure I've got a loose grip on the cue. Pause on last practice stroke.
9. Hit through the CB. Follow through.
10. Sit down while my opponent does his pre-stroke routine.

#6 is the one I most commonly forget. I get down on the shot too quickly. I've gotten a lot better about following through on the shot and keeping a loose grip - those used to be big problems.
 
I think it is more helpful and productive to learn the elements of the pre-shot routine and then implement those ones that you feel comfortable with into your game, here are 2 excellent videos on the PSR.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HP5hLNkWjdo&feature=player_embedded

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=y0hs4Ka1xMA

In my paper "Pools 10 most important points" # 10 reads as follows:

A pool shot has two parts: analysis and execution. DO NOT DO BOTH AT ONCE!!! Analyze IN A STANDING POSITION so that you have a birds eye view of the table. In the analysis stage, you observe the layout of the table and make a plan (be as precise as possible). The execution stage starts when you bend over the table and take that address. THE ANALYSIS STAGE IS OVER! If you catch yourself analyzing when you're executing stand up and start over.

And the back attached to it reads:

10. This is an advanced mistake right up to the professional level. Do you best to separate the 2 stages; also remember in your analysis phase be as specific as possible (look at #5)

So many when they are talking about PSR can't stick to the subject of the PSR because it is such a big part of the game, but you said "What is your PSR?" here is mine, my analysis phase is over at #5.

1. Walk all the way around the table and determine all the balls relationships to all the other balls and all their relationships to the pockets.
2. Determine exactly what I am going to do, I have 3 options try to run the table, safe or sink & safe (that does not mean sink a ball and call safe; it means ending my inning at some point by calling a safe, after I have sunk 1 or more balls).
3. Determine the exact path of both the OB(s) and the CB and where they are going to come to rest.
4. Chalk
5. Aim
6. Step into the shot & plant the bridge
7. Address
8. 2-4 warm-up strokes (99% of the time this is 2)
9. Slowly pull back
10. Deliver & freeze

1 player in 100 or 200 has a good consistent PSR, it holds more players back than any other single reason. That's because the knowledge that we remember things sequentially is not common knowledge as Mr. Page explains in his video, I have a much shorter explanation I say "quickly what is the 17th letter of the alphabet"? Well most people think for a minute and I say "what are you doing?" and they get it right away. That's how we are built. If more people would have this simple knowledge they would be a lot better at pool.
 
No matter what else I do, 2 things are the most important to a successful outcome:

- to visualize the complete shot before setting up to it.

- to make sure I'm set up comfortable to the shot and take a visual "dead aim" before I pull the trigger. Speed and amount of spin are taken into consideration in a few second long "burst of focus" once I'm down on the shot.

I don't always pull it off, but that few seconds of extreme focus - being clearly dialed in to the shot - really helps.
 
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bdorman said:
I'm a beginner so all comments and suggestions are appreciated.

1. Quick look at the entire table, focusing on the line between the CB, OB and target (probably a pocket but might be elsewhere on a safety). Chalk.
Click to expand...

This is your analysts phase, don't skimp; in my paper (that I wrote 12 years ago, I think I will do some rewording) I say this. After the opening break or if you have been in your chair for a few shots you should:

Walk all the way around the table: 1. Because you must know all the balls relationships to all the other balls and their relationships to the pockets anytime they move. If you don’t, you are beginning to work on a problem that you only know 99% about. Why not try 100%? 2. Because when you approach the table you need a second or two to “get your head in the game”.

This is the intermediate players most common error they think they don’t need to walk around the table and that they can see what needs to be done, and granted; most of the time they can. However this game isn’t about “most of the time” it’s about certainty. The highly advanced do walk around the table every time it’s their turn, they take that walk around anytime they are playing competitively just to be sure that what they have already seen is correct, probably because they have the mindset that it is part of their job. If you think about it as though it were your “job” anytime you’re playing for more than just passing time, your game should improve immediately.

bdorman said:
2. Determine what direction the CB will take after striking the OB with a centerball hit. Determine if draw or follow are needed (not using English yet - too new). Determine best CB speed to get shape on next shot.
Click to expand...

A centerball hit does not = naturally rolling CB, a centerball hit starts out stop and then turns into natural roll; for this reason I start off with my CB visualization with the tangent line and then determine how far it needs to bend backward or forward and use the appropriate action (follow, center or draw) and how much.

Now with the OB(s) I determine their direction from a natural roll standpoint; that is of course if they have significant separation, if they are frozen obviously I also visualize the tangent line.

bdorman said:
3. Stand in line behind the OB and the target, and fix ghost ball image in mind. Chalk again (it's a nervous habit).
4. Walk back behind the CB and place right foot on the shot line.
5. Do a couple of warm up strokes into the air (in other words, while still standing straight up).
6. Slowly bend over bringing the cue into the target line. Now I'm lined up and down on the ball. If it doesn't feel right start again at #4.
7. Re-check ghost ball image.
8. Take 4-6 practice strokes until I feel like my stroke is straight and make sure I've got a loose grip on the cue. Pause on last practice stroke.
9. Hit through the CB. Follow through.
10. Sit down while my opponent does his pre-stroke routine.

#6 is the one I most commonly forget. I get down on the shot too quickly. I've gotten a lot better about following through on the shot and keeping a loose grip - those used to be big problems.
Click to expand...

All the other stuff is good-great don't worry about the chalking as a nervous habit, I have yet to meet a player that doesn't have little idiosyncrasies.
 
I start with a bowl...

Andrewjoseph said:
In my humble opinion the pre shot routine is one of the most important factors in being a run out player. I also feel it's one of the most over looked.

So i thought it would be fun to hear what everyone's specific routine is and see if there is anything to add our take away from mine. Here's mine:

Chalk
Take a step back
Look at table
Decide on shot or safety
Look at OB straight to pocket or intended target
See where stun takes the CB then use that as a point of reference to decide where to hit the CB
Step into shot.
Practice stroke. pause. Smooth follow through.

Yes i know it's pretty generic but i have only played Pool for 18 months. But i find when i start sloping steps is 4 or 5 balls into my run and that's when i miss.

Lets hear yours!



Posted from Azbilliards.com App for Android
Click to expand...

I start with a bowl of Lemon Sour Diesel, then a shot of Cuervo, and a prayer to Jesus, Allah, Yahweh, Shiva, Zoroaster and the Buddha. Then I adjust my package, and fire!

Seriously, I use a six-step routine that I've described on previous posts and in P & B mag. I'd add taking a deep breath and exhaling before any challenging shots in any challenging situation...

Donny L
PBIA/ACS Instructor

"Wisdom is the marriage between knowledge and compassion.
 
The transition from analysis to shooting phase.

I like physical triggers to initiate a sequence of learned behavior. See D.O. Hebb’s theory of cell assemblies to learn why it is useful to hook changes in awareness to physical triggers http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hebbian_theory.

To trigger the analysis phase I use chalking the cue stick. The act of picking up the chalk, placing the butt of the cue stick on the floor and the chalk on the cue stick tells me to “step back and think about it.” Here is where I analyze the situation and sometimes walk around the table as needed. This is where I plan the shot. A trigger is of use here because at times we have just completed making a shot and we need to pull ourselves out of the other form of awareness.


When I am ready to move to the next phase which is much more physical and much less about thinking, I set the chalk down, bend over, and stare at the contact point from the standing position. It is at this time that I also take a few deep slow breaths (to slow my breathing) and shift my concentration to awareness of the physical environment (turn off the thinking)
When I step on the shot line I am stepping into another form of awareness.

In some videos you can observe some players set the chalk on the table with a snap. This is another way of using a physical trigger to move to another form of consciousness. I think some of these people have learned that this physical trigger works but they do not know why it works.
 
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