What things to fix besides ball control?

SlashingAxe

SlashingAxe

Pool newbie
Silver Member
I've been improving slightly in my opinion but I'm not sure what specific drills besides ball control to attempt. I can see a little dip of my cue when aiming and am working to fix that with a lot of time just going towards stroking the cue ball back and forth from rail to rail.

p.s one ball rattled and was hanging believe it was the 3(also the music is bit loud may want to mute)
 
Stance.... get behind the shot, see the line, get low, get comfortable..... breathe.
 
Finally got to my computer so I can upload it I thought it'd upload on my iphone but sadly it didn't. Anyways after watching a few times I think I can analyze what's been plaguing me a bit my head just disappoints me this rack but anyways I'd like to hear other opinions too.

Btw I made the 4 on break and rattled the 3 off screen it was practically hanging in the pocket. Sorry I couldn't get a better and farther angle >_<

There should be an HD option but even then it's not great lol
https://www.facebook.com/ulysses.ruiz.3/videos/978201832234726/?l=7143757585045402169
 
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Hi,

you might know a few things already, but here's my focused analysis. As many do seem to understand me as a hostile person - I want to state all that I write is so you have another opinion/look to understand your game and get stronger afterwards.

First, please don't break with your playing cue. It will only ruin (compress, harden) your tip. Use a house cue or a break cue here.

On almost all shots you can see your cue tip wobble. This can be adressed with proper preshot routine (go and watch Tor Lowry's videos and follow them to the letter at first).
I suggest (as a starting point) to line up the cue as level as possible to the cloth (90 degrees, do not stab down at the cloth on unhindered shots), then look at the cue ball and choose your aiming point with the tip and have a few loose, slow and shorter aiming strokes if you really hit it and have a look at the tip if it moves strictly forward, no up and down wobble allowed. Keep bridge 100% stable now.
Only afterwards focus the object ball and where you want to hit.

On the 2 and 3 you can see that you are really gripping your cue tightly. The lighter you hold it the greater your precision will be. Try having it lay on 3 fingers, the thumb not really pressing against. It's more of a cradle. Again shown in Lowry's videos.
You also seem to twist your holding hand - very evident on the 2. This speaks of unnecessary force in your hand. Try relaxing as far as possible, your cue is not going to run away ;)

One thing that bugs me personally is your impersonal, absent chalking style. I assume you're not on the clock - have a look at your tip, apply chalk the same way a woman would do with lip stick: focused, only where needed (small spots missing chalk after extreme spin shots), slow strokes, proper angles (use both outsides and insides of the chalk cube).
Snooker players do that very nicely and in a relaxed manner, that's the one you want to copy.

Sidenote: With BlueDiamond or Magic Chalk I would've chalked once before a 9 ball set and never in between :thumbup: You do not have to chalk after each shot.

Cheers and happy improving!
M.
 
M.G. said:
Hi,

you might know a few things already, but here's my focused analysis. As many do seem to understand me as a hostile person - I want to state all that I write is so you have another opinion/look to understand your game and get stronger afterwards.

First, please don't break with your playing cue. It will only ruin (compress, harden) your tip. Use a house cue or a break cue here.

On almost all shots you can see your cue tip wobble. This can be adressed with proper preshot routine (go and watch Tor Lowry's videos and follow them to the letter at first).
I suggest (as a starting point) to line up the cue as level as possible to the cloth (90 degrees, do not stab down at the cloth on unhindered shots), then look at the cue ball and choose your aiming point with the tip and have a few loose, slow and shorter aiming strokes if you really hit it and have a look at the tip if it moves strictly forward, no up and down wobble allowed. Keep bridge 100% stable now.
Only afterwards focus the object ball and where you want to hit.

On the 2 and 3 you can see that you are really gripping your cue tightly. The lighter you hold it the greater your precision will be. Try having it lay on 3 fingers, the thumb not really pressing against. It's more of a cradle. Again shown in Lowry's videos.
You also seem to twist your holding hand - very evident on the 2. This speaks of unnecessary force in your hand. Try relaxing as far as possible, your cue is not going to run away ;)

One thing that bugs me personally is your impersonal, absent chalking style. I assume you're not on the clock - have a look at your tip, apply chalk the same way a woman would do with lip stick: focused, only where needed (small spots missing chalk after extreme spin shots), slow strokes, proper angles (use both outsides and insides of the chalk cube).
Snooker players do that very nicely and in a relaxed manner, that's the one you want to copy.

Sidenote: With BlueDiamond or Magic Chalk I would've chalked once before a 9 ball set and never in between :thumbup: You do not have to chalk after each shot.

Cheers and happy improving!
M.
Click to expand...

Thank you for the very detailed analysis and I see no such thing as a harsh critique as you can always gain things to learn from it. The wobble was definitely one I had already realized after watching and it bugged me immensely to see since when I aim it doesn't feel like I'm wobbling. I was actually thinking of buying magic chalk after the holidays since it left me broke lol and I realize I don't chalk much until it's too late being too focused on the next ball
 
1) Gotta keep your head and body still. Your head rises on your practice strokes, and I think your footing is off. It doesn't look like your back leg is on the shot line, so the distribution of your weight through your body is off causing you to rock a little bit when you're stroking.

2) Another thing is to hold your cue lighter and looser. You looked pretty tense getting on the 2 ball and 3 ball.

3) You absolutely must be playing a few balls ahead. It looked like you were moving from ball to ball, making your run a lot tougher.

4) Play into the line of the next ball. When you shot that 5 ball to get on the 6, you didn't have to go around the table. All you had to do was roll the ball to get on the 6. Although, I'm not sure this is a huge issue for you because you did, indeed, do this when the 5 was hanging.

5) Be aware of your pocket line on the next ball and whether you need to go below it or above it. You should determine whether it's better to go long or short on a shot for safety. When you drew the CB after shooting the 6, you didn't have to come back as far as you did; it would benefit you to make a mental note on shots like that because in that case, you should have determined that playing the CB shorter instead of longer was better.

That's all I see. Anyway, if you really are not getting your back foot on the shot line then I'd recommend working on that first because it will produce immediate results. Everything else comes after you develop solid fundamentals.

-Richard
 
Zphix said:
1) Gotta keep your head and body still. Your head rises on your practice strokes, and I think your footing is off. It doesn't look like your back leg is on the shot line, so the distribution of your weight through your body is off causing you to rock a little bit when you're stroking.

2) Another thing is to hold your cue lighter and looser. You looked pretty tense getting on the 2 ball and 3 ball.

3) You absolutely must be playing a few balls ahead. It looked like you were moving from ball to ball, making your run a lot tougher.

4) Play into the line of the next ball. When you shot that 5 ball to get on the 6, you didn't have to go around the table. All you had to do was roll the ball to get on the 6. Although, I'm not sure this is a huge issue for you because you did, indeed, do this when the 5 was hanging.

5) Be aware of your pocket line on the next ball and whether you need to go below it or above it. You should determine whether it's better to go long or short on a shot for safety. When you drew the CB after shooting the 6, you didn't have to come back as far as you did; it would benefit you to make a mental note on shots like that because in that case, you should have determined that playing the CB shorter instead of longer was better.

That's all I see. Anyway, if you really are not getting your back foot on the shot line then I'd recommend working on that first because it will produce immediate results. Everything else comes after you develop solid fundamentals.

-Richard
Click to expand...

Is there any ways to fix the tightness thing like a drill? I've shot pretty loose but subconsciously once I make contact I tighten my grip and I'm afraid it makes me put unwanted English
 
SlashingAxe said:
Is there any ways to fix the tightness thing like a drill?
Click to expand...

Yes. Take one OB, put it on the clear table around the head string and stroke the OB directly into the far side hole (again, as shown in Lowry's video).
Take the next OB on the same spot (!) and do that again, focus only on the stroke mechanics.
After 20 balls or so you should feel your stroke consciously and be able "to let go".

If you have any fear of damaging your cue (because you hold it too loose and it slips into the table) take a house cue at first.

Do as many balls as it takes - I once did 40 in a row. Don't mind misses, it's just about stroking.

Cheers,
M
 
Yeah mostly what the others have said. Gotta eliminate that body movement. You begin your backswing (and the body movement) almost like it's on a trigger, which will hold you back. Consider beginning the backstroke slow and controlled. Have a partner watch you and give you feedback on the body movement.

It's the type of thing that might not be hard to eliminate temporarily, but difficult to prevent from recurring if you're not vigilant. Once those corrections become subconscious to you, you'll be able to feel the game better, which should kick open a few more doors.
 
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