Whats a good practice technique to learn patterns?

iusedtoberich

iusedtoberich

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
What is a good way to improve 9-ball patterns? I play at a mid level, high C or low B. I do know a fair number of shots, probably a bit more than my level would predict because I play lots of one hole, bank pool, 3 cushion, and back pocket.

I know lots of ways to get to different balls (ie individual position shots), but I would like practice methods of learning patterns to be able to put these position shots together better.

I read a post recently, that suggested marking a pattern on a table with 3 or 4 balls, then keep repeating that pattern until you find the best way to execute it reliably. THis sounds like a great idea to me. I use this method of marking and repetition for learning single shots, as in Joe Tuckers Guaranteed Improvement.

Any other methods for learning patterns? I'm looking for more than just throw 3 balls on the table and run them.

I don't recall seeing much on this topic before... about a systematic way to practice thinking at the table about your pattern plan.

Thanks.
 
I did what you suggest 1.5 years ago for a few months to see what would happen. And it did help. But I ran into something that helps even more.

Take a number of balls and roll them out on the table (with no inclination as to where they end up) than before taking any shot, have a conversation with yourself that goes something like:

S: "I am going to put the 5 ball in the left edge of the corner pocket and then bank the CB just beyond the 3rd diamond with a little right spin around the 7 ball to get position <here> on the 6 ball"

C: "Did you consider using a touch of draw and left spin and backing over to almost the same next shooting position?"

S: "I considered it, but I feel like hitting it my way."

C: "Suit yourself, but the shot I pointed out uses a lot less real estate on the bed and can be executed with significantly less risk."

S: "Maybe you have something there....."

Overall, playing this conversation with myself over the last year has changed the way I run racks. I tend to run them in a different order, and position the CB differently than before. Even my playing buddies have spotted that I'm running the patterns differently, but haven't figured out exactly why.

I think in general, just running thousands and thousands of racks, where your mind is actually thinking about the board position, is what it takes to develope that touchy-feely relationship with the "how should I play this shot" when you only have a few seconds (time clock) in which to make a good choice. This balances the risk of the harder shot against the harder subsequent position in order to minimize the difficulty of "solving" the whole rack.
 
well, in ANY rotation game there are maybe 6 or 8 repeating patterns that you will see almost every rack. The "Z" stroke or shot is a MUST learn to play top flight rotation games. Lately I have noticed I play 2 or 3 rails forward with inside running spin more then the all time "draw around the table" 3 rail backwards shape.

Also......being able to spin up table while shooting a ball in the side pocket is a good way out of playing a poor shot...it happens, and is worth a ton to be able to do.

another is when the object ball is on the short rail about a diamond off the corner, and your cueball is above the side pocket with a 1/4 ball hit to pocket the OB....using inside or outside spin to get wherever you want is a BIG plus

BUT....the mainstay shots are 3/4 ball full hit with a strong slight outside force off the rail and be able to go a little forward or backward up table or straight accross and control it all day long......


good luck man!

G.
 
I don't think pattern recognition is as critical in 9-ball as it is in other games. The position of the balls dictates the "pattern". If you are a 9-ball player, you might do better to focus on identifying the different paths you can take to get position on the next shot.

Set up a shot that you can repeat. Practice making the shot, and picking the spot where you want the cue ball to end up. See how many different ways you can get to the same spot.

You will see similar patterns the more you play, but if you know what it takes to get the cue ball to a certain point on the table after your shot, that will serve you very well in rotation games.

Steve
 
My 2 cents...

I'm about the same level as you, so you can take this for what it's worth. Sometimes I'll work backwards, i.e. I'll look at say the 3 or 4 at the beginning of a rack and work my way down to the 1 or 2. To me, recognizing patterns is a bigger issue in 8-ball. In 9-ball, it's more about playing position and keeping whitey in the zone longer.
 
Donut this shot set-up.

Place a target ball about a diamond out from the corner pocket. Donut the cue ball about a diamond away with about a 30 degree cut (1/2 ball aim).

Shot each shot with the intent of scratching in each pocket. Some will more difficult than others. Try to scratch in each of the 6 pockets.

If you don't like the idea of scratching then place an object ball in each of the 5 pockets. That way the cue ball will bump then in.....SPf=randyg
 
randyg said:
Donut this shot set-up.

Place a target ball about a diamond out from the corner pocket. Donut the cue ball about a diamond away with about a 30 degree cut (1/2 ball aim).

Shot each shot with the intent of scratching in each pocket. Some will more difficult than others. Try to scratch in each of the 6 pockets.

If you don't like the idea of scratching then place an object ball in each of the 5 pockets. That way the cue ball will bump then in.....SPf=randyg
Click to expand...

Randy when doing this is it okay for the cue-ball to contact a cushion?
Just wondering,Thanks Crazy Jack:D
 
iusedtoberich said:
I know lots of ways to get to different balls (ie individual position shots), but I would like practice methods of learning patterns to be able to put these position shots together better.
...
Any other methods for learning patterns? I'm looking for more than just throw 3 balls on the table and run them.

I don't recall seeing much on this topic before... about a systematic way to practice thinking at the table about your pattern plan.
Click to expand...
We cover this topic fairly well on VEPS-III (especially in Sections 25-29). If you practice and master all of these principles and examples, you should see improvement in your game.

Regards,
Dave
 
I would toss a couple of balls on the table (depending on your skill level). Mark where all the balls are, and the cue ball on EACH shot. Figure out the area (triangle or whatever) that is the most IDEAL for the next shot. And if you don't get there, reshoot the shot again. This will help you and force you to run the rack carefully.
 
iusedtoberich said:
What is a good way to improve 9-ball patterns? I play at a mid level, high C or low B. I do know a fair number of shots, probably a bit more than my level would predict because I play lots of one hole, bank pool, 3 cushion, and back pocket.

I know lots of ways to get to different balls (ie individual position shots), but I would like practice methods of learning patterns to be able to put these position shots together better.

I read a post recently, that suggested marking a pattern on a table with 3 or 4 balls, then keep repeating that pattern until you find the best way to execute it reliably. THis sounds like a great idea to me. I use this method of marking and repetition for learning single shots, as in Joe Tuckers Guaranteed Improvement.

Any other methods for learning patterns? I'm looking for more than just throw 3 balls on the table and run them.

I don't recall seeing much on this topic before... about a systematic way to practice thinking at the table about your pattern plan.

Thanks.
Click to expand...

The main thing is to force yourself to think and plan each shot out. It's like training your brain to think the right way.

A really good way to practice this is to toss out 4 or 5 balls, take ball in hand, and try to get out 100% of the time in rotation order, re-setting tables that give you a hard time and re-doing them until you can get out most of the time.

I even do this just to get back in stroke if I'm messing up my outs in 9 ball.

Once you get a lot of experience with patterns, you can compare your ideas by watching video. I like to put myself in the player's shoes and see if I can guess how they might do something. I always learn something new from watching Shane, Mika, Efren, and others. When I see something they do that I am not familiar with, I might stop the video and practice it.

Chris
 
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Honestly ? Play a ton of racks with a phenolic tipped break cue.

Great man once said "You aint a pool player unless you can run racks using center ball only"

Or something like that anyway.

But yeah , IMO natural shape and ball speed "should" be all you need and how you should start looking at patterns.
 
alphadog said:
Randy when doing this is it okay for the cue-ball to contact a cushion?
Just wondering,Thanks Crazy Jack:D
Click to expand...

If you can get to all the other 5 pockets without hitting a cushion, Got Himself would want weight!

;)

Steve
 
TATE said:
The main thing is to force yourself to think and plan each shot out. It's like training your brain to think the right way.

Once you get a lot of experience with patterns, you can compare your ideas by watching video. I like to put myself in the player's shoes and see if I can guess how they might do something. I always learn something new from watching Shane, Mika, Efren, and others. When I see something they do that I am not familiar with, I might stop the video and practice it.

Chris
Click to expand...

Chris hit the nail on the head.

Pattern learning is mental

It ishould be actively pursued when you are in the chair and your opponent is playing

It should be pursued with Accu-Stats videos and expert commentary.
This method has the added benefit of revealing patterns for the particular game you are viewing.
 
Cribbage, ball in hand

Play Cribbage
Rack the balls and break them as well as you can.
Take ball in hand and drive yourself mentally insane.
Ball in hand is much more difficult to figure the right patterns to play for two balls that add to fifteen points than it is if you just left the cue ball where it landed after the break, (of course you are trying to run out)
Once my students are ready to move up to this drill we do it on a constant basis and it's a must they practice it on their own.
You can't teach anyone how to think but you can teach them to think on their own.
I have given this drill to some very strong players and have seen them stand over the table for quite some time thinking about the patterns( 3 minutes or more)."Rotation" ( 9 ball,10 ball ) could be 20 seconds or less to read the pattern, it's like childs play compared.

The more you work the brain the smarter it becomes. The smarter it becomes the better pool player comes along with it.

Of course this applies to skill level, you need the tools, without the tools you have nothing.
Others have offered some very good advice in this thread.
 
Patrick Johnson said:
Spend an entire practice session running racks (any game) with no sidespin.

Repeat often.

pj
chgo
Click to expand...

Good advice from PJ.

Also, it's important that you start off with say, 3 balls... Run out the 7,8,9... Do it 5-10 times.. then add a ball... so on and so forth.. When I was learning, I would run the balls and add a ball. When I failed, I took a ball back off. Pretty soon, you're seeing all the patterns because you are very proficient at running 4-5 balls.
 
If I may be so bold as to suggest Bert Kinisters 6 pointed and 9 pointed star drills. In fact Bert has many drills specifically designed for cue ball control practice and they all have merit.
 
Playing 3 balls ahead in your mind, and visualizing the simplest paths to your next shot with specific spots for the CB to land are important IMO.

Also, FWIW, the term "patterns" doesn't really apply in rotation games. Rather the term "routes" to the next shot is a more accurate way to define what you are trying to find.

Pattern play is something you can enjoy in straight pool when you aren't forced to play routes that the numbers on the balls dictate to you.
 
I don't know if I can express this right but my pattern play improved when for some reason I consciously started looking for paths or pathways that I could move the CB through the other balls on the table from one position spot to another.

Of course which ball is next is dictated in rotation games
but even when you have somewhat of a choice in other games instead of thinking this ball ,then that ball, I was sort drawing a road map around the table in my head. ( Subject to detours , of course..) through alleyways and around corners, down straight aways and even backing up at times.

But the point being that I was always looking for a path to the next OB that would give me access to a path to the next OB.

Does that make sense to anybody?:shrug:
 
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