What's your pattern practice warmup for 9 ball?

Flex

Flex

Banger
Silver Member
I've wondered about a practice template for 9 ball that would have a specific layout on a table that when practiced over and over would get you ready to play strongly. It would incorporate the 11 or so patterns that are supposedly (someone told me that Earl told him this) the heart of 9 ball. Master those patterns (which Earl conveniently didn't divulge) and you'd have a tremendous advantage.

This friend also told me he had seen some top players when warming up practicing the exact same layout over and over.

Have any thoughts?

Flex
 
Wow!

I imagined there'd be at least one or two answers to this post.

Perhaps these layouts are some sort of a secret.

Or maybe nobody does them.

It could also be that most people don't do anything special to warm up, other than shoot some drills and run some balls.

Doesn't Bert Kinister have some instructional tapes with this sort of thing?

Flex
 
What I do is start out with the 7,8, & 9 ball put them somewhere in the middle of the table in what ever triangle shape forms. I take ball in hand and run them. If I do this, then I do it again and add the 6 ball this time. and so on. I give them pretty good spacing and just keep working down and try to get to the 1-ball. Doing all of this with out a miss is tough for me to make it to the one. But it is fun seeing how far you can make it and then next time trying to beat it.
 
Donovan said:
What I do is start out with the 7,8, & 9 ball put them somewhere in the middle of the table in what ever triangle shape forms. I take ball in hand and run them. If I do this, then I do it again and add the 6 ball this time. and so on. I give them pretty good spacing and just keep working down and try to get to the 1-ball. Doing all of this with out a miss is tough for me to make it to the one. But it is fun seeing how far you can make it and then next time trying to beat it.
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Great ideas!

Tell me though: are there any specific layouts you practice?
 
Flex, rather than practicing specific layouts, practice specific position shots. You have to have your own bread and butter shots that you can play with your eyes closed and get where you need to be everytime. Kind of like a little toolbox full of tricks... As you play more and more you will recognize that you get the same shots repeatedly, some even as often as every game... Pick those shots out and work out a solution.

If you want me to list some of my shots, just say so. I have a few good ones to get you started on the right track...
 
Well, most of the tournaments I play in are in rooms other than my homeroom so my primary goal when warming-up is to get a feel of the table. I don't pay attention to pocketing nor do I really care about whether I get position or not. I just want to see the balls roll, hit the rails a bit, see how the table reacts.

My reason is simply, I don't want my expectations to sway one way or the other. I remember that when I had great practice sessions or poor ones, it would influence my decisions once competition began. Now, I just get familiar with my surroundings and assume I'm playing my best pool.
 
seymore15074 said:
Flex, rather than practicing specific layouts, practice specific position shots. You have to have your own bread and butter shots that you can play with your eyes closed and get where you need to be everytime. Kind of like a little toolbox full of tricks... As you play more and more you will recognize that you get the same shots repeatedly, some even as often as every game... Pick those shots out and work out a solution.

If you want me to list some of my shots, just say so. I have a few good ones to get you started on the right track...
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I have quite a few, starting with table length draws to get me in stroke, plus almost all of the ones on Bert Kinister's "60 Minute Workout for 9 ball" plus several stroke shots, and so on.

I'm not really looking for specific shots to practice, but specific patterns that will make me adjust to the way the balls play, the rails play, the speed of the cloth, and so on. I imagine a layout or layouts that call for stop shots at a certain distance, drag draw shots, some inside english force follows, as well as 3 rail position shots.

Perhaps I'll just have to make up some patterns on my own.

In any case, what are the shots you suggest?

Thanks so much.

Flex
 
Jude Rosenstock said:
Well, most of the tournaments I play in are in rooms other than my homeroom so my primary goal when warming-up is to get a feel of the table. I don't pay attention to pocketing nor do I really care about whether I get position or not. I just want to see the balls roll, hit the rails a bit, see how the table reacts.

My reason is simply, I don't want my expectations to sway one way or the other. I remember that when I had great practice sessions or poor ones, it would influence my decisions once competition began. Now, I just get familiar with my surroundings and assume I'm playing my best pool.
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I agree with you wholeheartedly about expectations swaying one way or another.

Actually, someone told me that Corey Deuel has a pattern that he practices a lot, and I wondered what it is, or where I could find it, hopefully online.

Jude, tell me please, as I know you have tons of books and tapes and so on: do you know if is there a specific Kinister tape that deals with this stuff?

Thanks,

Flex
 
I like to do a little stroke work (corner to corner stright shots). Just to make sure my fundamentals are good. Then I do the L drill once or twice to get a feel for the table. After that it's time to rock n roll.
 
Flex said:
I agree with you wholeheartedly about expectations swaying one way or another.

Actually, someone told me that Corey Deuel has a pattern that he practices a lot, and I wondered what it is, or where I could find it, hopefully online.

Jude, tell me please, as I know you have tons of books and tapes and so on: do you know if is there a specific Kinister tape that deals with this stuff?

Thanks,

Flex
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Not that I know of. I'm not a drills-guy, though. I only watch tapes of matches since the only thing I'm looking to gain from them are tactical; things I can incorporate into my own game.
 
After warming up, I usually do 3 or 4 practice patterns. It helps get your stroke in line and gets you in touch with the speed of the table. They are also key in 9 ball.

1. Straight in draw shots, either down the rail, diamond further each try, or from the spot toward a far corner pocket, adjusting the distance two or three times.

2. OB at 1d-1d near the rack, Qb in line below the spot, give yourself and angle. Practice making the Qb come into the 2nd diamond from the end of the opposite long rail, basically going 1 or 2 rails to the other end of the table. Vary speed sometimes so you end up on the end rail (3rd). 2nd diamond position is key in 9 ball.

You can also reverse it by going up the table so the angle is to the end rail. Then practice the 2 rail position to the 2nd diamond. Always have a target. Very key positions drill in 9 ball.

3. Ob 1 inch off end rail, 2 diamonds from pocket. 45 degree angle about 1-2 diamonds away . Practice a few shots, leaving the Qb at different parts of the other end rail. Sometimes catching the side rail.

4. Sometimes I will also shoot a few almost straight in, end rail shots. Some angle toward the end rail. Changing english and spin to hit a certain spot on the opposite side rail. Its like Buddy's clock system drill, which is where I got it. Also helps your stroke.

It only takes a few minutes about, 10-15, at most.
 
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I like to put a ball on each spot and take ball in hand. Then I shoot one of them and get shape on the other and replace the ball I just made.....doing it over and over. I'll work the cue ball all around the table different ways making a bunch of balls off the spots sometimes even getting shape to shoot them in the side pockets and the corners farthest away from the spot.
 
Flex said:
Great ideas!

Tell me though: are there any specific layouts you practice?
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This is hilarious, I never actually thought about it, but this is kind of how I do it. I put them roughly in the patters on a die, as in dice, starting with number 4 and then just wing it from there. Each tick is a ball.

3 : -
4 : :
5 : - :
6 : : :
7 :-: :
8 :-:-:
9 :-:-:-

I also warm-up with Kinister's Mighty-X Drill before doing anything else. That always seems to get me ready to play and in gear quick. I do it as 4 stops, 4 replace, 4 follows, 4 replace, 4 draws, & 4 replace.
 
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Dead Money said:
I like to put a ball on each spot and take ball in hand. Then I shoot one of them and get shape on the other and replace the ball I just made.....doing it over and over. I'll work the cue ball all around the table different ways making a bunch of balls off the spots sometimes even getting shape to shoot them in the side pockets and the corners farthest away from the spot.
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I like this idea, I've done something simiar before but not setting them right on the spot... I used to throw two balls out, one up table and one nearby. I'd start with ball-in-hand and play that ball to get on the one up table, then I would throw another ball down table and play that to get on the other...it was a nice workout, but it doesn't let you look ahead enough... Having them on the spot, and I'd always know where the next ball would be.
 
Joe Tucker has some great patterns that could be used for tournament warm ups amoungst other things, in his GUARANTEED INPROVEMENT workbook.

They are well worth checking out for $11.95 or $24.95 with an accompanying DVD. His website is www.joetucker.net

Bern
 
Big Bad Bern said:
Joe Tucker has some great patterns that could be used for tournament warm ups amoungst other things, in his GUARANTEED INPROVEMENT workbook.

They are well worth checking out for $11.95 or $24.95 with an accompanying DVD. His website is www.joetucker.net

Bern
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Great suggestion! Thanks! Rep headed your way!
 
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