When do you think about shot speed?

B

bdorman

Dead money
Silver Member
I'd like your advice whether my routine is normal, or is it a problem that needs correcting:

I find that during my pre-shot routine I can lock in on all the necessary elements (aim line, english needed for position, etc.) before getting down on the ball...except for shot speed. Of course, I've got a general idea of the shot speed I'll need before I get down on the ball. But I don't finalize my shot speed until I'm taking practice strokes.

It's like I can't "fine-tune" my shot speed until I'm physically taking a few practice strokes and focusing on the OB from table level (I don't fine-tune my aim line or english while down on the ball; those are locked in while I'm standing).

Is this a common/best practice? Or is it a problem that needs to change?

(I appreciate comments like "if it's working for you, it's good", but as a C+ player I have to question any and all elements of my game that might need improvement)
 
I honestly do not really put much thought into shot speed, it is almost a natural process when I get down on the shot.
 
Lately i have practiced speed control emphasized and noticed if you wanna get better at it one need to focus it last. Means you have to lock aiming, spin and other stuff and focus just speed last.
 
I've recently been doing it as I look at the cb for the last time, not the ob.

As I place the tip in its exact location, I then think of how it will go through the cb to the cloth and at what speed. When I have that down exactly as I wish the shot to be, I take my final look at the ob to confirm all is OK, only then do I take the shot.

Also, before going into my stance, I've envisioned the whole shot along with speed thoughts relative to positioning, but the precise speed is determined at the last few seconds, while looking at the cb. I even talk to myself at that final moment, e.g, "Hit it right there, yes, at that speed....got it." Then look to the ob, "OK?...OK." Squeeze the trigger.

Sometimes these conscious thoughts get in the way, but I've found recently after practicing the above speed thought process that those thoughts are going subconscious now, thus have become the solution not a problem.

Sense?

Jeff Livingston
 
Last edited:
when down on the shot you should NOT be thinking
try taking some practice strokes (in the air ) feeling the speed you will need while you are standing back before you get down on the shot
 
bbb said:
when down on the shot you should NOT be thinking
try taking some practice strokes (in the air ) feeling the speed you will need while you are standing back before you get down on the shot
Click to expand...

Interesting idea, thanks. I've never been one for air-stroking except a minor one to get the feel of the cue in my bridge. This gives me a good reason to expand on that.
 
Not sure if I have understood the question correctly but in my opinion you need to know how hard you want the play the shot before you decide how much English you need... because hitting the shot at different speeds will affect the angle the CB comes off the OB therefore you need to know this angle to calculate how much English you need (if any)
 
While standing up you should determine::
a) which shot to make
b) where to leave the CB
c) the path from cue tip to OB
d) the path from contact to CB stopping

The speed of the shot has more to do with where you want the CB to stop than anything else; although be aware that english will dramatically alter where the CB stops.
 
bbb said:
when down on the shot you should NOT be thinking
try taking some practice strokes (in the air ) feeling the speed you will need while you are standing back before you get down on the shot
Click to expand...

True! All thinking should be done before you even get in line to get in stance.
 
bbb said:
when down on the shot you should NOT be thinking
try taking some practice strokes (in the air ) feeling the speed you will need while you are standing back before you get down on the shot
Click to expand...

This is what I was going to say too:wink: John B.
 
English and shot speed are related, dependent on each other to an extent, so it must be felt together as a unit. Frequently multiple combinations of speed & english can be used to get the same position, just like there are frequently multiple lines that will make a golf putt from a certain position. My opinion to the op is that they cannot be considered separately.

Most of the time we choose our line while standing, then our practice strokes feel the speed/english combination to achieve that line. Sometimes we might make subtle adjustments to the line while down on the shot, but nothing major. If it's a major change, you stand back up and re-set.
 
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