Why CANT intermediate players stick to a pre shot rountine?

J

judochoke

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
If I could stick to my pre shot rountine, I would be a much better player. Here’s me: break a rack of 9 ball, dry break, ball in hand, I look for the pocket line of the 1 ball. Line up my body to the shot line, aim from UP ABOVE, THINK ABOUT WHAT SPEED AND SPIN I NEED. get down on the shot, make a final decision, and shoot. BOOM A GHOST BALL WIN.

but normally, by the second Or third rack, all my Pre shot rountine is gone. I’m starting to think I’m the greatest player in the world, I start to panic and tell myself not to miss, so I can be 2 wins in a row. Now, I just look at the ball I’m trying to make, look for next position, nothing else. Lolll I end up just shooting the cue ball, no speed decision, no aimimg from above, taking maybe 4 seconds from start to finish to shoot. And of course i either miss or get totally out of line.

and this happens all the time. If I force myself to look at each shot for 30-40 seconds, I don’t miss. Of course a game would take forever at that speed, but it works for me.

why can’t intermediate players stick to a pre shot rountine? Does it come with time and experience???
 
Probably because they don't learn about it until they have put in a lot of time without one. They fall back into their old ways.

It doesn't have to take a long time.
 
judochoke said:
If I could stick to my pre shot rountine, I would be a much better player. Here’s me: break a rack of 9 ball, dry break, ball in hand, I look for the pocket line of the 1 ball. Line up my body to the shot line, aim from UP ABOVE, THINK ABOUT WHAT SPEED AND SPIN I NEED. get down on the shot, make a final decision, and shoot. BOOM A GHOST BALL WIN.

but normally, by the second Or third rack, all my Pre shot rountine is gone. I’m starting to think I’m the greatest player in the world, I start to panic and tell myself not to miss, so I can be 2 wins in a row. Now, I just look at the ball I’m trying to make, look for next position, nothing else. Lolll I end up just shooting the cue ball, no speed decision, no aimimg from above, taking maybe 4 seconds from start to finish to shoot. And of course i either miss or get totally out of line.

and this happens all the time. If I force myself to look at each shot for 30-40 seconds, I don’t miss. Of course a game would take forever at that speed, but it works for me.

why can’t intermediate players stick to a pre shot rountine? Does it come with time and experience???
Click to expand...
Worrying about having/not having a PSR is probably worse than not having a PSR. Just play each shot as they come.
 
Commitment.......most players will not commit to becoming better, only trying to play better.
Derek Jeter remarked that it doesn’t take any talent or skills simply to try as hard as you can.
It requires commitment to be the very best you can be. Anything else substitutes for mediocrity.

Master the fundamentals and check yourself to see if you are deviating. Pro golfers do this all the
time before completing the golf swing, especially on demanding shots. Pool is really the very same.

Stance, distance from the table, head position, shoulder height and avoiding angulation, grip, feet
position, wrist movement, bridge distance.....there are so many variables I could continue listing.
So a player benefits from developing and adhering to a consistent pre-shot routine. What is your
pool stroke biorythm and do you even have one or stick with it. How often do you chalk & how?

Dr. Dave has written articles about chalk, applying it correctly but how many readers actually do it
properly? A lot less than you think & pool halls of America attest to this when you look at their chalks.

In order to develop a pre-shot routine, and mine is always the same whether I play 1/2 hr or all day, a
player needs to understand what a pre-shot routine involves. Don’t walk and chalk and just shoot balls.

Desire comes from within and if you desire to improve or be the best you can, then you must be willing
to try change. Develop a consistent, repeatable pattern of behavior and actions for every single pool shot.

The truth is a lot of players don’t have the mental stamina to do this or at least maintain it. They think I don’t
need to pay attention to chalking as much cuz I use brand x and it stays on the tip for a long time so why bother.

Nonsense.....utter nonsense......you still should have a pre-shot and incorporate chalking after x # of shots but you
will likely forget and just chalk pretty haphazardly. Some players see themselves like Vincent in The Color of Money.

Tom Cruise was a character and pool lore is filled with characters and stories galore, like Billy Joe “Cornbread Red”
Burge. But before you start trying to ballroom dance, you had better be able to at least master the art of slow dance.

So personalize your approach to shooting pool with your own style or habits but it doesn’t hurt, and in fact it helps, to
incorporate that into a consistent pre-shot routine limiting careless mistakes, being absent minded or just simply lazy.

Matt B.
 
Last edited:
You need to treat every shot like it's going to win you the world's. If you do this, then adhering to a PSR becomes second nature.

Anyone that claims a PSR is a waste of time is someone thats maxed out their game, is content with that, and is trying to hold other people down. That doesn't mean they suck. Just that they don't have a problem giving bad advice imo.
 
I likely take 15 to 20 or so seconds between shots on a Pool table. 20 to 25 when playing Snooker.

Decades ago I was taught to stay down until the balls stop moving. Stand up ‘immediately’ grab the chalk. Back up a step and assess the table while chalking. Decide. Down and shoot. No time for hesitancy, thinking, etc.

Of course, there are times more assessment is necessary but once deciding, down and shoot.

Watch a few minutes of a couple of Snooker games. Almost a robotic, trance-like focus. It becomes instinctual.
 
judochoke said:
If I could stick to my pre shot rountine, I would be a much better player. Here’s me: break a rack of 9 ball, dry break, ball in hand, I look for the pocket line of the 1 ball. Line up my body to the shot line, aim from UP ABOVE, THINK ABOUT WHAT SPEED AND SPIN I NEED. get down on the shot, make a final decision, and shoot. BOOM A GHOST BALL WIN.

but normally, by the second Or third rack, all my Pre shot rountine is gone. I’m starting to think I’m the greatest player in the world, I start to panic and tell myself not to miss, so I can be 2 wins in a row. Now, I just look at the ball I’m trying to make, look for next position, nothing else. Lolll I end up just shooting the cue ball, no speed decision, no aimimg from above, taking maybe 4 seconds from start to finish to shoot. And of course i either miss or get totally out of line.

and this happens all the time. If I force myself to look at each shot for 30-40 seconds, I don’t miss. Of course a game would take forever at that speed, but it works for me.

why can’t intermediate players stick to a pre shot rountine? Does it come with time and experience???
Click to expand...

Because for many players to succeed, their PSR must be at a level of precision and repeatability they're not really aware of and/or able to execute.

What you are doing, IMO, is a very broad level PSR. To get more consistent results you need to be looking at a much finer level of detail. That would be all the things your body is doing, from the time you are standing before the shot, to getting into final shooting position.

Merry Christmas.

Lou Figueroa
 
judochoke said:
If I could stick to my pre shot rountine, I would be a much better player. Here’s me: break a rack of 9 ball, dry break, ball in hand, I look for the pocket line of the 1 ball. Line up my body to the shot line, aim from UP ABOVE, THINK ABOUT WHAT SPEED AND SPIN I NEED. get down on the shot, make a final decision, and shoot. BOOM A GHOST BALL WIN.

but normally, by the second Or third rack, all my Pre shot rountine is gone. I’m starting to think I’m the greatest player in the world, I start to panic and tell myself not to miss, so I can be 2 wins in a row. Now, I just look at the ball I’m trying to make, look for next position, nothing else. Lolll I end up just shooting the cue ball, no speed decision, no aimimg from above, taking maybe 4 seconds from start to finish to shoot. And of course i either miss or get totally out of line.

and this happens all the time. If I force myself to look at each shot for 30-40 seconds, I don’t miss. Of course a game would take forever at that speed, but it works for me.

why can’t intermediate players stick to a pre shot rountine? Does it come with time and experience???
Click to expand...
Personally, it's lack of focus or boredom. I can do it for a while, I can play and focus for a while. After I lose focus, my PSR is gone and I'm not really trying. I can still beat bangers at this point, but lack of competition makes me lose focus very fast. If I'm playing socially, I can only pay attention for a couple games. If I'm in a tournament or playing a better player, I can focus for hours.
 
boogieman said:
lack of competition makes me lose focus very fast.
Click to expand...
This is where putting yourself in a "world championship" frame of mind helps. It doesn't matter who your playing if you convince yourself the world rides on the next shot.

I've said it many times. I have only two gears. Screw around and step on throat. I recall early on in my first session of CPA. Players would comment on my focus and how I looked so angry while at the table. Focus, angry, whatever you want to call it. Learn to shift that gear and enjoy the ride.
 
***I PM'd this to judo but will paste an excerpt in this thread***

I am a big believer in letting go of control. Any steps that require conscious management will break down, either due to oversight or inability. Pool requires a lot of strategy, but the most important part of that strategy is knowing when your brain is getting in your own way. PSR is something that should be delegated to habit and subconscious.

How do we get it there? RHYTHM. That is the answer. You have to build it in so there are certain check points to where you'd FEEL (not think) something is missing if you don't do them. Like when you screw your cue stick together and have to draw the ball. You just FEEL you need to chalk your cue. You don't have to make it a conscious point to chalk before every shot. You just feel your tip needs chalk. Well, for me, I have a certain rhythm where I feel I have to go through a PSR. As well as a fluid stroke. My soul needs to feel a pause as I address the table and take a breath, to feel a calming moment of hesitation as my practice strokes end and my cue tip pauses by the cue ball, and to feel the first slow movement of my forward swing that I know guarantees I don't jerk my cue stick when I shoot. Those are the three checkpoints for me. Breath, moment of stillness at cue tip, then slow starting swing. I don't force those. I crave those. It becomes a rhythm.

I have some drills that I feel are very good at developing this rhythm. My favorite thing is to practice with my students scotch doubles, alternating shots. I shoot. They shoot. I shoot. They shoot. I am trying to get them to match my rhythm. And by doing it side by side, focusing on matching my approach and rhythm and just flowing with it, I've seen much better results than instructing people to just "Make sure to do your PSR", "You didn't address the ball well on that shot", etc. Doing is much better than talking in my experience.
 
Wow. Some fantastic advice. Thank you guys so much. To just get down and shoot will not work for me. my brother shoots like that. And he’s not bad, banging balls in with no thinking about the next shot. But that doesn’t last long for him till he gets trapped. I watch the pros, and they all have great Rountines and rhythms. So I am going that route.
glad I brought this topic up. Great advices. Thanks again.
 
All great advice here- My observations on the best players I have seen over the past 40 years - what the vast majority of the very best exhibit:

1. The stroke is STRAIGHT, they stroke all the way through the cue ball, they have minimal elbow drop, they COMPLETE each stoke while their eye remain focused on the object point. Some may look different doing all of this- but almost all of them do it almost all the time- way more than the average player.

2. They all divide the pre shot routine into two distinct parts- part one consists of all the decision factors regarding shot selection, cue ball contact point, object ball contact point, speed, spin, et, etc. - they then, part 2, mentally commit to that decision and go down into shot execution mode with a rock solid front bridge hand and a very soft cue grip hand - both of which are maintained through the entire shot completion.

3. The timing of the release of the cue stick to the cue ball always occurs at the exact moment that their mind and their focused eye(s) agree that the object point is correct - the split second transition from aiming to shooting- a book was written on just this point alone!

4. All of the above, as others have mentioned, occur within a rhythm that allows for this sequence to repeat itself over and over again most consistently.

5.. Stepping up in any sport from the lower amateur ranks to pro or near pro competitive ability requires a mindset of personal confidence in one's abilities and a strong enough will and mind that allows one to let their extreme confidence ( not over confidence) follow through to their actual performance- a mind free enough from tension to allow optimal execution.

6. All shortstops in this great game are lacking in one or more aspects of points 1 to 5 above, or they just cannot do all five points most consistently - however; learning the strategies of HOW to properly play each game such as 14.1 or one pocket etc. are separate issues that come with experience and an insatiable desire to learn.

7. I don't believe that MOST people who have a full time job, are raising a family, perhaps travel for their work as well, and also try to maintain a home or owned business, can reasonably expect to develop and maintain all of these finer points of any sport to the degree necessary to compete successfully in a professional arena- MOST pros in MOST sports are full time dedicated to developing and maintaining the fine motor skills needed for professional competition- SO - HAVE REALISTIC goals in mind based on your level of commitment

8. The best two pool books I have read regarding the above are: Championship Pool by David MacNeil - especially chapter 1 on BODY Mechanics and chapter 10 on Competing to Win. Also, The One Minute guide to Playing Better Pool by Patrick Scott Smith- deals with the split second timing transition from aiming to shooting.

Just my 2 cents- Happy Holidays to ALL!
 
Last edited:
mikemosconi said:
7. I don't believe that MOST people who have a full time job, are raising a family, perhaps travel for their work as well, and also try to maintain a home or owned business, can reasonably expect to develop and maintain all of these finer points of any sport to the degree necessary to compete successfully in a professional arena- MOST pros in MOST sports are full time dedicated to developing and maintaining the fine motor skills needed for professional competition- SO - HAVE REALISTIC goals in mind based on your level of commitment
Click to expand...
...and here is where I think the top level shortstops get stuck.

Jumping to the pro levels from shortstop takes a level of commitment that most sane people won't bother with. You really need to take this leap at a young age, before the responsibilities of life move to the forefront of your mind.

That said, I believe you can develop the PSR and the skill set to compete at the highest levels with merely a decent commitment of time.
 
The_JV said:
...and here is where I think the top level shortstops get stuck.

Jumping to the pro levels from shortstop takes a level of commitment that most sane people won't bother with. You really need to take this leap at a young age, before the responsibilities of life move to the forefront of your mind.

That said, I believe you can develop the PSR and the skill set to compete at the highest levels with merely a decent commitment of time.
Click to expand...
Whats your definition of
“ a decent commitment of time “ ?
 
bbb said:
Whats your definition of
“ a decent commitment of time “ ?
Click to expand...
Yes, I would also be interested in what you would consider a "decent commitment of time" to be able to compete at the HIGHEST LEVELS? Guys like Babe Cranfield and Irving Crane- who had full time jobs, played at World skill level in 14.1 prior to working full time - that is so different than trying to BECOME world skill level while you are working full time. Mizerak and Ray Martin quit their full time jobs prior to winning world titles- and Mizerak was great at a young age as well. I doubt many full time workers with a family and home or business can put in 5 or so hours a day at a pool table and get in the needed competitive training as well in order to progress to being at the highest levels - even if you are talking just skill set and PSR as you mentioned- that PSR would crumble under the weight of the top pro competition.
 
Last edited:
judochoke said:
I NEED. get down on the shot, make a final decision, and shoot. BOOM A GHOST BALL WIN.
Click to expand...
Here's something you need to address. Your final decision needs to be made BEFORE you get down on the shot, not after. If you are still in conceptualization mode when you get over the cue ball, you cannot give your complete attention to shot execution, which is all you should be thinking about once you are over the cue ball.

One of the game's oldest and wisest sayings is "make all your decisions standing."
 
Bob Jewett said:
Probably because they don't learn about it until they have put in a lot of time without one. They fall back into their old ways.

It doesn't have to take a long time.
Click to expand...

Takes a lot of dedication, and enough desire to want to change everything about your game. Work Ethic, and willingness to put in the time and practice to want to change. Not everyone is a Natural, so for many, I assume it just takes a lot of work, and a pure love for the game, and a very strong desire to want to improve. I would need a very good teacher, and I would need a lot of time and dedication, to change everything about my game. It would pay off, with a lot of hard work, with a good instructor. An old friend got to another level after working with Mark Wilson.
 
bbb said:
Whats your definition of
“ a decent commitment of time “ ?
Click to expand...
Couple of hours a day during the work week. ...and exposure to quality tournaments at a semi regular rate. 1-2 a month.

I play less and will keep short stops honest. To be fair, I played a ton in my youth and have been riding those efforts in my later years.

My point is that you can reach short stop level with a day job.
 
sjm said:
Here's something you need to address. Your final decision needs to be made BEFORE you get down on the shot, not after. If you are still in conceptualization mode when you get over the cue ball, you cannot give your complete attention to shot execution, which is all you should be thinking about once you are over the cue ball.

One of the game's oldest and wisest sayings is "make all your decisions standing."
Click to expand...

True. There is also a part two to this. The few times you are down on the table and have doubts, stand back up, rechalk, etc. Top snooker players always repeat the pattern.

It is similar when trying to make an awkward bridge over a ball, pocket, etc. Don’t adjust the bridge hand while it’s on the table. Step back, and replace your hand. Repeat within reason until it feels right.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top