WPBA Peoria - Sharing My Experiences

SJM,

It was a pleasure getting to speak with you again as always. I wish we would have watched that match from seats a little closer rather than the binocular section. I learned a few things chatting with you and your witty comments are always a highlight of speaking with you. Thank you for posting that drill. I have never seen that and I plan on trying it out today at the pool room.

Take care,
Sarah
 
DaveK said:
These forums do tend to make one jealous on occasion, this being one, speaking for myself. Several of my favorite AZers in one place watching pros and playing some pool and I'm thousands of miles away ... Sounds like everyone had a great time.

Dave
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Dave and Koop,

I feel your pain!! Sounds like they all had a great time. Too bad some of my favorite posters live so far away! SJM, sounds like you really are the man. Great drill! Thanks for sharing.
 
Alright, this is all getting too mushy for me; its sounding like "Pollyanna Visits Peoria." Here's a counterpoint - SJM must be a feakin' sadist!!!!! I just tried the drill, and it kicked my ass. I made four of the first five; then just one more. Total = 5/11.

The first 5 are fairly easy, but of the next 6 I only made one, with 2 near misses, and the rest 1-2 diamonds off. Hey, if I wanted to feel this bad about my game I would take up golf again. Well, I guess I could just take a little Prozac, and try the drill again later (or perhaps I could just practice).
 
sarahrousey said:
SJM,

It was a pleasure getting to speak with you again as always. I wish we would have watched that match from seats a little closer rather than the binocular section. I learned a few things chatting with you and your witty comments are always a highlight of speaking with you. Thank you for posting that drill. I have never seen that and I plan on trying it out today at the pool room.

Take care,
Sarah
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Thanks for your kind words, Sarah. Enjoyed your company, too. Good luck with the drill.
 
Rickw said:
Dave and Koop,

I feel your pain!! Sounds like they all had a great time. Too bad some of my favorite posters live so far away! SJM, sounds like you really are the man. Great drill! Thanks for sharing.
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No doubt Rick. Maybe next time...
 
Williebetmore said:
Alright, this is all getting too mushy for me; its sounding like "Pollyanna Visits Peoria." Here's a counterpoint - SJM must be a feakin' sadist!!!!! I just tried the drill, and it kicked my ass. I made four of the first five; then just one more. Total = 5/11.

The first 5 are fairly easy, but of the next 6 I only made one, with 2 near misses, and the rest 1-2 diamonds off. Hey, if I wanted to feel this bad about my game I would take up golf again. Well, I guess I could just take a little Prozac, and try the drill again later (or perhaps I could just practice).
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The SJM drill kicked my butt last night too ... great drill ! I was trying for direct (no rail) hits on all balls, and upon rereading I see where the long rail can be used for the first bunch o' balls ... anyway, it sure does require precise hits on the CB. I think a complimentary drill that requires the precise use of follow (like the SJM drill requires the precise use of draw) should be next. I played with one yesterday, and will post if anyone is interested. I'd like to hear about any such drills that might be out there, SJM ? Anyone ?

Dave
 
DaveK said:
The SJM drill kicked my butt last night too ... great drill ! ... anyway, it sure does require precise hits on the CB.
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Dave, and others, don't fret. This really is an expert level drill. I love using it to test the progress of my students in creting angles off the object ball.

The best thing about doing this drill is that you learn quickly where your weaknesses lie in creating angles off an object ball. A serious player quickly recognizes the power of mastering this drill. To play the best patterns, you need a full command of your strokes, and this drill helps you get there.

Still, even a "B" player may hit the wall with this drill, meaning they may stop improving at it. Once the wall is hit, the best chance to improve is to study the ninety degree rule and all aspects of stroke selection and angle creation theory.

It takes both knowledge and repetition to master this drill. I'm pleased to hear that you and others seem to like it.
 

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AuntyDan said:
Nice excercise, it's pure evil!

This is another one I like for target practice - Run the balls in any order with the least number of strokes (15 is of course the perfect score) If you want to make it tougher make sure the clustered balls are NOT touching each other so it is harder to open them up and don't freeze the other balls on the rails.

START(
%AH7Z4%BU0Z5%Ch0N9%DO0O3%EC8O1%Ff8N9%GU0D2%HH6D0%Ig5M6%JP2O3
%Km5Z3%Lg7C9%Ma0Z5%Nr6O2%OO5N3%Pg9V9
)END
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.... or, if you're a 14.1 geek like me, run 14 of them and leave a break shot. This looks pretty tough!
 
Cue Ball control drills

sjm,
It is an excellent drill for developing an understanding of cue ball control with stun and draw and especially to identify weakeness areas.

I would also suggest that once players get a bit bored with the drill, to try it as 3 different speeds. One to softly bump into the ball. The next at medium speed to bump it a couple of feet. And the third with power. With the power shots the last few balls may not be able to be struck directly, so try to get them using a rail.

This will create an even deeper understanding of physics and cue ball control.

I do think players would benefit a lot from more cannon type drills such as these.

Here's another drill I did an article on:
04060802252317.jpg

Full article here:
Cue Ball Control Drill

Another drill I like to do is to have 3 object balls on the table. Each shot I must pot any one, and cannon into another. Balls potted go onto set spots such as foot, centre and string spot (can be varied to create new challenges). Also can make a variation where the cannon must be made off at least one rail, or off two rails.

You'll quickly start working out how to steer old whitey around the table, and to learn to pot using a lot of variations of spin and speed.
 
Colin Colenso said:
sjm,
It is an excellent drill for developing an understanding of cue ball control with stun and draw and especially to identify weakeness areas......I would also suggest that once players get a bit bored with the drill, to try it as 3 different speeds.
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Actually, once the drill I posted is learned, I like to see a student discontinue playing the shots in rotation by placing that at the diamonds in random order but shooting them in numerical order. This is a step in the direction of actual pattern play, in which the strokes will occur in a fairly random order.

I like the drill you suggested, too.
 
sjm said:
Actually, once the drill I posted is learned, I like to see a student discontinue playing the shots in rotation by placing that at the diamonds in random order but shooting them in numerical order. This is a step in the direction of actual pattern play, in which the strokes will occur in a fairly random order.

I like the drill you suggested, too.
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SJM,
Your drill does look interesting. I was thinking it could be used as a practice game between a couple of players. It could be scored like CRICKET, as in darts. If one player hits one of the balls three times before the other player does, then he gets points for every successful hit on that ball after that, until the other player has three hits on it. I have not had a chance to try this drill yet. Could you rate the diamonds in your drill, according to difficulty to be hit?

Tracy
 
RSB-Refugee said:
SJM,
Your drill does look interesting. I was thinking it could be used as a practice game between a couple of players. It could be scored like CRICKET, as in darts. If one player hits one of the balls three times before the other player does, then he gets points for every successful hit on that ball after that, until the other player has three hits on it. I have not had a chance to try this drill yet. Could you rate the diamonds in your drill, according to difficulty to be hit?

Tracy
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In my opinion, from easiest to toughest: 2, 3, 4, 12, 5, 11, 6, 10, 9, 8, 7
 
Reminder, don't forget to set up the mirror image of the shot to work the other side of your stroke.

I hit the far tit on the side pocket 5 times in a row (I'm consistent, anyway :( ) before I was able to hit the stupid 4-ball. yumpin yiminy

Jeff Livingston
 
chefjeff said:
Reminder, don't forget to set up the mirror image of the shot to work the other side of your stroke.
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That's a great point, Jeff. Doing the drill both ways is a great idea.
 
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