Position Play and Preshot Routine

[rolldarocks]

How do you guys figure your cue ball leaves in your preshot routine?

What steps or items are you concentrating on specifically?

Do you find that concentrating on the leave often causes you to miss the shot?

[dags_lax]

How do you guys figure your cue ball leaves in your preshot routine?

I been playing for so many years I have the angles and the effects of spin down pretty good. If you want to shorten up the learning curve I recommend Robert Byrne's Standard Book of Pool and Billiards. It gives a good understanding of why the cue ball behaves the way it does.

Addressing the question at hand for the object ball that I want to get shape on there is usually a zone where the cue ball can end up while leaving a decent shot. Often times there is more than one way to get into the zone. If that is the case I will generally take the path that allows the greatest margin of error in speed control.


What steps or items are you concentrating on specifically?

Before you even get into you stance you should have decided on 1) your aiming point, 2) cue ball spin, and 3) cue ball speed.

When you bend down to the table should be already be aiming at the contact point on the object ball. If not, you need to adjust. Don’t be lazy and try to make adjustments while in your stance. Straighten up, make the adjustments, and then get back in your stance. You should now be on your aiming point.

The next point, cue ball spin, is addressed in the warm up strokes. It is here where you “dial in” on hitting the cue ball where you want to. You should be glancing back and forth from the object ball to the cue ball. As most players are looking at the object ball when they actually hit the cue ball this groves your stroke so that you will hit the cue ball where you want even when you are not looking at it.

The final point is cue ball speed. You know how far you want the cue ball to travel; and that you have to hit it hard, soft or somewhere in between. But knowing just how hard or soft is another thing entirely. Speed control just may be the most difficult aspect of pool to master. It is not something that can be described in a book or taught. It is a muscle memory thing that gets buried deep in the subconscious through lots of experience and practice.


Do you find that concentrating on the leave often causes you to miss the shot?

By the time I pull the trigger I am concentrating on the contact point on the object ball. My shape has already been addressed and is on the back burner so to say. So when I miss a shot I need to find another excuse such as too much beer, not enough beer, distracted by an attractive woman, etc. It's a long list and I was concentrating on my leave doesn't cut it.

A bit verbose but I hope this helps.

[skor]

good post by dags :!:
I agree with it all

[rolldarocks]

Thanks that was a well-versed response. Anyone else have any insights?

[jkregan]

I had a coaching session from a protege of Buddy Hall and he had some rather interesting points to make.

The analytical part of the shot is done with the left brain and while standing. The actual execution of the shot is done with the right brain and is done while addressing the ball. If you have to adjust, that is left brain stuff and you should always stand up, make the adjustment and get back over the ball. To do otherwise will almost surely result in a miss.

He also pointed out that nothing on the routine he taught me involved standing back up. You should only depart from your stance over the ball when the shot is entirely over. Nothing other than the lower part of your back arm should move at all during the shot.

[nathar]

Nothing other than the lower part of your back arm should move at all during the shot.

This is one of those things that a lot of people would disagree with. Personally, I don't. When you drop your elbow at the end of your stroke, you can add all kinds of funky spin on the ball. Less experienced players have no idea of what that can do not only to the cb but to the object ball as well. I have seen more than a few professional players that drop their elbow, but they have usually been shooting like that for decades and have learned to compensate.

As far as a pre shot routine, I also agree with Dags. Decide your course of action before you take your stance. When you get down over your shot, you should already know where you want to strike the cb, how hard to strike the cb, and your aiming point for the ob. Form there it is only a matter of excuting a good stroke. If your previous decisions were correct and you excuted your stroke properly you should be good to go.

One more thing,
If you are shooting competitively, try not to look at the attractive girl at the next table inbetween shots.
Yeah right! :twisted:

[jkregan]

Its easier to make a date with her before the match and then have her root for you so you will win and take her to a nicer restaurant afterward.