Nostalgia
01-10-2005, 11:29 AM
Hey all. I had posted a while back about my game going to hell in a handbasket. My consitency was nonexistant, and my shotmaking was miserable. There were a lot of good suggestions (a couple to take up bowling, thanks). One was to go back to basics. Well, I spent a lot of time honestly looking at my form, especially my stroke. I took a lesson from an APA certified instructor, and he pointed out a flaw with where I was keeping my elbow (not centered above my hand).
Well, my consistency and shotmaking has gone way, way up. I've won 5 of my last 6 eight and 9 ball matches (losing only a single 9 ball match by 4 balls). This afternoon at lunch I had a break and run in an 8-ball game. I wanted to share the last 2 shots, as I played the nicest position shot I have played to date. Here's the table:
RSB Pooltable (http://endeavor.med.nyu.edu/%7Ewei/pool/pooltable2.html)
I made a stripe on the break. The table looked better for solids, and I ran the first 6. I then had this position on the 1 ball:
START(
%AN8X8%CK1I6%Hi5O1%Io5Q5%Jn1D0%KW3U4%LO4F0%MC8L9%N l4I2%Ob0J8
%Pg7Z0%YP4Q5%ZO6X6%]P8Y0%^f6Y8
)END
You'll notice that the 8 doesn't go in the top right pocket. The only decent play would be for the bottom right pocket. So, I figured I'd hit the 1 with a firm stun shot to slide it over so I've got an angle on the left side of the 3. I could then play a draw shot to come down for the 8. Well, of course the cue slid over too far, leaving me on the wrong side of the 3.
I decided to play a follow show off the back rail, but the 13 would be in the way. I knew I'd have to hit it hard enough so the cue would slide left a bit before going forward into the rail. I lined it up with a heavy dose of top-left English, and hit a very smooth, firm stroke. I was rewarded with gorgeous 3 rail position on the 8. The cue was about 1 1/2 balls off the rail with a small angle on the 8. Here's the path:
START(
%CK1I6%Hi5O1%Io5Q5%Jn1D0%KW3U4%LO4F0%MC8N0%Nl4I2%O b0J8%PU2L5
%UL5J7%VT4L3%WJ9Z9%XC0Q5%Ya7D2%ZK5[4%[d1E6%\b5C6%]D1D2%^J5H9
%_D1Q4%`I6N9%aK6J3
)END
I was so proud. /ccboard/images/graemlins/smile.gif It felt so good to run that rack after working my way out of the almost year long slump I had been in.
Thanks for the advice and encouragement,
-Joe
Well, my consistency and shotmaking has gone way, way up. I've won 5 of my last 6 eight and 9 ball matches (losing only a single 9 ball match by 4 balls). This afternoon at lunch I had a break and run in an 8-ball game. I wanted to share the last 2 shots, as I played the nicest position shot I have played to date. Here's the table:
RSB Pooltable (http://endeavor.med.nyu.edu/%7Ewei/pool/pooltable2.html)
I made a stripe on the break. The table looked better for solids, and I ran the first 6. I then had this position on the 1 ball:
START(
%AN8X8%CK1I6%Hi5O1%Io5Q5%Jn1D0%KW3U4%LO4F0%MC8L9%N l4I2%Ob0J8
%Pg7Z0%YP4Q5%ZO6X6%]P8Y0%^f6Y8
)END
You'll notice that the 8 doesn't go in the top right pocket. The only decent play would be for the bottom right pocket. So, I figured I'd hit the 1 with a firm stun shot to slide it over so I've got an angle on the left side of the 3. I could then play a draw shot to come down for the 8. Well, of course the cue slid over too far, leaving me on the wrong side of the 3.
I decided to play a follow show off the back rail, but the 13 would be in the way. I knew I'd have to hit it hard enough so the cue would slide left a bit before going forward into the rail. I lined it up with a heavy dose of top-left English, and hit a very smooth, firm stroke. I was rewarded with gorgeous 3 rail position on the 8. The cue was about 1 1/2 balls off the rail with a small angle on the 8. Here's the path:
START(
%CK1I6%Hi5O1%Io5Q5%Jn1D0%KW3U4%LO4F0%MC8N0%Nl4I2%O b0J8%PU2L5
%UL5J7%VT4L3%WJ9Z9%XC0Q5%Ya7D2%ZK5[4%[d1E6%\b5C6%]D1D2%^J5H9
%_D1Q4%`I6N9%aK6J3
)END
I was so proud. /ccboard/images/graemlins/smile.gif It felt so good to run that rack after working my way out of the almost year long slump I had been in.
Thanks for the advice and encouragement,
-Joe