CAPELLE’S PRACTICING POOL Take Your Game to the Next Level & Beyond Philip B. Capelle First Edition Billiards Press, Huntington Beach, CACAPELLE’S PRACTICING POOL Take Your Game to the Next Level & Beyond By Ph B. Capelle Copyright© 2006 By Philip B. Capelle Published by: Billiards Press Huntington Beach, CA First Printing All Rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by an information storage and retrieval system without written permission from the author, except for the inclusion of quotations in a review. Printed in the United States of America 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 95-XXXX ISBN 0-9649204-9-2 Cover Illustration by Janet Tedesco.This book is dedicated to the serious students of pool who can't wait to get to the table and enjoy the process of becoming the best pool player they can be.Acknowledgements ‘Two heads are definitely better than one, a time honored principle that has been proven to me over and over when working on my books. Once again the second head belongs to Janet Tedesco, who has traveled down the book production highway with me through fours books now. Janet is responsible for so much of what makes this book what it is that it would take pages to completely describe her value to the project. She is a tireless work- er with a mind like a steel trap who keeps me on the pathway when a Starbucks induced moment threatens to change the very nature of the project. Janet is also a total profession- al, a joy to work with, and a true friend. I shared several ideas for this book with Tom Shaw of Pool & Billiard Magazine. Tom always tells it to me straight, and he never lacks for insights that, far more often than not, are completely on target. It is largely thanks to Tom that the word drill, which is best left for the dentist’s office, is absent from this book. Melinda Hinojosa conferred with me on several of my ideas for the book and even got some of her friends into the act. She kept adding updates to the billiardspress.com web site for which she is responsible, and was her usual supportive self. One of great joys of working on a new book is spending time at the pool table research- ing new ideas and seeking out the perspectives of pool player’s of varying abilities. Paul Gray kindly spent several days of his vacation time setting up shots, shooting shots, and sharing his insights. His willingness to offer honest feedback helped with many of the exercises in the book. Ted Mazac kept my computer up and running with several maintenance sessions as he went out of his way to make sure that my machine would remain operable so I could remain on schedule. Last but not least, special thanks to Rhett Kennedy for his hand in this project. viIntroduction Practice can be anything you make it to be. To some it is a necessary chore that must be endured in order to get better. For the lucky ones like yourself, pool practice is an activi- ty that you eagerly look forward to because you enjoy hitting pool balls. You relish the chance that every single shot offers for discovering some insight that could take your game to a higher level. With the proper perspective, practicing pool is your surest way to substantial and lasting improvement in your game. And when practice is looked at correct- ly, it can be as enjoyable, if not more so, than playing. I have written many other books prior to this one, but none that focused on the art of practicing pool. Capelle’s Practicing Pool, which fills this void, is a companion guide to my Play Your Best Series of instructional books. While this book contains over 200 exer- cises, its main purpose is to teach you to teach yourself to play pool as well, if not better, than you imagined possible. Since most of your time is spent playing or practicing, it only makes sense that you be able to take care of your game when you are not with your instructor. The book is for players of all levels of skill. Everyone is encouraged to read Chapter 1, which presents ideas for learning and for becoming a great student. After studying this chapter, new players should turn to Chapter 2, Fast Start, which presents exercises that will help you build a solid foundation. All other players should start with Chapter 3, Fundamentals First. When you have your fundamentals in top working order, then you are prepared to tackle the other elements of the game. The other chapters are placed in what I feel is a logical progression. Nevertheless, experienced players should feel free to skip around and to put together a program that is best suited for your current needs. Chapter 14 discusses the elements of a successful prac- tice session, and it offers lists, which you can use to help in putting together your agenda. Chapter I presents the Champion's Checklist, which you can use to take an inventory of your skills so you'll know what areas need your attention right now. This book has been designed to be as user friendly as possible. The spiral binding makes it easy to take to the table where you can set up the shots and get to work on improving your game. The balls have been positioned on the table so you can set them up in very little time providing you use a few simple tools. Your ability to accurately set up and repeat the exercises is invaluable in learning the shots and skills, and for measuring your progress. The detailed table of contents enables you to quickly find the areas of your game where you are seeking help. Key concepts have been put in bold type throughout the book, enabling you to quickly locate and review them. On many pages you will see either or both of the following characters: ©) Designates an exercise - how to set it up and how to execute it. ® Refers to a review of that exercise with questions and ideas for self discovery. Use of the Masculine Pronoun For style purposes only, I chose to use the masculine pronoun throughout the book. I find it awkward to be constantly alternating between he and she, his and her. To women read- ers I ask that you understand that he really means he/she (and him means hinv/her). viiReading the Diagrams The diagrams in Capelle's Practicing Pool are designed to make it as easy as possible to learn the shots and skills, and to place the balls on the table. After you have the background information and the instructions for the exercise, you should have no problem setting up and executing each one. The illustrations have been drawn to scale for a regulation sized table (50” x 100”) so that you can see exactly how the shots and strategies really work at the table. There are no balls that won't fit into the pockets or other errors that detract from the realistic portrayal of the shots. Pool diagrams are simple to read once you get used to the terminology. Nevertheless, I suggest that you take a few moments to review the items listed below in conjunction with the diagram on the following page. If you have any questions about the notation of a diagram while reading the book, refer back to these pages. Diagram Notation A. Cue Stick - It shows the initial line of aim. When english is applied, the cue is positioned to the left or right of center. The example shows right english. B Cue Ball ~ The solid white circle is the cue ball before it has been shot. C Cue Ball’s Path - The dashed line shows the path of the cue ball to the object ball, as welll as its path after contact. C-1 The cue ball’s path is shown by where the center of the cue ball is traveling. As a result, the line never touches the rail. D Contact Cue Ball - The dashed circle shows the cue ball’s position at contact with the object ball. E Cue Ball’s Final Location — The cue ball with an X inside shows where the cue ball has come to rest. When the cue ball stops dead at the point of contact, the X cue ball is used to show both contact and the cue ball’s ending location. Object Ball Path - The solid line shows the object ball’s path. Cue Balls in Sequence ~ When a sequence of shots is shown, the order in which they’ve been shot is represented with letters next to the cue balls. The X cue ball shows the cue ball’s end- ing position on the last shot. H_ Gray Zones — These zones show shot pictures and positon zones. Ghost Balls - Though they look similar to the cue ball, they have a thinner line, and are not adjacent to the cue stick. Ghost balls play a very prominent role in this book because they are very often used as aides in setting up certain shots. They are removed when the set up is com- plete. Gray Numbered Object Balls — These show object balls that have come to rest at a differ- ent spot than their original location, but were not pocketed. Grid Lines ~ The grid lines are useful for setting up shots from the book. The grid lines also help define each ball’s location on the table. Pocket Lettering — The pocket are assigned letters for reference. ‘Tangent Lines - These lines show a path that runs at a 90-degree angle to the object ball’s path to the pocket. Descriptive Text - You will find descriptive text on the diagrams where appropriate through- out the book. Angles — They are referenced occasionally in the book. on o 2 35F KK © viiiFoot Spot. Head String.EZ Ball Placement ‘A big part of successful practice is your ability to place the balls exactly where they should go on the table. This enables you to play the same shots from session to session. Accurate ball placement also enables you to measure your results against the same standards and to adjust your approach from shot to shot as you do several repetitions of the same exercise. Placing the balls accurately doesn’t have to be a time consuming chore or one that might dissuade you from practicing at all. In fact, with the methods we’re about to discuss, you will perhaps become even more excited about practicing because you will soon discover how easy it is to place the balls exactly where you want them. The Grid Lines In football they have yardage markers to determine the ball’s position on the field. In pool we have diamonds on the rail. If you can see imaginary lines connecting the diamonds running across and down the table, then you can also visualize where they intersect. All of the diagrams in this book have grid lines. The intersections where these lines meet are a big key to spotting balls accurately. These intersections only take seconds to locate when you have some simple- to-use tools handy. We'll discuss them in a moment. Placement Balls Shots using one to three (or four) placement balls are the easiest to set up. Just find the spot opposite the rail where the ball goes (cue ball or object ball). Place as many balls as needed so that the ball being spotted is in the right place. The example shows the stripe object ball with the two placement balls and the cue ball with the one placement ball. Setting up these balls only takes a few moments. The only trick is to show a little care when removing the placement balls so you don’t disturb the cue ball or object ball. 8" Bridge When to Use a Placement Ball Placement balls are ideal for those shots in which the object [ ball is near the rail and you are only planning to do one or two repetitions. When you are going to shoot several reps, it may . Cue is be worth the little extra trouble to use the donuts (see below). The Half Ball When you see a half of a circle next to the rail, that means the ball being spotted is a half ball width from the rail. The donut’s center should then be 2.25 inches from the rail. The Reference Points exercise shows a position where the ball is placed a half ball from the rail. ParellelThe Donuts The hole reinforcements (which I will from here on refer to as donuts) that are used for three ring binder paper are also one of the best and least expensive training tools for pool. For about a buck you can purchase a pack- age of 200. Each one can be used during the same session about two to three times before the glue wears off, The donuts enable you to quickly and accurately mark the positions of the balls when prac- ticing so that you can play the same shots over and over until they are mastered. The two primary styles of donuts are white and clear. Each has its advantages. If you have no trouble locating clear donuts once they are in position and the white circles bother you, get the clear ones. I’ve always preferred the white ones as they are easy to find. They also make great targets for posi- tion plays and safeties, Once you put a donut in place, the ball that goes on it will settle into the center of the donut. And yet the donuts are so thin that they exert virtually no effect on the cue ball or object ball. Illustration A shows a donut that’s been placed at the intersection of two grid lines. The circle around it repre- sents the cue ball. ‘The Illustration B shows one of the great features of the Illustration A donuts: they are 9/16” in diameter, or exactly a quarter of the cue Mlustration B ball’s diameter. This enables you to position them in increments as small as a quarter ball for progressive exercises if you are seek- ing the ultimate in precision (see page 121). Marking Distances from the Rail The table below gives distances for placing the donuts precise distances from the rail. When the table says the ball is one ball from the rail, that means that a full ball could be placed between the ball and the rail. The donut is placed 3 3/8” from the rail so that it will is placed at the center of the ball, not the far edge. Ball Position Center of Donut Ball Position Center of Donut from Rail from the Rail from Rail from the Rail Frozen to 11/8" 2.5 balls 63/4” Half Ball 21/4” 3 balls 7718” One ball 33/8” 3.5 balls ” 1.5 balls 41/2” 4 balls 10 1/8” 2 balls 5 5/8” 4.5 balls 1 1/4” Half a grid 6 1/4” 5 balls 12 3/8” Full grid 12.5” xiPool T-Square ‘A t-square can enable you to place balls anywhere on the table within seconds with near machine shop precision. When you posi- tion the t-square under the rail up against the place where the rail meets the slate, the ruler will stick straight out across the table. You can then place the donuts next to the ruler the appropriate distance from the rail. You must allow for the distance under the rail, which is about an inch. This could vary from table to table. If, for example, the under-the-rail-distance is an inch, then you would need to place the donut 13.5” from the rail to reach the first intersection, which is 12.5” from the rail. Or if you wanted the object ball three ball widths from the rail, you would need to put the donut 7 7/8” from. the rail, Make Your Own Pool T-Square You can make your own t-square, as shown below, for positioning the balls. I advise that you buy an inexpensive wooden yardstick. Cut it off at the 26” mark because you only need 25”+ for reach- ing the center of the table. Tape the ruler securely underneath a plastic triangle (the kind used for drafting). Both of these items will only cost a few dollars. The triangle should be placed on the ruler so that there is enough distance to allow for the slate underneath the rail. If you have certain distances that you place balls from the rail, such a one or two grids (12.5” or 25”) then you could put a donut on the ruler or some other mark to show these often used positions. The illustration shows how easily you can place a ball a half of a grid (6.25”) from the rail. The diamond on the rail is opposite where the edge of the ruler should be placed. It should then me moved about a quarter of an inch to the side to allow for the radius of the donut. Just place the donut where shown, place a ball on top of it, and you're all set. Eo.e.= 228 CCT - CC Donut on the Anchor Point It can help to set up rows of balls for some of Anchor Point the progressive exercises by using anchor points. In this example the position for the 5- Une Uy Une ball is located first, and a donut it put in place. A straight edge is then placed along side the donut and pointed at a reference point, which in this case is Pocket D. The row of balls is then positioned along the straight edge including the xii Line Up Line “|placement balls (the blank circles). They are then removed and the set up is complete. How to Play the Shots ene ‘The two key ingredients to playing each shot are tip placement and speed of stroke. When this information is an important part of the diagrammed les- son, you will find a small box with instructions for where to place your tip, 1-8 Medium Soft (4) and for the correct speed of stroke. The boxes look like the illustration to the right. Additional information on these components is presented below. The Cueing Cue Ball The cue ball illustrations within many of the diagrams tell you exactly where you should strike SAG DASE AGE, the cue ball. The cue balls below show just a few of the most common locations where you might strike the cue ball Center Ball 1 Tip of 1/2 Tip of 1 Tip of 1/2 Tip of Draw Follow Left English Right English Precision Tip Placement in Practice There are a few tricks you can use for learning tip placement that will help you to position your tip in the correct place. Illustration A shows the cue ball with the dot in the middle facing directly at you. Position ‘A-| show a half tip of left english. Notice that the right edge of the tip is placed next to the center of the dot. Position A-2 shows a half tip of follow with a half tip of right english. Note the tip position in relation to the dot. Illustration B shows a 1-ball that’s being used to help learn proper cueing. The 1 is placed in a vertical position. When the right edge of your tip is up against the one, you are using a half tip of left english The 1 on my 1-ball is 11mm long. When I place my tip in Position B- 2, which is a little below the bottom of the one, I am using a full tip of draw. I could reverse this procedure for using a full tip of follow. The 1-ball you are using may have a different sized 1 on it, so you should measure it so you will know exactly where to place your tip Illustration C shows the | on the 1-ball in the horizontal position. When your tip is in Position C-1, you would be applying a half tip of follow. With your tip in Position C-2 you would be using a full tip of right english (assuming you were using a 1-ball like in my set). D Illustration D shows another way to visualize cueing a half tip off the vertical axis. Imagine a line running down from the very top of the cue ball. The edge of your tip would go on this line. xii >Speed of Stroke Speed control is essential to playing position and safeties. On every shot that has a cue ball showing proper cueing, you will also find the speed of stroke. The table below shows the com- plete range of speeds. About two thirds of all shots in Nine Ball require a speed from 4-6. Eight Ball and Straight Pool require a little less speed, on average. To master the game, you must be accomplished at using speeds across the entire Spectrum of Speed. The Spectrum of Speed Speed MPH Speed MPH 1 Extremely Soft .1- 1.5 6 Medium Hard 6.0 2 Very Soft 2.0 7 Hard 7.0 3 Soft 3.0 8 Very Hard 8.0 4 Medium Soft 4.0 9 Extremely Hard 10.0 - 12.0 5 Medium 5.0 10 The Break 15.0 - 30.0+ Home Table Marking Those of you with a table at home who plan on practicing on a regular basis may wish to make some pencil marks on your table at some key locations to speed up the placement of the donuts and/or balls. One way is to mark the intersections with a 9/16” diameter circle. You could then place the balls or the donuts and then the balls on these circles. These circles could also serve as reference points for setting up the balls in nearby locations. Practicing on a Home Sized Table The diagrams in this book have all been drawn to the scale of a regulation sized table, which is 50” x 100”. Many of you may own a table that is 44” x 88” or you may play in a poolroom that fea- tures this size of table. I think you will find that the vast majority of shots can easily accommodate a smaller sized table. The few where you may have to make allowances are those with long lines of balls. On these exercises you can either use a couple of less balls or place them a little closer together. On many shots, espe- cially those in the chapter on fundamentals, there should be no problem adapting these shots to your needs. The illustrations show the position of a typical intersection of the grid lines, which is where many balls are placed. On a home sized table, the intersections of the grid lines are 11” and 22” from the rail. If you use a pool t-square, keep these distances in mind when setting up the exercises. You can also use a ball placement trick to position a ball one grid from the rail. Place a line of five balls opposite the diamond that’s lined up to the intersection as shown in Illustration A. Then hold the middle of the ball you wish to position above the far edge of the fifth ball. Remove the fifth ball and place the ball straight down on the table. The center of the ball will be 11.25” from the rail as shown in Illustration B. You could move it a little closer to the rail (a quarter inch) so that it is exactly at the intersection which is 11”. xivonan OO GG FB WN 2 2 = = ot & © NHN = © CONTENTS Learning to Learn Fast Start Fundamentals First Shotmaking & Aiming Position Play Pattern Play Safety Play Kicking Practice Break Shot Practice Scoring Games Practicing with a Partner League Team Practice Mental Game Practice Practice Programs Appendix xv 27 39 73 129 177 199 217 229 243 255 263 267 271 287©)- Refers to pages that have an exercise. 50 - Refers to one of the 50 most important excercises in the book. 4 Learning to Learn ... You are the Student < > You are the Teacher . Your Timetable for Improving The Learning Curve ....... Improving Your Total Game ... Some Big Mistakes to Avoid . The Improper Sequence Skill Obsession . . The One Good Idea Theory . Teacher Bias Mistakes Learned and Not Forgotten The Pyramid of Excellence What this Book Will Do for You Shots & Thoughts Your Total Game . Getting Real About Your Game Champions Checklist Filling in the Gaps . . How Much Do You Need to Practice? . Fundamentals First Stroke First - Aim Second . Start with a Fundamentals Review oe Awaken Your Awareness . Become Process Oriented . Increase Your Awareness ............- ‘Awareness: the Secret to Improvement From Silence Comes Awareness The Importance of Memory Every Shot is Important . Relearning Pool ..... Quality & Quantity . One Million Balls — The Pro’s Big Secret . Learning and Memory: The Power of Words . . How Many Repetitions Counting Repetitions Memory from Repetition . The Mental Side of Practi What Goes on from Shot to Shot You are Your Best Shots . ConfidenceLearning Each Shot In the Trenches The Day After . Aha Moments Leveraging Your Skill Proper Sequence Natural Pool Eye/Brain/Hand Coor Progressive Exercises .. The 5 Steps to Mastery . LPM - Learn - Perfect - Maintain The ABCs of L-P-M ........-- Characteristics of the Three Categories From Practice to Competition . The Power of a Routine . . Simulate Game Conditions Scoring and Beating Your Best Completing an Exercise Sparring Sessions Trusting Practice . The Pool World is Your Classroom Primary Methods of Learning . . . Practice and Your Instructor Work Out a Plan . Tips for Being a Great Student If... Then . 2 Fast Start. Your Practice Tool Kit . The Set Up .. Getting into the Shooting Position Stroke Time .............. . A Warm Up Strokes . . B —The Complete Stroke Target Practice ... A- The Short Version . .. B - Splitting the Goal Posts The All Important Straight Stroke Pocketing a Ball ..... A- Into the Pocket ... B - Follow It in Exercise . Making Cut Shots . A- The Second Cue Ball .. B — Shooting at the Donut . Feeling Your Speed of Stroke . Chapter Summary xvii QGG@ GO COO CO COConw Baws “se See Learning the Fundamentals The Law of Two Changes The Fundamentals and Your Game . Evaluating Your Game Your Fundamental Ratings . Sections of this Chapter Fundamentals Practice Program A Fundamentals Practice Program Acquiring the Right Feel . Quality vs. Quantity . The Overnight Effect . Alternating Between Shots and Exercises Playing Exercises . . Set Up . Introduction — The Importance of Landing Perfectly The Often Fatal Extra Step Consistent Stance Land In Line Land and Shoot Reference Points Exercise : The Long Line -Your Cue Is an Aiming Device . The Complete Shot Cycle Planning Phase . Execution Phase Evaluation ...... Complete Shot Cycles — Examples ... Practicing the Complete Shot Cycle Mastering the Execution Mode Mission Aborted — When to Start Over Precision Cueing — When it Takes Place Timing the Eye Shift Checking for Cueing Errors... Building the Perfect Stroke Pace - Your Stroke and Style of Play The Super Slow Stroke ......... Slooow Way Down The One Handed Stroke . Warm Up Strokes The Beauty of Warm Up Strokes . Typical Numbers of Warm Up Strokes Preparing for the GO SIGNAL Version 1 — The Go Signal Version 2 — The Wrong Number The Transition .......... xviii C0CCO C00 68 C00 G00 50 50 50Slooow Down Your Iransition Nothing Shots ... . The Long Last Look The Forward Stroke . All Shots are Straight ... The Fast Part - Acceleration Acceleration Patterns .... Length of Your Stroke . The Rubber Band ........ Start Short and Add Length . Contact - The Hit . Feeling the Hit..... . . The 5 Primary Points of Contact . The Follow Through : Posing for a Picture ..... Raising Up from the Table The Virtues of a Straight Stroke Cue Over the Diamond Version 1 — Basic Follow Shot Version 2 — The Challenging Draw Stroke . Version 3 - Switch Back and Forth . The Feel (Awareness) Feel the Weight Swinging ............ Version 1 — Feeling the Weight .............. . Version 2 — Feeling it on Your Warm Up Strokes Your Cue beeen eee e eee eee e ne eee Arm Only - Body Motionless . Open Bridge Magic .... Version 1 — Uneven Spots ... Version 2 — Choosing a Bridge Eyes Closed Exercise . Grooving Your Technique . 5 Donuts in a Row Version 1 — Perfect Stop Shots Version 2 — Follow Shots Version 3 — Draw Shots Trusting in Your Amazing Powers . 4 Shotmaking & Aiming........... B Natural Aiming The 6 Step Natural Aiming Process The 6 Steps in Action — Towards Perfection . Perspectives on Aiming Shot Pictures ... Shot Picture .. CO CCC Q2GBEQQ® COOCG® GE® OOOO OO CO CO 50 50 50 50Closure .. Understanding How Shot Pictures Work A Tale of Two Cut Shots .. . What Makes A Shot Difficult . Narrowing Your Focus ..... : Learning the Table ......... Basics of Shot Pictures Straight and Near Straight in Shots The Crossover Point Cutting Into and Away from the Rail Back Cuts and Forward Cuts ... . The Cut Angle and the Shooting Angle . Both Sides of “Identical” Shots The Distance From Cue Ball to Object Ball Cueing and Speed of Stroke ............. Finding Your Best Pocketing Speed The Big Transition Common Shot Pictures . Down the Rail Shots Thin Cuts Down the Rail . . Full to Thin Rail Shots .. . The Limbo . : Long Distance Down the Rail Shots . The Magnificent 11 Mastering the Corner Pockets . How the Exercises Work Different Players = Different Objectives . Cueing and Speed Create Your Program . Scorekeeping . . Short Distance ‘Program The Foundation Shots (1) . Lower Off Rail (2) ....... Off End Rail (3) ............ Medium Distance Program . Lower Middle (4) . 1.5 Lower (5) ..... Upper Off Rail (6) Middle 1 Diamond (7) .... Long Distance Program Upper I Diamond (8) ...... The Head Spot (9) (Game. Ball) . 2.5 Upper (10) Upper Middle (11). Secondary Shots . 2s ss “101 xx e@ Co ee C0060 CO COGG GCO eo 50 50 50 50 50Long Distance .... The Long Middle Six Diamonds ... Unusual Shots Across the Table . Down the Table . Side Pocket Shotmaking Side Pocket Bonanza........ Side Pocket Bonanza Score Sheet . Side Pocket Shot Pictures Short Side Shotmaking Corner Pockets on the Short Side Side Pockets on the Short Side . . Mastering English in Sequence ‘An Introduction to English for Newer Players Getting Started Using English . Straight in the Side — Part A Comer Pocket Cut Shots —PartB . The Five Points of Light — Part C . . Yes — Maybe — The Matrix — Outside English The Matrix — Inside English Bank Shots An Introduction Speed and Bank Shots . English and Bank Shots Typical Short Rail Bank Shots Spinning In Bank Shots ... Typical Long Rail Bank Shots Crossover Bank Shots . Master the Table . In the Moment Pros & Fanatics Only Tough Shots #1 . Tough Shots #2 Rail Shot Exercises. . Rail Shots Across and Down the Table Bread & Butter Rail Shots .. . Part A - The Basic Rail Shot Part B - Frozen Angled Rail Shots . . Part C - Using English on Rail Shots .. Table Length Rail Shots . Jacking Up . Distractions . The Distracters e® © 6 OO SCO COCO CGGO COCO @ CCCCCO 50 50 50 50Inthe Picture 6.2... eee eee eee eee Zen Master Distraction Shots . . Part A - Running the Gauntlet : Part B - Cutting Through the Fog . . 5 Position Play ....... Your Lesson Plan for Position Play The Foundation Position Routes The Follow Shot .......... 4.45 Part A - Soft Follow Shots . . Part B — Straight Down the Rail The Stop Shot . Part A Short Distance Stop Shots Part B - Long Distance Stop Shots Slight Angle Stop Shots Part A - Short Distance Small Angle “Stop” Shots Part B - Long Distance Small Angle “Stop” Shots The Draw Shot ................0005 Shot A - An Introduction to Draw Shots . Shot B - Adding Some Speed to a Draw Shot . Shot C - An Introduction to Angled Draw Shots . The Beauty of Cut Angles . Introduction to the Exercises Rail Shots ............ Version 1 — Follow Shots Version 2 — Draw Shots The Discovery Shot . Version 1 - Cutting to the Right with Follow . Version 2 ~ Cutting to the Right with Draw .. Version 3 ~ Cutting to the Left with Follow .. Version 4 ~ Cutting to the Left with Draw .. The Half Diamond Shot Version 1 — Into the Rail with Draw Version 2 ~ Across the Table Draw Shot . In& Out ..........0., Version I — Across the Table with Draw . Version 2 — Into the Rail and Out With Follow The Cue Ball After Contact .......... Discovering the Path on Cut Shots .. The Angle of Departure . The Cue Ball’s 4 Phases . ‘The Tangent Line 90 Degrees of Perfection The Dead Scratch... . ISCCTCTCCUCICCICICICICICMECICICICICIOICICICICICICC) CCC0O C00 0 50 50 50 50 50Stun Shots .............0.05 Peery 143 The Bend ....... 144 The Straight Line 144 The Rebound .. 145 English & the Cue Ball . 146 “Secrets” of English 2146 English Without Even Applying It 146 What English Does +146 Salt and English 147 The Truth About Outside English 147 The Escape Shot ~ Draw with English . 148 Frozen Shots with English ...... 148, The Magic of Quality Spin and a Softer Stroke . 149 The Overlooked Horizontal Axis 149 The 3 Ingredients to Position Play . = 150 The 3 Components —Shot A ..... 151 The 3 Components — Shots B and C . The Primary Emphasis The Matrix . . . SDP Errors .. Into the Target Zone . 152 Visualizing the Zone 154 Why Gircles and Squares Don’t Work. . 155 Your Objective: The Position Zone . 155 String Along . 2135 The String and Your Errors - 156 Common Mistakes .. 156 Multi Rail Mastery «157 «157 Six Classic Multi Rail Position Plays The Classic Two Railer .. Inside English Two Railer . . . Across the Table ... : Across and Down the Table .. . Inside Three Railer . .. 158 158 159 Side Pocket 3-Railer 161 Speed Control 162 Three Speed Control Exerc ises ... 162 Zeroing In ..... 162 Piano Scales . -163 Pick a Card Exercise eee -163 The 3 Categories - Spectrum of Spee: 163 Category A: Pro Speed ... . 164 Mid Range Follow Shots . 164 Mid Range Draw Shots . . 164 xxii Ce COG SOOO QQC@ CCCOGO ee 50 50 50 50 50 50Across the Table Draw Shots . Draw/Stun Shots ........ Category B: The Surgeon’: Ss Touc! Soft Strokes at Pocket Speed Part A - Soft Cut Shots at Pocket ce Part B - Niagara Falls . Thin Cut Pocket Hangers Part A - Soft Strokes & Pocket Hangers . Part B - Scratch if You Can .......... Short Draw Shots ............... . Category C: Power Position Play . Power Stun Workout . Power Follow Shots . The Power Draw ...... Go Into the Gap Gaps in the Real World . Go into the Gap — Follow Shots . Cue Ball Wizard Zig Zag Revisited . Zig Zag Rotation The Special “L” . Side Pocket Circle Ultra Fine Target Ball Pro Target Ball... The Position Play Cycle Putting it All Together Practicing the Position Play Cycle . 6 Pattern Play The Six Sections . : Beginning Pattern Play Nine-Ball Endgame Layouts ..... Eight-Ball End Game Runouts Programming Your Compute The 6 Most Important Principles Programming A Programming B .. Pre Set Layouts Create Your Own Nine-Ball Layouts Create Your Own Eight Ball Layout . Balls in the Middle ...... Random Layouts . Doing the Cosmo A Reality Check COCGOCO © COO GOCGOGGEG ECO ee CO COO CO 50 50 50 a o187 .. 188 189 Building Your Run Out Power . Precision 14.1 .......... Mastering Runout Poo! The Master Blueprint 189 PEP Up Your Eight-Ball Runouts .189 Running Out in Sections Using PEP 190 Nine-Ball Patterns within a Pattern . 192 Advanced Pattern Play.... 194 Vertical Axis Only . . 194 Vertical Axis Only — 2. 194 Vertical Axis Only — B «195, Super Advanced Version oe 9S The James Bond Mission . . . +. 196 Side Pockets Forbidden ........... 0.000 se cece eeeeeeeeee 198 7 Safety Play... 199 The Cue Ball After Contact . The 5 Basic Hits . . Follow the Pathway . Off the Rail and Into Jail. Spin to Win Tangent Line Safeties . Angle of Departure Planning a Safety . Planning the Perfect Safety Bull’s Eye Position Routes for a Safety . Long Distance Safety Routes Safety Ski . Skimming the Cream ... The Thin Hit Diversion . Object Ball Placement . .200 -200 .201 204 -204 207 210 Object Ball Distance Control 210 Moving the Chess Pieces . 211 Controlling Both Balls is Key. 212 212 213 214 215 215 216 Multiple Objectives ........... Controlling Both Balls Both Balls .. Finesse Safeties Float and Hook . Split the Atom .. 217 . 217 8 Kicking Practice . Strategic Kicking ee COOGGG CO GOCG00 CO CC® CO OO OCC 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50- 218 219 .220 .220 .221 . 222 +223, .223 Basics of Kicking .... Combining Adjustments . Short Rail Mastery . English Pick Up The Treadmill . The Gaps ..... The Corner Pocket Gap Stick and Hook Kick to Make . . Makeable Kick Shots . Long Railers : Real World Kick Shots 227 9 Break Shot Practice... 229 8-Ball and 9-Ball Break “Practice” . 230 Eight Ball +231 Nine Ball . -. 231 Straight Pool Break Practice ... ere oaa Speed of Stroke ....... seeeee w+ 232 A New Approach . The Format : : How to Practice 14.1 Break Shots . The Classic Break Shot Back Cut Rack Blaster Close to the Rail back Cuts Shots . Shallow Cut Angles . . . Follow Back Out ..... Side Rail Rack Smasher . Ball off the Cushion End Rail . . Three Rail Escape Shot Behind the Rack Back Cuts . Into the Corner Ball Ball-in-Hand Break Shots Center Table Rack Smasher . Backdoor . Side Pocket Hanger .. “Practicing” Break Shots While Playing 141 The Opening Break Shot in Straight Pool . 1-Pocket Break Shot .240 241 243 2244 244 10 Scoring Games Play the Ghost - Advanced aca The Modified Ghost . xvi CCCGS CO 6 6 COo ICICNG MECICICICICICIOCICICICICICCICIC CIS) 50 50 50 50Ghost Scorecard ...........002 00 eee e ee Straight Pool ............ . 1-Pocket Runout Contest . Improve Your Skills with Pool Using the Cube . Backgammon Nine Ball . . Backgammon Eight Ball ....................- The Soft Touch Increments Contest . Around the World . . The Safecracker .... 11 Practicing with a Partner |. 255 Who to Practice With 255 Structuring Your Partners Sessions . 256 Fundamental Analysis 256 Game Analysis 256 Nine Ball Analysis. 287 Eight Ball Analysis . 258 Questions Are the Answer The Big Transition: to Competition : Tips for Practicing with Your Partner Shark Warfare .. . Get Your Money’s Worth. Play “Two and Stop” Eight-Ball ..... Better Player vs. a Much Weaker Player Customize Your Practice . B Player vs. B Player Practicing Nine Ball. Play Bar Table Eight Ball with Novices ...... Concede Easy Outs — Advanced Players ..........2.02200- .260 .260 .260 .260 .260 .261 12 League Team Practice ........ 263 How to Practice as a Team . -. 264 Mental Game ... 264 Individual Goal Setting 264 264 264 265 265 265 265 265 266 +. 266 - 266 Team Goal Setting Player Evaluations . Weaknesses .. Concentration Intimidation . Planning Team Practi es Fundamentals .... Game Strategy . . Open Ended Q&A Sessions. Strategic Coaching ..... xxvii COSOG6O0008Review Previous Games and Matches ..........--...++-+4 266 Pair Off and Compete ....... 2.02.02. e cece eee eee eee 266 13 Mental Game Practice .........267 Seeing Yourself as a Miracle .267 Visualization ........... “Practicing” After a Great Competitive Event Becoming Aware of Your Thinking 268 .268 .269 Watching Great Players 269 The Deep Breath Pressure Proof Exercise 270 14 Practice Programs .. 2m Structuring a Practice Session ‘The Warm Up The Heart of the Session Specific Items for Special Emphasis . Trusting Practice . End ona High Note ... Tips for Solitary Practice Sessions . Practice Environment . : Work on Your Weak Spots Expand Your Skills . Take Extra Shots Give Yourself a Head Start . Fundamentals Quick Tips . Le The Courses . The 50 Essentials Thinking Persons Exercises . Progressive Exercises . Shotmakers Workout . . Shotmakers — Short Program Soft Strokes . Hard Strokes . eee Dead Stroke in 40 Minutes 20 for Eight Ball . 20 for Nine Ball .... Basic Position Play . To the Next Level Pro Program . The Big Event .272 272 .272 273 273 274 274 274 274 Appendix ..........0...0.. ee 287 rxviliLearning to Learn Phil says... The one big shortcut to becoming a fine poolplayer is to become a skillful student of the game. By following some proven princi- ples of learning you will hasten your progress and have more fun. you would certainly experience substantial improvement. However, to get the most out of this book and your game, it pays to first learn or brush up on your learming skills. Even if you are a great student, you may discover a few ideas that will enhance your skills at learning. Look over this chapter and read those sections that are of particular interest. And be sure to keep an open mind to these ideas because you never know when a new perspec- tive or moment of enlightenment on the learning process could help unlock the doors to substantial and lasting improvement. You Are the Student < > You Are the Teacher 1 advise that you take lessons, read books, watch great players, and study DVDs as part of your program for improving your game. As valuable as these activities may be, how- ever, the majority of your practice time will spent by yourself, and possibly with this book. You are ultimately responsible for learning the game. While you are practicing you need to be able to teach yourself as you go. When you do something right, you need to assess why the shot worked. By doing so it will become a part of your game. And when you make mistakes, you need to be able to figure out what went wrong and how to apply the proper corrective measures. There will be roadblocks, some of which may require the assistance of an instructor or some outside source. But for the most part you will learn faster and better if you are skilled at learning the game, and at teaching yourself. This book has been designed to help you to become a great student of the game. It gives you the underlying principles behind the exercises, tells you how to do them, and in many cases advises you on how to assess your results. In short, this book is all about getting you as actively involved in the process of becoming a superb poolplayer as possible so you will be able to make the most of your time spent practicing. You will best learn to become a fine player by becoming a great stu- dent, and your best pupil! Y° could proceed through the book from cover to cover doing the exercises and2 Chapter 1 | Learning to Learn Your Timetable for Improving One of the biggest obstacles to improvement is the desire for an instant and sizeable jump in your game. If you will not be happy unless you become much better very soon, then you are setting yourself up for disappointment. I have written previously about a Quantum Leap in a player’s game, which is a sizeable and lasting jump that happens overnight. Big jumps usually occur when a player’s game jells, when all of the hard work comes together. If you practice regularly and are a great student, you will position yourself for a Quantum Leap in your game. However, I would not worry about if or when it’s going to happen, for there is no timetable for such an event. Besides, once you get into the process of practicing like a great student, the journey will be the reward. You will enjoy hitting pool balls, and you will live from shot to shot, moment to moment, as you inch your way towards your best pool. This perspective will lead to great happiness from your hours at the table. And when your Quantum Leap comes, it will be the proverbial icing on the cake. Every player is unique. Each of you brings to the learning process your own level of talent, your tenacity for seeking improvement, and your available time for working on your game. Talent, tenacity, and time. Every player’s combination of attributes is unique, so don’t hold yourself an unrealistic timetable for reaching your goals. Instead, enjoy the game, put your heart and mind into your practice sessions, become a great student, and you will be doing what you can to learn this great sport as well and as quickly as possible. The Learning Curve Every player follows the learning curve, although no two players’ are exactly alike. The curve as shown below is comprised of peaks and valleys. Ideally it will show an upward trend over the long haul. In the early going your progress is substantial and very notice- able. After you've played for a while, you will experience plateaus in your game, and an occasional slump. Plateaus are a natural occurrence. Slumps result from bad habits that you've allowed to creep into your game, and from lack of play and practice. Sometimes all it takes for a player to break out of a slump and to reach a new level is to. rededicate themselves to improving and to embark on a well thought plan for practice and development. If you have been in a slump or if you have a desire to move up to the next level, then this book is for you. 100% 75% 50% 25% 0% ‘% of Ability Time (Years)Learning to Learn| Chapter1 3 Tam very fond of analogies that refer to Charles Dickens A Tale of Two Cities for the simple reason that they provide such stark contrasts. And so it goes with our leaning curve, which could be titled 4 Tale of Two Aspiring Pool Players. One practiced with a plan and was constantly thinking of ways to improve his game. The other wanted to improve, but his “practice” consisted solely of playing Eight Ball with his buddies. Their learning curves quickly diverged. One became a top player and the other who refused to practice eventually left the game. Improving Your Total Game The learning curve we discussed above referred to the level of your overall game. Your total game is the sum of your skills: how well you plan your patterns, play position, exe- cute your safeties, and a host of other skills, both physical and mental. These skills make up the sum total of your game. To improve you must take your mass of skills and move it to higher and higher levels. While you are adding to your game, you must also main- tain the skills you have worked so hard to develop. Some Big Mistakes to Avoid The Improper Sequence There is a well-defined sequence to learning pool that must be followed until your fundamentals are solid and you are well on your way to becoming an accomplished shotmaker. While a player is in the early stages of the learning curve, they should avoid using english, practicing their break shot, or experimenting with three rail kick shots, And yet I have all too often seen near beginners discussing their new break cue or wondering why they are having trouble with their bank shots. There is a time for learning all aspects of the game, but they are best learned in the proper sequence or your progress could be stalled, perhaps indefinitely. Skill Obsession Another big mistake developing players commit is to get obsessed with certain parts of the game. Using english prematurely, as mentioned above, is one problem area. So are bank shots. It would be super cool if you could bank like Hall of Famer Eddie “The Knoxville Bear” Taylor. However, unless you want to be the king of bank pool, you are better off concentrating on the basic skills like position play, patterns and safeties. Learn the parts of the game that come up over and over. Don’t waste valuable time obsessing over banks shots or spinning your rock three rails. There will be time later on for learning the lit- tle things once you’ve mastered the “blocking and tackling” elements of a solid pool game.4 Chapter 1 | Learning to Learn The One Good Idea Theory I used to believe in the theory that if there were just one or two good ideas in a book or tape, that is was a worthwhile investment of your time and money. Now I’ve come to amend that rule with the following: a book or DVD may be a good investment if there is even just one good idea providing you can tell the good from the bad, and you won’t waste your time trying to separate the good from the bad. In other words, unless you are an expert at deciphering pool theory, don’t trust your game (or spend your money) on suspect materials that could lead you down the wrong path, for possibly years to come. Teacher Bias ‘When taking lessons or studying material, beware of teacher bias. Some teachers pres- ent a method that may work best with a certain group of players, but not with others. Some instructors are great at working with accomplished players. But how good are they with beginners? Or vice versa? And do they teach a method that all students must strictly fol- low, or do they adapt to each student’s game? Mistakes Learned and Not Forgotten Thad a student who was taught by a well-meaning person that she should always use the same number of warm up strokes on every shot. She clung to this belief for years until I explained why it was not the best way to play every shot. The practical demands of the wide variety of pool shots dictates that some deserve more effort than others, and vice versa. This principle is backed by my research into the methods of leading professionals. The lesson: sometimes a player will get a mistaken notion of how the game is played and will carry it around with them for years, much to their detriment. To avoid this mistake, seek credible sources and challenge some of your more questionable methods, espe- cially if they are not getting the results you are seeking. The Pyramid of Excellence Many players are motivated to practice because they want to compete and to beat better and better players. If you are a particularly competitive type, then the Pyramid of Excellence enables you to see the world of poolplayers, from the beginner to the tour- ing pro at a glance, and to see where you fit in. As you progress up the pyramid, there are fewer and fewer members at each new level. I hope this picture motivates you to play the best pool you are capable of playing, and to see how far you can progress up the slope. But regardless of your current level of play or your aspirations for improving, just remem- ber that the main objective is, as always, to have fun! D A beginner. B A solid, advanced player. C- — Aslightly below average player. © B# A very skilled player. c An average player. A Beginning of the top amateur category. C+ — Anabove average player. A Anexpert player. B- An advanced player. A+ A pro caliber player.Learning to Learn | Chapter? 5 The Pyramid of Excellence What this Book Will Do for You New Players — The chapter called Fast Start will help you will help prepare you for the even more comprehensive course in the fundamentals that follows. © Players ~ You’ve got well developed skills in pocketing balls and in some of the key areas of skill. This puts you in excellent position to rise to the next level in a hurry, espe- cially if you are a good student. B Players — Your game is ripe for a big jump once you begin to fill in the gaps and to become an even more knowledgeable and well-rounded player. A Players —Most of the exercises in this book are excellent for maintaining your skills and for eliminating a few remaining holes in your game. By sharpening up your game, you can create the winning edge.6 Chapter 1 | Learning to Learn Shots & Thoughts I recommend that you keep a pool notebook if you aren’t already doing so. Writing down key discoveries is a great way to reinforce your learning. And later on when you are having trouble with some part of your game, perhaps you will find some key finding in your notebook that worked for you before, and that could work again. Some other ideas for your notebook include: Practice Plans A notebook is a great place to keep your practice plans. Record what you're working on, what you learned at practice, skills for future sessions, and anything else that pertains to your practice sessions. Measure Your Progress You can measure your progress by making tables of the exer- cises and games in the book that can be scored. Several of the exercises come with score sheets. Lesson Notes After your lessons, record all of the things to work on and the key discov- eries in your notebook. Great Shots and Run Outs Diagrams are fun to make and not that difficult to draw once you get the hang of it. So make a practice of diagramming shots to work on, big shots from your matches, shots of other players that you’d like to learn, and some of your more mem- orable runouts. Key Discoveries and Breakthroughs When you make a key discovery, especially one that could have a lasting impact on your game, write it down in great detail. What you are doing different now, what it replaced, how it works, how it feels, and anything else that can help you to remember it when you read your journal a year from now. Goal Setting While the process is the greatest reward, achieving meaningful milestones is also important. So write down your goals for performing in competition, and for reach- ing certain benchmarks in practice. Remember, goals should be hard enough to reach that they mean something once you’ve obtained them, but not so hard that you give up in dis- couragement. Everything Else The number of topics that you should include in your notebook is lim- ited only by your imagination. You might make a note to try a new break cue, buy a DVD on 1-Pocket, meet with a member of your team to discuss strategy or whatever comes to mind. This is your pool improvement headquarters and home to all of the thinking and planning that goes into your game. And it should be a tool for discovery and enjoyment. Your Total Game To advance up the pyramid you’ve got to make progress in three key areas of the game: the physical game, knowledge, and the mental game. New pool players should emphasize the physical part of your game, and yet you still need to believe in yourself (the mental game). When you are struggling with the game, you need to know that you will be a better player tomorrow than you are today. As you move up the ladder, the mental game becomes increasingly important. At the pro level, it is often the margin of victory and defeat. In short, as you seek improvement, make sure not to ignore any of the threeLearning to Learn | Chapter1 7 components of the total game. Work on your physical skills, seek knowledge, and build mental strength. ‘The most common scenario is that a player’s physical game will run ahead of their mental game for a while. A player might play like a B+ Player in practice, but they may perform like a B or B- Player in competition because their mental game is trailing their recent improvements in the physical game and their increased knowledge. This deficit can be closed by some success in competition. Once your best game has shown itself in competition and you’ve won some tough matches against your peers, you will begin to associate with your new and improved pool game. You will begin to believe that you really are as good as your physical skills have been indicating of late. Here are some key thoughts to remember: Your Best Game You must be aware of your skills. And you must believe in them and your ability to execute them. The Simultaneous Progression Fundamentals — Knowledge — Mind. Bringing the three skill areas up in tan- Mind dem. Getting Real About Your Game When you are playing in competition you move from shot to shot and game-to-game. You may ot may not remember how well or poorly you played one or more shots because you’re constantly moving on to the next game. In practice this is not the case. When you are working on a shot, position play, or some other skill, that is the subject of the moment. And you are well aware of your success and failures. This is a good thing because it is dur- ing these moments that you must come to terms with your game. This is a time when you must get real. If you can consistently send the cue ball three rails and stop it within six inches of the buli’s eye, you know you’ve got that position route down cold. And if you are trying to draw the ball a foot and it stops dead or shoots back three feet, then its obvi- ous you’ve got a problem with draw shot speed control. ‘When practicing you’ve got nothing to lose by getting real about your game except your ego. So as long as you can accept the truth about your skills, and you are willing to acknowledge your deficiencies in certain areas, then you have taken the first step towards constructing a program to elevate your game. I suggest that every player start with the fun- damentals when beginning to use this book. When you’ve got your fundamentals in good working order, then you can more accurately assess the rest of your game. Once you are satisfied that your fundamentals are in good shape, you would be wise to conduct a thor- ough evaluation of your game.8 Chapter 1 | Learning to Learn Champions Checklist I created the Champions Checklist below for the original edition of Play Your Best Pool. Tam presenting it again in this book because it represents a detailed inventory of the key components of a highly skillful game of pool. You can use a simplified or detailed approach to rating your game. If you are not sure how you rate in certain areas, have a knowledgeable friend or instructor evaluate your game. After completing your skills inventory you will have a blueprint for developing your game. You will know your strengths and weaknesses, Systematically work on eliminating the weak spots in the key competencies. And work on refining your strengths and on keep- ing them honed to a fine edge. Developing and maintaining a variety of skills at an acceptably high level is like a juggling act. The goal is to keep as many skills (balls) as high up in the air as possible. No matter what your level of play, the goal is a balanced and consistent game with no glaring weaknesses. Still, you will always have certain areas in which you excel. Your strengths should be exploited to the fullest in competition. And you need to minimize the impact of your weak points until you can eliminate them in practice. NOTE: New players should emphasize the skills in bold type. Champions Checklist Fundamentals Kick Shots Problem Solving _Grip __Basic routes Breaking clusters _ Stance __Using english __Identifying problems —Bridge —Using speed Mental Qualities Stroke Position Play __Love for the game —Aim __ Basics: stop, draw and follow __ Patience _Preshot routine __ Speed of stroke — Concentration Shotmaking _No-rail routes _ Confidence Basic shotmaking __1-rail routes _Desire to compete __Cut shots _2 rail routes — Heart __Thin cut shots __Use of outside english _ Memory/Recall —_ Off the rail __Use of inside english —_Judgment _The long green Pattern Play __Playing with a lead Jacked up over a ball “Key balls - identify __Coming from behind Specialty Shots __ Process of Elimination (PEP) __Creativity _ Banks ~ short rail __Last 3-5 balls _Discipline __Banks ~ long rail Safety Play —Caroms __Full hit safeties — Billiards __ Thin hit safeties Combinations The cue ball Curve shots ~ Control of the object ball The Break __Knowledge of a variety of safeties Control break —_Imagination __Adaptability to the table __The Lag for BreakLearning to Learn | Chapter 1 9 Filling in the Gaps ‘You can compete successfully at certain levels with only a modest level of skill in a few key areas. However, as you move up the ladder you must begin to fill in the gaps in more and more of the key areas of skill. If your game has any gaps, your more knowl- edgeable opponents will find a way to take advantage of them, which will result in lost games and matches. How Much Do You Need to Practice? There are numerous practice exercises in the book, but don’t let that intimidate you. Atany given time your regular practice sessions should be confined to just a few items. In Chapter 14 you will find several programs that will help you to select the right exercises for you. I won't discourage you from eventually practicing everything in this book, but I do think your game and your ambitions will be best served if you focus on those areas that can help you realize the biggest immediate improvement, and that fit in with your current level of skill. Below are my estimates of how many of these exercises you will need to practice based on the level of play at which you wish to compete. It assumes that C Players wish to compete with other C Players, and so forth. C Players - If you want to be an average player, learning 30% of what’s in this book should suffice. Concentrate on the main concepts. B Players - Intermediate players will need to know 50-70% of the material. A Players - Advanced players should know at least 95% of what’s in the book, if not more. National Caliber Amateurs - Pro Players - If you aspire to play at the highest levels, then you should know everything in this book and even more. Fundamentals First The number one rule of good to great pool is having excellent fundamentals. If you have a solid and dependable shooting routine and stroke, and you have a well-developed sense of aim, you possess the primary skills from which your game can grow in all directions. So once again I advise you to work on your fundamentals first. When you have your best stroke (as of this moment in time) working for you, then you are prepared to dis- ‘cover what you are capable of in all key areas of skill (again, at this moment in time). When your fundamentals improve, then more windows will open up to additional areas of skill. One reason why great players become so good so fast is that they have a knack for the fundamentals. They are able to shoot with accuracy and authority, which enables them to quickly master various segments of the game, and to move quickly forward in all aspects of play. They are able to jump from skill to skill as they rapidly master the key skills of a well-rounded game. Visualize for a moment a C Player with an A Player’s stroke and aim. It’s not hard to imagine this player quickly jumping up in the ranks.10 Chapter 1 | Learning to Learn Stroke First - Aim Second The age old question of what comes first, the chicken or the egg is easily answered, in my opinion, when it comes to pool: learn an accurate and consistent stroke first and aim- ing will quickly follow. If you try to solve your shotmaking problems by first obsess- ing on aiming, you will be attempting to learn the two most important skills com- pletely out of sequence. Lets look at the question from both sides. If you learn an accurate stroke first, then you have eliminated one of the big causes of missed shots. If you can shoot the cue ball where you are aiming, and you are missing shots, it is your aim that is to blame. If you keep stroking straight, eventually your eye will zero in on the pocket and your straight stroke will lead to shotmaking accuracy. Ifyou try to learn aiming first, your missed shots could be the result of poor aim and/or a poor stroke. When you make a ball, you won't know if it went in by accident or not. You won't be able to zero in on the pocket because your inconsistent stroke does not guaran- tee that you will be able to contact the object ball where you are aiming. ‘You’ ve perhaps heard players say that they are in “dead stroke”, which describes those times when the game seems easy and a player feels like they can’t miss. When a player is in dead stroke, aiming comes easy. In contrast, I’ve never heard a player say they were in “dead aim.” That’s because great aiming does not lead to dead stroke, but dead stroke does lead to uncanny accuracy. When a player is stroking particularly well, accurate aim- ing is automatic, it goes along for the ride. Start with a Fundamentals Review Below are my recommendations for conducting a review of your fundamentals by per- forming selected exercises in Chapter 3, Fundamentals First. All players — good to conduct a fundamentals review. C Players — mandatory. B Players — strongly recommended. A Players — your choice. Awaken Your Awareness A message that Ill repeat throughout the book is that quality beats quantity. Yes, it is important to get in the necessary repetitions to learn each shot, but quantity alone won’t do it. What is even more important is the level of awareness that you bring to each and every shot. When you are in tune with the process of playing pool shots, you are open to receiving the feedback that is so valuable to building memory on your good shots, and in making the necessary corrections on your errant ones. When you are totally results oriented and you miss a shot, the tendency is to get upset immediately at the miss, which blocks or replaces the feedback that could have informed you of the reasons for your mistake. If you continue with that response and you let your frustration build, you will commit the same errors and your game will be stuck where it’s at.Learning to Learn | Chapter1 11 Become Process Oriented When you are relaxed and your mind is tuned into the process of playing pool shots, incor- rect moves like tension in your wrist, or the tendency to overcut a certain shot will begin to jump out at you. If you miss a shot, you will begin to notice which side of the pocket the ball hits. You may then discover that you are using too much english, or some other reason for the miss. If the cue ball is not drawing back as far as you’d like, you may learn that you could hit the cue ball a half tip lower and still not miscue. In short, awareness enables you to take valuable feedback, process it, and move towards the outcome you are seeking. TIP: Being mad blocks out the mistakes, replacing awareness with anger. Once you become aware of a problem, you are ready to doing something something about it. Increase Your Awareness When playing or practicing, keep your awareness at a high level. This should be the case no matter what the occasion or results from the most recent series of shots or games. A high level of awareness will help you to confirm the things you are doing correctly. Reinforcing the positive builds repetition and confidence. Awareness is also instrumental in turning poor shots into learning experiences. As you play, tune into things like: * Visualizing a successfull shot before you play it. + The feel of your tip at contact. + Your cueing (where you strike the cue ball). + The feel of your stroke. + The stillness of your body as you play the shot. * The roll of a well-struck shot. * The cue ball’s route to the position zone. * The speed of the table. + How english takes off the rails. + The sound of the ball hitting the pocket. Awareness: the Secret to Improvement When you are aware, you will feel things going on, right or wrong, with all parts of your shooting routine. Some things you will notice about your fundamentals include: * Loose or tight? * Slow or fast? * Smooth or jerky? + Straight or crooked? * Balanced or off balance + Stationary or airborne? * Level or angled? ‘When you are aware of deficiencies in your stroke, you should then be ready to take steps to eliminate them from your game. Without awareness, how can you change?12 Chapter 1 | Learning to Learn From Silence Comes Awareness As your game improves, you will be doing more and more things correctly. These correct moves will largely be silent when you are stroking. For example, once you have perfect- ed your shooting routine and you are in perfect alignment and balance, you will not feel these components any more when you are ready to stroke the shot. This will enable you to zero in on the feel of your stroke. In turn, your stroke will improve because you can real- ly feel it now, as there is no interference from some other part of your body. In sum, the more parts of the whole that are working correctly and together in unison, the more you will be able to focus on the most critical component of all: your stroke. Awareness is like focusing a camera’s lens so you can see the picture of your game as. clearly as possible. What clouds your lens are tension, indecision, frustration and a poor attitude. What fosters awareness are your love of the game, concentration, relaxation, a well-rehearsed routine, your desire to learn and improve your game, and an open mind. TIP You can learn so much when you just stop and think about what it is that you are doing. Awareness is unbelievable power!!! The Importance of Memory Improving your pool game is largely an exercise in developing your memory for the wide range of skills that the game requires. The more that you can remember and execute, the better your game will become. Your memory bank can be developed in many ways — by aha moments when some technique suddenly becomes crystal clear, by memory devices such as short snappy sayings, and by repetitions at the table. Every player would like to know the secret shortcuts to a great game, but there is no substitute for putting in your time practicing, especially in the beginning when you are seeking to build good habits that will last a lifetime. Performing exercises is viewed by some as drudgery, but it doesn’t have to be. Each shot offers a chance for discovery and for the sheer joy of striking the cue ball just right and executing the shot to the best of your ability. Practice is really a state of mind. As long as you are into the process, you should be more than willing to do the necessary repetitions Every Shot is Important Every shot is important because they all go into your memory bank. Your game is the sum total of all of your shots, and the way you played them. If your memory is full of beauti- ful strokes and balls disappearing into the middle of the pocket, you will undoubtedly be a fine player, And if your memory is full of far too many misses and tension filled stabs at the cue ball, then you have some serious work to replace these memories with more pleas- ant and productive ones. Many teachers in sports like pool, tennis, and golf have long held that it is important for beginners to get off to a good start so they won’t have to unlearn poor fundamentals. This is certainly true, which is why new players have an advantage providing that they go about learning the game the correct way right from the start.Learning to Learn | Chapter 1 13 Relearning Pool Experienced players can also realize significant improvement. However, old habits some- times are hard to break, so you must be willing to stay the course and be open to change. If you commit to changing your game, you can fill up your memory bank with new and improved techniques. In no time at all your memory will be filled with strings of successful shots. When you play, your body will remember your new approach and your most recent impressions will represent your new game. If you take sufficient time with each shot and your awareness level is high, then you should be able to speed up the relearning process because you will: 1) eliminate the mistakes, 2) commit your successes to memory. Quality & Quantity Many excellent players and even some pros like to boost that they hardly ever practice. While that may be true for some players, you can bet that every single one of them spent countless hours at the table in the formative years of their careers. Furthermore, with some recent developments in professional pool taking place as this is being written, many pros that have avoided serious and regular practice for years are once again putting in long hours working on their games. They know that quality is important versus banging balls, but they also real- ize that nothing beats quality and quantity. Whether your goal is to turn pro someday or just to play your best pool, realize that there are at least two times when you need to put in longer hours than usual practicing: 1) when you are just getting started, 2) and when you have decided to overhaul your fundamentals. When you are attempting to burn new and improved techniques into your memory and your game, nothing can replace a large number of quality repetitions. ‘When you perform sufficient repetitions in a short period of time, the feel of a great stroke will begin to become a part of you. Eventually you will play at a much higher level without having to think about your technique too much, if at all. At this point, keeping your new and improved game in order will take regular maintenance and periodic checkups, but nothing like the intensive sessions that were needed to relearn the game. One Million Balls - The Pro’s Big Secret While there are countless possible shots on a pool table, in reality there is a relatively small group of shots that are encountered routinely. These shots serve as the foundation for the oth- ers. When you put in enough time shooting these shots, you begin to know what they look like. They are no longer strangers. Now when you combine the pros natural gift for the game with thousands of repetitions of each of the most basic shots, it is not difficult to understand why they shoot so straight and play so well. ‘After reading about the developmental years of enough professional poolplayers, I think the following assumptions are reasonably accurate. I’d say during the first three years when they became fully committed to the game that the typical pro would practice and play 350 days a year for an average of at least eight hours a day. That’s 8,400 hours. Let’s assume that they practiced half of those hours and played the other half, during which they shot about half of the time. That’s six hours a day of actual play for 6,300 hours. Now if they shot a ball every 20 seconds, which is very doable, that comes to 1,134,000 balls in three years (180 per hour times 6,300 hours). I would say that their rate would be higher when practicing than compet- ing, but that these figures are reasonably accurate.14 Chapter 1 | Learning to Learn In short, the pros pile on an enormous number of repetitions in a short period of time. In the process they come to know how to make most every shot, and they hardwire their circuitry for the pocket or, in other words, they fully develop their already amazing eye/brain/hand coordination. Learning and Memory: The Power of Words Major corporations spend countless dollars with advertising agencies looking for that per- fect slogan that will cement the company’s message in the minds of consumers. Everyone knows about “Kodak moments”, or the cereal that is the “breakfast of champions.” Your pool game is “priceless.” And when you play you want to “have it your way.” Therefore, it pays to use or coin phrases or slogans that can, with an economy of words, express that which you wish to remember. I'm no Madison Avenue copywriter, but I do have fun devising unique sayings that will make it easier for you to remember key concepts in my books. I hope they help, but feel free to make up your own. When it comes to remembering what's needed to play great pool, what ever works is the rule of the day. Below are a few of some of my creations that appear in this book and others. Perhaps these items will spur you to create your own descriptive phrases. You might consider naming a shot or technique after some term that’s related to the game, as I have done. Or you might name them after your dog, the poolroom you discovered it in, the day of the week, or anything your mind can conjure up that makes the shot a permanent part of your memory bank. Area Shape A huge position zone used to keep the cue ball out of trouble. Champion’s Checklist An inventory of key skills used to evaluate your game. Draw/Stun Shot A shot that is part draw and part stun, Failed Runout An attempt to runout that ends before the 8-ball has been pocketed. Process of Elimination Planning (PEP) A method for planning a rack that is comprised of three distinct segments. Pyramid of Excellence A triangular shaped drawing that show the universe of poolplayers from the worst to the best. Rail Targets A spot on the rail, often close to a diamond, that offers an intermediate target for the cue ball on its way to a position zone. Run Killer ~ This is a ball in a poor location that could easily end your run. Shot Picture A complete field of reference for aiming a shot. The position of the balls on the table that becomes increasingly clear with repetition. Every shot has one. Spectrum of Speed A 1-10 scale used for measuring the various speeds of stroke, It ranges from 1 (extremely soft) to 5 (medium) to 10 (the break). ‘Target Ball A practice exercise where a well-placed object ball is the cue ball’s destination. How Many Repetitions If you are executing a shot to perfection, you may wish to keep shooting it until you are satisfied that you have taken complete ownership of it. In a recent conversa- tion with pro Tony Robles, he reminded me of an old saying that goes something like this: “A good player will shoot a shot until he gets it right. A great player will shoot the shot until he never gets it wrong.”Learning to Learn | Unaplert =—19 Counting Repetitions Counting repetitions and monitoring the number of shots you’ve played can help to measure your success and keep you on schedule. Counting is of real value when your time is limited and you have other items on your agenda. However, you don’t want count ing or score keeping to get in the way with executing the shots. Remember our rule that quality comes first, not quantity. Memory from Repetition To bum a shot or fundamental technique into your memory, you must perform a sufficient number of repetitions so that the learning can harden like concrete. When you have exe- cuted what you’ve learned with a sufficient number of high quality repetitions, at some point you can become confident that that skill is now a part of your game. The acid test will come when you can equal your performances in practice with those of a sim- ilar high quality in competition. The Mental Side of Practicing Let’s assume that you are committed to practicing and to performing the necessary repe- titions to learn each skill at an acceptably high level. While you are shooting each shot your brain will be working ~ either to your advantage or disadvantage. For practice to be fun and productive, make sure that your train of thought is a constructive one as you proceed from ball to ball. Your enthusiasm and joy in the process will be sustained if you: 1) know that your disciplined approach is the right way to think about improving and, 2) every shot offers the opportunity for a great discovery and/or the joy or executing it just the way you intended. Now I want you to imagine that you are at the table getting ready to practice a new shot or technique. You know that your string of repetitions may not necessarily begin with a series of superb results. As a matter of fact, you could face a number of so-called “fail- ures” until you begin to experience positive results. To stay the course and improve, you must be willing to go through these periods where your shots and strokes are not what you want them to be. You must retain the belief that what you are working on will come around in time — providing you approach each shot in a constructive manner and do not give in to frustration and anger.EM MEE Na What Goes on from Shot to Shot As you proceed from shot to shot, you need a train of thought that enables you to: shea + Adjust after unsuccessful shots — (and avoid frustration). No neurotic stupidity where you do the same thing and expect a different result. + Replicate successful shots. Confirm the learning. * Get the feel. Know what success feels like. This is Very Important!! + Refine successful shots and the nearly successful shots. + Associate with success. + Dissociate with failure. As you proceed from shot to shot, you could get to a point where, despite your best inten- tions, you've had enough for that session, or for whatever you are working on. So while you are proceeding with your practice, keep in mind there is a time when it is okay to move on to something else or to quit for the day. You are Your Best Shots It is impossible to make progress if you believe that your poorest efforts represent your real game. When you execute a fine shot or runout, you are better off believing that this is your true game. If you want your typical game to rise up close to the level of your best game, then you must get in the practice of associating with your best shots. Don’t overate your game and put yourself in losing situations in competition, but if you want to improve, you have to identify with your best play, not your worst. When you make a great stroke or execute a series of superb shots in practice, say to yourself that’s your game. Soak up the feeling of the shot and the experience. Take a moment to enjoy good shots and to internalize the feeling of successfully executed shots. You become what you think about, and if you think about the great shots you’ve hit, you will become a player for whom those shots are the norm. You are going to hit your share of poor shots while learning something new. They are to be expected, but you can’t let them take root and undermine your belief in your ability. Instead, do what the great Efren Reyes does when he makes an error: chuckle as if to say “what kind of joke is this.” Then put the shot in the review mirror and go on about your business. Learn what you can from poor shots, but don’t believe that they define your abil- ity to play. Associate with your good shots — and dissociate with your poor ones. “The ability to associate and dissociate will fill your inner emotional memory bank with positive, uplifting feelings and keep the negative, destructive ones at bay.” Pia Nilsson — Leading Golf Instructor Confidence One of the most fragile yet vital components of any player’s game is their confidence. When you are confident, you can’t wait to play the next shot, and you expect the best. And when your confidence is low, each shot becomes an effort. You will experience ebbs and flows in your level of confidence because that’s human nature. In studying the career of golf's greatest player, Jack Nicklaus, I discovered that even he had his moments of doubtso eB AEN EE on the course. But he was always able to rebuild his confidence. Sometimes all it took was just one successful shot to turn his game around. If a champion of Nicklaus’ magnitude struggled at times with his confidence, you have nothing to be ashamed of if you at times doubt your ability. Just don’t make a habit of it. This is not always easy, especially when you are working to improve your game and little seems to be working quite right. At times like this, you’ve got to remain confident that your best is yet to come even if it hasn’t appeared yet. Drawing again from the world of golf, Tiger Woods overhauled his game a second time since turning pro in 2004. In the process he endured a slump while being second-guessed by the media. Through it all he remained confident in his statements to the golf world and he eventually resumed his posi- tion as the game’s dominant player. Learning Each Shot In the Trenches Let’s assume that you’ve begun to practice a new skill. The succession of shots could resemble the series below. (Note that U is for unsuccessful, C is for close to successful, and S is for successful.) The series started with mostly unsuccessful shots and ended with a long string of mostly successful shots. This example is for illustrative purposes only. ‘Your actual results can and will vary widely on any specific shot or skill. The First 25 Shots (an example of the learning process) U > U > U > C (A first hint of success.) > U > U > > © > U (Avoid frustration, but it could be coming.) > © > U > S (How did I do that?) > $ (Aha, so that’s the feel- ing!) > © > U (Stay calm, I know what to do). >U>S>S>S>S>C>S>S(I think I’ve got it!) > © > S The Second 25 Shots During this period you may begin to take ownership of the shot or skill as the vast major- ity of your repetitions are successful. This example shows that the learning process is filled with mental hurdles and stretch- es of poor shots. It is also comprised of those moments when your efforts begin to pay off. This kind of progression is to be expected when you are learning any new shot or skill. So be prepared for some poor shots, but also remain open to those moments when you begin to “get it”, for those are the moments when the opportunity for real progress is right before your very eyes. The Day After Practicing pool is its own reward when you are into the moment and are enjoying the opportunity to stroke each shot perfectly. After some practices you will be excited by your progress while after others you may end your session tantalizingly close to a break- through. When you've had a productive practice session and it felt like things were start- ing to come together, you may be in for a big treat. At your next session your game might jell. Overnight the changes you’ve been working could melt together and the next day your technique might work effortlessly like magic. It happened to Buddy Hall (see A Mind ‘for Pool, page 51), and it could happen to you to!Oe OE Oe Aha Moments Most of your learning is going to take place at the table as you proceed from shot to shot. Along the way you will experience many aha moments, which are the kinds of expe- riences that, in a flash, can cement a concept or lead to understanding where a moment earlier you were groping around in the dark. These experiences can be strengthened further by repetition. Repetitions in search of the feeling > The aha moment > Repetitions to secure the learning Leveraging Your Skill Fans of the pros are often amazed at how they can jump from game to game and play them all so well so quickly. This is possible because pool is pool, and the many skills they use to play one game so well are transferable to the new game. And because of their great strokes and wide range of shots, they are in position to adapt their game to the particular needs of the new game. After a top player has been around for a while, it is not uncom- mon for them to excel at Nine Ball, 1-Pocket, Straight Pool and Eight Ball (or other games for that matter). There is so much to learn to play pool well but, as the pros have shown us, the enormity of your task is not quite as great as it seems. When you learn one skill, it can be applied to other areas of your game. This gives you a head start absorbing new skills into your game. For example, let’s assume that you’ve been working on developing a soft touch. You could hold a Soft Stroke Day for a one of your practice sessions. It might ook like this: Soft Stroke Day Exercises for a soft stroke Soft stroke position plays Soft stroke safeties The lag shot Soft stroke games (like Straight Pool and Eight Ball) Proper Sequence Learning pool is like building a house. You need to draw up a plan, then lay the founda- tion, construct the supports, the roof and so on until your home is furnished and ready for habitation. Can you imagine trying to construct the roof before the foundation has even dried? And yet aspiring pool players commit this kind of mistake all of the time. They will work on the break shot and carom shots before they've even learned to shoot the cue ball consistently in a straight line. My advice to learn in sequence is obvious enough for new players. If you are an expe- rienced player, you must carefully construct a plan for developing your game, one that is in tune with your current level of skill, and with the demands of your game. ‘You may think that combination shots are next up on your list of skills to master when you should really be working on a dozen basic position routes that appear in almost everyLearning to Learn| Chapter1 19 game. Once you’ve mastered the basic elements of a well-rounded game, then its time to work on the fine points and specialty shots that can move you to the next level. Natural Pool When you were learning to ride a bike, you probably used training wheels for a short peri- od of time. Once you learned to balance yourself on the bike, the wheels came off, never to return. From that point forward, your natural talent and skill for riding the bike took command. I believe in learning pool the same way. Make use of training aides and images to help learn the various skills, but don’t depend on them forever. Your goal should be to play as naturally as possible. Any method that makes you think too much while you are in the execution mode will interfere with the natural flow of your game. One of the most controversial topics when it comes to learning pool is aiming. If you spend enough time practicing the basic cut shots and then continue to branch out from there, you will eventually develop an eye for each of the most commonly occur- ring shots. While in this process, your learning may be aided by: 1) using the ghost ball method to visualize contact, 2) placing a second cue ball at the point of contact and then removing it prior to shooting, and 3) by aiming at a donut (hole reinforcement) that is at the center of the cue ball’s point of contact. Each of these methods can give you a boost when learning to aim. None of them require any complex calculations, nor do they ask that you make some serious adjustments once you are in your stance. In my opinion, many of the so-called aiming systems are like training wheels with rust- ed bolts. Once in place they are hard to remove. When you are under pressure and your actions must flow, the last thing you need is to be saddled with a system that requires con- scious thought. Playing position involves sending the cue ball to a place where you will have an ideal shot on the next ball. To play position you must, of course, make the ball. You must also control the direction and speed of the cue ball after contact. Accomplishing. these tasks takes a well-developed ability to split your attention between three activities at once. To do this as effectively as possible, aiming must become so automatic that it requires little attention except on the most difficult shots. Eye/Brain/Hand Coordination Top performers in the skill sports are known for having excellent hand/eye coordination. Actually this phrase is backwards and it does not include the brain, which is part of the equation. The real talent of top athletes lies in the coordination between their eyes, brain, and hand. The eyes take in the information, the brain processes it, and the hand (and arm) does what’s needed to perform the task. So, it is coordination between the: 1) eye — 2) brain — 3) hand Seeing is Believing Pool is a Very Visual Game You Shoot what You See20 Chapter 1 | Learning to Learn ‘The depth and accuracy of your vision is a function of the quality of your eyesight. The better your eyesight, the more accurate and detailed will be the information that your brain has to work with. This in tum should improve your motor skills (your stroke). Perhaps it is no accident that most top pool players don’t wear glasses, which would indi- cate that most have been blessed with excellent vision. And yet Karen Corr, one of the best female players in the world, wears glasses. Pool is a very visual game, and nature has provided us with some amazing equipment for visualizing, planning, and executing pool shots. In Chapter 3, Shotmaking and Aiming, I will discuss how you shoot what you see. The position of the balls on the table provides you with the information needed to pocket any reasonably makeable shot. It is up to you to develop a shooting routine that maximizes your chances of using this information to make the shot. Progressive Exercises Progressive exercises are one of best ways to develop a series of related skills. The ones in this book consist of a series of small steps that lead in a particular direction. The first shot of a progressive exercise may be quite simple. After proceeding through a series of shots, you may find yourself at the limit of your current capabilities. For a prime example, see The Limbo on page 90. Progressive exercises make it easy to personalize your practice sessions. For exam- ple, the complete version may consist of fifteen shots. The first five might be easy, the next five of average difficulty, and the last five quite challenging. A new player might concen- trate on the first five shots. An advanced player could continue up the ladder until their performance starts to drop off, while an expert might only shoot the last five shots. There are literally zillions of pool shots, but you don’t have to shoot them all, thanks to progressive exercises and a concept called closure. When you look at the illustration below you probably see a long black line even though it is actually a series of individual dashes. That’s how closure works. Our mind fills in the gaps and makes a conclusion. If you were to practice a series of cut shots in increments of five degrees your mind, thanks to closure, would fill in the gaps. If you successfully shot a 25-degree cut and a 30- degree cut, and then went back and played a 27 degree cut shot, it would look so familiar that you would probably have little trouble making it as well. In short, progressive drills enable you to take a shortcut past the shots you would have to practice if your brain required that you master every one to the very last degree. The 5 Steps to Mastery There are four steps to learning a new skill that have been recognized as the Conscious Competence Learning Model. In the beginning a student has little or no knowledge of the skill to be taught or how to perform it. In essence, they don’t know what they don’t know. When the student moves to the next step they now have an idea of what they are trying to do, but they don’t know how to do it very well yet. This is referred to as conscious incom-Learning to Learn | Gnapier 1 = <1 petence. When the third step is complete, the student knows the skill and how to do it, but they must still think about what they are doing. This is known as conscious competence. When the student has completed the final step, they can perform the task without think- ing about it. This is known as unconscious competence. Traditionally this is the last step. Now if those who created this learning model had used mastery instead of competence for the final step, I would say that a student’s work is done. But when it comes to playing pool, which many seek to master, then competence, which implies a very ordinary level of skill, is not sufficient. Hence, I’ve added Step 5, which is unconscious mastery, to my version of the model. Unconscious mastery is the level where great players function, and one to which we can all aspire. As a final note, I feel like the word incompetence has a negative connotation. So for this book I am substituting the learning model on the right because it seems more positive than the traditional version. The Conscious Competence Learning Model Conscious Mastery Model Traditional Version New Version 1 — Unconscious incompetence 1 — Unconscious inability 2— Conscious incompetence 2— Conscious inability 3— Conscious competence 3 — Conscious ability 4 — Unconscious competence 4— Unconscious ability 5 — Unconscious mastery LPM - Learn - Perfect - Maintain The Conscious Competence Learning Model does a great job of describing the learning cycle. Now I would like to introduce a streamlined way of conceptualizing the process for making shots and skills a permanent part of your game. If you employ the Learn — Perfect — Maintain (LPM) method of skill development and maintenance, you will have an easy to use way to determine where any part of your game is in the learning cycle. Learn (L) - Step 1 While you are in the first step you are engaging in all of the activities required to learn the shot or skill. You learn about the skill or shot, how to do it, and why it’s important to your game. You may gain this knowledge from books, DVDs, or your instructor. During this phase you will be practicing the shot and eventually you will achieve a reasonable degree of proficiency. Perfect (P) - Step 2 ‘This step equates to steps four and five of the Conscious Mastery Model. Once you under- stand how to execute the shot or skill, now it’s time to make it second nature. You want to get to where you can do it without thinking about it much if at all. As you improve, you continue to refine the shot or skill until you achieve mastery, or as close to it as you can given the need to move on to other items on your to do list. Maintain (M) - Step 3 While you are working on any skill you will likely bring your ability to perform it to an all time personal high. That’s not unusual. When you move on to other parts of your game,OO EIEN ON eee it is natural to experience some slippage. But you want to contain this or much of your work could be for naught. So once you have worked to improve a skill or learn a shot and you have perfected it, then it now belongs on your Must Maintain list. The initial progression for most items on your to master list is L- P - M. How long any shot or skill remains in a category depends on its difficulty, your ability, and the time you spend working on it. While the model implies a move from L to M, in practice an item could remain in the L or P category for some time. And it is possible for an item to slip back from M to P, or even to L if it must be relearned due to neglect or some other reason. The ABCs of L-P-| Most of the exercises are meant for average players (C) or above. Each player, however, will rate the exercises differently using the L-P-M method. Your rating will depend on your overall game and your particular set of skills and abilities. The following are rules of thumb for the three broad categories of players for most of the exercises in the book. € Players — You will be mostly in the Leam (L) or Perfect (P) mode for most of the exer- cises. B Players — You will be in any of the three categories for most of the exercises. How you rate each exercise depends on your unique skill set. A Players — You will be in the Perfect (P) or M (Maintain) category for all but the most difficult exercises in the book. Characteristics of the Three Categories Learn (L) The objective of the shot. Keen awareness of “the feel.” How it is played. Higher and higher scores. Understand the diagram if any. Variations done skillfully. The feel of correct execution. Trusting practice is awesome! You have a good idea of what you’re trying to do. Putting the shot into your game! Monitoring your shots — making adjustments. How it fits into a game. Improving — repetitions ~ memorizing. Game situation. Measuring — knowing your skill level. Variations, Upgrade to the next category. Patterns — (If a position route). Upgrade to the next category. Perfect (P) Repeating the feeling of success. Maintain (M) Becoming consistent. Keeping the feel. Gaining in confidence. Maintaining confidence. Approaching mastery. Refreshing your memory bank. You “Own” the shot. Practice at regular intervals. More memorization. Expect a little fall off.Learning to Learn | Vnapter t 49 From Practice to Competition There are players for whom practice is the greatest joy that the game offers. In fact, some of these people are practice players who never venture into the competitive arena. However, for most players the big reason for practicing is to prepare for competition and to improve their performances under pressure. At times it may seem like practicing pool is as far removed from the competitive expe- rience as the sun from the moon. When you are working on a new shot or technique, there are no penalties for missed shots. You are like the golfer who, after a poor shot on the driv- ing range, can atone for their miss merely by rolling another ball into place and swinging again. While hitting pool balls in practice you may begin to identify with the player who is hitting the good shots while dissociating with the player who misses. This is not a bad thing as we discussed earlier so long as you don’t get a totally unrealistic view of your cur- rent level of skill. In competition some of those misses can sting a bit, especially if they come at a crucial time in the competition. Nerves, an unsound approach to competition, and the lack of opportunities to compete under pressure are all to blame. You can solve these problems by adhering to a solid shooting routine, and by creating sufficient pressure in practice so that you can gain additional experience in feeling the heat. The Power of a Routine The masters learn the various shots so thoroughly in practice and follow a routine so reli- giously that, when they are competing, they simply do what they have taught themselves to do in practice. To prepare for competition, you must approach every single shot with a consistent routine. Plan the shot, set up properly for the shot, go through your shooting routine, and make a solid and relaxed stroke. When you get in the habit of fol- lowing this routine without fail in practice, you will find yourself doing the same thing while in competition. This will keep you focused on the task at hand and not on the pres- sure of the event. Simulate Game Conditions There are numerous exercises in the book where I suggest that you think about some- thing specific while you are trying to build a habit. In the Pattern Play chapter, for example, the Doing the Cosmo exercise is for developing the habit of planning and exe- cution that ensures that you don’t make silly mistakes while running out “easy” racks, To prepare for the exercise you spread one group of balls from a rack of Eight Ball and the 8-ball across the table. Your objective is to try to run out as perfectly as possible. The pat- terns are random, like you would experience in a game, thus simulating competitive con- ditions. Scoring and Beating Your Best ‘There are a couple of approaches to several of the exercises in the book. You can play the shots while seeking to get the feel of the shot and to groove perfect execution. You can also shoot the shots while keeping score. Keeping score allows you to measure your progress, and it can also add an element of pressure to the exercise. When your per- sonal best on the Side Pocket Bonanza in Chapter 4 is 54 points and you have a chance toNE OE OT ee break your record by making the last shot, you just might feel the pressure. Establishing a new high run in Straight Pool or breaking through a milestone barrier can also simulate the pressure of actual competition. Completing an Exercise There are some exercises in which your goal is to clear the table in the chapters on Position Play, Pattern Play and Scoring Games. When you are nearing the end of a runout exer- cise and you have a chance to clear the table, you may feel the pressure to complete the task. At stake is the chance for a fantastic sense of completion, and for some bragging rights. I know from experience because I missed a not too difficult bank shot on the last ball of the 1-Pocket Run Out Contest. Darn it! Sparring Sessions The closest you can come to actual competitive pressure are the sparring sessions with your practice partner. Losing the table time, a beverage, dinner, or bragging rights can be especially painful when you and your friend are specialists at needling each other. Trusting Practice A great way to make the transition from practice player to competitor is to spend some time towards the end of each session engaged in trusting practice. This involves playing a game or trying to runout with a sense of freedom and relaxation. Imagine how you would Play if you let go, trusted your stroke, and played with complete confidence. This con- fident and fearless approach can set the stage for a duplicate performance when you are in competition. The Pool World is Your Classroom People have their unique styles of learning. Some do best with an instructor, and others learn best by reading books, watching great players, or by studying DVDs. You may have a certain way that you prefer to learn which is fine. However, I think it is a mistake to total- ly exclude other forms of instruction. For you to become the best student possible, employ a well-rounded approach that takes advantage of the many different ways in which pool can be learned. I’m afraid it’s time to subject you to a corny but appropriate cliché: the pool world is your classroom. You never know when or where a game changing insight might appear. I remember a night about twenty years ago when an average (C) player and I were discussing the grip. He made a comment about the value of a light grip. I took his advice and experienced some noticeable improvement in my game. Indeed, when it comes to improving your pool game, an open mind is a good thing. Below is a table showing the primary methods of learning. The time allocations are based on the total amount of time you spend cach month on pool. There is nothing scien- tific about the percentages as I gave each item an educated guess. Notice that the better a person plays, the more time they will spend in competition. The activities with the highest percentages do not necessarily mean that they are that much more important than the others. In truth, the most valuable time you spend could be with your instructor. [ also think that reading books and watching DVDs are great ways to learn“—— oN EE NE even though the percentage of time that they take up is relatively small compared to prac- ticing and playing. Of course, if you count this book as part of your practice time (and why not?) then it ranks right at the top! (Hey, you can’t blame a guy for recommending his product can you?) Primary Methods of Learning Skill Level A(%) B(%) C (%) New Player Practice 30.38 = 4560 Compete 40 30 25 «5 Practice with a partner Is 12 10 15 Off table practice 305 5 4 Read books 2 4 5 4 Take lessons 2 2 4 ~°5 Watch DVDs of pros 303 2 4 Go to tournaments 303 2 «2 Read magazines toto ot Talk to pool players 1 1 1 0 Total 100 100 100 100 Practice and Your Instructor In football there are head coaches, line coaches, offensive coordinators and others who specialize in certain phases of the game. There are some well rounded pool instructors who can teach all parts of the game, but many do best with a certain part of the game or they prefer to work with players at a given level. The most important area of expertise for any teacher is the fundamentals because the success of your entire game depends on having and maintaining a solid base. No matter where you are on the learning curve, you can benefit from instruction from a qualified teacher who is well suited to your game and particular needs. If you are a new player, a qualified instructor can help you learn things the right way at the start. This will save you the time and trouble of relearning the game when several bad habits have taken root. I suggest you choose your teacher wisely. Make sure the chemistry is right, they are well qualified, and they are sincerely interested in you and your game. Work Out a Plan There are many ways to pursue pool instruction. Many students like to travel to schools for several days of intensive instruction. Others prefer to work with a local instructor on a regular basis. Regardless of the method you choose, your instructor should be able to put together a practice program ideally suited to your needs. If you are going to work together on a regular basis, this program should me modified as your game improves.26 Chapter 1 | Learning to Learn Tips for Being a Great Student + Your enthusiasm for learning will motivate your instructor. + Keep an open mind to new ideas, especially in your weakest areas. + Learning pool takes time, so remain patient. + Develop a plan with your instructor and stick to it, but modify it as needed. + Ask questions. Remember that there are no bad questions. + When something doesn’t feel right, let your instructor know. + Practice between each lesson. + Show up on time for your lesson. if...Then If you are into the process If you love to hit pool shots If you believe practice will make you play better If you want to meet your improvement goals Then you will develop a deep-seated fondness for practicing pool.Fast Start Phil says... New players are encouraged to make the effort to get off to a solid start. When you learn good habits in the beginning, you can avoid have to relearn the game later in your career. more enthusiastic about becoming a poolplayer. If you follow the simple step-by-step method in this chapter you will soon find yourself making balls and looking forward with eager anticipation to your practice sessions. There are certain basics that must first be learned. These include the grip, stance, bridge, and stroke. This book assumes that you’ve acquainted yourself with the fundamentals, but have yet to practice them on a regular basis. If you have not yet studied the basics, see Chapter 1 of Play Your Best Pool and/or take a lesson from a qualified instructor. You may even wish to con- fer with your instructor on the program below. A n excellent beginning paves the way for all that follows and it helps you become even Your Practice Tool Kit The items below are very useful in setting up and executing some of the exercises below. ‘The Donuts — The hole reinforcements for three ring binder paper are one of the best and least expensive practice tools. You'll need a package for several of the exercises. Post It Notes — A package of post it notes will be helpful in doing a few of the exercises. Ruler — A 12-18” ruler will significantly increase the accuracy of a key set up. A Friend — A friend or family member who is willing to help is a big plus for exercise 5A. Tips The Fundamentals — They are the bedrock of all that follows. Do these exercises and mas- ter them before moving on. Choice of Bridge — Most new players are more comfortable with the open bridge. Therefore Irecommended that you use it for the exercises in this section unless, of course, you are already proficient with the closed bridge and prefer to use it. Stay Positive — Learning to play pool should be an enjoyable experience. So stay positive, follow the course below, and have fun. Modeling — An excellent way to help learn the fundamentals is to watch great players and then model your game after theirs.28 Chapter 2 | Fast Start The Set Up Getting into the Shooting Position This exercise will help you to consistently assume a correct stance. A correct stance will have you feeling comfortable and well balanced. One of your eyes will be directly above your cue. The correct stance also allows you to freely swing your stroking arm backwards and forwards. 4: Stand directly facing the 1-ball as if you were going to shoot it into the pocket. 2: Step forward with your left foot (righthanders). Move your Ji} right foot into position. Nia | 2 3: Extend your bridge arm out in 8" Bridge line with the shot. 4: Bend at the waist and place a your bridge hand on the table. i} Ci 5: Center of your tip aligned with [HH | | oui) the number 1. Your cue should be parallel to the rail. Keep practicing facing the shot, then leaning over and get- ting aligned with the number 1 and the rail. Expect to make some minor adjustments once you take your stance to feel completely comfortable. After doing this for a while you should begin to feel more and more comfortable assuming your stance. Remember to face the shot. Do not take your stance from the side as this requires that you turn and twist your body to get into position. You should begin to feel comfortable assuming your stance. When you feel you can assume a balanced and comfortable position with some consistency, pro- ceed to the next exercise. Stroke Time Now that you feel comfortable with your set up, its time to work on your stroke. Once you are set over the ball, a series of warm up strokes will get you prepared for the final stroke to and through the cue ball. Warm up strokes are a series of rhythmic back and forth swings with your shooting arm. They start with your tip a fraction of an inch from the cue ball. Once you get used to setting up over the ball and warm up stroking, you will be able to bring your tip to within less than a half-inch of the cue ball without contacting it. Warm up strokes: 1) give you time to fine tune your aim, 2) help you gain a feel for speed, and 3) enable you to groove your stroke in preparation for your final stroke into and through the cue ball.Fast Start | Chapter 2 29 A - Warm Up Strokes This exercise will teach you how to make a series of smooth warm up strokes that will pre- pare you for your final stroke to and through the cue ball. 4:Assume your stance at the cue balll as if you were going to shoot it straight into the pocket. (See: 1- The Set Up) 2: Swing back to the end of your bridge and begin the for- ward swing. (NOTE: I recommend that your transition be continuous, but you may wish to pause ever so slightly. The main thing is to change directions smoothly.) 3: Now smoothly swing your arm forward until your tip is just short of the cue ball. 4: Repeat this action four more times. You've just executed a series of warm up strokes, which will prepare you for the final stroke. Did your arm and hand feel nice and relaxed as you swung your cue back and forth? B - The Complete Stroke In this exercise you're going to repeat what you just did with the warm up strokes. The difference is that as you swing forward, you will extend your cue to the cue ball’s new location, which is six inches further forward. 1: Assume your stance at the cue ball. 2: Execute a series of warm up strokes (like in the exer- cise above.) 3: On the final forward stroke accelerate as the tip gets about half way to its original position — and extend your follow though until it barely touches the cue ball. Your cue should be straight in line with the center of the cue ball and be parallel to the table. You've just performed a pool stroke. How did it feel? Not much too it, is there? Okay, it gets a little more complex, especially on power shots, but this should give you the essence of the action. Just swing your arm in a relaxed fashion backwards and then smoothly accel- erate your cue to and through the cue ball. REVIEW: So far you've: 1) Set up for a shot. 2) Taken a few warm up strokes and executed a complete a pool stroke.30 Chapter 2 | Fast Start Target Practice Now we’re going to apply your newly found skills to shooting the cue ball at a target. These exercises will help you to learn to shoot the cue ball in a very straight line at a tar- get. Master this skill and I guarantee you that learning the rest of the game will become about a 1,000% easier! In this and the following exercises I am going to refer to a recommended speed of stroke. When I say “use a medium soft stroke”, just give it your best guesstimate for now. We'll go further into speed of stroke in a little while. It is important that you develop some feeling for the speed that you accelerate your cue. Don’t try to clobber the cue ball. Those of you who know golf can think of medium soft as about the same force you'd use for a 20-foot putt on a level green of average speed. A - The Short Version This exercise will teach you to stroke the cue ball down a relatively straight line over a short distance. Think of this as a stepping-stone to bigger and greater things. Keep making the necessary corrections in your set up and/or stroke until you are consistently hitting the target. 4: Set up for the shot, aiming at the target. 2: Take about a 6” backstroke on your warm up strokes (use about four warm up strokes). 3: Use a medium soft stroke and hold your follow through. You want some part of the cue ball to hit your tip. When you are able to make the cue ball hit your tip squarely in the middle or close to it 8 of 10 times, you're ready for Version B.