Pieces Of Eight - Tip Of The Week

 

Number: 55 Jim Tellier June 2012

 

TOPIC: Get Close(r) To Your Work!

 

CATEGORY: Intermediate to Advanced

 

INTRODUCTION:

After watching many matches, played by people of various skill levels, Ive noticed one of the biggest reasons that people lose their turn at the table ---

They miss!!! No just kidding! J Of course they do --- well, aside from scratching or hooking themselves --- but the question I ask is why did the miss happen?

 

TECHNIQUE:

Sometimes, the reason for a miss can be a combination of factors, including

         Distance from CB to OB

        Distance from OB to Pocket

        Cut Angle

        Amount of English being used

        Amount of Follow/Draw being used

        Speed of the hit

        What you are trying to accomplish with the CB after the hit

        How focussed (or distracted) you are

        Your stroke mechanics

 

Im sure there are other factors, but think about it this way: If any one of the things listed above is off, your chances of missing the shot increase. But consider this:

The first item in that list above, Distance from CB to OB, must be the most important factor in most cases. Except for object balls hanging next to the pockets, or other fairly simple targets, consider this:

 

If all of the other factors besides CB-OB Distance remain the same, if you shorten the CB-OB Distance, the shot will be easier.

 

Now, there are some limits to that statement, but I wont go into detail now, because each of those bullet points would require separate discussion. But in general, what I have seen goes like this: youre in the middle of a decent run-out, and you pocket your 3^rd ball. OK, you may even (hopefully!) have a plan as to which ball you will target next. But all you did with ball #3 was cinch it guaranteeing yourself that shot, but you left the CB 4 feet away from the next ball. Oops! In the worst-case scenario (the OB smack in the middle of the table, and the CB near a corner, lined up for the full-table diagonal shot straight down to the opposite corner) youve just left yourself the most difficult shot possible.

Not surprisingly, this is the point, where you shoot at ball #4 and miss, that you lose your turn at the table.

Try to envision what it takes to get the CB to OB distance reduced. Part of this exercise is a non-so-obvious step: Think about your choice of pocket for that next shot. You may be able to re-consider that, if choosing another pocket would reduce the distance factor. But at the very least, make it part of your thought process, to consider whether or not you can get closer.

 

PRACTICE:

Set up a 2 balls anywhere on the table. Put a piece of chalk on the table, representing where you want to place the CB after you sink the first ball. Try varying your approach to getting position: follow, draw, stun, use 1 rail, 2 or 3 rails, etc. Play with English when you are experimenting with the rails. Keep the same 2 ball shot setup for a dozen or more attempts using the same approach, then change it up. Rinse & repeat.