How to practice Pool for greater success
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 9 มิ.ย. 2024
- In this video, I explain how we as Pool players should approach our practice sessions. This mindset has helped me to learn more quickly.
A MUST WATCH!
See bonus video linked below:
• How to practice Pool w...
Perfecting the process! Practice with purpose! I been following these messages since I started watching your channel. Thank you Ron for the inspiring messages and teachings in your videos. The drills and lessons have helped me improved my game. I’m a pool player on a mission to be formidable and improve vastly. I love the drills, love the game and have the passion to get better.
About 4 months ago, I decided to respect the game like never before. I changed my behavior to positive mindset and no more verbal attacks on myself. I don’t get angry or make a scene if things don’t go my way by missing shots, scratching, losing games. I turned off negativity switch when I’m practicing and playing. That’s is permanent. Respect for the game and positive mindset has help me improve my game. Again thank you Ron,
Eddie
Thank you Eddie for sharing. What you’ve just said is so right on. A positive mindset is critical in this game. Thank you for that and let’s keep getting better together 👍🏻💪🏻
"Practice with purpose"....great advice!
Thanks PH, it’s the only way to go if you want to learn more quickly 🤷🏻♂️
I ran 9 ball table twice tonight. I don’t really play 9 ball much but I do practice it every now and then. Your drills are very easy to follow and they have definitely improved my game.
Awesome to hear Mac, the drills are powerful for players to learn more quickly.
Many do not like drills and won’t include them in their practice, yet they complain they are inconsistent with their game 🤷🏻♂️
Love this one. Don't know how many times I have said to myself I have to get back to the basics! Here I go again. :-)
Thank you Matt and yes, don’t just go through the motions, deploy sound fundamentals and take your time, you’ll be amazed at how much better you are. Make it more about the process 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Been really working my stroke a little over 6 months. Your drills have developed my game tremendously. I’m not clearing racks of 9 ball yet but I can clear a 6 ball rack 7 out of 10 times. Keep on practicing!
Outstanding John!
Thank you for sharing your progress and keep it going.
It sounds like you’re ready to
add that seventh ball 💪🏻
This is great stuff Ron. You definitely raised my eyebrows and get me excited to get on the pool table. 😀👍
Thank you Ruben, let’s get better together and keep on practicin 💪🏻
❤️🎱
I remember this drill from early on, the more I missed, the more I was out of shape for my next shot, the better I became! I still start every practice with the mighty X and just move on from there. Thankfully practicing drills by myself has never been boring, actually quite fulfilling when it carries over to league or tournament play!! Thx Ron
Thank you Mike and yes, as I too shot on leagues, I found myself taping into what I had learned from practicing drills at home. It ALL ties in which is why it’s so important to practice with purpose while maintaining a positive mindset.
👍🏻❤️🎱
Love doing drills, keep them coming . I have noticed what I shoot in drills comes up a lot in 9 ball game . Has helped me tremendously and can’t express enough all about pre shot routine.
Including drills in our practice sessions is the fastest way to learn imo Mark. 👍🏻
Great message Ron! It is the process and part of that process is the patience you're learning along the way!! Thanks
Thank you Ron 👍🏻
Once learning this, one becomes more motivated to focus even more.
Attitude and staying in the moment & not looking ahead, is how to actually succeed…it’s all in the process!!!
In my opinion the thing that makes continuation drills so much fun for me is they become addicting. Fail, Fail, teaches you how to manipulate your focus, work on slowing down take your time. Implement your pre-shot routine, concentrate on your foundation, mechanics. Remember that pocketing balls are important, but most of all learning to control the cue ball and moving back into line after the shot for the next. This all helps you, teaches you to really bare down and do what's necessary to help to train yourself to succeed. We all want to be world Beater's, it's just up to us to make the time to train, work, work on the table. Learn things from stronger players and put our pool skills and knowledge into motion for present and future success. Thank you Ron.....
Amen Casey!!!
You nailed it bud 👍🏻
Here’s the one drill that transformed my game the most, it’s a variation of the one you just watched and it’s the advanced version. See link below:
A finesse exercise that will turbocharge your Pool game
th-cam.com/video/XJIKN8N0IPg/w-d-xo.html
This is my only drill and it helped me a lot.
Also ordered a 12mm Carbon Fiber shaft with a medium Zen Tip.
Thank you Arijano, this is one of my favorites as you know as well.
Also, focusing on the process and not the outcome during every drill is key.
We learn from the process 👍🏻
Great message as always Ron! I too am finding with my daily practice sessions that when I focus on the proper fundamentals and stay focused on those for every single shot, I’m able to accomplish what I’m trying to do with the cue ball. The process is they key for sure, but more consistent results are the confirmation that my game is progressing. Thanks again for all of the wisdom you share with us! Take care!
Thank you Ian, I really appreciate your feedback.
It is so important to focus when performing and not worry about the end result. This is human nature however so controlling this is key. From there, the other will take care of itself as you’ve pointed out 👍🏻😊👍🏻
Take care as well.
❤️🎱
Listen Ron, you are a good player. Actually better than good. And you will continue to get better as long as you stay healthy which only means you don't lose your mind, your eyesight stays reasonably sound, and you can do the physical part.
What we see with some of the older guys not being as good as before is not because they can't be good - it is because the competition has gotten better. In the coming years you are going to see many players in their late 40's and 50's, and older, perform at a high level. Age should not be a big factor to being a good player. Pool is a really difficult sport to be really good at it, but it is NOT a physical sport.
You walk around the table. You bend over slightly. You make a simple motion with basically one arm. People, as long as they keep their eyesight, a basic range of motion, and don't get dementia, should be able to play well into their 70's.
I am not sure of your exact age, but I think you have mentioned before you are in your mid 60's. Well, you are getting BETTER every week, every month, and every year - correct? Yep. And that is because you put the work in. So age is NOT a big factor when it comes to pool.
Let me give you another example: I used to train racehorses and worked with many really good jockeys. I worked with Kentucky Derby winning jockeys and other jockeys that performed at a high level. Jockeys need to be extremely physically fit, and have very quick reflexes. There are many jockeys in their late 40's and into their 50's that are still very very good. And that is in a sport that is tough physically.
I think what we see with some of the old time GREAT players is not an actual decline in ability (although there is some) - it is the new younger players just getting better and better - not because they are young, but because they train differently. They put in a huge amount of training. They keep more physically fit (most of them). They focus on the basics much more.
Guys like Earl Strickland, Efren Reyes, and many others would NOT win nearly as often today, if they were in their prime, because the talent level is higher and there is simply more of it. Anyway, this is a bit of a sore subject with me because I have seen many older guys get really good, better than many younger players, so using age as an excuse for not being good is a no go for me.
And you are an excellent example. For a guy that I think is in his mid 60's, and only started playing seriously three years or so ago, to be as good as you are right not sorta proves my point. And as far as I know you are NOT getting DAILY high-value professional training. As long as your eyes are sound, you can think your way around a table, you can do the fairly simple physical part - you are going to get better and should be an inspiration for all of the guys and gals that say it is too late to be good. They are wrong. Ok, now my rant is over!
Thank you James for your well put comment. I am almost 69 yrs old btw and my eyes were corrected in 2017 and I now have great vision. As far as health, I was a serious natural bodybuilder from 1993-1999 where I ate clean. I still eat clean to this day btw.
I’m told by my doctor that my blood work and physical wellbeing is that of a thirty something year old. He tells me to continue eating and exercising the way I do.
As far as me saying I’m not supposed to get good at Pool at my age, that’s just what the Pool world mostly thinks and says. Personally, I can see myself continually improving until something like you pointed out crops up.
Since I love the game and have a passion to practice daily, I see another several years left in me.
This said, I’ll share a little secret with you; I do not like hanging out in Pool halls or at bars. Because of this, my days of competition are no longer in the cards.
(I did this with great success two years ago)
I will shoot at a friend’s house on occasion on his ten footer and another friend’s on his seven footer, but that’s the extent of my competition. For that reason, I’ve chosen to stick with TH-cam to help as many players as I can improve their physical games.
I often think of how well I might do if I were to give it another go on leagues or in tournaments as I’m far better at the game today than I was two years ago. Since I haven’t the desire however, I’m going to continue developing my game with the methods and techniques that have served me well so far, then share what I learn with my viewers.
And oh btw, I never have had professional lessons as you surmised.
Thanks again James 👍🏻❤️🎱
@@ronthepoolstudent I have played a lot in the United States and in the Philippines. I know good players when I see them. You are a good player and I have no doubt you would do well in local tournaments. I also have no doubt you would do well in the long matches they play in the Philippines. But if that scene, bars and pools halls, is not to your liking I totally get it. I am not a big fan of bars and pool halls either.
But you are a GREAT of example of what I talk about when people say that older people can't be good players or get better. You are one of the poster boys for that being wrong. Keep up the good work - you have helped many.
@@jamesdavis8731 thank you, I really appreciate your complements James.
I have a real passion for the game but have much more to learn before I’d say I’m a good player. My 700 fargo friend tells me I’m a solid “B” player which is average for someone that plays regularly imo. My goal is to log 10k hours so I have 3k to go. I think by then, I will have reached “A” status. This should take another two years of quality practice time.
Once again, thank you for the kind words Sir.
@@ronthepoolstudentyou don't move like someone anywhere close to 69. I think you're pulling our legs 😆
Usual inspiration as usual.
👍🏻😊👍🏻
Ron - we're of similar age and I started watching your channel almost since the beginning. Having got into pool after a 40 year break (scary) and playing in leagues now I can attest to the fact your drills work. I'm no where as good as you - but your videos are very inspirational.
A good idea for a video would be game play strategy (both 8 & 9 ball) on what to do if type situations. Many times I beat myself or miss/forget to hook - or select wrong balls/patterns. Many listening to you probably play in leagues....I think it'd help many....just my 2 cents.
Thanks!
Thank you George for being there from the beginning and for your request 😊
I actually have several 8 ball videos covering important aspects of that game.
Below are two, so please check them out incase you missed their original release.
See links below and thanks once again:
2 Factors For 8 Ball Success
th-cam.com/video/AXYmRPS8-jE/w-d-xo.html
A Pool Pro’s training method/Part 2
th-cam.com/video/E8oU56A5jQ8/w-d-xo.html
I struggle with the spot to spot drill. But I will come back to it with more focus on the process. I have played a lot of sports and I used to know this! Funny how you can forget the basics sometimes. Thanks again Ron!
Thank you Davein and I hear what you’re saying.
When I figured out I needed to NOT worry about my final score while in the midst of my golf round, I was then able to focus more on the shot at my feet. From this change in mindset, the goal of shooting a low number, took care of itself 👍🏻
I like it 😊
👍🏻😊👍🏻
Great mental process video.
Thank you Lance, I remember the night during practice when this hit me. From that time forward, I approached practice differently 👍🏻
Thanks for the video
You’re welcome and thank
👉you👈 BCM 👍🏻
Thanks Ron, a good reminder. I need more purpose in my practice as I end up just trying to run balls and not getting very far!
Can I ask what you use to mark the ball spots for drills?
Thank you GT 😊
I use paper reinforcements to mark ball locations. These come in rolls of 200 and can be purchased at any office supply or school supply store.
Great advice! Have you ever read the book The Pleasures of Small Motions. Your video inspired me to read it again. I also need to practice the challenge you showed here. I have not done that one in a while because I have been working on stroke mechanics and my pre-shot routine for the past couple months.
Thank you Patrick, I haven’t read it yet but am ordering the book as I’ve been asked if I read it a lot. Thanks for the reminder.
Also, the spot to spot is a great one for sure and is super helpful to our game 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Love your work Bro!
Thank you U, I appreciate it 👍🏻
❤️🎱
Thanks, coach! Appreciate the pep talk, I needed this today.
Thank you Gary, embrace failure as this is the stepping stone to success…💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻
Good points Ron, thanks. Just a beginner trying to improve, right now I just am really trying to focus on the shot fundamentals, stance,approach,stroke,speed follow thru, that sort of thing. It always bothers me to miss, especially eze shots but try to focus on the shot instead of results. Drills, yes I hate them, but as I improve, deep down I know they are the road to greatest results. I will get there. Really really beginning to enjoying the game more each day.....take care.
You have a great attitude Jeff, this will take you far.
You are correct in that you’ll need to set that solid foundation of your fundamentals.
Also, never get lazy as you practice. If you feel you’re just going through the motions, stop and take a break. I will actually go outside in the fresh air to reset. It’s amazing the change once back at the table.
I even know of a top player that will take a quick Power Nap when they feel this way.
Thanks again and keep on practicing 👍🏻😊❤️🎱
Thanks Ron for the video. Good advice...practice with a purpose. And trust the process...the results will come...may take longer for some players. You have done great in a relatively short period of time. Do you think you have Reached your plateau? You look really comfortable on the pool table.
Thank you Roy and yes, there was a point about two years ago where my consistency waned. As time went on however and I began practicing more with purpose, I began to tighten up my consistency. I found I would be in stroke on a more consistent basis.
I see no reason to plateau so I forge on.
Thanks for upload 🎱
Thank you Paul and glad you liked this message 👍🏻❤️🎱
Great video, Ron! Had no clue your 'serious' pool career was just over 3 years! Your progress is awesome. Whats your fargo at, if you've got one? I'm gonna guess 600+?
Thank you Michael.
I Just checked and it’s 517
(475 robustness) from two years ago. I haven’t played on
leagues since then and I don’t enter any tournaments as I can’t handle the 12-20 hours of mostly sitting around.
@@ronthepoolstudent Ron, I feel you regarding the 12-20 hours of sitting around in leagues. It's exhausting, but it's the only competition I have at this time (plus I like my team members) so I'm sticking around for now. Love your approach to practice, and I've taken a similar approach and my game has improved a lot. I've moved up 2 skill levels with only 20% of the matches played as compared to my peers. Like you, I focus on running patterns (mostly 4 and 5 balls) which entails speed control, shot-making, spin, position, and recovery all rolled into one. It's the best bang for the buck for a guy like me with limited time to practice (and no table at home). It's funny how you'll see these shots come up in matches, and when you've seen it before in practice, you have the confidence to take it on. I see pocket lines now that I didn't see before (I didn't even know what a pocket line was). I choose to take a sharper angle on certain shots b/c I understand it'll be easier to move the cue ball to the next. So much to learn and explore with this game. Keep up the good work, Ron!
@@michaelsmith1267
Thank you once again Michael.
In reading your comment, you have nailed it! You have found the combination to great Pool.
You may have seen these two vids linked below, but Incase not, Part 1 is from my Pool Pro friend Tony Robles. The second is a twist off his rotation exercise.
I wanted to address eight ball as well.
Both are powerful exercises.
See links below:
A Pool Pro’s training method/Part 1/courtesy Tony Robles
th-cam.com/video/x5lD4YNTKuw/w-d-xo.html
A Pool Pro’s training method/Part 2
th-cam.com/video/E8oU56A5jQ8/w-d-xo.html
Gread vid. Noticed your ballstar-style pool ball cleaner in the background - what cleaning solution do you use for it? I use aramith ball cleaner in mine but I've been having issues with the felt rings gunking up.
Thank you SS and I too use Aramith ball cleaner/polish.
I initially only put a quarter inch drop on each ball for the maiden cycle. I then refrained from applying more cleaner the next few times through, as I figured there was enough cleaner embedded in the felt to adequately do the job.
These works great as it doesn’t load up the fabric.
Hope that makes sense 👍🏻
That stun shot you performed to get back into position…where did you hit the cue ball? Center ball, maybe a half a tip at most below center?
Thank you for your question Kevin. Here is a recent video where I show tip position as I perform several continuation exercises.
The “spot to spot” drill is shown here.
See link below:
th-cam.com/video/HIL5jICmLII/w-d-xo.htmlsi=U8wthNKjvH7rttqO
As for your tip positioning question on the stun-shot (1st one), I actually used a touch of stun-follow. This said, speed of the hit will change the cue ball’s travel path.
Here are two older videos. These demonstrate how I grasped the physics of stun-shots.
See links below:
Speed Spin Stun = Position/THIS WORKS
th-cam.com/video/200fvJTZ7f8/w-d-xo.html
Accurate stun control
th-cam.com/video/7cl4Ue71P7U/w-d-xo.html
Lastly, I have mote stun-shot tutorials within my video library so feel free to scroll through as you’ll see how I actually learned this most important shot.
Thank you again and please reach out with any questions 👍🏻😊
@@ronthepoolstudent thanks for the in depth response! Love the channel!
@@durster27 thank you Kevin 👍🏻
ron you are inspiration. when its to late to became profesional, what is your opinion?
you started late and became very good
Thank you Perun.
I would think any player that can consistently pocket shots and gain accurate position while handling the pressures of competition, has the chance to become a successful Pro.
As far as age is concerned, that’s just a number really.
So the answer would then be, when the person no longer has consistency within their game to be competitive.
@@ronthepoolstudent thanks man! i started on bar box tables when i was young, i was pretty talented, every good player in that hall was talking to me keep playing and i will be pro,
ofc that dont happened i took break for 5 years, than i started shooting a little bit, but that take another 5 years
but in last 8 months, i started practice a more, and have that obsession again, i shoot good, beat a lot solid players
but yeah pool is expensive game, you need good equipment, table at home is great, and i know if i had that i will be practicing 10 hours a day
i am 25 years old, i and wanted to share this with you
@@perun4649 thanks again Perun.
By the way…WOW!, you are at that perfect age to make it and It sounds like you have the passion so that’s most of the battle.
Listen to me here, the only one that can stop you from achieving your goals is you. Lay out a solid daily practice regimen and practice with purpose. It won’t take long and you’ll be defeating the strongest players in your area. From there, raise your sights to loftier goals as you prepare yourself to becoming a Pro 💪🏻
@@ronthepoolstudent thanks for motivation and inspiration! your channel is the best
Cheers! 💪
@@perun4649 thank you and glad to ALWAYS be of help.
Reach out anytime Perun 👍🏻
Excellent advice's, thanks for you share information and videos, i start this drill for the first time you share it and thinks improve a lot. If possible i like to send u some of my video training and i like to hear your opinion about how to improve my game!!!
Thank you Ovidiu, glad this drill helped. If you are easily running this one, here’s the next one to work on. See link below:
A finesse exercise that will turbocharge your Pool game
th-cam.com/video/XJIKN8N0IPg/w-d-xo.html
This one requires a very different stroke so please let me know once you can run ten of these in a row, I’d like to see your stroke while shooting this one.
@@ronthepoolstudent this is the drill i start to practice, and i will record and send u some video. Its very difficult drill but it make magic improvements :)))
@@ovidiumarza6326 thank you Ovidiu and please copy and paste a link to your here, I can’t wait to check it out 👍🏻
@@ronthepoolstudent th-cam.com/video/cndLkCPNMHM/w-d-xo.html
th-cam.com/video/uM9lVvtPm7s/w-d-xo.html
I know having a good stroke is key to everything but without a tutor how do you know if you have a good stroke? What if you think you have a good stroke but you don't
Alton, if you don’t have a coach make a video of yourself. I have found it very valuable to be able to observe myself and to critique my fundamentals.
Thank you Lee for your question. For me, my stroke was terrible when I started. I would jab at the cue ball and had an abrupt transition. Because of this, I couldn’t pocket three balls in a row three years ago. I decided to correct this so I studied the Pros in their matches on TH-cam. What I discovered was most had very smooth very controlled strokes. I worked to copy this so I set forth to pause more at the back swing before pushing the cue forward. This was so so difficult to do because I had created a very bad habit of banging at the cue ball and not stroking through it.
It took me over a year to finally change and to ingrain that change. This made a HUGE difference.
So to answer your question, work to develop a controlled smooth transition stroke. Once you do this, you’ll more consistently stroke straight.
Also, video yourself for self evaluation as I did, or take lessons from a reputable instructor in your area.
Since my channel is all about my growth as a player, I have shared all I’ve gone through as I’ve worked on my own to develop my game.
By watching other great Players during their matches and subscribing to several TH-cam channels. I was able to self teach.
Lastly, I feel you must have good self awareness in order to do what I’ve described. If you don’t have this, you’ll need to have someone evaluate your weaknesses so you can then focus on making the change.
I hope this helped and by the way, my video library has everything I went through to develop sound fundamentals and more importantly, a smooth straight Pool stroke. Please see my stroke videos playlist.
Thank you once again and please reach out with any questions you may have 👍🏻😊❤️🎱
@@markevenson987 I have tried that but with only the one camera it is a bit of a ball ache, i will give it another go, Thanks
@@ronthepoolstudent Thanks for the indepth reply Ron. I have seen most of your videos (i try to keep up to date with them), Forgive me but i didnt word my question exactly as i intended, my question was really about Timing. How do you know when you time a shot well? In regards to a screw shot at mid range, a decent amount of screw can be made without throwing the cue at the cue ball because of good Timing, I play a lot of English 8 ball pool (smaller balls) and Snooker but when i play American Poll on the 9 footers the Balls are even bigger and heavier than snooker balls making screw shots even more difficult (at range) and good Timing is needed, This is where i struggle and need help or guidance. A couple of weeks ago i went to watch the Snooker World Championships at the Crucible Theatre and to watch up close how they get so much reaction from the cue ball with so little effort into the stroke is mind bending, but i know it is all about timing.
Lee, using a tripod and phone holder, I set the lens on normal to wide angle. Tripod is set far enough from table to see most shots. I concentrate on body stance and stroke, not really concerned with the table or balls. Tripod is set on the short rail end. Does take some time to set up but worth the effort. Another tip is to shoot from ONE position at a time and move the phone when changing positions.
Good luck! Happy shooting!