Under Pressure

When I'm practicing by myself, and make the 8, I always spot it in the pocket made. That way I am assured of some kick at the end involving multiple rails.

It also adds a little pressure not to miss, because of the 8 being right in front of a pocket. Oh yeah, if I do miss again, I block the path somehow!   Lester

2nd Chance Positive

Here's something I started to do. When I'm engaged in a SERIOUS practice, not only do I concentrate on making the shot, I also concentate on what it will take to get perfect position.

That way if you miss the shot, you have a 2nd chance of some accomplishment. It's a way for me to stay positive the rest of the rack.  Lester

Unfamiliar Table

I drew up a shot this morning that I'll make sure I try on a first-time-for-me table from now on. The shot was kicking back to a carom. You have to hit the object ball where it will drive it to your pocket. After I found the point that was halfway between the object ball and cue ball, I started with running English--too much

I found the spot on the cue ball. In this case it was a half tip amount of running English. When I practice on the new table, that's where I'll start. If it's a miss, I'll use one of my subtleties on the 2nd Chance Kick.  Lester

Friction and Momentum

Using First Gear, there are two ways to get an extra 1/8th dot of spin off the rail. The first way is switching from a closed bridge to an open one. That reduces the friction on the cues shaft going through your fingers, giving it that extra flow if you will.

The second way is to take one finger off the butt of your cue. The only finger not griping the butt of my cue is my pinkie finger, which is sticking up in the air. To get that extra 1/8th dot of spin, stick the next finger up in the air. That lessens the momentum of your stroke. Less momentum gets the cue ball spinning faster right away, as opposed to putting it out farther before it starts spinning.  Lester

2nd Chance Kick--Clean Ball

Broke, made stripes after a miss, spotted the 8 in an end pocket. Ran solids and the cue ball ended up right next to the 8 in the pocket. Went with a 2-rail that I usually use high 1st Gear. Way off! Realized I just cleaned the balls. 2nd chance kick I used low first Gear. That was it, the cue ball didn't grab onto the cloth like it does when it's a little dirty. I'm going to start getting into the subtleties that you can use with "Shifting Gears". There is so much you can do to get a little more, or less English.   Lester

PCR of 9

Session 1 was a PCR of 9. Planned a carom to make the 8, 4 balls ahead. Got down to 2 balls and didn't have the position I wanted. While I was stroking the shot, I remembered I had to mow lawn today! Stray thought. Ran the next 2, and ended up with a bank instead of the carom. It was 1/8 of a dot adjustment to the SSL for 1st Gear.  Missed it! Well I gotta mow the lawn today so I can't do what I read Jeanette Lee would have done---how many practice shots?  many hundreds I KNOW!   Lester

2nd Gear

This morning I had my spots lined up for a 2-rail 2nd gear shot. The STANDARD SHOT LINE (SSL) (the point at which you aim, using 2nd gear, where the cue ball will go into the pocket). The 8 ball was frozen on the long rail by an end pocket, with it's front at the point on the rail. The 3rd dot from that pocket is the 2nd gear SSL. The cue ball was another 3 dots away on the other side of the table. To find your aim point the calculation is 1/2--1/2. So from the SSL you first go 1/2 of 3, which is 1 and 1/2 dots, then 1/2 of what is left. 1/2 of 1 and 1/2 is 3/4's dot. That's your aim point to go into the pocket. BUT, the 8 is that slight distance away from the pocket. Trace the path and go down the pocket with your cue tip. Then notice how wide the space is to a ghost cue ball sitting behind the 8. My question to you is do you have to go 1/2--1/2 again?   Lester