...Matt, how are things going with you? I haven't been in touch for quite some time, so I wanted to say hello. I still read and enjoy your newsletters every week, and some of the articles help my game.
I have also used some of the information to help my teammates. Our pool season is in full gear right now here in Wisconsin and my game is starting to come together long after the summer layoff.
Last week I got player of the week with my undefeated night and low aggregate opponents score, and then barely missed doing it again this week in both nights I shot this week! It really is amazing to me how you start seeing patterns better, and how adapting those patterns during a game come to light more, when you're playing well.
I really took to heart some of the things you and Donny Lutz debated about percentages of getting out on an eight ball rack during your first turn and etc. I've come to realize that even when the table is wide open with no problem balls the chance of a break and run out isn't always that good, so I'm learning to rethink my options more during a potential run and going to the safe playing route when necessary.
Right, Mike, in a word, the pros play safe and TV edits out a lot of the spectacular defense to make an impression like pros magically break and run every 8- or 9-Ball rack. -- Matt
I love that part of the game anyway, and if you play the safe at the right time, even with our point system, you can still win the game with as high a point differential against your opponent, the same as if you would have run from the first time at the table.
I've been stressing that approach a lot to some of the more inexperienced guys I've been playing with lately, and they are starting to see the benefits of it also. Last night we beat a team that on paper seemed untouchable to us, and a couple of guys I've been teaching told me a few things I've been showing them from About.com was the reason they won a couple of their games.
I appreciate those comments. I stress instruction even over pool fiction and culture, which we have a lot of , since there's a lot of pool teaching out there-and lots of it is poor in quality. I feel I'm swimming upstream against the tide but I try.
Something I am curious about your thoughts on is eight ball break percentages of making a ball. Last year I seemed to really struggle with consistency in that area, so I have been working on it more and more.
I've been breaking ten times a session each from various spots and keeping track of how many I make. I have tried each side rail just behind or on the head string and one diamond off both sides and then head on or from the middle of the table. In addition to those head ball break spots, I've also tried the second ball break from each side.
On all those breaks, I've tried a very firm hit and also eased up and hit them with a medium paced speed. So far, on the second ball break I am finding about a 70% success rate with the medium pace speed you teach.
On the head ball break from one diamond off the left side rail and hit with a firm stroke I also make about 7 out of 10. Do you think that is about the most I can expect to achieve on average, or do you think I could do better?
Seven out of ten successful breaks is very good, indeed. A lot of our readers would love to hit those numbers and you've come a very long way from our lesson together in Florida, when you were more like 2 of 10!
The head ball versus the second ball break is sort of a trade off in a way, because when I make one with the head ball break, it seems like I usually have an easier table to run. However, that can also lead to an easier run out for my opponent if I don't make anything.
Since I do like my chances in any safety battle with most guys, I tend to go to the second ball break where they can't run out as easy when I don't make anything. Any insight about the break or any ideas you have would be appreciated.
Again, as with Seven Ball breaks going first and taking a pot shot at the open break is a highly debated issue in pool's top echelon. Remember how 8-Ball developed as a great way to kill some time on a coin-op table or pay for play table (in the days when you'd tip someone to rack the balls for you per game).
9-Ball or even Pocket Billiards, where you bang in all 15 balls, is always going to be a shorter contest than Chicago or 8-Ball style games. That one of the reasons I developed Gopher Eight Ball to give people a little breathing room at the tables.
My advice hasn't changed, give the other guy the break in 8-Ball unless you are dead certain he is going to break and run out on you very promptly.
Also, I wanted to mention the article you wrote about how pros aim their head and eyes as it pertains to the stance, etc. I had been going thru a period where I would miss a few shots, especially long ones by a much larger margin then I thought I should.
I began to realize that perhaps some of the reason may have been not leaving myself enough room for my swing arm to come through on a shot that required a little more stroke or finesse. I've always been a player who gets down very low over the cue, chin right on the shaft, as you know.
After reading your article, I've tried to be more aware of the stance and ensure I give myself a little more room, but I'm still not sure if I totally understand how to take the stance you were talking about, or knowing for sure if I am doing it quite right.
The adjustment I've made, however, does seem to give me more consistent results, and I'm getting up to a full break and run more often, but I was wondering if you could expand on the pre shot routine in getting into that position better, so I can start ingraining it so I don't have to think about it and it just becomes a part of how I play.
I think all I am doing now is getting down over the shot like always and then perhaps moving myself a further away from my swing.
Glad you asked! Here it is for you and all the About.com readers in specific detail:
How To Adjust A Professional Pre-Shot Routine To Get To Your Perfect Stroke Position
Take my advice to heart and you'll break and run far more often than you do now, dear readers. -- Matt "Quick Draw" ShermanThe 8-Ball Debates:Run Or Not Debate
Straight Cue Sticks Debate
8-Ball Or 9-Ball Debate
Bar Pool Tables Debate
Practice Methods Debate
Time Outs Debate
8-Ball Point Of No Return Debate
Break And Run Or Safety Debate
8-Ball Rules Debate
Break In 8-Ball Debate
Fantasy League Debate
