Perfect Practice - 1 Ball Feel

Shoot the 1-ball into the pocket at various speeds, setting up and shooting again many times. Ask yourself these important pool questions and gain knowledge:

What is the slowest possible speed you can use to roll the 1-ball into the pocket successfully? On the other hand, how fast/hard can you pound the 1-ball in without the pocket rejecting the shot?

Shoot the cue ball with slow, medium and fast speeds (whatever strokes you consider to be slow, medium and fast for your skill level now). Where does the cue ball come to rest? Along what path does it travel? Is the cue ball path altered by the speed of your stroke?

Does the 1-ball need to go straight along the line as diagrammed or can you make the one cheat the pocket sending it to one side of the middle of the pocket? What happens to the cue ball’s speed after collision when it cuts the 1-ball thicker or else with more of a thin hit?

And, last but certainly not least, are you able to feel/see/anticipate the collision between the two balls? Yes, your cuestick is no longer contacting the cue ball as the two balls collide, but there is plenty of feel involved. Make the collision between the balls your whole world of focus. Can you detect the spinning motions of the two balls as they release apart? And did they cling together before separating again or gear around one another like cogs?

Thirty or so of these shots will teach you plenty, and a week of these, 30 a day, will take you to the next level in pool skill!

The next page gives tips if you struggle in pocketing the 1-ball plus tips the other way--if you find this drill not challenging enough.