DIAMOND DRILL
An amateur works until he makes the shot, and a pro works until he doesn't miss it.
Develop sweat in practice to avoid bleeding in competition.
Misses are what gives you the feedback on what you need to improve. Don't hate them, rather observe them.
The will to win is not nearly as important as the will to train.
Think of pool shots as much as you can during the day when you are away from the table (ie. before u go to bed, drawing diagrams on your napkin at dinner and talking with a friend about a shot, for example). This actually adds to your practice time and reveals your passion that will help take you to the next level.
I, as your coach, am not to be credited with your success or failure. I will give you the tools, but your level of play is up to you. Practice with intensity. Be relentless about applying perfect technique to every shot.
Sports Psychology: Whether you are practicing or playing, you should be evaluating the quality of your strategy, shot selection and your stroke delivery - not assigning blame, feeling bad about results, letting your ego be affected, excessively celebrating, or judging yourself based on pocketing. While you cannot ignore it, you should not focus on whether or not the OB is pocketed. When you ascribe too much importance to pocketing and you assign labels of "good" and "bad" based on the pocketing result, you put great pressure on yourself, taking focus away from the task of improving and perfecting your stroke. If you labor under the misapprehension that your stroke must have been good because the OB was pocketed, then not only are you gravely mistaken, but you also lose the opportunity to learn from that shot. The pros pocket almost all of their shots, but the best ones still exhibit the constant desire to improve - as should you.
Don't criticize yourself for missing shots - LEARN FROM THEM.
(Some of the above excerpts are from Mark Wilson's book, Play Great Pool.)
Diamond Drill - Put lots of energy and concentration into the details of stroke delivery while doing this Diamond Drill.
I. Exercise #1 (in the jaws): Set up OB's along the rail next to every diamond. Shoot this shot in the diagram and get the CB to contact each of the OB's. Be very detailed and
II. Exercise #2 (near the rail) - Place the OB 1/2 a chalk's width off of the rail.
Power Break Drill - 15 min - Place the cue ball either on the middle of the headstring using a closed bridge. Or, place the CB behind off the rail about 6" and behind the head spot using the peace sign bridge. Your goal is to hit the CB without any left or right english. Since we are using a lot of power any little bit you are off will be exaggerated. Long follow through with lots of speed gives you more power. Your goal is to get to 5 rails on a 9' table.
Diamond Drill (in the jaws) - 35 min
Take a Break - 15 min
Diamond Drill (near the rail) - 35 min
Touch the Spot - 20 min - Play a match with someone and touch the exact spot that you are envision the CB going to.
Remember to always end practice with a good shot not a missed or poorly executed one.
Mantra of the week ~ Get in the ring and get bloody ~
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