Practice Drills That Develop Consistency - Part 4

I don't know about you, but I'm the kind of guy that likes to finish what I started. Back this summer, in May, Jun and July, I started a four part series on developing consistency in your game. Due to some mail I received, asking questions that deserved to be addressed, I chose to teach according to the mail I received and now I'm getting back to the final part of this summer's lessons on Practice Drills That Develop Consistency. And since I'm based out of sunny Orlando, Florida, I thought I'd share some Florida sun shine with some of my Northern friends. 

In the first 3 Parts, we learned three of the four basic skills needed to impact your ability to play pool more consistently. First, a steady pace is what cures "nopaceosis." Second, a rhythmic address is the cure for "addressitis." Third, you learned that both determining and creating your pattern for running out was the cure for "wrongballemia." 

Finally, the fourth area that contributes to inconsistent play is called "Shootitwrongemia." Defined more exactly this way: a. Selecting the right ball but shooting it into the wrong pocket, b. Stroking the shot with the wrong cue ball speed, c. Using the wrong spin or English on the cue ball. In short, you shot the right shot, but you shot the shot wrong 

Establishing a steady pace, a rhythmic address, shooting the correct ball, and shooting the ball correctly, and you have what The Drill Instructor calls, a FOURSQUARE Pool Game. Here are the drills to get to work on. 

Drill No. 1:

SEE One Shot, FIND Two Shots, then PICK the best one; Shoot the right shot and Shoot The shot right. 

Make it a point to see at least two possible ways to play a shot before you shoot. When possible, take a few extra moments and you might find a third way. Review each of them in your head, then pick the one that' the best choice. 

Example: The 8-ball can be cut into the side pocket. The 9-ball is on the opposite rail, about one diamond from the center pocket. Would you shoot the 8 ball into the side or the corner pocket? The majority of players would shoot the 8 ball into the side pocket because it’s a sure make, trying to cause the cue ball to run down to the bottom rail and back up, in hopes of getting straight enough to make the 9-ball down. Too often the outcome is a scratch or the cue ball lands around mid table, leaving a tough cut shot on the 9 ball. What's the correct way to shoot this shot? Pocket the 8 ball into the corner pocket, causing the cue ball to cross over center table and land straight on the 9-ball. Pocket the 9-ball into the corner pocket.