Practice Notes

The more I practice, the worse I get!

I've noticed an interesting pattern when I practice specific shots diagrammed in a book. The first few times I set up the shot, I usually achieve whatever the goal is right off, without problem. As I continue to repeat the shot, my success gets worse, to the point of missing the shot regularly. In frustration I go back to the book to refresh how the shot is set up. Invariably, what has happened is that with each time I set up the shot, my positioning of the balls wanders a little bit until eventually the shot I am setting up is no longer the shot that was diagrammed.

Conclusion: If a shot that used to seem easy suddenly seems impossible, go back to step one. Read the book and make sure you are setting up the shot how it was intended.

A method suggested to me by someone on the rec.sport.billiard newsgroup is to place one of those little reinforcement rings (the kind used for notebook paper) on the spots where the balls go. As of this writing, I haven't tried it yet, but it certainly sounds reasonable. I don't think she means to actually stick the ring to the cloth--just lay it there. My only concern would be in what way, if any, would the presence of the ring on the cloth affect the action of the balls?