Topic: Practicing

[bmtran]

So I get the feeling that the biggest comment on this board, is PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE

but I have to ask... what should I practice?

First of all, I have get out there that I do not own my own table. I repeat, "I do not own my own table." I know... it's a calamity, but it's how the pieces came together. I do, however, have pretty easy access to a bunch of different tables at both work and school. With this knowledge, it's probably obvious that I don't want to just waste my time at the table doing random stuff that won't give me what I want. I need to get the most out of what little practice time I can get.

So I'm asking this to all you crazy crazy foosers out there that have really strong fundamentals... What should I practice?

My game has taken somewhat of a 180 in the last week or so. I switched from being primarily a pull shooter to being a snake shooter (not because of any particular reason except that I wanted to learn the snake and it ended up being easier to score with), I switched from a(n) (attempted) brush pass to a stick pass and from a twitchy race-type defense to a "confuse-the-3-bar" constantly (or not) moving defense strategy. I've noticed gains in my game since I've been playing against the same person for over a year and he knows all my old stuff all too well.

But I don't want to lose my shots. My pull, whenever I try it, is completely lacking in speed and accuracy. My brush pass just bounces off the wall or is hit right into my opponent's 5-bar, and, well, my defense works kinda the same....

But yeah, I need something that will overall help me retain the skills I've developed over the past year and also help me get better at my more recent developments.

Any tips?

[Old Meister]

You practice what you do well so as to give you confidence in your game and then you practice those things that you don't do well so as to strengthen your game. If you do the stick passing game, practice it a lot, make it a non-thought execution. But add to that the brush pass game, why not? It only makes you a more complete and confident player. So you shoot a pull, practice and think about it as you practice. Set up scenarios in your mind so as they come up you have familiarity with that scenario. Then learn the other options like the snake, Euro pin, pull kicks, pushes, push kicks. Why not? Become a complete and competent player. Decide those parts of your game that are most effective and make them ironclad. Be honest with yourself and think about what your weaknesses are and work on them. Practie, practice, practice,,, The whole thing about practice is to embed the nerve paths so that it is a non-thought reaction when you need it, no guess work. How can you become totally confident without first nailing down a discipline through practice?

[MR.STEVE]

Practice is a art you need to know what to practice I watch players fall slowly to peaces no scoreing not passing then game over then I watch them practice and wow they pass they shoot and score so what do you practice self controle your shots will come at the speed your awarness do a shot or pass that you like master it...

[Mario Ariganello]

Like you said stay with fundamental. The Brush pass is the best pass in the game it’s the most consistent unless you’re Tony Superman. I would recommend learning a pull shot because when you play d-fence a pull shot is your main shot/clear. So you get double the practice time shooting. It’s a necessity in your game.

Practice weaving the ball between your 5 for 20 minutes touching every man.
Keeping the ball on the lateral so you can brush at any time is ideal.
Pinning it back and forth learning your limits with the ball is ideal. 10 minutes
Stick to one thing and work on it for 20 minutes.
Brush wall
Brush lane
When practicing, practice like you would play against someone.
Pass it strong but make sure you don’t have a high back swing.
Try new positions with your hands find what is most comfortable and what gives you the perfect swing. Everyone is different with this one. I hold the handle at the top with 3 fingers. It feels like a ball in my hand. Plus when you go for a wall pass you can’t slip because my index finger is holding the steel bar and the top of the handle. Try to catch the ball like an egg the 3 row should come up almost as high as pinning the ball.
Keep messing with your hand position till you feel and hit a good one. Once you hit a good pass try to emulate it. This will take time.
The same thing with a pull shot. Practices shooting a ¾ pull shot don’t bother trying to hit the longest dead bar hole. Move the ball around move your hand around figure how you will get the best stroke.

Last but not least stand in a boxer pose you have the greatest balance when in this pose. Left foot in front right foot in back and shoulder length apart.   

[Fastert]

When you have a ball that's working half the time, train it for one hour straight. Do only that single ball, that means that you will do it maybe a hundred times, during that training you must change what doesn't feel right and at a certain point you notice that you got 'the way' of the shot or pass/catching and you do it without thinking. The next time you train you do an other ball to learn or strengthen for an hour.
The advantage of doing a ball automatic but consciously, is that you don't have to focus completely at your own technique, but got more time to see what your opponent is doing and that's also important.

Good luck!