Topic: "Roller Trouble"

[snake eyes]

I have lost almost all of my ability to execute this shot. I first started shooting a pull when i started playing on our Tornado Whirlwind. Finally someone started a local DYP in our town and now foosball has entered and never left my dreams i am *addicted* I look forward to every local and major tournament to go to. I remember looking at the Rollover on the computer to try using this shot exclusively and luckily a guy out of Colorado moved into town and brought the snake with him.......He ended up renting a room at my place and all we did was go to our local spot to play. He would absolutely kill me with his snake shot and finally i gave up the pull to learn it. I did this and got deadly with the shot. Fast forward= I am now having a hard time with the pull side snake and am lacking confidence finding the holes that i used to automatically burn thru. Is there such a thing as too much down pressure on the ball? I have no problem walking the ball, and seem to execute better when i do this BUT if i try to rock it all goes to hell and my timing on the pull side especially is not there at all. I shank the ball wide and it misses the goal and usually goes at a funky angle. Sumner, Jim would it be worth my while to get a Rollover Kit to adjust some of the problems i am having??  Any advice appreciated and yes Jim,Sumner i know you are both pull shooters by nature but this is driving me insane!!!!  Snake

[Chase Pennell]

I have gone through this....take your time on the shot....do it so slow that you feel like a child trying to shoot it...this gives you the lateral feel for the shot again...not SLOWLY try and make it faster....(if you can go do this by yourself.....gives you more confidence)  take your time and allow your body to shoot the shot....dont think about it just let your arm do what it wants to do....(sounds wierd but it works...)

[snakeboy]

Yes, I have found out there is such a thing as too much pressure on the ball. I, as well as other players from my area, have found that the less pressure you have on your pin, the farther/faster you can move the ball laterally. I find this especially true on my pull side, which is my weak side. When i get real nervous and try to hit the pull with all kinds of pressure, i always shank it. when i loosen up a little the shot is more acurate and faster.

[SumnerH]

I have lost almost all of my ability to execute this shot.

This happens in all areas of the game--you'll have something that you're good at, and then seemingly all of a sudden you lose your ability to execute.  A couple of thoughts:

1. You learn by repetition, but repetition makes you learn the thing you're repeating.  If it's something that you haven't done in a long time, practicing a fair amount is a good idea.  If you are practicing a lot and something vanishes, you need to either take a (long) break or change how you're practicing.
2. Take 2 steps back if you're struggling; if you normally crank dead-bar pulls and you start spraying them, drop down to 2-finger off of dead bar.  Practice that for a while, then go to 1 finger.  Practice that until it's rock solid.  Only then go back to trying the dead.
On the snake, slow it down and/or shoot shorter to the side you're working on; gain confidence with that and then ratchet it up.