I wanted to share the benefits from the refresher this past weekend.

Let me say first that I took the primer course in 2008. I had some good success, with a few rolls in the 40’s and many rolls in the 30’s in the casinos. With over 13,000 rolls, my smartcraps srr is over 9, and of course lower in live play. I knew my results were good but I needed to improve the actual shot.

Sunday night after the class, I ate dinner, watched some football with my wife, and finally made it down into the basement about 9:30. I set up my curtain rod and laid it across the top of the table (4" above the top of the table). It seemed whatever I was doing wrong, when Dom had put the stick up over the table and made me throw higher and use more energy, my dice flight and results improved. I had an improved rotation and more hardways when I used the higher arc and more energy.

Stickman and Frank really pushed the rhythm and trying to keep the delivery smooth (along with Dom, Nick and Skinny) but I remember Stickman showing me many times to swing my arm back and forth without throwing the dice, and I did that many times inbetween shots (that will be a good new practice drill). I also did let the arm hang more naturally and did not reach out as much thanks to Frank’s advice.

I worked on using more energy as Dom instructed and tried to incorporate the practice pendulum swing that Stickman and Frank instructed. I felt the pendulum swing I was shown this weekend was much longer and had a fuller follow through than the way I was throwing. The way they had me simulate that swing over and over during the class helped me bring that home and practice that swing (without throwing the dice).
It really started to help me ingrain some new muscle memory.

My rolls in the basement were 18, 15, 24, 32 and 44! I won quite a few chips, too, especially on the last roll!

I don’t expect these results all of the time, but it sure was nice not to have to totally reinvent the swing.

Now I won’t say the dice were perfect every time, but when I concentrated on releasing down the line right over the Big 6 and Big 8, they were spinning better. When my delivery path did not stay straight down the line and faded towards the middle of the table, it also contributed towards the dice not spinning together because my hand and arm were not finishing straight down the path.

The dice are flying much higher than I am used to (4" or more above the table top) but they are coming in high and staying near the back wall after hitting the wall.

I also received another great tip from Dom-to improve my rhythm I stared down at the surface straight below my eyes to concentrate on the path and keep my eyes away from the target. This drill made me concentrate on the arm swing and not what the dice were doing. I have since practiced alternating throwing with my eyes closed and throwing with my eyes open, with very good results.

So here’ s the key learning points for my throw:

Use more energy-reach to the wall and make the dice hit the wall.

Bigger backswing and follow-through to simulate a smooth pendulum swing.

Arm hangs closer to the body (more below the eyes) arm swings along pass and don’t pass line.

Thank You to the Five Horsemen. Good to meet the primers and refreshers.

Good rolling to everyone!

TP

Replies: