• Craps

    How To Win More By NOT Setting The Dice

    Timmer Posted on
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    Heresy you say? Well, not exactly…

    But now that I’ve gotten your attention…

    There have been some great posts lately about practice results, seven-to-roll ratios, changing dice sets, etc.

    These interesting discussions, including the wise advice given by Dominator and other instructors, got me thinking about practice improvement.

    Specifically, just how focused many of us get on the dice outcome results of the throw rather than on the grip and swing mechanics of the throw.

    To not focus on the dice outcomes is easier said than done. The outcomes are the end result of our efforts, after all.

    But to continue doing the same thing, over and over, expecting different results is the definition of… – Well, you know how the saying goes.

    Here’s a practice idea that may just be the “trick” to help improve skills and ultimately win more at the tables.

    Try NOT setting the dice in a few of your practice sessions each week.

    In this exercise, the dice outcomes will be irrelevant. In fact, think positively that the end-results you see are exactly what they should be for the dice-set that you didn’t set. Better yet, don’t pay any attention to the meaningless outcomes, whatever they may be.

    This “trick” will help shift your focus, allowing you to concentrate on the all-important and often under-practiced aspects of the controlled throw. Namely the grip, swing mechanics, dice revolutions, landing zone drills, how the dice react after landing, or whatever else you may have chosen to work on during your practice session.

    NOT being so focused on the dice outcomes in practice is how you’ll WIN MORE by NOT setting the dice.

    😎 😎 😎

    Replies:

    Posted by: Diceman on February 9, 2013, 10:39 pm

    The Diceman Cometh . . .

    I agree and I do this frequently. It places emphasis on the throw and its components, not on the outcome. If my practice rig is "cold" 😀 , this takes the sting out of it, and I practice longer.

    Posted by: Dr Crapology on February 10, 2013, 3:46 am

    Timmer, this is a great post. Alligator Rose and I do this from time to time. It really helps. I call it getting back to basics. Example, football games are won with basic blocking and tackling. Doing the drills over and over. Basketball is the same way. Remember in high school how we used to do dribbling drills, fast break drills, defense foot movment, rebounding drills, shooting many times from the same spots, you get the idea. After an hour or so of this we would do half court drills by running our plays, And only then would be have some full court scrimmage.

    The same holds true for our craps practice. Throw into a bowl. Use the gripper. Hold the dice and let them fall out to make sure the grip is perfect so they come out together as suggested by Mr. Finesse. Put the tooth picks that Dice Pilot suggests between your fingers to keep from flicking your fingers at release. Throw into a mirror to watch your entire throw. Have yourself video taped with an IPAD or other camera. Then and only then play with chips and have yourself a scrimmage, just like high school basketball.

    As Timmer illurtrates get back to the basic of improving your craps results by looking at all the elements of the throw individually.

    It will pay big dividends.

    Doc and Alligator Rose

    Posted by: brothelman on February 10, 2013, 5:53 am

    I to have several practice sessions where all i worry about is the mechanics of the throw.

    I get forty pair of dice and start i never pick up the dice if i am hitting the same spot there is no need for it is a little whole in the middle of all the other dice.

    I never worry about results because there is all the contact with other dice after they hit the wall.

    I judge how well my practice went by how big of an area the dice cover on the table the smaller area the better

    try it throw forty pair and see how tight of an area you can keep them in

    Posted by: Goddess on February 10, 2013, 12:56 pm

    I posted not to long ago (although I can’t find it now) that I practice components, not worrying about outcomes. The video analysis showed me what to correct, and I concentrate on that until it looks and feels right. Then I start a regular practice routine. I have also mentioned this to my students. Good post Timmer.

    Goddess

    Posted by: Mr Finesse on February 10, 2013, 10:00 pm

    Timmer great subject. Here are a few of my thoughts.

    I believe all practice sessions should have a few segments to it, the number of segments depends on the time you have for this practice session and if you only have a short time work on just one specific thing.

    I also like to practice with pipless dice, this way I can concentrate on what the dice are doing and not a numeric result.

    Remember practice with a specific objective.

    Posted by: getagrip on February 11, 2013, 11:20 pm

    About three days before I leave on a casino junket I use only pipless dice for my practice sessions. This really keeps me from over focusing on the outcomes of the dice and then I can just concentrate on how the physical throw characteristics look with regard to the toss I am taking to the casino. I take both pipless and regular dice with me on the trip for my in room practice and use either type depending on the problem I may be trying to fix at the time.

    I am wondering for those of you out there that use pipless dice, do you mark the pipless dice so you can better see the rotation in flight? If so, what is your best method for marking them?

    Thanks!

    Posted by: SectionEight on February 12, 2013, 3:34 am

    I love the pipless dice, Mr. F. I take 10 pair and throw….just simply throw, focusing on the basics up to targeting. I’ll even put a beam or stick across the table to give a height target to make, focusing on putting some ‘hump’ in the arc.

    I think Dom still sells the pipless dice, but one has to ask for them. I’ve never seen them at GGS.

    SectionEight

    Posted by: Timmer on February 19, 2013, 1:06 am

    Great idea about the forced "arc" drill, S8.

    Last I checked, GTC was sold out of the pipless dice…

    😎 😎 😎

    "SectionEight" wrote: I love the pipless dice, Mr. F. I take 10 pair and throw….just simply throw, focusing on the basics up to targeting. I’ll even put a beam or stick across the table to give a height target to make, focusing on putting some ‘hump’ in the arc.

    I think Dom still sells the pipless dice, but one has to ask for them. I’ve never seen them at GGS.

    SectionEight

    Timmer
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