Rose and Doc get questions from students through the private message board through Golden Touch Craps website from time to time. We thought a question recently asked and answered might be of interest to several of you as you’re going from the first class to becoming an advantage player over time. This is a skill you’re learning.

THE QUESTION:

"It’s really frustrating. In practice I throw in sessions of 25. I just threw 10 sevens out of 25. My SRR for 3350 throws is 6.03. I think that puts me on par with a random roller."

OUR ANSWER:

1. First of all 3350 rolls is not really a huge number of rolls in the scheme of things, especially in the beginning. 5000 rolls is probably the minimum you need to complete an SRR. We would guess that most of the 7’s just might have occurred in the first 1500 to 2000 rolls. Remember you have taken only one class and are still very early in this journey to becoming the advantage player you can and will become. You need at the very least 5000 rolls to see better what you have.

2. Of the 3350 rolls, take a bunch of the early throws and take them and set them aside–any number of early rolls will do. For example take out some 1500 to 2000 and begin to add to the remaining 1850 to 1500 remaining rolls which are your most recent rolls. Add enough rolls to get to 5,000. Hopefully you will see an increase in your SRR with the addition of the inclusion of your most recent rolls.

3. DO NOT KEEP MAKING THE SAME MISTAKES AND LETTING THE MISTAKES GET INTO YOUR MUSCLE MEMORY!!! Any flaws in your muscle memory are hard to eliminate.

4. BTW an SRR of 6.03 is not so bad in your early journey to becoming an advantage player. I know that Rose and Doc began with our SRR in the 5.5 range. So hang in there and you will improve by doing some of the following:

A. Spend some time with your grip. Remember the only time you have 100% control over the dice is when they are in your hand. So use your gripper and make sure your 3 fingers are straight across the front of the dice. (The middle finger needs to be straight vertically.) Also insure that the thumb is centered on both dice. If it is more comfortable to have your thumb at an angle make sure you have the same amount of skin on each die. (Many times you will need to lean the thumb towards your body to make your thumb "flatter"). Whether your thumb is flat against the dice or at an angle, either is OK, as long as you have the same amount of skin/pressure on each die. If the dice seem to wobble in the air after they roll off the tip of your fingers, you probably do not have the same amount of skin/pressure on each die. (Check to make sure all your front fingers are equal in pressure as well.)

B. Make sure you are not flicking your fingers as the dice roll off of your finger tips. AND keep the tips of your fingers level to the table. (You can practice with small pieces of paper between your knuckles. When your swing comes forward and you hold your follow through you should still be holding the slivers of paper.)

Many of these practice methods you learn as you come back for refreshers and the advanced classes. This is a skill you are learning.

C. Make sure you are doing critiques as you practice to insure you are not practicing bad habits.

D. Hold the dice loosely so they will gently roll off of your finger tips.

All of this will help keep the dice together as they fly through the air to the back wall.

Work on these items, As you self critique and see if this will help you.

Most importantly, do come to a class weekend and take a refresher course and or a tune up on Friday prior to the open house. That way your throw can be looked at and suggestions made. Seeing you in person really helps.

Hope these ideas help.

Rose and Doc

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