Practice Makes Perfect – Part Three of Three

Welcome to the final part of the Practice Makes Perfect series, where your training transitions from solid fundamentals to advanced mastery. In Parts One and Two, you developed accuracy, control, and confidence through progressive drills. Now, in Part Three, you’ll refine the precision skills that separate good players from great ones.

These final training sessions focus on mastering difficult yet crucial techniques: the ricochet shot, navigating through Hogan’s Alley, strategic disc removal, and controlling shot force. You’ll also learn how to simulate real-game situations to sharpen your decision-making under pressure.

This is where practice meets purpose. Whether you’re preparing for competitive play or simply want to dominate your next friendly match, these exercises will push your limits and strengthen every aspect of your game. Let’s dive in and bring your crokinole skills to their peak.

Training Session Six: Perfecting the Ricochet Shot

In this training session, you'll focus on mastering the ricochet shot, a common and essential play in crokinole. Your goal is to land your disc in the twenty-hole after ricocheting off another disc. Achieving an 80% success rate (eight out of ten times) will place you among the top-level players.

Ricochet Shot One

Ricochet Shot One: Start by attempting to ricochet your shot off one of the red discs located inside the 15-point circle.

Ricochet Shot Two

Ricochet Shot Two: Next, place the blue discs outside the 15-point circle. Your objective is to ricochet your disc off one red disc at a time and score twenty points with the same shot. You can use the 30 or 90-degree rule to help you with this shot. Don’t be discouraged if you find it difficult to attain an 80% success rate, as many players struggle with this.

Training Session Seven: Navigating Hogan's Alley

In this training session, you'll practice Hogan's Alley, one of the most challenging shots in crokinole. Your disc must pass through four pegs to reach the opponent's disc.

Navigating Hogan's Alley

Place the blue discs on the playing surface as shown above.

From the shooting line, aim your disc to pass through pegs one and two. If successful, your disc will continue through pegs three and four, making contact with the red disc.

Repeat this on the opposite side, aiming your disc through pegs eight and seven, then continuing through pegs six and five to hit the red disc.

Training Session Eight: Mastering Disc Removal

This session focuses on hitting the opponent’s disc off the playing surface. Various scenarios will help you develop the skills needed for any disc removal situation.

Disc Removal One

Disc Removal One: Start by knocking the red discs off the playing surface without considering where your disc will end up. If your disc goes into the ditch, that's acceptable for this exercise. Place six discs randomly outside the 15-point circle and knock each one into the ditch one by one.

Disc Removal Two and Three

Disc Removal Two: Once you achieve an 80% success rate, place four discs in hard-to-reach spots along the 15-point demarcation line. Attempt to knock each disc off the playing surface.

Disc Removal Three: Practice knocking the red discs into the ditch while ensuring your disc remains on the playing surface, preferably in a higher-scoring circle.

Disc Removal Four

Disc Removal Four: Practice knocking off two red discs with one shot. Place two discs close together at different spots on the playing surface. Knock off one pair at a time.

Training Session Nine: Controlling Shot Force

This session focuses on applying the right amount of force to your shots. This skill is harder than it looks. Ensure the board is free of playing powder and the surface is properly waxed and buffed.

Controlling Shot Force

Shoot your discs at the areas marked with an X, in the order of X1, X2, X3, X4, X5, and X6. Your disc must completely land inside the marked circle and quadrant.

Training Session Ten: Simulating Real Game Scenarios

To simulate real game scenarios, use a Lazy Susan to practice both offensive and defensive shots without changing positions after each shot.

In the previous nine training sessions, you could practice from one side of the board. Now, simulate a real game by playing for both players.

The advantage of physically switching sides is to counter a shot you may have strategically played. Play for player one (you) on your side, then switch sides to play for player two (your opponent).

Invest in a Lazy Susan to avoid getting up each time you play with your pretend opponent. Rotate the board after each shot, allowing you to practice from both perspectives.

Simulating Real Game Scenarios

Practicing real game scenarios from both sides of the board is extremely advantageous. This method helps you understand the game from multiple angles and improves your strategic thinking. I personally always practice this way.

By diligently practicing these drills, you'll sharpen your skills and increase your confidence in making crucial shots during games. Aim for consistency and precision, and soon you'll find yourself performing at a higher level in crokinole.

Conclusion

Over the course of this three-part “Practice Makes Perfect” series, you’ve explored a progression of skills designed to take your crokinole game from solid to exceptional. You’ve practiced precision shots, refined your control, and simulated real-game pressure, all essential steps toward mastering this deceptively simple yet endlessly challenging game.

Remember, even the best players continue to practice the fundamentals. Consistency is your greatest ally. Set clear goals, track your progress, and don’t get discouraged by temporary setbacks. Every miss is simply feedback, a small step closer to mastery.

Stay patient, stay curious, and above all, enjoy the process. Crokinole rewards those who play with precision, strategy, and heart. Keep practicing, and one day you’ll find that “perfect shot” comes not from luck but from the countless hours you’ve spent making practice your perfection.

Join the Discussion: Have you played crokinole before? Share your experience in the comments below!