The following recommendations describe how to make the most of Stats for each drill category. Pay attention to the suggested attempt counts — a setting that works well for one category can be too high or too low for another.
Aiming
Aiming drills support two modes of use:
Basic — click Done in the Preshot menu without adjusting the Aiming Ball. This registers a center-ball hit at medium speed and lets you focus purely on pocketing. A good starting point if you are new to Stats.
Advanced — use the Preshot menu to set a specific speed and spin combination before each practice run (for example, inside English soft, outside English hard, follow vs. draw). Stats tracks results separately for each combination, letting you identify which speed/spin setups are costing you pocketed balls. This is the more productive long-term approach.
An attempt count of 5 works well for most Aiming drills. Keep in mind that some Aiming drills have up to 15 cue ball positions — you may want to reduce attempts to 2 or 3 for those to keep session length reasonable.
Banking and Kicking
These categories typically have one shot per drill with minimal setup time. A higher attempt count — 5 to 10 — is appropriate before moving to the next drill.
Transition
Similar to Banking and Kicking: one shot with quick execution. 5 to 10 attempts per shot is a good target.
Safety
Safety drills have one shot with minimal setup. 5 to 10 attempts is recommended.
Pattern Breakdown
Pattern Breakdown drills are sequential Transitions. Two recommended approaches:
Single Shot Style — take 3–5 attempts at Shot 1, letting Stats record results and advance you. Move the cue ball to the Shot 2 Pattern Ball position and continue. This gives more data per shot.
Runout Style — set attempts to 1. Take one attempt at each shot in sequence, moving the cue ball to each Pattern Ball position as Stats directs. This gives a more realistic runout cadence and is better for practicing game-like execution under pressure.
Position
Position drills have more complex setup and take longer to run. A lower attempt count of 1 to 3 keeps sessions moving and prevents fatigue from repetitive setup. Return to the same drills across multiple sessions.
Pattern
ICA Pattern drills support four game modes: Open, 8-Ball, 9-Ball, and 14.1. Use the Preshot menu to select the mode before each run so Stats records results accurately. An attempt count of 2 to 5 is suitable for most Pattern drills.
Cue Ctrl
Cue Ctrl drills are quick to set up. 5 to 10 attempts per shot is recommended.
Speed Ctrl
Speed Ctrl is foundational for newer ICATS users and for anyone recalibrating their stroke after a break. 5 to 10 attempts is recommended. Once you have reliable speed control, you will likely only revisit Speed Ctrl drills occasionally as a check-in rather than a regular focus.