Straight In Shots

Tennesseejoe

Tennesseejoe

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Why do straight in shots seem to be harder than cut shots? Is it just me? I like to practice a long straight in shot but in a game it seems like my percentage is low.

Is it shot line perception? Any ideas? What's your take?
 
Tennesseejoe said:
Why do straight in shots seem to be harder than cut shots? Is it just me? I like to practice a long straight in shot but in a game it seems like my percentage is low.

Is it shot line perception? Any ideas? What's your take?
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Because the object ball travels at a higher speed than a cut. This makes the effective pocket quite a bit smaller, especially near rails.
 
Tennesseejoe said:
Why do straight in shots seem to be harder than cut shots? Is it just me? I like to practice a long straight in shot but in a game it seems like my percentage is low.

Is it shot line perception? Any ideas? What's your take?
Click to expand...

You don't have a perspective like you do in a cut shot. I don't think you see the ball going in in the same way as a cut. In fact, you may even see it missing in your mind.

Here is an interesting video that may make some sense to you

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_CeKQot96aU

Here the good news, straight in shots do not need endless practice. Once you have to concept down and in your mind you just need to shoot a few during any given practice session. To be honest, I almost never miss them, I see the ball going in as soon as I approach the shot. I have no negatives with straight in shots. I also have been doing this for like 50 years and solved any problems with the shot a long time ago.
 
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Straight In shots

I make sure my grip is loose. That seems to help more than anything.

In Lee Bretts book he advocates hitting them a little off center but i can't remember which side. Not much but let's say 1130 or 1230 instead of straight on. I'll get the info for you when I get back home.
 
It also exposes our occasional ability to not 'find' center ball on our shots.
 
I look past the object ball and aim the cue ball at a point behind the object, the object just kinda gets in the way and goes in the pocket.
 
I think straight shots are easier....but they are the hardest to alibi.
...no one can claim that they misjudged the cut.

It's the proof of how straight your stroke is....and whether you can find
center ball or not.

It is wise to practice them.....
...and don't compensate for any flaws....cure the problem.
 
Distance is what kills me.

Short distance (cb to ob, ob to pocket) straight-in's are not that tough. You can also manipulate the cb with a little cheating of pocket.


LONG STRAIGHT-IN'S: (3/4 table length, cb to ob): Tough for me. Any deviation from center, or more than accounted for....I miss or rattle too often. Add attempting to juice the cb...a real crap shoot.

Probably wrong, but for me these long ones have to be hit much more pure than cuts.

Cuts often have some built in miss tolerance, be it, cut induced pocketing english, speed considerations, natural shape routes after the hit, etc.

I practice them, do ok, but don't like em, especially if additional speed is involved for shape.

Guess that's why we like to leave angles.
 
When your straight in on a shot your point of aim should be where the object ball contacts the felt of the table. This makes finding the center of the ball easier.
 
pt109 said:
I think straight shots are easier....but they are the hardest to alibi.
...no one can claim that they misjudged the cut.

It's the proof of how straight your stroke is....and whether you can find
center ball or not.

It is wise to practice them.....
...and don't compensate for any flaws....cure the problem.
Click to expand...

Great post. I start every practice session with a little drill barenada suggests on his website. It goes as follows.

Put an object ball on the center spot and set the cue ball in the kitchen for a straight in shot across the table (see picture). You must make 5 pots in a row or 15 pots total, whichever comes first. This drill has made straight-ins simple for me and it makes me bear down on every shot. I actually back the cue ball to the back half of the kitchen to drill sometimes. If you keep track of your misses, you will notice trends and adjust accordingly.
 

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gtuacue said:
When your straight in on a shot your point of aim should be where the object ball contacts the felt of the table. This makes finding the center of the ball easier.
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While true, binocular vision and eye dominance can prevent ones delivery of the cue straight towards that point. If you're looking at the center of the cue ball with both eyes open, close your left eye. Look at the left edge of the object ball with your right eye without moving or adjusting your head. Now close your right eye and open your left eye. If you aren't looking at the exact same spot, you have aligned your vision off center of the shot. Which means if your practice stroke your cue and it looks straight, you'll miss the shot(most likely). Now if you practice stroke and it looks crooked, the same as looking at the cue ball was crooked. You may have found your natural straight line.

For myself, on full table length straight-ins. I look at the bottom the the object ball to find my center aim point. Then when I look at the cue ball, if I'm seeing myself applying 1 tip of right english. I know due practice that I'll make the straight-in while contacting center ball. I also know that when I see shots like that, I've become more relaxed and pocket balls easier. Aiming at the bottom of a ball(table-ball contact point) is also good advice for the break shot too.
 
if there is a boogeyman in pool it is the long straight in shot. like a previous post said in essence there is no excuse for missing the long straight in shot so our brain gets in the way and an easily solveable problem becomes a tough egg to crack. my advice is practice these long straight in shots forever because if you don't fix the problem it will become ingrained and then ... well it becomes more than a problem. after much practice you will become more at ease with the shot and after sinking a few it's just another shot and in the end that is outcome that you are seeking. good luck.
 
pt109 said:
It's the proof of how straight your stroke is....and whether you can find
center ball or not.
Click to expand...

That is it. No more, no less. Except I will add making sure you see the shot correctly. begin at visual center and stay there the entire time. Any miss is the result of a fundamental flaw -nothing else and needs to be fixed correctly
 
guys - yes many will have a dominant eye. Ok so what? It makes no difference and note there is only one "instructor" preaching that you do something about it. Not any single nationally renowned instructor or pro - is making a fuss over it.
Your dominant eye is doing everything for you already, that is why it is dominant. Together, your weaker eye and your stronger eye work together to create one equal image in the mind's eye. Done - there is no need to compensate for it. If you get your chin locked on the shot line and keep it there, shoot straight with a straight stroke down the shot line there is no need to do anything else.

Hits em hard - It has nothing to do with eyes that cause someone not to shoot straight. It is only everything to do with a solid smooth straight stroke. Case and Point, I can shoot 8 out of 10 straight in shots with eyes closed.
 
I'm right handed and left eye dominant.....a lot dominant. If my left eye isn't over the cue my shot line is wrong. When the shot line is determined I lock into it and concentrate on making a straight stroke. Pre-shot routine and set pause follow through are really important for me on a long straight in. Mitch
 
I agree with most of the comments but the one thing I find critical and I don't think it was mentioned (I might be wrong but I didn't notice it) is follow through.
 
I learned a long time ago...

Straight in shots, line up as usual. And then when you pull the trigger, stare at the back of the pocket.
 
Well if CJ wont come in and say it, I guess I will.... turn the straight in shots into touch of inside throws. Makes it easier to pocket straight in shots .... straight in is relative.

Lesh
 
Lesh said:
Well if CJ wont come in and say it, I guess I will.... turn the straight in shots into touch of inside throws. Makes it easier to pocket straight in shots .... straight in is relative.

Lesh
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What? He really doesn't suggest F@&$ing up a straight in shot like that does he?
 
Lesh said:
Well if CJ wont come in and say it, I guess I will.... turn the straight in shots into touch of inside throws. Makes it easier to pocket straight in shots .... straight in is relative.

Lesh
Click to expand...

On a straight shot which side would be inside and which is outside?
 
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