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Before you pull the trigger... https://archive.news.ufl.edu/articles/1999/06/quiet-eye-is-the-key-to-making-the-shot-says-uf-sports-researcher.html

Quiet Eyes refers to maintaining a relaxed gaze on a large target. In pool, this means looking calmly at the object ball—without judgment or pinpoint focus—for at least two seconds. A University of Florida study found that this technique can improve shot-making. It sounds like you may be...

Dr. Dave has excellent resources on vision center. The vision center over the shot line sometimes aligns with the dominant eye, but for most players, it does not.

Pocket Speed: The ideal speed range—neither too fast nor too slow—for successfully pocketing balls.

If we were working on a lesson together, I’d begin by asking about your usual grip pressure. On a scale from 1 to 10, where would you rate it? Then I’d say: “If you adjust your grip down to a 1, that’s great for relaxation. But when you start feeling anxious, increase it slightly—maybe to a...

Proud of this research from my alma mater, on a two-second pause to make the stroke "in the zone": https://archive.news.ufl.edu/articles/1999/06/quiet-eye-is-the-key-to-making-the-shot-says-uf-sports-researcher.html

Hi! I included a similar point in one of my pool instruction books: aiming the center of the cue ball directly at the contact point produces too thick of a hit on cut shots, so adjustments are necessary. I really like the use of the imaginary triangle, though,—it’s a helpful visual, especially...

Shift your aiming approach to focus more on feel than fixed reference points. Rather than relying on ghost ball or contact point aiming, begin by aligning your vision through the center of the cue ball (CCB) as if you're aiming for a half-ball hit. From there, fine-tune your aim based on the...

Absolutely—BC21 makes a crucial observation, and it really does matter. Take this common scenario: weaker players tend to address a large tip gap by pushing their stroke arm forward after settling into their stance. This adjustment compromises the natural alignment of their hand and stroke arm...

Respectfully, I believe you've misunderstood my post. I never said to ignore the cue ball—what I actually wrote was to play shape on an imaginary next ball. And yes, it's entirely possible to play shape that puts the incoming player at a disadvantage. My point remains: if you focus too much on...

Nerves naturally trigger adrenaline—and that’s not a bad thing. Instead of resisting it, anticipate the surge and use it to your advantage. Adrenaline can sharpen your focus and help you enter the zone where your best performance lives. Just be aware: adrenaline often leads to stroking or...

Here's my help as an instructor: Visualize Shape Beyond the Game Ball After lining up your shot on the game ball, imagine playing shape for a hypothetical next ball. This reduces pressure on pocketing the game ball and sharpens your cue ball control. Avoid “Two-Way Thinking” Steer clear of...

Conscious adjustments are acceptable, and so are subconscious ones—provided they occur during the final stroke and are contextually appropriate (not stemming from poor aim or an erratic stroke). However, if a student is subconsciously wiggling the cue stick during their address or stance, that...

I've offered you a free lesson, which you turned down. So what would you like ME to do for YOU?

HAMB will also help a poor player be even worse. Ghost Ball has limits; contact point and other systems let you aim at a real target instead of an imaginary target. Further, the ghost ball changes size over distance and is unworkable for most amateurs.

I agree with your point. Many without knowledge subconsciously compensate for throw and etc. so when they do throw and miss, they also assume their aim was wrong, if the stroke was sure. I've witnessed this many times.

The novel is the same as the film, Eddie loses his temper and thrashes them instead of hiding his true skill, and they abuse him. Burt knew all the odds and wouldn't want to stakehorse a player with broken thumbs, he would have broken something else on Eddie with a "hit".

If their stance, stroke and aim is quality, and they don't understand spin- and collision-induced throw and miss, of course they are going to criticize their aiming skills. That's one reason. Another reason is that fundamentals are important in stick-and-ball sports but amateurs see pros run...

You didn't ask me but I don't recommend it, ever.

In general, aspiring players who aim to reach a professional level typically spend 80% of their time on drills and 20% on gameplay. As they progress, this ratio begins to reverse. Established professionals, on the other hand as mentioned in this thread, often skip drills altogether unless they...