I've gotta' disagree with that "it hardly ever works". Show me a spot on the rail the size of a 12point piece of type and I'll hit that sucker a hundred times straight, no problem.I could point all kinds of arrows to all kinds of shots showing you exactly where I aim to make the ball. The problem is I have no idea what I’m actually aiming at that spot. It’s just a spot I know to look at and focus on but I don’t know if I’m pointing my shaft at it, trying to put the center of the cue ball there or 2/3 the left edge or something crazy. I’ve seen good players try to help people by standing behind a shot and putting their finger on the rail saying “aim here” and it hardly ever works. I don’t know how it all works but when I’m playing really well it feels like magic, not sure if there’s any evidence to support my PFM theory though..
The problem is hitting the correct spot on the object ball a hundred times straight.
I watched Billy Johnson starting out when he couldn't make a ball.
I watched Danny Jones starting out when he couldn't make a ball.
They had help along the way, showing them where to hit that object ball.
The stroke and all that stuff was a by-product of KNOWING where to hit that object ball and then doing that so many times they didn't have to think about it anymore. (it didn't take a million shots either)
Some players have goofy strokes that appear absurd....Bustamante and Allen Hopkins both come to mind. But they KNOW where to hit that object ball and how to get to that spot over and over and over.
My opinion and nothing more.....