6 Steps of the Pool Shot

[dr_dave]

I thought that was the case as I've seen you do that in a video or maybe in the BD article.

Have you ever tried looking at the CB when dropping down into your stance?

Yes. I did that for years until I learned many years ago that OB focus during the drop gave better results. Regardless, the other ball is still in your peripheral vision, so both balls help guide the drop. But having the distant focus helps, just like with most top bowlers who focus on their distant target (a board at the arrows down the lane) during their approach instead of looking down at the foul line.

 

[dr_dave]

Important keys are to aim while standing, with your vision center along the line of the shot, and have laser focus on the OB target as you drop straight down into your stance

Don’t forget to actually aim (while standing), and keep your eyes “quiet” during cue alignment and aim checks. Also, maintain full concentration only on stroke execution during the final stroke. During the stroke, you should not be second-guessing anything about the shot. Everything should be decided and figured out before you settle into your stance. Don’t think while you are shooting - Dr. Dave

DAM, that's good stuff!

 

[KRJ]

DAM, that's good stuff!

I agree. Not one word about "auto correcting" in aiming position. Keep up the good work, you'll get there yet

 

[dr_dave]

I agree. Not one word about "auto correcting" in aiming position. Keep up the good work, you'll get there yet

You do need to "aim while standing," but you also need to check and correct your aim and alignment (with small adjustments, sometimes too small for an observer to see) while in your stance. That is what is implied by the "cue alignment and aim checks" part of the quote.

 

[KRJ]

You do need to "aim while standing," but you also need to check and correct your aim and alignment (with small adjustments, sometimes too small for an observer to see) while in your stance. That is what is implied by the "cue alignment and aim checks" part of the quote.

Then be specific. Put it in writing. Nothing you wrote says anything after you've been down on the shot. Tell students, now that you are down in the shooting position, it's now a good time to see if your aim is good and if not, go ahead, correct it a little, move your bridge hand, you cue, whatever and get it just right

It's still not good advice, but if you are going to "own" it, then "own" it
This way there is no misunderstanding. I mean, we don't want students getting up and starting all over, oh my, that would be bad

 

[dr_dave]

You do need to "aim while standing," but you also need to check and correct your aim and alignment (with small adjustments, sometimes too small for an observer to see) while in your stance. That is what is implied by the "cue alignment and aim checks" part of the quote.

Then be specific. Put it in writing.

FYI, I followed your instructions and "put it in writing." See the bottom of the page here:

Pre-Shot Routine Best Practices​

and the paragraph after the numbered list here:

Eye Pattern in Pool​

Thank you for the encouragement.

 

[KRJ]

FYI, I followed your instructions and "put it in writing." See the bottom of the page here:

Pre-Shot Routine Best Practices​

and the paragraph after the numbered list here:

Eye Pattern in Pool​

Thank you for the encouragement.

I'm glad we can agree to disagree on this little issue. But, there is no disagreement about "editing"

If your aim looks wrong while in your stance, should you always get up and start over?​

 

[chefjeff]

I'm glad we can agree to disagree on this little issue. But, there is no disagreement about "editing" lol

If your aim looks wrong while in your stance, should you always get up and start over?​

It depends on what your goals are. (see Step 1)

If I'm practicing to not do that so I can increase my confidence in my standing aim, I won't ever do that and that will transfer to when I'm competing. I'll pay the price, but I'll also learn the lesson and I'll be a better player long-term. That's my goal.


Jeff Livingston

 

[The_JV]

Man somebody really needs to be right in this thread....lol.

Priceless

 

[KRJ]

It depends on what your goals are. (see Step 1)

If I'm practicing to not do that so I can increase my confidence in my standing aim, I won't ever do that and that will transfer to when I'm competing. I'll pay the price, but I'll also learn the lesson and I'll be a better player long-term. That's my goal.


Jeff Livingston

I think you missed the point.

If you're in your stance, you CANNOT back up because if you're in your stance, you're already up. lol

 

[KRJ]

Man somebody really needs to be right in this thread....lol.

Priceless

That's not gonna happen, this is the internet lol

 

[The_JV]

....some folks can get away with doing things the wrong way if they have enough talent.

I know you believe I'm doing things wrong so I'm going to take the above as a compliment. Very appreciated...

However, I've never given myself any props for having any real amount of 'talent'. I worked extremely hard to reach my peak, (which is well passed me at this point). Hard work, even done 'wrong', will get you there eventually I suppose....lol

As far as this discussion goes. Assuming you're a better than average player, I still think you're kidding yourself about not making adjustments when down on the ball. Probably don't even realize you're doing it. Which is a good thing really. Less noise in the equation. If that truly isn't the case, and you have any notable ability, then you my friend are the one with the real talent.

 

[TATE]

I know you believe I'm doing things wrong so I'm going to take the above as a compliment. Very appreciated...

However, I've never given myself any props for having any real amount of 'talent'. I worked extremely hard to reach my peak, (which is well passed me at this point). Hard work, even done 'wrong', will get you there eventually I suppose....lol

As far as this discussion goes. Assuming you're a better than average player, I still think you're kidding yourself about not making adjustments when down on the ball. Probably don't even realize you're doing it. Which is a good thing really. Less noise in the equation. If that truly isn't the case, and you have any notable ability, then you my friend are the one with the real talent.

Great post.

FYI he's a pool instructor.

 

[KRJ]

I know you believe I'm doing things wrong so I'm going to take the above as a compliment. Very appreciated...

However, I've never given myself any props for having any real amount of 'talent'. I worked extremely hard to reach my peak, (which is well passed me at this point). Hard work, even done 'wrong', will get you there eventually I suppose....lol

As far as this discussion goes. Assuming you're a better than average player, I still think you're kidding yourself about not making adjustments when down on the ball. Probably don't even realize you're doing it. Which is a good thing really. Less noise in the equation. If that truly isn't the case, and you have any notable ability, then you my friend are the one with the real talent.

JV, it's not wrong it if works for you. If you play well and are consistent, then don't change a thing. I don't adjust any aim when I'm done. I've trained and practiced getting into my shot for too long to come down wrong. But, sometimes we get lazy when were tired and when I do, I'll get up, and get into the shot again. It only takes me a few seconds and there is no shot clock.

It's not taught anywhere I know to aim when you are down, and I think its a bad habit for beginners and intermediate players to get in that habit. Why take so much time in setting up correctly from the stance, if you know you can just adjust when you get down? To me, it's a totally different picture and I don't want to change at that point. But, nobody teaches the Keith McCready stroking method either, and he should NEVER change it because it works for him. But, you would never teach someone to copy it.

Appreciate the honest back and forth. It's a discussion. Nobody knows everything about this game.

 

[The_JV]

It's not taught anywhere I know to aim when you are down, and I think its a bad habit for beginners and intermediate players to get in that habit. Why take so much time in setting up correctly from the stance, if you know you can just adjust when you get down? To me, it's a totally different picture and I don't want to change at that point. But, nobody teaches the Keith McCready stroking method either, and he should NEVER change it because it works for him. But, you would never teach someone to copy it.

Appreciate the honest back and forth. It's a discussion. Nobody knows everything about this game.

I really think we're tripping over semantics. I consider my 'aim' as changed because my stroking path changed once I realize how much squirt/whatever is going to effect the CB. As far as I'm concerned. If I'm no longer launching the 'arrow' on the original path (aim) then I have altered said aim.

My perception of the amount of squirt/whatever is at it's best when down on the ball. At this point, I have the best line of sight to judge adjustments. Doing so while standing is guess work IMHO as you simply aren't in the best position to judge squirt/whatever.

I also don't consider the OB path to the pocket/whatever as apart of the 'aim'. That shot line is written in stone and hardly ever varies once established. I only concern myself about the CB and what I need to do with it so I can make the pot, and control the carom.

The thing with best practices in pool, is everyone has their own spin on it, (see what I did there ). If I was teaching a beginner/intermediate level player, I'm not sure I would suggest altering shot path (aim) when down on the ball. That said, I also would discourage a style of play that would required such spin and tight shot lines wherein they even need to make these adjustments.

 

[KRJ]

I really think we're tripping over semantics. I consider my 'aim' as changed because my stroking path changed once I realize how much squirt/whatever is going to effect the CB. As far as I'm concerned. If I'm no longer launching the 'arrow' on the original path (aim) then I have altered said aim.

My perception of the amount of squirt/whatever is at it's best when down on the ball. At this point, I have the best line of sight to judge adjustments. Doing so while standing is guess work IMHO as you simply aren't in the best position to judge squirt/whatever.

I also don't consider the OB path to the pocket/whatever as apart of the 'aim'. That shot line is written in stone and hardly ever varies once established. I only concern myself about the CB and what I need to do with it so I can make the pot, and control the carom.

The thing with best practices in pool, is everyone has their own spin on it, (see what I did there ). If I was teaching a beginner/intermediate level player, I'm not sure I would suggest altering shot path (aim) when down on the ball. That said, I also would discourage a style of play that would required such spin and tight shot lines wherein they even need to make these adjustments.

Good post And I think we are closer than you think on this issue. If we are talking about "squirt" then I agree it's not the aim that is being changed and it is just over semantics. Nobody mentioned squirt before. I don't do it that way, and yes, technically not really adjusting the aiming line, just the cue ball path, big difference, so we can agree to disagree but kinda agree lol

 

[chefjeff]

As you guys are demonstrating, the concept of the recipe allows each player to control possible changes to his game. Introduce new ingredients or rearrange current ones and give it a shot or two. One obvious one being used here is "integrate others' actions." I put that one in the recipe after being in many fights, near-fights, and altercations over the years. There are ways to stop a fight before it starts. The lady with the crack cocaine lighter with the 4" flame who sharked my 8-ball shot as I was running the table against her team was the final straw for me, so I figured out how to integrate others' actions without losing my cool. It's a good ingredient for Step 6.

If a new change doesn't work, go back to your previous ingredients. That's why I suggest writing down each ingredient on its own page. It makes for a great place to store stuff and being able to access it when its really needed, not just in some random book or article.

It's a process, this pool shootin'.

Jeff Livingston

 

[KRJ]

As you guys are demonstrating, the concept of the recipe allows each player to control possible changes to his game. Introduce new ingredients or rearrange current ones and give it a shot or two. One obvious one being used here is "integrate others' actions." I put that one in the recipe after being in many fights, near-fights, and altercations over the years. There are ways to stop a fight before it starts. The lady with the crack cocaine lighter with the 4" flame who sharked my 8-ball shot as I was running the table against her team was the final straw for me, so I figured out how to integrate others' actions without losing my cool. It's a good ingredient for Step 6.

If a new change doesn't work, go back to your previous ingredients. That's why I suggest writing down each ingredient on its own page. It makes for a great place to store stuff and being able to access it when its really needed, not just in some random book or article.

It's a process, this pool shootin'.

Jeff Livingston

Wish you would have caught the lady who sharked you on video, lol

 

[chefjeff]

Wish you would have caught the lady who sharked you on video, lol

She was a typical skinny, gaunt-faced crack whore.

We often talk about that incident when some amateur tries to shark any of us.


Jeff Livingston

 

[The_JV]

Good post And I think we are closer than you think on this issue. If we are talking about "squirt" then I agree it's not the aim that is being changed and it is just over semantics. Nobody mentioned squirt before. I don't do it that way, and yes, technically not really adjusting the aiming line, just the cue ball path, big difference, so we can agree to disagree but kinda agree lol

From page #3

...and for sake of clarity. When I say "precision" I mean picking your spot in the pocket, and adjusting you're shot line based on CB squirt.

-Adjust my aim to compensate for CB squirt (and swerve if a factor)

I *didn't* watch all the vids Dr. Dave was kind enough to post so I'm not sure if he mentions adjusting for squirt or not.



Edit: Missed "didn't" in the above...lol