How do good players 'imagine' the shot.
Example: 8 ball is a 45° cut in to a pocket its 8" from... and the 9b is on the opposite end rail, roughly middle diamond. Obviously, you're using relatively slow speed, lots of outside to go around the table 3-4 rails. If you disagree with that example, you can probably imagine countless others. Bottom line... slow spin, lots of curve, lots of throw.
When you aim this shot, do you aim to hit it thick because it's going to swerve? Or do you aim without compensating for deflection because swerve and deflection will be roughly equal? Do you imagine the swerve and aim accordingly? Do you also imagine the throw on longer cut shots? Or do you default to hitting them more thinly? Or do you add a small amount of inside?
One of the ideas that I'd bet some great players do - is to not really aim the ball much, but to play the cue ball OFF the correct 'ghost point' and pretty much focus primarily on position... which will pocket balls. Don't believe me? Try it on cut shots or on balls that are very close to the side rail (making the cue ball's billiard line travel perpendicular to the pocket)...
Example: 8 ball is a 45° cut in to a pocket its 8" from... and the 9b is on the opposite end rail, roughly middle diamond. Obviously, you're using relatively slow speed, lots of outside to go around the table 3-4 rails. If you disagree with that example, you can probably imagine countless others. Bottom line... slow spin, lots of curve, lots of throw.
When you aim this shot, do you aim to hit it thick because it's going to swerve? Or do you aim without compensating for deflection because swerve and deflection will be roughly equal? Do you imagine the swerve and aim accordingly? Do you also imagine the throw on longer cut shots? Or do you default to hitting them more thinly? Or do you add a small amount of inside?
One of the ideas that I'd bet some great players do - is to not really aim the ball much, but to play the cue ball OFF the correct 'ghost point' and pretty much focus primarily on position... which will pocket balls. Don't believe me? Try it on cut shots or on balls that are very close to the side rail (making the cue ball's billiard line travel perpendicular to the pocket)...