Aiming and Execution in Pool

JB Cases

JB Cases

www.jbcases.com
Silver Member
Yeah I know - not another frikkin aiming thread.

But this is one that I want to put up some videos on and see where it goes.

http://youtu.be/TKCDjPgtCwE

Been thinking a lot about why people miss.

Assuming that the equipment is in order so we can leave it out of the equation I think I have it narrowed down to three main reasons why people miss.

1. They aim wrong and execute correctly.

2. The aim right and execute incorrectly.

3. They aim wrong and execute incorrectly.

In the video I address 1 and 2.

Discuss.....
 
We are on the same track on this subject.

I mentioned something similar last week:

http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=261396

For me, the game has become less about aiming and more about cueing. I do understand the struggles people have with aiming. I can't count the number of times in my life I've shot a ball into the rail and then muttered to myself "I hit that one right where I was aiming."

I think you are right on when you talk about cue steering and body english in your video. I've found that accepting the fate of the shot once you are lined up and focusing not on the balls but instead on your cue (and body by extension) is much more important. Once you REALLY REALLY trust that you are cueing straight - it then becomes much easier to figure out the aiming stuff. If you're not confident that you cueing straight then all the time that you spend on aiming becomes futile.

Of course this is just another banger's opinion (me).
 
champ2107 said:
so what your saying is if i hit the ball and make it, the rest of my game will fall into place?
Click to expand...

Not sure about TheThiager (I have a hunch) but that's pretty much what I'm saying. Go back and try sfleinen's shot. The long pot on the snooker table. That shots too hard for me, plus I don't have a snooker table to work out on. Instead I've worked on the long straight in out of the corner pocket on a 9 footer. I start every practice session with this shot. I have to make it 10 times in a row before I move on. I just shoot a basic stop shot then I move on to draw and follow. A couple years ago I really struggled with this. Making 10 in a row was a frustrating task.

In my mind if you can't cue straight enough to accomplish this task, it seems like you should spend a lot of time figuring out why you can't do this (not you personally, maybe you can do this), as opposed to worrying so much about aiming.

It's really amazing how much better I aim at the balls now that I'm stroking straighter.
 
BasementDweller said:
Not sure about TheThiager (I have a hunch) but that's pretty much what I'm saying. Go back and try sfleinen's shot. The long pot on the snooker table. That shots too hard for me, plus I don't have a snooker table to work out on. Instead I've worked on the long straight in out of the corner pocket on a 9 footer. I start every practice session with this shot. I have to make it 10 times in a row before I move on. I just shoot a basic stop shot then I move on to draw and follow. A couple years ago I really struggled with this. Making 10 in a row was a frustrating task.

In my mind if you can't cue straight enough to accomplish this task, it seems like you should spend a lot of time figuring out why you can't do this (not you personally, maybe you can do this), as opposed to worrying so much about aiming.

It's really amazing how much better I aim at the balls now that I'm stroking straighter.
Click to expand...

well i just said that because i was going to trap him because of his past posts lol :thumbup:
 
champ2107 said:
so what your saying is if i hit the ball and make it, the rest of my game will fall into place?
Click to expand...

Traps aside, one the best pieces of advice I've been given is, decide where you want the cue ball to go, then just concentrate fully on the pot - you'll be amazed at how often the pot and position go together when you've got your head around it.

Generally speaking, the CB is the only ball you have to concentrate on hitting good. Once you own the mother, you're practically there.

Aiming systems and the like are for those that can't cue. Learn to cue THEN learn to aim. Potting balls becomes ludicrously easy once you've learnt how to cue.

Anyway, Champ, where's this video then? I want to see how you cue before educating you further.
 
BasementDweller said:
Not sure about TheThiager (I have a hunch) but that's pretty much what I'm saying. Go back and try sfleinen's shot. The long pot on the snooker table. That shots too hard for me, plus I don't have a snooker table to work out on. Instead I've worked on the long straight in out of the corner pocket on a 9 footer. I start every practice session with this shot. I have to make it 10 times in a row before I move on. I just shoot a basic stop shot then I move on to draw and follow. A couple years ago I really struggled with this. Making 10 in a row was a frustrating task.

In my mind if you can't cue straight enough to accomplish this task, it seems like you should spend a lot of time figuring out why you can't do this (not you personally, maybe you can do this), as opposed to worrying so much about aiming.

It's really amazing how much better I aim at the balls now that I'm stroking straighter.
Click to expand...

If Sean really can make that shot 90% of the time, he's a pro. I found an old snooker cue in the attic and have been meaning to try it out for a while now - I reckon I'll make that shot 20% at best.
 
JB, how many out there know if they are left or right eye dominant? This screws aiming up something fierce if you don't set up for it.
 
thethaiger, yep, you gotta know where you want the white ball to go. Then one must aim properly (this includes whatever adjustments need made for applied english). The rest is a matter of keeping the whole picture of the table stable in your mind.

btw, has setting up to keep the cue ball, object ball AND object pocket all in the field of vision been discussed here?

I would hope so, but seeing how few actually do it, perhaps not.
 
TheThaiger said:
Traps aside, one the best pieces of advice I've been given is, decide where you want the cue ball to go, then just concentrate fully on the pot - you'll be amazed at how often the pot and position go together when you've got your head around it.

Generally speaking, the CB is the only ball you have to concentrate on hitting good. Once you own the mother, you're practically there.

Aiming systems and the like are for those that can't cue. Learn to cue THEN learn to aim. Potting balls becomes ludicrously easy once you've learnt how to cue.

Anyway, Champ, where's this video then? I want to see how you cue before educating you further.
Click to expand...

here it is, educate me :) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41UA8bo-czY
 
TheThaiger said:
If Sean really can make that shot 90% of the time, he's a pro. I found an old snooker cue in the attic and have been meaning to try it out for a while now - I reckon I'll make that shot 20% at best.
Click to expand...

Tim, Chris:

Keep in mind that's my *pet* shot on a snooker table. It's the shot I use to warm-up with, and it's ingrained into my subconscious. I've shot that shot so many times, that when I spot the balls and get down on it, I instinctively know how to aim it. The real test is not the aim, but the EXECUTION. If I shoot this shot cold, obviously my potting percentage is lower than when I'm in full stroke.

On a pool table, my "pet" shot is to take both the cue ball and object ball in the kitchen area (behind the line), freeze (or nearly freeze) the object ball on the long rail at the first diamond (the diamond between the head string and the corner pocket), take the cue ball near the short rail about a diamond away, and cut that object ball, hugging the long rail the entire length, all the way down the table into the corner pocket. My success rate on this shot is also very high.

Pro? No. Accomplished, maybe, but definitely not pro. I wish I had the time to devote to playing more.

-Sean
 
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Players may miss for a lot of reasons.

Under the term "execution" I would include the total outcome of the shot functionally, so there is no "correct execution" in a miss..
Execution, partly incorporating aming, is the whole process, not part of it.

That is very important to point out, otherwise we miss the true essence on the subject.

Most important thing for young players to understand is that all parts of the game must be developed when studying it.

Aiming will take most of their time initially, but as their game grows it can't be separated from the rest of the elements like position play, concentration etc.

Concentrating too much on it rather than the other elements is catastrophical for their progress in pool. It's the definition of misleading, and that happens for a lot of reasons, good or bad...

Aiming is important, but not by any chance the most important part of the game.

After a period most average players are able to make almost every open shot.

Professionals exceed them mainly not because of their pocketing ability but the "whole package".
In most cases, average players loose a match to Professionals without missing a single shot..

If one sees the game as a whole he has a chance of beating top players, I've been there through a lot of hard work, including work on aiming.

All I'm saying is connecting the aiming element to the execution is not a complete approach to the game, execution includes aiming but many other things as well..
 
AIMING AND EXECUTING.....FIRST THING THAT CAME TO MY MIND....

m30794478.jpg


Next thing that came to my mind was equipment problem....but you ruled that out.


I'll check out your video later at home....
 
Paraylsis by Analysis

I have been struggling with my game.
Reading about all these Aiming Systems has confused me.
My eye doctor told me I have a lazy left eye, which is my Dominant eye, more confusion
I realized that have been using my right eye for more than 20 ears.

Yes, I too find that sometimes I hit the spot I aiming at and it is not going into the pocket.

I have been trying to use my dominant eye to line up on a ball.
I have been doing well.

Last night I in a tournament I had a long cut shot.
I aimed and then just for kicks, closed my left eye and saw that I was going to hit the ball into the rail.
I shot and sure enough it went into the rail.

I then started closing my left eye after I was getting ready to shoot and more times that I care to admit, I was off.
I have a patch that I am going to use at home to practice lining up.
I am going to put it on my right eye and work on my approach and stance while lining up.

Hymm maybe, I need to call Geno ????????
 
BarneyCalip said:
I have been struggling with my game.
Reading about all these Aiming Systems has confused me.
My eye doctor told me I have a lazy left eye, which is my Dominant eye, more confusion
I realized that have been using my right eye for more than 20 ears.

Yes, I too find that sometimes I hit the spot I aiming at and it is not going into the pocket.

I have been trying to use my dominant eye to line up on a ball.
I have been doing well.

Last night I in a tournament I had a long cut shot.
I aimed and then just for kicks, closed my left eye and saw that I was going to hit the ball into the rail.
I shot and sure enough it went into the rail.

I then started closing my left eye after I was getting ready to shoot and more times that I care to admit, I was off.
I have a patch that I am going to use at home to practice lining up.
I am going to put it on my right eye and work on my approach and stance while lining up.

Hymm maybe, I need to call Geno ????????
Click to expand...

Call Geno if you want to but this is simple...you are getting your eyes and your ears mixed up. :thumbup:
 
BasementDweller said:
]

For me, the game has become less about aiming and more about cueing. I do understand the struggles people have with aiming. I can't count the number of times in my life I've shot a ball into the rail and then muttered to myself "I hit that one right where I was aiming."

I think you are right on when you talk about cue steering and body english in your video. I've found that accepting the fate of the shot once you are lined up and focusing not on the balls but instead on your cue (and body by extension) is much more important. Once you REALLY REALLY trust that you are cueing straight - it then becomes much easier to figure out the aiming stuff. If you're not confident that you cueing straight then all the time that you spend on aiming becomes futile.

Of course this is just another banger's opinion (me).
Click to expand...


I can't disagree with the idea that being able to cue straight is the best place to start. I think that one's progress will grow more quickly, and that all things will be more consistent with a straight stroke. I have also noticed that my game has improved more from improving my stroke than any other thing that I have worked on. However:

I have had a somewhat opposite experience to some of the stuff that you have been experienceing lately as related to aiming system stuff. Before I started trying CTE, I would miss long straight in shots and blame it purely on my stroke. It seemed to be the obvious cause as their is no trouble finding the aim point on a straight in shot. However, when I started using CTE, those same shots started finding the back of the pocket more easily than they did before. I don't know if it is the improved PSR getting my body into a better line, eye dominance issues fixed with the aiming system or what. Somehow it got me into a better line and showed me some of the flaws in my basic setup that weren't related to the actual cue delivery part of my stroke. I guess that just shows that we can't neglect any part of the process (Meaining PSR, stance, body alignment, aiming etc) when trying to make the whole package work.
 
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