Aiming Systems - The End Justifies the Means

[8pack]

The single most important thing you can do to improve your aiming is not to memorize some secret system, but to OBSERVE the results of each shot. Are you missing too full or too thin? Tells you what you are actually aiming at. If you shoot the same shot 20 times and your aim is true the misses should be equally distributed between full and thin. Then you know the errors are caused by other factors such as an inconsistent stroke. Even an absolute beginner can make use of this advice. It doesn't matter how far they miss, just which side the ball goes to. (Usually too full for amateurs).

This advice is surprisingly difficult to follow. We are not accustomed to carefully observing the results or our shots. When I made a determined effort to apply this I discovered that even on shots where I had a fairly high make percentage I was always going into the full side of the pocket and all of my misses were too full. A simple correction yielded fantastic results, but I had to work hard for months at recalibrating my aim until the correct aim felt natural.

We all need a POST-SHOT ROUTINE just like we need a pre-shot routine. Remain still and see where your tip is pointed. Most important, observe where the object ball went.

I hope that I don't need to add that you need to hit a lot of balls to know where to aim. The "hit a million balls" method that John Schmidt recommends is not realistic for most of us, but even 20 balls each from various angles will tell you a lot. Repeating this every couple of days will help reinforce your learning. Knowing what to do is useless; being able to do it is everything.
.

That might not be the best advice other then that I agree with you.
The key to getting good at pocketing balls is knowledge of the hit.
Observing what your seeing is also key.
I wrote some where a while back I actually practice missing balls(i was good at it.lol)Both sides, thick and thin.Does wonders for you especialy when your really observing things.When just practice making them which it alrite you create that one picture,when you practice on both sides of that picture that one picture becomes strong.(Just my opinion)

 

[Patrick Johnson]

...I actually practice missing balls(i was good at it.lol)Both sides, thick and thin.Does wonders for you especialy when your really observing things.When just practice making them which it alrite you create that one picture,when you practice on both sides of that picture that one picture becomes strong.(Just my opinion)

I assume you practice missing by a little, not a lot. That's sort of like my practice method of aiming at pocket facings rather than center pocket. It keeps me in the habit of aiming precisely, especially on tables with bigger pockets.

pj
chgo

 

[8pack]

I assume you practice missing by a little, not a lot. That's sort of like my practice method of aiming at pocket facings rather than center pocket. It keeps me in the habit of aiming precisely, especially on tables with bigger pockets.

pj
chgo

Rite...I try to hit on both sides of the pocket

 

[CJ Wiley]

how do you know if the slight bit of spin/deflection didn't cause it to not go in?

The single most important thing you can do to improve your aiming is not to memorize some secret system, but to OBSERVE the results of each shot. Are you missing too full or too thin? Tells you what you are actually aiming at. If you shoot the same shot 20 times and your aim is true the misses should be equally distributed between full and thin. Then you know the errors are caused by other factors such as an inconsistent stroke. Even an absolute beginner can make use of this advice. It doesn't matter how far they miss, just which side the ball goes to. (Usually too full for amateurs).

This advice is surprisingly difficult to follow. We are not accustomed to carefully observing the results or our shots. When I made a determined effort to apply this I discovered that even on shots where I had a fairly high make percentage I was always going into the full side of the pocket and all of my misses were too full. A simple correction yielded fantastic results, but I had to work hard for months at recalibrating my aim until the correct aim felt natural.

We all need a POST-SHOT ROUTINE just like we need a pre-shot routine. Remain still and see where your tip is pointed. Most important, observe where the object ball went.

I hope that I don't need to add that you need to hit a lot of balls to know where to aim. The "hit a million balls" method that John Schmidt recommends is not realistic for most of us, but even 20 balls each from various angles will tell you a lot. Repeating this every couple of days will help reinforce your learning. Knowing what to do is useless; being able to do it is everything.
.

This theory has merit, and let me ask you one thing - How do you know if you're hitting the ball straight when you miss and how do you know if the slight bit of spin/deflection didn't cause it to not go in?

 

[JoeyA]

Good post brother

-GG

I agree. Will have to visit that snooker site soon.

 

[ENGLISH!]

I agree. Will have to visit that snooker site soon.

Joey,

I immediately tried the link several times & could not there.

Rick

 

[JoeyA]

Joey,

I immediately tried the link several times & could not there.

Rick

I had no trouble with the links and have already read several of their books (which are concise) this morning.

 

[ENGLISH!]

I had no trouble with the links and have already read several of their books (which are concise) this morning.

Thanks Joey. I'll try again.

 

[Neil]

OK

What seems important for me using his touch of inside technic is to really
accelerate your stroke on your way to the cue ball and stroke with the cue on a plane level (cue as parallel as possible to the table 's surface)
so no pendulum stroke as your hand goes up to your chest at the finish position.
It seems to be more consistant (for me personally) with a stroke where you drop your shoulder (on draw strokes at least if not at all strokes even, which is fine for me) By the way some of the greatest instructors in snooker teach to do so too.

Here is a link to the greatest snooker web site that I happened to find last week with the most of free info I have ever seen!!!:

http://www.pjnolanschampionsacademy.com/

Click at coaching material too!to have a look at all free stuff (pdf booklets for exercises/ drills/mindset/to download too! incl. stance!!!!grip!!!!!stroke!!!!

cue action: http://www.pjnolanschampionsacademy.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=102&Itemid=119

grip: http://www.pjnolanschampionsacademy.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=129&Itemid=129 http://www.pjnolanschampionsacademy.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=156&Itemid=130

EKKES

Ekkes, care to explain why you and the snooker coach you linked to think that the hand finishing at the chest is a bad thing? In NO way does the pendulum stroke prevent one from shooting "through" the cb. Nor does it prevent acceleration to the cb. What happens to your followthrough is AFTER the cb is gone. Your amount or type of followthrough has zero effect on what the cb does. It can't, the cb is already gone.

As far as the level stroke, that is one of personal preference. Both work. One is easier to do than the other for most people. But only one has less things that can go wrong with it, such as the timing that instructor mentioned. If your timing is a little off, your cue will not be level like you intended it to be, and you will not hit the cb where you intended to.

I'm quite sure I will get flack from some on here for saying it, but this is just another case of even a great instructor (the snooker coach) saying something that just isn't true, and others believing everything he says. Now, I'm NOT saying the pendulum stroke is better than the piston stroke. I AM saying that it is personal preference, one has less that can go wrong with it, and that the snooker coach flat out does not understand just how a pendulum stroke actually works. He can't if he thinks going up to the chest has any effect on the cb, or that a pendulum stroke prevents one from following through the cb.

 

[CJ Wiley]

."we're can only recognize what we're familiar with"

I agree. Will have to visit that snooker site soon.

I worked with a guy last night that was struggling with his game because of standing too sideways at address. Getting someone in a more natural position, where they're facing the ball does wonders for a players perception of the shot. Anytime you turn or tilt your head it destort percetption to some degree and you don't hit exactly where you think you're aiming.

"The biggest difference between and amateur and a professional is an amateur with practice til they can do it right and a professional will practice til they can't do it wrong". This applies so well to having a solid, repeatable stance where you're looking naturally (as possible) down the "line of the shot"......"we're can only recognize what we're familiar with" and I would suggest becoming familiar with the styles of Steve Davis and Ronnie O'Sullivan and many other snooker players that face the ball and I woul also recommend looking at their cues....there's a secrest there as well for pool players to pick up on, one that can immediately pick up performance. I know pros that are beginning to "real eyes" this recently.

 

[BilliardsAbout]

This theory has merit, and let me ask you one thing - How do you know if you're hitting the ball straight when you miss and how do you know if the slight bit of spin/deflection didn't cause it to not go in?

Yessir! I ask students to shoot softly enough so they can discern their errors. Bangers pound everything around as you know, using speed as one response to CIT.

 

[BilliardsAbout]

I worked with a guy last night that was struggling with his game because of standing too sideways at address. Getting someone in a more natural position, where they're facing the ball does wonders for a players perception of the shot. Anytime you turn or tilt your head it destort percetption to some degree and you don't hit exactly where you think you're aiming.

"The biggest difference between and amateur and a professional is an amateur with practice til they can do it right and a professional will practice til they can't do it wrong". This applies so well to having a solid, repeatable stance where you're looking naturally (as possible) down the "line of the shot"......"we're can only recognize what we're familiar with" and I would suggest becoming familiar with the styles of Steve Davis and Ronnie O'Sullivan and many other snooker players that face the ball and I woul also recommend looking at their cues....there's a secrest there as well for pool players to pick up on, one that can immediately pick up performance. I know pros that are beginning to "real eyes" this recently.

Yes, and what an addictive feeling it is to bend right atop that line and know the ball is going on before you take a practice stroke. It makes me want to play pool all the time and reminds me of 280-yard belt down the middle in golf or hitting a moving target with a frisbee on the run 75 yards away--except in pool you can run a whole rack in seconds. What a rush!

 

[ENGLISH!]

B]except in pool you can run a whole rack in seconds. What a rush!

[/B]

I've won numerous trophies for the most run outs in league play & have run out racks as well many many times outside of league play & have never gotten a rush out of them. I just sit down & wait to break.

I guess you should consider yourself lucky or blessed. Enjoy them while you can. Age, accident, or something else can diminish thier occurance.

I hope non of those things ever happen to you or anyone else. Well I guess I wish that we all age , but you get my point.

Rick

PS It usually takes me at least a minute or two(2) to run a rack, not seconds. You must run between shots.

 

[CJ Wiley]

Does anyone else do that?

Yessir! I ask students to shoot softly enough so they can discern their errors. Bangers pound everything around as you know, using speed as one response to CIT.

So you advise your students to shoot softly so they can "discern their errors"?.....hmmm, very interesting.....does anyone else do that?

 

[8pack]

So you advise your students to shoot softly so they can "discern their errors"?.....hmmm, very interesting.....does anyone else do that?

Me myself and I really dont like playing soft .The ball just seems to have a mind of its own.

 

[8pack]

[/B]

I've won numerous trophies for the most run outs in league play & have run out racks as well many many times outside of league play & have never gotten a rush out of them. I just sit down & wait to break.I guess you should consider yourself lucky or blessed. Enjoy them while you can. Age, accident, or something else can diminish thier occurance.

I hope non of those things ever happen to you or anyone else. Well I guess I wish that we all age , but you get my point.

Rick

PS It usually takes me at least a minute or two(2) to run a rack, not seconds. You must run between shots.

Why do you play?

 

[ENGLISH!]

So you advise your students to shoot softly so they can "discern their errors"?.....hmmm, very interesting.....does anyone else do that?

He is probably refering to total beginners, at least I hope so.

There are two lines of thought to teaching golf. One is to get the fundamentals down before adding any power. The other, swing with normal power so you can get the fundamentals down at the speed at which you will be playing.

I lean toward the second unless one is swinging totally out of control. Learn & practice as one will be playing. Why learn or practice what one may never use in actual play.

Just my $0.02
Rick

 

[JB Cases]

I am really grateful that there are many ways to approach playing pool. Would really suck if there was only one way and I wasn't any good at that method.

 

[ENGLISH!]

I am really grateful that there are many ways to approach playing pool. Would really suck if there was only one way and I wasn't any good at that method.

Mr. Barton,

Great comment & point well taken. Where there is a will there is a way. I've seen quite a few unconventional methods that worked quite well for the one weilding that type of sword.

Best Regards,
Rick

PS When are your UltraPad Interiors going into the Sterling 'Cowboy' cases? Or are they?

 

[JoeyA]

I worked with a guy last night that was struggling with his game because of standing too sideways at address. Getting someone in a more natural position, where they're facing the ball does wonders for a players perception of the shot. Anytime you turn or tilt your head it destort percetption to some degree and you don't hit exactly where you think you're aiming.

"The biggest difference between and amateur and a professional is an amateur with practice til they can do it right and a professional will practice til they can't do it wrong". This applies so well to having a solid, repeatable stance where you're looking naturally (as possible) down the "line of the shot"......"we're can only recognize what we're familiar with" and I would suggest becoming familiar with the styles of Steve Davis and Ronnie O'Sullivan and many other snooker players that face the ball and I woul also recommend looking at their cues....there's a secrest there as well for pool players to pick up on, one that can immediately pick up performance. I know pros that are beginning to "real eyes" this recently.

Grasshopper look, but no can see anything special about the snooker players' cues, except they be real skinny. Grasshopper's eyes are not what they used to be.