Gareth Potts' aiming system

Bob Jewett

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Gareth Potts is one of the best players at Chinese 8 ball, which has smaller pockets than a pool table. Here's what he has to say about how he aims so precisely:

 
Interesting drill - forces you to not only "find the line" on your way down, but also to "find the stance" that delivers the perfect stroke without rehearsal.

pj
chgo
 
Interesting drill - forces you to not only "find the line" on your way down, but also to "find the stance" that delivers the perfect stroke without rehearsal.

pj
chgo
Hohman's coach goes further. Place your grip hand in the aiming line before you go down.
 
Thanks Bob!
Now when i have read aiming systems here i think what i use is combination of:
-Fractional aiming
-SVB aiming system( i used this on 90´s it was not SVB system back then lol) now i use it to fine tune my aiming on certain angles)
- Gareth way of finding aiming line of shot while go down.
- Using table geometry to calculate/guess cut angle.

I am pleased to see this because this is what i teach and it is not what people are not commonly used to hear.
That way you can drop down straighter to shot line and no need to twist anything. I had a day when I did this perfectly and then i ran 317 from line up(in order and back and forth) while i was playing super fast.
You can see it from my signature. I think that is harder than 147 :)
 
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Also if you notice he hit the perfect stop shot
Thanks for the link bob
 
One of my aiming practice methods is shooting penalty shots on Finnish Kaisa. Table is 11ft with 70mm corner pockets and 67mm ball size. Side pockets are 80mm. If ball is close to rail it is impossible to make. That how hard those pockets are. You can see from my misses too how precise shot have to be to get in..
more info about penalty shots on video description on youtube page.
 
One of my aiming practice methods is shooting penalty shots on Finnish Kaisa. Table is 11ft with 70mm corner pockets and 67mm ball size. Side pockets are 80mm. If ball is close to rail it is impossible to make. That how hard those pockets are. You can see from my misses too how precise shot have to be to get in..
more info about penalty shots on video description on youtube page.
How does that table play with 2.25" pool balls?
 
How does that table play with 2.25" pool balls?
rails are too high for pool balls. they got under the cushion nose so i dont really even try. Rails have almost same profile as pool rails. Snooker tables are not so picky about ball size because rail profile different so there you can shoot also somewhat with pool balls.
 
rails are too high for pool balls. they got under the cushion nose so i dont really even try. Rails have almost same profile as pool rails. Snooker tables are not so picky about ball size because rail profile different so there you can shoot also somewhat with pool balls.
More like a billiard table huh? What about firing a pool ball down the cushion? Does the Kaisa facing provide enough slack?
 
One of my aiming practice methods is shooting penalty shots on Finnish Kaisa. Table is 11ft with 70mm corner pockets and 67mm ball size. Side pockets are 80mm. If ball is close to rail it is impossible to make. That how hard those pockets are. You can see from my misses too how precise shot have to be to get in..
more info about penalty shots on video description on youtube page.
That's too easy. From the foot spot towards one corner, object ball some 2+ diamonds from the pocket. Straight in follow to the pocket. I worked till I could do it at almost 100% success.
 
That's too easy. From the foot spot towards one corner, object ball some 2+ diamonds from the pocket. Straight in follow to the pocket. I worked till I could do it at almost 100% success.
Okay.. how that improves your ability to estimate cut angles? Which is hardest part of aiming. Straight in shots are more sliding to stance on aiming line practice than aiming practice. And good luck to make both balls on 11ft Kaisa table i would bet against you making both balls more than 1 time of 50.
 
That's too easy. From the foot spot towards one corner, object ball some 2+ diamonds from the pocket. Straight in follow to the pocket. I worked till I could do it at almost 100% success.
but since you mentioned straight in practice. I do it too, but little harder setup. Last two are draw shots into pocket.
I don´t like to follow into pocket while practice because i never shoot that shot on game. If i do follow i try follow close to pocket to get used to shoot it with proper game speed.
 
Mark Williams, former World Snooker champion, will sometimes close his eyes when hitting a ball during an actual game.

Players joke about it because he’s now one of the more senior players in the top rankings and claim Mark is just having a mini nap.
 
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