Help: Near-Straight In Shots

[Janhaus]

Hey all, want to get your advice - in analyzing my game, one of my biggest issues is with near-straight in shots, at medium to long distance (3+ diamonds apart). These require almost a full hit on the object ball, and they are hard to aim with the ghost ball method. These are the shots with just enough angle not to go in if you shoot the ball straight, and usually I end up overcutting (by hitting less of the object ball than required) or shooting straight, either way resulting in a miss.

In the past, I've used English to throw these shots, which does seem easier some of the time but lacks consistency for me, so I want to get some opinions on the best/highest-probability method to shoot these. Do most of you use no English and just get good at aiming these ~5-degree angle (my guesstimate) shots or use English to throw these and just practice that way?

 

[FranCrimi]

Well, there are two possibilities as to why you're missing: One: Your aim is a little off, or Two: Your aim is okay but you're not hitting the ball where you're aiming. So I would suggest first practice shooting straight-in shots to make sure it's not your execution. If you're successfully pocketing straight-ins, then you can look at your aim. Try keeping it simple. On those slight angles, first set up for a straight shot that will obviously miss, then make a slight aim adjustment left or right of the object ball contact point, based on where the pocket is. See if that helps. Use straight as your reference point and adjust your aim from there.

 

[Janhaus]

Thanks Fran - I'm probably a C+ player, can run a rack once in awhile, and practice a lot of straight in shots (mighty-X drill) so those I'm ok with. It's the very slight angle ones that are giving me fits, if the angle is larger then those are ok too

 

[boogieman]

I'm not an instructor. I don't know if this is correct or not, but I feel a shot at about 5 to 10 degree angle is one of the more demanding. Like any shot, it can be "messed up" by spin, speed, cleanliness of the balls, etc. While learning I found it helpful to use a natural rolling CB. Not really high english, but maybe where the bottom of the tip is at the center of the CB. Just enough to impart a natural roll, but not some kind of force follow shot.

Personally, I'm much better on slick cloth where I can mostly stun on the tangent line, but if you're playing on slower or more worn cloth a naturally rolling CB really can really build a strong game. I'd suggest not using much "juice" on the CB while you're practicing these shots, kind of get an idea how the recipe tastes before adding seasoning to the dish.

I think Fran gave great advice. These type of shots take a little practice and diagnosing why you're missing them is the first step so your practice can be more fruitful.

 

[Patrick Johnson]

I've used English to throw these shots

Straight shots are most susceptible to throw - a little unintended spin can go a long way toward causing a miss.

pj
chgo

 

[Janhaus]

I guess my question is, do people prefer to actively use a hair of English (is this higher percentage) to throw these shots for the small angle, or shoot them normally and just aim better?

 

[Bob Jewett]

Thanks Fran - I'm probably a C+ player, can run a rack once in awhile, and practice a lot of straight in shots (mighty-X drill) so those I'm ok with. It's the very slight angle ones that are giving me fits, if the angle is larger then those are ok too

You should practice the shots you have problems with, not the ones you make all the time. In my view, most of your mighty-X practice should have been with slight and varying angles to the left and right. Then you would have learned the variations away from perfectly straight.

Set up your problem shot as a progressive practice with distance as the factor that increases difficulty. Use amount of angle to vary the shot further.

 

[FranCrimi]

Thanks Fran - I'm probably a C+ player, can run a rack once in awhile, and practice a lot of straight in shots (mighty-X drill) so those I'm ok with. It's the very slight angle ones that are giving me fits, if the angle is larger then those are ok too

Well that's good that you feel confident with straight-in shots. To answer your question about whether or not to use a touch of side spin, my answer is a question --- How does that come into play when you're trying to play position on the next shot? Stay away from using spin for the sole purpose of pocketing a ball unless you have absolutely no other choice, like applying spin to swerve around a blocking ball. Your priority should be to make the shot with whatever you need to get the cb into position for the next shot.

I explained to you how I shoot those types of shots in the suggestion I gave. I recommend you try it that way. It's really easy once you have a reference point to work from.

 

[Poolmanis]

Best is not to use English on near straight in shots. You just add another variable.
Try focusing how much cueball moves sideways on stun shots. What route cueball follows object ball with follow shot.
Also what line cueball is drawing back with low english.

 

[Poolmanis]

I took my post from aiming forum what i like to use practice near straight in shots.


The post:

This thread actually made me do little practice on subject. I like this setup because it is easy to set up exactly same time after time.
This cut is very slight. I have used it with students and 90% of them overcut it and have a lot problems with it before giving them tips how to use cueball path to give more accuracy...
If you have 1 degree cut to left cueball caroms around 3 degrees, so hitting shot so cueball hitting the target on rail perfectly needs 3 times more accuracy. This cut is only lil more than 2 degrees(when hit perfect). It looks more when set it up.

I do always also mirror this drill so i cut right too. Very good drill for stroke mechanics and lining up the shot too.
I was very rusty with shot and it shows but when use right method it is quite unmissable still. I do it also chinese pool table time to time.
If I hit it perfect cueball come towards chalk. One also can learn how much it is possible to cheat pocket with this and still make it.

 

[Janhaus]

Thanks all for the advice! looks like I should not be using English to make balls will practice these as regular shots and go from there!

 

[sixpack]

Thanks all for the advice! looks like I should not be using English to make balls will practice these as regular shots and go from there!

Aiming at the ghost ball center is difficult to visualize on these shots because it is so close to the center of the object ball. So I use a solid reference point, the top of my tip.

Find the highest point on the top of the tip - that's the middle - and then line that up through the center of the cueball at the contact point of the object ball. This only works for straight and almost straight shots because the contact point is close enough to the ghost ball center.

This creates a very slight overcut which is fine (probably better) for these shots because there is some contact-induced-throw on these shots that will straighten them out and make you miss them thick.

If you are so inclined, test the limits of how big of an angle this will work for and keep track of what part of the pocket you are making the OB in when you make it. That will give you good information. Soon you will master these shots.

Just as an aside - The 'helping' English you are using to make the shots is probably not really throwing the ball in, it's really reducing the contact induced throw so that the object ball will go in the correct direction.

 

[BRKNRUN]

A little trick I use to help with alignment on those not quite straight in shots....(actually I use this method on most shots) is instead of standing behind OB to pocket....First stand behind CB to pocket. When standing behind CB to pocket the amount of angle on the OB becomes very apparant.

In my journies throughout the years......Using CB to pocket to start my alignment......I have come to determin that very few shots you encounter end up "dead straight"

 

[Island Drive]

Hey all, want to get your advice - in analyzing my game, one of my biggest issues is with near-straight in shots, at medium to long distance (3+ diamonds apart). These require almost a full hit on the object ball, and they are hard to aim with the ghost ball method. These are the shots with just enough angle not to go in if you shoot the ball straight, and usually I end up overcutting (by hitting less of the object ball than required) or shooting straight, either way resulting in a miss.

In the past, I've used English to throw these shots, which does seem easier some of the time but lacks consistency for me, so I want to get some opinions on the best/highest-probability method to shoot these. Do most of you use no English and just get good at aiming these ~5-degree angle (my guesstimate) shots or use English to throw these and just practice that way?

Sounds like your pivoting.

If you know/see and understand the shot line then do this Jan.
Walk up to you cueing that you choose to get shape for you next ball, and do NOT change.

Take practice swings at that EXACT spot on the cue ball to Confirm/to MAKE sure your ''swingin'' straight thru your chosen cb strike point.
Once grooved on your warm up swings.

Look up to confirm.... and shoot your final shot rhythm/trigger pull.
One, one two, one two three.... whatever rhythm works for you.
bm

 

[BilliardsAbout]

Hey all, want to get your advice - in analyzing my game, one of my biggest issues is with near-straight in shots, at medium to long distance (3+ diamonds apart). These require almost a full hit on the object ball, and they are hard to aim with the ghost ball method. These are the shots with just enough angle not to go in if you shoot the ball straight, and usually I end up overcutting (by hitting less of the object ball than required) or shooting straight, either way resulting in a miss.

In the past, I've used English to throw these shots, which does seem easier some of the time but lacks consistency for me, so I want to get some opinions on the best/highest-probability method to shoot these. Do most of you use no English and just get good at aiming these ~5-degree angle (my guesstimate) shots or use English to throw these and just practice that way?

Ditch the ghost ball aim and start focusing on the contact point, which is a real object in space rather than an imaginary one that changes size based on distance. This will improve most of your shots, not just the straight ones.

 

[Janhaus]

I took my post from aiming forum what i like to use practice near straight in shots.


The post:

This thread actually made me do little practice on subject. I like this setup because it is easy to set up exactly same time after time.
This cut is very slight. I have used it with students and 90% of them overcut it and have a lot problems with it before giving them tips how to use cueball path to give more accuracy...
If you have 1 degree cut to left cueball caroms around 3 degrees, so hitting shot so cueball hitting the target on rail perfectly needs 3 times more accuracy. This cut is only lil more than 2 degrees(when hit perfect). It looks more when set it up.

I do always also mirror this drill so i cut right too. Very good drill for stroke mechanics and lining up the shot too.
I was very rusty with shot and it shows but when use right method it is quite unmissable still. I do it also chinese pool table time to time.
If I hit it perfect cueball come towards chalk. One also can learn how much it is possible to cheat pocket with this and still make it.

This drill setup is pretty amazing btw, it mimics what I'm having issues with and I can tell if I'm off bc the cue ball hits the rail before the pocket. That said, my straight shot accuracy has yet to catch up to my make rate with a bit of English, but hopefully practice will get there!

 

[dquarasr]

Ditch the ghost ball aim and start focusing on the contact point, which is a real object in space rather than an imaginary one that changes size based on distance. This will improve most of your shots, not just the straight ones.

Why do you say the imaginary ghost ball changes depending on distance?

 

[Patrick Johnson]

Why do you say the imaginary ghost ball changes depending on distance?

He said “changes size based on distance” - pretty sure he meant the ghost ball (like everything) looks smaller at greater distance (assuming you visualize it correctly).

pj
chgo

 

[dquarasr]

He said “changes size based on distance” - pretty sure he meant the ghost ball (like everything) looks smaller at greater distance (assuming you visualize it correctly).

pj
chgo

Ok, thanks, but even so, if aiming at the center of the ghost ball, I don’t think it matters that the GB might be a smaller target farther away. Wouldn’t the contact point also be harder to discern on an OB farther away?

Whatever.

 

[Patrick Johnson]

Ok, thanks, but even so, if aiming at the center of the ghost ball, I don’t think it matters that the GB might be a smaller target farther away. Wouldn’t the contact point also be harder to discern on an OB farther away?

I’ll take your word for it - I was just interpreting.

Whatever.

Totally.

pj
chgo