Help: Near-Straight In Shots

[BilliardsAbout]

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.

Yes, it's true that the contact point can be harder to identify from a distance. However, as I mentioned, there are advantages to focusing on a physical object rather than an imaginary one.

While the Ghost Ball aim technique works for some people, the OP seems to be having trouble with straight shots using a ghost ball. For this reason, I still recommend trying a different method.

 

[sixpack]

Yes, it's true that the contact point can be harder to identify from a distance. However, as I mentioned, there are advantages to focusing on a physical object rather than an imaginary one.

While the Ghost Ball aim technique works for some people, the OP seems to be having trouble with straight shots using a ghost ball. For this reason, I still recommend trying a different method.

Yes. Shots that are almost straight in are the easiest to identify and aim at the contact point.

 

[Tennesseejoe]

You asked for help...try this, it is simple. Set up your straight in shot. Aim the shot as you normally do and feel comfortable it is aimed correctly. Now shift your aim to shoot a couple inches left of the pocket. And then again a couple inches to the right of the pocket. You may have to do this left/right shift a couple times. You should now have a perspective of center pocket.

 

[boogieman]

When I was learning this type of stuff, and even cuts, I found going to look at the OB into the pocket then imagining railroad tracks where the rails were on each side of the OB, and imagining them going straight into the pocket. I don't really do this now but while getting shots to the point of muscle memory I found it a helpful technique. It seemed to give a clearer mental picture of the shot and helped with spatial awareness.

Also this has more to do with mechanics/fundamentals, but make sure your head isn't tilted when looking at shots. Like keep your eyes on a level horizontal plane. Tilting your head side to side (like imagine touching your ear to your shoulder) can really induce a lot of optical illusions. Shoot the shot and keep your head down, observe closely what happens while practicing. It will help you learn faster. Now try to learn this stuff well in practice so when in competition you don't think about this stuff. That can cause all kinds of hiccups in performance. In an ideal world this stuff is programmed until you can't miss in practice and the shots come so natural you don't have to waste mental energy in competition. We got day jobs but this is probably most ideal.