Hitting The Target

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DrCue'sProtege

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
ok, now, posters, be honest. i have heard this talked about before on here, and was wanting to know the honest scoop.

one of the things i am thinking about doing when i begin my new practice regimen in a couple of weeks is trying to "Hit The Target" on the various shots. what i am referring to is when you put something out on the table and thats the target for where you want the cue ball to stop. i have heard people use playing cards, business cards, sheet of paper (too big), etc. i have a round piece of paper that i cut out which is slightly bigger than a regular ball for my target.

anyway, when you posters practice using this method, how successful are you in putting the ball on the target EXACTLY IN THE MIDDLE? catching the edge is one thing, smack in the middle is another. i tried it several times yesterday for about 30 minutes on a couple of shots, and never once got right smack in the middle. got around it alot, but never 100% centered in the target.

and........if you get really close to this small target several times, do you accept this as good enough and move on to another shot? even though you never hit the bullseye with 100% pinpoint accuracy?

some of you guru's out there (like BlackJack and Williebetmore), do you guys recommend this type of training?

DCP
 
I have used BB gun targets you can get from your local gun/hunting store. It's fun to gamble, but I think there are better ways to learn generalized concepts about cue ball control.

Hey, it can't hurt right?:)
 
DCP, although I always recommend players to work on their position play, one key element to properly understanding position play is learning to how to properly approach reaching a position zone. With that said, I have a bit of a problem with the "hitting the target" method of training. There are really only two instances where you want the cue-ball at an exact spot on the table: Stop Shots and when you're desperate. ANY TIME you have to get that cue-ball to travel AT ALL, you want to work with a margin of error. There are simply way too many factors involved to allow for that type of accuracy. It is, without a doubt, absolutely impossible to be perfectly accurate 100% of the time.

So, if you want to work on your position play, always try to work with a 3-ball sequence. I find this method far more helpful than hitting targets.
 
Jude Rosenstock said:
DCP, although I always recommend players to work on their position play, one key element to properly understanding position play is learning to how to properly approach reaching a position zone. With that said, I have a bit of a problem with the "hitting the target" method of training. There are really only two instances where you want the cue-ball at an exact spot on the table: Stop Shots and when you're desperate. ANY TIME you have to get that cue-ball to travel AT ALL, you want to work with a margin of error. There are simply way too many factors involved to allow for that type of accuracy. It is, without a doubt, absolutely impossible to be perfectly accurate 100% of the time.

So, if you want to work on your position play, always try to work with a 3-ball sequence. I find this method far more helpful than hitting targets.
Click to expand...

I agree with Jude 100 %.
 
Jude Rosenstock said:
DCP, although I always recommend players to work on their position play, one key element to properly understanding position play is learning to how to properly approach reaching a position zone.
Click to expand...


By this you mean to approach the next ball on the line of the shot as
opposed to crossing the line?

I'm happy if I'm getting on the right side of the shot, making it easier
to move to the following shot.
 
Jude Rosenstock said:
DCP, although I always recommend players to work on their position play, one key element to properly understanding position play is learning to how to properly approach reaching a position zone. With that said, I have a bit of a problem with the "hitting the target" method of training. There are really only two instances where you want the cue-ball at an exact spot on the table: Stop Shots and when you're desperate. ANY TIME you have to get that cue-ball to travel AT ALL, you want to work with a margin of error. There are simply way too many factors involved to allow for that type of accuracy. It is, without a doubt, absolutely impossible to be perfectly accurate 100% of the time.

So, if you want to work on your position play, always try to work with a 3-ball sequence. I find this method far more helpful than hitting targets.
Click to expand...

but..........isnt it a common coaching/teaching/practice method/idea/concept that you should make practice harder than the actual competition?

i mean, if i can move the cue ball around the table, or perhaps just move it a few inches, and hit my target with pinpoint accuracy during practice sessions it stands to reason that your game would certainly improve. someone once said that "100% precision accuracy will never be obtained or needed, but still one should strive for it"

when Tiger Woods stands on the practice tee hitting a 4-Iron, i assume he is aiming at that flagstick 200 yards away on the driving range - and not just hitting the shot anywhere near it.

DCP
 
While approaching shape from the proper direction reduces the problems of "too hard" or "too soft" , it's still a good idea to practice distance control. For 1/2 table shots/shape, Henning recommends a 5" diameter target, and for full table shape shots, a 10" circle. They are humbling little paper circles, but your standard deviation is something to that needs to be understood.

Dave
 
DrCue'sProtege said:
but..........isnt it a common coaching/teaching/practice method/idea/concept that you should make practice harder than the actual competition?

i mean, if i can move the cue ball around the table, or perhaps just move it a few inches, and hit my target with pinpoint accuracy during practice sessions it stands to reason that your game would certainly improve. someone once said that "100% precision accuracy will never be obtained or needed, but still one should strive for it"

when Tiger Woods stands on the practice tee hitting a 4-Iron, i assume he is aiming at that flagstick 200 yards away on the driving range - and not just hitting the shot anywhere near it.

DCP
Click to expand...


For the sake of this discussion, let's assume you're playing 9-ball. Your goal in 9-ball is to run out in deliberate fashion. That is to say, you want to be in line and stay in line throughout the run. Keep the number of challenging shots to a minimum with predictable position routes. Your goal ISN'T to get the cue-ball over the X but to get your cue-ball into a manageable angle. A lot of up and coming players really don't know what the proper manageable angle even is so it's important to pay close attention to that more than anything else.

Trust me when I say this, the very best players are not relying on the cue-ball stopping exactly where they planned. They're creating situations where if the cue-ball falls a little long or a little short, they'll frequently still be okay.
 
coopdeville said:
By this you mean to approach the next ball on the line of the shot as
opposed to crossing the line?

I'm happy if I'm getting on the right side of the shot, making it easier
to move to the following shot.
Click to expand...


Yes but not always. I mean, sometimes you'll take a position route that will "cross the line" so that you can be assured of an angle to the next shot. The key to approach and zone is recognizing what angle you wish to achieve on your next shot so that your run won't end. If you're positioning for a side-pocket shot, do you want the cue-ball to be heading toward the head of the table or the foot of the table following the shot. Do you want to be straight in? There are instances where this might be trivial but the more deliberate you are, the fewer errors you'll encounter.
 
All good points, but you still have to have a specific "target" location when you are playing your position. As far as shooting for a target, I think that is a great idea. But make sure you're playing the right shots, as Jude is refering to, first. Recognize a path into line (rather than crossing the line), pick an ideal target, and shoot.
 
Jude Rosenstock said:
Trust me when I say this, the very best players are not relying on the cue-ball stopping exactly where they planned. They're creating situations where if the cue-ball falls a little long or a little short, they'll frequently still be okay.
Click to expand...

i agree with this 100%. Diana Minor told me that its not so much as that tiny pinpoint spot that your aiming for, but rather the zone. as long as that zone is on the right side of the object ball for natural angle to the next ball you are in business.

but...........it stands to reason if i practice landing the cue ball in this zone [___] that it becomes even easier to land the cue ball in this zone [____________].

that guy we used to have here in Indiana that coached the boys basketball team at Indiana University said many, many times - Make Practice Harder Than The Game And You Will Only Benefit. of course, what did he know though? he only had three national championships and became the all time winningest coach in NCAA Div I basketball in spite of his antics. i guess Bob is sort of the NCAA's version of Earl?

DCP
 
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Actually, now that I think of it a little more - I will typically have rail targets. I find this to be far more effective AND telling. Whenever you have a 2 or 3 rail route, I think it's really important to determine exactly where you want the cueball to strike the rail. That way, you can make any necessary corrections for the next long position route and you quickly learn from your mistakes.
 
I think that it's also important to recognize that planning a good pattern is just as important. While some of your shots may require pinpoint position play, if you play a good pattern, you can get out of position a little bit and still be able to continue the pattern and run out.
 
supergreenman said:
I think that it's also important to recognize that planning a good pattern is just as important. While some of your shots may require pinpoint position play, if you play a good pattern, you can get out of position a little bit and still be able to continue the pattern and run out.
Click to expand...


Exactly. One of the key points to practice should be simulating realistic competition. It is great to practice pin point position, but it is also good to practice getting yourself out of a jam when you get yourself in poor position.

When playing position in 9 ball, try to position the cue ball in a general area while staying on the correct side of the ball. Believe it or not, this makes the center of the table your friend. When you are in the center of the table, you are most like to have a shot and an angle for the next ball. There are times that you will need to play position outside of the center of the table, but I recommend getting back to the center as soon as possible.

Example... all of these shots can be made by repositioning the cue ball in the general "central" area of the table.

CueTable Help



(I hope all the pages load correctly - if not, I will post the code for you)

Ignoring the basic positioning principle of staying in the center is vital. Getting too cue or too perfect will cause you get out of line, or too straight and that will snowball into a problem as you struggle through the rest of the rack.
 
Oh, I like Blackjack's table here. This is a good idea.


First shot goal:
Positioning from the 1-ball to the 2-ball, my objective is to get straight on the 2-ball in the side-pocket since I can stop the cue-ball right there for a shot on the 3-ball.

Method:
I'll shoot the 1-ball with low-right and take a wide route to the 2-ball. I'm cutting across the angle so I want the "straight in" zone on the 2-ball as big as possible which is why I go wide.

Concern:
Over-running position. I want to shoot a stop shot on the 2-ball or have the cue-ball heading up table (toward the right) since there's nothing to run into up there. I don't want to over-run position and have to avoid the balls down-table.
 
DrCue'sProtege said:
ok, now, posters, be honest. i have heard this talked about before on here, and was wanting to know the honest scoop.

one of the things i am thinking about doing when i begin my new practice regimen in a couple of weeks is trying to "Hit The Target" on the various shots. what i am referring to is when you put something out on the table and thats the target for where you want the cue ball to stop. i have heard people use playing cards, business cards, sheet of paper (too big), etc. i have a round piece of paper that i cut out which is slightly bigger than a regular ball for my target.

anyway, when you posters practice using this method, how successful are you in putting the ball on the target EXACTLY IN THE MIDDLE? catching the edge is one thing, smack in the middle is another. i tried it several times yesterday for about 30 minutes on a couple of shots, and never once got right smack in the middle. got around it alot, but never 100% centered in the target.

and........if you get really close to this small target several times, do you accept this as good enough and move on to another shot? even though you never hit the bullseye with 100% pinpoint accuracy?

some of you guru's out there (like BlackJack and Williebetmore), do you guys recommend this type of training?

DCP
Click to expand...


Gurus should be paid for their consultation as you have indicated in the recent past. You are using a proprietary sytem and also requesting advice from other pool playing gurus. This is a no-no, according to your testament. Send check to California Kim for his propietary game called Target Pool. And please don't use the Internet to obtain FREE information about this game as you may be short changing California Kim out of his just dues if you do not purchase the game.

You wouldn't think of using someone else's proprietary system without paying for it, would you?
JoeyA
 
> The target I used to use when I was able to practice religiously was a 6" diameter circle,using the 60 Minute Workout and other drills as starting points. It's harder to hit a 6" target than you would think. The consensus is right though,it's not all about pinpoint accuracy,just being effective with BOTH your speed,which most people seem to be making reference here,and another factor yet to be mentioned,your DIRECTION. Bert makes references to getting on or maintaining the LINE to the target being more important at first than hitting a specific target. I agree 100%. Here is an example.



http://CueTable.com/P/?@3HYWY3IFAF3JHkw2NIIS4OGwJ2PXCG2QAIH4RSNd2kXCG3kYWY3kUOo4kcVA1kAII1kAAI@

In this case,a 6" margin for error at point A would be ideal,providing you didn't like shooting the 9 in the far corner better. A slight mishit on the full side leaves you to possibly come up at point B or where the 15 is. The same speed and an overcut could take you to where the 14 is,or to a scratch in the side. Tommy D.
 
Jude Rosenstock said:
Actually, now that I think of it a little more - I will typically have rail targets. I find this to be far more effective AND telling. Whenever you have a 2 or 3 rail route, I think it's really important to determine exactly where you want the cueball to strike the rail. That way, you can make any necessary corrections for the next long position route and you quickly learn from your mistakes.
Click to expand...

DCP - this is what i was talking about in the somewhat cryptic golf reference. it helps to have a target on the rail to visualize a 2 or 3 railer for position. i apologize for being confusious again, wbtw is my middle name.

when i was young i used to wet my finger and mark the rail, then i got older and learned.
 
this diagram is what i am talking about. its not easy to draw the ball off the rail for position on the 2-Ball at either Point A or Point B. using the 7, 8, and 9 as blockers i practiced this over and over tonight, aiming first for Point A and then Point B on the next shot. i used a piece of paper cut a little bigger than the shape of a regular ball as my targets on the table at Points A and B.

hardly ever did i park the cue ball right on the target paper, and sometimes i missed by quite a ways. but..........making practice difficult on you seems like the best way to improve.

DCP

CueTable Help

 
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