Honestly, the reason why it's an automatic for you has to do with your confidence and nothing more. English-induced throw is something that you will only see when you're hitting a significant portion of the object ball. On thin hits, you're really not hitting enough of the object ball to throw it off it's intended course. The only exception that I've been witness to would be skids but I'd rather not travel down that road.
I know you've probably heard this a thousand times by now but the best approach to learning a shot is through practice. Start off with a cut you feel comfortable doing with center ball, shoot a few times and proceed to make it thinner and thinner until you've reached your target. Do the same thign with inside, outside, draw, follow, etc. Trying to come up with an aiming system is simply a crutch. Practice will give you a genuine feel for the shot and will make you more confident when slight variations arise.
We all have interesting little quirks in our game that are difficult to explain at times. This is all due to confidence and the best way to acquire confidence is through practice. I can write a laundry list of the things I do wrong when I'm not confident in what I'm doing. A lack of confidence can lead to stearing, jumping up, excessive body-english and jabbing. Often times, this is your culprit more than anything else. In pool, as is the case with most things in life, you reap what you sow.
Jude M. Rosenstock[/QUOT
Well put,
I must say that is the only sure fire method to It I know of. I am sure that someone has a good system, But imagine It all boils down to the same thing in the end. Practice builds Confidence. When at the level that I can read the run and complete racks is usually when I've been putting my table time in. I can't play just once a week and expect to not hardly miss a shot. But sometimes when I am confident and been getting enough time in, Feels Like I can't miss a shot in the end. On the inside of that shot It seems as if i just know where It is automatically, and can read what I call the curve, (guess what is called squirt) I guess it's like other sports, It's like being in a zone. I am not focusing as well as people watching think, I really am, but It becomes almost second nature for the most part. Kind of like a sharp shooter, only I'm getting shape most of the time within a inch of where I need the cueball for the next shot. and I don't rely on one speed or type of stroke to make the cut. I use what ever works best for the situation. Some nights I have to play It safer more in the middle, using mostly one, or two strokes, and it gets me by against decent competion. I just try to be honest with myself on what My confidence level is at the time, and adjust with what I can keep a handle on at a time. That way I don't beat my confidence down and start missing the easy stuff too. Sometimes I regain It from Starting off more middle and then By the end of the night I am hitting them way outside middle cue when I have to. for the most part I keep it simple, and stay in line with the run but eventually these shots come up, and speed is crutial to get back in line that is the reason I like switching up strokes as well. I do not really recomend it, as i well know it can actually be quite confusing not using a steady stroke everytime, and has burned me out before.
Within the last five years or so My competition has not been my biggest enemy as far as My confidence level goes, My own Mind is. the more practice I get before matching up with serious players, the better off I am. I actually play better when the competitions steep most of the time, even at semi pro level or better. not to say I can win at that level consistently enough, or I'd be playing for a living, But I can hang around sometimes when feeling good, and that helps build confidence focus against the usual shooters, and small time hustlers. I've trained my mind to find good things in even a well fought loss against a better player, or one as good that matches up well, is strong mentally and can hang in there all night. this helps to deal with confidence problems, but if My games off, it's just off, the way it is, my confidence goes down on shot capability, and shape follows, it all falls apart, I'm jabbing, and getting up. any attempt to correct It, even though i know what I am doing wrong, is worthless. A first grader could wipe the floor with me, This usually happens when I have not played in a while.
Another thing, I used to could not stand getting beat in the old days, now if theres nothing on the line It does'nt bother me in the least if i know i can win anway. Can't make It through the first round of a tournament anymore it gets so bad sometimes. Yet i can clean the guy out that wins It after the match in the same day. I need to train Mind to think of them As money games, and maybe it will help. I used to do very well in them, back when I still wanted them bad enough. It's like i have become over confident to the point where I am plain lazy from it. And the acumulation of lazy bad shots can lead me to a confidence issue of sort. I usually get to the tourneys late, and pretty much get no practice, so sure that is adding to the problem.
Another thing I have had a problem with getting too use to laying down when playing for fun. It's no fun to win every rack against a buddy, Goes past the point of bragging rights after a while. Eventually i feel bad, get lazy, and It carries on in my game, and level of play. I like to play someone My level or even just a little better to keep me focussed, and build My confidence that way to build up for better players, but it's getting where that does'nt work anymore because when I start going through them they won't play anymore. but if I let them have enough games they will play all day long. I am a firm believer that getting wipped over and over makes you focus, and stronger to overcome, thats why does not bother me when someone is able do It to me. But some must think otherwise, and are worried about there confidence going down. Sure is hard to stay in a good game that challenges me enough to focus, and get back on top of my game, without there being high stakes involved. Not looking to loose my money,or take someone elses to get one, just want to stay in a good game that keeps Me focus.
As mentioned, LOL Obviously, I am no stranger to quirks in my game either, I have a million of them also as you can probably tell, just like all the others that's been there.I'm sure any real pool players have had them at some point also. all part of the game.
The shot is actually easy to reproduce over and over with practice, and a high confidence level. keeping the english simple at first, And working your way out as you become confident with It. straight middle is always the best start. could'nt aggree more about thinning the ball at first. that will give you the feel, builds confidence, and allow you to work on shape from there with small english & angle ajustments, as well as how full or thin the object ball is hit.
I heard It said since many times, and Someone that's now passed away gave me the best advice when I was younger and first learning, he told me to use the KISS theory. Had no idea what he was talking about, so I bit, said what's that, and he said "Keep it simple stupid". Still to this day I think of that when I am getting too carried away, and go back to basics. sure makes running balls alot easier, as It really slows My speed down, and keeps them just rolling in on the end of that slow stroke, teasing my oponent before they drop. also easier to see the cuts also with a consistent stroke.
Keep working on it and you will get It down.
The problem I have now and see some pros practicing, is that long rail shot where you have a decent angle, but the cue ball is real far away making it hard to draw back down table for shape on the back rail. Even miss the shot and get the shape, or make the shot and no draw, or scratch in the side. This shot comes up alot on the money balls it seems like. I can pull It off with inside english following through and get the job done, but the draw is harder for me to do then before. I've switched up on every stroke to make sure I was not jabbing, checked My mechanics, made sure I stayed down, but not much help. Never had this problem before. Think the cue I am using just not getting it done on that paticular shot. does not want to draw that deep. I am in the proccess of building a couple of hard hitting cues now, might have to take one over if it will pull this shot off.
Anway, Happens to us All, keep stroking, and good luck with your games.
Greg
