How to learn to aim by feel
Step 1:
Set up a shot. But it has to be the “complete shot”. In other words, both pocketing of the OB, and resultant position of the CB. Mark the CB and OB with doughnuts, and mark the desired position area.
Step 2:
Try the shot a few times. If you make both the OB, and the position, then try it to repeat it 7, 8, or 9 out of 10 times. Take note also to make the OB in the correct part of the pocket, for whatever the shot at hand is. If you hit the rail on the way in, you don’t have it yet, and you need further fine tuning.
Step 3:
If you don’t succeed with making the OB and position, aim for a thinner or thicker hit. You might also have to adjust your speed, and your elevation angle, or the amount of spin on the CB. Keep fooling around with these parameters until you make the complete shot. Once you get it, try to repeat it 7, 8, or 9 out of 10 times.
Step 4:
If you really want to test yourself, vary the shot just slightly. The CB-OB distance by a diamond, or the cut angle by a few degrees, etc., and repeat steps 2 and 3. Those changes might make a significant difference in the shot. Another way to really test yourself, is to keep the same CB-OB doughnuts, and change the target position. You will see for the same given ball position, the hit on the CB and aim on the OB will need to be completely different for another resultant CB desired position.
Step 5:
Repeat all of the above with shots that you had trouble with during a game situation. This way, you will be guaranteed to be working on your particular weaknesses.
What does it work on:
Any type of shot, because are finding the solution by experimentation. You don’t need to know physics or geometry or even 1+1. Every shot (that is possible anyway) has a solution. If you are hitting the CB at warp speed this will work. If you are slow drag spinning a length of the table shot ala Efren this will work.
How it works:
Your eye/arm/brain connection will remember what the correct shot picture looks like for a given “complete shot.” This eye/arm/brain connection will be reinforced once you have practiced the shot in question and have success with it 7, 8, or 9 times out of 10.
Step 1:
Set up a shot. But it has to be the “complete shot”. In other words, both pocketing of the OB, and resultant position of the CB. Mark the CB and OB with doughnuts, and mark the desired position area.
Step 2:
Try the shot a few times. If you make both the OB, and the position, then try it to repeat it 7, 8, or 9 out of 10 times. Take note also to make the OB in the correct part of the pocket, for whatever the shot at hand is. If you hit the rail on the way in, you don’t have it yet, and you need further fine tuning.
Step 3:
If you don’t succeed with making the OB and position, aim for a thinner or thicker hit. You might also have to adjust your speed, and your elevation angle, or the amount of spin on the CB. Keep fooling around with these parameters until you make the complete shot. Once you get it, try to repeat it 7, 8, or 9 out of 10 times.
Step 4:
If you really want to test yourself, vary the shot just slightly. The CB-OB distance by a diamond, or the cut angle by a few degrees, etc., and repeat steps 2 and 3. Those changes might make a significant difference in the shot. Another way to really test yourself, is to keep the same CB-OB doughnuts, and change the target position. You will see for the same given ball position, the hit on the CB and aim on the OB will need to be completely different for another resultant CB desired position.
Step 5:
Repeat all of the above with shots that you had trouble with during a game situation. This way, you will be guaranteed to be working on your particular weaknesses.
What does it work on:
Any type of shot, because are finding the solution by experimentation. You don’t need to know physics or geometry or even 1+1. Every shot (that is possible anyway) has a solution. If you are hitting the CB at warp speed this will work. If you are slow drag spinning a length of the table shot ala Efren this will work.
How it works:
Your eye/arm/brain connection will remember what the correct shot picture looks like for a given “complete shot.” This eye/arm/brain connection will be reinforced once you have practiced the shot in question and have success with it 7, 8, or 9 times out of 10.
PS, make sure you incorporate the desired CB position into the shot, otherwise you didn't learn the "complete shot".
