I learned something yesterday that really improved my game

D

deanoc

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I have often noticed that many times before I made a shot
that there was something in my head telling me I was going to miss
or felt icky,I just felt something was off

As i shot I would jump up on those shots,the lack of confidence that I felt seemed to be having
making me squirm or duck of stroke almost trying to get them back before I finished
my stroke

I don't know what others are thinking but I often identify with their body language

Yesterday I watched a snooker coach giving instructions about seeing the shot from a position behind the shot.

He place a piece of string to indicate the line all the way fro the object ball through the white ball and over the rail and on the floor for a few feet

He then lined the shot up and put his cue stick in the right plane stepped forward because I knew I was aiming correctly

I was not just bending over and surveying the shot till i felt like i was aiming right and shooting
keeping his right heel on the line,bent over a shot from the correct position

I tried this and started making shot after shot,no doubts arose,no jumping,or twisting
from just knowing something was wrong

I would not be surprised to hear that this is among the very first principles of pool
You might be surprised that I could play so long and never articulated this in my understanding


If you know where this instruction can be found and can put the directions on,I will appreciate that too
 
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AIM LINE PROJECTION: The OB ball quarters 0, 15 and 30 are known.. how do you find the between pocket angles? When you come down into the shot, align the cue, the CB and the OB all in the same line. From that point you'll want to extend, or project the aiming line to the rail so you can see, in your minds eye, if the aim and pocketing angle lines vary from your 0, 15, or 30 degree aim point.

Projecting the line all the way to the rail lets you recognize the 30 degree line (as above). You'll realize when it's less than, or fuller than a 30 degree 1/2 ball hit. The projected line and the OB pocketing line forms an angle. The angle formed determines which OB quarter you will use. If your pocketing angle requires.. more than.. or less than.. a 1/2 ball hit, you'll need to refine your center CB aim. You may find the angle in front of the OB may be hard to determine on back cut angles. That would be an angle where the CB is closer to the rail than the OB. If this is the case the angle should be determined from the backside of the OB. The pocket to OB line compares to CB to OB line.

Look at both your imaginary projected line and the required pocket line the OB needs to take. If the angle is 15 degrees, the CB must be aimed at 1/4 ball on the OB. If the projected line and pocket line is less than 15 degrees, the CB center needs to be aimed between the OB center and 1/4 OB. Needless to say.. It's important that you Recognize the 30 degree cut angle for angle comparisons. You may find it quicker to find your pocket angle from behind the OB on certain shots, for a double check on the angle that you found in front of the ball.
 
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I am afraid I don't know what he is talking about

I wish someone could take and show me this in person

I never heard of these concepts, I just kinda look and shoot



but the idea i learned has me running all 15 balls of straight
pool if i get an open table today and i couldn't do it yesterday

side pockets and thin angles are still big trouble
 
Dean you are right. See the extended aiming line. Step up back foot on the line and step in to the shot. Every time. When I back up from the table and step on the line and into the shot I feel like I'm attacking the shot. Actually attacking it....Nothing wishy washy...very purposeful and precise. I think that's what you have discovered. Doing this gives you the best chance at making the balls. Enjoy!
 
Deanoc - In post #1 you said...

He place a piece of string to indicate the line all the way fro the object ball through the white ball and over the rail and on the floor for a few feet

He then lined the shot up and put his cue stick in the right plane stepped forward because I knew I was aiming correctly

Post #3
deanoc said:
I am afraid I don't know what he is talking about

I wish someone could take and show me this in person

I never heard of these concepts, I just kinda look and shoot



but the idea i learned has me running all 15 balls of straight
pool if i get an open table today and i couldn't do it yesterday

side pockets and thin angles are still big trouble
Click to expand...

This is exactly what I was talking about....
In your PSR look from the CB to the OB to the rail.
Think of imaginary line from CB to rail (your string)
AIM LINE PROJECTION

Then look at the line, or angle, from the OB to the pocket.
Look to see if the angle is greater or less than 30 degrees.
If the angle is less than 30* determine if it's more than 15*.

(A short explanation of what I had tried to write in post # 2)

Play well...
 
About a year ago, maybe 2, here at azb there was an author that posted a chapter a
week or so in the news section that had a couple of chapters on this fundamental.

Maybe someone knows where it is at, if not, sometime later tonight I'll look and see if I
can find it, can't hurt to take a refresher look. I use the stand back and visualize the
lines with the body positioned also.

This lined up adjustment with the stoke in line is not automatic, it is time sensitive from
when your lined out and the follow through results, if you're in state (of mind), I concur, it works.

If I recall, it was a German author....
 
Dean, sounds like you were just "guessing" before. And hence, why you felt "icky" and such. You really were not confident in the shot as you've probably missed the same shot some many times in the past.

Now, you are aiming in the standing position, and then moving into the shot on the very same plane you just lined up the shot with. No guessing, just seeing the right line, and putting your body and cue in the same line.

Now, once down in the shooting stance, you no longer need to aim. Thus, your confidence level is higher, and your mechanics will not fail you by "jumping" up or some other mechanical flaw just prior to striking the cue ball. Now, you just need to deliver the cue in the straight line and like magic, the shot works, ball goes in hole.
 
If your pre shot and actual set up is good and solid you should feel happy and confident the ball will without a doubt be potted. Tell yourself this is a 90% shot chance of potting. Your in that family of shots that will go in. If it's a 25% chance shot get ready mentally for a miss but don't fall apart and that a lot of people are missing this shot also. Don't beat up on yourself from bad position that's your doing or the opponents leave for you. Don't have to play the 25% shot. Always safety or distance play.
 
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