Make every long straight in shot.. every time.

[CreeDo]

It sounds like a good idea and I'm looking forward to trying it.

Not exactly related, but an aiming trick I've always found fascinating (because it works, but flies in the face of common sense):

On long slightly-angled cut shots, aim to hit the ball straight in the face, as if you wanted to undercut the ball and drive it to the short rail next to the pocket. Some goofy subconscious thing must steer your stoke because it seems to pocket balls with alarming regularity. Try it with the cue ball frozen to the head rail and amaze yourself and maybe 1 bored onlooker.

 

[Ponytail]

It's a good begining....

For those having issues with straight in shots, I would say that is a starting point. (shooting a stop shot). For anyone that I'm helping with their game, this is the first shot I make them master.

I have them place the CB at the head string near a rail so you can use the diamonds as reference points. Shoot a stop shot with the OB one diamond away, next shot, CB on head string, OB two diamonds away etc.

It's a simple drill, and doesn't take much time. When first starting out (and that sounds like those who would have issues with straight in shots) this can be a valuable drill because it teaches you a essential tool. The stop shot at different distances.

Once they've gotten good at that, then you can do the same exact drill with 1/4 tip of draw, or 1/4 tip of follow and start learning how to control your CB. Learn what it takes to draw the CB back 1 diamond. Since you've learned what it takes to do a stop shot, this should be as simple as lowing your tip position 1/8, 1/4, etc. Same thing to do a stroke follow. (as opposed to a rolling follow and trying to hit it softer so the CB won't travel as far) (hopefully it's clear what I'm talking about...)

Well..... I went on more that I had planned.. sorry..
Just thought this was a good technique to start someone off on.

Peace...

 

[3andstop]

We have a member here (Driven) that I call laser stroke. We play 14.1 a lot together. His delivery is very accurate. He practices the shot in the below layout. He's made it over 60 times in a row.

He's got me fooling with it now ... and my greatest success occurs when I focus on the imaginary lines made by the CB to OB and OB to pocket.

I then cover the line with my cue stick when I deliver my stroke. Imagine extending your follow through (ie point X) over that imaginary line.

BTW, I feel it's extremely important to stop your cue tip at the CB when focusing. A few practice strokes, and once again dead stop the cue stick at the CB. Then one backstroke and follow through. As you become more proficient at the shot, try following the cue ball into the pocket to increase difficulty.

All those wood sawing strokes do is make it much harder to deliver accurately.

CueTable Help

 

[Neil]

................

 

[Cameron Smith]

I find a lot of people have various twitches when they shoot long straight ins or any tough shot. Either they are snatching or tensing their muscles or any other various bad habits. One of the tricks is to stroke your cue in the same manner you would with an easy shot.

Try pocketing about 5 or 6 three foot straight in shots into the corner pocket, using as smooth a stroke as you can. Once you finished, set up your long straight ins and try to remember and mimic the feel of your stroke with the easier shots. This should at least make you a little more accurate.

 

[poolfoole]

We have a member here (Driven) that I call laser stroke. We play 14.1 a lot together. His delivery is very accurate. He practices the shot in the below layout. He's made it over 60 times in a row.

He's got me fooling with it now ... and my greatest success occurs when I focus on the imaginary lines made by the CB to OB and OB to pocket.

I then cover the line with my cue stick when I deliver my stroke. Imagine extending your follow through (ie point X) over that imaginary line.

BTW, I feel it's extremely important to stop your cue tip at the CB when focusing. A few practice strokes, and once again dead stop the cue stick at the CB. Then one backstroke and follow through. As you become more proficient at the shot, try following the cue ball into the pocket to increase difficulty.

All those wood sawing strokes do is make it much harder to deliver accurately.

CueTable Help

You should move the cue ball up 1 diamond to about the head string. That way, you have plenty of room to make a good bridge. The way you have it set up in the diagram, you don't have enough room for your bridge hand. You can then move the object ball back 1 diamond if you like.

 

[SmoothStroke]

Probably useless info

We teach all strokes and shots in increments, increasing the distance gradually for stroke control, brain to muscle memory. On the stop shot we start at about 6 inches. By time the student has somewhat mastered the shot he is shooting it from the jaws of the pocket with the cue ball hanging over the edge of the slate jacked up. The object ball is gradually moved until it is also hanging. If you can control ball click you would be surprised a stop shot at 5 ft or hanging in the jaws is very little difference in click.
They rarely miss a stop shot,,,dead stop,,, no floating

 

[OpenWave]

On long straight in shots I like to aim (with my cue tip) the base of the cue ball to the base of the object ball. When I say the base of the ball I am referring to where the ball touches the cloth.

I've noticed many pros playing like this, it often appears like the cue ball is going to jump, whats the technique behind this?

 

[Patrick Johnson]

CueTable Help

I often warm up with this shot, but I add a wrinkle: use a striped ball as the cue ball with its stripe aligned vertically and try to hit each shot without letting the stripe "wobble". That's a very sensitive indicator that will let you know if you hit the tiniest bit offcenter, even when throw makes everything look like it was hit dead center.

pj
chgo

 

[SmoothStroke]

Many uses

I've noticed many pros playing like this, it often appears like the cue ball is going to jump, whats the technique behind this?

Aiming low ( mowing the Lawn ) does a few things.
It's the best way for sighting as is an open bridge
If I had to hit 2:00 extreme english at any speed my initial sighting process starts with my cue on the cloth, after my delivery stroke is completed my cue is back on the cloth, it's very nice and simple.

Sighting and aiming are different, although the two work together.