Most of your misses due to poor aim or poor stroke?

[BRussell]

I usually hear people (e.g., Jerry Briesath) say that the main cause of a miss is a poor stroke or poor cueing, even though the shooter may think that they aimed poorly. I believed this when I first heard it, but I've started to wonder.

My percentage for straight-in shots, even long ones, is much higher than my percentage for cut shots of the same length. That's aim, not stroke.

I'm curious about other pool players: Do you think you miss more because of poor aim, or poor stroke?

 

[dgem]

I would say combination of both and alignment

 

[iusedtoberich]

I think you can add a lack of knowledge of "where" to aim as a reason. I'm just discovering that in my own game. Throw, squirt, and swerve I think I'm finally getting a handle on for many shots that always gave me trouble.

 

[jeffj2h]

When i miss a medium distance straight in shot, I conclude it has to be a stroking error (eg not hitting straight).

But other times it seems an aiming error. For example i have a hard time judging the aim when the cb and ob are only a few inches apart.

 

[Kid Dynomite]

I usually hear people (e.g., Jerry Briesath) say that the main cause of a miss is a poor stroke or poor cueing, even though the shooter may think that they aimed poorly. I believed this when I first heard it, but I've started to wonder.

My percentage for straight-in shots, even long ones, is much higher than my percentage for cut shots of the same length. That's aim, not stroke.

I'm curious about other pool players: Do you think you miss more because of poor aim, or poor stroke?

Easy answer

All misses are do to stance and set up! Aka pre-shot routine!

All the other stuff is mental and a Jedi mind trick!

Kd

 

[Scott Lee]

Alignment and aiming are the same thing.

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com

I would say combination of both and alignment

 

[book collector]

Stroke for me.
I have been working hard on my shot making the last year and I think I am pocketing balls as well as I ever have in my life.
When I do miss now , I usually have not followed through completely, or I have put a yip stroke on the ball, or tried a shot that was at the limits of my miscue area.

 

[BRussell]

Alignment and aiming are the same thing.

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com

I'm curious what you think Scott. Obviously you're a big believer in the importance of stroke, but don't you think most people will make a long straight-in shot more often than a long cut shot?

 

[Cardigan Kid]

I always looked at it in question form: who would be more successful, player A with perfect aim but a flawed stroke, or player B with perfect stroke and flawed aim.

The pockets are wide enough to accept two balls so if your aim is precise and your stroke is a little jumpy, you should still make the ball.

For myself, it's almost always aim. I've been told my stroke and pre shot routine is solid by an instructor, so when I miss, I have to chalk it up to flawed aim.

 

[Bambu]

I usually hear people (e.g., Jerry Briesath) say that the main cause of a miss is a poor stroke or poor cueing, even though the shooter may think that they aimed poorly. I believed this when I first heard it, but I've started to wonder.

My percentage for straight-in shots, even long ones, is much higher than my percentage for cut shots of the same length. That's aim, not stroke.

I'm curious about other pool players: Do you think you miss more because of poor aim, or poor stroke?

I'd say if I just need to make a cut shot and I miss it, its probably an aiming problem, or I didn't account for throw.

If theres English involved and I miss, likelihood of stroke error goes up.

 

[CJ Wiley]

"Aiming" is mostly visual, but still demands touch/feel (subconscious adjustments)

It's like asking if basketball players miss because of poor aiming or faulty stroke....the real key is body/eye synchronisation or the subconscious can't perform properly.

"Aiming" is mostly visual, however, it also demands touch/feel (subconscious adjustments) because of the different speeds and spins involved.

This is why I like the TOI Technique, you shoot every shot as if it's straight in (aligned to either the center or edge of the object ball) - it comes down to creating your best perception to make the shot.....which is most likely straight.

I usually hear people (e.g., Jerry Briesath) say that the main cause of a miss is a poor stroke or poor cueing, even though the shooter may think that they aimed poorly. I believed this when I first heard it, but I've started to wonder.

My percentage for straight-in shots, even long ones, is much higher than my percentage for cut shots of the same length. That's aim, not stroke.

I'm curious about other pool players: Do you think you miss more because of poor aim, or poor stroke?

 

[ENGLISH!]

It's like asking if basketball players miss because of poor aiming or faulty stroke....the real key is body/eye synchronisation or the subconscious can't perform properly.

"Aiming" is mostly visual, however, it also demands touch/feel (subconscious adjustments) because of the different speeds and spins involved.

This is why I like the TOI Technique, you shoot every shot as if it's straight in (aligned to either the center or edge of the object ball) - it comes down to creating your best perception to make the shot.....which is most likely straight.

Hi CJ,

Can't one's 'alignment' & 'aim' be at odds?

By that I mean can't one be 'aiming' at the proper point to pocket the ball but their body alignment be off one way or the other & won't that discourage the stroke being on the 'aim' line & in fact encourage it to go off one way or the other?

I remember you mentioning about the left foot being an aid in adding or reducing cut on the ball.

Thanks in advance,
Rick

 

[victorl]

I think people get too caught up on aiming as something that needs to be worked on. Like Scott Lee said, aiming is the same as alignment, which requires "aiming" with the entire body, not just the eyes. If my aim seems off, I don't try to "aim" better, I'll go back and fix my stance and pre-shot routine to get my body and eyes in the correct position and everything else will take care of itself.

I also think that many of shots that seem to be caused by a poor stroke (i.e. steering) can be attributed to poor initial alignment, which the subconscious tries to compensate for by hitting off-center.

 

[randyg]

I agree with Mr. Briesath.
Faulty stroke.

I see it every day in Pool School.

randyg

 

[CJ Wiley]

while aiming and alignment aren't the same they are in the same family.

Sure, while aiming and alignment aren't the same they are in the same family. Alignment effects your relationship to the cue ball, that's why it's important to stand the same distance, measuring from your right hip (when right handed).

I do use the left foot's position as an alignment guide, especially on long shots when playing the shot to a certain side of the pocket. When I shift the left foot it influences my upper body, however, the changes are connected, therefore more precise.

Hi CJ,

Can't one's 'alignment' & 'aim' be at odds?

By that I mean can't one be 'aiming' at the proper point to pocket the ball but their body alignment be off one way or the other & won't that discourage the stroke being on the 'aim' line & in fact encourage it to go off one way or the other?

I remember you mentioning about the left foot being an aid in adding or reducing cut on the ball.

Thanks in advance,
Rick

 

[Scott Lee]

I think they'll miss both with a nonrepeatable stroke...so stroke over aiming. Aiming is perceptual and subject to individual interpretation. With the right training, the stroke becomes repeatable and accurate. Far more players who think they are aiming incorrectly, have a poor stroke.

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com

I'm curious what you think Scott. Obviously you're a big believer in the importance of stroke, but don't you think most people will make a long straight-in shot more often than a long cut shot?

 

[ENGLISH!]

Sure, while aiming and alignment aren't the same they are in the same family. Alignment effects your relationship to the cue ball, that's why it's important to stand the same distance, measuring from your right hip (when right handed).

I do use the left foot's position as an alignment guide, especially on long shots when playing the shot to a certain side of the pocket. When I shift the left foot it influences my upper body, however, the changes are connected, therefore more precise.

Thanks CJ,

I think what you speak of about the left foot may be a fix for my ageing body.

I think before my ruptured disc in my back I could make those minute alignment tweaks without moving the feet but now with the back they don't seem to be as fine tuned.

I've started tinkering with the left foot but I find that I generally wind up opening to the left as in makes me more comfortable but like you have said, if it's comfortable it's probably not correct or something like that.

I'm going to give the left foot some focused testing.

Thanks again. I can better relate to the aim & alignment being 2 parts of the same family than I can thinking of the two(2) of them as being the same thing.

Best,
Rick

 

[King T]

Just a question?

Easy answer

All misses are do to stance and set up! Aka pre-shot routine!

All the other stuff is mental and a Jedi mind trick!

Kd

So what category does hitting the cue ball where your to hit it come under? Is that part of aim?

What about hit the object ball where your trying to hit?

 

[Big C]

Mechanics are citical to shot execution.

I would say that most shots are missed due to some mechanical flaw. There are several moving parts, but the most likely culprit is the stroke.

 

[3andstop]

Here's how I see it ... if you took away the cue ball and just shot balls in directly with your cue stick how many would you miss? Not too many, so... we know where to aim. Its delivering that pesky cue ball to that spot that makes it so tough. My vote therefore, is defect in stroke.