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

[Cory in DC]

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 think the effective pocket size (i.e., margin of error on the contact point) is greater for the straight-in shot. Dr. Dave or Bob Jewett can probably provide a nice diagram.

 

[MiscueBlues]

Wtb a poll on this

 

[BRussell]

I think the effective pocket size (i.e., margin of error on the contact point) is greater for the straight-in shot. Dr. Dave or Bob Jewett can probably provide a nice diagram.

Huh, I've never heard that one before. Why would that be?

 

[dr_dave]

I think the effective pocket size (i.e., margin of error on the contact point) is greater for the straight-in shot. Dr. Dave or Bob Jewett can probably provide a nice diagram.

Huh, I've never heard that one before. Why would that be?

Obviously, the effective size of the pocket is the same for a straight-in shot or a cut shot if the angle to the pocket and shot speed are the same for each shot.

He might have been thinking about how the effective size of the pocket changes for different OB angles to the pocket (not cut angles), per the info here:

pocket effective size and center resource page

Regards,
Dave

 

[slach]

I think the effective pocket size (i.e., margin of error on the contact point) is greater for the straight-in shot. Dr. Dave or Bob Jewett can probably provide a nice diagram.

Here's a link to a little application (Pool Shot Analyzer at bottom of page) that shows you a LOT of information about a shot. Drag around the cue ball and object ball to setup a shot and read all about it. The Help that comes with it explains the calculations.

http://www.cue-md.com/downloads/default.html

Steve

 

[FranCrimi]

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?

Back to the original question,

I think it depends on the circumstances surrounding that particular miss. For example: A few years ago, Jack Nicklaus was interviewed at the Masters. The interviewer asked: What happens to a player who is moving right along in a tournament and suddenly starts hitting bad shots? What's going on?

Nicklaus's answer was, Usually in competition, it's the swing timing that goes off and then the player has to find a way to get it back.

So, what are the circumstances of your miss?

Are you in competition?
Are you practicing the same shot over and over and missing it each time?
Are you getting hungry or tired?
Are you playing against a friend and talking a lot?
Have you been in a slump?
Do you miss shots in that direction a lot?
Have you recently made a change in your fundamentals?
Were you trying to apply side spin?
Were you trying to move the cue ball in an unusual way?

Each one of these could have a different answer as to why the player missed.

 

[Johnnyt]

Most of my misses are from trying to do too much with the CB. I know it before I shoot it and then go right ahead and jack up and hit it 100 mph :grin:. Johnnyt