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

For the very close ball issue...

I generally get up on top of then whenever I can to actually see the needed contact point on the OB. From there it usually tells me that my initial thinking on the line was too full & that a line to put more cut on the ball is correct.

I will then if possible stay tall to remain seeing the contact point on the OB or I will look at it from above & get my cue on the line & then drop down & shoot it.

I would say that I am very successful on these types of shots & if I had to give one method the edge, I would say I am a bit more successful when I can stay tall & actually see the contact point & the line the CB needs to take to make proper contact over when I have to drop down & shoot them.

Hope this helps,
Rick

PS I see many many miss these types of shots & 90* or more of the time it is because they under cut the shot.
 
i think it all depends on the players experience on whether its aim or stroke on misses. Here is a question ... when a pro misses, is it his stroke or aim that's at fault?
 
How about doing the following experiment:
- Set up a cut shot
- Using whatever aiming method you like, follow your PSR and get down to the shot
- Ask somebody to place another ball into ghost ball position (slightly over-cutting to compensate for CIT)
- Are you pointing directly at this ghost ball? Then the miss is due to stroke imperfection
 
Timothy Rose said:
i think it all depends on the players experience on whether its aim or stroke on misses. Here is a question ... when a pro misses, is it his stroke or aim that's at fault?
Click to expand...

Pro's stroke. Their consistency is tied to the consistency of their stroke. They strike the cue ball where they want to more reliably than an amateur does. They are human though so sometimes they miss their spot but that is rare. They have hit enough balls to know where to aim to make any given shot.
 
I think it's a stroke problem and, for me anyway, it's caused by screwing up my eye pattern.

When I follow my PSR, I feel like I can't miss. Then, my mind wanders and I have to drag myself back to it again.

At least I have an understanding of the cause so I can fix it. Thanks to Scott and Randy's Pool School for that!

Brian in VA
 
Timothy Rose said:
i think it all depends on the players experience on whether its aim or stroke on misses. Here is a question ... when a pro misses, is it his stroke or aim that's at fault?
Click to expand...

Obviously he or she would need to invest in both stroke instruction & a better aiming method not to mention a sports psychologists.

The point is that everyone misses & it's not always this or that which is at fault but it is that the entire process was not put into execution properly for whatever reason.

Why does one miss one shot & then run the next 20 or 30 or 40 or 50 or etc. that they shoot? Is it because their stroke is bad? Is it because the method of 'aiming' is bad?

Yet certain factions will jump up & say it's this or another faction will jump up & say no, it's this.

For every one of us, one or the other is stronger than the other. Our Aim is 100% but our stroke is only at 90% OR... it is the other way around AND... the performance level of each can change from day to day like the weather, again for whatever reason, maybe because we are simply human & not meant to be robots.

Everyone is going to mis, yes some less than others & some more than others. What causes one to mis is not what causes the other to mis.

If one feels that their stroke is not what they'd like it to be then they should work on their stroke.

If one feels that their aiming is lacking then they should perhaps look into another method.

To say it is one or the other without specific information related to an individual is nothing more than conjecture or is coming from some form of bias.

At least that's how I see it.

But my 2 cents is not worth a plugged penny to some when it should really only be worth 2 cents. So, please take it at it's worth to you, whatever it is.

Best to All,
Rick
 
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Timothy Rose said:
your opinion as to when a pro misses, is it his stroke or aim that's at fault?
Click to expand...

Tim,

Please see my augmented version above.

Best,
Rick

PS To my Post.

Sometimes & maybe most of the time it is because we are focused on where we want to put the CB & do not focus enough on just making the shot.

I'd think most pros could make any shot BUT... there are other considerations & not the least of which may be some self imposed pressure.

As I said we are not robots & for whatever reason were not made like one.
 
ENGLISH! said:
Tim,

Please see my augmented version above.

Best,
Rick

PS To my Post.

Sometimes & maybe most of the time it is because we are focused on where we want to put the CB & do not focus enough on just making the shot.

I'd think most pros could make any shot BUT... there are other considerations & not the least of which may be some self imposed pressure.

As I said we are not robots & for whatever reason were not made like one.
Click to expand...

so we could now say it is....stroke, aim or focus.... agree?
 
Timothy Rose said:
so we could now say it is....stroke, aim or focus.... agree?
Click to expand...

Tim,

That would depend on how you mean that. When one uses so few words (& even a lack of Capitalization) like you & randyG there is much room left for interpretation.

Your statement implies that it is one of those three when it could be a combination or... the real culprit for the day could be something other than those three, like improper nutrition, or slight dehydration, or a different 'medication', or cloudy eyes due to a cold. Need I go on.

Also, I & others do not see aim & alignment as the same thing, so it could be misalignment that causes a bad stroke even if the eyes have aimed the cue properly.

Too few words can very often lead to miscommunications.

Best,
Rick
 
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Cueing issues I would say are the only reason I miss. Generally when I'm thinking about cueing I will miss more than I should. Not thinking about stroking straight aids stroking straight.

Aiming is the easy part. It is done purely by the eyes, so it is not the same as alignment. Alignment is done by the body. You aim with the eyes and see where your stick should be pointing then you align and physically try getting the stick on that line.

As for close balls, surgery in Mexico is pretty cheap and could sort that issue out for you.
...but seriously...

Look at the OB and pocket and not directly at the cue ball. It works for me anyway. I let the cue ball just be in my vision but I don't focus on it. The body naturally gets into position to make it. Shooting with a smidge of outside can sometimes help. Generally you have to hit close shots like that slow, so a tad of outside can sometimes eliminate a thick hit from more throw than you expected. But honestly they're like any other shot. Best way to pot into a blind pocket? Practice potting into blind pockets...same with close shots. You will eventually get a feel and develop your own way to pot them.
 
For me, it's always lack of focus when I miss. The lack of focus will cause my aim/alignment and/or my stroke to be a tad off. Thanks to Scott Lee, I know exactly what I did or didn't do on every shot, regardless of whether I make it or not. And that alone has probably given me more confidence than anything else...just knowing what the hell is going on...and therefor the ability to make corrections.
 
Yes, we certainly weren't put on this planet to play pool, so "if it feels right, it's probably wrong"........most of this discomfort is from muscles that aren't being used, or need to be stretched on a daily basis.......stretching is vital when we get old, and well worth it many times over.

Alignment is done from the "feet up" like building a foundation to any structure. When the left foot isn't on the "line of the shot" it leads to the entire left side of the body not being consistently connected.

Aiming is an entirely different matter, although proper alignment does help aiming.



ENGLISH! said:
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
Click to expand...
 
ENGLISH! said:
Tim,

That would depend on how you mean that. When one uses so few words (& even a lack of Capitalization) like you & randyG there is much room left for interpretation.

Your statement implies that it is one of those three when it could be a combination or... the real culprit for the day could be something other than those three, like improper nutrition, or slight dehydration, or a different 'medication', or cloudy eyes due to a cold. Need I go on.

Also, I & others do not see aim & alignment as the same thing, so it could be misalignment that causes a bad stroke even if the eyes have aimed the cue properly.

Too few words can very often lead to miscommunications.

Best,
Rick
Click to expand...


Rick, I'd take 10 of Randys words over a million of yours.
 
the very next shot I'll factor this information and calibrate towards the center

Misses can be prevented with more focus on pocket contact. When my shots are hitting the inside of the pocket I make an adjustment immediately. I will use slightly more TOI, or increase my shot speed slightly. (you may want to adjust your body angles, or vary your hand position that will have indirect effect on wrists/shoulders/forearm)

The same goes for hitting the outside of the pocket, on the very next shot I'll factor this information and calibrate towards the center of the pocket.

Continuing to calibrate each shot to the center of the pocket will help you avoid misses - even more importantly it keeps a continuous mental attitude of improvement. Momentum is obvious in physical activities, however it's also present in mental states of mind......this is vitally important to ball pocketing over an extended period of time.

Play Well, the game is our teacher
 
CJ Wiley said:
Yes, we certainly weren't put on this planet to play pool, so "if it feels right, it's probably wrong"........most of this discomfort is from muscles that aren't being used, or need to be stretched on a daily basis.......stretching is vital when we get old, and well worth it many times over.

Alignment is done from the "feet up" like building a foundation to any structure. When the left foot isn't on the "line of the shot" it leads to the entire left side of the body not being consistently connected.

Aiming is an entirely different matter, although proper alignment does help aiming.
Click to expand...

Are you saying the left foot SHOULD be on the line of the shot?

I know yours was a reply to Rick's post, and if Rick's left handed then I just overlooked that fact, and my question can be ignored.
 
you want to make sure to stay centered and balanced

It would be better to think of it as parallel to the "line of the shot," in this reference the line is as wide as the distance between the right and left heal - everything is taking place between the feet so you want to make sure to stay centered and balanced.


BeiberLvr said:
Are you saying the left foot SHOULD be on the line of the shot?

I know yours was a reply to Rick's post, and if Rick's left handed then I just overlooked that fact, and my question can be ignored.
Click to expand...
 
I am working with English tomorrow..........

Aiming over stroke. After the phone lesson he will have no doubt and be seeing the shots better than ever before in his life.

That's a long time I think?

I'm sure he will let everyone know what he thinks.

I'm positive it will be al good. Looking forward to it.
 
genomachino said:
Aiming over stroke. After the phone lesson he will have no doubt and be seeing the shots better than ever before in his life.

That's a long time I think?

I'm sure he will let everyone know what he thinks.

I'm positive it will be al good. Looking forward to it.
Click to expand...

sounds like , looking forward to going to the dentist:smile:
 
The feet have a big influence in your alignment. The distance between the two, how the feet are angled and how the two heels are angled. All of which effects your alignment of the shot. Footwork is not something that should be overlooked.
 
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