Problem with my shot making: advice needed

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fjk

AzB Silver Member
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So, as some background info, one of my biggest strengths as a pool player was always my shot making. Whenever I really, really need to make a difficult shot, for some reason I was able to dial in my concentration and stroke and pot the ball more consistently than my overall speed would predict. I used to frustrate opponents in one pocket because I would shoot shots they felt I should not make / go for. Unfortunately, it was just too much mental energy for me to do that in 9 ball all the time.

Fast forward to today. Lately I've been practicing shooting a straight in shot. Object ball in the middle of the table, cue ball about 8 inches out of the corner pocket. I really, really concentrate. Everything feels good / right. I feel like I'm either going to make it or be very close. Then I miss by a foot. The weird thing is I'm hitting the same spot every time. I know that because the object ball is traveling three rails and ending up in the same spot after my miss. Even once I understood I'm hitting the same spot, and try to correct for it, I'm still hitting that freaking spot.

What the heck is going on? I don't think it's a wobbly stroke because if my stroke was inconsistent, my miss would also be spraying around inconsistently. I'm trying to hit center ball with just a touch of draw (I'm concentrating on doing that). I'm thinking maybe I'm unconsciously adding english on that final stroke. Could it be possible it's an eye issue (something wrong with my vision)? Could it be something with my grip or where I'm holding the cue butt?

Whoever solves this problem for me gets a steak dinner when I see them (Ponderosa)!
 
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Before this thread gets moved or deleted…try going back to the basics and shooting the same shot with the CB just few inches away from the OB. Just focus on the basics (center ball, smooth stroke, etc) and making the ball.

When you start making it confidently and consistently from that distance…progressively add a little more distance (working your way back towards the area you were having difficulty).

Once you’re confident you can make it consistently, start the same process but progressively add speed/power to the shot.

Reverting to the basics and taking a progression based approach is always a good go-to method. Builds confidence as well as reinforces the fundamentals that tend to slip when we get frustrated.

Simple problem = usually a simple solution
 
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macneilb said:
Before this thread gets moved or deleted…go back to the basics and shoot the same shot with the CB just few inches away from the OB.

Every time you make it a few times in a row…progressively add a little distance. Once you’re confident you can make it consistently, start the same process but progressively add speed/power to the shot.

Reverting to the basics and using a progression based method is always a good go-to method. Builds confidence as well as reinforces the fundamentals that tend to slip when we get frustrated
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I think you are putting a slight amount of English on the cue ball because you are putting a little draw on the cue ball. The small amount of draw enhances the english.
 
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Rtoron said:
I think you are putting a slight amount of English on the cue ball because you are putting a little draw on the cue ball. The small amount of draw enhances the english.
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I suspect that. But why would I always be putting the same spin (in this case, left)?
 
fjk said:
I suspect that. But why would I always be putting the same spin (in this case, left)?
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Because it is just the way you are seeing the shot. At least it is consistent. Elevated butt also can throw the shot off.
 
If possible use the logo on the cue ball to help you dial in center. Put all your focus on that point of contact. If you have a training ball of some sort that would be optimal. Take rehearsal strokes exactly like the real deal. Bring that cue back all the way in your bridge hand. Level the cue out best you can & see what your results are.

Instead of making hard shots, work on your game to where you don't have those anymore. Quite a few very good players struggle with the "hard shots" simply because they don't ever have them.
 
fjk said:
So, as some background info, one of my biggest strengths as a pool player was always my shot making. Whenever I really, really need to make a difficult shot, for some reason I was able to dial in my concentration and stroke and pot the ball more consistently than my overall speed would predict. I used to frustrate opponents in one pocket because I would shoot shots they felt I should not make / go for. Unfortunately, it was just too much mental energy for me to do that in 9 ball all the time.

Fast forward to today. Lately I've been practicing shooting a straight in shot. Object ball in the middle of the table, cue ball about 8 inches out of the corner pocket. I really, really concentrate. Everything feels good / right. I feel like I'm either going to make it or be very close. Then I miss by a foot. The weird thing is I'm hitting the same spot every time. I know that because the object ball is traveling three rails and ending up in the same spot after my miss. Even once I understood I'm hitting the same spot, and try to correct for it, I'm still hitting that freaking spot.

What the heck is going on? I don't think it's a wobbly stroke because if my stroke was inconsistent, my miss would also be spraying around inconsistently. I'm trying to hit center ball with just a touch of draw (I'm concentrating on doing that). I'm thinking maybe I'm unconsciously adding english on that final stroke. Could it be possible it's an eye issue (something wrong with my vision)? Could it be something with my grip or where I'm holding the cue butt?

Whoever solves this problem for me gets a steak dinner when I see them (Ponderosa)!

Edit: Crap. Wrong forum. Could someone please do me a solid and move this for me?
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If you are putting spin on the ball, you will see that with the cueball spinning. Use a measles ball, training cue ball, or something that will show you the spin easily. I have an issue with putting a bit of left on the cueball (my "center" that my brain tells me, is actually a bit to the left of center) so unless I really focus on adjusting my alignment a touch to the right, I rattle the ball due to spin induced throw. I can see the cueball rotate a few times when this happens.

More likely it's not the spin on the cueball, to miss by a foot on that would be impossible with just throw. It is more likely you are simply not lining up on the correct shot line, stance is off, arm/shoulder/wrist are off, vision center is off so you are not seeing the real table angles, something that would trick you into thinking you were lined up when you are in fact aiming to the rail. Or you move on the hit the same way and the cue stick swerves.

Video and outside assistance may be best for you, have another good player (that studies the game, not some 60yr old bar fly that can make a ball but does not know why) or an instructor watch you shoot.
 
hang-the-9 said:
It is more likely you are simply not lining up on the correct shot line, stance is off, arm/shoulder/wrist are off, vision center is off so you are not seeing the real table angles, something that would trick you into thinking you were lined up when you are in fact aiming to the rail. Or you move on the hit the same way and the cue stick swerves.
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I was initially thinking inadvertent spin / throw, but one of these might be it.
 
Fore Rail said:
Instead of making hard shots, work on your game to where you don't have those anymore. Quite a few very good players struggle with the "hard shots" simply because they don't ever have them.
Click to expand...
I'm smart enough not to leave myself hard shots. My freaking opponents are pricks though.
 
Treat every shot, even the simple ones with the same concentration & stroke used to make a really difficult shot & you will be fine.
 
fjk said:
So, as some background info, one of my biggest strengths as a pool player was always my shot making. Whenever I really, really need to make a difficult shot, for some reason I was able to dial in my concentration and stroke and pot the ball more consistently than my overall speed would predict. I used to frustrate opponents in one pocket because I would shoot shots they felt I should not make / go for. Unfortunately, it was just too much mental energy for me to do that in 9 ball all the time.

Fast forward to today. Lately I've been practicing shooting a straight in shot. Object ball in the middle of the table, cue ball about 8 inches out of the corner pocket. I really, really concentrate. Everything feels good / right. I feel like I'm either going to make it or be very close. Then I miss by a foot. The weird thing is I'm hitting the same spot every time. I know that because the object ball is traveling three rails and ending up in the same spot after my miss. Even once I understood I'm hitting the same spot, and try to correct for it, I'm still hitting that freaking spot.

What the heck is going on? I don't think it's a wobbly stroke because if my stroke was inconsistent, my miss would also be spraying around inconsistently. I'm trying to hit center ball with just a touch of draw (I'm concentrating on doing that). I'm thinking maybe I'm unconsciously adding english on that final stroke. Could it be possible it's an eye issue (something wrong with my vision)? Could it be something with my grip or where I'm holding the cue butt?

Whoever solves this problem for me gets a steak dinner when I see them (Ponderosa)!
Click to expand...
This might sound silly, but has your cue been knocked over, or damaged recently? I'd check my cue for warpage, or damage. I seriously doubt that's the issue, but easy enough to eliminate from the equation.
🤷
 
fjk said:
So, as some background info, one of my biggest strengths as a pool player was always my shot making. Whenever I really, really need to make a difficult shot, for some reason I was able to dial in my concentration and stroke and pot the ball more consistently than my overall speed would predict. I used to frustrate opponents in one pocket because I would shoot shots they felt I should not make / go for. Unfortunately, it was just too much mental energy for me to do that in 9 ball all the time.

Fast forward to today. Lately I've been practicing shooting a straight in shot. Object ball in the middle of the table, cue ball about 8 inches out of the corner pocket. I really, really concentrate. Everything feels good / right. I feel like I'm either going to make it or be very close. Then I miss by a foot. The weird thing is I'm hitting the same spot every time. I know that because the object ball is traveling three rails and ending up in the same spot after my miss. Even once I understood I'm hitting the same spot, and try to correct for it, I'm still hitting that freaking spot.

What the heck is going on? I don't think it's a wobbly stroke because if my stroke was inconsistent, my miss would also be spraying around inconsistently. I'm trying to hit center ball with just a touch of draw (I'm concentrating on doing that). I'm thinking maybe I'm unconsciously adding english on that final stroke. Could it be possible it's an eye issue (something wrong with my vision)? Could it be something with my grip or where I'm holding the cue butt?

Whoever solves this problem for me gets a steak dinner when I see them (Ponderosa)!
Click to expand...
video or it didn't happen.
 
I think this sums it up beautifully:

How to Shoot Straighter: Correcting the Vertical Axis Perception Error

Discover how to shoot straight in pool by understanding alignment and avoiding common mistakes that affect your game.
www.pooldawg.com www.pooldawg.com

Same concept when you jack the cue up, your aiming and alignment point changes. One thing that helps me is try rotating your bridge hand at the wrist left or right (I usually go left as a right handed shooter, more than you think) when you are not feeling you are shooting strait shots correctly or your cue ball contact point is off when it meets the object ball or rail.
 
sbrownn said:
I think this sums it up beautifully:

How to Shoot Straighter: Correcting the Vertical Axis Perception Error

Discover how to shoot straight in pool by understanding alignment and avoiding common mistakes that affect your game.
www.pooldawg.com www.pooldawg.com

Same concept when you jack the cue up, your aiming and alignment point changes. One thing that helps me is try rotating your bridge hand at the wrist left or right (I usually go left as a right handed shooter, more than you think) when you are not feeling you are shooting strait shots correctly or your cue ball contact point is off when it meets the object ball or rail.
Click to expand...
Thank you! This sure seems like the answer. It would explain why I'm always missing on the same side and by the same approximate amount. Plus, I'm right-handed and just like he predicted, I'm hitting to the left and throwing my object ball to the right. Gotta be this.

"About 75% of the players that show up at my 3-Day Intensives have a problem I call Vertical Axis Perception Error. These serious players believe they are hitting the vertical center line of the cue ball, but the truth is they are always off to the side. Always the same side, always the same amount. The trouble is, it looks like center to the player, and as a player, you have to trust your vision."

"That tip offset causes unintended squirt and spin (or swerve), both of which can make a dramatic difference on straight-in shots. The farther apart the cue ball & object ball are, the bigger the problem is. Right handers with this issue typically are hitting left of the vertical axis and seeing it as center."

I'm going to experiment with head position and see if it corrects it. You may have a steak dinner in the bank my friend (Ponderosa). You youngins probably don't even remember Poderosa's do you? I just googled if there any remaining. Looks like 18 nationwide (down from 700 in the 90s).
 
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