should aim for particular part of the pocket?

E

evergruven

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
there are sure reasons to aim for a specific section of the pocket when shooting
maybe the pocket's partially blocked, maybe we need to aim fat/thin to get position, or to help ensure we make a bank, etc.
but suppose it's none of those things- generally, is it a good idea to "aim small"- ?
 
David in FL said:
If there’s no reason to do otherwise, why wouldn’t you aim for the exact middle? That gives you the most forgiveness of a less than perfect result...
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Exactly. There is the small detail of where the center of the pocket is, but that has been discussed extensively before. For each pocket there is a single point that gives a very good approximation to the center for all shots.
 
Bob Jewett said:
Exactly. There is the small detail of where the center of the pocket is, but that has been discussed extensively before. For each pocket there is a single point that gives a very good approximation to the center for all shots.
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I can dig it. I think it was in dr. dave's book, he mentioned/showed about how to find the center of the pocket on any shot. aiming for it makes sense.

thanks all for the replies-
 
David in FL said:
If there’s no reason to do otherwise, why wouldn’t you aim for the exact middle? That gives you the most forgiveness of a less than perfect result...
Click to expand...
Seems obvious to me also. Why wouldn't you aim for the biggest part unless you had to cheat it?? On today's tighter tables its critical to do so.
 
evergruven said:
there are sure reasons to aim for a specific section of the pocket when shooting
maybe the pocket's partially blocked, maybe we need to aim fat/thin to get position, or to help ensure we make a bank, etc.
but suppose it's none of those things- generally, is it a good idea to "aim small"- ?
Click to expand...
I like to know why a person asks question. Did something happen to you where you were confused on what part of the pocket to aim for? What brought that question to mind? With this being an ask the instructor forum, isn't it better to ask about specific things going on with your game than any general question that pops into your head?
 
I think there's an exception, when the ob is close to the pocket and you need to cut it thinner or thicker than center pocket for specific position play, or to avoid a scratch.
 
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I tend to shoot to the outside of a pocket...all things equal. However I’m mostly playing Snooker and have spin on 90% of shots...my default stroke and spin are more likely to sink an outside edge ball.

Centre pocket can be deceiving at times, I have sticky dots marking the centre of the pockets. Even if too much angle to sink a ball directly, sometimes I try to use just enough weight to land the ball on to the sticky dot and let it ‘drop’ in. Usually it’s also a safe shot. If I don’t make it, the ball is a tad on the rail and unlikely my opponent can sink it
 
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The best advice I always give up and coming potentially strong players, is to always aim for a section of a pocket, (aim small). In my experience it is rare to have a shot that does not benefit from "working" the potting angle. A 'center pocket' shot may offer the greatest margin for error, but you're doing your growth as a potter a disservice if you default to it.

Having the ability to not only select the appropriate spots in a pocket but also put OB there, is a skill set that will aid you in every facet of the game. It also has the convenient byproduct of relying less on CB spin and force to generate shape.

Sure you can 'aim small' to the center of the pocket, but we as humans best learn by experiencing failure. "Missing" that small center pocket target most likely still results in a pocketed ball. No lesson learnt there.

Note: I'm not a professional instructor, but willing to advise without fee.
 
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The_JV said:
Sure you can 'aim small' to the center of the pocket, but we as humans best learn by experiencing failure. "Missing" that small center pocket target most likely still results in a pocketed ball. No lesson learnt there.
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This is why when practicing I choose a side of the pocket to shoot at (unless there's a reason not to) - imprecision is more visible.

I can't imagine an argument against greater aiming precision.

pj
chgo
 
Patrick Johnson said:
This is why when practicing I choose a side of the pocket to shoot at (unless there's a reason not to) - imprecision is more visible.
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Exactly...

I also like pushing the limits with developing carom angles while potting balls. It's nice to know the limits when a questionable shot comes up in a match.
 
i know an instructor who teaches 5 parts to the pocket and tries to train you to hit all 5
i will also say he can play shots with accuracy all over the table hitting the side pocket tit
 
The_JV said:
It's nice to know the limits when a questionable shot comes up in a match.
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I think it helps to know the limits of all kinds of shots - bracketing the range of possibilities makes judgment/control easier. For example, comparing the draw angle I want with the maximum draw angle for that cut helps me estimate how much tip offset to use compared with maximum.

pj
chgo
 
For players who have trouble pocketing balls, I mark the center of each pocket mentioned above with a donut. The student is asked to try to drive every OB over the center of the donut. Over the edges is OK. Outside the donut (base of ball) in not acceptable even if the ball goes in. Most students don't know where the center of the pocket is. (And many students don't notice which side they miss to unless you start to ask them.)

Most students need to work on that more that playing to some other part of the pocket, since they regularly have trouble pocketing medium-long shots. Cheating a close pocket is OK to move the cue ball. Using one side of the pocket because the other is blocked is OK. Randomly going to sides for no good reason in practice is OK. But in competition, most players need to try for the center.
 
Patrick Johnson said:
This is why when practicing I choose a side of the pocket to shoot at (unless there's a reason not to) - imprecision is more visible.
Click to expand...

interestingly, I think this is at least part of the reason why it's taken me so long to learn the why/how stun is useful
shooting the cb with a little side, top or bottom, ironically, has helped me find center more easily

otherwise, thanks for the replies. pool is a game rich with nuance- I've always appreciated being able to come here and share in that with you all.
 
The formula I use is "the biggest room for error given the need for the next position and self ability to execute"

That is, if it's only to make a ball, let's say the last ball or if the next is obvious, then center of the pocket yields the largest room for error. That's because the need for next position is negligible.

But let's say that center of the pocket would result in a scratch, thus the need to consider position play in the same scenario would be higher. In this case, I'd consider to cheat the pocket as much as my ability allows. So I'd aim towards one side of the pocket that gives the higher probability of success.
It's like "do the best you can" but with educated presumptions based on my own ability.
 
... Or continue to aim for the center of the pocket but apply spin to play position.
You'd still shoot toward one side of the pocket. But the throw effect would send the object toward the center of pocket.
This would increase probability of success in both make and position.

Just that, it requires significant knowledge of spin, deflection and throw. Their amount vary depending on the cue, the ball, the cloth, distance to target, the speed, the amount of spin and the stroke exexution.
Yeah. A lot more variables. Thus in the overall it does not necessarily amount to higher probability of success.

But heck. That's another skill to add to the arsenal. And makes the game prettier, like comparing Tim Duncan's boring 3pointer to Lillard's half court dagger.
 
Bob Jewett said:
Exactly. There is the small detail of where the center of the pocket is, but that has been discussed extensively before. For each pocket there is a single point that gives a very good approximation to the center for all shots.
Click to expand...
Absolutely Bob...and then it becomes all about speed. All parts of the pocket are more forgiving when you don't try to RAM it into the pocket!

Scott Lee
 
evergruven said:
there are sure reasons to aim for a specific section of the pocket when shooting
maybe the pocket's partially blocked, maybe we need to aim fat/thin to get position, or to help ensure we make a bank, etc.
but suppose it's none of those things- generally, is it a good idea to "aim small"- ?
Click to expand...
Luther Lassiter told my father that he divides the pocket into three sections -- left, middle, and right, and shoots to one of those three as needed.
 
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