the side pockets are deadly for me. 40/60 chance

[Lawnboy77]

i dont know if its my vision at age 63, but i cant make shots into the side pocket. lol
i set up, take my time, nice stoke, BOOM, either a rattler, or hit the point, or just overshoot the ball.

im thinking its a depth perception problem, but im a 40/60 chance of going in. :frown::frown::frown::frown::frown::frown:

I'm not far behind you in age and I have also noticed the same general trend in regards to the side pockets getting more challenging. I think it just boils down to the pocket sizes are just getting smaller. No worries, we adjust and practice those shots more nowadays.

 

[AF pool guy]

The target's the same from any angle: midway between the "obstructions" (pocket points) - as shown by the yellow "X" below.

pj
chgo

P.S. Depending on the table it may not be on the edge of the pocket as shown, but always directly between the points.

View attachment 549914

I firmly believe it’s is a few millimeters out from that spot. If you aim right between the points you’re more likely to hit the point on the near side than to miss long.

That’s the exact spot that the ball has to roll over from the largest angle that will go on a particular table. About 1.3 diamonds from the corner pocket on my table.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Bob Jewett]

I firmly believe it’s is a few millimeters out from that spot. If you aim right between the points you’re more likely to hit the point on the near side than to miss long.

That’s the exact spot that the ball has to roll over from the largest angle that will go on a particular table. About 1.3 diamonds from the corner pocket on my table.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

And here are diagrams from my April 1997 Billiards Digest article that describes how to properly place the donuts. It turns out that the center moves slightly as the shot speed changes for the corner pockets, but it remains within the donut -- just not right at the center.

 

[Patrick Johnson]

I firmly believe it’s is a few millimeters out from that spot. If you aim right between the points you’re more likely to hit the point on the near side than to miss long.

I buy that, at least for extreme angles. From the angle you describe I doubt that it's even possible to hit my target without hitting the point.

pj
chgo

 

[AF pool guy]

I buy that, at least for extreme angles. From the angle you describe I doubt that it's even possible to hit my target without hitting the point.

pj
chgo

I’ll admit it’s an extreme angle to the side pocket and not one I’d take on an object ball more than 10-12 inches from the pocket. But if you’re gonna pick a single spot to call center pocket I’m going to use the one that works from both extremes.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[johnnysd]

Sounds like you are aiming at the wrong part of the pocket. If you aim at the center of the side pocket - which many people do just by default - then you’ll rattle a lot. Instead aim at the seam at the back of the pocket opposit the side you are shooting from. I’m not sure all tables have that seam but it’s right by where the pocket curves from the back to the side. Almost the back corner, if you will.

This.

You need to aim at the center of the opening which on any difficult side pocket side is quite a bit different than the center of the pocket head on

A good way to learn is just watch some snooker on You Tube and see how they shoot side pocket shots and then emulate that on a pool table.

Another way is to visualize a ball width road centered on the ball and then through the side pocket so that the "road" does not hit either rail. You can then see where the center of that road hits the back of the pocket and that is your aiming point. For any decent angle it will be towards to the up-table end of the back of the pocket often at the seam the other poster mentioned.

 

[johnnysd]

Side story: unlike the original poster my friend is on a APA team and his captain George thinks that almost any ball is cuttable into the side, even ones that are quite impossible or 1/100 shots that would need to bleed over the shelf. Now whenever we discuss a shot if it is a very obscure shot into the side we will just say "Should I try to George this?"

 

[bbb]

Try aiming at the facing You can see just inside the point

The target's the same from any angle: midway between the "obstructions" (pocket points) - as shown by the yellow "X" below.

pj
chgo

P.S. Depending on the table it may not be on the edge of the pocket as shown, but always directly between the points.

View attachment 549914

And here are diagrams from my April 1997 Billiards Digest article that describes how to properly place the donuts. It turns out that the center moves slightly as the shot speed changes for the corner pockets, but it remains within the donut -- just not right at the center.

View attachment 549984

if you have a shot on a angle
aiming at the facing is better
jmho

 

[Patrick Johnson]

I’ll admit it’s an extreme angle to the side pocket and not one I’d take on an object ball more than 10-12 inches from the pocket. But if you’re gonna pick a single spot to call center pocket I’m going to use the one that works from both extremes.

Thanks for pointing out that refinement.

pj
chgo

 

[Bob Jewett]

if you have a shot on a angle
aiming at the facing is better
jmho

Will that give a different aiming line than the "single target for all shots"? Will it be nearer or farther from the near point?

 

[Patrick Johnson]

if you have a shot on a angle
aiming at the facing is better
jmho

Aiming at the target between the points is aiming at the opposite facing - a little more accurately.

pj
chgo

 

[bbb]

Will that give a different aiming line than the "single target for all shots"? Will it be nearer or farther from the near point?

Aiming at the target between the points is aiming at the opposite facing - a little more accurately.

pj
chgo

i am assuming that side pocket shots into a fairly full side pocket angle (ie he can see a wide opening) is not a problem for the op
its coming from an angle
the visual for me of aiming at the facing just inside the point helps me clear the point thats closest to me.
on a bert kinister video he talked about a common mistake when shooting a ball down the rail in to a corner pocket...some players aim at the back of the pocket and therefore hit the rail going in
using that loose analogy
by aiming at the facing instead of the true center
it "opens" the pocket for me
it may not be scientific
to answer your question bob i think it helps the aiming line to be alittle farther from the near point but i could be wrong
i respect what you and PJ say with regards to the science

 

[justadub]

I struggle with side pocket shots cut shots, for some reason it's in my head. I try and practice them when given the chance, over other types of shots.

 

[DynoDan]

I rarely shoot balls in the side pockets.

To hell with them. Hell!!

In straight pool, sometimes the only workable break shot you end up with is a side pocket one. I find that when loading up to break the rack hard, you sometimes have a tendency to ‘loft’ the CB, which will result in over-cutting the OB. So, I usually remember to intentionally adjust my aim to under-cut a bit when shooting hard into the side.