The PERFECT aiming method | POOL TIPS
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- čas přidán 18. 04. 2024
- Demonstration on how to aim properly in pool. This can be used in any cue sports such as snooker, billiards and different variations of pool.
I give an introduction to the topic as well as touching on some of the theory behind aiming, before demonstrating how to do it properly.
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Excellent video mate, thank you. I have to say also, that's an awesome man cave. Loving the Queen and Bowie paintings - Great taste in music!
Thanks Ben. Really appreciate the support. Bowie is my fav 😊
Great video.
Even though I started playing cue sports 50 years ago as a teenager, no-one ever pointed this out. Like so many things, the internet has been revolutionary in passing on top tips.
As it happens, I now play in a pool league and just a few weeks ago, I suddenly got the knack of using this method to line up the pot and I would say my potting success has gone up dramatically since then.
Well explained, and I love the ninja bits with the kung fu sound effects 😉
That's great to hear my friend. Keep me updated on how you're getting on and hopefully some more of my stuff might help 👍
So simple. Makes it all seem easy! This is pretty much the aiming method use. I have one other thing I keep in mind. I watched a CZcams video ages ago that pointed out that, on cut shots, lining up the edge of your tip or ferrule with that contact point makes it super hard to miss. It even works for super thin shots where it almost looks like the contact point is behind the ball. I just found your channel and I'm now a subscriber. Thanks!
Many thanks for watching and commenting my friend. And thanks for sharing your tip, sounds a good one 👍
Quite helpful. Thank you for taking the time.
No worries my friend 👍
Excellent process and easy to understand and apply! Can't wait to work on it! Thanks, Dave
Thanks Dave, that's very kind of you. Let me know how you get on
Appreciate you and your time. Excellent lesson for sure......
Thank you my friend. That's very kind of you to say 😊
Okay, you said standing nearly in line with the cue ball you see the contact point you want to aim at. But you have to aim the part of the cue ball that will hit the object ball contact point. Not aim directly at the contact point. Which part of the cue ball, as seen from your stance, do you send to the object ball contact point? Certainly not the center unless it's a straight in shot. The edge? Or somewhere between the edge and the center? How do you adjust for a more full shot?
I usually visualize the center of the ghost ball hoovering about an inch away from the contact point. Aim adjustment to the contact point is automatic. I understand this method only in that context. Some players mention seeing a "lane" or path the width of the cue ball passing through part of the object ball. Even all the way to a spot on the rail or a pocket and aim at that distant spot. I like the micro aiming technique.
Hi Norman, thanks for watching and commenting.
If those methods are working for you, then stick with it.
If not, I would try forget it all. It over complicates what's already a difficult sport.
Hopefully I've covered the contact point on the object ball well enough. The comments seem to suggest viewers want more info on the contact point of the cue ball.
This is a complete variable and will change with every shot. What you need to calculate is what part of the cue ball is going to hit the contact point of the object ball first.
Unfortunately, there's no trick. It has to be learned. Just like when you first started out you learned how to pot a straight shot, you just need more practise of doing the right things to get all the other shots. This is the training part.
The next time you watch a professional, watch what they do. Unless they're in full flow with easy-ish shots, you'll see them keep distance from the table and walk round looking at the angles. This is them processing the info to give them the best chance of success. Even the best in the world will do it on trickier shots.
Hope that helps 👍
@@PoolTips101 Thank you for replying. I totally agree with keeping your distance and aiming before you step into the stance. I keep my eye on the object ball aiming point for carom shots as I move toward the shot line. So, the process is familiar.
I think I figured out what you are looking at and it depends on the angle of the shot. As you said above, we have to extrapolate the same point on the cue ball that the ghost ball is touching the object ball. Then shoot that point on the cue ball to the contact point. It's like aiming edge to edge in extreme cases.
I believe it's the same reason we can aim with the edge of the cue to the contact point on some shots and the reason the parallel system works, too. Hit a million balls, as they say. A lot of times it's a feel, and you just know you're gonna make the shot.
Yes, if people knew how complex and varied aiming (throw, deflection, swerve) and bank shots really are, they may not play. We only find out after we've fallen in love with the game. I guess we're lucky pockets are a big as they are. (LOL)
Pool is beautiful and just as difficult as golf. :)
@RoobieRhoo Sounds like you're doing the right things buddy so stick with it.
I think there's a lot of similarities in technique between a golf swing and a cue stroke. Back swing, acceleration, timing, pause, follow through. We can draw a lot from it 👍
@@PoolTips101 Yes, the similarities with golf are real. :)
Glad to hear someone like you endorsing micro adjustments!
I do not believe that you will ever hear a PBIA instructor doing that.
Are you know, I rarely stand back and look at the shot.
I am unusual, but I am aiming the entire time. I am leaning over to place my hand on the table.
I slide into The shot originally based on ghost ball and then switch to parallel aiming which is similar to contact point to contact point aiming
Thanks my friend 👍
Awesome video, I can’t wait to practice with this information in mind!!
That's great to hear. Many thanks my friend 👍
Very helpful and informative video. Subbed. Many thanks 👍🏻
Many thanks my friend 👍
Your a Natural Doc! Ya found ur calling.. ....Gr8 Video!!
Thanks my friend. Hope you're good 👍
You’re curing me slowly doctor, thank you!
Haha glad to hear it my friend. And thanks for watching the new channel 👍
3:22 You are actually not aiming for that point as that is the contact point required to pot the ball. Understand that you are aware but wanted to clarify this for the beginners!
Thanks my friend. Appreciate you watching and commenting 👍
You do a great job explaining how to play. I know this channel is gonna do well 👍🎱👊
Thanks my friend. Will see how it goes. Having so may subs that were only interested in shorts was hurting my other channel I think
I get my students to push a block of chalk or a ball out on the table in line with the object ball and the pocket. I do this to aid in training the brain to seek that line.
And course people need to micro adjust. Especially if applying any side spin great or small. Great vid mate, keep up the good work.
That's a great tip my friend and thanks for sharing it 👍 Thanks for watching and commenting too, I really appreciate your kind words 🙂
nice stuff. i like the fact that as it is a new channel you're taking the time laying a foundation. i look forward to more content with you great presentaion
Thanks very much. That's kind of you to say 🙂
Loved it how simple you kept it
Thanks my friend. Everyone learns differently. I like simplicity and there's far too many complicated methods already 👍
Very simple video to follow, my friend. I think about the ghost ball when potting but this is much easier. Tried it last night and I managed to beat the wife for the first time in a few days! Happy days😂😂😂
Haha thanks Michael. That's the goal of this channel, make players good enough to beat the wife 🤣
Great tips, clear and easy to follow. keep up the good work. comment for the algorithm guys :)
Thanks very much my friend. That's nice of you to say 😊 👍🎱
This is a very good tip for every pool player. I know this already but it's a good reminder because I don't always do this when I should be 😂😅
Thanks my dude. We're all guilty of not doing it at times 👍
Great video pal, thanks
Many thanks Harry. Really appreciate it 👍
Great video buddy 👌.. I have a lot of bad habits, from mostly playing pool through the 1990's in pubs when I was younger, full of booze lol
Haha,the good times my friend 👍🎱
great vid, just one thing : the sound isnt equal all along the vid, you might want to use compression on the audio
Thanks bud. I'm not sure how to do that but I'll definitely look into it 👍
I wish us Americans learned this fundamental aspect of the game. There are no shortcuts. Hard work and simply paying attention in order to recognize where to strike the object ball.
Thanks my friend. There's probably stuff we can learn from each other. You guys are way better at calculating angles off cushions for bank shots and snookers. You've actually got systems for doing it 👍
@@PoolTips101 yeah I’m not against systems, I’m against shortcuts. Tactically they’re very different games. We also have rotation games like 9, and 10 ball, then there’s my favorite- one pocket.
@SenseiNatePlaysPool I agree. I don't think there are short cuts - understand the basics and practice hard. I love all the variations you guys have 👍
I was told the ghost ball, but I will try this next time I play sounds simple enough.
Thanks my friend. Let me know how you get on. The ghost ball seems a relatively new concept, if it works for someone then keep doing it but it does seem to complicate things for me, especially when you think of everything to do with technique. It's a complicated area, so I like to try keep it simple 👍
I find that the ghost ball method works best for me when the cue ball is close to the object ball. The method you teach here is in my opinion the best overall method. I also use the split the object ball method on long cut shots.
@martinbedford4530 Thanks for watching and commenting my friend. That's good you've got a few things that work 👍
You mentioned Ronnie and Gareth. Those two players have a particular aiming solution that many players do not use. Which is when hitting the cue ball, they always look at the cue ball when striking it and not the object ball. The majority of players will be looking at the object ball when striking the cue ball.
I do not know of other players that do that, but it seems that for a beginner this method maybe the way to teach them to play the game. Gareth said when talking to Stephen Hendry, that people who have been using the second and more common method, it would be very hard for them to learn his way of aiming.
It would be good to hear from people who use the cue ball first method, and what there thoughts on how it works. Plus the benefits. If any.
Yeah it's an interesting one cause it's not something that's taught, players just seem to develop it naturally. Stephen Hendry used to glance away to the right before he hit a shot for some reason
Love this mate me and you would get on
Love that accent
Haha thanks my friend. Your accent is better, is it Fife? Edinburgh? I've just subscribed to yours and I'll give your channel a better watch when I'm home. Snooker was my first love, pretty much grew up in Spencers.
I'll join your FB group too, but it will show up under my other account @DrPool147 - not sure if you've seen that channel, I've had it a bit longer than this one 👍
Technically, the contact point changes based on how far the object ball is from the pocket, the angle of approach, the speed of the shot and how far the cue ball is from the object ball because it makes a difference if the cue ball is sliding vs rolling when it contacts the object ball. There is something called contact throw that pushes the object ball off the trajectory of your original line of aim. If you hit hard, the cue ball could be slightly elevated when it hits the ball (not touching the table) which will cause the ball to cut wide. If the ball is rolling vs sliding when it hits the object ball also affects the final trajectory. If the ball is close to the pocket, these things might not matter as much... but it can cause the ball to rattle in the pocket instead of falling into the pocket. And over long distance shots, It can actually cause you to miss the pocket by inches.
Thanks for watching and commenting my friend 👍
What about CIT? Our brain will eventually factor in CIT, how to hit the contact point at given angles? I've been playing in leagues for years but miss several shot types, like i can't see them.
Hi Brett. CIT is an odd one. I'd never actually heard of it until I started a different youtube channel which is mainly about pool but also covers snooker. I've played cue sports for over 30 years, got to pro level at snooker and a high standard at UK pool and never once have I ever heard about it. It's also something I don't concsciously allow for, but maybe as you say I've just learned it over the years. I think in the UK we're a lot less scientific about pool than in other countries.
As you can see from my experiment on the video, I did hit the same contact point for all 3 shots. Maybe CIT is more prevalent on the bigger US tables?
maybe one on stroke fundamentals
Yeah, very good idea 👍
You need to clarify that you aren't aiming the center of the cue ball at the contact point (except for a straight on shot).
Using the ghost ball method, instead of visualizing hitting the ghost ball straight on, aim the cue ball precisely at the ghost ball position. The cue ball will connect with the object ball at the correct contact point.
Hi Craig, I believe that's what I said about the ghost ball? However, it's not something that's endorsed by any professional coaching bodies, so I'd rather not dwell on it.
On the contact point, sometimes it will be the centre of the cue ball, sometimes the very outer edge and most often some place in between 👍
The contact point on the cue ball will be 180 degrees (opposite) the contact point on the object ball. So don't aim at the contact point, aim so the balls contact at the desired point.
@CraigPestell Agree. When I say "aim at the contact point" I do mean aim to contact that part of the object ball 👍
Stephen Hendry uses this exact method and I think it would be fair to say it worked out quite well for him!
He refers to it as the aiming point and has endorsed it again in a recent video on his own Cue Tips channel.
@malcolmharris5277 Thanks Malcolm. I didn't know he'd done that but given I played beside him for about 12 years and learned almost everything I know from him, it's hardly surprising 🤣
Great video for the beginners ! That's exactly how I learned 35 years ago. Please keep speaking quite slowly for the non native english speakers ;-) Love the accent too !
Many thanks my friend. I was around 30 years ago too. Will definitely keep it slow. Where are you from?
@@PoolTips101 I'm from France. 53 years old.
Played some times against Christophe Lambert when he was young.
@christopheborivant6688 Very nice my friend 👍
You should never make micro adjustment when down on the shot. I stopped doing that and it completely changed the game for me.
Everyone is different my friend. I got to pro level and there's no way I could pot a ⅛ cut the full length of the table with no adjustment. Don't know many people who can to be honest 👍
@PoolTips101 I do it on a 9 foot and I'm an amature. It was a tip I learned from someone who showed the mighty X drill on CZcams.
@Crazywaffle5150 I learned at snooker, so sometimes you're playing shots 12-13 feet. There's age old advice that you should get up off a shot if you're not in line, which is right. But if you only have to make tiny adjustments then I think that's OK 👍
the cue ball must be del8vered so that when the 2 balls make contact, a line thru the ball centers goes into the pocket...but if u aim at the contact point on the back of the object ball u will hit the ball way too thick....u never explain in this video from UR POV the aim line
Hi, thanks for watching and commenting. My video is about aiming to hit the contact point, as obviously which part of the cue ball contacts the object ball varies on each shot. It seems a few think I meant aim directly at the contact point. I might be wrong on this but it seems a lot of the comments about this come from outside the UK, maybe where there is more stuff taught about "aim lines". In the UK this isn't something we we're taught.
However, I've recorded a follow up video to clarify a few things. I'm editing it just now and will hopefully upload it next week.
Hope you've enjoyed the channel though and appreciate your feedback 👍
Just use ghost to see where cue ball needs to be to make object ball...The hard part is putting it there...
Thanks for watching and commenting my friend and glad you've got a method that works for you 🙂👍
Center to edge
Thanks for watching and commenting my friend 👍
If aiming was only as simple as that, then the game would be far too easy. If a pot involves calculating an angle (i.e. not a full ball shot), then there is a difference between the contact point and the aim line. You are not taking into consideration the width of the cue ball. If you aim for the contact point, then you are bound to hit the shot too thick. And that is because as well as working out the contact point of the object ball you also have to take into consideration the contact point of the cue ball. If you think about a very thin cut, then the actual aim line is missing the object ball all together. This is only my suggestion but you should consider doing a little bit more research on this subject and then do a follow up video. And the reason why I say that is because if brand new or beginner players were to take information from this video, then it could be very misleading for them.
Hi Paul, thanks for watching and commenting. I'm a qualified coach, ex-pro,practiced with the best and was also coached by professionals from 8 years old, so I do have some good background to this.
Part of what you say is correct and maybe I didn't get it across well enough in the video. The contact point of the object ball remains the same, no matter where the cue ball is. The variable, as you alluded to, is the contact point on the cue ball. I never said aim the centre of the cue ball at the contact point. I said aim to hit that contact point first.
What you should do is aim the cue ball at the contact point so that's the first part the cue ball contacts. This could be full ball, half ball or the thinnest of cuts. This is what beginners need to train their brain to calculate.
There's no magic formula to this. Aim lines and ghost balls are very recent devices that were conjured up by amateur coaches. No qualified coach will teach this and I've never come across a good professional who learnt this way either.
For me, there's a lot to think about when it comes to cue sports. I wouldn't muddy the waters by introducing a lot of unnecessary nonsense. Keep it as simple as possible and practice doing the right thing and it will come. The old saying about doing anything for 10,000 hours and you'll become an expert rings true here 👍
I agree paul
@Rah84eem Paul has misunderstood the video. I never said "aim at the contact point". I said "aim to hit the contact point". Big difference and it 100% works 👍
@@Rah84eem - Thank you my friend
@@paulbamford8Ball pool isn’t difficult because of aiming. The hardest part is position play. Aiming and making balls is actually the easier part.
This Sir is pure "Rubbish". What you described in this video does not work on wide cut show. Even "Ronnie" shows in one of his videos about aiming that you have to adjust the aim point on the object ball according to the angle of the cut of the shot. The only way your method works is if you hit contact point on the object ball with a different point of the cue ball.
Hi, thanks for taking the time to watch and comment. I'm going to do a follow-up video to clarify this point. When you work out the contact point of the object ball, you're not aiming at that specific point. You're aiming to make the cue ball contact that point 👍
It's not that simple but it's close enough
Hi William, thanks for taking the time to watch and comment. There are some slight variations but if someone is learning to aim then I'd guess they're at begginer stage, so no need to over complicate things so early on 👍
If learning a new language, a tutor wouldn't give their pupil every new word on day one.
If you aim at the contact point you would miss as the contact point is not the aiming point
Or you could aim to hit the contact point...
so you are suggesting that people aim directly at the contact point? i've been playing 35 years and never heard anyone ever recommend aiming at the actual contact point. that point is very far off the actual aiming point i don't understand how you are correcting for the error. do you?
Seriously i just measured it. if you aimed at the contact point in your last shot you would literally have been off angle by over 20 degrees. It would have been an extremely fat hit (and hit about where the 1st diamond would be on the short rail if your table had diamonds). If you're going to be making some kind of adjustment to compensate for that you should at least mention it in your video...
Hi. I'm not suggesting "aiming" at the contact point. I'm suggesting "aiming to hit the contact point".
The confusion may be a geographical thing. In the UK we don't use aim lines or have methods for calculating them. We simply learn our angles from working out where to contact the object ball and that's what I'm suggesting here.
I didn't realise there was a confusion over this when I created the video but I will be doing a follow up to clarify.
Thanks for watching and commenting 👍
Not supposed to “micro-adjust” once down. They don’t all do that. Finding the point and not complicating things with a ghost ball doesn’t account for radius of the cue ball.
Not sure where you're based but in the UK snooker is the predominant cue sport. It's also the biggest table and most difficult to pot on of all the cue sports. The WPBSA is the governing body who qualify the coaches and they teach micro adjustments.
If you can line up with micro adjusting then you're doing very well. But try pot a ¼ ball pot the full length of the table 10 times without making any adjustments and let me know how you get on.
Not sure what you mean about the radius of the cue ball. I guess you would think I'm telling you to aim directly at the contact point. Again not the case. You're aiming to make the cue ball contact the contact point of the object ball. The part of the cue ball that makes this contact will vary each shot 👍
Where is the part of the video that shows where to aim, all you say is look at the contact point and do not use a ghost ball...seems you are saying do not aim at all, and use trial and error, but it is not very clear in your words or title?
Hi, thanks for watching and commenting. The contact point is where you aim. You find this point by standing behind the object ball and pocket. Walking round the table while continuing to look at that point and then standing back and behind your own shot is all 95% of aiming.
I never mentioned trial and error but I guess while you're training your brain to understand these angles then yes there will be a lot of misses which you must learn from. As I said, there is no trick, no secret, no one has ever fast tracked through the necessary practice - and I grew up playing some of the best players ever 👍
@@PoolTips101 I have found that if you aim at the contact point, you will hit the ball fat, meaning you will undercut the ball. So though I understand the contact point and how to find it, the aiming at it is what I am missing from the video - maybe I skimmed (missed) it?
I was brought up with the ghost ball method, but believe there is a much better way for learning, it is called double the distance, and wish I knew this when I fist started many years ago. I find DTD more reliable than the ghost ball, as there is actually something to aim at.
Either way, your videos are opening my eyes to other options, and because you do not say there is only one way. Ralph Eckert I believe has a similar style. Thanks for taking your time to teach the rest of us and good luck this year!
@@PoolTips101 after going back to the table, I am on board with your idea for sure, no longer have to aim, just line up correctly and you are good to go!!!!
@nitekram Hi my friend, sorry I never got a chance to reply to your previous comment (been a heck of a day). I'm really glad to hear this has worked for you. Honestly, I know many great cue sport players and they all learned like this.
Keep it up 🎱👍
Its simply not true. You dont shoot at a point on the ball, but before it, where the ghost ball (future white) lies
I never said you do shoot at it. I said that's where you're aiming to make contact 👍
@@PoolTips101 if you aim there, you will miss
@nielsvanderhorst6396 You're not understanding. The contact point on the object ball is where you want the cue ball to hit. If you hit it you will pot it, I demonstrated that in the video.
So don't aim at it, rather aim the cue ball to MAKE contact with it
@@PoolTips101 I'm a epbf certified pool teacher. I do exactly know what I'm talking about. Its probably a bad choice of words which could be confusing. Good luck!
@nielsvanderhorst6396 I believe you know what you're talking about. What I said is you've misunderstood me 👍
I learned nothing from this, it also could’ve been half as long.
If you already know how to aim then why watch it? Thanks for watching and for the constructive feedback 🤷♂️
@@PoolTips101 you taught nothing, that’s all. You never elaborated past the contact point. I bet you’re not even 600 fargo
@jasonnieuwenhuis7995 So you want me to elaborate but keep it shorter 🤣 At least we're getting close to constructive now.
I'm in the UK, we don't use fargo, but that's nice of you to try play down my pool skills. If it's something that bothers you then have a look at my other channel @DrPool147 where there are videos of me playing. Maybe when you see how good I am you'll be more willing to listen to my advice 👍
@@PoolTips101 I like that. Pool skill doesn’t always show in instructional videos. Maybe you’re looking to give lessons to beginner or intermediate. Maybe I watch so many videos it’s just tough to get me inspired. I’m probably just not your demographic. Sorry for being a dick
@jasonnieuwenhuis7995 No worries my friend. I do something to try help and at times the negative comments just get to me.
Hopefully I'll create content for all levels, but I'd agree, something like how to aim would be more for beginner level 👍