How to Shoot Straight - The Magic Feeling of an Effortless Pool Shot
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- čas přidán 15. 05. 2024
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0:00 Intro
0:15 How do they do it?
0:25 Straight Shooting
2:25 Optimal Technique
3:54 Alignment
14:00 Efficiency
17:24 Training Tips
18:48 Conclusion
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This is the best alignment video I’ve seen. I actually felt the difference in seeing the ball and positioning my hip, elbow, shoulder and cue stick. It is easily repeatable and identifies improper alignment immediately. Thanks.
Nice!!
When you described "tip left," you really really got my attention!
I know, right? And even now I will catch my tip going left, I'm like, sheesh!
This is essential for anybody that wants to be great at pool. One of the best videos around. Thank you
Great video Bob! This is the type of content pool players looking to improve need to watch. No "Supercharge your game" or "Must have shots" videos. But rather solid, repeatable fundamentals with the goal of delivering a straight stroke. This is where advancement occurs. I work on my stroke everyday. Even on my best days. Little bad habits can easily creep back in slowly without notice so it's important to incorporate straight stroke drills as part of a daily practice routine, even if only for a few minutes. Ideally at the beginning and end of a training session. Great job!!
My saying is, your technique can deteriorate without attention. Same thing! Ha ha
@@ShortstopOnPool Exactly!!
How can I miss this after 3 years of playing shooting left and right...literally
One of the best instructional videos I’ve seen. Well demonstrated and explained.
Iii 😮iiiiii 😮iiiiiiiiiiii 😮iiiiji 😮😮i 😮iii 😮iii 😮 😮 😮 😮i😮 😮 😮 😮 😮 😮😮 😮
This is pure gold.
This is another great video! Most amateur pool players don't realize how important thier aligmnet is when it comes to consistency. Thank you for this information.
This may be your best work yet. Impressive and utterly helpful. I hope this goes viral.
Great video! That “double-kiss back” drill is brilliant! I’ve struggled with straight shots for months 🙌🏽
This one of the best video I have seen for a while. You explained pretty much everything. I know someone that needs to practice this. Thank you for sharing.
Great Information
I played a lot of pool twenty five years ago and now That I am retired.
I can't even run 3 balls.
In a row. This video has reinforced. What I need to start working on.
After all these years being away from the game
The shoulder advice is very helpful - thanks!
Great video. This one will go in the library and will often get replayed. Thx.
Very good and instructive video! Helped my game immediately, I have been struggling with missing the easiest shots. The improvement was unbelievable right after watching your video and playing last night. Thank you so much 🤗
One of the best how to video on shooting straight.. thank you for this
WOW! The best and most helpful video about the fundamentals I've seen. I knew in my mind that practicing with the wrong fundamentals will only make your game worse and you're the only one to point that out and address it. Thanks a ton.
This is the instructional video I've been looking for!
this IS step one,
the fundamentals
you will never have high run consistency with out these basics.
Great explanation, thank you
Bob, I am new to your channel and am working my way thru this video. I would also like to see your video’s “ for members” only. How do I become a member?
This is some prime cut stuff right here. Thank you for all that you do. PS your original intro was the best.
Great video Bob. Like most of your videos great detail and easy to follow. I like how you talk about alignment and then you give drills to improve.
Great video Bob. Keep up the good work.
Great video! Thanks for the shoulder alignment tip!
Hey Bob, your video was great!!
I'm not a beginner, but i have to say, this is the best video I've seen on this subject. It connected on many levels. Ty
Great stuff as usual.. I started doing the might X after I seen you on one of your streams practice days... I do it twice a week..I'm finally at the point that I can make 15 straight stund shots.. next it's 15 follow shots.. than draw.. big big help.. can't wait for the next stream
This video has so much great information and great illustrations. Phenomenal work Bob. 🤩👍🔥
Thank you! I just started playing a few weeks ago. This is very helpful
Great explanation of stroke anatomy!
Very nice video. I help train beginner and intermediate players locally and will definitely use that advice. Thanks for all of your videos. I always learn something.
This guy knows what he is talking about. New subscriber for sure
Awesome stuff! Congrats with another great in-depth tutorial. I have a feeling this might blow up!
Like allways a masterpiece! Thanks a lot
Great instruction! Thanks for sharing!
This a class instructional video. Very impressed. Now I just need to incorporate into my game😮
I'm glad I clicked ❤
Sublime content 👌
superb explained, great video. Thanks a lot
I have to say, this is a great video. And, THANK YOU for taking the time to make it and share it with everyone. This video helped me understand what I was doing wrong. I would take a shot, and the cue would make contact with the object ball exactly where I wanted and at the right speed.... but "somehow" I wouldn't pot it. It's because I wasn't aligned properly and just before impact the stick would change where I struck the cue. I don't know why I didn't realize this before as I am an incredible marksman. When you explained the "archer" draw... I was able to put it together. It's interesting too... the way you describe making sure your head is level and either centered over the stick or dominant eye over the stick. In marksman training, how you describe where your head should be in this video, is exactly how you set up and "align" an OPTIC on a rifle. The optic needs to be level, and aligned perfectly center over the bore. I am beaming balls in the pocket now. Also worth noting that has improved very rapidly is my success in potting cut shots and long shots. The way I WAS playing didn't affect the short game nearly as much as it did the cuts and longs. If I was off on those, I miss them nearly every time. THANK YOU again for the great tips and PRECISION of your explanations and demonstrations. World class my friend.
Sweet! Good to hear.
I have to Thank You! I was a 100 ball runner back in the early 90s. Life took over and I gave up the game for many years. I tried hard to get my game back about 15 years later but couldn’t. I had this weird problem where i wasn’t hitting what i was aiming at even after 100s of hours of practice.
Your video caused me to video tape myself but it also reminded me of something I worked on everyday when i was a better player. i would work on my pendulum stroke and finishing a straight grip at a certain point in my shoulder. Somewhere along the line I developed this funky sideways elbow drop during my transition. Even when my elbow felt quiet, video rec told me it was still active.
I’m now consistently hitting my aim point.
Thank you 🙏 so much for giving back.
Sincerely,
Jack
Stroke defect is a unique skill unknowingly 😆🤣😁
Thank you so much!. Your video brought me - by using your advices and informations - to a new level. Just great!
Great Video, need to diagnose my stroke now, and I got the knowledge to do so. Thanks!
Very good video, im going to try all of these techniques
Thanks so much, very helpful!
This video is amazing as such your other videos as well. The alignment part about the wrist supinating or pronating explains why even really good A players tend to turn their wrists after shooting a straight shot. These are great gems. Thank you for the content!
Also just recently found him but Tyrel Blowers has a great pre shot routine where centers the cue with his body like along the belly button vertically then rotates into the shot line. It’s sick.
Damnation…your instructional videos are excellent for a beginner like me…thank you so much, sir!
You are a man of enormous po knowledge! Thx for all the great info! You are very skilled at delivering the information as well as your cue stick! Great Video!!
I appreciate that!
I think this is one of the best vids on alignment I've seen. Hat Tip....Even "Bert" would be proud.😊😊
Wow, thanks!
This is really great stuff. Thanks!! On a side note I salute you for giving Bert Kinister credit for the Mighty X drill. So many people use that as their own discovery but Bert is the one who originated it.
Hey rob ,luckily i never had this problem .be safe !
Some people are born with a natural alignment upon bending his body when aiming at the object ball with the cue. It's like the art of singing; we all have vocal cords, but not all can sing beautiful and professionally even if we spend most of our lifetime attending to a conservatory. An excellent pool player or singer can not easily be found just around the corner. It´s all about a natural aptitude, anatomic characteristic some people are blessed with upon being born. Of course, aside from this natural or what I call a "divine aptitude", in order to be a professional pool player, you need to have a vocation and consequently receive adequate and hard training preferably since an early age.
Thank you.
Wow, trying to rotate my shoulder behind my head is a challenge and totally different feeling.
Go easy, do not hurt yourself. Its taken me two years, while fiddling with other things, to turn my shoulder "enough" and that is comfortable. Good luck!
Whist standing many people are square on with their hips. If you just turn ( swivel) your hips to say 45 degrees your shoulder moves you automatically into the correct position enabling you to follow through much better and the chest doesn’t crowd you cue hand on delivery. Try both ways, when down look at your shoulder and see the difference
Very Good and Simple
Great video.
Thanks i think this will help me a lot!
I call the straight stroke "The Holy Grail" of pocket billiards. Nice video. One of the best I've seen on developing a straight stroke.
Great video
Bob, another awesome video! Thank you so much! Just getting my shoulder in line fixed my problem with hitting straight shots. I’m much more consistent just from one training session. I also want to thank you for mentioning the “mighty X” drill by Bert Kinister. He is the OG! I can’t stop watching his videos. Truly a magician revealing all of his secrets. Keep on making awesome videos! I bought your ghost aiming tool and that has helped me to see shot angles tremendously! 🙌🏼
Love it! Thank you. Keep playing it straight.
Tack!
Thank you so much!
Great stroke Bob! Sounds like some of Mark Wilson's stroke training, make it consistent and repeatable, persist, persist, persist will get you there. Thanks for your time creating the video 👍
After two lessons with Mark I'm certain some Wilson-isms are in there. Ha ha. But I experiment with things ad nauseum to get to the "why". Can't wait to expound on these topics....
Thank you
great video
Immensely instructive and informative video, and it comes with great personal timing for me!
I've been obsessed with vision center and alignment for the last several months, beginning each session with drills that all include straight center line shots.
I basically started over from scratch, after 20 years of playing pool, to really re-establish and iron out my fundamentals. The journey has been really rough, as the form I had developed over the last two decades has been beyond challenging to change. Anyway, the information in this 20 min video really validated much of corrections I've implemented, and it's illuminated the path forward and has invigorated my resolve.
I'm grateful for the amazing content! Thank you so much!
I played 29 years with subpar fundamentals. Ten years off. When I came back, same as you, decided to do my best to learn how to do it "right". What a journey! And still learning. Good luck!
This is the best video I've ever watched concerning the stroke! Really excellent.
I tell players all the time that the stroke relies on body position/stance. The body/stroke is a machine, and if you want a consistent stroke delivery, the machine must operate as consistently as possible. Pocketing balls then simply becomes a matter of lining your machine/stroke up correctly (elbow, shoulder, grip hand, all on the same plane every time).
I'll be sharing this video with plenty of aspiring players! Thanks for all you do to help pool players reach higher levels!
Yes, sir. I think of the rear foot as the "anchor". Get that right each shot and, with practice, the rest flows into position. Its all built on that anchor.
@@ShortstopOnPool absolutely!
Very good video
I'm 6'5 too and noticed that we stand very similarly, including the left side of the jaw/chin kind of pushed into the inside of the left shoulder. Great material here for us try-hards! I'm heading straight to your website.
I completely stopped playing pool about 20 years ago. Then I gained a bunch of weight. I am now back to playing, but unfortunately all the fat has completely warped my playing stroke and even the simplest shots are 50/50 at best. This video definitely helped me see what the problem is. Unfortunately, I'm not sure how much of a "proper" solution I can implement when my upper arm is being pushed away from my body by now-larger torso, and my wrist is being pushed away from my body by my now-larger belly. I literally am forced to do /both/ the "sidearm" and "chicken wing" strokes. Well... either the diet will work, or I will just have to perfect the stroke defect. At least now, thanks to this video, I can work on it consciously.
My channel is about UK pool but there's so many skills transfer across all pool variations. Thanks for the video 👍
I disagree with your "no pronounced rear pause" theory. I struggled for years with consistency until, I introduced a rear pause to my stroke. The rear pause has made the biggest improvement to my stroke and performance of any change I've ever introduced into my game and fundis. I know it's different strokes for different folks. No pun intended! But, I also think a vast amount of struggling players would benefit from a rear pause introduction to their pool stroke fundamentals. Thx for the great video SSOP Bob!
I have no doubt it did help you. Sports researchers today call it the "Quiet Eye". They even did a scientific study on pool players. The missing bit is that the quiet eye pause works best before the backstroke, when all physical motion is quiet also. And, holding the cue at the apex of the backstroke requires physical energy which is not needed, creates tension, and an opportunity for the cue to go off line. Using only the tiny, natural pause of gravity at the apex, allows natural momentum to keep the cue online.
@ShortstopOnPool I agree! So, actually, I pause at the cue ball and then again at the back. I always paused in the front at address. The rear pause was a really tough one to implement.
@@ShortstopOnPoolI have a theory. I actually you need tension in the back. It's like a stretch reflex (plyometric), allowing you to swing with the least effort possible. What I think I see is a pattern. Players with a pause, have a tendency to have a slightly quicker backstroke (like fedor and feijen), while players who do not pause, have a slightly slower backstroke (ko brothers). And just from my own experience, both work. But doing the opposite: slow backstroke and long pause, takes all the spring tension out of the stroke.
I'm gonna research this. Thanks. I think the 'spring tension' you are talking about is good. I used the word 'tension' very loosely and mean something different. Just what I need to get started on my "transistion" video.
@@ShortstopOnPool U r a gifted instructor
nice cue! I had a Jim Buss that looked just like it
I have had the magical feeling experience he describes. I don’t seem to ever miss. My problem is that I lose whatever I’m doing. usually when i think too much
Good video and In other words: Technique, along with endless hours of practice & pressure competition. Cheers
Good point. Proper technique makes the practice more efficient, productive and not as 'endless'.
@@ShortstopOnPoolone other question is that an extension on the middle joints of your cue? Never seen that before only butt extension. I like the middle extension idea.
@@tomburns890I like it too. I want to hold the cue on the wrap. BUT, the metal of the two joints makes it a bit forward balanced and dampens the "feel". I actually just bought a wrapless cue with a very light rear extension. Balance point is almost 2" further forward (more weight in back). Gonna give that a try. I'm sure I'll make a video about it.
@@ShortstopOnPoolmy cue feels a tad butt heavy and why I never went the butt extension route but I’d like to get a 3” or 4” middle extension. Looking into it not and will contact my custom cue maker who made it.
I am a good amateur player (of 50 years) that reached APA 9 in 9B and 7 in 8B, but I always struggled with 2 things; I miscued on a lot of draw shots, and I struggled with long straight shots. I was striving for a long flowing stroke but my tip was dipping before impact as my elbow would totally collapse. I blamed missing the long shots on my visual problems that made it hard for me to identify the center of the cue ball. Between this video and the one you made about finding the correct bridge length and grip point to get my hand behind the 90 degree angle at impact, I am now holding the cue about 4" farther back, and using a simple pendulum stroke with a stable elbow. After only 2 sessions on my table, I am drawing the ball more consistently, and potting the long shots much more easily. I also now understand that at 6"2", I need to get a center extension so the cue will feel more balanced.
Can you say "Game Changer?" Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!!
Great information. Apparently my shoulder has not been in line. Now that I’m aware of it and making sure it’s in line, I’ve been MUCH more accurate.
Great video. Any advice on how to know for sure if shoulder is in line or not? I feel like I focus too much on the shoulder it throws me off
Being in a wheelchair have no choice but to have arm out to the side. Taken a long time to get to a place where im shooting straight so it is doable. Snooker player Joe swayle was my inspiration as he played that way
Some people have other constraints that, like the wheelchair, preclude the standard model. But your "optimal technique" still exists, its just adapted for your stance. Sidearm can still swing naturally. I enjoyed the videos of Joe Swale was able to find. Get that cue tip smoothly through the cue ball. Thank you for sharing. Keep having fun and keep Playing It Straight!
@@ShortstopOnPool keep up the good videos. Very informative and good to see 🤙
I've never heard anybody break it down like that, I probably at my best shot shortstop speed. Would have loved to have seen what this would have done to my game.
This guy HAS to be a professional educator. His approach is spot on.
If you think this is good but his book on straight pool. The book is set up like a lesson plan by chapters . If you play straight pool this book is a must have.
Wonderful summary and good explanations and visuals.
I've trained myself for many compensations for many stance/stroke flaws; always inconsistent and frustrating. You are spot on about this.
I'm 'only' 6' but have found achieving the shoulder position and a square head impossible (at least so far). My spine doesn't seem to want to turn/twist that much. So two theories: 1) I have spine problems preventing proper alignment; 2) I just don't know the right way to achieve it. I'm hoping for #2 and think it must be your leg and hip positions somehow facilitate it. Further explanations/visuals about that would be great. Note: I've tried instructors but have not yet found one to help with these basics.
Shoulder: do you only rotate the torso or do you ALSO rotate your shoulder back in its joint? I tried rotating in the joint but it's not effortless, creates tension and I find it inconsistent. But I try it because of my above spinal twist issues. Do you use any conscious tension to keep the shoulder in a fixed position during the shot? There must be some to hold the elbow in position, right? But I frequently find my elbow wants to drop to 'aid' the shot and sometimes I fight that with extra shoulder tension; I think this is wrong?
Shooting straight drills. It's been hard for me to keep interest in most of these, despite needing them. So, I created a new one based on the CB out and back drill, where I put a ball 'in the way' so that an accurate shot will pocket the ball. It makes it far more interesting to me and the drill can be made progressive by changing ball distances and cut angle; note that the aim is NOT for cutting the ball, but for shooting straight (using a rail target, just like the normal out and back drill. I call it the AimRight Straight-Cut Drill. I have a few videos introducing it and the Method it's part of.
I'll look for your videos.
Should be no tension in shoulder joint. Torso rotation turns the shoulders. Experiment with Y and Z rotation separately, then integrate. Feet position is huge in figuring how your hips turn, which then effect how your torso can turn....
To me, good hip position feels like a weight shift back and left. Most people have too much weight on forward foot. Look at many pros and you'll see forward leg bent but angled back. Feet, weight shift, torso, shoulders. Its a lot of work finding it, but once there you should feel stable with no exertion. Like you could have a picnic. Good luck.
@@ShortstopOnPool Thanks.
Weight shift back and left -- yet don't have too much weight on forward foot. How is that not contradictory?
I've been experimenting today. I've been able to twist more than I thought I could.
Three immediate questions .
1. Stretching for shots. I find myself much more sideways while trying to do your approach. The result seems to be that I can't reach as far. Maybe because of your height, this isn't an issue for you, but it seems that I either need to switch my stance on those shots so I can reach -- or I need to use the bridge more. What say you?
2. Shoulder position. When you are in your stance, can you stroke with your upper arm and make shots? That is, is shoulder alignment proved by such a successful test? Because I miss to one side when doing that. Correspondingly, if I drop my elbow a little early, I miss. I would have thought the purpose of shoulder alignment would be to make the stroke more robust to withstand a little upper arm movement. If YOU can be accurate with an upper arm stroke, it would tell me that I still haven't rotated enough. Or you tell me: how can I tell if I've rotated enough experimentally (I guess an overhead camera would also be a way, if I had one)?
3. Error to the left. I consistently hit a little to the left and I don't think it's my vision/sighting; I think my error might be my backswing. I suspect it's a residue of past clearance problems and I've learned to pull back and away a little. I don't think it's my forward stroke because my typical error there has my hand pull into my side with the tip going to the right. Not enough data yet, but I suspect that maybe the fix is to create even more clearance by bending down further (feet positioned further away) with even more twist (if I can do it). Thoughts?
@@aimprobilliards1009I can't answer without a video so I can see what you're doing and thats getting toward a lesson.
But very briefly, stretched out stance is different. Shoulder is ball/socket so can move every which way. Swinging the upper arm won't reveal anything. All I can say is with the best alignment, your lower arm will fall straight down the line with no muscle input at all.
Very well explained, but my beard interferes in this position. Will have to figure something out.
Where did you get that custom joint extension? Wow that looks nice. Im 6"5" and play with a joint extension, but is nothing near as nice as that.
Local cuemaker built it to match my cue.
I have a several defect type stroke....lol
I'm thinking of setting up a mirror on a chair behind say a corner pocket then actually seeing how I line up in real time.
Amazing video for people who is looking for some analytical explanations! The link for vision center video is not working, can you tell the correct link?
Thanks for letting me know! It should work now.
@@ShortstopOnPool thanks!
Is it possible for a 5'5'', right handed, extreme left eye dominate player to have a natural/comfortable/textbook stroke? I've struggled to forever getting my eye over the cue to aim and still being about to stroke properly.
Hey, I don’t have vision on my right eye, and I play right handed. Is there any difference in shot setup and aim alignment? Appreciate the video 🙌🏼
Put your good eye over your cue stick. Watch pro Albin Ouschan for how its done. Also this: czcams.com/video/3tEFvB3OlEo/video.htmlsi=6mGPaEueNC0TYttu
Please, Please do a more expansive video on strokes going to the left!! Thats me in a nutshell. 3 or 4 diamond length stop shots and I guarantee my cueball is spinning right! It's driving me nuts. I live in St. Petersburg Florida and cannot find an instructor with video equipment. LLoyd
To shoot straight cueing is the most importat point of snooker or pool but most plays donot practice enough or dont know how to.
Film yourself shooting straight shots. Watch yourself on a screen. You may not like it that much, but it can make you think about your fundamentals.
Filming yourself is the BEST. Wish that was as easy 30 years ago as it is today!
Even if it is very difficult for me to contort my body to align along the vertical plane, should I force myself to do so until I get used to it?
That is a good question. The uncomfortable gets comfortable and feels normal after only a short time practicing. That said - you MUST know the difference between uncomfortable and painful. Never do anything that could cause injury or pain. That is a personal decision only you can make.
Also, it helps to make changes incrementally. For example, I have gradually gotten my alignment and head position closer and closer to optimal over the course of 18 months or so. Yoga or other stretching exercises also help. Always go gentle at first and slowly build up your routine.
exceptional video. well organized, clear explanations backed by rationale. I guess I finally can retire the stupid coke bottle I have been shooting into.
If any of you want to see what the greatest player of all time does, watch Ronnie O Sullivan. Perfect stance. Perfect alignment. Immediate aim. Watch his elbow drop. Perfect form. Perfect english. Perfect leaves. Just amazing.
My cue was left of the cueball due to my head not being in the correct position.
Just vision centre with one eye from the cueball and follow through to simplify it. Nothing else. Pendulum stroke and get lower deflection cues.
Have you ever noticed why Eric Strickland twist his wrist at the end of his stroke?
I have noticed that. He's been doing it his whole life as far as I can tell. Would like to analyze that someday.
so is it best playing my socks?
i'm just gonna tape the cardboard wing to the shaft and be done w it lol
Shape it like a wing and FLY! lol
@@ShortstopOnPool the best practice drill of all.. it play the ghost at 15-ball rotation. So many trouble shots there, you learn almost the whole game, certainly that table you're on. On that day/night, in whatever weather, and you don't have to do the evil thing ~think~.
Do you give lessons? :)
I do. Bob@shortstoponpool.com
@@ShortstopOnPoolI sent you an email :)
If I choke up on my cue I noticed wrist movement seems more natural