This is a fantastic video! Two days ago I was playing a guy I have regularly beat a number of times, and we were playing for money. This guy handed me my ass. Literally destroyed me to the point I was embarrassed. I warmed up really good in my practice session. I won the first game. Lost the second game on the 8 ball, and then literally looked like I hadn't played the game before for the rest of the match. I lost 8-2. I was stunned and about as frustrated as I have ever been playing anything. For some darn reason I could not get my game back on track. I felt totally uncomfortable on every shot. After the match a guy that has seen me play many times walks up to me and says "did you throw that match?" I told him no, I would never do that. He then says "well you didn't do anything like you normally do. You didn't step back from the table, you didn't take any time, your back stroke was wayyyyyy too fast. What happened?" And he was right. But at the time I just didn't figure it out. A pre-shot routine is so important and I let my pre-shot routine totally disappear and paid a price for it. Thankfully it was just $100, but I was actually more concerned about my play and embarrassed than losing the $100. I was wondering if I was having a stroke or some sort of mental melt down while playing. From now on I am going to religiously follow my pre-shot routine because it does make a big difference.
My following comment is not in any way to try to take away anything you had to say it this video. Your videos are awesome!! One good tip which helped me when thinking of how hard to hit the ball (stroke softer) is to change the way I was thinking and talking about playing pool. #1, is that I'm not shooting at anything, I'm rolling or pushing one ball into another ball in order to get the second ball to roll off the edge of a small section of the top of the table. #2, I'm aiming at the front edge of an opening where the ball rolls off the edge, or lip at the front of a hole. The pocket is just the place where the ball goes after it rolls off the front edge and so the ball doesn't fall on to the floor. I don't need to get the ball to the back of the hole, just off the front edge. When you shoot at something or fire at something your brain is more likely going to associate that with something which has a lot of high velocity, force, or power. Also, when you aim at the left, center, or right side of the pocket, you should be aiming at the left, center, or right front edge of the hole, not the back of the pocket. This might sound odd but it's helped be to slow down my stroke, improve my stroke timing, and have more control of my cue. It's not a game of force it's a game of finesse. Sometimes when I get in a slump, I have to remind myself to stop trying to force something to happen and play a game of finesse.
When things are not just going my way and I am missing easy shots, I shoot slower or faster than I have been shooting. Amazingly, it works for me and I have won two tournaments in recent weeks when I was not playing my best by altering how hard or soft I have been shooting balls.
Great tips, this is a common topic that is not spoken about much and you addressed it well. However, with regard to the tip about shooting softer... some players, me included, feel like when the shots have some power then we are more confident and consistent. And also when you're playing on tables that you are unfimiliar with, playing firmer is the better option to not get caught out by any imbalances in the table, balls, etc.
I had a golf pro tell me your pre-shot routine was the one thing that makes the difference between bad golfers and good golfers. Aim small/miss small really works well when there is a ball covering part of the shot path.
Man I wish I seen this video before heading to the Western BCA. I’ve been in a slump for a month and it went right into week of BCA week. Better later then never
This is a great video and great information! I'm a snooker player in the UK and I've always used these tips you are giving to pool players 😊Perfect information and spot on advice! Best wishes to you and all the best with your pool game and furture success! Ian 😊
Well, I could say your psychic because I just came off a terrible nite in my league play. Thanks for the tips. Thinking about it, your video is right on time. Looking forward to a major come back. Stay well.
Have good fundamentals and aiming systems you can fall back on. Don't only rely being normal or feeling in stroke. Typically I don't ghost ball when shooting. If my shots are off, I'll use the ghost ball method. Shot making not as strong, but it's my fall back
Re; shoot softer, most have two speeds, too hard, and too too hard. After all, remember if you slam 'em in, they count more right? I mean, it's the 3H system: Hit Hard and Hope.
Most of the time people lose a set because they don't know when their gas tank is about to run on E what I mean by that is they shoot too many balls and right at the last minute they get out of line so bad they can't get out but they still try anyways because of their ego😂
Before I watch I'm gonna say that rhe best way to get out of a slump in any sport is by going thru the fundamentals. I've had teammates point out little things thet i was skipping in my routine. Routine is very important. A good routine keeps your fundamentals in order.
Also, that shaft aiming system has been working very good for me. However, i find it doesn't work for the side pocket. Or maybe i just need to figure out how to make it work for the side pocket. But aiming the same way you do for corner pockets doesn't work. I've just been using center shaft on ghost ball. But for the corners it's awesome!!
Where do you aim for side shots? A lot of people take the line that goes straight to where the cloth meets the material that forms the back of the pocket (leather or plastic), but the real point you wanna aim for is actually the spot directly in between the two points of the rails. If you have your own table, try placing a paper donut there and aiming for that. It takes a little while before it looks like it will go in when you're down on the shot, but if you practise a bunch of those shots, it will go in. Also, for steeper side shots, I prefer to throw the ball in with spin so it takes a curve instead of a straight line, make the pocket accept the ball a little better.
@@mjg1185 I aim for the seam that you say is incorrect. I'll give what you're saying a try. The seam between the cloth and plastic works fine when I aim with center shaft. But I'll try your method with the side shaft aiming method.
@@mjg1185 and yes I know how to throw into the side pocket on steep cuts. Or you can aim for that same spot you said with pure pocket speed and let the ball drop when it hits that lip. Two different ways to approach it depending on the situation.
