Absolutely no one takes the time to show and explain exactly where, why and how, to see, aim and shoot and the ( makes perfect sense reasons) why to do it except for you! Picked up my game just as you said it should. My hat is off to you Shar and thank you!!
Number 1. Determine which eye is your dominate eye for aiming. Watch the elite players, most will have either left eye or right eye over the cue when down on the shot. To do this, point at something at about 10 feet away with both eyes open and then close one eye, then try the other eye. Do this several times at a few different objects at distance and find which eye is having your finger point consistently at the object your are looking at. This will be your dominate eye. Always address your shot with that dominate eye over the cue shaft. There are some top notch players that place the cue shaft directly under the chin between both eyes and it works for them. However, I have noticed most players prefer either right or left eye over the shaft. Every other fundamental will be much easier to learn if you aim with your dominate eye. You can chase your fundamental tail around wondering why you missed a shot when your stroke was good and you were sure you lined up the shot. But still missed your pocket by a few inches. Most likely you were not aiming with your dominate eye. Number 2. Make sure your elbow is the major force moving your pool cue. The hand and wrist are just holding the cue. The elbow has the range of motion to make a pure stroke. Watch Ronnie O'Sullivan play snooker, one of the purest cue sport action strokes in the history of pool/snooker. A thing of beauty. Number 3. Put the cue ball on the head spot. Just hit the cue ball to the far rail.(Don't try to pocket balls yet.) Make the cue ball come back to the tip of your cue by hitting center ball. Make a nice smooth stroke with a soft, medium and hard hit on the cue ball and follow through straight. If you can get the cue ball to come straight back to the center of your tip 10-30 times in a row consistently, you are developing a solid fundamental stroke. Number 4. This time using the cue ball and an object ball. Now shoot nothing but straight in shots at various lengths and positions on the table. Shoot with center ball and about just a half tip below center cue ball. Distance of shots and force of stroke will determine how far to cue below center ball for a stun shot. Make these straight in shots 10-30 times in a row and achieve a stun/stop shot where the cue ball does not move forward or draw back. If you can do this consistently, you are developing a solid fundamental stroke. Number 5. Play higher level competition than yourself, and under pressure situations, to see if your practiced, developed aim and fundamentally straight stroke will consistently hold up.
oppsss whats is the truth...the dominant eye or the vision center..sharivari believe in vision center eye alignment also nic barrow..they dont believe the cue stick exactly that dominant eye
AlexZander I hate to say it, but you’re wrong. It’s bad habit to aim with one eye your cue should split the “ghost ball” 50/50” so your eyes should split the cue almost like you are symmetrically splitting your face and the center of your chin should fall right on the line to the center of the ghost ball. So therefore if your stroke is straight and using both eyes you should technically never miss
I read the comment about closing your eyes. I do that also. It helps you shut off your visual senses and strengthen the others. I personally shoot one handed for about 1 hour per day to ensure a straight stroke. So when I actually use my bridge hand I'm ridiculously accurate. Great video editing. And great content. Keep it up
I watch a lot of vids. Yours bring together many of the points that others make, but you add detail and explanations that I find really excellent. This one, and the spin vid have helped me already. Thanks so much.
shockingly the better we become the more games we lose, rightfully put and i guess you have summed it up and stated it properly, its the timing which is very essential and even with the timing, if you miss with your opponent having the cleared the table for you , the only thing he has left is the black ball and you can end up running out of position and leaving yourself with a very difficult ball and end up missing the ball, it is a tough subject to master.
knowing about eye dominance is important. but getting one eye over the cue is not really helpful because your brain naturally has its own 'center', which may not be exactly on one eye. it's more important to trust that your vision is straight and seeing your cue stick in the center of your vision, rather that focusing on the eye being over the stick.
@@mescellaneous what I have done is get the cue lined up for a center ball hit (I used chalk cubes, etc. to hold the cue in position) which was verified by looking down on the ball and the cue. Then I took my position behind the cue and adjusted my body and head position so that I saw the cue at the center of the cue ball. If I just addressed the cue ball in my usual way, I had to accept that I had to see that the cue appeared slightly to the left of center. By adjusting my head and body so that I truly saw my cue was pointing at the true center of the cue ball, I have increased my potting and I don't need to remember tricks for getting to center ball. It does take a while to get use to using my new body and head position, but I believe it is worth the effort.
What I think is the most effective practice routine for potting and learning where to hit is the following; You start with a straight shot in any pocket, then after making 10 in a row, move on to a 3/4 hit. After 10 straight pots, go to a half ball hit. Then 1/4th, 10 times in a row. If that routine becomes easy, do it for every pocket. Especially the middle pockets seem to scare new players. If you do this you can easily orientate your shots and it'll become natural. It doesn't take that much time either if you're a little experienced.
This video is nice and everything but at the end of the day shotmaking is all about talent, not about silly aiming techniques. Since I was a boy I've always been able to see where I have to hit the ball in order to make it. I'm talking about most shots, since there are some very tough ones with a very fine margin for error. Usually when I missed/miss it was/it is due to my poor technique, meaning twitching and moving on the shot, getting up too early, applying unintentional side, not following through,etc. I have a very good friend and we have played pool together since we were kids. He's tried all the methods u described, he's practiced tons of systems/patters, but the end result is always the same: I win. And it has nothing to do with me having a better shot selection, a better technique, cueball control, etc. It's mostly due to the fact that I'm just better, more talented. My friend simply can't determine the potting angle on certain shots., it's just the way life goes. Some people are just better on some things than others.
Agree. I never was a fan of complex systems etc. because I would describe myself as an talented / instinct player. But here I am trying to give a little more scientific way for people who aren't that talented and want to improve and know on what things they could work. As you mentioned, you missed balls due to your poor technique "twitching and moving on the shot, getting up too early, applying unintentional side, not following through,etc.". I mentioned all these points in the video aswell. Thanks for your feedback :)
U'r welcome. One suggestion if u don't mind. Apart from the teaching part of the video, try posting some actual shots so people can understand better what u'r trying to explain.
I line up the inside edge of cue ball to the inside edge of ghost ball, making sure that I am looking at the inside edge of ghost ball on the final backstroke and follow through stroke, the slower and smoother the final back stroke the more accurate you become at shot making.
thank you for eye alignment. This was a great tip. i chance from midle to my dominate left eye and play much much better. great video. greetings from Germany
I was little confused about the glancing back and forth between cue ball and object ball. I remember watching another video and you mentioned to focus on the Cue ball once you have your aiming line
I am focusing on the cue ball, once I am ready to execute the stroke. This video has a whole part just on the eye pattern, you should have a look at that! ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-l0MUZgIQHCU.html
That's simply not correct. Here's the reason. 2 Teachers have been on the job 10 years. One of the teachers still struggles with getting students to learn, apply themselves, stay caught up, achieve any measure of competence. The other teacher has nearly 100% successful students. All achieving excellence in their subject. Asked of the 2nd teacher "What's your secret? The teacher responded, "I'm not totally sure, but I have 10 years of experience, really care about my students and keep working on my skills." Asked of the other teacher the same question, the teacher responded, "Well, I have 10 years of experience...." and they cut that teacher off and said, "Let's be clear. You don't have 10 years of experience. It's obvious. You have 1 year of experience that you've managed to repeat 10 times. That's your problem." 10,000 hours... repeating the same errors 10,000 times won't make one a better shot maker.
If you are doing several things wrong in your fundamentals and no one corrects you it is possible to play 10,000 hours and still not be a good pool player. I thought I was good, then I saw Efren Bata Reyes live. Hell I simply play AT THIS GAME.
Your video in summary is to maintain fundamentals. These methods work for stun shots, but a majority of misses from high-level players comes from how to compensate your aim when using spin/english. Why emphasize a contact point when it's no longer valid with a right spin or draw. Drills like a progressive angle drill with progressive amounts of Engish/spin would help. Like Efren says, you have to aim differently depending on the english/spin.
Yes the aim is different depending on the spin, but the contact point remains the same. It's how to make the cb hit the contact point while using spin, that is the challenge.
The problem with going by the feel is that, especially when starting out to practice, your going to miss a lot. Thats natural because youre just getting into it and practice. But when you miss most of the shots because you dont feel it good enough, you start to doubt and insecure. I went through exactly this, and the only way to get more secure is to have an aiming system to get a plan on where to hit the OB, and then use your feeling to fine tune the shot. After pocketing hundreds of balls, the feeling gets stronger and thats where its going to be much easier. Confidence grows, routine grows, consistency grows. The more I play the more angles i have that i already know how to hit, just because ive done that like hundreds of times. I had a really hard time in getting the feel, and im still nowhere where i wanna be. But once the feel is right, its about to practice on positioning and english/spin and bank/kick/jump shots.
Good explanation of basic fundamentals. However, this needs to be expanded to include applying english to control the cue ball location for the next shot. A video on the application of english would be more helpful.
A few things to consider. One is that the cue and object ball result in friction when the cue ball hits the object ball and you must compensate. I do so by using a bit of out side english depending on how dirty the balls are and the condition and type of cloth the pool table is covered with. On very thin cuts always use out side english as some are to thin and without the english throwing the object ball toward the pocket you cannot make the shot without it. To get and idea of what I am talking about if you are a beginner set up a straight in shot of two feet or more. Hit the cue ball with left english fairly soft right in the spot you are being told to. The ball will be thrown to the right of the normal path. If it is straight in use center ball (no english). Most often you don't want a shot with out some angle and often need to apply left or right english to make the cue ball come off a rail at the desired angle for your next shot. When you hit it with left english the object ball is thrown right of the normal path. The slower softer you shot the more it throws the object ball. Also when you have two ball object balls touching each other and if hit buy the cue ball in the center of the first object ball and you will see the "throw". If you have two object balls that are close to being a dead straight shot but are a bit of the desired path to the picket hit the front ball to the left if you need to ' throw' the second ball to the right in order to pocket it. Speed of stroke, length of the shot and how dirty the balls are determine how much the second ball will be thrown. Best way to look at is is treat the two balls as if they were one if touching each other. Try this on long shot and you will quickly see what I mean. English is evil but a necessary one if you want to be a good player with cue ball control. English, meaning left or right spin applied to the cue ball effects alters the path of the object ball, alters the direction the cue ball comes off the rail and the speed the cue ball is moving after it contacts a rail. Try it and get and see. When you start using left and right english you success rate in making shots will fall. BUT after you get a command of this you game will be at a much higher level and you will be able to make shots that physics would not allow with using it. Trying to control two balls with one stick consistently if difficult but once you have a good command on english and the associated effects described above pool will be much more fun as your shot percentage will go up and your ability to run several balls will come. Watch a pro match on U Tube and pay close attention to how they work the cue ball around, especially in straight pool (the best game to play if you want to learn the entire game O or nine ball. The better players will get the correct angles and work the cue ball around, making the game look easier and it is after you can incorporate english in your game. Good Luck and do not get discouraged when you start this process. Your game will definitely move to the level the initial abuse you are putting yourself through is well worth it. P.S. I typed this to help and not contradict what the fellow was saying no one told me about this and I had to figure it out well after I started the game. Just wish someone would have pointed this out to me early on.
First thing I teach is foundation . I Great player , play beyond their own capabilities . Old black man told me get rid of the ball's on far side of the table . Much to learn and the learning never stops
When I do the dominant eye test the object across the room just moves from one side of the triangle to the other and is equally spaced from the center each time. Does this mean I don’t have a dominant eye and should put the cue in the center of my eyes?
Thats a very good point. So we should work step by step on all these things. Pick on thing and remind ourselves everytime when we're shooting. After it went to our muscle memory and unconscious mind, the next thing should be trained and repeated till its internalized again.
You actually DON'T want to be a shot maker... you want to be a pool player. I know a dozen shot makers who barely have a stroke, can't get position and have little or limited knowledge of the game. Be a pool player... there's a huge difference!
I should go in more detail instead of just being critical. First question I would ask him the instructor is when did you start playing pool. If your instructor started playing pool before 10 years old and you’re in your 20s it’s going to be very difficult to learn from them not saying it cannot Be done it’s going to be very difficult because some of the techniques they developed was developed over many years of practice. Let’s say you’re over 20 and you’re not a very good Poolplayer but you love the game and are not afraid to work to get better. When I say that I also means change the way you perceive or think about things. Break it down into three different things right now keep it simple at this point. Don’t worry will build on it. Foundation translation into stance. Think triangulation Both feet and bridge arm and hand makes a triangle. Pay attention to Snooker players they have some of the best fundamental stance programs there is. Next would be timing translated to stroke. If you don’t have good timing in your Your stroke your shop making making will go way down and position play. the best way I developed timing by Open close technique with the backhand.. The best way to learn this is to watch videos of all the top Poolplayer they have similar techniques pay attention to the backhand how they go backwards and how they finish in the forward position. When you were at your home if you have a pool cue get you a wine bottle or a long neck beer bottle with some Play-Doh put it on your kitchen table and practice your stance and stroking in and out the bottle. Go slow at least you do 150 a day you should be doing 500. pay attention to how your hand is in the back position and pay attention to how it is in the front position review videos and make sure your technique is the way The pros that are the most consistent are doing it. Open snooker bridge style is good to start. The reason why you can use an oven bridge in the beginning is it shows if your technique it’s not good. They close the bridge will have a tendency to hide flaws.. There was a guy that was not a good pool player in the early years but he became a great one pocket player named Freddie the beard get his books his videos he’s no joke I started ripping the shit out of everybody when I read his books and practiced his techniques on grip hand .a professional who is kicking the shit out of everybody at that time was the one that referred me to him. Last but not least he is correct about viewing the shot correctly once you find out your dominant eye you’ve got your timing getting better. Then set up a shot shooting down the rail put a object ball past the side pocket A half diamond about 2 cm away from the rail Put the Q ball 2 to 2 1/2 diamonds at a 30° cut angle which would be a half a ball hit . Shoot 10 of them pay attention to what side of the pocket you’re hitting on if you’re hitting it into the rail adjust your eye 3 mm increments accordingly at a time once you start to pocket all the balls then switch to the other side of the table same I position and make sure that it works left and right. Don’t be afraid to move left or right in increments when you’re first trying to figure out your Site alignment. Freddy the beards books were the ones that change my whole game if you want to get good at pool. Zen golf is another good book. Shadow system , center to edge, ghost balI learned all these techniques the technique I fell back on that seem to work the best was using shaft aiming and proper alignment.
I don't know which eye of the pro players is dominant. If the cue is going towards the right eye, you are more likely to actually be right eye dominant. But I am sure it could happen that you are right eye dominant and have the cue a little more to the left eye.. because of the many factores I mentioned in the video. But it's unlikely. The real struggle starts if you are cross eye dominant. That means you are right eye dominant + left handed and vice versa.
Sharivari - analysis paralysis as you find in golf and the endless how to and training guides. The KISS approach is best for repetions and consistency. Why is it that the so-called natural or gifted are so good? No distraction of thinking. If your eyes can see and your body is capable of execusion is all about repitition on demand. Can't get around basic knowledge (physics and geometry), practice and knowing what is possible. Sorry, but pool came easy for me with very little instruction and limited money to loose. The old school method
I don't think it's about shot making. I think unless your at a high level play AKA pro, focus on position play. I don't mean general area but which line your cue ball will go. And where you want it to be.
absolutely controlling the cue ball makes the game so much easier, but the video is correct i have lost to players that i am better at position play,safeties,etc. but they were just better shot makers. Im talking about 9 ball ofcourse. in 8 ball the best shooter doesnt necesserally win.
it is about shot making when pockets are tighter. watch some chinese 8 ball to get a reference for how important aim is. putting position play over aim is a defective playstyle developed in billiards (imo) just from the sheer size of the pockets. and even if you don't trust your aim, playing a fantastic safety is much more important when you do lose position.
You did the eye dominant test wrong. You said if you see the thing you are looking at and close say your right eye and cant see it anymore that is your dominant eye which is wrong. Whatever eye keeps the item visible is tye dominant eye. Also in up right of your pool table view you have it saying EFFET which should be EFFECT.
I never said that. I said: "From time to time, you're missing shots that you just shouldn't miss." And thats of course possible. A good example would be Roman Hybler from Germany / Romania. He is a great player, has the potential to become a world class player, but misses too often, especially easy shots. That's why he doesn't have a long term chance against real shotmakers, like Joshua Filler. Even if Joshua's save, kicking or tactical game isn't as strong as Romans.
Sharivari or alex pagualyan missing the nineball vs jayson shaw. i would argue alex is better at everything in pool then shaw except shot making. and guess what shaw is a top 2 player in the world
I actually think most people are ball makers. They rather make a ball and sacrifice shape or safety play. Most players without cueball control can actually be harder to beat at times. They make ridiculous 15% shots because they do it to themselves daily and move balls around too much changing the game constantly. Good players don't move balls around unless it's necessary. Also the eye thing I learned way back when shooting firearms.
Don’t take it that I’m giving you a hard time your concert gets a person close but this is actually not the correct way to get perfect I live a straight shot won’t do anything for you.
25 years experience then 20 years without playing. Now 8 months playing again and all I'm seeing around town are 7 ft tables interspersed with a few 8ft and 9ft tables but it's almost all 7 ft tables. This video is about becoming a shot maker. In my opinion a player cannot become a good shot maker playing on 7 ft tables. Errors in the stroke will not show up as readily on small tables, making it exponentially more difficult to correct flaws that stay hidden if only playing on small tables.
if you want to be good? all you have have to do is practice 1 or 2 times a week . for 3 hours. and actually pay attention. it's not that hard. find some 8 foot tables. buy a cue stick and go there and practice. religiously. been playing ten years like that. I'll shoot impossible shots all night.
If u close ur eyes when ur playing in a bar or something the person ur playing will think ur disrespecting him and it could start a fight!!! Hey I can beat so and so with my eyes closed that sort of thing! Not recommended.
So you made a video with no real live shots, saying if you get everything perfect, you will make more balls. No shit. Well you got a view from me, welcome.
