High Blacks Problem

[DeanH]

someone told me in the club to point one foot at where the object ball is going and the other in the direction of the cueball.

is there any merit in this?

Someone once showed me the same...
All I will say is that after a few minutes my knees were hurting and also I was not potting anything.
So personally I would not recommend this to anyone, as has been said many times - always be comfortable in all aspects of the stance.

[nrage]

..if you were locked onto potting point you would know as soon as the white connects(if not before)with the black if its too thick or thin or just right and you would know the potting point within 2 or 3 shots, especially as you are playing the white from the same place.

This is a good point. If your eyes are on the BOB at the point of impact then you will know immediately if you're hitting it as desired. Looking at BOB on impact is a good way to give accurate feedback to the brain. You could argue that you only need the eyes on BOB until the cue strikes the white, which is technically true perhaps, but I would say that you risk moving them earlier if there is a slight change in timing, and there is the feedback argument too.

So.. if you cannot recall after any given shot whether it hit the point you were aiming for, then you probably weren't looking at it at the point of contact, and maybe not as the cue struck the white. So, I think, make a conscious effort to "notice" on each attempt where the white strikes the black, because if you can do that then your eyes must be on BOB at the point where you strike the white and you will get maximum feedback.. win win.

[itsnoteasy]

hi chris, thanks very much for this, very interesting.

someone told me in the club to point one foot at where the object ball is going and the other in the direction of the cueball.

is there any merit in this?

I tried this, played a double and my leg fell off.

[tedisbill]

I'm not sure what any of the coaches think about what I'm about to say, I'll be interested to hear.

Is this not just a case of misjudging the potting angle on the black? What I mean is, not really knowing what the correct contact point is in the first place? You can pick a contact point and cue straight all day, but if that contact point is different every time, you'll get inconsistent results as shown.

I just feel like a black from this sort of distance, I could cue it really terribly and still pot it.

Just a thought?

If alabadi put the white the same distance from the black, but the potting angle was dead straight, how many would he miss then?

[damienlch]

...I just feel like a black from this sort of distance, I could cue it really terribly and still pot it.

Just a thought?

That's the reason why I suggested earlier to play some sort of position instead of just plain potting.

To achieve the same position over again, the stroke applied would have to be rather consistent. The player should then find it easier to recognise whether he is picking the angle wrong or his technique needs adjusting. Just sharing my own experience this.

I miss relatively easy shots if I concentrate too hard on potting a singe ball but my potting improves if I am bustling amongst the balls... The Doc's quote comes to my mind... "Don't think, feel"...

[alabadi]

If alabadi put the white the same distance from the black, but the potting angle was dead straight, how many would he miss then?

I can pot most times 10/10 on straight shots over short distance. I have practiced blacks straight in and with follow through I can get at least 7 whites to follow into the pocket. I rarely miss straight blacks unless I am on or close to the cushion.

its those damn angles, in particular high a nightmare

[j6uk]

The shot that you set up was in between 1/2 and 3/4 ball and I don't think you really knew the angle. Your not familiar with the angles.. I think you could now start practicing the black routine. First 10 then 20/50/100. This will improve your all round game and at the same time you can concentrate on balance, watch the cue come back with smooth straight cueing, transfer the eyes and deliver. You'll find your way enjoy

[alabadi]

The shot that you set up was in between 1/2 and 3/4 ball and I don't think you really knew the angle. Your not familiar with the angles.. I think you could now start practicing the black routine. First 10 then 20/50/100. This will improve your all round game and at the same time you can concentrate on balance, watch the cue come back with smooth straight cueing, transfer the eyes and deliver. You'll find your way enjoy

to be honest, I have practiced blacks from a high position at all different angles, I always do these in my solo practice, I would say I spend anywhere between 3-4 hours a week just doing these alone. I don't seem to be consistent enough. sometimes I can pot 5-6 in a row and then miss the next 5, seems odd because the angle is the same.

I do notice one thing though, if all my concern was the pot and I have now issues with power or position I usually pot. its when I am trying to do something with the white that buggers everything up.

maybe as someone else has said I need to focus on the spot on BOB and forget everything else as it will take care of itself. I will be practicing tomorrow again so I will have to see how I get on then.

[vmax4steve]

to be honest, I have practiced blacks from a high position at all different angles, I always do these in my solo practice, I would say I spend anywhere between 3-4 hours a week just doing these alone.

The angles may be different but the contact point (BOB) for a colour on its spot is always the same. Forget trying to remember angles and just find the contact point, not only when down in the stance but first and foremost when standing up behind the shot. Don't just look at the object ball, focus on the contact point and your subconscious will take care of the angle.

[j6uk]

There is a map/guide to help you in potting angles. If you put the white on the cushion parallel with the black and pink spot, so you've got a low and a high black, then potting the black will be the same angle at 3/4 ball. If you put the white high on the black in line with the middle pocket, potting the black will be 1/4 ball no?
The table is your friend and there to help

Do you know the black routine?

to be honest, I have practiced blacks from a high position at all different angles, I always do these in my solo practice, I would say I spend anywhere between 3-4 hours a week just doing these alone. I don't seem to be consistent enough. sometimes I can pot 5-6 in a row and then miss the next 5, seems odd because the angle is the same.

I do notice one thing though, if all my concern was the pot and I have now issues with power or position I usually pot. its when I am trying to do something with the white that buggers everything up.

maybe as someone else has said I need to focus on the spot on BOB and forget everything else as it will take care of itself. I will be practicing tomorrow again so I will have to see how I get on then.

[j6uk]

It will be difficult to find the contact point if you don't recognize the angle.

[throtts]

Players also have different consistencies each side of the table. I am right handed and on the right side of the table my blacks will a higher % pot success wise over the month. It's strange but seems to be the case, why, I do not know..Has to be to do with set up on the left side of table, it will be something small but there all the same and on my tight table it does make a difference.

[j6uk]

Like many players I use to have this issue as a young player, being right handed I'd be more confident on the green side of the table. When I started doing blacks, this all evaporated.

Players also have different consistencies each side of the table. I am right handed and on the right side of the table my blacks will a higher % pot success wise over the month. It's strange but seems to be the case, why, I do not know..Has to be to do with set up on the left side of table, it will be something small but there all the same and on my tight table it does make a difference.

[nrage]

It will be difficult to find the contact point if you don't recognize the angle.

Assuming you're only standing behind the white. If you go round behind the object ball and look straight into the pocket it's dead easy to find the contact point. Finding the line of aim and hitting it is another story however, unless you know your potting angles. That said, I find the contact point and play many shots without ever realising it was 1/2 ball (for example) because I don't consciously "recognise" it's a 1/2 ball angle, I just concentrate on hitting the contact point I decided upon (via unconscious recognition of the angle, or by consciously drawing a line through the ball from the pocket with my eyes).

[nrage]

Is this not just a case of misjudging the potting angle on the black? What I mean is, not really knowing what the correct contact point is in the first place? You can pick a contact point and cue straight all day, but if that contact point is different every time, you'll get inconsistent results as shown.

This is why, in order to learn the potting angles/contact point well, you should play the same shot repeatedly until you can knock 5/5 (initially), then move the white to a new position and repeat. The contact point is always the same, but it looks different and you need to aim different for each white position. Because you're repeating the same shot, you are feeding consistent information into your head, so you will improve faster than playing random shots. As you improve you should gradually increase the margin required to 10/10, 20/20, etc. Or, vary the angle on every shot and try to get 5/5, 10/10, etc.