Potting pinks

[Scott M]

Hello

I am getting ok with my potting - however this shot always troubles me:

Imagine the pink is on it is spot, and the white is around the level of the LEFT middle pocket (but with enough distance off the cushion so that you can put your bridge hand on the table)

You are aiming to pot it into the bottom RIGHT pocket (i.e the pocket to the right of the black)

However the shot is ever so slightly off-straight

I can't seem to do this. I can pot it straight, I can pot it when it is at an ~20 degree angle, however when it is only ever so slightly off straight I seem to flop. I had convinced myself that maybe a slightly longish, slightly off-straight shot is impossible as there's only so many positions you can hit the object ball at, and thus only so many different angles you can send the object ball, however I quickly realised this is nonsense as professionals pot this with ease.

So yeah I guess the crux is: how do you pot an ever so slightly off-straight shot? Should I just aim straight anyway and hit it soft so that it goes in off the jaw?

[mythman69]

First of all, the pockets at the black spot end of the table are at the top of the table. In billiards, top of the table play revolves around sinking the red off the black spot into the top pockets.

Don't aim for the centre of the pocket, aim slightly towards the jaw of the pocket on the black side (if that makes sense).

The best way to get better at this shot is to practice, practice, practice. Maybe start with the cue ball closer to the pink until you can make this shot with ease. Then slowly bring the cue ball further away and keep practicing until you can make this shot.

Try to pot the pink with stun, screw and follow through. Repeat ++++

Keep at it and you will get better. Remember to practice the shot from both sides of the table. Then when it comes up during a match you will feel more confident of potting the ball.

Good luck!

[alabadi]

this was one of my worst shots too. the reason i missed mostly right of pocket is i am adjusting too much. when they are just off straight to the jaw and at the distance you are potting its basically a straight shot.

just line up if it was a straight shot, your brain will adjust for the slight angle.

its also good to practice from closer. i set up 3 shots either side of straight and play 10 shots each. play them until you can pot 60/60 i use to lose confidence when these shots use to pop up, not anymore, just practice , practice, practice

[Scott M]

First of all, the pockets at the black spot end of the table are at the top of the table. In billiards, top of the table play revolves around sinking the red off the black spot into the top pockets.

Don't aim for the centre of the pocket, aim slightly towards the jaw of the pocket on the black side (if that makes sense).

The best way to get better at this shot is to practice, practice, practice. Maybe start with the cue ball closer to the pink until you can make this shot with ease. Then slowly bring the cue ball further away and keep practicing until you can make this shot.

Try to pot the pink with stun, screw and follow through. Repeat ++++

Keep at it and you will get better. Remember to practice the shot from both sides of the table. Then when it comes up during a match you will feel more confident of potting the ball.

Good luck!

Thank you for setting me right.

And yes that does make sense, thank you. I will try aiming there from now on, and fair points regarding the start closer and gradually get farther away and practising on both sides.

Cheers.

[Scott M]

this was one of my worst shots too. the reason i missed mostly right of pocket is i am adjusting too much. when they are just off straight to the jaw and at the distance you are potting its basically a straight shot.

just line up if it was a straight shot, your brain will adjust for the slight angle.

its also good to practice from closer. i set up 3 shots either side of straight and play 10 shots each. play them until you can pot 60/60 i use to lose confidence when these shots use to pop up, not anymore, just practice , practice, practice

Glad I am not the only person who has struggled with this, as I felt a bit stupid as it seems such an easy shot.

You have made me realise that over-adjusting is my problem too - I will try playing it straight, allowing my brain to adjust as you said, and try out that practise routine the next time I get to the club.

Cheers.

[kir1]

Potting pinks

A lot of player's don't realise they are putting unwanted left hand side on the white for this shot, causing them to miss.

[sprogbasket]

I firmly believe this is the definitive shot on the table which evidences sighting problems associated with eye dominance....and by it's very nature demonstrates that eye dominance does exist & should be considered when sighting / getting in to stance.

[cyberheater]

I firmly believe this is the definitive shot on the table which evidences sighting problems associated with eye dominance....and by it's very nature demonstrates that eye dominance does exist & should be considered when sighting / getting in to stance.

That's an interesting thought. Can you expand on it.

[sprogbasket]

I may be wrong on this but I know a lot of players have difficulty with this shot and there does not appear to be any other reason. My experience is they are usually OK with the shot from one side of the table but not the other...if this is the case then I suggest this further supports eye dominance as being part of the issue.

It's just a personal observation but the line of this shot is such that you are looking across the object ball at the angle where one's perception of the line can be exaggerated most dependent upon whether you are left or right eye dominant and great care is needed in your alignment.

Cueing is also quite tricky too- I take great care to keep my alignment as I approach the table and get down into stance..I also stay slightly higher on the shot ( in much the same way as I do when playing cut backs into blind pockets) so that I can maintain correct sighting.

[cyberheater]

I may be wrong on this but I know a lot of players have difficulty with this shot and there does not appear to be any other reason. My experience is they are usually OK with the shot from one side of the table but not the other...if this is the case then I suggest this further supports eye dominance as being part of the issue.

It's just a personal observation but the line of this shot is such that you are looking across the object ball at the angle where one's perception of the line can be exaggerated most dependent upon whether you are left or right eye dominant and great care is needed in your alignment.

Cueing is also quite tricky too- I take great care to keep my alignment as I approach the table and get down into stance..I also stay slightly higher on the shot ( in much the same way as I do when playing cut backs into blind pockets) so that I can maintain correct sighting.

Some interesting ideas there. Next time I'm at the practice table I'll have a look at this shot and my set up.

[j6uk]

I may be wrong on this but I know a lot of players have difficulty with this shot and there does not appear to be any other reason. My experience is they are usually OK with the shot from one side of the table but not the other...if this is the case then I suggest this further supports eye dominance as being part of the issue.

most if not all players feel more comfortable on one side of the table than the other as they start to improve, but these are players who haven't yet put in the heavy practice. i don't really connect it with sighting issues. i was the same as a junior, being right handed i felt more confident on the side of the table where my cue was over the table. all this evaporated as i put in the work. at one point i would do the lineup only staying on one side of the table, using just the three pockets opposite to complete it, and if there was couple of lads playing on the next table they were very grateful

[thelongbomber]

Another consideration has to do with how you aim. Ideally, you are meant to stand behind, walk in, and cue into the "ghost ball". The ghost ball being where the cue ball would land so that you would pot the object ball. Often, for many players, even though the shot might be half-ball, quarter-ball, etc, they still stand behind the shot in full-ball position, and then somehow (read: inconsistent), get into line as they get into the shot, or once they are down (by shifting the cue into alignment during feathering). This is not good as it inconsistent and frustrating when it's not working.

The way pros (and how we should aspire) to walk into all shots is to stand behind the cue aiming line. This line is the line that the cue will travel as it travels through the cue ball into and through the ghost ball. So for example if you were aiming to put left hand side on the cue ball, you would walk into the line where the cue would run through the cue ball (left hand side).

You see, in theory, you aren't really meant to look or feel or sense the object ball at all. You have to understand that the only ball your cue tip every touches is the cue ball, and so your primary focus should be the cue ball as much as possible. The cue ball travels down some intended line, it then strikes some other ball and that other ball goes into some new direction. The spin, stun, screw, and all that you apply to the cue ball should be the primary focus of your eyes and mind. Doing this, however, doesn't answer the question of aiming. How does one aim if they only focus on the cue ball? You can't. You need to acknowledge the object ball (and maybe even the pocket) at some point during your execution. Of course the first place is during the standing position. Secondarily, you can also acknowledge/look/feel the object ball during feathering and final cue delivery. How and when exactly this is to be done is a point of contention and debate amongst all players. Some pros do it one way, and some pros do it another way. One of my m8's uses a technique whereby he looks "through" the cue ball down the path it will travel and only glances at the object ball (read: ghost ball) momentarily during feathering. In his final delivery, he stares at the ghost ball (even though it's not there), and uses that as his cueing guide. There are other methods and hybrids of the above that you can experiment with and discover on your own (or ask me for more clarification). I have written some other aiming methods in my various posts.

I will try and find some videos to confirm the above concept from a few pros that I know are doing this but it's hard to get on video. Ronnie OSullivan and Jack Lisowski are very "cue ball" oriented on a lot of shots and you can actually see it in their cue action. You often hear commentators say that Ronnie seems to get so much action on the white. They don't explain why that is, but I believe my explanation above clears a lot of the mystery.

The above insight (or theory) may solve this issue with slightly off angle pink balls. If you are missing these shots, it's probably something you are doing very very early in your shot approach and stance and cue position whereby you aren't actually sending the cue down the correct line. Assuming you are striking centre ball, then perhaps put some mental focus into the ghost ball, get down behind the cue ball and feather and address into this ghost ball. Stare at the ghost ball during final delivery and see what happens. I suspect you aren't acknowledging the ghost ball correctly (or at all). If it's still not working, place an actual ball into the ghost ball position. Get back into the standing position, and have a good look. Spend a few minutes there if you have to (I have done this with back cut black balls to reset my brain). Remove the ball, and then get back into position. Are you standing in the correct spot still? Did you need to shift over somewhere?

If this is working, then confirm this hypothesis by increasing the angle slightly, repeating the shot a few times, increasing angle, repeating, and then going back incrementally into a more full ball repeating a shot several times each. Also do this on both sides of the table. Note the consistency or inconsistency if there is any.

Over time, your estimation of angles, and placement of your eyes, head, and body, will become more accurate only if you put more discipline into this part of your shot making process.

More in missing angles here: http://snookerdelight.com/snooker-ar...es-in-snooker/

Video will help a lot so post one up.

Hope that helps!

[thelongbomber]

Further to my previous post about aiming and eye focus, watch Ronnie's eyes very very carefully starting at 1:11:42. As he gets more into "the zone" and starts forming a break, he puts more and more focus into the cue ball. You could say that as he requires more "work" on the white, he puts more "eyes" on the white. And visa versa, as more energy is required on just potting (like long balls) he will put more effort into staring at the object ball (read: ghost ball).

Taking this into something you can use to help you, put more "eye-time" on the object ball, do several shots, and then put more "eye-time" on the cue ball. See what happens. There WILL be a difference.

[cyberheater]

@ thelongbomber

As always. Some though provoking stuff which I'm still cogitating. Thanks.

[j6uk]

bomber, why do you believe ron is looking at the white so much? simply to get more action from the white or what?