potting the center pocket

[tofushop193]

I have a problem with the center pocket. It seems like a curse. Most of the time I do a center pot it hits the jaw.

How do you pot a ball into the center pot?

[jrc750]

If you are hitting the jaw that is nearest to you each time, you need to be aiming for the far jaw
If you are hitting the far jaw then you are not cueing correctly

[tofushop193]

If you are hitting the jaw that is nearest to you each time, you need to be aiming for the far jaw
If you are hitting the far jaw then you are not cueing correctly

I should be cueing correctly because I dont have problem with the corner pockets.

The purpose for aiming the far jaw is it to compensate the effect of throw?

[thelongbomber]

I should be cueing correctly because I dont have problem with the corner pockets.

The purpose for aiming the far jaw is it to compensate the effect of throw?

It will be more beneficial to get to the root of the problem rather than doing any sort of compensation. Creating compensatory actions will only result in inconsistency and under any pressure, it is prone to breaking (you are only as good as your weakest link).

Regarding throw, sometimes it actually isn't there. You THINK there is because it seems like it based on the results. Under ideal table conditions (clean balls and cloth), and using pure centre ball striking, you will make the centre pocket every time, ASSUMING you aimed correctly. So start with that first.

If you are generally inconsistent with the centre (sometimes short, sometimes long), then you MIGHT need to re-asses your aim. Although centre pockets seem easy, they are actually a bit tricky because they are often blind or partially blind angles (the pocket isn't in your direct eye line like corner pockets often are).

Firstly, are you actually aiming into your ghost ball (the ball behind the object ball that the cue ball should replace) correctly? And also are you standing in the right place to begin with? To do this assessment, first setup a shot into the centre, off angle around 1/2 ball cut. Stand behind the shot as if you were about to get down. Spend a few seconds assessing the cut angle. Don't get down. Now go place a ghost ball behind the object ball. Return to the standing position. Does the ghost ball appear where you had originally calculated?

This initial assessment might clear up the issue. If the above is not helping or confusing, I have a post here somewhere (long time ago) about how to pocket center balls. In fact, I had an issue with the center pocket years back (missed it so often my m8's would have a laugh) but found a way to correct it through the above technique as well as some other things I do consciously now.

Also look at this for more guidance on cut angles: http://snookerdelight.com/snooker-ar...es-in-snooker/

Post a video up to show your overall technique as this will clear up a lot of questions.