where you aim object ball

[swestlife]

hello gud day i want to ast what are the most or player use in aiming at the object ball,,is it imagining a spot on the BALL ot imagining a line on the table to aim the object ball,,what are pro use to aim a shot !!? thanks

[bolty]

I believe the two common ways are:
1. Using a "ghost ball".. this is where you imagine there is a ball in the place you want the cue ball to hit the object ball.
2. Aiming for a specific point on the object ball.

They are quite similar but subtly different. I use the latter, as do most pros - i think...

[Hello, Mr Big Shot]

Or you could just aim at the part of the OB that is furthest away from the pocket...

But i prefer PIITH...

https://youtu.be/_q4jEPmHFa8

[bluenose1940]

The difficulty as I see in making a pot is that, for anything other than full ball, three quarter ball or half ball (or any minute difference in any of these shots) you are actually aiming the centre of the cue ball at a point outside of the edge of the object ball, i.e. at nothing, zilch!

In darts say, you are always throwing at the chosen target, not outside of it. If you are throwing a cricket ball at the stumps in an effort to run someone out, you are aiming at the stumps all of the time, not outside of them.

This is what makes snooker so difficult, trying to judge precisely where half an inch or 5/8ths or 3/4's (roughly) outside of the edge of the object ball is for a quarter ball and thinner pots, and all this over 10 to 12 feet! No wonder we lesser mortals are tearing at our hair, if we still have any of course

[Dave_marsy]

All the above guides can be used but if you play a lot of snooker you just know instinctively where to line the shot up and most of your concentration is what your trying to do with the cue ball ....I have had 25 yrs out of the game and now I struggle to find the potting angle ...due to lack of table time and eye sight also cue action isnt groved anymore ...

[Dave_marsy]

I have no hair left

[Terry Davidson]

Nic Barrow did a survey of a bunch of pros a few years back and asked them how they aim and what principle they used. The most common answer was 'f****d if I know. I just know the correct potting angles from experience.'

[Shockerz]

Nic Barrow did a survey of a bunch of pros a few years back and asked them how they aim and what principle they used. The most common answer was 'f****d if I know.'

Must be nice to be on auto pilot Terry!

[Byrom]

Well you sort of just know certain angles through repetition.

Breaking it down its a combination of things - I imagine a little track to the back of the pocket that runs though the object ball and try sending it down that track. At the same time I also judge the angle of hit quarter ball half ball three quarter - and observe the edge of the white when it overlaps the object ball which after allowing for throw or any trace of side you kind of get used to as well. Hard to explain but you sort of just know.

When I over think it I play crap when I think of nothing I play decent. Strange game

[Dave_marsy]

Terry is right it just come natural by reppertition just like your cue action and timing

[vmax4steve]

It's nothing to do with repetition as there are a myriad of differing angles, it's a subconscious process that only involves looking at the target/s to let your brain know what you want to do.
You look at the cue ball, then look at the contact point on the object ball or vice versa and then the subconscious knows the line of aim and takes over.
If you consciously think anything at all you're mullered.

So in effect concentration is all about remembering to look at the target/s. How many times have you simply gotten down without looking, especially on the ones sitting over the pocket, whoops you missed it.

[ace man]

Again this aiming stuff. How could anyone possibly not know where to hit the object ball in order for it to fall into pocket? Even if somebody were to point a laser beam to exact point of that object ball on every shot you take, it wouldn't help. You need cue action to pot balls!!!
Players who are not professionals or not close to that level simply cannot send the cue ball where they are aiming. At least, they cannot do that very consistently. Club players like me even less. No shame in that, snooker is brutally hard.
Here's my take on it having observed players far better than me in person, some pros even.
They strike the ball better with far more consistency, they walk into the shot better with better preshot routine, i.e. more chance of cue being aligned properly than in my case. They hardly move or twitch or steer the cue at all. They feather better with more control, have better back pause, better initial acceleration, that is no twitch. Better finish of cue action, no chest thumping, no funny movement. Also, far far more relaxed, hardly any visible tension. I could go on with these details. That's why they pot more, play better position, play better long thin safeties, better with side spin, better with stun run through...etc...all because they have way way more accuracy when it comes to precise tip placement on the cue ball.

[Dave_marsy]

Finding the potting angle isn't as easy has you think it comes from years of practice and then becomes automatic if you practice every day
Everything you said about the cue action is correct ..you only need to line up a straight ball pot to prove that ..where there is no judgment involved finding the line of aim as it's just a full ball pot
But to pot that ball let's say off the blue spot and the white on the balk line only those with all the attributes you mentioned will pot it consistently..also you need good eye sight

[ace man]

Finding the potting angle isn't as easy has you think it comes from years of practice and then becomes automatic if you practice every day
Everything you said about the cue action is correct ..you only need to line up a straight ball pot to prove that ..where there is no judgment involved finding the line of aim as it's just a full ball pot
But to pot that ball let's say off the blue spot and the white on the balk line only those with all the attributes you mentioned will pot it consistently..also you need good eye sight

How often does one misjudge angle completely just standing there prior to getting down on shot?
I get that when you are in address position, cue may not be aligned properly any more, you may have lost that angle that you have picked up initially. Also I get that on those long shots to nothing when side is applied it can be tricky to allow for spin/cloth/nap...etc...especially on an unknown table.
Good eye sight? Well, I can read very tiny letters in a somewhat dark room. Can see the edge of object ball clearly from other end of the table. Can see every little dirt detail on it when it's closer. Wish there was advantage there, but I don't feel it.
Yes, I have played guys who have very bad eye sight. But they didn't lose to me because of that. Their technique is even worse than mine plus their shot selection is awful. What if I played somebody really good who doesn't have good vision?
I'm sure Martin Gould could beat me 25 frames to zero no problem. And that guy doesn't even look through his glasses when down on shot.

[Dave_marsy]

Martin Gould ..I'm sure you would beat him he not wear is glasses ...if you. Can't see the edge of the ball clearly you can't hit where you think you need to to make the pot ...that's one of the reasons when you get over 40 Yrs old you start missing balls you never used to ....why do you think he wears glasses for fashion