Point of aim and Point of contact

[Anthony762]

Can someone explain the two please and what I should look at when ready to strike,
I use the ghost ball aiming technique could I use this aswell as the answer above thanks.

[bongo]

The point of aim for the cue ball onto the object ball is the extreme edge of the cue ball making contact with the furthest part away from the centre of the pocket (in most cases) on the object ball. Remember this point will be on the object ball's fattest part (half way up the object ball). The cue tip if aiming at centre ball may be pointing outside the object ball, if the shot is less than quarter ball.

You should be looking at the furthest part from pocket on object ball when striking the cue ball.

[Anthony762]

What do you mean by the extreme edge making contact with the furthest part away from the center of the pocket.
I don't undertand when people say the extreme edge of the white making contact?

[mooneyy]

Or to make it short:

Point of contact: The point where the cueball has to hit the object ball to pot.

Point (or line) of aim: The point where you have to aim, so that the cueball
hits the object ball right at the point of contact.

Example: The point of contact is always visible on the object ball from where
you shoot because the theoretical maximum for any angle is 90° (which
means you would have to hit the object ball at the extreme left/right).
Whereas the point of aim for such a shot would have to be half a ball to the
left or right of the object ball. So the point of aim actually doesn't have to be
on the object ball.

@1lawyer (next post): simple, but good point to mention!

[eaoin11]

I think it's easier just to say that the point of aim (and line of the shot) should be from the center of the cue ball to the center of the "ghost ball".

When you hit the ball you should be looking at the center of the 'ghost ball'. This is hard for fine cuts because you want to focus on something solid (ie the object ball) so the best practice is to put another ball where the ghost ball would be, leave it there and just aim for the center of that. You'll hardly ever miss

[ace man]

OK, so what do the pro's do? Don't they all have those angles in their muscle memory and shoot automatically? I can't imagine anyone can actually see a contact point or visualize a ghost ball from over 3 metres of distance. Probably the real difference between good potters and not so good potters is cue delivery, i.e. stroke reliability. What else could it be? Most players would rarely miss if they could actually send that cueball where they were aiming.

[eaoin11]

I think their stance and cue action is in their 'muscle memory', but the angles are in their head, which their muscle memory then allows them to get in line with.

It does depend on memory (and in my opinion a gut instinct) at the end of the day, but the ghost ball method is a good guide until you develope that instinct.

It's no more difficult than any other at the end of the day, and it takes practice before you get good at it.

[vmax4steve]

When you actually strike the cue ball, your eyes should be focused on the point of contact that the cue ball has to make on the object ball in order to pot it.
This is the basis of hand and eye coordination, you will hit what you are looking at.
Think of the cue ball as being in the way of your cue and the contact point on the object ball, after all it is stationary, this will enable you to cue through the cue ball with a good follow through.

[mooneyy]

..., you will hit what you are looking at.
...

And this is exactly why you actually shouldn't be looking at the point of contact.

For a half ball shot you have to point your tip through the centre of the cueball
right to the edge of the object ball. So the edge of the object ball is your
point of aim. Whereas the point of contact is right in between the middle and
the edge of the object ball.

So if you were looking at this point of contact, you'd hit it and therefore
it would become more of a quarter ball shot.

cheers

[eaoin11]

When you actually strike the cue ball, your eyes should be focused on the point of contact that the cue ball has to make on the object ball in order to pot it.This is the basis of hand and eye coordination, you will hit what you are looking at.
Think of the cue ball as being in the way of your cue and the contact point on the object ball, after all it is stationary, this will enable you to cue through the cue ball with a good follow through.

Maybe you need to focus on something, but you can't simply aim for the point of contact, because (as said by other people above) the line of the shot is only on the point of contact when it's a straight shot.

On a fine cut you'll definitely miss if you're aiming for the point of contact, because your cut will be far too thick.

If you were hitting the object ball with a pointy object, you would aim for the contact point, but the cue ball is round and you need to compensate for that.

[vmax4steve]

If you were hitting the object ball with a pointy object, you would aim for the contact point, but the cue ball is round and you need to compensate for that.

I understand what you are saying but this works for me.
Maybe my brain, maybe our brains, subconciously compensates, but I learned to pot by focusing on the contact point on the object ball, I have never used a ghost ball or the point on a cushion.
In fact, when I don't do this I always miss, go figure.

[eaoin11]

I understand what you are saying but this works for me.
Maybe my brain, maybe our brains, subconciously compensates, but I learned to pot by focusing on the contact point on the object ball, I have never used a ghost ball or the point on a cushion.
In fact, when I don't do this I always miss, go figure.

Yeah that makes sense. I think I imagine the center of the ghost ball when I move into the line of the shot, but when I'm actually cueing I might well be doing the same thing as you.

[mooneyy]

@1lawyer: You'll probably roflol now I know lots about snooker and I love
the game. But I more or less just started playing it. My highest break so far
has been 39 (5 reds, 4 blacks, 1 pink).

That's because when I'm keen on something I start reading everything about
it I can find, especially in the net. And that could also be my problem.
I read tons of stuff. All these aiming methods and angle theory, cue action,
stance, grip and stuff. I think that mentally blocks me to a certain level
while playing. Hope you know what I mean.

The snooker-gym guy for example says that there is no need for angle theory
and mathemathics on the snooker table. And it's contra productive to fill
a player with loads of info...

But I just have to read. It's how I bypass the time in which I can't stand at
a table and play.

cheers

[vmax4steve]

Yeah that makes sense. I think I imagine the center of the ghost ball when I move into the line of the shot, but when I'm actually cueing I might well be doing the same thing as you.

It's probable that human hand and eye coordination evolved to help us to use tools in order to hunt, spears, bow and arrows etc. The fact that cue sports use a second tool between the hand and the target ( the cue ball ) could make the brain subconciously see the cue ball as part of the cue.
Then maybe focussing on the contact point of the object ball is the right thing to do as you're not really using the cue to aim, like a rifle, you are using your eyes and your cue merely propels the cue ball in the right direction.

My original theory about playing through the cue ball to the contact point on the object ball would then be correct, for me anyway, and it also helps to develop a good follow through.

Very interesting topic this, but I will not be changing my game even if someone completely disproves what I think, because my system works for me.

[eaoin11]

If you love to read then 1 Lawer's posts are good value

I think trying to remember the angles quarter ball, half ball, three quarter ball shots etc., helps you memorize these angles which are often repeated all over the table in games.

I agree, this is another method of aiming explained well by Steve Davis in his old coaching vidoes (easily found on youtube). Worth a look, but still your ability to pot will come down to experience and memory in the end.

I think the 'ghost ball' is the purest explaination of how to pot from any angle, at least in theory.

But the half ball/quarter ball angles might be easier to visualise for many players, and they are good for teaching you where the white will go after hitting the object ball - especially important for billiards.

If you don't like the ghost ball method try the Steve Davis video, but I personally prefer the ghost ball as a starting point.