29. Potting Line Part 1 - 'Ghost Ball' theory

In this Barry Stark Snooker Coach Tutorial, Barry talks about how the ghost ball theory is used as one sighting method that can help you learn to aim along the line of the pot. He also explains why this method is not always correct and emphasises the importance of consistently being able to cue in a straight line in order to progress effectively when using aiming systems and methods.

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

I will soon be adding more content about the 'potting line' and some of the aiming methods used.

[@battlefieldclips7013]

Nice video demonstrating both the advantages n disadvantages of the ghost ball system, appreciated. This gave a good picture overall. Looking forward to videos about other systems and their drawbacks as well, this way we can weigh which system to use in particular situation. Thanks a lot.

[@theznooker]

please make this video :) been a year, i really need a help tnx

[@SanjayParmar-kd6kl]

Plz translate hindi

[@zohaibhassan2681]

Thanks you are great boss

[@wei-tingshen5319]

Thanks Barry! I play much better now after I watch the basic technique from episode one to 10. I adjusted my standing, wrist action and elbow position and I got excellent improvement. Finally I realise They all very important !😎

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Wei-Ting. Great to hear that the videos have improved your game, well done.

[@wei-tingshen5319]

@@BarryStarkSnookerCoach but I still struggling with setting the cue ball position. And My screws always come back with weak power. I’ve tried to extend my follow through and back swing as long as possible 😅 I have to figure out why

[@sharpsh00ter619]

Thanks for putting your knowledge out here free for us all, you have improved my game and I hope you find many more viewers soon to improve their games!

[@batlin]

Very good demonstration of what is called "cut-induced throw" in pool and billiards science. I think there is a more fundamental problem with both the ghost ball and "extended centre" methods of aiming, which is that it assumes that one can mentally project a cueball in the plant position with perfect accuracy (even ignoring the squeeze or cut-induced throw effect). This does not seem plausible to me and probably only serves as a mental distraction from what is an instinctive process... at least, that's why I abandoned the ghost ball many years ago. I think you suggested in another video that most people will instinctively point the cue at the right place, and the real challenge in potting is simply pushing the cue in a straight line. That said, perhaps the ghost ball is useful as a trivial rejection test to detect when you're aiming "obviously thick", so you can get up and re-aim.

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

batlin. I believe the ghost ball has its uses particularly with beginners but it also has its limitations. Certainly I said that normal well coordinated people will generally aim correctly on a straight shot but miss because they do not deliver the cue where they are aiming. As a player gets better he also will aim correctly on angle shots (not always) but again will miss because of inaccurate cue delivery.

[@goodday2022]

Thank you for the video. I appreciate it greatly :) God bless

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Cosmic. My pleasure, glad you like it.

[@TheRaceface22]

Great demonstration

[@DANTHETUBEMAN]

this is hard for me finding the correct contact point on the cue boll, i can visualize the object ball aim point well, but the transfer over to the cue ball i get lost.

[@bentley9249]

Barry, I always wanted a friend like you, but I am in Sydney and you are in the U.K, I guess it is not going to happen, anyway I subscribed and liked you Chanel, thank you for all the knowledge you share with us it is invaluable, keep it up my man.

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Red. You never know, I might win the lottery one day and Australia is on my wish list, glad you like the channel and find it interesting.

[@bentley9249]

Barry Stark Snooker Coach Barry My Name is Mark, and you don't need to win the lottery at all, I am happy to buy you a ticket any time mate.

[@siaalawieh2292]

@@bentley9249 wow, buy me one lol

[@frytka12345]

Hello Barry. First of all, thanks a lot for all your videos, there are really great! I'm not sure if you are responding to such an old videos, but I will give it a try. I have a question regarding the squeeze effect (which I know as a cut-induced-throw effect). As far as I know, the more acute the angle of the shot is, the less amount of cut-induced-throw it creates (mostly because there is less contact of CB and OB). So basically, you should get more cut-induced-throw in the first shot than in the second (more acute) shot, but you mentioned nothing about the throw (a.k.a. the squeeze) when taking the first shot. What am I missing?

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

M X. I believe you are forgetting the direction of the cue ball as it hits the object ball. In the first shot granted you are hitting more of the object ball but the direction the cue ball is taking is closer to the aiming line of the pocket than in the second shot. In the second shot I am shooting further away from the aiming line of the pocket and will therefore take the object ball further off line. I'm afraid Euclid breaks down at snooker because there is always a friction element to consider.

[@frytka12345]

Thank you for the answer. Indeed that makes sense. Still, I believe there should be some kind of trade-off between the direction of the cue ball and the portion of the object ball you are hitting. Perhaps in the first shot the direction is "close" enough to make the throw negligible. Anyway, this sounds convincing. Thanks again!

[@juganji587]

Hi Barry, big fan of your channel. Will you be doing a video on explaining the cue ball path after hitting an object ball at various angles?

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

I will try to cover this as my time permits.

[@juliusvf]

Love your video's Barry. Would love to have a good coach here so I could improve my game :). Videos are helping allot and videoing my self to see mistakes so hopefully I get a bit better :)

[@kenkoong]

you are the best , thank you so much

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

kenkoong. Nice to be appreciated, many thanks.

[@Len_J_]

Barry - great video on the problem, what was the solution for the ball going too thick?

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Len. I have just recorded a video on this in an effort to answer your question, keep an eye out for it being uploaded.

[@Len_J_]

Barry Stark Snooker Coach thank you!

[@hannuabdo2634]

I can’t find the line of aim I am always hitting the ball either thick or thin !! Please help me Mr Barry....much love from Morocco 🇲🇦 ❤️❤️xx

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Hannu. Continually hitting the ball thick or thin suggests to me that there is a cueing problem rather than an aiming problem. As a starting point please check your cueing on the baulk line, then hitting the cue ball over the spots. Work hard on this, then try the ghost ball method to determine that you are aiming correctly bearing in mind that this is not 100% accurate on some cut shots but it will give you a good indication of what to look for.

[@raver4lyfe16]

I think the only thing really you can do to learn to pot balls is practice until you start naturally seeing the lines of ball to pocket when I used to play all the time that's how I used to work out the angles of a pot I'd just look and the white object ball and pocket and see the line of contact I don't think it's something you can teach other then saying to somebody hit the ball here it's something you need to learn on your own as everybody has a different playing style there is no right or wrong really as long as you can get the ball from a to b ( b being the pocket ) then from there is where you start to learn to play for positional play I started playing snooker at the age of 3 with my grandfather until he died when I was 14 12 years ago it was a passion for both of us he should have turned pro with how good he was but he only played for fun, I kept playing at the snooker club after he died until 5 years ago when it shut down :( and I haven't really played since as there is no where else close to me that has a snooker hall

[@raver4lyfe16]

My grandfather bought me my first snooker table one of the little ones you put on top of a table top and we used to play for hours and I remember going with him at about 5 years old to the snooker club and he'd get me a stool to stand on so I could play but he unfortunately died 2 weeks of of his 90th birthday and coincidently my grandmother ( his wife ) died also exacrltn2 weeks of her 90th birthday they both lived for the same amount of time down to the day and even stranger my other grandfather also died at 89 close to his 90th birthday but my last grandparent my nan is still alive and made it to 90 where she is now just a few strange coincidences

[@Skkhan72]

kindly make a comprehensive video on border shots, u have shown the angle on cue ball to be hit for border shot , you have just described it verbally

[@shawnsmith1865]

brilliant!!

[@Vox24]

So this means that when there is a high angle we should account for it in order to perform a succesful pot, right?

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Vox24. By the high angle as you describe I assume you mean acute angle. If you do mean that then what I am saying is that the ghost ball theory is not 100% accurate. Try it yourself and you will soon learn to make any necessary adjustment in your aim.

[@healthiswealth7899]

it's trial and error you get better with practice

[@gabrieldinizmello5481]

Muito boa a explicação!

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

obrigado

[@navos2003]

Im really struggling to get the cue to go through in a straight line. What things can i focus on in order to become consistant?

[@ashimec007]

From my experience, cueing in a straight line depends on the following things: 1) Your stance - How repetitively correct your stance can be? 2) Your balance - Is your body perfectly balanced when you are down for the shot? 3) Your elbow lock - When you cue, make sure your elbow is at a considerably good angle, and not stooping. If it's stooping, then you will have a see-saw motion. Once the elbow angle is set to your muscle memory, make sure that your grip is about 90 degrees to your elbow. And never ever try to hit hard at the cue ball, go for a smooth strong cueing, try to hit THROUGH the cue ball, and not hit the cue ball. My two cents!

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

When you are struggling its time to go back to the basics of the game. The first priority is to deliver the cue where you are aiming, sounds obvious and easy but it is extremely difficult. Check out my tutorial on cueing and the grip. Please remember there is only one thing got hold of the cue, consequently there is only one thing delivers the cue and that is the hand holding it. When a player is struggling its a good bet that the grip needs adjustment, either where the cue is being held or how it is being held, or both.

[@hsklutfi783]

i really get struggle with aiming sytem, day by day i keep changing the imaginary line of aim, please help , your video really help me a lot

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

The need to keep changing the line of aim suggests that there is a cueing problem. This is where the real work needs to be done, no system of aim will work unless there is a consistent cue delivery. Even the slightest variation in cue delivery will render any method of aiming useless in terms of consistency. This is where the professional comes into his own, he has spent hours perfecting his cue action certain in the knowledge that if he gets that right the rest will stand a realistic chance of falling into place.

[@hsklutfi783]

+Barry Stark Snooker Coach thanks for reply sir, so my problem is just my cue action ?

[@hsklutfi783]

+Barry Stark Snooker Coach sir, just want to ask when you follow through the ball, did your hand hit the chest? because my cue always go to left or right when i do a follow through, i hope u can sort me out of this, thanks sir

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

+Hsk Lutfi Check that you have enough room between the cuing hand and the chest at the start position. As you play the shot the hand will for most players reach the chest and give sufficient follow through if your start position is correct. Check out my videos on cueing paying attention to where you hold the cue, where your bridge hand is and whether bridge arm is straight or bent.

[@dilshikista143]

If I play site in Cue ball 🏀. Az quarter shot where should I aim ?? Still in the same place?? Thanks 🙏

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Masood. When you say site, I assume you mean side. If that is what you mean then your aim will have to be adjusted appropriately. Please have a look at my video which explains it better than I can do with just the written word.

[@dilshikista143]

Barry Stark Snooker Coach yeah I mean side , okay I will look

[@rasikhkhan7981]

sir can you tell me how to place a cue on a straight line or line of aim?

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

rasikh. Just cue along the baulk line and establish a routine that enables you to place that cue on that line everytime. Once you can do that you need to work on the cue action to ensure that you can cue along that line. Practise that with reatively simple straight shots gradually increasing the distance between the balls and you will soon realise that the hrad part is delivering the cue along the line you have selected. You can also start ti introduce slight angle shots but still cueing along that straight line that you have worked on.

[@Abnsdllnnlosnfd]

No matter how you aim, always blame the method when you miss the pot LOL

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Abnsdllnnlosnfd. Not a bad philosophy, at least you will keep your sanity.

[@1234UUCC]

interesting method

[@vishalbali7893]

respected sir please explain if my opponent in off in blue or in pink or in black and coloured ball left only from yellow brown and green may I use these dots help in potting and win the game please explain with video if u can please

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Vishall. I know its only a possible translation problem but I'm afraid I don't fully understand the question, can you please rephrase it and try again.

[@vishalbali7893]

Barry Stark Snooker Coach sir now all reds are finish now suppose you and me playing i pot yellow green brown and now I give foul on blue suddenly or by mistake I pot cue ball in any pocket sir what's shot you play to pot blue in either long pocket where u place cue ball on yellow mark brown mark or in green mark and our points are level another case if I pot cue ball in pink ball again suppose our points level then from yellow or green or brown mark where u place cue ball and pot pink and last case black ball on his mark and you have chance to pot black by placing cue ball in D area ( means yellow mark brown mark and green mark ) then how you pot respected sir three different cases and explain all please

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Vishal. When a player goes in off ( cue ball goes in the pocket) then the opponent has the right to play from hand ( out of the "D" ) this includes playing from the yellow, green and brown spots. If I have read your question correctly this applies in all three of your scenarios.

[@scowell]

So to counteract what we in the USA might call 'throw', do you use spin or aim? In pool, in the USA, we use spin... put some spin on the cue to negate any friction between the cue and object ball. I've read that side is less used by snooker players due to the unique accuracy requirements, yet we know that friction exists between the balls. What are your thoughts on this, Barry?

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

scowell. We tend to use a little of both, spin and aim. However, this is an individual thing and some players use very little side while others will tend to flick the ball in with side. Side is definitely a complication in snooker and I'm sure it is in pool but we do need that finer degree of accuracy. In the pro game the cloth is super fine and has a sheen on it when new, this adds to the cue balls push off line so most players will restrict its use. I hope that answers your question.

[@scowell]

Thanks for your reply... and for what you do for the community!

[@roxanabonilla2574]

You shoot center of the cue ball to center of ghost ball ?

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Roxana. That is correct.

[@roxanabonilla2574]

Barry Stark Snooker Coach ghost ball is the best aim system or there ir a better aim system ?

[@hksunchaser1]

"ghost ball theory is not 100% accurate" i will bear this in mind, thank you!

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Joe. The ghost ball theory is generally quite accurate, it tends to get less accurate at acute angles when a slight squeeze effect takes place.

[@MultiVicky123456]

but BARRY the only problem is the opponent won't allow me to place a ball next to object ball as ghost ball. He will regard it as foul. However, i think, we can place a ghost ball in our mind prior to playing the shot. Am i right? Is this the way we use a Ghost ball?

[@lystme3862]

@@MultiVicky123456 yes you can't use any mesuring system or objects (therefore balls) but your mind :)

[@Slinger7096]

Sir when ever I play a shot my object ball hits the cousin not go in the pocket

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Usama. Obviously you could be aiming wrong but it is more likely that you are cueing wrong. Please work on your cue action, my videos on where and how to hold the cue will help.

[@namandahlan4228]

despite cueing straight I miss the pot can u give me some advice

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

If you miss the pot yet cue straight it can only be an aiming issue. Without a ball, check your aim and cue action along the baulk line. If that is okay check to see that you are cueing straight and centrally by hitting the cue ball over the spots. View my other videos on aiming and cueing. The ghost ball practise can help in many instances, please try it. Look out for other videos we will be publishing on the aim as time permits.

[@namandahlan4228]

+Barry Stark Snooker Coach thank u i will see to it

[@iPrincessJodie]

if you are cueing straight then you must not quite know your angles, keep practicing you'll get there.... keep your head as still as possible, get down into the shot and get someone to put a book on your noggin, play the shot without the book sliding off your bonce...

[@healthiswealth7899]

lol

[@benrichards399]

Barry, one line that gets used a lot by commentators, and bugs me, cuz I don't believe its true, is when a player pots a red, but NOT in the heart of the pocket, and finishes not very good on the next shot, they ALWAYS say "if that red was potted in the middle of the pocket, they would have been perfect on the next shot!"... that IMO is not true, right? they may have over hit it, or under hit it!

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Ben. I think we all have to try to understand that snooker played in front of spectators and television is an entertainment and the commentators are part of that entertainment. Commentators do get it wrong and so do the players sometimes. However, it is also true that if the ball goes in one side of the pocket it could be the player has hit it slightly too thin creating too much movement on the cue ball. Alternatively the player has hit the ball a little thick retarding the movement of the cue ball. We snooker players can only use our own judgement and accept we all get it wrong sometimes.

[@healthiswealth7899]

it niggles me too when they say left/right side of the pocket shouldn't the correct answer be they hit it the object ball slightly on the thick/thin side?

[@kevinwong8693]

Winter is coming....

[@Lp3393jp]

Im still dont get this when im playing

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

jose. I accept it is not easy but is anything that is worthwhile. If you find it difficult then perhaps it would be better for you to revert to the half ball, quarter ball etc. method of aiming. There is nothing wrong with this method if you can make it work, there is nothing wrong either with hitting the point furthest away from the pocket if you can make it work. One thing I will guarantee though is that as you get better the potting line will start to become obvious and you will wonder where the confusion came from.

[@cheapflights247]

ALL PROFESSIONALS HIT THE LIGHT AND SHADOWS OF THE BALL. Nobody imagines a plant and imaginery lines. If you don't believe me just go and try it. I've been told by a world champion retired snooker player! Point of contact for object ball is furthest away from the pocket. The light and shadows find it. Physics lights angles. Just give it shot

[@BarryStarkSnookerCoach]

Kash. Certainly the point on the object ball is the furthest away from the pocket, but finding this point on a round object is very difficult and seeing the line the object ball will take after contact will help the player to hit the point furthest away. This is precisely why a cut back is so difficult. The point of contact is still there but the line of aim is obscure.