How to Aim 2, The Perfect Angle

My next instructional video in a series about Aiming pool shots. Watch these first if you haven't yet:
Top Ten Reasons Your Aiming System Sucks: • Top Ten Reasons Your A...
How to Aim: • How to Aim Pool Shots,...
When to Aim: • When to Aim, Pool Bill...
Chapters:
0:00 Introduction
1:54 Shot Angle and Throw
6:00 Accuracy and Precision
9:50 Cut Shot Categories
11:42 How to Practice Aiming (Bracketing)
31:46 The Perfect Angle
38:00 Conclusion
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[@PrimeTimeChico]

The best saying i found for teaching someone about reps is: You shoot a shot not until you make it, but until you cant miss it.

[@ShortstopOnPool]

Yes! I have heard that from pros and instructors over many years. Timeless wisdom!

[@codycampbell3562]

"Don't practice until you get it right, practice until you cant get it wrong." This applies to everything in life.

[@8329kelso]

Yes, but what that means never stop practicing, because you can always miss.

[@alang253]

There was a NY times article a long time ago that described this phenomena that we do not want to be wrong and aren't willing to experiment knowing the outcome will be negative. The few of us that are comfortable with testing with failure in mind are ultimately more successful. Yesterday was the first time I went alone to the hall and tried to run some practice drills and after two hours I was even more confused and felt like I hadn't improved more like taken a step back. It was exactly how you described. The second you mentioned bracketing was an aha! moment for me. I was deathly afraid to miss anything especially feeling like everyone else was watching.

[@apexpredatorbilliardstraining]

I was trying to find the most eloquent message to write to you SSOP but words alone can’t express how well done the video was I can almost imagine the editing process. Now I must say that this video was super efficient and very impressive and informative. Great points to take away and go on the practice table to put some work in to improve the consistency of ball pocketing and cue ball control… My favorite part of the video was the later part where the demonstration kicked in… the middle of the video was very detailed and a bit overwhelming information wise but still very good… I will need to definitely rewatch for the 4th time to digest the Information

[@ogtinp]

Thank you! This man is a legend!! I hope everyone realize how valuable his aiming videos are. There are a lot of videos out there from other people but none are well explained like these.

[@myboyteo9]

Man…Ive been watching a few other instructors and I just landed on you today. Very good methodical instructions with realistic & practical exercises with realistic expectations. I’m on it brother. Thanks.

[@rogerking3449]

Your way of setting up and aiming before stroking the stick works 100% for my game. CONFIDENCE RESTORED. !!!! That information is "priceless" Thank You, you are the BEST!!!!!!

[@ShortstopOnPool]

Wow, super to hear. Good luck and Play-It-Straight!

[@samuelcook388]

This video was awesome. It was very clear and precise. The concept of bracketing and practicing with that concept in mind, I found very interesting. Thank you!

[@singuyen5927]

That’s an interesting learning process - bracketing. Thank you. I’ll have to try this

[@poolflorian2235]

This is simply the very BEST. I would love some lessons from this Master

[@mikeoreilly4020]

Outstanding instructional video. Thank you.

[@shanesoldner9117]

Great video! This is the best explanation of how pool works that I have seen in a video yet. I forwarded it to the rest of my APA team. It's interesting that you break the ball up into halves thick and thin, I tend to break the ball up into three sections, the middle half and the thick and thin quarters. Also I wanted to let you know about how I adjust my aiming to compensate for a throw. When shooting I don't use math but here is the math behind what I do quick and dirty so you can understand where it comes from. Max throw(CIT or SIT) is 1 inch per foot, on a 9 ft table the diamonds are 1 ft away, American pool balls are 2 1/4 Inches across. So if the object ball is 2 1/4 diamonds away the aim adjustment should be 1 ball width (to the left or right, depending on how you're throwing) if you are 4.5 diamonds away your adjustment is 2 ball widths and if you are 6.75 diamonds away the adjustment would be 3 ball widths. So you should be able to set an object ball 6 3/4 diamonds away from a corner pocket and set up your cue ball to be a half ball hit. Look down the shot line and aim three balls over and shoot softly at pocket speed and you should push the ball right into the pocket. Alternatively, you could leave both balls in the same place but aim three balls in the other direction and shoot with guaranteed throw and still make the ball from across the table. I do these kind of adjustments all the time and they are pretty accurate. Also, I am getting much quicker at estimating My aim adjustment in ball widths. Turns out my shaft is just over a one ball width adjustment. I like using ball width for this because it's something that I can judge easily from across the table. Anyway, keep up the good work and good videos.

[@RadioTom103]

Excellent! Your do a great job with this sort of tutorial. Thanks!

[@ShortstopOnPool]

Thank you so much. I think this one was pretty long. Will try and make them a bit more digestable in the future.

[@tomaszsosnowski9279]

It's a wonderful practice of fine tuning.

[@aloosh7x]

Good lesson , perfect explanation watching you from Saudi Arabia , thanks

[@kenhall3851]

A great video, thank you! Will be helpful for many students of the game. I do have to add that I disagree with several of your statements - in particular aiming systems. I'm amazed at the resistance to aiming systems and then the instructor gives instruction to a system to train the eyes for a shooters particular style. Despite the number of pros who actually use a system (although some can't explain it). That's not by accident and they all use varying styles. Even SVB and J. Barretta, two of the greatest American players have a system (and I'm sure they've varied it over the years). A few pros have even publicly thanked the creators of such systems after winning titles. With that said, every system breaks down or has a weakness at some point (no different than aiming to miss long and short does). There are plenty of other variables at play (speed, shelf depth, pocket size and acceptance, friction caused by the table, humidity, cleanliness of the balls, ability to deliver an accurate stroke for the proper speed, etc) Because of this they continue to spend hours each day honing those skills (both visual references, stroke delivery, position play and spin). And at professional events tables tend to loosen up and play easier as the tournament goes on and the tables "settle., And those are only at 3 or 4 day tournaments. To me, an aiming system is just a well defined measuring tool - just as playing to miss is. Some systems are more accurate than others. But they are easily adjustable to a particular tables variables because they ARE measured. And you are using the same computer (the brain) to make those adjustments (which would have to be done no matter how you aim). Where players generally falter is by not making their routine repeatable, not understanding some of the principles of physics involved, and as you've so adequately explained, not being able to hit what they are aiming at due to poor fundamentals, visuals or not understanding the mechanics and making them repeatable (many cannot describe "good" or "bad" fundamentals or mechanics. Overall, and despite the disagreements, a great video for folks trying to learn the game.

[@stephensinclair3683]

Saved. Really helpful video and it really sunk in how you intentionally miss in order to build up that mental map of the outcomes. I've been trying to get better for the past 6 months and this is really drilling into me that it's not worthy knocking the balls around as a means of 'practice'. Thank you Doc

[@ShortstopOnPool]

Correct. Knocking the balls around is fun and even useful. But adding even just 15 minutes here and there for "deliberate" practice of just one shot yields powerful benefits. Good luck!

[@josephmcgee8450]

Thank You for your video! What a help it has been!

[@ShortstopOnPool]

Thank you, I really appreciate that. Good Luck to You!

[@langson5680]

This is the best guide for beginer like me. Tks u so much

[@nestorrodriguez7612]

Professional Teach for beginners like me, thanks so much.

[@davidmegeath1353]

Damnation…what a great video for a beginner like me…thank you sir for your great teaching/information!

[@patrickschneider3374]

just want to say your videos are awesome. thank you

[@ShortstopOnPool]

Thank you so much.

[@ramrathod34]

Hats off to your work making this video 👍🏻

[@ShortstopOnPool]

Thank you.

[@CaptainOnePocket]

Great video! Thank you shortstop! You are the best!

[@ShortstopOnPool]

Thank you

[@Rinahugo]

Consider adding striking point of the cue ball for us beginners.

[@CoachScott61]

Great Information

[@briansmith4724]

Thank You Sir. 🙂 I do not play much or Well, but watching your videos expands my knowledge of the Many subtleties of the game.

[@zanebeasley6246]

Good information thanks.

[@zanebeasley6246]

Good lesson thanks a bunch.

[@DzmitryCybulka]

saved to golden collection of lessons! thank you! I'd appreciate if you can give some tips on understanding cue and target ball speeds distribution depending on cut angle. thanks in advance!

[@ShortstopOnPool]

Definitely something in the works. I will take the topic at 37:00 in this video and explore more deeply.

[@allgood6760]

Experience is the greatest teacher 👍🎱

[@jamescathcart4762]

The word process is used in your video's quite a bit. This has helped me tremendously in my pool journey. Finally got my shoulders turned. Had to find that ideal foot position to do it. A real process. Pool does not come easy for me. Puttin in work and processing baby!

[@ShortstopOnPool]

You got it! I should make a video just about the word Process as it relates to pool. I think that would be helpful to many.

[@terryjoel4941]

Excellent detailed practice information. If anyone wants to get real good at pool, your book and Marks are all you need. Next we could use extreme detail for a perfect consistent grip. Cue at wedge with which fingers prioritized? Thanks again. I’m working through SSOSP

[@ShortstopOnPool]

Whoa, that's high praise. Thank you. I plan on making a video about the grip. Hard to believe how complicated the subject can get. Stay tuned....

[@wizzzard8]

Great Video

[@thedevilinthecircuit1414]

Your "deliberate intent" point is the same as what golfers call 'grooving the swing'; you remove as many variables as possible to focus on only one variable: aim. Consistency in aim relies on consistency in all the other fundamentals (shot picture, stance, grip, immobility, stroke, follow through, etc.). Without that, you're wandering in the desert. Good vid!

[@ShortstopOnPool]

Cool comparison to golf. Love it. I'm making a new video now that talks about reducing variables to increase consistency. Thanks1

[@bobparsonsartist564]

I teach guitar and your methodical approach and "owning the shot" type of ideas are very similar in a lot of ways.

[@wanderrodriguesalves6283]

exelente dica,parabens Ubatuba Brasil

[@MichelePearl]

Excellent

[@cobrakarate]

This is your best video sir

[@ShortstopOnPool]

Wow, high praise! Thank you. Many more coming....

[@xeyedsurfer]

I agree with your perfect angle and believe the only downside is the dramatic speed difference when cheating the pocket with a thicker or thinner hit, +-4 degrees is still possible to make a ball near a pocket. This could create a hit ranging from 11-19 degrees, where the 11 degree almost kills cue ball movement and 19 lets it fly. I am going to dedicate my time to this style of practice.

[@ShortstopOnPool]

You got it. Thats how great players do their magic, they use the whole pocket with different spins to hold or move the cue ball as needed.

[@xeyedsurfer]

@@ShortstopOnPool I have used this a couple sessions now and enjoy the process. As a lazy person I am forcing myself to look down the shot line every time to engrain the image. Too easy on repetitive shots to find the correct point and shoot for it without the complete shot routine steps leading up to it. Takes a little longer for me because I start with my off hand, less natural with more thought and feel, then merge into my "slightly more" dominant hand. I use multiple tools with vernier scales and see the reading of those as bracketing as well, your eyes can pick up the information from the lines adjacent easier than a line that almost matches in line.

[@yes2crypto]

35:12 we need a printable PDF listing these with tables so we can go through the checklist and mark success v attempts or something

[@ShortstopOnPool]

Hmmm, kind of like a drill log book.

[@fabiandejesusmacia3983]

Excelente explicación. Me gustaría saber si jugo a nivel profesional para ver algunos de su juegos saludos desde Venezuela

[@boniealberto4775]

More helpful!

[@user-nm2bm6ov3b]

perfect

[@Bob95051]

A small nit: At 3:45, the 2 ball should be shown having side spin. Throw and induced side spin are necessarily directly proportional to each other. You cannot have one without the other.

[@ShortstopOnPool]

Right again!

[@cromwellfluffington1627]

I spent 2 weeks about 20hrs shooting straight draw shots across the table to work on my stroke. It was horribly boring and rewarding. I felt drilling anything else without having confidence in a good stroke seemed pointless.

[@mkfgaming7018]

One thing for sure when you’re shooting a shot stay low and you follow through with it in billiard pool.

[@trp2413]

Nice video for a low intermediate like me.

[@Iwbenny]

You are second to none

[@williamsheppard8738]

When you hit above center the object ball always goes with the cue ball lines for a few seconds unless it's with outside spin on the ball but I know for a fact your cue tip is a big deal for aim line review for your pre shot line up

[@HillbillyIslandLife]

He has a "Slight Rear Pause" too.

[@jbideastoo]

At 12:11 he says i will teach you a system to aim. Because that is exactly what defining objective characteristics and assigning categories to shots and creating methods to use those characteristics is. Anything other than purely guessing is a system. And when a system is used then it depends on the accuracy of the results. With CTE for example the accurate of results are very high for a person who has matter the method. Cte is not a magic method, it is a set of instructions that produces the correct shot line when those instructions are precisely followed.

[@donaldjohnson2038]

Hit the spot on the ball that lines up with the pocket. Keep your eyes open and see the point of impact. Practice.

[@ShortstopOnPool]

That spot on the ball is called the contact point. If you aim straight at it the cue ball will hit the object ball BEFORE the contact point and miss. The aim point is always past the contact point (except for straight in). Watch this: kzbin.info/www/bejne/l5azoKmdoZKLgdksi=vWITt6VRbWTObPzP&t=222

[@donaldjohnson2038]

@@ShortstopOnPool I agree about the contact point, however you still look at that spot until the cue ball makes impact. If your eyes wander or flinch the shot will be off.

[@drewdrew7968]

Good info. I learned to shoot, and cut without using outside english, however I have been playing for 40 years and a B+ player, so a lot of my knowledge on cuts with throw and deflection I guess is built in, I honestly just learned about throw and deflection a year ago, I never used an aiming system either. What keeps me from being an A player I think is that knowledge I learned on my own.. On some shots I have no problems using inside or outside spin and some I miss using the same aiming system which again is just millions of shots. I guess my brain automatically adjusts the aim when using spin? I've noticed when I do miss these shots it's usually because I don't hyper concentrate on the contact point of the ball? Sometimes when using extreme spin, I do aim a little left or right of normal to accommodate, sometimes I works, and sometimes it throws the ball and I miss... Any ideas would be greatly appreciated

[@ShortstopOnPool]

Very common question. The answer most likely is not in your aim but your fundamentals. An involved topic best addressed in person. Cue ball sidespin is used only to control the cue ball when speed and tip position on the vertical axis isn't enough. But you probably already know that. As you say, you've learned to shoot with lots of unconscious twists and spins. Coming back to the vertical axis will cause misses at first as you learn to "go straight". Thats what progress can be built on. Good luck!

[@drewdrew7968]

@@ShortstopOnPool Thank you. Yes, I am good player, I'm usually running 1or 2 out 10 racks if I'm playing on 9 ft Diamond tables, as you know the smaller pocket tables even make this subject more important lol. I just want that next level of play that has eluded me for a couple of years now. I just bought a low deflection cue which I'm sure will take some adjustment time on it's own. Great channel man, keep up the good work.

[@drewdrew7968]

@@ShortstopOnPool After watching this video I think you made me realize that I am using unnecessary side spin.. The cut shot in the corner you demonstrated with center ball, and then one tip below to get further down the rail I would have likely used outside right to achieve this same position, and of course making the shot more difficult. I do practice drills but I've never thought to just shoot the same shot over and over using different tip locations on the cue ball with no spin to see what happens.. Why I don't know? lol. I def will start though. Thank you

[@elmerbisquera3994]

May I invite yourself to come to the Philippines to enrich your understanding about this content topic✌️

[@navineomondi5198]

I am a beginner player. I like this videos. My only question is that are all tables taking rail balls coz have been practicing and the ball get stuck at the pocket mouth or take an L direction?

[@ShortstopOnPool]

Tables are different. Even humidity change can make same table play different. Don't brush rail heading into pocket and it can't hang up.

[@blkmoon33]

Figuring out the friction between the balls is always hardest for me. Every table and ball set is different especially in bars.

[@Johnmiccael1]

That ain't no shit. Anytime I'm popping into a new place I'm not familiar with the tables to plan tournament I'll get there an hour or so early and run a game on as many tables as I can to get the feel for it. I grew up playing on shity warped unlevel tables with tight hard-ass pockets that would wobble out with the slightest miscalculation on your shot. Playing on bar tables was an improvement for me. But I never forgot to figure out the run of the table and how the banks acted and how the felt took spin

[@ShortstopOnPool]

Correct. When I played in bars in the 1980s many tables had the old "mud" cue ball that was noticeable bigger than the other balls. When you stroked it for draw, it would literally roll forward a few inches before the backspin would catch. LOL

[@jbideastoo]

There is no magic aiming system but there are aiming systems that are incredibly accurate. I am willing to bet very high against the proposition that the best aiming systems are not accurate.

[@jdnny7616]

Thank you Sir. I am from the Philippines and would like to play like Efren Reyes.

[@timnampalalatimnampalala3872]

Bro efren is so good🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺❤️

[@nitekram]

About the sound, are you saying it should hit the back of the pocket or not hit the rail going in?

[@ShortstopOnPool]

It should not hit the rail going in. Soft shots will roll of the edge without hitting the back of the pocket. But harder shots will hit the back.

[@wazirtan6801]

i was trying to aim centre of que ball when warming up,but went on to stroke,its when to side😂

[@vincentnicosia2315]

anyone have a link to the paper circles he used for marking the table?

[@ShortstopOnPool]

The circles are paper hole reinforcement available at any office supply store. They come white or clear. But you need this to place them perfectly: www.etsy.com/listing/1427223834/alpharack-the-last-template-rack-youll

[@denniedobbins8794]

Can't wait to hear my Name

[@frankmorganti2043]

How can I save this for rewatching? I’m watching this on my iPhone.

[@jamest3552]

save it to watch later or a category you create.

[@jbideastoo]

" Aiming is easy" but here is a three part video describing how to aim while falsely starting that aiming systems don't work. While describing a system that the author created. All of the information on contact induced throw has been thoroughly explained on KZbin videos since the beginning of KZbin. Other instructors who don't like aiming systems and who also falsely claim that they don't work have told their views how to compensate for throw and cling. This is not new information. It is the same in a different package. If aiming were actually easy then we wouldn't have to discuss and debate the best way to do it.

[@lavonkim3359]

What do you think of stan shuffet work and cte?for aiming?

[@ShortstopOnPool]

I don't.

[@lavonkim3359]

@@ShortstopOnPool you dont know about it or would not use it ?which one?

[@ShortstopOnPool]

@@lavonkim3359 I know it. One video I plan on making someday will prove how it does not work. I've already covered it generally in my "Top Ten Reasons..." video. I talk about in several of my videos including this one.

[@audrichvuneo181]

Stan Shuffett leads the Heaven’s Gate of the billiard community. Following his CTE theory is the Hale-Bopp comet of his cult.

[@ShortstopOnPool]

@@audrichvuneo181 They are pool's Flat-Earthers. No convincing them otherwise.

[@xDuWuTang]

Aiming is a PROCEDURE. You must utilize BOTH eyes. I don’t like the single target idea. We have the ability to align both eyes to different references for each shot.

[@TheMnoer48]

Are the guys behind you okay? They havent moved since the start of the video

[@ShortstopOnPool]

LOL

[@MrMalbaghdady]

🙏🙏👏👏👍👍👌👌

[@poolflorian2235]

Please please please help me I LOVE TO LEARN HOW TO PLAY THIS AMAZING GAME HELP ME

[@HillbillyIslandLife]

We Talkin' Bout Practice 😂😅

[@ShortstopOnPool]

I like to casually ask new, aspiring players - "how many hours to do you think Shane/Ko/Jayson/Joshua (who ever their favorite pro is) has practiced to get that good?" Follow-up question is, "Are you willing to practice that much?" Tends to be an eye-opener.

[@robertgowling191]

Am i being stupid? You have not stated to me where you are aiming for each degree or shot? You just keep saying pick your aim after several miss shots? Is that so?

[@ShortstopOnPool]

Not stupid. I try to explain simply but everyone's brain works a bit different so I make assumptions without meaning to. The idea is that you pick a point that you think/hope/believe/assume is correct. After observing the results (assuming you hit that point) you can adjust your aim. Most people will correctly pick a point that "misses" the pocket on each side. So now you have your boundaries to start bracketing in from. Its never random. You can only adjust if you know exactly where you aimed. Won't take long to find the center of the pocket, then you reinforce that aim point with repetition. Along the way you are learning the angles to each side of the current shot so you'll find adjusting to other angles happens easier. And the bonus is that learning to aim a ball at a target other than a pocket (such as playing safe or banks) also comes much easier.

[@DANTHETUBEMAN]

I have tried to miss the simple shot at 15:00 a hundred times, i just cant do it 😁

[@DANTHETUBEMAN]

Bracketing and table spots is a great way to practice getting the sight picture. your high and low English was a great thing to add to this foundation.

[@williamsheppard8738]

I will only say this once there is a aiming system that works but people that use this ghost ball bs can't understand it ghost ball system is B's no one who plays good uses that but I like your videos

[@jbideastoo]

Absolutely correct

[@michaelworth7660]

Some good advice but far too much talking without any action. I kept asking ‘show me’, please!

[@hksunchaser1]

not snooker, big pocket no problem!

[@330devans]

Yea sure. Not all pockets are huge in America.

[@DANTHETUBEMAN]

Pool takes BIG BALLS 🤠

[@JohnS-il1dr]

Theres always a snooker snob in every pool channel comments

[@hksunchaser1]

@@JohnS-il1dr like a frog in a well!

[@330devans]

@@JohnS-il1dr every single one. 🐣

[@hoseasonga]

You take much time in explaining than doing

[@janetheumann7916]

i like the video, but way too much talking.

[@hoseasonga]

the speech is too much sir

[@jamesmorris3826]

Confusing people talking to much. Just three points to hit on ball to go in pocket

[@KarlsCracklingCottonMouth]

He lost me in the begining when he pronounced it "pro-prior-ception". 😂