In the 1960’s I read a book by Willie Mosconi that described an aiming system that used a paralell line thru the cue that was paralell to the line through the object ball to the center of the pocket. The idea was to align the opposite point of the cue ball to the aim point on the object ball and you would have to pocket the object ball if these two contact points met. Over the years I would use this method on long shots or difficult cut shots. It was uncanny that I would make these difficult shots a high percentage of the time.
In 2008 I adopted this aiming method for almost all shots. My pocket making ability jumped significantly. However it is difficult sometimes to visualize these lines. I discoverd Mike Massey’s and Joe Tucker’s ”Aiming by the Numbers” training aids. Mike and Joe have assigned numbers on the cue and object balls. The number is derived from the object balls position relative to the pocket to be pocketed. You aim or match the number on the cue ball to the object and shoot.
It is second nature for me now to walk around the table and select the numbers and execute the shot with confidence. In addition, you can use the numbers when object ball is stuck on the side rail and you want to place the object ball at center of end rail to nail a safety play.
I walk around with the discs in my pocket included in the “aiming by the numbers” package so I can practice pool anywhere at anytime.
Technorati Tags: aiming, aiming by numbers, pool
Here is a widely known system for kicking to the head or foot rail pocketing the object ball in corner pocket or side pocket or at any point on the long rail. It involves number the object ball location and the cue ball location. The side pocket is numbered 3 and the corner pocket is numbered 5 for the object ball. The cue ball numbers involve the short rail and the diamons are numbered 1 to 4. 1 being the diamond closet to long rail at #5 and 4 being the corner pocket on the short rail opposite from the #5. The aiming numbers are at the opposite end of the table from the cue bal. Multiply the cue ball number times the object ball location number and you get the number to aim at the end of the table. If the object was at side pocket use the number 3 for the object ball number and if the cue is at number 3 on end rail thena aim at 9(3 x 3) to hit the object ball. Practice this kicking system so you can kick butt next time you play.
Technorati Tags: aiming, billiards, kicking, pool
http://dr-dave-billiards.com
Dr. Dave and Tom Ross describe, illustrate, and demonstrate how to use the Corner-5 System for aiming three-rail kick shots, where the cue ball hits a long rail first. This is an example shot from Disc IV of “The Video Encyclopedia of Pool Shots” (VEPS). The VEPS series includes over 750 shots in 50 different categories, with over 250 “gems” of the game. The series is the most comprehensive collection of pool shots ever published. Disc IV covers kick and bank shots, along with several other categories of advanced shots.
http://dr-dave-billiards.com
Duration : 0:9:14
Read the rest of this entry »
Technorati Tags: aiming, billiards, Corner-5, Corner-Five, Dave, Dr., DVD, encyclopedia, how, instruction, kick, learn, lessons, play, pool, rail, Ross, shot, shots, system, three, to, Tom, VEPS, VIDEO
http://dr-dave-billiards.com
Dr. Dave and Tom Ross describe, illustrate, and demonstrate how to aim rolling-cue-ball kick shots. This is an example shot from Disc IV of “The Video Encyclopedia of Pool Shots” (VEPS). The VEPS series includes over 750 shots in 50 different categories, with over 250 “gems” of the game. The series is the most comprehensive collection of pool shots ever published. Disc IV covers kick and bank shots, along with several other categories of advanced shots.
http://dr-dave-billiards.com
Duration : 0:4:30
Read the rest of this entry »
Technorati Tags: aiming, ball, billiards, cue, Dave, Dr., DVD, encyclopedia, how, instruction, kick, learn, lessons, play, pool, rolling, Ross, shots, system, to, Tom, VEPS, VIDEO
http://dr-dave-billiards.com
Dr. Dave and Tom Ross describe, illustrate, and demonstrate how to use the Plus System (AKA Plus Two System) for aiming two-rail kick shots into the short rail first. This is an example shot from Disc IV of “The Video Encyclopedia of Pool Shots” (VEPS). The VEPS series includes over 750 shots in 50 different categories, with over 250 “gems” of the game. The series is the most comprehensive collection of pool shots ever published. Disc IV covers kick and bank shots, along with several other categories of advanced shots.
http://dr-dave-billiards.com
Duration : 0:7:5
Read the rest of this entry »
Technorati Tags: aiming, billiards, Dave, Dr., DVD, encyclopedia, how, instruction, kick, learn, lessons, play, Plus, pool, rail, Ross, shot, shots, system, to, Tom, Two, VEPS, VIDEO
Part II on how to aim a bank shot
Duration : 0:6:9
Read the rest of this entry »
Technorati Tags: aim, aiming, bank, banking, bankshot, billiard, billiards, carom, lesson, lessons, pool, snooker, system
A discussion of aiming bank shots.
Duration : 0:7:12
Read the rest of this entry »
Technorati Tags: aim, aiming, bank, banking, bankshot, billiard, billiards, carom, lesson, lessons, pool, snooker, system
Joe Tucker’s billiard aiming system “Aiming by the Numbers” gets easier and easier as you continuously use the system. I have been using his system for almost a year. i have much more confidence in my aim now and that leads to success in making the shot. I walk up toward the object ball line to the pocket and mentally determine the aim point and the aim number. Now I walk back to the cue ball and review the aim number on the cue ball and see the sight of aim from the cue ball aim number to the object ball aim number. I mentally see the parallel line thru the center of the cue ball then get into the stance for the stroke. Now, after my 3 swing pre-stroke ritural I stroke the cue and pocket the ball more often than a year ago.
I am going out to Bank Shot Billiards today and participate in one of the most challenging weekly nine ball tournaments in the country. I will be aiming by the numbers and it will be easier to win games because of that. Wish me luck! Check out Joe’s Mike Massey endorsed “Aiming by the Numbers” tools on the right.
Technorati Tags: aiming, aiming by numbers, Bank Shot Billiards, Joe Tucker, Mike Massey, nine ball, pool
Since adapting the aiming by the numbers technique I have come to realize that usually when I miss now is when I did not check the number prior to shooting. I simply just shot with feel or said to myself I did not need to check the number.
Rituals are part of most sucessful players in sports, whether it is in shooting a foul shot, playing tennis or getting into stance for shooting pool.
There are three parts for the aiming by the numbers technique that need to become part of the ritual routine. Part one check the number the object ball is on, part two visualize the number on the cue ball and part three visuaalize the line from the number on the cue ball to the number on the object ball. One can not guess the number the object ball is on. So make it a ritual to walk so you see the line directly from the object ball to the pocket it is to go into. Calculate the number from this position. Now walk over to the cue ball and visualize the number on the cue ball. Now as you get ready to get into your stance see the line from the number on the cue ball to the number on the object ball. Making sure these three processes become part of your ritual will help you pocket a higher percentage of balls.
If you haven’t started aiming by the numbers yet there is a link on this page that takes you to Amazon to get the material and training you need.
Technorati Tags: aiming, aiming by numbers, pool, pre-shot rituals
Sometimes its a good idea to hide the cue ball so you can possibly get cue ball in hand when your opponent fouls. A good way to hide the cue ball is shown in the diagram. The idea is to put the cue ball at location “C”. To do this align your cue stick from point “B” to over the center of the ball that you hit first. The point “A” is on the opposite side of the object ball from the cue ball. This is your aim point with the cue. I placed a line from the cue to the point “A” with an arrow to show the aim point. I hit the cue ball with just enough speed to reach point “C” with a 1/2 tip to full tip above center and no english. Set this up and see if you can do it. Use this principle to hide the cue ball in other situations.
In a similar situation, I used this principle in yesterday’s tournament at Bankshots in Jacksonville to hide the cue perfectly behind the four ball. Unfortunately, the one ball was banked into the corner pocket and I had played a perfect safety on myself.
Technorati Tags: aiming, aiming for saftey