Most people spend years struggling to play pool without an effective understanding of how to aim. Aiming is often overlooked in the world of pool filled with fancy shots. However, successful pool requires incorporating an effective aiming method on every shot. Aiming incorrectly is the most common reason that people miss a pool shot.
So how do you know if you are aiming correctly? Let’s ask George Washington! Place a quarter on the rail as illustrated in the diagram below. Start with the cue ball on the head spot and attempt to make the quarter jump off the rail. Go ahead, I’ll wait for you. Did the quarter move? If not, you’ve fallen prey to the most common mistake in pool. By aiming the center of the cue ball at the desired contact point, it is inevitable that you miss the target. That is because the cue ball is a sphere, and therefore its edge will hit the rail before its center reaches the quarter.
Fortunately, this problem is easy to solve. Visualize where the center of the cue ball needs to be at the moment of impact. This method is called the ghost ball technique. Simply aim at the ghost ball and PRESTO! Watch the coin jump off the rail.
In the next article, we will use the ghost ball technique to start pocketing balls. Then you can start to make more shots and lose fewer quarters.
Mike is a full time tournament player and professional billiard instructor. When he is not on the road competing, he is available for private instruction or group clinics and events. He can be reached via www.billiardcoach.com or by phone at 612.802.0519. Billiard Coach, LLC is a member of the Billiard Congress of America. Mike is a certified PAT examiner, a Billiard Congress of America Certified Instructor, and an ACS Certified Coach/Instructor.
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