The Secret of ? or Basic Instinct... Dozens of Top Pros Give Up Their Aiming Secrets

By Shari J. Stauch Photos By Francine Massey

hen I was eleven or twelve again. It still worked. It worked for nearly #11 ranked Dawn Hopkins agrees. years old, I began hitting week, then I was back to picturing the "The way I do it is look at object ball to the balls around on the ball-behind-the-ball. It wasn't that it pocket, and picture the ghost ball, then eight foot home table in the stopped working, it was just, well, too extend a line straight from the cue ball to downstairs rec room of our home. Soon much work! And of course, he's since dis- the object ball." after, my father decided to teach me some covered a dozen or more "Secrets of Pool", Pool & Billiard Magazine player repre- fundamentals of the game — you know, so... sentative and columnist Roger Griffis, the stuff everybody's got to get through Today, I still find the best method of now ranked #21 on the PBT has a slight like stance, bridge, stroke, and yes, aim. teaching a new student is the tried and variation to this. "I use the ghost ball and For practice, he'd draw up diagrams of true "ball behind the ball" or "ghost ball" dissect the ball into 90 degrees. Both kind shots for me, indicating with a broken line theory. Several pros agree. Others have of give you a picture of where you hit the cue ball where the object ball should be hit completely different theories. In research- ball, then, once you learn it you begin to for each shot. It was in this manner that I ing this article, I went home and tried play by feel." learned to aim mostly by what is common- what many of the players said they used. I #24 ranked Bonnie Arnold sticks ly called the "ghost ball" theory today. also tried what I've told you I used. I was with visualizing where the ball has to hit Later, when he opened the billiard club surprised to discover I don't use it as the pocket. "When I'm aiming, I look at (okay, in 1976 it was still a pool hall), I much as I thought I did, and happy to the pocket and I visualize where the ball had the benefit of hearing what many of know that in most cases, instinct had has to go in the pocket. Then I look at the the great, and not so great, players taken over creative visualization. But for spot on the object ball, and visualize the thought about how to aim. In fact, it was a most of us, creative visualization is not cue ball to the object ball to the pocket." regular topic of discussion at Harold's, and only fun, but necessary. No matter what Similarly, Steve Mizerak says, "The new theories were tested weekly among your skill level, it's also nice to have some- way I find the target or contact point on the regulars; some plausible, others, well, thing to fall back on — a comfort zone if the object ball is to visualize an imaginary just plain silly. you're just not seeing the shots that day. line from the back of the pocket through But the most interesting thing to come out of listening to all those theories and The "Ghost Ball" watching their careful experiments was that everyone seemed to have a slightly and other different way of aiming that worked for Creative Visions... them. Nevertheless, they were all still It turns out the way I learned as a searching for that perfect method, the elu- child is the way many pros learned, and sive "secret of pool" that would magically some still continue to subscribe to the keep them from missing, ever. theory. Vicki Paski, ranked #16 by the WPBA and author of the monthly The Secret of Pool Annie and the Pro series right here in Then one day, my father discovered it. P&B Mag, says, "I picture the ghost "This, Shari," he said, "is the secret of ball; seeing a ball behind the object ball pool." He carefully explained the new aim- that I want to replace with my cue ball. ing method, simply put; to picture the This is easier for most people than find- object ball on a tiny railroad track to the ing an exact spot on a round object that pocket. I tried it, just as carefully follow- you must hit with another round Steve Mizerak - "Pocketing balls is an instinctive ing his instruction. It worked. I shot object!" skill that is learned from trial and error."

116 Pool & Billiard Magazine July 1995 Aiming -- Secret of the Pros? Or Just Basic Instinct... continued from page 116 the object ball. During my warm-up Steve adds that, strokes, my eyes move back and forth "It's very hard to tell a between the cue ball and the target point. person how to aim. I use one or two low strokes, as if I'm Pocketing balls is an going to draw the ball, on all shots instinctive skill that is because that gives me confidence in hit- learned from trial and ting the cue ball correctly — because the error. It can't be mas- bottom of the cue ball is the strongest tered from playing foundation to build on. I have no special once a week. Instead of tricks for cutting the ball or shooting a hitting twenty balls to ball down a rail." learn a shot, I hit two hundred balls. I haven't found an easier Loree Jon Jones - "Aiming comes naturally for me, where I've always just know where to hit. It's very difficult for me to teach people to aim way yet!" because of this." hit it. But I'd like to read the article — Basic Instincts maybe there's a better way!" Steve brings up a solid point that was Then again, maybe not, Kelly. There repeated by many professionals. Aiming are too many top players in agreement has become second nature, muscle memo- with you. Fellow top player and P&B Mag ry has taken over. Trial and error over women's editor Loree Jon Jones claims hundreds of thousands of shots made and that, " Aiming comes naturally for me, missed by top pros over dozens of years of where I've always just known where to competition — heck, who needs to visual- hit. It's very difficult for me to teach peo- ize anymore? According to #16 ranked ple to aim because of this!" Kelly Oyama, "There is no set way for is a trick and fancy shot Tony Ellin - "...aim is basically trial and me. I just look at the pocket and look at artist and an accomplished player, cur- error and instinct, using your judgment." the ball and assume I then know where to rently ranked #7. He explains, "I've tried a

118 Pool & Billiard Magazine July 1995 Aiming -- Secret of the Pros? Or Just Basic Instinct... continued from page 118 lot of systems but mostly you have to play rently ranked #4 and winner of dozens of was focusing on a single spot on the object from feel. You have to practice all types of pro events, "I've played so much that I ball that will send it sinking neatly in its feel, practice all type of hits. To start, you don't have to think about it. But I also designated resting place. #4 ranked Ewa can use the angle of the half ball hit a lot spin the balls in, as I think many of the Mataya Laurance offers the most because it's easy to judge. You just build pros do; they're using so much english all detailed explanation of this theory. your instincts and your muscle memory — the time. Pros spin the ball in the hole and "Aiming is a four-step process. First, draw that's what I did." that's mostly from feel. If you're really a line from pocket through the center of #11 ranked Tony Ellin also relies on going to learn to aim, you have to know the ball to find the spot you want to hit. instinct. "I would say that aim is basically better how to spin the ball, and what Then make up your mind, before you get trial and error and instinct, using your effect that's having on the object ball. judgment. I may look at the path from the Amateurs who don't spin the ball will pocket through the object ball, but I hard- have an easier time with straight aiming." ly do that anymore. You develop an Catching up with Mark Jarvis at the instinct for aiming from playing all the Sands Regency, now ranked #27 by the time." PBT, he says, "I aim by portions of the #21 ranked Howard Vickery offers, ball, I don't aim at one particular spot — "There's no real way for me to explain it but then again, I'm on the loser's side! But except to hit it with the right impact. Your seriously, the portion of the ball I'm look- hand-eye coordination compensates for ing at depends on where I'm sending the the difference in the roundness of the cue ball. For me, most of it is feel and balls." memory from shooting each shot many Howard brings up a great point here. times." Whatever the original aiming method you learned from, does the hand-eye coordina- tion eventually begin to compensate for X Marks the Spot failings in your method, optical illusions In contrast to a portion of the ball and or tired eyes? If so, how long does it take? basic instinct theory is the "single spot." - "Amateurs who don't spin the According to Earl Strickland, cur- This other favorite theme among the pros ball will have an easier time with straight aiming."

120 Pool & Billiard Magazine July 1995 Aiming -- Secret of the Pros? Or Just Basic Instinct. continued from page 120 down on the shot, as to whether or not you you start finding that spot real easily. Combining the theories mentioned so need to apply english. Find your new Occasionally I'll aim the cue stick toward far is #1 ranked . According exact spot and just keep your eye on that. the pocket through the ball to find that to Jim, "First of all you have to aim differ- Once you're down on the shot, move your spot." ently with different cues, because some eyes back and forth between cue ball and George Breedlove, ranked #20, finds cues deflect more than others. A cue also object ball. Everybody says look at the a spot too, but not on the face of the object deflects more or less depending on how object ball, but that's not enough, look at ball. "I know when I'm shooting, I'm look- hard you hit the ball. that tiny spot. If you miss then, it could be ing at the object ball when I pull the trig- I play with a Meucci, that doesn't a problem with your mechanics, not your ger, but I find my spot on the ball on the aim." table, looking at the base of the ball where #7 ranked Nikki Benish explains, it touches the table, not at any actual spot "This is how I learned, but I doubt if I use on the ball." it anymore because when you're a profes- Tommy Kennedy, winner of the 1992 sional every shot you see you've seen and U.S. Open 9-Ball Championships and cur- shot at least a hundred times before. On rently ranked #17, has another variation. the toughest shots I was taught to try to "I look at the object ball straight ahead, pick out a spot on the object ball, com- and then look little by little to the right or bined with the imaginary cue ball method. left of the ball. I keep going until I see the By finding the spot, I mean like if the spot where it's going to hit the bigger part object ball was a stripe ball, maybe I could of the pocket." mark my aim spot as right at the edge of #14 ranked Michelle Adams opts for the stripe and the white on the ball, or say moving her body rather than her eyes. to myself, on this one, hit just to the left of She explains, "I stand behind where the the number." cue ball and object ball are in a straight Allen Hopkins finds the spot, but in line, and then I move to where I know I the end relies on feel. "I aim at a spot on have to hit it. Somebody explained this to Nikki Benish - "...when you're a professional, the object ball with center cue ball. A lot of me once, and I thought it wasn't very every shot you see, you've seen and shot at it is feel, when you play as often as I do, smart, but it works!" least a hundred times before."

122 Pool & Billiard Magazine July 1995 Aiming -- Secret of the Pros? Or Just Basic Instinct. continued from page 122

can play a part in the spot finding aiming change the point of aim. With outside eng- process. "I pick out the point on the object lish, you aim a sixteenth of an inch fuller ball in line where the pocket must be on the object ball than you normally struck. Depending on the angle, you can would. But, all bets are off when using a tell which part of the cue ball must hit the soft stroke, because of deflection, etc." object ball. But any time english is , ranked #5 and winner of applied, a slight adjustment for deflection last month's Sands Regency title, further must be made. Depending on the amount explains. "When you put a lot of english on of english applied, you will be aiming with the cue ball you adjust a little bit, often a different part of the cue ball to hit the aiming exactly at the contact point of an object ball." object ball. So it very much depends on my next shot how I will aim." Aiming with Whitey Belinda touches briefly on the part of the cue ball that hits the object ball, which brings us to yet another theory, aiming Efren Reyes -- "When you put a lot of english with the cue ball. on the cue ball, you adjust a little bit... it very #12 ranked Nesli O'Hare explains much depends on my next shot how I will aim." what she was taught. "The technique I use was taught to me by Efren Reyes. deflect, so I aim directly at the contact According to Efren, there are three kinds point. I also use the ghost ball theory, but of hits on any object ball. First, there's it's more repetitious in your mind when looking at the center of cue ball to the you play a lot. In other words, I don't real- point of aim if the shot is a full ball hit. If ly visualize the ball anymore, it's automat- not, you can divide the object ball into four ic." quarters, sighting your cue ball edge to the Belinda Bearden, currently ranked point of aim. When using inside english - "I just pick the spot in the center #8 by the WPBA, agrees that deflection with a medium-to-hard stroke, you don't of the object ball and aim towards that."

124 Pool & Billiard Magazine July 1995 Aiming -- Secret of the Pros? Or Just Basic Instinct... continued from page 124

Sammy Jones, pro player and hus- On Cue example for 15 degree cuts, you split the band/coach of Loree Jon Jones, agrees. "It Moving backwards from the object ball quarter. For a thirty degree cut I split the depends on the shot itself. When aiming and cue ball, we have our group of players edge with my shaft and 45 degree cuts I at a straight-in shot, you're aiming both that aim with the cue stick itself, but with use the edges of my shaft." balls directly in the center. If aiming at a a great deal of diversity in their methods. If you can do that, then you'll have no thin cut shot, you imagine the edge of the The PBT's #7 ranked Reed Pierce says, problem with #14 ranked 's cue ball hitting the edge of the object ball." "I take the cue stick and try to line it up in words of wisdom. Nick explains, "What I Offering a more detailed explanation is line. I just pick the spot in the center of do is use parallel lines. The first line I see new P&B Mag instructional guru Ray the object ball, and aim towards that. Martin, a BCA Hall of Fame player with Even if you need to cut a ball real thin, three world titles to his credit. According you just still need a square hit, so you aim to Ray, "I use parts of the cue ball. In for the contact point with your cue." other words, if you were to have a The WPBA's #2 ranked Robin Bell straight-in shot, you're aiming with the adds to this. "When I line up on the cue middle of the cue ball to the middle of the ball to the object ball, I first visualize the object ball. Now let's say the object ball actual location on the object ball where I stays in the same place and you move the need to hit it. Then I put my cue down cue ball six inches to the left. Now you're towards that spot. When I'm down shoot- aiming with only a part of the cue ball. If ing I'm sending the cue straight through you've got a real thin cut, now you're aim- the cue ball to that spot on the object ball. ing with the edge of the cue ball. I'm not Picturing it that way allows me to always going to stress 1/2 ball, 1/4 ball here, follow through." because that's way too broad — the differ- Fellow WPBA pro Mary Guarino ence could be two degrees or a sixteenth of offers a new slant. "I aim with the shaft of an inch! The important thing to remember my cue stick. If you're hitting a straight-in Jim Rempe - "...you have to aim differently is the spot on the object ball never shot, obviously, your cue is in the center. I with different cues, because some cues deflect changes. It is a constant." imagine the cue ball is in quarters. In more than others."

126 Pool & Billiard Magazine July 1995 Aiming -- Secret of the Pros? Or Just Basic Instinct.. continued from page 126 is a line from the edge of the cue ball Look Away... proves the object ball-last theory. "It's like toward the contact point on the object that trick shot where you line up, take the ball. I keep my shaft on a parallel line to Jeff Carter continued his explanation cue out of your bridge hand, slide it back by explaining which ball he looks at last, that and if you're cutting ball to left that in, look away and shoot. Once you're lined which brought up a whole other topic of up, you don't need to see that cue ball, a line, it will be on the right. But if you're discussion, one that most pros had a defi- using left english, it will be the same line, top player is going to know they're there." nite opinion on. According to Carter, Summing up the more commonly and with center or right english, it will be "What you look at first or last, the cue ball parallel. Once I shoot, my eyes are actual- heard theory is Allen Hopkins who says, "I or object ball, varies from shot to shot. On look first at the cue ball, then object ball, ly focused on the contact point on the a long shot, of course I'm going to watch object ball." then back and forth from cue ball to object the cue ball go up to the object ball. Let ball, always looking at the object ball last." your eyes do what they want to do natu- rally, but keep your head down, that's Yet Another Angle what's most important." The Final Secret Aiming with angles, that is. Loree Jon, Michelle Adams leans towards the There you have it, the secrets of aiming who earlier explained that she most more popular theory of looking at the from dozens of the top players who do it always just sees the shot, also admitted object ball last, "except on the break shot, best. But then again, is the secret really that she occasionally checked out the or a masse or jump shot, when you need to out? #2 ranked C.J. Wiley offers that you angle on her shots. "Sometimes I look at pay more attention to where your cue tip must aim before you get down on the ball the angle between the cue ball, object ball will contact the cue ball." by lining up correctly, of course, but adds and pocket, and stroke through to that Sammy Jones opts for honesty. "I wish that as far as his aiming method itself, spot, looking at the object ball last." I knew! I'd lean towards looking at the "There are certain things you don't tell. And Jeff Carter, ranked #21, says he object ball last, but I have never figured Last time I wrote anything about aiming, also looks at angles. "Every shot angles to that out. What's interesting to note is that somebody copied it and started selling it." the right or left, right? I look at those when the top pros line up, is a I considered Chinese water torture, but angles to aim.. If the shot is straight in of good example, the cue tip is the distance of I don't think he would've cracked. course it's a straight line, but most shots a razor blade's width from the cue ball." I guess the secret may still be out will have an angle." Loree Jon then explains that this only there... somewhere. •

128 Pool & Billiard Magazine July 1995