Aiming Secrets
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The Secret of Pool? 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 Mike Massey 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.