"Aim using your head" is almost a cliché. How exactly do you place your head above the stick for aim? The answer is You DON'T Aim Your Head Over The Stick, for one thing.
As I've written elsewhere, "We shoot pool with our hands and arms, not our heads and eyes. The mechanical motion of the stroke (for most strokes) is straight back and forward again. I can shoot with my eyes closed--you should be able to also--the best place for the head is wherever your eyes can see the impact target best, not over the stick directly unless that is coincident to the shot at hand.
Most players would do better with their head balanced and comfortable above their trunk rather than forced over the cue stick. I say "most players" based on their personal vision abilities and etc. Yes, many pros post their chin above the cue stick but they were told that was the best before they practiced 10,000 hours to compensate for any lack of accurate sighting this provides."
But does the following letter describe your struggles in pool? There's more to pool than "bend over the cue stick" and "balance between your feet" to make for a great pool stance.
Matt,
I've read a lot of your articles at about.com and I think they are really informative and funny. There are so many details to learn about the fundamentals of pool and you describe them very well. Your thoughts on the mental game and strategy are well thought out and apply to many situations.
I honestly believe a lot of people read your articles and come out better players because of them. I know I did for sure. I play in some tournaments over here in Sweden and I enjoy playing even more now than before and I think I win more racks by not rushing things and perhaps being a little more cautious and tactical at times. Thank you for sharing your experience with the world.
Can you give me a quick video lesson as I hit these stop shots at (website link withheld)?
I read your articles but I know it can be hard to apply the knowledge in practice without a personal lesson. I recorded a short video (not in the best quality I know) and I would really appreciate if you could give me some pointers. I've had huge problems with "elbow drop" in the past but I think I got a hang of the pendulum stroke.
Obviously I'm just shooting stop shots here and if the shot needs a little juice I would probably drop my elbow a lot more.
Regards, Alex H.
All right, Alex... and I know these tips will help our other readers, too...
Your stance looks strong and good. You look fluid and comfortable over the shots.
Your head is in the same place every time, your arm and body are in good position, your aim looks fine from what I can see, and your stroke is very pretty, smooth and fluid. All super. I especially appreciate your hand action on the shots. Very, very good.
Here's a big problem--you stood up on nearly every stroke taken in your video--almost before the cue ball hit the object ball!
You MUST stay down with your stroke, your head immobile during aim or nearly so, or you'll have the issues you had where the cue ball was drifting off line and going to one side on a straight stop shot!
Stay down until the cue ball stops moving and the object ball pockets or stops moving on every shot. I don't care if the cue ball rolls for six or seven rails--you must stay down until the cue ball comes to rest on the shot unless the cue ball is going to hit you or the cue stick on its travels!
Even when you play Nine Ball and the 9-ball sinks to end the game, stay down until the cue ball comes to rest for an imaginary 10-ball, etc.
This will speedily improve your game--immediately!
If your stance will not let you stay down because the cue stick is looping in your shooting hand or hitting your chin, it's time to change your stance per the instructions set forth in my book and at this website!
What do you think? Try this and see. And aim that head mostly by not moving it!
