Nick Prinsloo has been playing pool for a total of 21 years, 15 years competitively. Originally a pro-level snooker player and instructor, Nick discovered 9-ball and came to the US in 1998, where he has been playing on regional tours ever since. Lately, Nick writes more about the game than he actually plays. Nick was the Guide for Billiards at About.com for almost four years. Nick's column archive is located here.
	Lesson 7(e): Sighting the Shot By Nick Prinsloo  More of this Series •  Introduction • 1.) Philosophy Of Pool • 2.) Learning To Play Pool • 3.) Overcoming The Physical Barriers • 4.) Overcoming The Mental Barriers • 5.) Why Pool? • 6.) Becoming A Natural Player • 7.) Judging The Angle & Establishing The Right Technique • 7e.) Sighting The Shot • 7f.) The Practice Strokes • 7g.) Pausing For Perfection • 7h.) Final Cue Delivery Let's assume you want to pocket a ball at a slight angle using no english, i.e. striking the cue ball dead center. Assess the angle, approach the shot, take up position and go down on the shot. Aim the tip of the cue at the center of the cue ball, pointing at the center of the imaginary cue ball (remember the imaginary cue ball?). This way you can't go wrong You have looked at the cue tip addressing the center of the cue ball. Now look at the object ball, or rather the imaginary cue ball "touching" the object ball. Look whether the line you are aiming along is still perfectly aimed at that space you have to play the cue ball into, namely that of the imaginary cue ball. Whether you actually see the imaginary cue ball is irrelevant. As long as you are sure that the cue ball is going to make contact with the object ball at exactly the right point in order to pocket it. You can now look at the cue ball again to see if the cue tip is still lined up with the center of the cue ball. Once you are sure of this, look at the object ball again to check whether you are still aiming at the right spot. Repeat this procedure until you are one hundred percent sure that the aim is right. (Two to three times may be sufficient, but on certain shots, you may have to repeat this a few times more.) Then, and only then, are you ready to execute the shot. However, don't get stuck in looking from cue ball to object ball to cue ball to object ball and so on. The shot should be played when you are ready to play it. No sooner, no later. Some players will take longer and go through the procedure more times than others. You will discover for yourself what works for you and what does not. (Next Lesson: The Practice Strokes) Previous Features Copyright © About.com