The 6-Step Shot Proccces in Pool

A while ago I made some notes for myself to create a clear shot process.  I was a pure gut player and always had to rely on a good form and mental strength.  My goal was to have a very clinical process that will help me to rely on my game when I am just not feeling well or under extrem pressure.

I want to share my process, maybe it will help some of you. And this is just my personal approach. Everyone is different and has to find it's own. But having one can really help you to become more consistent in playing.

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1. Visualize until completely ready for the shot

I noticed that I often get down on the shot before I made a hundred percent clear what should exactly happen on the table. After I managed to do this every time, I noticed that I still was going down before "feeling" the shot. So you have to make sure that:

- you have a clear plan what should happen
- you are convinced that this is the right shot and will work
- you are feeling how you have to hit the shot (contact point, pace, amount of spin)

2. Focus object ball while going down on the shot

A problem I made was that after step one, I didn't focus on the object ball while going down on the shot. Often players are focusing on the cueball when going down on the shot. But focusing on the object ball can do wonders, because your body will automatically align to that point you want to shot to.

3. Aim to the actucal aiming point on the cueball

A very big problem that prevented me from becoming a consistens shotmaker was that I didn't aim to the exact point on the cueball that I want to hit on my final stroke. I used pivot english (where you move your backhand) and added that english on the final stroke. So I was never shooting the cue in a straight line when applying english.

This caused a very inconsistent ball pocketing on days where I just didn't feel it. As already said, I was a pure gut player who had to feel everything.

4 .Slow down your backswing

When comparing videos from a few years ago with videos from nowadays, I can see a big change - my backswing. In Snooker almost everyone has a very slow backswing, and even a pause before delivering the cue.

The main message is: All the cue action comes from the final forward stroke. So having a smooth backswing, or even a possible pause can prevent you from choking.  Since I implented this into my game, I make a lot more balls (especially draw shots).

Just compare this very old video from 4 years ago with one of my newer videos, and you will see the difference in my stroke just because of the backswing:

2015:

2019:

The pause and the ultra slow backswing is not a must do. But make sure that you don't start your actual shooting with the backswing.


5. Deliver the cue in a straight line

When adding spin on the final stroke with pivot english, I never delivered the cue in a straight line. But with pure shift english, I now can just make sure to deliver the cue straight.

And now comes a very important insight: When down at the shot, everything is aligned correctly and you can deliver the cue straight - you don't have to aim anymore, you don't have to try to get position anymore, you just have to make sure that you hit straight, with the right speed, the right amount of english and the right follow through.

This sounds a little strange at first, but makes sense. You already made your plan in step 1) and chose the contact point on the object ball, the amount of english you have to add and the speed that is required.

So don't waste your thoughts about making the ball, about getting position and perhaps also the speed. You already figured that out.  That will just distract you from your current job, to deliver the cue.


A quote from Ronnie O Sullivan on long shots:

"You're not actually aiming at any particular part of the object ball. You just want to make sure that you're on line with the cueball. Try and hit as solidly as you can. You're looking for accuarcy over distance."



6. Stay down on the shoot

Unfortunately I still couldn't fix that problem completely. You often see players stand up on the shot while still shooting the ball.  This can cause a lack of accuracy. So try to stay down on the shoot, until you see that object ball drop. 

I hope some of these points will help you in becoming a better player. I didn't mention everything here, but the points that where important for my own game.

Do you have a certain routine in approaching shots?  Let me know what problems you have and how you fixed them.


Sharivari