There have been many different methods employed in order to get that object ball into the pocket. These range from the ridiculous, such as using reflections on the object ball as a guide, to the extremely distracting, involving focusing on a point on the table instead of the balls. For one thing, any reflections move as we move, for another, if we are not focusing on the balls, we tend to lose our feel and enjoyment of the game. So the question is, how do I aim and increase my chances of potting the ball in snooker or pool? The two methods highlighted in this article not only work but also add to our enjoyment.
Aiming by Geometry
We can see clearly from Figure 1 that for a pot to be successful, at the instant of contact the cue ball and object ball must be in a direct line with the pocket. In other words the cue ball must hit the point on the object ball on the opposite side to the pocket. When we look at this frozen moment of contact, we see something interesting. From whichever vantage point we choose, A, B or C, we notice that the contact point is located exactly in the middle of the overlapping region as it appears to our eyes. The lines coming from each point in Figure 1 show that this is the case. To help us to see what we should be visualising as we aim let’s look at Figure 2.
In the three cases shown in Figure 2 we see a good way of visualising the shot. By imagining the cue ball the same size as the object ball, but semi-transparent and overlapping by the right amount, we have a perfect guide to aiming. First of all, we need to be certain of the correct contact point on the object ball, and then in our minds we build that overlapping region around it so that the contact point is in the dead centre of that region.
The beauty of this method is such that if we stay down on the shot, not moving until after contact, we can see the true overlapping region as the balls make contact. This will tell us two things: first, whether we have aimed correctly, and second, whether we have chosen the correct point on the object ball. Also this technique will help us to detect any problems with our cueing action.
One paradoxical thing we notice is that the harder shots, those involving thinner cuts, seem easier to visualise because the overlapping region is smaller and more clearly defined. When we look at an almost full ball contact, as in example B, the overlapping region is larger and it seems more difficult to find the mid point. This is where our second technique really helps.
Aiming by Enhanced Visualisation
For decades, visualisation techniques have been used in many games and sports. Golfers, for example, have benefited greatly from applying different mental visualisation methods. Jack Nicklaus, still the greatest golfer of all time, said that he never hit a golf ball before first visualising its flight, even its bounce and roll towards the target. Before every shot, he played this mental video. If golfers are so precise about their targets, even when hitting fairways seventy yards wide, how much more so do snooker players need to be, when one millimetre can be the difference between a great or a poor shot.
When we make our mental rehearsal of the shot as real as possible we bring our full concentration to bear. Think of a real snooker or pool shot, what happens when the balls make contact? Not only do we see the shot, we also hear it! There is a clicking sound as they collide. We should also, therefore, visualise that clicking sound, it will make the shot we are about to play feel more real.
In this technique we must imagine that sharp clicking sound coming from the precise point on the object ball that we wish to hit. Ask yourself as you are aiming, if I play this shot now, will that sound come from the correct place on the object ball, or do I need to adjust my aim? Have in your mind a correct picture of the snooker balls, as hard spheres that can only make contact at one precise point. If you try this you will be amazed at how your feel for the game will be enhanced.
No Need to Choose
You don’t need to choose between these two aiming techniques; in fact I believe they should be used together on most shots as they compliment each other. I hope they add to your feel and enjoyment of the game.
Bruce Bowden - Bruce Bowden writes about science and other topics. His book Strange Harbinger is a science fiction mixture of comedy and drama.
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