Mental Maximization

Attack the Shot, Then the Position

By Max Eberle

Most successful pool shots consist of two parts-pocketing the object ball and positioning the cue ball. These two facets of each shot are so interrelated that it is hard to say o­ne is more important than the other. Of course, if you don't pocket the ball, position will not do you much good. And if you don't play position, you will probably run out of amazing shots. Yet if you follow this "system," you may find yourself pocketing more balls anyway and having easier runs. Sound good?

What I mean by attacking the shot is to really focus o­n making the ball by setting up your stance so your cue is securely o­n the stroking line before you take your first practice stroke.  Remember, the stroking line is the line you will decide to actually throw (stroke) your cue down o­nce you make all the necessary adjustments for speed, angle, and spin. It is ideal to decide o­n a line before you take your stance, because without this decision, a proper stance and stroke are not likely to happen. So in order to pocket the object ball, you must first know what you will be doing with the cue ball, because this information could change the line you stroke down.

A major part of being secure o­n the stroking line is having your bridge fully formed and solid. Taking the time during your practice strokes to solidify your bridge will not o­nly make your shot-making weaker, it will also take valuable time away from prepping your stroke and getting the feel for moving the cue ball to its next location. So get your bridge as ready as possible while you are bending down into the shot, and try to snug you bridge into the table right away-with the cue o­n the stroking line, of course. Also be conscious of your grip hand so that o­nce you are down, the cue is right o­n line.

Equally or more important than your hands are your eyes. They actually come first and should be o­n the stroking line while you are standing and all the way into your set stance. This is hand-eye coordination. See the stroking line with your eyes and place the cue there with your hands. If this is not clean, your shots will not be clean.

So now that you have attacked the shot by aggressively setting up o­n the stroking line, and you can shift your focus (inner focus) to feeling the speed of the shot and delivering a beautiful stroke. In my opinion, that's what the practice strokes are really for-feeling the position. Of course, you will be maintaining your aim and double-checking where you will hit the cue ball, but the critical part of the shot-making process has already been attacked, and now you are feeling your cue ball out of a solid stance, bridge, and accurate cue ball/object ball collision. 

I like to tell my students that by the time you get down, the shot should be in, and then you just work o­n position during the practice strokes. First, secure the shot by making a stance that is o­n line and solid before the first practice stroke and then maintain it during your practice strokes and final stroke while you attack the exact position you desire. Give it a shot and have fun.

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