Pool Shot Aiming Drill

This drill is designed to help you improve shots that are far from "straight in" and to help you with your billiard shot aiming, and consistency.

Pool Shot Aiming Drill

To begin, set up all of the object balls in a semi-circle around any pocket. Then pick a starting position for the cue ball that is some distance down the long side of the table. Once everything is set up you can start shooting at the object balls beginning with the one closest to the rail and working your way out as you sink each one.

Be sure to bring the cue ball back to the same position as you sink each cue ball. This will ensure that you are exposed to a full array of angles.

If you miss a shot or sink the cue ball you have to begin the entire billiard drill all over again.

Pool Shot Aiming Drill

This exercise should give you some decent aiming practice since you'll get the full range of angles.

Once you become comfortable with "running all of the balls around the pocket, try moving to a side pocket, or switching to the opposite corner pocket. You can also increase the distance between the cue ball and object balls.

Pool Shot Aiming Drill

Title: Pool Shot Aiming Drill
Author: billiardsforum (Billiards Forum)
Published: 9/30/2006 2:18:14 AM
Last Updated: 9/15/2016 8:21:56 PM
Last Updated By: billiardsforum

Pool Shot Aiming Drill

The Pool Shot Aiming Drill article belongs to the Aiming and Execution Tutorials for Billiards category. Billiard and pool playing tips around shot making, aiming, and execution.

Pool Shot Aiming Drill Comments

Max FL from Weeki Wachee, FL on 1/1/2010 10:43:03 AM
Do you think the six ball and the nine ball can be made from that cue ball position without banking or kicking?

Frank from Fort Mill, SC on 6/25/2010 11:15:34 AM
I have used many different methods of aiming. Currently I find my spot on the object that I would hit if I just shot it with just my pool stick. I then aim at the object ball in that same spot with the cue ball. Then I shoot my cue ball, aiming where my spot is on the object ball. It seems to work fairly well. I run an average of 4 to 5 balls each rack but I still have some problems with position. What do you think of this aiming system?

vendetta_revived from India on 9/1/2010 1:13:02 PM
Yeah how will the six and nine balls be made from that position?

BoxCar from Maricopa, AZ on 11/20/2010 2:01:24 PM
By using the BankStop Mirror System, we're able to pocket both the 6 ball and the 9 ball by doing a kick shot off the rail between corner and side pocket. I admit I could only do it in 3 or 4 tries.

sharpoolshooter from OH, United States on 12/3/2010 7:06:09 AM
Yes, the nine ball can be made without banking it. It can be done off the rail and a little to the left of the cue ball so it can be cut in the corner pocket.

The 6 ball, on the other hand, does not look like it can be cut. It is straight in-line with the cue ball, and on the rail so it will have to be banked.

Richard Dryer from Houston, TX on 1/31/2011 6:12:55 AM
I think this is a great practice drill for aiming.

man_ur_dumb from ON, Canada on 3/3/2011 3:34:35 PM
The 6 ball and the 9 ball can be made. It is called a cut shot.

awesome ed from Largo, FL on 8/12/2011 3:08:54 PM
Yes, the six and the nine can both be made from the original cue ball position. Notice that the object balls are all to the left of the cue ball e.g. the cue ball is outside to the right of all the object balls. Using a 90 degree angle, there is a specific spot on each object ball that will send it toward the pocket.

Practice and shoot well.

MrPhilHarmonic from Freehold, NJ on 3/31/2012 8:00:34 PM
My answer is that the 6 and the 9 ball angles are nothing but ridiculous. They belong in the realm of trick shots!

By placing the cue ball another diamond over towards the opposite side of the pool table from the balls, you should achieve much more realistic and useful angles. I mean, when in a game are you going to risk a shot such as indicated on the 6 ball or the 9 ball in that diagram? No. You would most likely bank, or better still, play a safety.

I am concerned that in practice (and I mean real practice) we ask ourselves to perform unrealistic shots. No wonder that, when we miss, we not only become discouraged, but it lodges the "miss" in our minds, therefore developing a totally negative approach to the shot and the game.

Practice what you can't play, of course, but be realistic.

Skippy from Work on 7/25/2012 2:13:40 PM
In a real game, you would play the 9 ball off of the 6 ball into the corner. Then play the 6 in its new position into the opposite corner. I know that defeats the purpose of this billiard drill but you have to think about things as they would be in a real game.

Jimbo from Bloomington, IN on 3/4/2013 2:57:18 AM
The six and the nine balls are both make-able from that cue position though both are considered difficult shots to make.

You can cut the 9 ball with no english. That is the easy one.

The 6 ball against the rail is make-able using far left english, adjusting for squirt, and hitting the rail first as close the the ball as possible. The english should force the cue ball to alter directions toward the 6 ball causing the 6 ball to hug the rail all the way to the pocket. Of course, executing all of this correctly is another story.

Malcolm Kelly from Georgetown, MS on 5/19/2016 8:47:01 PM
I have never tried an exercise like this one, but I will as soon as I go practice at the pool tables tomorrow. It looks challenging.

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