Developing a stroke:
Line up a striped ball with the corner pocket, try to keep an equal amount of white on both sides of the stripe. Warm up, like I explain in "Grips", hold the cue lightly at first, let your wrist break 'nice n' smooth. NEVER stop stroking during this practice routine. Aim at 12 o'clock in the upper middle of the stripe, still stroking - back & forth, back & forth, nice and smooth then let it go, let it flow...Practice this, increasing the grip pressure as your stroke improves. When you master this practice routine, you will graduate to the wonderful world of a shot-maker. Then you'll be hooked and, Your love of the game will begin to soar...

Keep your eye on the target, in this case the corner pocket, from the beginning of the final backstroke, to the end of the followthrough. Your eyes should do this about 95% of the time in making shots, and this is an excellent way to train them. In my mind the only exceptions being, an extreme masse', and sometimes an extreme jump shot. When you execute the shot correctly, memorize the feeling and firmness in your grip hand. Repeat it again...

As you can see the white remains equally on both sides of the stripe.

Practice this to perfection, no matter how well your aim. If your stroke isn't straight, you won't make the shot...

Aiming: Step 1; of my "No Time For Negative" approach. Walk around, chalk up and study the table, look for problem balls etc... This view is an example of three cbs with the same imaginary cp (cb against 3 ball lined up for the side pocket)...

Notice the imaginary cb against the 3 dead inline with the corner pocket. If you were to remove this imaginary cb, then shoot all three cbs where the imaginary cb was (or is), the 3 ball will be successfully pocketed by all...

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