How to Make Straight in Shots & Why You Keep Missing Them

Do you dread shooting that long straight in 8-ball or 9-ball? In this video I discuss why a lot of players miss straight in shots so much and how to make them. I also cover why cut shots seem to be easier than these long straight in monstrosities.

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[WorldofPoolandBilliards]

Check out the new World of Pool and Billiards App full of drills, breaks, trick shots, and a number of tools just for pool players.

[andytieu]

I like how direct your videos are. No fluff just straight to the point clear commentary. Good work, keep it up! Subbed.

[lokyinphotography]

Been doing those straight shot routine the last few days my game already changing. Thank you very much. :)

[beercanbrian]

I consider this the best game improvement video I've seen on YouTube. No headache inducing tangent lines or thinking you need a protractor. All that stuff becomes learned over time playing and practicing. In pool, stroke is King, period. I'm an accomplished player and today, I still spend hours shooting in straight in stop shots like you show making sure I have no unintended spin on the cue ball. I do this drill on a snooker table as well with regular pool balls.

[DrClawizdead]

One of the older players at my local place gave me the best piece of advice. Center balk is where the ball touches the table.

[ace-xm]

No joke I’ll typically make 5 bank shots and regularly pocket cut shots in a game before I make more than 1 long straight shot

[mrarmaan]

"Why you keep missing them"

I feel personally attacked by the title lol

[antoniotrew]

I used to be notorious for missing these shots until i started recording my games, that's when finally saw a few things i would do wrong...
I was over thinking them, or trying to force shape to get to my next ball..Also sometimes my shoulder would slightly drop causing my cue to get out of line..I fixed that by using a shorter stroke on straight in shots because the shorter the stroke the less room i had for error...

[WorldofPoolandBilliards]

Do you think I missed anything? One thing I might add is that you should play these practice shots to follow them into the pocket as well as draw back to the opposite pocket. I use to shoot probably 200 of these every time I went out to practice. What do you think? Is it necessary?

[_YUTUBE_]

This helped me a lot and now i never have to buy beers at bars. Thanks mate.

[TheBilliardCorner]

Your production quality is amazing. Great video, hope to see more soon!

[blackegg]

Finally explained to me in a way that helps me understand how to improve

[jackdestories]

Important video. You've laid out exactly how to fix this problem. It just takes time and effort.

[jaspergan]

nice video again brother!

One tip i found useful to immediately correct this is to adjust your grip for these straight in shots.

In your grip hand, rather than holding the cue normally with all fingers+thumb touching the handle, try gripping it with just your ring and pinky+thumb (make a hand pistol, pew pew, and hold the cue).

what this does is that it will force you to stroke with your elbow only (if that makes sense) since the focus point of the grip ends up in the base of your palm rather than in the index finger part which is the furthest part from the pivot of your wrist.

As much as possible, try to incorporate this stroke action into ALL of your shots once your get used to it as it will give you a clean and straight stroke. Train your muscle memory to lock your wrist and not let it move too much during a shot which causes all these simple misses. I hope this helps and please let me know if this helped you!

[gzig]

I'm new to your channel this is easily one of the best pool vids I've seen and I've seen a lot and it's obvious that other people agree based on it's popularity and their comments. Your really know how to teach and teach well and for your own sake I hope that's what you do for a living!

[czmmt]

Keeping your wrist, elbow and shoulder aligned throughout the stroke is a talent few are conscious of. When that is mastered you can use that knowledge to throw the ball purposely. Another topic touched on is the apparent center of the cue ball. To highlight this phenomenon stare at a object across the room. Take your thumb, finger or pen out in front of your vision start from your left and slowly bring that across you vision to the right. You will see your finger jump several times. This is your vision going back and forth from the two hemispheres of the brain. In ending this video is the best I've seen on one of the hardest shots one the table. The straight in shot.

[FairfieldAuction]

Nice to know I'm not the only one. You're solution makes a lot of sense. I didn't realize throw was maximized on a straight shot- it all makes more sense now.

[fixitrod]

I just started playing at the end of December but fundamentals are the only thing I focus on. I'm putting this in the mix. Thanks!

[millsbobster]

good job! love that you called out fundamentals and vertical axis (which really comes from fundamentals) rather than aiming bs.

[jacobjones]

I do think the center ball thing is great advice.. I rarely use spin anymore, and have developed my game to move the ball with center.. Which allows me to play with authority without sacrificing precision..

Another thing about center.. It allows you to be more precise on all two rail patterns getting back to the center of the table.. In fact, I’ll use a tip of inside more than helping English, so I can make the ball with speed, yet not have the cue ball spin up table on me..