Pool Blog: Pool Aiming Systems

There are several aiming systems available. The one that will work best for you is the one that is easiest for you to visualize.

Ghost Ball Aiming:
Picture a ball directly opposite of the pocket, touching the Object ball. Aim for the exact center of this "Ghost Ball"

Aiming For the Center of the Ghost Ball

Edge To Edge Aiming
Many pool pros use some type of “edge to edge” method. They plan the aim line of the object ball, in this case the striped ten, the path the cue ball will take to become the ghost ball and then consider some edge or section from each ball they will connect together.
By playing “I’ll send this section of the cue ball into this piece of the object ball” they give themselves real objects in three-dimensional space to aim together, rather than imagined space to send the cue ball to fill. (Credit given to billiards.about.com)

Parallel Aiming System:
The parallel aiming system was introduced by the 15 time World Champion, Willie Mosconi, in his book-Winning Pocket Billiards. To use the parallel aiming system, you draw a line from the pocket to the opposite end of the Object Ball, then draw a parallel line from the rail to the first point the line touches on the Cue Ball. Then connect the two lines together

Parallel aiming in 3D:

Contact point aiming:
Contact point aiming is probably the most precise form of aiming, but it requires the most amount of abstract visualization and the threshold is a pinpoint dot on the Object Ball.
Contact point aiming connects 2 dots-A and B together. Dot A is the point on the Object ball farthest from the pocket. Dot B is the point on the Cue Ball closest to the pocket. Connect the two dots using a line the shortest distance between them.

Fractional aiming system:
The fractional aiming system involves dividing the Object ball into 8 equal slices and aiming the cueball by covering the ObjectBall into fractional segments. This system allows you to associate numbers with aiming. Shown below are the 9 possible hits with the fractional aiming system-eventually you'll learn what fraction will give you what angle.

Center to Edge Aiming:
This method is decently accurate and is also known as swivel aiming.

*note, the CTEL is the Center to Edge Line is a Line from the center of the CueBall to the outside edge of the Object Ball

BASIC CTE PIVOTS (as taught by Hal Houle):

For thick cuts: Your cue is parallel to the CTEL with your tip pointing at the outside edge of the CB (the edge of the CB that’s farthest from the pocket). You then pivot your tip towards the pocket until it reaches CB center.

For thin cuts: Your cue is parallel to the CTEL with your tip pointing at the inside edge of the CB (the side of the CB that’s closest to the pocket). You then pivot your tip away from the pocket until it reaches CB center.

If you’re not sure which side to pivot from, only one will work. One will look right – the other will not.

For straight-ins: It doesn’t matter which side of the CB you address, just make sure you perform a thick-cut pivot.

The Center to Edge Line is shown below.