Groove Your Stroke aka Warm-Up Drill #1

1 ball on the third diamond and about 6 inches from the rail.

Cue ball on the second diamond. Line up the cue ball directly behind the 1 ball.

Your goal is to pocket the 1 without hitting the rail. Even when you think you have hit a perfect shot, the cue ball is likely to veer to one side or the other after striking the object ball. Give yourself a pat on the back if the cue ball follows the same path as the object ball. It is very hard to do.

After you pocket the 1 ball, put the 2 on the fourth diamond. Pocket it the same way.

The 3 ball goes on the fifth diamond.

The 4 ball goes on the sixth diamond.

The 5 ball goes on the seventh diamond.

Repeat the process with balls 6 through 10, and 11 through 15.

You will notice that you have trouble with some of the shots. I love the 1 ball shot. I hate the 5 ball shot. I can't find the point of aim. On days when I have a bad stick, I have trouble with the 3 and 4 ball shots.

With enough practice on this simple drill, you will eventually have one of the great billiards epiphanies. To make the object ball roll into the pocket without hitting the rail along the way, you can't aim for the center of the pocket. You have to aim for the side of the pocket. Many of us miss shots because we aim for the wrong part of the pocket.

Now you know one of the great billiards secrets.