This is the best alignment video I’ve seen. I actually felt the difference in seeing the ball and positioning my hip, elbow, shoulder and cue stick. It is easily repeatable and identifies improper alignment immediately. Thanks.

Great video Bob! This is the type of content pool players looking to improve need to watch. No "Supercharge your game" or "Must have shots" videos. But rather solid, repeatable fundamentals with the goal of delivering a straight stroke. This is where advancement occurs. I work on my stroke everyday. Even on my best days. Little bad habits can easily creep back in slowly without notice so it's important to incorporate straight stroke drills as part of a daily practice routine, even if only for a few minutes. Ideally at the beginning and end of a training session. Great job!!

This is essential for anybody that wants to be great at pool. One of the best videos around. Thank you

When you described "tip left," you really really got my attention!

How can I miss this after 3 years of playing shooting left and right...literally

One of the best instructional videos I’ve seen. Well demonstrated and explained.

This is another great video! Most amateur pool players don't realize how important thier aligmnet is when it comes to consistency. Thank you for this information.

This is pure gold.

Stroke defect is a unique skill unknowingly 😆🤣😁

Great Information I played a lot of pool twenty five years ago and now That I am retired. I can't even run 3 balls. In a row. This video has reinforced. What I need to start working on. After all these years being away from the game

Great video! That “double-kiss back” drill is brilliant! I’ve struggled with straight shots for months 🙌🏽

This may be your best work yet. Impressive and utterly helpful. I hope this goes viral.

I'm not a beginner, but i have to say, this is the best video I've seen on this subject. It connected on many levels. Ty

Hey Bob, your video was great!!

WOW! The best and most helpful video about the fundamentals I've seen. I knew in my mind that practicing with the wrong fundamentals will only make your game worse and you're the only one to point that out and address it. Thanks a ton.

This one of the best video I have seen for a while. You explained pretty much everything. I know someone that needs to practice this. Thank you for sharing.

Very good and instructive video! Helped my game immediately, I have been struggling with missing the easiest shots. The improvement was unbelievable right after watching your video and playing last night. Thank you so much 🤗

Great video Bob. Like most of your videos great detail and easy to follow. I like how you talk about alignment and then you give drills to improve.

this IS step one, the fundamentals you will never have high run consistency with out these basics. Great explanation, thank you

Great video. This one will go in the library and will often get replayed. Thx.

The shoulder advice is very helpful - thanks!

Great video! Thanks for the shoulder alignment tip!

Great stuff as usual.. I started doing the might X after I seen you on one of your streams practice days... I do it twice a week..I'm finally at the point that I can make 15 straight stund shots.. next it's 15 follow shots.. than draw.. big big help.. can't wait for the next stream

Great video Bob. Keep up the good work.

This is the instructional video I've been looking for!

This is some prime cut stuff right here. Thank you for all that you do. PS your original intro was the best.

I have to Thank You! I was a 100 ball runner back in the early 90s. Life took over and I gave up the game for many years. I tried hard to get my game back about 15 years later but couldn’t. I had this weird problem where i wasn’t hitting what i was aiming at even after 100s of hours of practice. Your video caused me to video tape myself but it also reminded me of something I worked on everyday when i was a better player. i would work on my pendulum stroke and finishing a straight grip at a certain point in my shoulder. Somewhere along the line I developed this funky sideways elbow drop during my transition. Even when my elbow felt quiet, video rec told me it was still active. I’m now consistently hitting my aim point. Thank you 🙏 so much for giving back. Sincerely, Jack

This video has so much great information and great illustrations. Phenomenal work Bob. 🤩👍🔥

Great instruction! Thanks for sharing!

I have to say, this is a great video. And, THANK YOU for taking the time to make it and share it with everyone. This video helped me understand what I was doing wrong. I would take a shot, and the cue would make contact with the object ball exactly where I wanted and at the right speed.... but "somehow" I wouldn't pot it. It's because I wasn't aligned properly and just before impact the stick would change where I struck the cue. I don't know why I didn't realize this before as I am an incredible marksman. When you explained the "archer" draw... I was able to put it together. It's interesting too... the way you describe making sure your head is level and either centered over the stick or dominant eye over the stick. In marksman training, how you describe where your head should be in this video, is exactly how you set up and "align" an OPTIC on a rifle. The optic needs to be level, and aligned perfectly center over the bore. I am beaming balls in the pocket now. Also worth noting that has improved very rapidly is my success in potting cut shots and long shots. The way I WAS playing didn't affect the short game nearly as much as it did the cuts and longs. If I was off on those, I miss them nearly every time. THANK YOU again for the great tips and PRECISION of your explanations and demonstrations. World class my friend.

Very nice video. I help train beginner and intermediate players locally and will definitely use that advice. Thanks for all of your videos. I always learn something.

One of the best how to video on shooting straight.. thank you for this

Thank you! I just started playing a few weeks ago. This is very helpful

Awesome stuff! Congrats with another great in-depth tutorial. I have a feeling this might blow up!

Great explanation of stroke anatomy!

You are a man of enormous po knowledge! Thx for all the great info! You are very skilled at delivering the information as well as your cue stick! Great Video!!

This a class instructional video. Very impressed. Now I just need to incorporate into my game😮

Like allways a masterpiece! Thanks a lot

Thanks so much, very helpful!

superb explained, great video. Thanks a lot

Immensely instructive and informative video, and it comes with great personal timing for me! I've been obsessed with vision center and alignment for the last several months, beginning each session with drills that all include straight center line shots. I basically started over from scratch, after 20 years of playing pool, to really re-establish and iron out my fundamentals. The journey has been really rough, as the form I had developed over the last two decades has been beyond challenging to change. Anyway, the information in this 20 min video really validated much of corrections I've implemented, and it's illuminated the path forward and has invigorated my resolve. I'm grateful for the amazing content! Thank you so much!

This video is amazing as such your other videos as well. The alignment part about the wrist supinating or pronating explains why even really good A players tend to turn their wrists after shooting a straight shot. These are great gems. Thank you for the content!

Thank you.

I'm glad I clicked ❤ Sublime content 👌

Thank you so much!. Your video brought me - by using your advices and informations - to a new level. Just great!

I call the straight stroke "The Holy Grail" of pocket billiards. Nice video. One of the best I've seen on developing a straight stroke.

Thank you

This guy knows what he is talking about. New subscriber for sure

Tack!

Very Good and Simple

Very good video, im going to try all of these techniques

Bob, another awesome video! Thank you so much! Just getting my shoulder in line fixed my problem with hitting straight shots. I’m much more consistent just from one training session. I also want to thank you for mentioning the “mighty X” drill by Bert Kinister. He is the OG! I can’t stop watching his videos. Truly a magician revealing all of his secrets. Keep on making awesome videos! I bought your ghost aiming tool and that has helped me to see shot angles tremendously! 🙌🏼

Great stroke Bob! Sounds like some of Mark Wilson's stroke training, make it consistent and repeatable, persist, persist, persist will get you there. Thanks for your time creating the video 👍

Great video

Great Video, need to diagnose my stroke now, and I got the knowledge to do so. Thanks!

Great video.

Thanks i think this will help me a lot!

I think this is one of the best vids on alignment I've seen. Hat Tip....Even "Bert" would be proud.😊😊

This is really great stuff. Thanks!! On a side note I salute you for giving Bert Kinister credit for the Mighty X drill. So many people use that as their own discovery but Bert is the one who originated it.

great video

Wow, trying to rotate my shoulder behind my head is a challenge and totally different feeling.

Damnation…your instructional videos are excellent for a beginner like me…thank you so much, sir!

This is the best video I've ever watched concerning the stroke! Really excellent. I tell players all the time that the stroke relies on body position/stance. The body/stroke is a machine, and if you want a consistent stroke delivery, the machine must operate as consistently as possible. Pocketing balls then simply becomes a matter of lining your machine/stroke up correctly (elbow, shoulder, grip hand, all on the same plane every time). I'll be sharing this video with plenty of aspiring players! Thanks for all you do to help pool players reach higher levels!

I'm 6'5 too and noticed that we stand very similarly, including the left side of the jaw/chin kind of pushed into the inside of the left shoulder. Great material here for us try-hards! I'm heading straight to your website.

Hey rob ,luckily i never had this problem .be safe !

Very good video

I have had the magical feeling experience he describes. I don’t seem to ever miss. My problem is that I lose whatever I’m doing. usually when i think too much

I am a good amateur player (of 50 years) that reached APA 9 in 9B and 7 in 8B, but I always struggled with 2 things; I miscued on a lot of draw shots, and I struggled with long straight shots. I was striving for a long flowing stroke but my tip was dipping before impact as my elbow would totally collapse. I blamed missing the long shots on my visual problems that made it hard for me to identify the center of the cue ball. Between this video and the one you made about finding the correct bridge length and grip point to get my hand behind the 90 degree angle at impact, I am now holding the cue about 4" farther back, and using a simple pendulum stroke with a stable elbow. After only 2 sessions on my table, I am drawing the ball more consistently, and potting the long shots much more easily. I also now understand that at 6"2", I need to get a center extension so the cue will feel more balanced. Can you say "Game Changer?" Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!!

I disagree with your "no pronounced rear pause" theory. I struggled for years with consistency until, I introduced a rear pause to my stroke. The rear pause has made the biggest improvement to my stroke and performance of any change I've ever introduced into my game and fundis. I know it's different strokes for different folks. No pun intended! But, I also think a vast amount of struggling players would benefit from a rear pause introduction to their pool stroke fundamentals. Thx for the great video SSOP Bob!

I completely stopped playing pool about 20 years ago. Then I gained a bunch of weight. I am now back to playing, but unfortunately all the fat has completely warped my playing stroke and even the simplest shots are 50/50 at best. This video definitely helped me see what the problem is. Unfortunately, I'm not sure how much of a "proper" solution I can implement when my upper arm is being pushed away from my body by now-larger torso, and my wrist is being pushed away from my body by my now-larger belly. I literally am forced to do /both/ the "sidearm" and "chicken wing" strokes. Well... either the diet will work, or I will just have to perfect the stroke defect. At least now, thanks to this video, I can work on it consciously.

Some people are born with a natural alignment upon bending his body when aiming at the object ball with the cue. It's like the art of singing; we all have vocal cords, but not all can sing beautiful and professionally even if we spend most of our lifetime attending to a conservatory. An excellent pool player or singer can not easily be found just around the corner. It´s all about a natural aptitude, anatomic characteristic some people are blessed with upon being born. Of course, aside from this natural or what I call a "divine aptitude", in order to be a professional pool player, you need to have a vocation and consequently receive adequate and hard training preferably since an early age.

nice cue! I had a Jim Buss that looked just like it

Great information. Apparently my shoulder has not been in line. Now that I’m aware of it and making sure it’s in line, I’ve been MUCH more accurate.

My channel is about UK pool but there's so many skills transfer across all pool variations. Thanks for the video 👍

Good video and In other words: Technique, along with endless hours of practice & pressure competition. Cheers

Great video. Any advice on how to know for sure if shoulder is in line or not? I feel like I focus too much on the shoulder it throws me off

I've never heard anybody break it down like that, I probably at my best shot shortstop speed. Would have loved to have seen what this would have done to my game.

Very well explained, but my beard interferes in this position. Will have to figure something out.

I'm thinking of setting up a mirror on a chair behind say a corner pocket then actually seeing how I line up in real time.

Where did you get that custom joint extension? Wow that looks nice. Im 6"5" and play with a joint extension, but is nothing near as nice as that.

Amazing video for people who is looking for some analytical explanations! The link for vision center video is not working, can you tell the correct link?

I have a several defect type stroke....lol

Wonderful summary and good explanations and visuals. I've trained myself for many compensations for many stance/stroke flaws; always inconsistent and frustrating. You are spot on about this. I'm 'only' 6' but have found achieving the shoulder position and a square head impossible (at least so far). My spine doesn't seem to want to turn/twist that much. So two theories: 1) I have spine problems preventing proper alignment; 2) I just don't know the right way to achieve it. I'm hoping for #2 and think it must be your leg and hip positions somehow facilitate it. Further explanations/visuals about that would be great. Note: I've tried instructors but have not yet found one to help with these basics. Shoulder: do you only rotate the torso or do you ALSO rotate your shoulder back in its joint? I tried rotating in the joint but it's not effortless, creates tension and I find it inconsistent. But I try it because of my above spinal twist issues. Do you use any conscious tension to keep the shoulder in a fixed position during the shot? There must be some to hold the elbow in position, right? But I frequently find my elbow wants to drop to 'aid' the shot and sometimes I fight that with extra shoulder tension; I think this is wrong? Shooting straight drills. It's been hard for me to keep interest in most of these, despite needing them. So, I created a new one based on the CB out and back drill, where I put a ball 'in the way' so that an accurate shot will pocket the ball. It makes it far more interesting to me and the drill can be made progressive by changing ball distances and cut angle; note that the aim is NOT for cutting the ball, but for shooting straight (using a rail target, just like the normal out and back drill. I call it the AimRight Straight-Cut Drill. I have a few videos introducing it and the Method it's part of.

To shoot straight cueing is the most importat point of snooker or pool but most plays donot practice enough or dont know how to.

Being in a wheelchair have no choice but to have arm out to the side. Taken a long time to get to a place where im shooting straight so it is doable. Snooker player Joe swayle was my inspiration as he played that way

Is it possible for a 5'5'', right handed, extreme left eye dominate player to have a natural/comfortable/textbook stroke? I've struggled to forever getting my eye over the cue to aim and still being about to stroke properly.

Please, Please do a more expansive video on strokes going to the left!! Thats me in a nutshell. 3 or 4 diamond length stop shots and I guarantee my cueball is spinning right! It's driving me nuts. I live in St. Petersburg Florida and cannot find an instructor with video equipment. LLoyd

Hey, I don’t have vision on my right eye, and I play right handed. Is there any difference in shot setup and aim alignment? Appreciate the video 🙌🏼

My cue was left of the cueball due to my head not being in the correct position.

Even if it is very difficult for me to contort my body to align along the vertical plane, should I force myself to do so until I get used to it?

This guy HAS to be a professional educator. His approach is spot on.

exceptional video. well organized, clear explanations backed by rationale. I guess I finally can retire the stupid coke bottle I have been shooting into.

so is it best playing my socks?

Just vision centre with one eye from the cueball and follow through to simplify it. Nothing else. Pendulum stroke and get lower deflection cues.

If I choke up on my cue I noticed wrist movement seems more natural

Film yourself shooting straight shots. Watch yourself on a screen. You may not like it that much, but it can make you think about your fundamentals.

If any of you want to see what the greatest player of all time does, watch Ronnie O Sullivan. Perfect stance. Perfect alignment. Immediate aim. Watch his elbow drop. Perfect form. Perfect english. Perfect leaves. Just amazing.

SKYLAR lines up Hips & Torso etc VERY SQuare … is he doing it wrong not torking torso for archery 🏹 style ??

I did not understand the shoulder alignment he spoke of.

i'm just gonna tape the cardboard wing to the shaft and be done w it lol