Ready, Aim, Fire!

By Max Eberle

You will not be ready to bend down on a shot until you have decided exactly what you are trying to execute. First you want to know your strategy in relation to the lay of the table...

Then you want to know your strategy in relation to this shot that faces you now. In his book SMART POOL! THE MIND GAME, John Delaveau thoroughly and convincingly outlines the importance of pre-shot planning and thinking before concentration on the shot itself. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in getting better and being more consistent.

Now that you are ready, you must aim. Aiming includes the entire formation of the stance, all the way through your final stroke, where you are fixed on the stroking line and ready to fire. It is pointless to get ready, aim, and then jump up as you stroke the cue. Yet, so many players do this, revealing their lack of confidence in their preparation, readiness and aiming. Once you tie the knot of holy matrimony to your plan and stance (aim), you must be faithful in your delivery of the cue. If it does not feel right, stand up and re-marry. Soon enough, your preparations will be as easy as getting married in Las Vegas, and you will be able to move mountains if you just have faith enough to stay in your stance as you stroke your cue.

Ready, aim, fire!

Max Eberle is a world-class professional pool player and instructor. He is a four-time West Coast 9-ball Champion, two-time ACU-I National Collegiate 8-ball Champion, and former BCA Junior National 8-Ball Champion. He is a former WPA World Straight Pool Championship Bronze Medallist, top five-ranked UPA touring professional for two years, and has high runs of 196 in straight pool and ten consecutive racks of 9-ball on a regulation table. An in-demand private instructor and film/television performer, his students include celebrities and pool players of all ages and skill levels. He has traveled the world competing, entertaining, and teaching. An artist for life, he resides wherever inspiration, and his cue, take him. Mention PoolBum for a $5 discount on his DVDs. You can find out more at: Max Eberle