Our eyes hold the key to where the cue ball needs to contact the object ball. However, as anyone who has watched Criss Angel will tell you, our eyes are prone to misinterpret information. To get the most from your own pair of aiming tools, keep the following hints in mind. Dominant Eye Theories Many activities force us to make a choice about how we use our eyes. We’re not aware of each subtle movement we make or what eye we may use, right or left. We just do the job, whatever that might be. A classic example is taking photos.

If you try to focus on everything at once, you will quickly wear out your eyes. Instead, begin by looking at the various parts of the shot before you settle into your stance. Where will the object ball go to hit the center of the pocket? Where must the cue ball contact the object ball? Where will the cue ball travel to after contact? Once you’ve made these decisions and you’re down and ready to pull the trigger, allow your body and mind to feel—rather than see—all these spatial relationships, keeping your focus entirely on the object ball.

Treating every shot the same will enhance your rhythm and prevent you from underanticipating some shots and overanticipating others. Some would argue this, claiming that tougher shots need more time, but this is exactly the kind of thinking that leads to unforced errors. First, when presented with a tough shot, your extra time and attention should be taken before you step into your stance. Second, imagine yourself shooting a rack of four extremely easy shots, followed by a doozy. If you two-stroke the first four, chances are you’ll rush your swing on the tough shot.