Common mistakes, and how to fix them.

The ten things players most often do wrong

Dr. Dave Alciatore's list, with where to read about the fix:

1. An elevated cue. Raising the butt makes off-center hits curve. Keep the cue as level as the rail allows. (The stroke)
2. An unstable bridge. Plant the hand firmly with the fingers spread. (Bridges)
3. The head too high. A lower head makes misalignment easier to see. (Stance)
4. Poor vision-center alignment. Your head is not where a straight shot looks straight. (Find your vision center)
5. Moving the eyes and the cue at the same time.
6. A weak pre-shot routine. (Routine)
7. Side spin that was not needed. (English)
8. A tight grip.
9. A rushed or elbow-dropping stroke.
10. Head or body movement during the shot.

Why shots miss

Dr. Dave's separate list of the top reasons for missing adds lack of focus, poor shot choice, bad position, bad aim (including not allowing for cut-induced throw), a poor eye pattern, mental errors, a moving bridge and poor chalking.

The aiming mistake almost everyone makes

Pointing the center of the cue ball at the contact point on the object ball hits the object ball too full, so cut shots miss on the thick side. Aim the cue ball at the ghost ball's position instead, one ball-radius farther out. (Aiming)

Habits that cost games

• Jumping up before the stroke is finished. Stay down and still until the ball is gone.
• Getting down too soon, before you have decided on the aim and the position. The fix, per a 2001 Cue Times article hosted on Dr. Dave's site: stand up and reset whenever you are in doubt.
• Trying too hard. It tenses the grip hand, pulls the cue off line, and on draw shots lifts the butt and causes miscues.
• Stacking bridges. PBIA Master Instructor Samm Diep warns against setting your hand bridge on top of a rail bridge; it adds elevation and costs precision.
• Hitting higher than you think. Players often strike above where they intend on draw shots. A striped ball or a marked practice ball shows where the chalk mark actually lands.

How instructors fix faults

The PBIA Instructor Manual tells instructors to look for rushed transitions, deceleration, the head and body lifting, elbow drop, an inconsistent eye pattern, an unstable grip and poor tip placement, and to fix one high-priority problem at a time, using scored drills the student can succeed at quickly and before-and-after video. The same approach works on your own: pick one fault, film yourself, and use a drill that measures it.