Sports psychologists have shown that fixating on a particular location or object is common in top performers and can aid skill acquisition.

In TheSportInMind, Sam Vine says "such research suggests that in order to be successful at aiming to a target, the final fixation made by a performer must not only be located on the target, but must also be of a long enough duration to ensure accuracy."

What this means in billiards is that you want to stay looking at the object ball long enough to make sure you are aimed correctly before you start your backswing. This step should be ingrained into your shooting routine through deliberate practice.