When you look at the object ball, What do you see?

mr5994

mr5994

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
First off, this is not an aiming thread. I'm interested in visualizing the point of aim on the OB after using whatever aiming system.

So when you are down in your stance, ready to pull the trigger, do you see a ghost ball?....vertical line on the OB?.....a point on the perimeter of the OB?....a spot on the cloth in front of the OB?
 
mr5994 said:
First off, this is not an aiming thread. I'm interested in visualizing the point of aim on the OB after using whatever aiming system.

So when you are down in your stance, ready to pull the trigger, do you see a ghost ball?....vertical line on the OB?.....a point on the perimeter of the OB?....a spot on the cloth in front of the OB?
Click to expand...

When I am playing good I see a snapshot and I match that to a mental image in my mind where I run a short film using that snapshot as the first frame... If I am firing on all cylinders reality matches the imagined and I continue the process until everyone goes home or I lose focus......

When I run into a shot where the film refuses to start I have to pick a point on the cloth or some other aiming system... If I choose correctly the film starts.. If I don't choose correctly or for some reason the film still won't start I will have to force myself to pull the trigger and hope for the best......
 
Long shots I focus on the imaginary aim line and try to stroke my cue over that line. I can focus on the OB for straight shots, but if I do that on cut shots, I tend to miss the long ones. I think when I focus on the OB on long cuts, my stroke tends go off the aim line towards the OB.
 
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I see the contact point. That's what I'm looking at. I try to be very specific and narrow it down to as close to a pinpoint as my focus allows that day. I've noticed when I'm not playing well I've often gotten vague about what I'm looking at, like just sort of at the back of the ball rather than a specific point.
 
Jeanette Lee in an article in Billiards Digest said that one should try to see the smallest dot possible. I have taught myself to find the center of the OB with the smallest dot possible. Then I visualize a line from about 9 inches behind the OB through the center of the OB to the back of the pocket. I place considerable emphasis on the visualized line through the OB and about one inch beyond when making the final stroke.

Of course the center of the pocket changes for some shots and then I see the line to the actual center at the front of the pocket.

For simplicity sake I refer to it as a nine inch nail through the OB, pinning it to the pocket. Yeah I know about the musical group. That is why I use the term. Actually I should call it a nine inch wire but that doesn't sound to stable or groovy !
 
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First off, I aim with my shaft! I aim through the cue ball, not with it. With that said and out of the way:

In my Standing Position I visualize where my stick has to be pointing to achieve my desired result. Years ago I labeled my object ball with aim points aka 1-2-3-4 (my brain likes that!). When I swing down into my Shooting Position I re-check my aim. Now I have a cross reference for right or wrong.

To answer your question directly, I'm aiming at a number either on or along side the object ball.

randyg
 
shaft

i started using my shaft(center and edge) to aim also. i prob play my best pool this way. i aim at the small spot on OB that pockets shot. alot of the time its the actual contact point.
 
I see how much of the cue ball is going to hit the object ball exactly

mr5994 said:
First off, this is not an aiming thread. I'm interested in visualizing the point of aim on the OB after using whatever aiming system.

So when you are down in your stance, ready to pull the trigger, do you see a ghost ball?....vertical line on the OB?.....a point on the perimeter of the OB?....a spot on the cloth in front of the OB?
Click to expand...

The aiming starts in the preshot. First you need to have the eyes in the correct position there. This does not happen as naturally as many players think.

Then you need to keep this same look all the way down and never lose it.

Once your down you need to see exactly what you saw at the beginning or you need to start over.

When I pull the trigger I want to have the same exact look that I had in the preshot. No hockus-pockus, just see the shot perfectly.

I want to see how much of the cue ball is going to hit the object ball.

If it doesn't look right it probably won't go. Anyone that has the eyes in the correct position can envision the shot the same. Eventually getting to see it perfectly with a little knowhow and practice. The knowhow is the tough part.
 
mr5994 said:
First off, this is not an aiming thread. I'm interested in visualizing the point of aim on the OB after using whatever aiming system.

So when you are down in your stance, ready to pull the trigger, do you see a ghost ball?....vertical line on the OB?.....a point on the perimeter of the OB?....a spot on the cloth in front of the OB?
Click to expand...

On the light colored balls I see a black spot that is about a 1/8" in diameter, on the dark colored balls I see a white spot (same diamenter)

You have to aim at something. It will keep you focused.

John
 
Doom..............and me and my homies......going to Sizzler!!
 
mr5994 said:
So when you are down in your stance, ready to pull the trigger, do you see a ghost ball?....vertical line on the OB?.....a point on the perimeter of the OB?....a spot on the cloth in front of the OB?
Click to expand...

I see a line connecting the cue stick with the center of the ghost ball, I don't actually need to or actually see the OB. To me, it is the line that counts.
 
Thanks for the replies, everyone. I'm going to practice some of these methods and report back in a week or two.
 
Mitchxout said:
Me too. If I'm aiming, I'm missing.
Click to expand...

Me three,Me try to not aim just shoot...(I aim,I just don't think about It,and that's the trick to good pool playin)Most people learned how to aim the first hour they had a pool stick In their hand.I say don't make this game harder than It needs to be.It's knockin round balls In holes with a stick.Practice Is
the only way to aim.There aint no shortcuts on how to aim.never will be.To many variables In the game of pool.John B.
 
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