In the thread
Shot / stroke problem a poster put forth the proposition that looking at the cueball while delivering the stroke was "fundamentally wrong". I had already provided
evidence that
Willie Hoppie considered looking at the cueball while delivering the stroke as fundamentally basic. I had read Willie Hoppies book
Billiards As It Should Be Played well over 20 years ago. At the time I was content with my aiming process and just chalked up the cue ball last as a 3 cushion thing. Kind of the way I considered his more upright stance an "Old School" thing compared to the chin on the cue of the top snooker players and shot makers. Anyway the discussion led me to experiment with looking at the cueball while delivering the stroke.
I started experimenting with looking at the cueball while delivering the stroke around 01-04-2013, and am pleasantly surprised with the result.
The first thing I noticed was expected. I was able to much more precisely place the cue ball.
The next noticable improvement was shooting off of the rail. My make percentage improved looking at the cueball.
The break shot was next, I was hitting the rack more squarely and more consistenly controling whitey.
Then I starting improving my make percentage on the long backward angle shots that I have always struggled with.
Now practicing with a new technique and competing are two different things. The first time I put it to the test in competition, it was a leap of faith. My percentage was so low on this shot that I figured what the heck what to lose, might as well try it looking at the cue ball. Length of the table and straight in married to the rail, make it and I get the same shot on the eight ball. It worked perfectly!
Now I am two weeks into this experiment and feeling really comfortable with looking at the cueball. So I go to an old cut shot drill that I know what my percentages of make miss looking at the object ball are and am able to make a higher percentage looking at the cueball last.
So after a couple of weeks my cueball control has improved, my shot making has improved and my confidence has improved with no downside. Could some of this improvement be due to the "New" effect? Certainly, but regardless of why I am thrilled with the improvement in my game.:thumbup:
Looking at the cueball when delivering the stroke has also given me new insight into the TOI and what CJ meant when he spoke of "pining"(sp) the cueball.
Further discussion on this topic can be found in this thread in the Ask The Instructor forum as well.
Why Object Ball Last?
). In order to create any kind of subconscius process, you have to do things in a certain order...first, define the behavior you wish to change; second, define the behavior you wish to change to; third, establish a list/mantra to follow (write it down)...which aids immensely in training; fourth, train the behavior by talking yourself through each step of the process; fifth, practice the process until you can do it without thinking. Lastly, practicing something long enough, the correct way, will, for most people, result in a habit. A habit that we have done for a long time is defined as ingrained, or subconscious. BTW, I'm not making any of this up. It comes from the top sports psychologists in the world. :grin:
