eye position over the cue
- Thread starter PKM
- Start date
I disagree, I find that more amateurs tend to use dominant eye and pros use more center.
A lot of it has to do with dominant players historically coming out of Europe (esp. Britain) where snooker is more popular. Now you have the massive introduction of many excellent players from Asia, where snooker is also very popular. Snooker players are trained to aim with the cue centered between the eyes.
Personally, I center the cue between the eyes and I find that I am much more accurate than when I use my dominant eye. There was a recent thread about this though, and without question my opposite eye dominance (righty with a left dominant eye) contributes to this.
A lot of it has to do with dominant players historically coming out of Europe (esp. Britain) where snooker is more popular. Now you have the massive introduction of many excellent players from Asia, where snooker is also very popular. Snooker players are trained to aim with the cue centered between the eyes.
Personally, I center the cue between the eyes and I find that I am much more accurate than when I use my dominant eye. There was a recent thread about this though, and without question my opposite eye dominance (righty with a left dominant eye) contributes to this.
PKM said:
First, I think that there are some people who will excel using any method, however, by centering both eyes over the cue it becomes very difficult to find the center line and the center of the cue ball. This will effect a persons aim and it will give a false sight picture, which will not truly reflect your tangent lines. By keeping your dominate eye directly over the cue shots can be lined up in the same manner in which you would fire a gun, using your tip as the sight to line up with the contact point on the object ball. To test this, and it will only work if you know your dominate eye line up a shot with both eye centered on the shaft and find your the center of the cue ball, and then place your tip at that point. Then close your none dominate eye and I would bet that the center of the cue ball is different.
I personally believe that your dominate eye should be centered over the shaft, but like I said above excel not matter what, but they are the exception and not the norm.
Just my thoughts.
manwon said:
Manwon, I couldn't have said it better myself.
BTW, a few examples of dominant eye shooters that play fairly decent pool: SVB, Niels Feijen, Earl, Chia Ching WU, and Shannon Daulton (I don't have a pic handy but he is very much under one eye with the cue)!
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"It seems clear that there's no one best solution for everyone, just wondering". I couldn't agree more. To each his own. If it works, don't mess with it. However, there are some dominant eye players that could be more accurate by switching to centering the cue under the chin. You just have to experiment with it.PKM said:
Bandanna Joe said:
I was taught these techniques by a guy that some have heard of, his name was Louie (St. Louis Louie) Roberts. I use to hang around the Pool Rooms when I was a Teenager growing up in St. Louis in the 1970's.
Trust me on this, he was one of the best Shot Makers who ever lived.
Thanks for your Post!! and Merry Christmas.
Big C said:
I think the most important thing is that even if you center the cue under your chin you must still be aiming with you dominate eye. I think the problem some people have is that try to using both eyes for aiming, and this is not very effcetive for most people.
Merry Christmas
I wasn't aware that I was right-eye dominant until a couple of years ago. I recently changed from my dominant eye to center thanks to Joe T. I found the adjustment hard to make as the image was telling my brain no, but the results were irrefutable. I am a more accurate and consistent than before. Do I still miss? Yes, but that is because I am not perfect, but that doesn't discourage me. :wink:manwon said:
manwon said:
Merry Christmas to you, Craig! I'm sure that you got to see Louie play way more than I did since you were a teenager in the 70's, as I was an 80's teen & didn't make it there til the late 80's right before Louie went to Phoenix.
When I first started going to the pool rooms, I used to go to Sports Center & watch Louie. I didn't know who he was the first time that I saw him play. He was busted (what else is new) trying to hock his watch to Larry for cash to play Kirkwood Mike a set of jump shots. As everyone who has seen him play says, no one can work the room like Louie could not even Alex P. Louie just made you smile.
Every top player back home in St. Louis that taught me something referenced something that Louie taught them. Shoot me a pm if you have any other good stories. I wish Louie were around still. It's fitting that SVB got the Louie award at DCC. Louie would spot Corey the 8 in ten ball if he were here also! LOL
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manwon said:
But unless you close your non-dominant eye, aren't you using both eyes? If I line up under my dominant eye and close the other eye, the sighting looks accurate but it's a different picture with both eyes (of course you learn what a correct picture looks like either way).
The reason I ask is because I am experimenting with using center instead of dominant eye, or actually I think it's somewhere between the two to get what looks like an accurate sighting picture. (I was also influenced by Joe T and the third eye trainer)
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I have always been taught, and have believed that FOR ME.....................and the key word is for me, that by centering the dominant eye, I lose the 3D aspect, and for me, having tried both ways, I found I need to see the shot with both eyes instead of one. I've actually tried shooting pool with my non dominant eye covered so that I would be forced to line up and to see with only my dominant eye, and it didn't work for me. Not to say that I couldn't train myself to shoot that way though. It's one of those things that I think most would agree depends upon the individual and whatever works (or gives the impression of working) for the player.
dave
dave
PKM said:
Have you ever aimed a gun ? When you look down the barrel or a rifle or a pistol, you have both eyes open although you are focused with your dominate eye. When playing pool, the cue can be directly below your chin, and you can still use your dominate eye to aim. When aiming in this manner, here is a simple method that you can add to whatever way you currently aim. Most people who use their dominate eye to aim also use the tip of their cue as a guide which points at their contact point on the object ball or whatever they are aiming at. If the shot is basically straight in, they use the center of the tip, if cutting the ball left they use the left side of the tip, and if cutting the ball right they use the right side of the tip. Doing this, you first take a few warm-up strokes looking at the cue ball and deciding where you want to hit it. Then you look at the object ball, without stroking find your contact point, line-up the tip and beginning stroking, and when you feel you are lined up just follow through smoothly.
After you have looked at the cue ball only focus on the object ball, and while focusing on the object ball, with your peripheral vision you can still see alignment from the cue ball to the object ball, and where you are going to hit the cue ball, and if your tip is aligned with the contact point on the object ball.
Take Care
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PKM said:
I am right eye dominant ,i actually shoot using both eyes so the cue is pretty
much center of my chin.It is the straight line you are looking for .Set up a
long straight in shot and place your chin directly over the cue now without moving the
cue move your head from one side to the other you should be able to find
the straight line.
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eze said:
I agree with this.
Positioning your eyes where they provide the best sight line is a natural thing, you do it automatically. Overthinking this aspect of the game is a mistake, IMO, and nobody but you can see through your eyes to advise you. Do what comes naturally.
When I perform eze's test, the straight sight line occurs when the cue is pretty much under my dominant eye (right eye, I'm right-handed). Then again, if I were influenced to shoot "between the eyes" because some instructor told me it was best, I'm sure I would eventually adapt because human beings are adaptable. But I think it's an unproductive detour.