What's my aiming method and how do I improve?

Push&Pool

Push&Pool

Professional Banger
Silver Member
I have troubles with my aiming skills and I'm trying to get better. When I aim, I first calculate the direction in which I have to send the OB, then I measure the spot on the OB where the CB needs to make contact, after which I imagine the CB in the moment of contact in my mind. Then I shoot and try to replace the imaginary CB with the real one. When I succeed the OB is pocketed, but the problem is that I often can't hold the image of the CB in my brain still, or I simply lack the accuracy to deliver the real CB on the same spot. What do I need to do to improve?
 
I'll get you on the right track..........

Push&Pool said:
I have troubles with my aiming skills and I'm trying to get better. When I aim, I first calculate the direction in which I have to send the OB, then I measure the spot on the OB where the CB needs to make contact, after which I imagine the CB in the moment of contact in my mind. Then I shoot and try to replace the imaginary CB with the real one. When I succeed the OB is pocketed, but the problem is that I often can't hold the image of the CB in my brain still, or I simply lack the accuracy to deliver the real CB on the same spot. What do I need to do to improve?
Click to expand...

All the things you described are about as good as it gets when you try to figure it out on your own.

Unfortunately it's hard to find anyone other than a good bonifide teacher to get you on the right track.

This aiming business is not rocket science but it is kind of tricky. I've taken it to the next level.

Just give me a call when you are by a table and I will help you see what you are trying to see and you will know why what you are doing just doesn't seem to be working.

715-563-8712. Anytime after 3:00 PM central time will work.

I had a call yesterday that I somehow erased from my phone from S Carolina I think.

Call me the same way. I'll help you get there also..........
 
genomachino said:
All the things you described are about as good as it gets when you try to figure it out on your own.

Unfortunately it's hard to find anyone other than a good bonifide teacher to get you on the right track.

This aiming business is not rocket science but it is kind of tricky. I've taken it to the next level.

Just give me a call when you are by a table and I will help you see what you are trying to see and you will know why what you are doing just doesn't seem to be working.

715-563-8712. Anytime after 3:00 PM central time will work.

I had a call yesterday that I somehow erased from my phone from S Carolina I think.

Call me the same way. I'll help you get there also..........
Click to expand...

He's on the other side of the world, Gene. Eastern Europe. I don't think he'll call you, though it would help if he did.
 
Push&Pool said:
I have troubles with my aiming skills and I'm trying to get better. When I aim, I first calculate the direction in which I have to send the OB, then I measure the spot on the OB where the CB needs to make contact, after which I imagine the CB in the moment of contact in my mind. Then I shoot and try to replace the imaginary CB with the real one. When I succeed the OB is pocketed, but the problem is that I often can't hold the image of the CB in my brain still, or I simply lack the accuracy to deliver the real CB on the same spot. What do I need to do to improve?
Click to expand...

Here you go. :thumbup2:







:grin-devilish:
 
Push&Pool said:
I have troubles with my aiming skills and I'm trying to get better. When I aim, I first calculate the direction in which I have to send the OB, then I measure the spot on the OB where the CB needs to make contact, after which I imagine the CB in the moment of contact in my mind. Then I shoot and try to replace the imaginary CB with the real one. When I succeed the OB is pocketed, but the problem is that I often can't hold the image of the CB in my brain still, or I simply lack the accuracy to deliver the real CB on the same spot. What do I need to do to improve?
Click to expand...

That's what we call classic "Ghost Ball". Pretty easy way to visualize and explain the delivery...It's too hard for most people to picture an invisible ball you replace with your cue ball...or a spot on the table cloth where that ghost ball sits and trying to run over it with the cue ball...I like to think of the contact point on the object ball as a speck of chalk that I want to knock off with the cue ball...the mind then caluclates everything for you, without all the visualization of invisible lines or ghost balls...just an small spot to concentrate on and try and rub off with the cue ball.
 
I have found that the aiming system is not always the problem. The best system in the world won't help if the stroke is off. I recently found that my stroke was off just a little, with that corrected my ball pocketing has improved but, but still working on a straight stroke.
 
Everybody sees the ball. except the blind man i guess.

working on your mechanic, then you should be good.
 
It would be classed as ghost ball. Its how many people get taught when starting out, but its very basic and relies on previous experience usually to use it effectively. It may be that you are visualizing shots correctly but not producing a good enough stroke. If you can't send the cue ball down table and back up in a straight line and have it hit the tip of your cue you have to realize you are going to miss shots, sometimes lots because of this, no matter if you visualized the shot correctly or not. See if you can do this 10 times in a row, until then you will miss even if you visualize and set up correctly on shots.

People tend to get taught how to aim before having any real form of straight cueing action. Can I ask how long you've been playing? I would say for anyone playing over a year they have hit enough balls to have 80% of shot angles and ball positions etched into their memory. Most who have been playing for 3 years plus will only need an aiming system to utilize as a preshot routine and on difficult shots such as those where the pocket isn't in the line of vision. So it may be that if you've been playing long enough you might over thinking some shots, when it may be better to just go into auto pilot and send your mind elsewhere. That being said...try the cue ball up and down table drill 10 times and let us know how many times it comes back up table and hits your tip.
 
Pidge said:
It would be classed as ghost ball. Its how many people get taught when starting out, but its very basic and relies on previous experience usually to use it effectively. It may be that you are visualizing shots correctly but not producing a good enough stroke. If you can't send the cue ball down table and back up in a straight line and have it hit the tip of your cue you have to realize you are going to miss shots, sometimes lots because of this, no matter if you visualized the shot correctly or not. See if you can do this 10 times in a row, until then you will miss even if you visualize and set up correctly on shots.

People tend to get taught how to aim before having any real form of straight cueing action. Can I ask how long you've been playing? I would say for anyone playing over a year they have hit enough balls to have 80% of shot angles and ball positions etched into their memory. Most who have been playing for 3 years plus will only need an aiming system to utilize as a preshot routine and on difficult shots such as those where the pocket isn't in the line of vision. So it may be that if you've been playing long enough you might over thinking some shots, when it may be better to just go into auto pilot and send your mind elsewhere. That being said...try the cue ball up and down table drill 10 times and let us know how many times it comes back up table and hits your tip.
Click to expand...

Thank you everybody, but instead of responding here I'll make a new thread because I didn't present my actual problem here well enough. Nevertheless, I'll think about what you said.
 
Honestly, I doubt you're aiming wrong but you're just not hitting the cueball good. Delivering a straight and good stroke has got to be the toughest part of pool. Work on your follow through and pushing through the ball.

Take a stripe ball and place it on the spot with the stripe facing the direction your shooting. Shoot it straight at the rail. If it looks like it wobbles, it's not your aiming, it's your stroke.
 
Push&Pool said:
I have troubles with my aiming skills and I'm trying to get better. When I aim, I first calculate the direction in which I have to send the OB, then I measure the spot on the OB where the CB needs to make contact, after which I imagine the CB in the moment of contact in my mind. Then I shoot and try to replace the imaginary CB with the real one. When I succeed the OB is pocketed, but the problem is that I often can't hold the image of the CB in my brain still, or I simply lack the accuracy to deliver the real CB on the same spot. What do I need to do to improve?
Click to expand...

seems to me you use ghost ball aiming
for $2 try this out
http://attributetraining.com/downloads/at-aiming-booklet-pdf/
 
Work on your pre-shot routine. If your aim seems correct, it's about delivering the CB to your aim point.
 
I'll try these exercises out and I'm sure my stroke is probably a much more important problem than my aiming, but I need to work on my aim as well. Even when shooting simple, short-ranged shots, sometimes i tend to send the OB in a completely wrong direction, and that one isn't because of my stroke. It's more like I'm having troubles with perception.
 
If you are missing short range shots by them going in the wrong direction I assume you mean hitting a left cut in a way that it cuts the ball to the right? That's one hell of a perception error on short shots, especially if its anything but a near straight in. Chances are your perception is fine, its the stroke of be concerned with. When you miss by a lot it may be a mixture of you've seen the shot and aligned wrong and a stroke issue. If you are barely missing shots its more than likely to be your stroke.

If you can, next time you're at the table take a roll of tape to the hall, cut it into a thin straight strip roughly the width of your shaft and stick it to the table. Place the cue ball in front of this line and align yourself to this line through CCB. Stroke the CB starting at slow speeds and note where your tip finishes. Place something where your tip finishes such as a small coin, bit if tape etc. Do this again and again, gradually increasing the power and eventually you should see a pattern emerging. Dots of tape or coins will be either on the line, left of it or right of it. Once you know for example if you push it to the left or right you can work on fixing it.
 
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