Head Positioning

Pidge

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Probably the most important part of the fundamental side of the game in my view. Finding the correct head position over the shot makes the game that much easier. Forget dominant eyes for a second as I think that term is over used for how important your dominant eye actually is. For example, my dominant eye is my left, but if I try sighting the shot, and having my left eye over the shaft when down I impart so much left hand side and miss the shot at hand every time. Instead I have to have the cue rather central, just a touch on the right of my chin.

A little experiment...

Draw a chalk line, or use some thin tape and put it on your table. It doesn't need to go the length of the table just a few feet will do. Now lay your shaft along this line. Position your head over the shaft how you normally would when down on a shot. Does the shaft look centered over the tape? If not shift your head side to side slowly until it looks centered. Remember the head position, and touch your chin against the shaft once you've found it to give you a physical feeling of what the new head position feels back so you can fall back onto this feeling when you are in doubt. Now try adding a cue ball to the line. Place it centrally over the line and try again with the new head position to see if it looks like you are lined up at centre cue ball. It should. Now its time to start hitting balls. Line a few straight ins and try hitting a stop shot so the cue ball stops dead, no top, bottom or side spin. Using a CB-OB distance of around 1ft and hitting the shot quite firm is best to see what spin you are unintentionally putting onto the cue ball. Once you are happy with this increase the distance.

Wrong head positions cause people to develop fundamental problems. Either cueing across the shot line, snaking the cue through delivery or basic alignment problems. Having the head in the right place allows you to faster develop a nice straight stroke aswel as rule out sighting issues for your missed shots.

I'd like to ask everyone who reads this what their head position is over the cue, and what eye is the dominant one?

Thanks,
 
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Probably the most important part of the fundamental side of the game in my view. Finding the correct head position over the shot makes the game that much easier. Forget dominant eyes for a second as I think that term is over used for how important your dominant eye actually is. For example, my dominant eye is my left, but if I try sighting the shot, and having my left eye over the shaft when down I impart so much left hand side and miss the shot at hand every time. Instead I have to have the cue rather central, just a touch on the right of my chin.

A little experiment...

Draw a chalk line, or use some thin tape and put it on your table. It doesn't need to go the length of the table just a few feet will do. Now lay your shaft along this line. Position your head over the shaft how you normally would when down on a shot. Does the shaft look centered over the tape? If not shit your head side to side slowly until it looks centered. Remember the head position, and touch your chin against the shaft once you've found it to give you a physical feeling of what the new head position feels back so you can fall back onto this feeling when you are in doubt. Now try adding a cue ball to the line. Place it centrally over the line and try again with the new head position to see if it looks like you are lined up at centre cue ball. It should. Now its time to start hitting balls. Line a few straight ins and try hitting a stop shot so the cue ball stops dead, no top, bottom or side spin. Using a CB-OB distance of around 1ft and hitting the shot quite firm is best to see what spin you are unintentionally putting onto the cue ball. Once you are happy with this increase the distance.

Wrong head positions cause people to develop fundamental problems. Either cueing across the shot line, snaking the cue through delivery or basic alignment problems. Having the head in the right place allows you to faster develop a nice straight stroke aswel as rule out sighting issues for your missed shots.

I'd like to ask everyone who reads this what their head position is over the cue, and what eye is the dominant one?

Thanks,


Other top instructors say, feet position is the critical part to guarantee straight cue action. IMO, knowing how to do proper warm up strokes, how to grip, bridge, and how to properly stroke a cue is extremely essential more than head position; i will leave this task to instructors out there to teach it.
 
Other top instructors say, feet position is the critical part to guarantee straight cue action. IMO, knowing how to do proper warm up strokes, how to grip, bridge, and how to properly stroke a cue is extremely essential more than head position; i will leave this task to instructors out there to teach it.
Fair point, but I will say this... What good is foot position, grip, a perfectly straight stroke and a solid bridge if what you perceive to be centre cue ball isn't centre cue ball at all?
 
Fair point, but I will say this... What good is foot position, grip, a perfectly straight stroke and a solid bridge if what you perceive to be centre cue ball isn't centre cue ball at all?

Good point. I agree !!!!!
 
head positioning

Probably the most important part of the fundamental side of the game in my view. Finding the correct head position over the shot makes the game that much easier. Forget dominant eyes for a second as I think that term is over used for how important your dominant eye actually is. For example, my dominant eye is my left, but if I try sighting the shot, and having my left eye over the shaft when down I impart so much left hand side and miss the shot at hand every time. Instead I have to have the cue rather central, just a touch on the right of my chin.

A little experiment...

Draw a chalk line, or use some thin tape and put it on your table. It doesn't need to go the length of the table just a few feet will do. Now lay your shaft along this line. Position your head over the shaft how you normally would when down on a shot. Does the shaft look centered over the tape? If not shit your head side to side slowly until it looks centered. Remember the head position, and touch your chin against the shaft once you've found it to give you a physical feeling of what the new head position feels back so you can fall back onto this feeling when you are in doubt. Now try adding a cue ball to the line. Place it centrally over the line and try again with the new head position to see if it looks like you are lined up at centre cue ball. It should. Now its time to start hitting balls. Line a few straight ins and try hitting a stop shot so the cue ball stops dead, no top, bottom or side spin. Using a CB-OB distance of around 1ft and hitting the shot quite firm is best to see what spin you are unintentionally putting onto the cue ball. Once you are happy with this increase the distance.

Wrong head positions cause people to develop fundamental problems. Either cueing across the shot line, snaking the cue through delivery or basic alignment problems. Having the head in the right place allows you to faster develop a nice straight stroke aswel as rule out sighting issues for your missed shots.

I'd like to ask everyone who reads this what their head position is over the cue, and what eye is the dominant one?

Thanks,

GENE ALBRECHT's Perfect Pool has some interesting concepts on head position based upon OB cut direction (head position changes depending upon cut direction). He will usually talk to people over the phone, you can buy his dvd, and sometimes you can catch him on his teaching circuit. I am a former student and I highly recommend an hour or two of personal instruction.
 
When I'm fresh for the day or to playing, I center my head over the shaft. Over a few hours I notice my shots to be off enough to rattle pockets. My right eye is starting to not be what it used to but its still my dominate eye. I compensate for this by placing my chin to the right of the cue to "center" my shot again.

Works for me and that little shift improves my game if my center feels off.
 
Probably the most important part of the fundamental side of the game in my view. Finding the correct head position over the shot makes the game that much easier. Forget dominant eyes for a second as I think that term is over used for how important your dominant eye actually is. For example, my dominant eye is my left, but if I try sighting the shot, and having my left eye over the shaft when down I impart so much left hand side and miss the shot at hand every time. Instead I have to have the cue rather central, just a touch on the right of my chin.

A little experiment...

Draw a chalk line, or use some thin tape and put it on your table. It doesn't need to go the length of the table just a few feet will do. Now lay your shaft along this line. Position your head over the shaft how you normally would when down on a shot. Does the shaft look centered over the tape? If not shit your head side to side slowly until it looks centered. Remember the head position, and touch your chin against the shaft once you've found it to give you a physical feeling of what the new head position feels back so you can fall back onto this feeling when you are in doubt. Now try adding a cue ball to the line. Place it centrally over the line and try again with the new head position to see if it looks like you are lined up at centre cue ball. It should. Now its time to start hitting balls. Line a few straight ins and try hitting a stop shot so the cue ball stops dead, no top, bottom or side spin. Using a CB-OB distance of around 1ft and hitting the shot quite firm is best to see what spin you are unintentionally putting onto the cue ball. Once you are happy with this increase the distance.

Wrong head positions cause people to develop fundamental problems. Either cueing across the shot line, snaking the cue through delivery or basic alignment problems. Having the head in the right place allows you to faster develop a nice straight stroke aswel as rule out sighting issues for your missed shots.

I'd like to ask everyone who reads this what their head position is over the cue, and what eye is the dominant one?

Thanks,

Do you shit your head often? I try not to, as it often results in disaster.
 
When I'm fresh for the day or to playing, I center my head over the shaft. Over a few hours I notice my shots to be off enough to rattle pockets. My right eye is starting to not be what it used to but its still my dominate eye. I compensate for this by placing my chin to the right of the cue to "center" my shot again.

Works for me and that little shift improves my game if my center feels off.
You bring up a good point. Mental fatigue, or just feeling tired can change the way your eyes work. As can going outside for a smoke when its sunny outside and coming back in to a dark pool room. Its not always detrimental, as I often play better after coming in from a smoke break.
 
Center over cue for me. All test indicate I don't have a dominant eye.
As soon as I figured that out, I started playing better. When im struggling, its usually because my cue is slightly to the right.

Oh....and I can think of better hair care products to use!
 
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Fair point, but I will say this... What good is foot position, grip, a perfectly straight stroke and a solid bridge if what you perceive to be centre cue ball isn't centre cue ball at all?

Practice make perfect. But when i need to shoot hard, when i know my stroke will veer off CB center 95% of times, i look at exact tip contact at CB last! or adjust it with a little TOO.

You can go down with the correct head position, and still steer the CB..
 
Fair point, but I will say this... What good is foot position, grip, a perfectly straight stroke and a solid bridge if what you perceive to be centre cue ball isn't centre cue ball at all?

I was going to say, I can concentrate on perfect stroke, balance, and foot position..... and consistently miss by the same amount each time. :)
 
I was going to say, I can concentrate on perfect stroke, balance, and foot position..... and consistently miss by the same amount each time. :)

You could have perfect stroke up to the point the tip strikes the CB, but then it fails! you must be able to have perfect balance amount of back swing, how much forward follow, and acceleration speed for every shot. Any imbalance will cause shaft to apply english inadvertently and steer; not necessarily the head position is the cause!
 
My head position is the right side of my chin over the cue (headed slightly cocked to the right), and I'm right eye dominant.

Being that one of the two areas of the body that control balance are in your head - I could see how head position would be important. But, I see things like this - your feet help line up the cue with your shot, and your head is your judge of that line.

If your footing is off your head position will know - and if your head position is off your stroke will look and feel weird to you.



Sent from my X501_USA_Cricket using Tapatalk 2
 
OK, but....,

Well I don't know about this head positioning and how much it matters? It seems that most players and a descent level of play have a natural style that they have had from the first time they stood over a table?

They might have tweaked their stance over time, but I bet that if you asked them, they would tell you that they have always stood the same way and it was second nature, done with out thought.
 
only if you use the tip of the shaft as the cross hair on the OB!
What else are you going to use as a reference towards the CB, the butt? if you can't pick out centre ball with regards to the line if the shot, how can you expect to send the CB along the shot line?
 
What else are you going to use as a reference towards the CB, the butt? if you can't pick out centre ball with regards to the line if the shot, how can you expect to send the CB along the shot line?

I NEVER give any thought to where the center of the ball is aimed - unless the shot
is a straight in.

to King T

I changed my stance and head position dramatically after several years of playing.
My improvement was astronomical - so yeah, it can be very important for some people.

Dale
 
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