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Johnnyt

Johnnyt

Burn all jump cues
Silver Member
I've been holding this in for over five years. If you already can run 30 balls or more, run 3 racks of 9-ball and 8-ball and a few racks of 10-ball you don't need an aiming system…you already have one. The few balls you miss are easy shots that either skid on you, you took the shot for granted trying for good position, you hit OB off your aim point for many reasons. Or they are low percentage shots that pros miss a lot too. The above players should spend more of their time on position and their mental game instead or jumping on every new aiming system that's "the secret". If you can run what I wrote above or more you KNOW HOW TO AIM, it's something else in your game that pops up once in awhile. It could be one of about 10 things…but not your aim.

For players that can't run a rack or so or run 30 in 14.1 you might benefit from a few of the aiming systems, and if I were you I'd try the old proven ones first. Johnnyt
 
I miss for 3 reasons:

1. My confidence is shaky for some reason.
2. I don't feel "right" when I am shooting the shot and shoot anyway.
3. The pocket moves.

1 and 2 account for 99% of my misses.
 
I won't flame you for that. Matter of fact I'm gonna give you a greenie for it. I'm not too thrilled about these cockamamey systems either. There is a point on the ball that you have to hit. If you're willing to break out the protractor to figure out umpteenth degrees on the clock face and disecting the ball into quadrants then you would probably benefit from going back to the old school and learning how to aim and send the cueball to that contact point.
MULLY
 
NewStroke said:
I miss for 3 reasons:

1. My confidence is shaky for some reason.
2. I don't feel "right" when I am shooting the shot and shoot anyway.
3. The pocket moves.

1 and 2 account for 99% of my misses.
Click to expand...

I would have to agree here on 1 and 2...I would add mechanical error to the list as well.
 
I agree with Johnny and I would add that most people who play a lot of pool and can run 30 balls develop their own aiming system even if they can't explain what it is.
 
I would add that often, the mechanical error is due some last minute change made in the aim or stroke. (Which is usually caused by lack of confidence.)

Say you're down on the ball, and you realize that you're aiming a little too full on the OB. Too many of us, (me), make a minor adjustment, like tucking the elbow a little to change the contact point. If we, (I), were more willing to get up and start over when the shot doesn't feel right, our, (my) consistency would improve a lot.

I agree with JohnnyT that a very high percentage of errors come from a poor mental approach to the shot, rather than physical or fundamental flaws. (Or aiming errors)
 
NewStroke said:
I agree with mechanical error as well, thanks for correcting me.
Click to expand...

Lol...I guess that did sound bad...was referring to my mechanical errors on my list :grin:. I used to have a monster death grip that I changed as of recently that has helped a lot so I would have to say at least for me it wasn't necessarily a confidence issue, but a mechanical one.
 
Spimp13 said:
Lol...I guess that did sound bad...was referring to my mechanical errors on my list :grin:. I used to have a monster death grip that I changed as of recently that has helped a lot so I would have to say at least for me it wasn't necessarily a confidence issue, but a mechanical one.
Click to expand...

LOL, I meant it in a nice way. My grip was crazy tight too and my stance put me off center. When I fixed those, thanks to randyg, things began to fall into place.
 
i miss for these reasons

1. i can't seem to get my eyes to stay focused at where i am trying to shoot the cue ball to.
2. i constantly question how i am aiming and my body automatically adjusts the angle of my cuestick even when i do not want it to.
3. after a while of my eyes going crossed while trying to focus on where i am shooting i just stop trying and start hitting the balls...

now i do have good nights, but on a bad night it is always what is listed above and just goes downhill from there ... (that being said, the only opportunity i have to play is with the local apa *ugh* in bars around town)
 
-devil- said:
i miss for these reasons


2. i constantly question how i am aiming and my body automatically adjusts the angle of my cuestick even when i do not want it to.
Click to expand...

This is a big problem...(and I speak from experience). The only solution that I've found is to step away from the shot, re-evaluate your conceptualization, and step into the shot with confidence. Most shots are either missed or made before the bridge hand ever touches the table, imo.
 
Johnnyt said:
I've been holding this in for over five years. If you already can run 30 balls or more, run 3 racks of 9-ball and 8-ball and a few racks of 10-ball you don't need an aiming system…you already have one. The few balls you miss are easy shots that either skid on you, you took the shot for granted trying for good position, you hit OB off your aim point for many reasons. Or they are low percentage shots that pros miss a lot too. The above players should spend more of their time on position and their mental game instead or jumping on every new aiming system that's "the secret". If you can run what I wrote above or more you KNOW HOW TO AIM, it's something else in your game that pops up once in awhile. It could be one of about 10 things…but not your aim.

For players that can't run a rack or so or run 30 in 14.1 you might benefit from a few of the aiming systems, and if I were you I'd try the old proven ones first. Johnnyt
Click to expand...

Tap tap tap!
 
I miss because I don't practice enough! :)

I have always believed in one true aiming system. Hit the cue ball into the object ball to send the object ball into a pocket! :)

Happy Friday. Time for some caffeine!
 
NewStroke said:
I miss for 3 reasons:

1. My confidence is shaky for some reason.
2. I don't feel "right" when I am shooting the shot and shoot anyway.
3. The pocket moves.

1 and 2 account for 99% of my misses.
Click to expand...

I like number 3. I think I will start using that one! Rep for you!
 
Johnny, I have a different take. I run lots of balls every day. What these systems do is define your pre-shot routine so you can remove the guesswork under pressure (repeatability). They stabilize your speed (way fewer ups/downs). They have nothing to do with knowing how to aim - it's just a more accurate/repeatable way to aim. In fact, systems like CTE or 90/90 --- they're not good for beginners whatsoever. Only an advanced player would benefit.
 
NewStroke said:
I miss for 3 reasons:

1. My confidence is shaky for some reason.
2. I don't feel "right" when I am shooting the shot and shoot anyway.
3. The pocket moves.

1 and 2 account for 99% of my misses.
Click to expand...

You forgot:

miscue
the pocket plastic it sticking out and spits the ball back
the pockets aren't cut regulation
the ball rolls off
the balls are warped
the cloth caused the ball to skid
there was a piece of lint on the felt
chalk on the felt
felt on the felt
hole in the felt
beer stain on felt
imperfections in the slate
slates not leveled right
dead rail
side pocket points stick out too far
too much rubber on the back of the pocket
could see a ball sticking out of the pocket, should have removed them
too light
too dark
shaft deflected too much
somebody moved across the room
somebody stepped in my line of sight
the jukebox was too loud
the waitress bent over
and I now realize the pocket can move

:grin:

Johnny, I don't have a system either....just feel it and shoot....if I miss, I likely put a poor stroke on the ball or a few other dumb mistakes that put my butt back in the chair :)
 
Here's my belief......its kinda like a martial artist. You start at the white belt level where systems/basic movements are used to help establish the foundations, the basics.

As you progess, you've done the basic systems so much, plain repeating of movements, that, over time, you just do them, no thought is necessary, same as in making a shot, you just see the shot.

The higher up the levels the focus goes from doing the physical to the metal aspect, same things happens in pool. You have to learn to let go, to just do.

So there is a place for systems, but there is no one system.
 
Big Perm said:
You forgot:
dead rail
side pocket points stick out too far
Click to expand...

To be honest, these are perfectly fair gripes, and they're far too common on 90% of bar tables...esp. the ones with the side points sticking out too far. If a ball is frozen to the long cushion, and you have to cut it past the side pocket, it's an impossible shot on these tables...
 
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