How I've Aimed for 60 Years

Johnnyt

Johnnyt

Burn all jump cues
Silver Member
This is how I’ve aimed since my Dad (a part time road player and boxer in the late 1920’s to mid 1930’s) taught me 60 years ago. Draw an imaginary line from the center of the OB to the spot in the pocket you want the OB to go. Then step into the aiming line of the shot focusing on that spot on the OB (I use parts of the #’s, stripes, or where white meets the colored part on the OB to find my aiming point). My pre shot routine has always been about the same except now I’m more exact and aware of it. When down stroking on the shot aim your tip very low-center (move tip where ever on last stroke) through the QB to the aim-point on the OB. Once you are in your shooting position and have a good solid bridge and you are locked onto your aiming point don’t look at the pocket again or the QB. From here you need to trust your stroke and pull the trigger moving your tip (W/O looking) where you want on the QB.

This has worked for me all these years. I’ve run several 80+ and a lot of 60’s on a 9’ table and 96 on my Valley with the stock rails on it. With the Ridgeback rails…not running many big #’s. I’m sure this method doesn’t work for everybody but as far as I know it is/was the method most pros used and most likely the same method most pros of today use. Johnnyt
 
I use this method where I hit the OB where the OB is suppose to be hit... I forget what they call it?
 
Johnny, you have perfectly described the way I have aimed for fifty years. I have never understood the need for complicated "systems" that really just produce the same aiming spot as this method.
 
junkbond said:
Johnny, you have perfectly described the way I have aimed for fifty years. I have never understood the need for complicated "systems" that really just produce the same aiming spot as this method.
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I agree..sounds exactly like i have been doing it for 40 years..young
players need to keep it simple..practice and more practice..SA
 
I've only been playing a year, but that's how I aim and get down... it's not how i stroke though. I do adjust for deflection and get down initially with my tip in the general location for the english I want.
 
Unconsciously competent

Johnnyt said:
This is how I’ve aimed since my Dad (a part time road player and boxer in the late 1920’s to mid 1930’s) taught me 60 years ago. Draw an imaginary line from the center of the OB to the spot in the pocket you want the OB to go. Then step into the aiming line of the shot focusing on that spot on the OB (I use parts of the #’s, stripes, or where white meets the colored part on the OB to find my aiming point). My pre shot routine has always been about the same except now I’m more exact and aware of it. When down stroking on the shot aim your tip very low-center (move tip where ever on last stroke) through the QB to the aim-point on the OB. Once you are in your shooting position and have a good solid bridge and you are locked onto your aiming point don’t look at the pocket again or the QB. From here you need to trust your stroke and pull the trigger moving your tip (W/O looking) where you want on the QB.

This has worked for me all these years. I’ve run several 80+ and a lot of 60’s on a 9’ table and 96 on my Valley with the stock rails on it. With the Ridgeback rails…not running many big #’s. I’m sure this method doesn’t work for everybody but as far as I know it is/was the method most pros used and most likely the same method most pros of today use. Johnnyt
Click to expand...

Pure unconscious competence of this sort cannot realistically be taught or relayed to another in a meaningful way.

Just curious, after so many years, do you imagine that you employ the same method for all shots - such as thin cuts (i.e. 80+ degrees) that are very close by?

-Ira
 
stljohnny said:
I've only been playing a year, but that's how I aim and get down... it's not how i stroke though. I do adjust for deflection and get down initially with my tip in the general location for the english I want.
Click to expand...

Opps. I should have said I adust for deflection and use OS spin to throw the OB's in a lot so I can hit more of the OB and controll the QB. Johnnyt
 
iralee said:
Pure unconscious competence of this sort cannot realistically be taught or relayed to another in a meaningful way.

Just curious, after so many years, do you imagine that you employ the same method for all shots - such as thin cuts (i.e. 80+ degrees) that are very close by?

-Ira
Click to expand...

No not for ALL shots. I use inside a lot for very thin cuts or high if near rail. The method can be taught but the feel part is up to the student and a lot of practice. Johnnyt
 
This is the way I also aim, the only difference is that I use the edges of the cue stick as my straight edge line rather than the centerline of the cue stick, pausing at the CB. Doing so is perfect compensation for the curvature of the balls and preventing the leading end of that ball curvature to cause you to under cut shots.

Many books speak of this nuance, as the differential from point of aim vs point of contact. But they merely warn you of it and don't explain how to correct for it. This adjustment eliminates that differential and makes your point of aim the same as your point of contact. As I've mentioned before left edge for left cuts, right edge for cutting right.

For dead straight in shots, you actually can use either side of the shaft. The reason for this is to keep your aiming tool a true tangible line. Using the centerline of the cue shaft is a guestimate. Most sticks are 12mm or so, and that in and of itself creates a 6mm swing each way where there is no gage, only approximation.
 
Johnnyt said:
This is how I’ve aimed since my Dad (a part time road player and boxer in the late 1920’s to mid 1930’s) taught me 60 years ago. Draw an imaginary line from the center of the OB to the spot in the pocket you want the OB to go. Then step into the aiming line of the shot focusing on that spot on the OB (I use parts of the #’s, stripes, or where white meets the colored part on the OB to find my aiming point). My pre shot routine has always been about the same except now I’m more exact and aware of it. When down stroking on the shot aim your tip very low-center (move tip where ever on last stroke) through the QB to the aim-point on the OB. Once you are in your shooting position and have a good solid bridge and you are locked onto your aiming point don’t look at the pocket again or the QB. From here you need to trust your stroke and pull the trigger moving your tip (W/O looking) where you want on the QB.

This has worked for me all these years. I’ve run several 80+ and a lot of 60’s on a 9’ table and 96 on my Valley with the stock rails on it. With the Ridgeback rails…not running many big #’s. I’m sure this method doesn’t work for everybody but as far as I know it is/was the method most pros used and most likely the same method most pros of today use. Johnnyt
Click to expand...



Johnnyt: Are you aiming with the cue ball or your cue stick???
SPF=randyg
 
To be completely honest, I have absolutely NO IDEA how I aim.

I just play, don't think about it and won't over-analyze what I am doing.
 
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For me, I envision the line straight through the object ball that sends it on the path I want it to take - to the pocket or the rail or whatever... then I picture the line the CB has to take to hit that point. It's similar to the ghost ball method, I guess, but I do use the edges on very thin cuts, so... I dunno. I don't have a "system" and I've never learned a formal one. It's just sort of built itself from tips from others and practicing. *shrug* But, like I said, I haven't been playing that long. Maybe that's why I can't reliably run racks - I don't aim properly? lol (honestly, i don't run racks because i blow my speed control/position too often)
 
Ya know what i think is wrong with this method is it doesnt have a 3 letter gimic tagline attached to it !!!

good post

K.I.S.S. Method works best !

-Steve
 
Johnnyt said:
Opps. I should have said I adust for deflection and use OS spin to throw the OB's in a lot so I can hit more of the OB and controll the QB. Johnnyt
Click to expand...

I'm sure glad you came back and clarified this because I was wondering what you did about CB deflection. Your first post didn't mention deflection and you had me going trying to figure out what you were doing. Thanks for the post and for passing on your method for aiming......

James
 
stljohnny said:
For me, I envision the line straight through the object ball that sends it on the path I want it to take - to the pocket or the rail or whatever... then I picture the line the CB has to take to hit that point. It's similar to the ghost ball method, I guess, but I do use the edges on very thin cuts, so... I dunno. I don't have a "system" and I've never learned a formal one. It's just sort of built itself from tips from others and practicing. *shrug* But, like I said, I haven't been playing that long. Maybe that's why I can't reliably run racks - I don't aim properly? lol (honestly, i don't run racks because i blow my speed control/position too often)
Click to expand...

I played for many years exactly like you are describing, but I always had trouble with CB deflection. Then I switched to predator shafts and a good friend of mine helped me learn an aiming system similar to CJ Whiley's system and it has bumped my game up quite a bit and it's definitely helped my confidence when I play a strong player.......

James
 
Aiming directly at the contact point will result in an under-cut on most shots, unless I'm missing something in the original post. Yet, many in this thread said they aim this way. Weird.
 
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