What do the Top Players in the World AIM at?

[Slickstick9]

Greyghost quote[
i don't need any extra points to aim at....by the physics of the game the table and balls literally "show" you where the hit point is....well at least the mirror image of it.

yeah. I just see lines.

 

[mr3cushion]

Bill, with all due respect, I'm not sure how many people here know this. I sure don't! And, as has been said, about the only top player to post here is John Schmidt. If the top players haven't shared that information with someone here then this isn't the place to ask.
I'm glad to see you here, I've heard of you for years.
Sherm, the name Bucky Bell is one I haven't heard in years!

Pushout; Thanks for the kind words and advice.:thumbup:

Bill Smith "Mr3Cushion"

P.S. I gave the TOP player's the option to PM with thier replays.

 

[lfigueroa]

For you LOU; NOTHING is FREE in life.:sorry:

Bill Smith "Mr3Cushion"

P.S. BTW this thread was about finding out how some TOP players aim at when trying to pocket a ball, not what I or other TOP 3c players do. DUHHHHHHHHHHHHHH. "What do the TOP Players in the WORLD AIM at?"

Yeah, that's what I thought. Can't back it up.

duh.

Lou Figueroa

 

[Pushout]

Pushout; Thanks for the kind words and advice.:thumbup:

Bill Smith "Mr3Cushion"

P.S. I gave the TOP player's the option to PM with thier replays.

Bill, I'm embarrassed to admit that I forgot that one other former pro player posts here, namely Robin Dodson, the former Robin Bell. She is a champion and if directed here, might respond.
I'm afraid not many pro players even read this forum, due to the way many of them have been treated/discussed here.

 

[sfleinen]

Pushout; Thanks for the kind words and advice.:thumbup:

Bill Smith "Mr3Cushion"

P.S. I gave the TOP player's the option to PM with thier replays.

Bill:

Two things:

1. I'm an Open-level player (and I am so, despite having also holding down an Information Technologies career which usurps the lion's share of my time, that I could use to practice to possibly climb higher). But with your continued adamant stipulation that you want feedback specifically from "TOP" (in capital letters) players, I get the impression you'd rather not see or don't care for any info I might share.

2. About this "TOP" players thing -- you keep stipulating, with a "short list" of names, that you only want to hear from "these" individuals. I think what folks have been trying to tell you is that, with the notable exceptions of John Schmidt and Dennis Hatch (the latter of which only posts at Mosconi Cup time when players campaign for votes for the wildcard spot on the team), NONE of those individuals read/post here. It doesn't matter if you give the option of sending you a PM -- if they don't see your post to begin with, what good is even offering that option? The old adage of "if a tree falls in the forest and noone's there to hear it..." applies.

Just wanted to help clarify what folks are trying to tell you. You may need to cast your net elsewhere, if the fish you've been catching have been "too small" for your tastes.

Respectfully,
-Sean

 

[mr3cushion]

Bill:

Two things:

1. I'm an Open-level player (and I am so, despite having also holding down an Information Technologies career which usurps the lion's share of my time, that I could use to practice to possibly climb higher). But with your continued adamant stipulation that you want feedback specifically from "TOP" (in capital letters) players, I get the impression you'd rather not see or don't care for any info I might share.

2. About this "TOP" players thing -- you keep stipulating, with a "short list" of names, that you only want to hear from "these" individuals. I think what folks have been trying to tell you is that, with the notable exceptions of John Schmidt and Dennis Hatch (the latter of which only posts at Mosconi Cup time when players campaign for votes for the wildcard spot on the team), NONE of those individuals read/post here. It doesn't matter if you give the option of sending you a PM -- if they don't see your post to begin with, what good is even offering that option? The old adage of "if a tree falls in the forest and noone's there to hear it..." applies.

Just wanted to help clarify what folks are trying to tell you. You may need to cast your net elsewhere, if the fish you've been catching have been "too small" for your tastes.

Respectfully,
-Sean

Sean; Example: If I'm a 1.20 player in 3 Cush I certaintly wouldn't seek advice from let's say a .600 player. I wolud try to get the best info I could, like from Ceuleman's, Caudron, or Jaspers, whom are 1.75 and above. Don't get me wrong, you can learn some things from weaker players, mostly by the mistakes thay make routinely, not to do the same.

ALL I was trying to do, is get the most reliable info on this subject possible! I felt the most reliable and important info would come from the TOP players. I don't mean to offend anyone, I just feel the BEST players could offer the BEST answers to my questions. I didn't post this thread alert people of what I know, but what TOP pool players do about AIMING at the object ball!

IF I don't get the replys I was looking for, I won't get mad, but some posters here are trying to attack my credentials for even presuming to ask such questions, this is a public forum, not a platform for some to attack the very ideas someone has. (not meaning you Sean).

Bill Smith "Mr3Cushion"

 

[lfigueroa]

Bill:

Two things:

1. I'm an Open-level player (and I am so, despite having also holding down an Information Technologies career which usurps the lion's share of my time, that I could use to practice to possibly climb higher). But with your continued adamant stipulation that you want feedback specifically from "TOP" (in capital letters) players, I get the impression you'd rather not see or don't care for any info I might share.

2. About this "TOP" players thing -- you keep stipulating, with a "short list" of names, that you only want to hear from "these" individuals. I think what folks have been trying to tell you is that, with the notable exceptions of John Schmidt and Dennis Hatch (the latter of which only posts at Mosconi Cup time when players campaign for votes for the wildcard spot on the team), NONE of those individuals read/post here. It doesn't matter if you give the option of sending you a PM -- if they don't see your post to begin with, what good is even offering that option? The old adage of "if a tree falls in the forest and noone's there to hear it..." applies.

Just wanted to help clarify what folks are trying to tell you. You may need to cast your net elsewhere, if the fish you've been catching have been "too small" for your tastes.

Respectfully,
-Sean

And if I may add a third to your two well made points:

One of the hallmarks of this board is the willingness of folks, at all levels of play, to help one another. Whether it's a question about tips, cues, stances, grips, drill, strategies, or aiming, people usually go out of their way to help and teach one another. At the very least there has always been a willingness for open discussion.

Bill has claimed that the top 3C players in the world all aim at the first ball the same way. I personally don't believe that to be so, but would be interested in hearing some sort of coherent explanation/discussion of this statement. But instead, all we seem to get is a lot of elitist tude.

Lou Figueroa

 

[sfleinen]

Sean; Example: If I'm a 1.20 player in 3 Cush I certaintly wouldn't seek advice from let's say a .600 player. I wolud try to get the best info I could, like from Ceuleman's, Caudron, or Jaspers, whom are 1.75 and above. Don't get me wrong, you can learn some things from weaker players, mostly by the mistakes thay make routinely, not to do the same.

ALL I was trying to do, is get the most reliable info on this subject possible! I felt the most reliable and important info would come from the TOP players. I don't mean to offend anyone, I just feel the BEST players could offer the BEST answers to my questions. I didn't post this thread alert people of what I know, but what TOP pool players do about AIMING at the object ball!

IF I don't get the replys I was looking for, I won't get mad, but some posters here are trying to attack my credentials for even presuming to ask such questions, this is a public forum, not a platform for some to attack the very ideas someone has. (not meaning you Sean).

Bill Smith "Mr3Cushion"

Bill:

You answered my point #1 (and the closing sentence to my post) very well. But you seem laser-focused on this "TOP" players thing, to the point of near pitbull-lockjaw-itis. You conveniently skipped point #2, which is actually the more important point.

You are casting your net into a pond where there are none of the big fish you seek. It doesn't matter that you've tied to the net bait to attract "only the biggest fish." If there's no big fish in that pond to begin with, what's the use? (And that was the crux of point #2, which, again, you failed to respond to.)

And while your reasons for the interest in what the "big fish" have to say is sound, like Lou points out, you are doing yourself a disservice by whisking away the viewpoints/feedback offered by the "little fish."

So to close, let me once again divert your attention to point #2 in my reply, lest you again get laser-focused on replying with "reasons why you're only interested in what the big fish have to say." We get it. Please get our point in trying to help you direct your net elsewhere, because we already know this fishing hole.

Respectfully,
-Sean

 

[pdcue]

For you LOU; NOTHING is FREE in life.:sorry:

Bill Smith "Mr3Cushion"

P.S. BTW this thread was about finding out how some TOP players aim at when trying to pocket a ball, not what I or other TOP 3c players do. DUHHHHHHHHHHHHHH. "What do the TOP Players in the WORLD AIM at?"

Bill,

I don't know if this would help you out, but it is probably worth a try.

As others have said, you are not likely to get any response thru this site
from the people you are wanting to hear from. However, there is info
on the web about the top Snooker players - who lots of people seem
to think are the very best at pocketing balls - potting is the term they use.

Again, it's not likely you will be able to chat with any of them directly,
but there are plenty of Snooker instructional sites that deal with
all aspects of play.

Snooker is much more organized about techniques than pool,
and they all tend to do everything the same way, ie, the way Joe Davis
did it.

One thing to keep in mind, they make a difference between
aiming - what you are pointing the cue at, and
sighting - what you are looking at.

Hope this helps.

Dale

 

[mr3cushion]

And if I may add a third to your two well made points:

One of the hallmarks of this board is the willingness of folks, at all levels of play, to help one another. Whether it's a question about tips, cues, stances, grips, drill, strategies, or aiming, people usually go out of their way to help and teach one another. At the very least there has always been a willingness for open discussion.

Bill has claimed that the top 3C players in the world all aim at the first ball the same way. I personally don't believe that to be so, but would be interested in hearing some sort of coherent explanation/discussion of this statement. But instead, all we seem to get is a lot of elitist tude.

Lou Figueroa

Lou; Honestly, you must really be mentally defective, what does THIS say?
In 3C the TOP players in the world all have a certain way they AIM at the first object ball, They ALL have a CERTAIN way not the SAME, if you're going to call me out at least have the facts straight!!!!

Bill Smith "Mr3Cushion"

 

[greyghost]

Greyghost quote[
i don't need any extra points to aim at....by the physics of the game the table and balls literally "show" you where the hit point is....well at least the mirror image of it.

yeah. I just see lines.

no you don't see lines....you imagine lines....many of us do that/have that skill I'm not talking about anything imaginary

 

[mr3cushion]

Bill,

I don't know if this would help you out, but it is probably worth a try.

As others have said, you are not likely to get any response thru this site
from the people you are wanting to hear from. However, there is info
on the web about the top Snooker players - who lots of people seem
to think are the very best at pocketing balls - potting is the term they use.

Again, it's not likely you will be able to chat with any of them directly,
but there are plenty of Snooker instructional sites that deal with
all aspects of play.

Snooker is much more organized about techniques than pool,
and they all tend to do everything the same way, ie, the way Joe Davis
did it.

One thing to keep in mind, they make a difference between
aiming - what you are pointing the cue at, and
sighting - what you are looking at.

Hope this helps.:thumbup:

Dale

Dale; This has been the most inteligent responce so far! (without a total answer). No doubt, snooker players pot balls very well. But, I will share a theory I have about that.

In snooker the colored balls are always spotted on the SAME positions, with this in mind I belive they know from continuous play and practice when the cue ball lies in a certain position that shot is a 1/2 ball,1/4 ball,1/8 ball,etc.etc. They memorize theses angles into the object ball because they're ALWAYS the SAME.

The only shot we used to have in pool was the SPOT SHOT,and its hardly in effect in most of the games! This is why I think they don't fair well right away when they come to the US pool pond, takes them a while to figure out all the angles.

EVERYONE, like I stated before, if I don't get the responces, so be it!
I had to try.

Bill Smith "Mr3Cushion"

 

[stumpie71]

First I'm not a top player nor will I ever be. That being said, like a lot of people that frequent this site we have something to over. Some of the people have been given these tips by the top players themselves or have learned it through the years from people that were taught by those players. Just because some of us lack the talent or ability to properly apply it to that level doesn't mean we don't have the knowledge to do so. Grey ghost gave a tip on aiming that has been around for some time. That would be a system to start with.

 

[$TAKE HOR$E]

The big payout's.

 

[TATE]

Dale; This has been the most inteligent responce so far! (without a total answer). No doubt, snooker players pot balls very well. But, I will share a theory I have about that.

In snooker the colored balls are always spotted on the SAME positions, with this in mind I belive they know from continuous play and practice when the cue ball lies in a certain position that shot is a 1/2 ball,1/4 ball,1/8 ball,etc.etc. They memorize theses angles into the object ball because they're ALWAYS the SAME.


EVERYONE, like I stated before, if I don't get the responces, so be it!
I had to try.

Bill Smith "Mr3Cushion"

Bad theroy! The colored balls are on the same spot but the cueball moves, so no two shots are alike except the break.

Just like pool, there is a learning curve posting on the internet. Your knowledge or 3C expertise might be useful to pool players but you have to decide what part is and whether to share it.

Chris

 

[mr3cushion]

Bad theroy! The colored balls are on the same spot but the cueball moves, so no two shots are alike except the break.

Just like pool, there is a learning curve posting on the internet. Your knowledge or 3C expertise might be useful to pool players but you have to decide what part is and whether to share it.

Chris

You must of missed the line where I said when the cue ball is in CERTAIN positions!
That's your opinion Chris, and you're entitled to it, I didn't offer my expertise on anything, just my opinion on snooker players.

Bill Smith "Mr3Cushion"

 

[Johnnyt]

I believe what Grey Ghost is talking about is that you find a contact point on the OB and then find the spot on the rail or anywhere close to the table that lines up with the contact point on the OB and the QB (Mirror Method). A lot of players used this method when spotshots came up in 9-ball, Chicago, and other games a lot. If you couldn't make a spotshot a very high % of the time...forget about your $$. I use it myself for spotshots and some blind pocket shot still today. Johnnyt

 

[whitewolf]

Hello Everyone; My name is Bill Smith for those that don't know. I'm primarily a 3 cushion player for the past 45 years. In 3C the TOP players in the world all have a certain way they AIM at the first object ball, in pool I'm sure it's the same.

I'd like to hear from some of the GREAT players of the past and present, like Buddy Hall, Mike Siegel, Efren, Nick Varner, Johnny Archer, John Schimdt, Shane Van Boning, Dennis Hatch, Dennis Orcallo, on what thier theories on AIMING at any shot and WHY they do it a particular way.

If for some reason some people don't want to snitch their aiming system off to the public,(belive me it's for my own reference and comparison), you can PM me your answers.

I hope to get many and ineteresting responces from all!

Bill Smith "Mr3Cushion"

Hoppe looked at the cueball last - said so in his book.

 

[12squared]

OK, so why not give us a taste? ... a little nugget of information about how the top 3C players aim, so that we may judge the potential value of your wares.
Lou Figueroa

Lou,

I am not a TOP 3C player, but I had my moments.

One thing that I used for aiming was the ghost ball in reverse. Meaning, I imagined the line I wanted the cue ball to travel and imagined a ghost ball behind the object ball in the same line I wanted the cue ball to travel. I aimed at that. There are some limitations but even if I needed too thin of hit to aim at the ghost ball directly, I still envisioned the ghost ball to help visualize the line I wanted to travel.

This does not work exactly the same with pool balls because I'm guessing of the size/weight difference.

I too am hoping some top players would answer this because we all seek their wisdom on how they aim to make balls. Some know what they do possibly can explain it, and some just do it and can't explain it, making balls is second nature to them.

Nice thread Bill, I hope we all get some answers.

Dave

 

[Johnnyt]

Pocketing any ball you have to have a contact point. weather it's on the OB, rail, cloth, reflection from the light, or a spot on the wall. No matter what system or method you use you still have to hit a contact point. If you can't aim straight to hit it, all the sytems and methods in the world won't help you pocket the ball. Johnnyt