My Aiming System Thread.

[mnorwood]

This afternoon, as I do every Thursday afternoon, I taught my billiards class at my school. When I start with my kids they don't know which end of the cue to hit the cue ball with.

I feel like I do a very good job of teaching the fundamentals. When I teach aiming I teach the ghost ball method. In my opinion the ghost ball method is insufficient. I have never studied pro one or CTE enough to weigh in on any of the threads that have been posted here and really have no opinion on them. At this point I am willing to look in to it because although ghost ball has always been good enough for me its not for my students.

 

[Joe T]

I would suggest getting your feet and maybe theirs by starting off with 2 shots, straight in and thin thin cut shots. Just fall on both balls with your tip pivoted off to the side or edge of the cb while aligning center cb to edge of ob and then slowly pivot back to center cb. For both shots you should get real close to where you want to be.
After this I direct to the experts.

Keep up the good work.

 

[336Robin]

Aiming

This afternoon, as I do every Thursday afternoon, I taught my billiards class at my school. When I start with my kids they don't know which end of the cue to hit the cue ball with.

I feel like I do a very good job of teaching the fundamentals. When I teach aiming I teach the ghost ball method. In my opinion the ghost ball method is insufficient. I have never studied pro one or CTE enough to weigh in on any of the threads that have been posted here and really have no opinion on them. At this point I am willing to look in to it because although ghost ball has always been good enough for me its not for my students.

Mnorwood,

Here is where I have to suggest some of my methods because a beginning player needs some good fundamentals and my methods back the fundamental of correct shot alignment up by giving you something to key off of and also describe in exact terms what knowing what correct alignment is so the player will plainly understand.

The Ghost Ball Method when it speaks loudly to someone as it obviously does to you is a great method where it tends to break down is when the student had no idea if the ghost they have placed is correct. I teach being able to know how to pot the shot off a template with several overlapping methods that are easy to learn to see using visualization techniques.

336Robin
:thumbup:
Robin Kelly
aimisthegameinpool@yahoo.com

http://274928807619529663.weebly.com/ Here is the book website

 

[TangHizzo]

I would focus on making sure they don't screw around and wack someone's eye out. It's really important that they understand that it will be hard at this stage to get positive results. Seeing you pocket balls easily will be discouraging. If you are focusing on fundamentals....you're doing the right things. I wouldn't teach them ghostball or any aiming method.

 

[Patrick Johnson]

This afternoon, as I do every Thursday afternoon, I taught my billiards class at my school. When I start with my kids they don't know which end of the cue to hit the cue ball with.

I feel like I do a very good job of teaching the fundamentals. When I teach aiming I teach the ghost ball method. In my opinion the ghost ball method is insufficient. I have never studied pro one or CTE enough to weigh in on any of the threads that have been posted here and really have no opinion on them. At this point I am willing to look in to it because although ghost ball has always been good enough for me its not for my students.

I think the "geometrically correct" methods (ghost ball, double distance, parallel lines) are good teachers of CB/OB alignment fundamentals that enhance the effectiveness of whatever aiming method is used.

I also think that "less is more" when it comes to aiming - the simpler the method that works, the better. For some students simply paying attention to where they're pointing their stick is method enough.

pj
chgo

 

[dr_dave]

I think the "geometrically correct" methods (ghost ball, double distance, parallel lines) are good teachers of CB/OB alignment fundamentals that enhance the effectiveness of whatever aiming method is used.

I also think that "less is more" when it comes to aiming - the simpler the method that works, the better. For some students simply paying attention to where they're pointing their stick is method enough.

Excellent post, IMO.

I think consistent sighting is just as important as "aiming" ... not only for beginners, but all players.

Marcus, I would encourage you to help your students find and become aware of their vision center.

FYI, I'm currently writing a series of articles for Billiards Digest focusing on aiming, alignment, and sighting. You might enjoy the current draft of the first article in the series.

Regards,
Dave

 

[LAMas]

I think the "geometrically correct" methods (ghost ball, double distance, parallel lines) are good teachers of CB/OB alignment fundamentals that enhance the effectiveness of whatever aiming method is used.

I also think that "less is more" when it comes to aiming - the simpler the method that works, the better. For some students simply paying attention to where they're pointing their stick is method enough.

pj
chgo

I concur. Work on a straight stroke to realize the benfits of any aiming method.