Left eye dominant and keep hitting right

8

8up

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I am right handed but very much left eye dominant. (left and right eye focus in very different places) I continue to hit the object ball on the right side and missing to the left.

Before someone says it, lining the shot up a little right will not get the job done very well as the amount would be subjected to the distance of the shot.

Being right handed it makes it hard to get the left eye over the cue.

Has anyone else had this problem and found a good solution?

Thanks, Ron
 
At the pro level left eye dominance in right handers is pretty common... If you google profession pool player images and look at the results you will notice that the vast majority of the images of a pro sighting down the cue has the left eye in the dominant position when right handed.... Several AZers will likely chime in but Geno has a whole DVD devoted to the topic of dominant positions and aiming... Do a search for Perfect Aim.......
 
I found a couple of solutions to your problem. I am right handed and right eye dominant. When I'm in dead whack, I noticed I had to turn my body more open, like a modified snooker stance. If I just turned my head to get my right eye into the shot, I was compensating for my stance by steering the cue ball.

If you stand more closed, your left eye will get the line on the shot. The object ball will appear more to the left and that's where you'll aim. You can try moving your head, but old habits creep up during a match to haunt you. Turning slightly to the right will be easier to repeat.

Best,
Mike
 
Go over to YouTube and search Ralf Souquet. Watch some of his videos. It helped me - I'm right eye dominant and shoot left.
 
I am right handed and left eye dominant. If you look at my picture you will see I shoot with my right arm a little bit away from my body to get my left eye over the shaft.
 
Here is a better example.
 

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Measureman how does that affect your stroke. Do you use more of a sidearm stroke instead of your arm hanging straight down from the shoulder?
 
8up said:
I am right handed but very much left eye dominant. (left and right eye focus in very different places) I continue to hit the object ball on the right side and missing to the left.

Before someone says it, lining the shot up a little right will not get the job done very well as the amount would be subjected to the distance of the shot.

Being right handed it makes it hard to get the left eye over the cue.

Has anyone else had this problem and found a good solution?

Thanks, Ron
Click to expand...
See my July '11 Billiards Digest article. IMO, the only "good solution" is to get your eyes in the right place, either by shifting and/or turning your head. Try the drill on page 3 of the article, and experiment with different head positions.

Good luck,
Dave
 
8up said:
Measureman how does that affect your stroke. Do you use more of a sidearm stroke instead of your arm hanging straight down from the shoulder?
Click to expand...

It is just like the picture shows. If you put the picture in motion my arm just comes straight forward. I've been shooting like this for over 50 years. I tried holding the cue more towards my body and putting my right eye over the shaft and I could not make a ball. Got to have my left eye over the shaft. Yes it probably would be considered a sidearm stroke.
 
8up said:
I am right handed but very much left eye dominant. (left and right eye focus in very different places) I continue to hit the object ball on the right side and missing to the left.

Before someone says it, lining the shot up a little right will not get the job done very well as the amount would be subjected to the distance of the shot.

Being right handed it makes it hard to get the left eye over the cue.

Has anyone else had this problem and found a good solution?

Thanks, Ron
Click to expand...

First, thank your lucky stars - then find images of Willie Mosconi in his
shooting stance.

Have you ever shot a rifle? In his 1980s instructional video, he suggests
you take a stance holding the cue like a rifle, then just bend into the shot.

It really isn't hard at all to get your left eye over the shaft.

Dale
 
I have the solution. Perfect Aim...........

8up said:
I am right handed but very much left eye dominant. (left and right eye focus in very different places) I continue to hit the object ball on the right side and missing to the left.

Before someone says it, lining the shot up a little right will not get the job done very well as the amount would be subjected to the distance of the shot.

Being right handed it makes it hard to get the left eye over the cue.

Has anyone else had this problem and found a good solution?

Thanks, Ron
Click to expand...

Hi there Ron,

This is what I teach. It's helped hundreds of players already and will help alot more before I'm done.

I am right handed also and left eye dominant. We are all the same just some are right eye dominant and some are left eye dominant. Some are stronger and some are weaker.

But the problems we all face are exactly the same. The dominant eye needs to be in the dominant position or we don't see the shot correctly so therefor the correct info is not getting to the brain. Without that the body absolutely can't execute the task at hand properly.

Because you are left eye dominant but right handed we have a tendency to be looking at this shot in the preshot as though we are right eye dominant. Now on the way to addressing the cue ball you switch to the left being dominant naturally because you have to or the shot would look terrible. This in turn shifts your body over about an inch or two so everything is out of line.

I have found with my teaching and studies that almost everyone that is opposite eye dominant has this problem. Many players don't hardly ever get the dominant eye over where it belongs because the other eye kind of tries to work as dominant a little.

This is why you are missing the shot in the manner that you are. It is pure textbook with what I teach. In 15 minutes on the phone I can show you not only how to correct you aim but show you how you can correct any shot from now on.

In fact I'll make a deal with you. Give me a call and I'll teach you what I am talking about. And I know that right now it probably doesn't make any sense to you at all. But the players that understand Perfect Aim and use it in their daily routine absolutely swear by it.

Just ask Danny Olson from North Dakota. This years Junior National Champion. His comment to me was : It's the nutz. Great kid too. His mother bought him the Perfect Aim video about a year or so ago. I worked with him a little bit in person three times to help him understand it fully. Once in Galvaston,Junior tourny in Rochester Minnesota and a little in Fargo.

There are hundreds of great stories with great results all over the world that Perfect Aim has helped them play their best pool ever. Once you really understand how it works the game is even more addicting.

Give me a call. If it doesn't help you , you can get on here and tell the world how wet I am. But if it helps you like I say, all i ask is that you do the same and tell everyone you can.

You will even be able to help your friends .

You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

715-563-8712 be by a table and be ready to be amazed. Because what you are about to learn will change the way you play forever and will help you be the best that you can be.

Can't wait to work with you. Geno............
 
hey kid...

try this

put whitey on the foot spot and hit it to the other end of the table and let it come back to your cue tip

analyze the outcome and adjust [if you can] and keep trying till it comes directly back to your cue tip.

then let us know what happens

all the best to you kid and t,
hope all is well,
smokey
 
Just guessing hear, but do you think closing one eye, will help? I've seen two shafts before, sober.
 
C.Milian said:
Just guessing hear, but do you think closing one eye, will help? I've seen two shafts before, sober.
Click to expand...

I don't know, thought about it alot? I'm "cross-handed" Preferably play billiards lefty. Play dart's equally as well with either hand. Love the game. No better test of hand-eye coordination at the highest level Just ask Phil "The Power" Taylor He makes way more money than the top three pool players combined. What is it now16/17 time world champion? James Wade/Raymond Van Barneveld ain't bad either? They all make more pro money than any pool player.

forgive me, I haven't "figured" out how to post a link, cut and paste, check it out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvnP2VwQb6E
 
I've always thought I was left eye dominant until one day when I was in dead stroke I froze after one shot and realized that my left eye was not over the stick, but my right.

So my question is How do you determine which is your dominant eye? I always heard that if you put your thumb and forefinger together in a circle, and look through it like you're peeking through a hole in a fence, whichever eye you use is your dominant eye... but now I'm not so sure.
 
I played for years not knowing or caring about a dominant eye. I would play at a high level one day and slump the next. I tried everything I could think of including professional instruction and getting advice from world champions. I'd be on a run in 14.1 or nine ball and drive an easy shot right into the rail. Then I'd make a bunch of tough shots and drive an easy one into the rail, again.

I realized that since I couldn't identify my problem, and changing my stance, stroke, grip, etc. weren't working, there must be one thing affecting all my issues. I tried my left eye for dominance for a few weeks, but didn't consistently pocket balls. I felt uncomfortable though I wanted to give it a couple of months of practice before I gave up on the idea.

One session I had a tough shot where a ball would barely pass through an opening. I realized I was squinting my left eye and using my right eye to check it out. I realized that was strange, but filed it under food for thought. About an hour later I came upon another tight shot. Without thinking I bent over to look at it and discovered I was using my right eye again.

I made the decision to switch over to my right eye as dominant and all the problems started to disappear. No more steering and compensating for a bad alignment. Occasionally my left eye tries to get into the game, but if I'm aware of it, I reset and continue. If I don't realize I'm using the left eye, I will usually dog the ball.

The lucky players that don't have these issues will never understand what we are talking about. They don't have two eyes fighting for dominance. They will dismiss our problems as comical and say that it's not such a big deal. If you don't understand it, don't offer an opinion. It's a real nightmare and hard to pick up on. I played like a roller coaster until I figured it out.

Another area I found lacking was qualified instruction with a player who understood my problem. If I'd had some insight, I could've saved myself a lot of frustrating practice sessions and lost matches missing easy shots. The trick is to keep your dominant eye, dominant. That's another thread. I'd like to hear how players do it and learn from them. I believe Buddy said something about keeping your dominant eye, dominant.

Best,
Mike
 
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I have a similar issue where I'm right handed but my dominate eye changes. Gino doesn't think this is possible.. but I can assure you, it is. For the most part, I'm left eye dominate and I'll be playing for hours just fine lining up over my left eye. Then BAM! I get down and everything looks wrong. Very wrong. They I switch to my right eye and everything is dandy again. It normally doesn't last too long... maybe an hour or two, but long enough to really throw me off. I'm guessing my left eye dominance gets tired??? I don't know the cause but I see the effect. I wish Geno was on this side of the country, maybe he could figure it out.
 
Surly said:
I've always thought I was left eye dominant until one day when I was in dead stroke I froze after one shot and realized that my left eye was not over the stick, but my right.

So my question is How do you determine which is your dominant eye? I always heard that if you put your thumb and forefinger together in a circle, and look through it like you're peeking through a hole in a fence, whichever eye you use is your dominant eye... but now I'm not so sure.
Click to expand...
The importance of the dominant eye in pool is very debatable. If you or others are interested in learning more, some links and resources on this topic can be found here:

The only thing I know for sure is that the head needs to consistently be in the right place to properly visualize center-ball alignment and the straight line of the cue. This "place" will vary from one person to the next, and it may or may not depend on eye dominance. My July '11 Billiards Digest article provides some background and a drill for finding your "vision center." I personally don't think eye dominance is important in pool; although, I know finding your "vision center" is critically important!!!

Regards,
Dave
 
measureman said:
I am right handed and left eye dominant. If you look at my picture you will see I shoot with my right arm a little bit away from my body to get my left eye over the shaft.
Click to expand...
Actually, your picture shows the opposite of what you say - your arm is closer to your body than it would be if the stick was under your right eye. It only makes sense, since the right eye is farther to the right.

pj
chgo
 
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