Aiming with lights

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bbb

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i did a search using light and i got alot of threads on table lights
i added aimimg and you can imagine how many threads came up
can any one explain and /or provide a link(s) to using the table lights for aiming and banking
a very good player in my room swears by it but wont spill the beans
thanks in advance for any replies
 
You need to know.......

bbb said:
i did a search using light and i got alot of threads on table lights
i added aimimg and you can imagine how many threads came up
can any one explain and /or provide a link(s) to using the table lights for aiming and banking
a very good player in my room swears by it but wont spill the beans
thanks in advance for any replies
Click to expand...

You need to know how much of the ball you need to hit before the lights do you much good. If it's a half ball hit you look for a light or reflection on the ball that is in the middle of the object ball. 1/4 1/3 and so forth.
 
reflectionj.jpg


The main thing is knowing how to determine the shape of your reflection (since all lights have a different shape and configuration/location, etc). The image above shows multiple bulbs.

Fluorescent lighting will create a crescent(s) on the balls. Something like this:

nineball.jpg


So, depending on the shot/bank, you have to do one of the following:

  • Align the edge of the CB shape to the edge of the OB shape
  • Align the edge of the CB shape to the center of the OB shape
  • Align the edge of the CB shape to the opposite edge of the OB shape

Now, which edge of the CB shape to which edge/center of the OB shape depends on the shot. This only really works if there is one single light source and it should be centered over the table. I used to think it didn't matter if the lights were centered until I played on a table where the lights REALLY weren't centered--- and then you can see the difference big time in results.

When you're aligning the CB shape to the OB shape, you have to do so on the same vertical plane... something like this:

reflect2.jpg


I think if you're on a particular table / equipment where this works well, I think you can swear by it. Coming from someone who has put a TON of time into this system, I can say it "works" really well --- but only under certain conditions. Therefore, I've come to the conclusion: "Why base your game on a technique that can't be used ANYWHERE/ANYTIME?"

Banking w/ reflections is a great baseline for your body alignment. If you're not using a systematic psr method for aligning shots and/or banks, this is worth exploring. There are, however, much stronger systems/methods such as CTE, Pro1, 90/90 or SEE that work under any lighting conditions.

In conclusion, this is great information to have and another tool in your toolbox. You can also use the shadows under the balls--- and that's an entirely different method.
 
SpiderWebComm said:
reflectionj.jpg


The main thing is knowing how to determine the shape of your reflection (since all lights have a different shape and configuration/location, etc). The image above shows multiple bulbs.

Fluorescent lighting will create a crescent(s) on the balls. Something like this:

nineball.jpg


So, depending on the shot/bank, you have to do one of the following:

  • Align the edge of the CB shape to the edge of the OB shape
    [*]Align the edge of the CB shape to the center of the OB shape
    [*]Align the edge of the CB shape to the opposite edge of the OB shape

Now, which edge of the CB shape to which edge/center of the OB shape depends on the shot. This only really works if there is one single light source and it should be centered over the table. I used to think it didn't matter if the lights were centered until I played on a table where the lights REALLY weren't centered--- and then you can see the difference big time in results.

When you're aligning the CB shape to the OB shape, you have to do so on the same vertical plane... something like this:

reflect2.jpg


I think if you're on a particular table / equipment where this works well, I think you can swear by it. Coming from someone who has put a TON of time into this system, I can say it "works" really well --- but only under certain conditions. Therefore, I've come to the conclusion: "Why base your game on a technique that can't be used ANYWHERE/ANYTIME?"

Banking w/ reflections is a great baseline for your body alignment. If you're not using a systematic psr method for aligning shots and/or banks, this is worth exploring. There are, however, much stronger systems/methods such as CTE, Pro1, 90/90 or SEE that work under any lighting conditions.

In conclusion, this is great information to have and another tool in your toolbox. You can also use the shadows under the balls--- and that's an entirely different method.
Click to expand...

thanks for the detailed drawings and explanation


can you explain alittle more about this??


So, depending on the shot/bank, you have to do one of the following

Align the edge of the CB shape to the edge of the OB shape
Align the edge of the CB shape to the center of the OB shape
Align the edge of the CB shape to the opposite edge of the OB shape

thanks
pm me if you wish
 
Last edited:
bbb said:
thanks for the detailed drawings and explanation
can you explain alittle more about this??
So, depending on the shot/bank, you have to do one of the following:

  • Align the edge of the CB shape to the edge of the OB shape
  • Align the edge of the CB shape to the center of the OB shape
  • Align the edge of the CB shape to the opposite edge of the OB shape
thanks
pm me if you wish
Click to expand...

Not much else to explain. Setup a random shot. Align the shot with each bullet point, shoot and evaluate. Over time, you'll see any shot is really a possibility of 2 of the 3 I mentioned, so 50% chance of getting it right. With a little practice, you can just "know" which alignment to use. Don't turn this into rocket science, because it's quite simple. Align the reflection shape as described above and one should work.

Just to expand a little more:

Depending on the light used, the reflection will have a certain "shape" on the balls. You need to recognize the extreme left, extreme right and then deduce the center of that shape. Do the same for the CB/OB, each. Align the CB edge to either the OB same edge, center or opposite edge and fire away. :)
 
SpiderWebComm said:
Not much else to explain. Setup a random shot. Align the shot with each bullet point, shoot and evaluate. Over time, you'll see any shot is really a possibility of 2 of the 3 I mentioned, so 50% chance of getting it right. With a little practice, you can just "know" which alignment to use. Don't turn this into rocket science, because it's quite simple. Align the reflection shape as described above and one should work.

Just to expand a little more:

Depending on the light used, the reflection will have a certain "shape" on the balls. You need to recognize the extreme left, extreme right and then deduce the center of that shape. Do the same for the CB/OB, each. Align the CB edge to either the OB same edge, center or opposite edge and fire away. :)
Click to expand...

thanks......:wink:
 
The only time i would use any type of light reflection would be on the break.
(Thats it.) A real good player swears by it.How good is he?
 
And what happens if you have perfectly lightet table?
2 lamps over the table?
3 lamps?
1 long lamp?

those all also influenced by other lamps around and daylight?

I m really not a friend about *light aiming*.

lg
Ingo
 
Many moons ago when bar tables were lit with a single incandescent bulb, it was easy to see the reflection on the object ball. That was the contact point on a lot of shots.
With modern fluorescent lighting, I see crescents on the cue and object ball that make no sense at all to me. :(
 
Ratta said:
And what happens if you have perfectly lightet table?
2 lamps over the table?
3 lamps?
1 long lamp?

those all also influenced by other lamps around and daylight?

I m really not a friend about *light aiming*.

lg
Ingo
Click to expand...

Shouldn't matter, although some light configurations make a shape that's easier to read than others.

I'm not defending it or saying it's the best ever---- it does work, however.
 
SpiderWebComm said:
Align the reflection shape as described above and one should work.
Click to expand...
Well, one should come closer to working than the other two, but chances are none of them will be on the money.

This is another version of "x angles" with the angles moving around on the CB/OB so there's no way to memorize them.

pj
chgo
 
Patrick Johnson said:
Well, one should come closer to working than the other two, but chances are none of them will be on the money.

This is another version of "x angles" with the angles moving around on the CB/OB so there's no way to memorize them.

pj
chgo
Click to expand...

All I know is I've used this method on tables with long fluorescent bulbs and it worked really well--- surprisingly well. Also, I've tried it on tables that were impossible (Diamond lights).

I think there's value to knowing this stuff --- if for no other reason than to use it as an alignment guide (if someone needs something like that). I'm sure if one chooses to REALLY study this, they can (as the OP said) become a good player using this sighting method as their foundation.

That said--- it wasn't for me.
 
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