What aiming system am I using?

[Espartaco_7]

I´ve heard a lot about aiming systems but I don´t know what I use. I try to see a straight line between the object ball and the pocket and just shoot the cue ball to hit that spot.

I´ve heard of ghost ball, parallel lines, CTE, guys who aim with the tip, who aim with with the cloth.... so I´m confused. What the heck am I using?

 

[Patrick Johnson]

I´ve heard a lot about aiming systems but I don´t know what I use. I try to see a straight line between the object ball and the pocket and just shoot the cue ball to hit that spot.

I´ve heard of ghost ball, parallel lines, CTE, guys who aim with the tip, who aim with with the cloth.... so I´m confused. What the heck am I using?

If "that spot" is the point on the object ball that the cue ball will contact, then it's contact point aiming.

If "that spot" is a point in space or on the cloth where the middle of the cue ball will be when it contacts the object ball, then it's ghost ball aiming.

pj
chgo

 

[3andstop]

I'm not sure, but if you can run a 100 balls, you're definitely not using my aiming system.

 

[Espartaco_7]

Well it´s contact point aiming. Thank you. :grin-square:

 

[Patrick Johnson]

Well it´s contact point aiming. Thank you. :grin-square:

You're lucky to be able to "see" the object ball contact point - it's the most direct and precise target available. Many players can't visualize it and must resort to less direct aiming systems using memorized cue ball / object ball overlaps.

pj
chgo

 

[3andstop]

At the risk of posting a real aiming reply in the "non aiming" forum, ... the secret to seeing the contact point is to make the aiming point and the contact point one and the same, thereby eliminating ball curvature as a variable while aiming.

Admittedly, this only works for those who ( for some reason) see it clearly when aiming with the sides of the shaft as opposed to the center of the shaft.

here we go .... :grin:

 

[naji]

I´ve heard a lot about aiming systems but I don´t know what I use. I try to see a straight line between the object ball and the pocket and just shoot the cue ball to hit that spot.

I´ve heard of ghost ball, parallel lines, CTE, guys who aim with the tip, who aim with with the cloth.... so I´m confused. What the heck am I using?

With my chin touching shaft, i can see OB through the CB as well as pocket, by staring at OB in that position, the sweet contact points starts to develop and appear, when tired and not much sleep it takes more time to focus, in the morning when i weak up i find it very quick
could be ghost ball aim not 100% sure.

 

[Tramp Steamer]

If you'll try placing your chin on the side of the shaft, rather than on top, you'll see the object ball in a whole new perspective. :smile:

 

[Espartaco_7]

At the risk of posting a real aiming reply in the "non aiming" forum, ... the secret to seeing the contact point is to make the aiming point and the contact point one and the same, thereby eliminating ball curvature as a variable while aiming.

Admittedly, this only works for those who ( for some reason) see it clearly when aiming with the sides of the shaft as opposed to the center of the shaft.

here we go .... :grin:

I don´t understand what you´re saying (I´m a Rookie) but I always shoot to the same spot no matter how much english I´m using. Even when I have to massé the shot a little I just see the "contact point", not the cue, not the shaft.

I work it this way:

1. I see the objet ball and where I want to hit it.
2. I decide where I want to land the cueball (I still use a general area, not pinpoint)
3. I aim where I want to hit the cue ball and take 1 or 2 practice strokes and then look at the contact point of the object ball and.... SHOOT!

 

[Espartaco_7]

If you'll try placing your chin on the side of the shaft, rather than on top, you'll see the object ball in a whole new perspective. :smile:

I use the cue in the middle of my chin for center line shots, and I move the cue "straight" with every tip of english I want.

Ex. 2 tips on the cueball will move 2 tips on the chin straight. (I use LD shaft with under 11.7mm tip) Dunno if I´m wrong, but this works pretty good for me.

 

[naji]

I don´t understand what you´re saying (I´m a Rookie) but I always shoot to the same spot no matter how much english I´m using. Even when I have to massé the shot a little I just see the "contact point", not the cue, not the shaft.

I work it this way:

1. I see the objet ball and where I want to hit it.
2. I decide where I want to land the cueball (I still use a general area, not pinpoint)
3. I aim where I want to hit the cue ball and take 1 or 2 practice strokes and then look at the contact point of the object ball and.... SHOOT!

If items marked in red are true, then you must be living in different planet, or you are a D player still.

 

[3andstop]

I don´t understand what you´re saying (I´m a Rookie) but I always shoot to the same spot no matter how much english I´m using. Even when I have to massé the shot a little I just see the "contact point", not the cue, not the shaft.

I work it this way:

1. I see the objet ball and where I want to hit it.
2. I decide where I want to land the cueball (I still use a general area, not pinpoint)
3. I aim where I want to hit the cue ball and take 1 or 2 practice strokes and then look at the contact point of the object ball and.... SHOOT!

Well, first of all, I know we should probably be in the aiming forum to talk about all this, Secondly, I want to make clear that I totally understand that not all ways of aiming work for all people. With that said, the way I like to aim, ( and at this point after 50yrs playing, it's second nature and of little conscious effort) is with the sides of the shaft. It goes like this.

You pick the portion of the pocket you want the OB to hit. Draw a straight line in your mind's eye from that point through the center of the OB and out the opposite side.

Now here's the thing, if you're cutting a shot to the left, use the left edge of the cue shaft, and conversely, if you're cutting right, use the right edge.

It doesn't matter what english you are using at all, it is not a factor. Simply aim parallel on the CB.

Connect the line the side of your shaft makes to the point your imaginary line is exiting the OB from the pocket side and shoot through the CB.

The theory is by using the sides of the shaft, you compensate for the curvature of the balls since aiming point and contact point are otherwise two different spots since the leading curve of the CB contacts the OB in a slightly different spot than the aiming spot.

Shifting parallel by the width of the side of the shaft as opposed to down the dead center of it, seems .... for some ... to compensate for the difference between aim and contact points.

Luckily for me it works fine. Other can't for the life of them see the system. I understand that, and understand that everyone sees, thinks and executes differently and ya gotta use what works best for you. :thumbup:

 

[Espartaco_7]

If items marked in red are true, then you must be living in different planet, or you are a D player still.

May be, I don´t know how to measure my skill level (less than 2 years playing). Hopkins Q-Skill says I´m semi-pro / pro level (which I don´t believe is true). And playing the ghost I can run out 5 out of 10 racks (Maybe more on a good day).

But over all I consinder myself a C+ or B Player.

 

[naji]

May be, I don´t know how to measure my skill level (less than 2 years playing). Hopkins Q-Skill says I´m semi-pro / pro level (which I don´t believe is true). And playing the ghost I can run out 5 out of 10 racks (Maybe more on a good day).

But over all I consinder myself a C+ or B Player.

Ok you are a pro, try shoot the spot shot in all kind of of one tip english, hard, medium and soft speed, plus stun with english
also do it again with two tips of english
once done, change your bridge hand location to say 6", then 10, then 14, then 16 and let me know if you still aim at same place for all these shots?

 

[Espartaco_7]

Ok you are a pro, try shoot the spot shot in all kind of of one tip english, hard, medium and soft speed, plus stun with english
also do it again with two tips of english
once done, change your bridge hand location to say 6", then 10, then 14, then 16 and let me know if you still aim at same place for all these shots?

Good point, gonna do it and upload the video for you, maybe you can help me to improve my game.

LOL thank you for the "ok you are a pro" sarcasm. Told you I´m a c+ player, so any critique is welcome. Good or bad.

 

[genomachino]

Your naturally doing one this but are probably naturally seeing another.....

I´ve heard a lot about aiming systems but I don´t know what I use. I try to see a straight line between the object ball and the pocket and just shoot the cue ball to hit that spot.

I´ve heard of ghost ball, parallel lines, CTE, guys who aim with the tip, who aim with with the cloth.... so I´m confused. What the heck am I using?

Hi there Espartaco,

When you are in the preshot your eyes are naturally looking at the overlap. We can envision something else but this is how the mind is calculating this for you.

Contact point is a real term and it is there but for all practical purposes but for actual aiming is worthless.

You can take a new player and tell them to hit the contact point until your blue in the face and only get puzzled looks with very little results.

Put a ghost ball behind the object ball and show them the overlap and the results are pretty positive.

Pretty much all teachers use or should use the ghost ball at some point in their teachings. I myself use it as illustration to help a player visualize shots that they are having trouble with.

Put some bigger balls up on the table like softballs and tell me if your not visualizing the overlap. This is what your brain is actually using to get the job done.

This is just my opinion. I do alot of lessons. practice makes Perfect especially when your trying to figure things out............

 

[itsfroze]

Isn't there an aiming sub-forum, for aiming discussions?

 

[Espartaco_7]

Genomachino, sometimes I don´t understand some stuff. Maybe I´m a lil dumb or language trouble (Spanish is my main language) but I´ll try to explain with some graphics.

For example in the graphics you´ll see what I´m trying to say. I ALWAYS aim to the contact point, no matter english or if the shot is hard or soft, also I move the cue to left or right on my chin when using english. I don´t compensate (at least knowing it). As you see the cue on the graphics is how I move it (the whole cue 1, 2 or 3 tips).

The second graphic is the example of a thin cut shot to the left, the arrow shows the contact point of where I aim no matter what english I´m using.

Naji gave me the idea of the spot shot and I´ll test that to see what I´m missing.

Hope you get why I asked what system is this. For me it works, but is a little confusing when you read so many opinions about systems etc.

Thanks for your help.

 

[Espartaco_7]

Isn't there an aiming sub-forum, for aiming discussions?

Sorry, How do I move it to that section?

 

[genomachino]

Don't worry about it. the mods will move it if need be.

Sorry, How do I move it to that section?

Hi there again,

Don't move your head. Just move your aim.

Alot has to do if your using a low deflection shaft or a normal maple shaft.

The normal maple shaft will spuirt and then curve. The low deflection/laminated shaft will have very little squirt but will curve the same.

you need to keep the eyes in the same spot where they are and just move your aim a little to right or left to compensate with what the shaft will do with the English.

your eyes should still be in the same spot on the balls. The cue doesn't matter. it can be anywhere as long as the eyes are seeing right on the balls.

On the pool shot it is like throwing a spear. We're just throwing it underhand.