funny thing about aiming

bauercrew

bauercrew

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Hey all
As some of you know I am a total newbie at billiards so here is my uneducated 2cents rant about aiming
I was and still having some problems with aiming systems, I went and bought the video on cte,tryed the ghost ball aiming and several others from you-tube, even bought a low deflection shaft, and several books on subject hoping to find the MAGIC answer:rolleyes: I just couldn’t comprehend some of this stuff, so I thought maybe in just not intelligent enough for this pool stuff:( and believe me I’m NOT bashing any of these systems as I don’t have the knowledge that a lot of players have to make a accusation that these systems are not legit ,so I said what the heck,i would approach table and look at where I WANT the ball to go, and just hit the damn thing instead of standing there and try to decipher these aiming systems:smile: and guess what I’m sinking more balls , and making shots I thought no way is that going in that pocket. believe me I’m not going to run a rack but I’m making more shots. know this probably isn’t the political correct way to approach aiming but for now it’s working for me:embarrassed2:as I get more experience I will try these systems that everybody swears by :smile: and as far as routine pre-shot? as I said I just approach table look at where I WANT the ball to GO and get down on ball and BAM hit the thing:embarrassed2: other more experienced players have told me that my form is good meaning my stroke, follow through the shot and I don’t jump up from shot I stay down:smile: well that my 2cent rant, even though it’s not politically correct way to approach billiards I will use it till I get more experience;)again anyone who responds to my post thanks it is greatly appreciated and look forward to the suggestions

Thanks Bill
HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO EVERYONE
 
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Bill,

Keep doing what you're doing as long you're happy with it. Keep in mind some of these aiming systems were not even around a while back. I think you will develope your own 'system' & improve naturally. I would consider your misses & try to determine why. If you can do that & fix it obviously you will improve.

All that being said, I think it is good to have some system to fall back on or to confirm some certain shots at times. I basically use the equal/opposite overlap system that I came to on my own.

The bottom line is whatever works for you is best for you.

Enjoy the journey,
 
Just doing what comes naturally and learning from that, is the most politically correct thing you can do :grin:

Here's a diagram of the equal overlap system that occurred to me while I was trying to learn to aim. English refers to the same above and he's been very helpful in helping me refine/use it.

It's also in this thread: http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=297243

equaldistanceaimingdiag.jpg
 
Before I started using the SEE system and now Pro One I was pretty much a feel player. For the life of me, I could never understand GB aiming now matter how many threads or I diagrams I was shown.

I stumbled upon this video, and it really helped me finally grasp the GB concept. So now even though I use Pro One, if I ever wanted to use GB, I'm pretty good at it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bTKKsLfUPR8
 
Creativity and imagination are key elements for improving

bauercrew said:
Hey all
As some of you know I am a total newbie at billiards so here is my uneducated 2cents rant about aiming
I was and still having some problems with aiming systems, I went and bought the video on cte,tryed the ghost ball aiming and several others from you-tube, even bought a low deflection shaft, and several books on subject hoping to find the MAGIC answer:rolleyes: I just couldn’t comprehend some of this stuff, so I thought maybe in just not intelligent enough for this pool stuff:( and believe me I’m NOT bashing any of these systems as I don’t have the knowledge that a lot of players have to make a accusation that these systems are not legit ,so I said what the heck,i would approach table and look at where I WANT the ball to go, and just hit the damn thing instead of standing there and try to decipher these aiming systems:smile: and guess what I’m sinking more balls , and making shots I thought no way is that going in that pocket. believe me I’m not going to run a rack but I’m making more shots. know this probably isn’t the political correct way to approach aiming but for now it’s working for me:embarrassed2:as I get more experience I will try these systems that everybody swears by :smile: and as far as routine pre-shot? as I said I just approach table look at where I WANT the ball to GO and get down on ball and BAM hit the thing:embarrassed2: other more experienced players have told me that my form is good meaning my stroke, follow through the shot and I don’t jump up from shot I stay down:smile: well that my 2cent rant, even though it’s not politically correct way to approach billiards I will use it till I get more experience;)again anyone who responds to my post thanks it is greatly appreciated and look forward to the suggestions

Thanks Bill
HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO EVERYONE
Click to expand...

The "ghost ball" method is talked about a lot, but I"ve still never seen one myself. Have you tried "Kentucky Windage"? At first there's going to be trial and error in your pool game, and my advise is to first make sure you're hitting the cue ball straight.

If you're not hitting the cue ball straight there's no "aiming system" going to help. I will tell you an "inside secret," at the highest levels "aiming" is more about feel and touch than eye sight.

Creativity and imagination are key elements for improving, so don't get too caught up in trying to "see" some special "system". Work on your "Touch" and the other aspects of your game will improve with experimentation, practice and seeking out effective techniques. 'The Game is the Teacher'
 
Patrick Johnson said:
Here's a post with an illustration of this method:

Ghost Ball Aiming

pj
chgo
Click to expand...

Thanks. It makes sense now after watching that Andy Segal video I posted. I think it was the little trick of pulling the cue back an inch from the OB.

I'm just able to understand certain things a little better from a video over a diagram. I'm weird/stupid like that.
 
so far as I can tell, the specific systems are there to get you to

a) higher accuracy
b) where the shots become natural and you don't need the system anymore

I definitely know the feeling that when trying a new aiming system accuracy goes down. From what I can tell each of the aiming systems has a range of shot types that they are most accurate and easiest to use to shoot, and a number of shot layouts that they become almost entirely inaccurate on, particularly if you are as a part of the system counting on where the cue ball will land after.
 
bauercrew said:
,so I said what the heck,i would approach table and look at where I WANT the ball to go, and just hit the damn thing instead of standing there and try to decipher these aiming systems:smile: and guess what I’m sinking more balls , and making shots I thought no way is that going in that pocket. believe me I’m not going to run a rack but I’m making more shots. know this probably isn’t the political correct way to approach aiming but for now it’s working for me
Thanks Bill
HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO EVERYONE
Click to expand...

What you may not realize Bill, is that you ARE using a system. You're just in the early stages of it: The HAMB system (Hit A Million Balls).

I self-taught myself over the years and the way I taught myself I later discovered was termed "the Clock System", where you stand on the shot line and put a clock face on both the cueball and object ball. To pocket an object ball, you must find the contact point on it and determine what "time" that point would be on the face of the clock, then align the shot to where the opposite "time" on the cueball would be (on the shot line) and make the two balls contact at these "times". An example would be: cutting a ball into the left, side pocket you may make the 10 o'clock on the cueball contact the 4 o'clock on the object ball. Obviously, as in ALL aiming systems, there has to be some "fine-tuning" to perfect all shot possibilities (i.e., you may have to make 10:30 contact 4:30, etc.).

I can tell you that if you play pool on a regular basis, your aiming will eventually become easier and more natural with time. Knowledge and good instruction can shorten the learning curve, but if you're in no hurry, you may get to where you want to be on your own.

I can say this: Even with my self-taught ways and after forty-plus years of playing, aiming is a non-factor in my game. I simply do not have to think about it. I can walk around the table and get down on a 7-foot, 75-degree cut shot into a corner pocket and pull the trigger and make the shot before I've even gotten all the way down on the shot. I just know where to hit it. I don't even have to think about it. Another example is "Speed Pool". These guys literally RUN around the table clearing fifteen balls, many times in under a minute. You think these guys are having to think about aiming? Get my point?

My stance on aiming systems is that each individual player must find the one that eventually is going to be optimum for THAT players understanding. You may have to experiment with a few (or more). But let me assure you, we are all using a "system" of some type or another. Good luck in your quest to improve. Hitting as many balls as possible is always a good starting point.

And........a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you too!!!

Maniac
 
A poster explains why double distance aiming breaks down when the CB and the OB are close together. I use to CP to CP on thes shots.

ShotGeometry6.JPG
 
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