Visual Alignment Issue??

H

Hobart007

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Hi all,

I've noticed that my stroke is generally (for a rank amateur) consistent and my sighting is consistent. That said, I miss to the right of the intended target consistently when I miss and lately I have tried to really take my time and line the shot up both before I get to the table and once I am down, only releasing my stroke when I am absolutely sure that things look right to see where my issue is and again, I miss to the right.

Instead of following my first impulse (Kentucky windage), I'd like to see the shot correctly. I did some research and found this article by Dr. Dave:

http://billiards.colostate.edu/bd_articles/2011/july11.pdf

I've tried the exercise mentioned (line up and mark a shot and then shoot with different visual alignments until something works and then keep that. The issue is that even when I get lined up right, it feels wrong and so I am having some trouble internalizing anything new.

My question is whether or not there is any other way to make this feel right or to achieve proper visual alignment or do I just need to suck it up and do it until it is automatic?

Thanks and sorry if this is just an issue with my patience.
 
Very accurately, lay your cue along the long string (between the centers of the short rails). Line it up by looking from both ends of the table so you know it's perfectly aligned between the diamonds.

Line up over your cue as if you were going to shoot a shot. Be careful not to move your cue at all. Move your head from side to side slowly until you find a position where your cue looks like it's pointing directly to the far diamond. When you find that spot, note where the cue is below your eyes. This is your proper eye position.
 
.this holds the best "line" to the shot and makes your cuing more accurate.

Hobart007 said:
Hi all,

I've noticed that my stroke is generally (for a rank amateur) consistent and my sighting is consistent. That said, I miss to the right of the intended target consistently when I miss and lately I have tried to really take my time and line the shot up both before I get to the table and once I am down, only releasing my stroke when I am absolutely sure that things look right to see where my issue is and again, I miss to the right.

Instead of following my first impulse (Kentucky windage), I'd like to see the shot correctly. I did some research and found this article by Dr. Dave:

http://billiards.colostate.edu/bd_articles/2011/july11.pdf

I've tried the exercise mentioned (line up and mark a shot and then shoot with different visual alignments until something works and then keep that. The issue is that even when I get lined up right, it feels wrong and so I am having some trouble internalizing anything new.

My question is whether or not there is any other way to make this feel right or to achieve proper visual alignment or do I just need to suck it up and do it until it is automatic?

Thanks and sorry if this is just an issue with my patience.
Click to expand...

I recommend cueing the cue ball slightly to the right, cutting to the right and slightly left cutting the balls to the left....aim slightly "thicker" at the nearest side of the pocket and try to hit it straight, with a piercing trajectory....this holds the best "line" to the shot and makes your cuing more accurate. This video will explain more for you --> http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=wGdkVtE4O1o
www.thegameistheteacher.com
 
Last edited:
Thank you Mark and CJ. I will try both suggestions when I get to the table tonight. It will be nice to finally get rid of this issue.
 
I find i have the same issue as you. I seemed to notice the last time I was shooting some balls this issue came up more if I really got down to the table when I shot... It looked ok when i was getting into position standing up, fine tune it a bit with some practice strokes while down on the shot, and it looks right to me,then I shoot and like yourself, I miss right.. I did not have this problem as often if I lined up and just leaned in a little and fired away... Could be getting lower to the table be distorting my perception?
 
There is a trick to help overcome the problem immediately.

Since you are consistently going off slightly to the right, get down on the shot the same way as you always do. Make your final adjustments - and then consciously shift the stick line slightly to the left.

This manual adjustment can increase your successful results quite a bit.
 
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