Quiet Eye

1ab

1ab

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
There's a variety of "Quiet Eye" videos using laser optical measuring equipment to make the case that the accuracy of hitting an intended target will increase through the practice of slowing down eye movement and focusing on the target with little or no eye motion just prior to shooting. The videos range in scope but do include pistol shooting and putting in golf. I have been trying to relate these in perspective to pool and since I taught the OB must be the last thing looked at before shooting, I believed it wouldn't be a stretch to incorporate some of the information stated in the studies, in an effort to better my game. What is an average time lapse between the last look at an OB and contact of CB ?
 
1ab said:
There's a variety of "Quiet Eye" videos using laser optical measuring equipment to make the case that the accuracy of hitting an intended target will increase through the practice of slowing down eye movement and focusing on the target with little or no eye motion just prior to shooting. The videos range in scope but do include pistol shooting and putting in golf. I have been trying to relate these in perspective to pool and since I taught the OB must be the last thing looked at before shooting, I believed it wouldn't be a stretch to incorporate some of the information stated in the studies, in an effort to better my game. What is an average time lapse between the last look at an OB and contact of CB ?
Click to expand...


Don't forget to inhale just before your forward stroke and curl your big toe on your forward foot. ;)
 
Williams, M, Singer, R and Frehlich, S (2002). Quiet Eye Duration, Expertise, and Task
Complexity in Near and Far Aiming Tasks. J of Motor Behavior

www.focusband.com/.../i/.../Quiet%2520Eye%252012%2520pages.pdf‎

From the discussion section'
“As expected, the quiet eye period increased proportionally
with the difficulty of the shot, particularly for successful
attempts. Quiet eye duration in the EC averaged 230 ms,
with 314 ms in the IC and almost 620 ms in the HC. In previous
research, longer reaction times have been observed
for more complex tasks (e.g., Klapp, 1980; Sternberg, Monsell,
Knoll, & Wright, 1978); therefore, the finding of an
increase in quiet eye duration with shot complexity was predicted.
If quiet eye duration reflects a period of cognitive
response programming, then more complex tasks should be
characterized by longer quiet eye periods.”

Subjects spent longer dwell time on the OB when they were successful.
EC = easy complexity pool shot
IC = intermediate complexity
HC = High complexity shot.

I try to spend one or two seconds dwell time on the OB as the last thing seen during execution for difficult shots. It does seem to allow time for the brain to organize everything.
 
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Here's how we teach students to utilize the 'quiet eye' principals...complete aiming; focus for a couple seconds on CB aim point (tip at CB); switch eyes to OB, focus for a couple seconds on OB aim point (tip at CB); eyes back to CB for warmup cycle (eyes on CB only for warmups); pause; eyes to OB, and final backswing (eyes stay on OB); complete forward stroke to finish position. During the focus process the cue tip is at CB and stick is not moving. This produces successful results for most players (any ability...even pros) who incorporate the PEP into their shooting PSR. After a repeatable stroke, it is the most important thing we teach.

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com

1ab said:
There's a variety of "Quiet Eye" videos using laser optical measuring equipment to make the case that the accuracy of hitting an intended target will increase through the practice of slowing down eye movement and focusing on the target with little or no eye motion just prior to shooting. The videos range in scope but do include pistol shooting and putting in golf. I have been trying to relate these in perspective to pool and since I taught the OB must be the last thing looked at before shooting, I believed it wouldn't be a stretch to incorporate some of the information stated in the studies, in an effort to better my game. What is an average time lapse between the last look at an OB and contact of CB ?
Click to expand...
 
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Another finding that is not often discussed is the idea that better players not only have longer dwell time on the OB last, they shift their gaze less often (by 50% relative to less skilled players) between the OB and CB. Apparently, better players, when they are successful, usually (not always) make only a few shifts (2 /3) between CB and OB.

Those who ignore good science do so at their own peril and this is good science that has been replicated independently.
 
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JoeW said:
Williams, M, Singer, R and Frehlich, S (2002). Quiet Eye Duration, Expertise, and Task
Complexity in Near and Far Aiming Tasks. J of Motor Behavior

www.focusband.com/.../i/.../Quiet%2520Eye%252012%2520pages.pdf‎

From the discussion section'
“As expected, the quiet eye period increased proportionally
with the difficulty of the shot, particularly for successful
attempts. Quiet eye duration in the EC averaged 230 ms,
with 314 ms in the IC and almost 620 ms in the HC. In previous
research, longer reaction times have been observed
for more complex tasks (e.g., Klapp, 1980; Sternberg, Monsell,
Knoll, & Wright, 1978); therefore, the finding of an
increase in quiet eye duration with shot complexity was predicted.
If quiet eye duration reflects a period of cognitive
response programming, then more complex tasks should be
characterized by longer quiet eye periods.”

Subjects spent longer dwell time on the OB when they were successful.
EC = easy complexity pool shot
IC = intermediate complexity
HC = High complexity shot.

I try to spend one or two seconds dwell time on the OB as the last thing seen during execution for difficult shots. It does seem to allow time for the brain to organize everything.
Click to expand...

Thank you Joe W, your response is very much appreciated. This is very much in line with what I was hoping to find out and doesn't seem terribly hard to incorporate.
 
Scott Lee said:
Here's how we teach students to utilize the 'quiet eye' principals...complete aiming; focus for a couple seconds on CB aim point (tip at CB); switch eyes to OB, focus for a couple seconds on OB aim point (tip at CB); eyes back to CB for warmup cycle (eyes on CB only for warmups); pause; eyes to OB, and final backswing (eyes stay on OB); complete forward stroke to finish position. During the focus process the cue tip is at CB and stick is not moving. This produces successful results for most players (any ability...even pros) who incorporate the PEP into their shooting PSR. After a repeatable stroke, it is the most important thing we teach.

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com
Click to expand...

Scott, I know the information is a portion of what you teach and I thank you for graciously offering up this method. I plan to begin using it step by step. You are a positive influence for our sport. Thanks !
 
I recently learned (from Scott) the method he references here and have already begun to see improvements. I think the biggest thing it did for me was allow me to make sure that I'm giving my mind time to catch up with what my eyes are doing and really make sure that I'm on line with my shot as opposed to just bouncing back and forth and waiting for the moment to shoot. As the eyes go, so goes the hands and the cue.
 
Some say brown eyes indicate you're full of shit up to your eyebrows.
Quiet eyes might indicate you can't speak because your mouth is full.
 
JoeW said:
Another finding that is not often discussed is the idea that better players not only have longer dwell time on the OB last, they shift their gaze less often (by 50% relative to less skilled players) between the OB and CB. Apparently, better players, when they are successful, usually (not always) make only a few shifts (2 /3) between CB and OB.

Those who ignore good science do so at their own peril and this is good science that has been replicated independently.
Click to expand...

Very true-- and a very important aspect!
 
in pool school i remember us doing a pretty good segment on eye patterns, and while it sounds funny, its definitely a serious topic when it comes to improving your game.
Ive found that what works best for me is to get down in my stance while focusing on the exact spot on the ob that i want to hit, continue that focus for a few seconds, then switch back to the cb. That time spent focusing seems to help me naturally align and aim, i can make some slight adjustments when im making my practice strokes then back to the object ball as i shoot.
 
Glad I could help! People think that those of us who teach for a paid living are unwilling to share "secrets" without compensation. That's never been true with me, nor any of the other instructors I know. Sharing information on an internet site certainly doesn't take away from the benefit of working one-on-one with a qualified instructor...but it can help many who are unable to take advantage of that. :thumbup:

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com

1ab said:
Scott, I know the information is a portion of what you teach and I thank you for graciously offering up this method. I plan to begin using it step by step. You are a positive influence for our sport. Thanks !
Click to expand...
 
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