Aiming Systems • Techniques • ETC

[JoeyA]

Aiming systems and techniques that some people SELL are not necessary for everyone. That is the cold-blooded truth. You can still go hit a million balls and you might reach Nirvana or not......

However, I have thought on this A LOT. Everyone knows that there isn't an aiming system out there or a technique that I don't like. I have purposefully kept an open mind about every aiming system and every technique used by others and the bottom line is they all work for some people, sometimes a lot of people.

We aren't all built the same, physically, mentally or emotionally and that's why there are all these different ways that people suggest that you can play and improve your game.

While there is a cookie-cutter method of playing pool, it isn't for everyone BECAUSE we don't all see things the same way.

For those of you that dislike or hate (PUT IN YOUR MOST HATED SYSTEM HERE), because it doesn't work for YOU, don't think it doesn't work for SOMEONE ELSE, because it DOES. It might not help YOU, but it does help others. So instead of running behind every thread that offers another option for aiming, shooting or playing and pissing in those cheerios, consider that someone else who doesn't see things just as you do, might just be helped by that particular aiming system.

I have made it a life-long work of learning and appreciating the way different people play pool. I have probed the minds of the best pool players on the planet. I have paid for pool lessons from the best pool players on the planet. They all offer UNIQUE perspectives about how they see things and how they accomplish things and you should consider this before admonishing things that haven't helped you. Please consider that you might not need (or find it valuable) that particular piece of the puzzle but someone else MIGHT and you could be the one preventing them from improving their pool game. We aren't all made alike.

Just sayin......

JoeyA

 

[dawgcpa]

Techniques

I played golf for 20 years trying every method imaginable. One day I stumbled onto a method called stack and tilt. I watched the DVD's and went out and played 5 strokes better. I practiced for about 3 months with it and went from a high 80's golfer to consistently in the high 70's. I finally found something that I understood and fit me at the time. It just made sense.

I think it is the same with aiming techniques. I read and study them all because one might just work....

 

[sfleinen]

Joey:

Please keep in mind that many of the aiming system proponents have said that their system is indeed a "one size, fits all" not too long ago. The marketing *WAS* that system "x" was a "center pocket system," and that the reason why certain people didn't get it, was because they didn't put in enough time and dedication to learn it. That anyone can learn it, and anyone -- indeed EVERYONE -- "will" improve by learning it. In fact, "it" will become the future of pool. Those words were actually written here, and you can google those words in conjunction with "site:forums.azbilliards.com" as one of the Google keywords.

While you know I keep an open mind about anything related to this wonderful sport of ours, you also know I'm a big anti-proponent of overblown marketing. And I do think most -- if not all -- of the alternative aiming system proponents (including the head/eye alignment proponents) have subscribed to overblown marketing in some way, shape, or fashion.

Just tellin' it like it is (and always have been),
-Sean

 

[JoeyA]

Joey:

Please keep in mind that many of the aiming system proponents have said that their system is indeed a "one size, fits all" not too long ago. The marketing *WAS* that system "x" was a "center pocket system," and that the reason why certain people didn't get it, was because they didn't put in enough time and dedication to learn it. That anyone can learn it, and anyone -- indeed EVERYONE -- "will" improve by learning it. In fact, "it" will become the future of pool. Those words were actually written here, and you can google those words in conjunction with "site:forums.azbilliards.com" as one of the Google keywords.

While you know I keep an open mind about anything related to this wonderful sport of ours, you also know I'm a big anti-proponent of overblown marketing. And I do think most -- if not all -- of the alternative aiming system proponents (including the head/eye alignment proponents) have subscribed to overblown marketing in some way, shape, or fashion.

Just tellin' it like it is (and always have been),
-Sean

Sean,
Everyday in pool, you see, hear or read about GREAT PLAYERS, explaining how THEY see things, how they do things and it doesn't always make sense to EVERYONE.

I think that most of the people who make outlandish claims are not the ones teaching the particular systems but are merely students of the game who because particularly excited about on such system or another that has made a big difference in their game, not so much the teachers of the system.

I just think that people who pooh-pooh other people's systems/techniques/perspectives are not benefiting the greater good of pool.

I can overlook the comments of those who become over zealous about learning something that helped their particular game. It's not that big of a deal for me, that's all.

Best to you and yours and all that enjoy the game of billiards in all its fashions.

My chalk holder is the best chalk holder in the world.

JoeyA

 

[alanvo]

They're just snake oil. However the more knowledgeable you become , the more self-awareness you'll gain. You will adjust your game to your ability.

 

[JB Cases]

They're just snake oil. However the more knowledgeable you become , the more self-awareness you'll gain. You will adjust your game to your ability.

Wrong. They are alternative methods to get to the same goal. The goal is to find the shot line. Once found the goal is to make the shot.

Even if you are on the wrong shot line you can make the ball by "throwing" the cue ball in some circumstances.

This is a bad habit to be in because when you have to throw the object ball in then you limit the ability to get shape. Of course it's also helpful to know how to throw a ball in for the times when it might be the best shot.

But for the most part you want to have the ability to pick out the centerball shot line and to do that there are many methods to use. Some are more accurate than others and some are easier to use than others.

Luckily players have a plethora to choose from and can try what they want. They can keep the ones that are most comfortable to them and discard the rest. I find it to be great that there are people out there willing to spend so much time helping others to play better pool because the market is damn small and no one is getting rich or even comfortable giving lessons and selling dvds on how to aim.

 

[book collector]

Aiming systems and techniques that some people SELL are not necessary for everyone. That is the cold-blooded truth. You can still go hit a million balls and you might reach Nirvana or not......

However, I have thought on this A LOT. Everyone knows that there isn't an aiming system out there or a technique that I don't like. I have purposefully kept an open mind about every aiming system and every technique used by others and the bottom line is they all work for some people, sometimes a lot of people.

We aren't all built the same, physically, mentally or emotionally and that's why there are all these different ways that people suggest that you can play and improve your game.

While there is a cookie-cutter method of playing pool, it isn't for everyone BECAUSE we don't all see things the same way.

For those of you that dislike or hate (PUT IN YOUR MOST HATED SYSTEM HERE), because it doesn't work for YOU, don't think it doesn't work for SOMEONE ELSE, because it DOES. It might not help YOU, but it does help others. So instead of running behind every thread that offers another option for aiming, shooting or playing and pissing in those cheerios, consider that someone else who doesn't see things just as you do, might just be helped by that particular aiming system.

I have made it a life-long work of learning and appreciating the way different people play pool. I have probed the minds of the best pool players on the planet. I have paid for pool lessons from the best pool players on the planet. They all offer UNIQUE perspectives about how they see things and how they accomplish things and you should consider this before admonishing things that haven't helped you. Please consider that you might not need (or find it valuable) that particular piece of the puzzle but someone else MIGHT and you could be the one preventing them from improving their pool game. We aren't all made alike.

Just sayin......

JoeyA

Well said.
I have always believed that the first thing most people learn when they go to the poolroom is not how to play , but how to be a world class knocker after the third day. Myself included.

 

[Johnnyt]

Wrong. They are alternative methods to get to the same goal. The goal is to find the shot line. Once found the goal is to make the shot.

Even if you are on the wrong shot line you can make the ball by "throwing" the cue ball in some circumstances.

This is a bad habit to be in because when you have to throw the object ball in then you limit the ability to get shape. Of course it's also helpful to know how to throw a ball in for the times when it might be the best shot.

But for the most part you want to have the ability to pick out the centerball shot line and to do that there are many methods to use. Some are more accurate than others and some are easier to use than others.

Luckily players have a plethora to choose from and can try what they want. They can keep the ones that are most comfortable to them and discard the rest. I find it to be great that there are people out there willing to spend so much time helping others to play better pool because the market is damn small and no one is getting rich or even comfortable giving lessons and selling dvds on how to aim.

If you can stay in perfect line through the whole rack you can use center pocket and center ball. How many pros stay in perfect line on position the whole rack? Get out of line and most likely you will need to spin/throw the ball and/or cheat the pocket. IMO Stevie Moore has got at least a ball worse since he has been using an aiming system. Also, he looks confused on how to hit half his shots. Johnnyt

 

[Pidge]

I couldn't believe my eyes when I stumbled accross this site. It seemed some people were making outlandish claims about certain systems, how it has worked wonders for them and it will for who ever is willing to take the time to practice it...not before handing over some cash first.

Growing up where snooker was the main game, I've had hundreds of hours instruction from some very good instructors. Not one had an aiming system. I was told to find the shot line by my self and then they would help me to deliver the cue in a way that would make the CB go along that line. I've spoken with some top snooker players here and none have said I pivot, twist, slide, hop skip and jump like this and you'll be on the shot line. Its more of recognising what fractional overlap the shot requires and making the balls overlap. That is an aiming system I know, but no one in snooker is going to charge you to show you.

I myself use several systems, not to find the shot line, I believe 90% can see the shot line but a lower percentage can actually deliver the CB along it. I use systems more as a pre shot routine. To help me address the CB the same, shot after shot. If more systems threw that into their marketing I'd be more willing to test them out, but it seems "this system WILL get you to a CENTRE POCKET pot" gets more people handing their money over.

 

[Poolplaya9]

For those of you that dislike or hate (PUT IN YOUR MOST HATED SYSTEM HERE), because it doesn't work for YOU, don't think it doesn't work for SOMEONE ELSE, because it DOES. It might not help YOU, but it does help others. So instead of running behind every thread that offers another option for aiming, shooting or playing and pissing in those cheerios, consider that someone else who doesn't see things just as you do, might just be helped by that particular aiming system.

First off, I don't know of anyone saying they don't work for anybody, so you are wrong about your whole premise to begin with. What they are saying is that they don't work for the reasons that are given (generally the reason given is that it finds the correct aiming line). They acknowledge that they do help some people some of the time for other reasons (generally because they are more focused, and more confident).

You are tilting at windmills because as long as misinformation is being passed along whether through ignorance or intentionally or any other reason, there are going to be those that can't stand to see people misinformed and that are going to set the record straight on why they work for some people. Might as well get used to it. This thread probably should have been placed in the aiming forum as well right?

 

[JB Cases]

If you can stay in perfect line through the whole rack you can use center pocket and center ball. How many pros stay in perfect line on position the whole rack? Get out of line and most likely you will need to spin/throw the ball and/or cheat the pocket. IMO Stevie Moore has got at least a ball worse since he has been using an aiming system. Also, he looks confused on how to hit half his shots. Johnnyt

No one has ever said that you don't ever have a need to use spin to throw the ball in or a need to cheat the pocket. The point I made is that if you find the center ball line then it is your choice to deviate from that line as you choose to. But if you don't even know how to get to that line consistently then you will be inconsistent in your pocketing.

If you truly intend to pick Stevie Moore and say he is worse because of using a system then how about Shane Van Boeing and Darren Appleton? They use aiming systems and are at the top of the game.

Could there be something other than how Stevie aims to explain his results over the past few years? That would be inconceivable wouldn't it?

The year after learning Pro One Stevie had a great year. Then he played far fewer events.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using Tapatalk

 

[Gerry Williams]

Like most things in life the benefit gained is directly proportional to the effort put in.

I can only speak for the system I use and I guarantee that it is not snake oil.

To each their own - hit em good boys!

 

[naji]

I couldn't believe my eyes when I stumbled accross this site. It seemed some people were making outlandish claims about certain systems, how it has worked wonders for them and it will for who ever is willing to take the time to practice it...not before handing over some cash first.

Growing up where snooker was the main game, I've had hundreds of hours instruction from some very good instructors. Not one had an aiming system. I was told to find the shot line by my self and then they would help me to deliver the cue in a way that would make the CB go along that line. I've spoken with some top snooker players here and none have said I pivot, twist, slide, hop skip and jump like this and you'll be on the shot line. Its more of recognising what fractional overlap the shot requires and making the balls overlap. That is an aiming system I know, but no one in snooker is going to charge you to show you.

I myself use several systems, not to find the shot line, I believe 90% can see the shot line but a lower percentage can actually deliver the CB along it. I use systems more as a pre shot routine. To help me address the CB the same, shot after shot. If more systems threw that into their marketing I'd be more willing to test them out, but it seems "this system WILL get you to a CENTRE POCKET pot" gets more people handing their money over.

That is GOLD what you saying. I said it earlier, everyone can find the aim line, but the only dynamic thing that everyone have issue with is delivering CB to that point. In pool it is forgiving a little, snooker your stroke has to be near 100% straight for 1/2 pocket shots (i am not talking practice shots, "real match shots"). Plus we are humans, WILL FORGET what we learn (especially if we do not believe in", and default to old habits under under pressure match or money match. In fact i doubt if people teaching aim method use it themselves!
Another thing, aim is 1/10th of the problem!

 

[Dunnn51]

Personally , I like it when she gets CATTY !
You know when they look at you with that "smoldering passion" look in their eyes!

oh,............................ wait ,................................ WRONG FORUM !!! :embarrassed2:

 

[Sloppy Pockets]

Even if you are on the wrong shot line you can make the ball by "throwing" the cue ball in some circumstances.

This is a bad habit to be in because when you have to throw the object ball in then you limit the ability to get shape.

John, according to the latest CTE/Pro One video, certain alignments are claimed to lead to a shot that is geometrically over-cut, but that actually relies on throw to straighten the shot out. Throw is a variable, the amount of which is dictated by angle, shot speed, and ball condition. How can an aiming system be "pure" if it includes a variable as part of the system itself?

Anyway, I paid my money, I got my peak. I can't make it work so far, but that doesn't mean I have to blast it on AZB with claims that it is all snake oil. Instead, I'm gonna "put it on the shelf", as old CJ likes to say. Come back to it when I'm ready, or consider it part of my pool education to find out what doesn't work for me. I'm with Joey. There is no reason to run around trying to invent windmills to tilt with, there's too much real evil in the world I'd rather dedicate my time to try and correct.

 

[Gerry]

I was a very long time naysayer when it came to systems. Until I hit a plateau I could not overcome.....I turned to learning systems and found Hal pretty quickly. What I did was study snooker, billiards, pool, and found that tho the games differ, the system I use works with them all because you are still using a round ball to hit a round ball.

Just this week I have played snooker, 3 cushion, rotation, and banks....I use the same way to aim for them all, and it works for them all. The game has become stupidly obvious once I learned how to use this way of aiming.

Talk about systems? you should see the systems billiards players use, there are dozens.....but what do they know!

I like nothing more then players using terms like " snake oil".....just one less player to worry about.....I used to be that guy.

G.

 

[robsnotes4u]

Stevie Moore-new aiming?

First, like joey, I purchase aiming systems to see if I can get something from them. I do think some are snake oil.

Did anyone watch Stevie Moore last night in the Smokey Mountain Shootout? Even Big Truck was commenting on WTF was he doing, and we all know he is a Pro One proponent. He was coming into the shot weird, almost putting his head on top of the cue and walking straight into the shot. Watch the stream today to see if he does the same thing.

Maybe he has a new system. I would call it the rifle.

 

[lakeman77]

Joey
so well said.
thx

 

[cookie man]

Joey:

Please keep in mind that many of the aiming system proponents have said that their system is indeed a "one size, fits all" not too long ago. The marketing *WAS* that system "x" was a "center pocket system," and that the reason why certain people didn't get it, was because they didn't put in enough time and dedication to learn it. That anyone can learn it, and anyone -- indeed EVERYONE -- "will" improve by learning it. In fact, "it" will become the future of pool. Those words were actually written here, and you can google those words in conjunction with "site:forums.azbilliards.com" as one of the Google keywords.

While you know I keep an open mind about anything related to this wonderful sport of ours, you also know I'm a big anti-proponent of overblown marketing. And I do think most -- if not all -- of the alternative aiming system proponents (including the head/eye alignment proponents) have subscribed to overblown marketing in some way, shape, or fashion.

Just tellin' it like it is (and always have been),
-Sean

Sean, yes their was probably overblown descriptions and analysis of CTE and others. Some were in heated response to the objections of those wanting to learn the systems.
Fact is everyone that can objectively learn it will see its value.
As to your objections of the overblown descriptions, in fairness you should also see our point as to our objections to the overblown points of denial in the validity of said systems.
In reality the past fighting as to the legitimacy of CTE should be put to rest. If you want to learn it, learn it. If you don't leave those that do alone.

P.S. Is CTE the future of pool? That's to be decided in the future,who knows. Reality is that people are learning it at a very good rate. Several pro's have added it in the last year, and a few amateur champions use it as well. Stan's lessons are usually booked up well in advance. Stevie Moore is teaching it. It is certainly becoming more and more mainstream.

 

[cookie man]

I couldn't believe my eyes when I stumbled accross this site. It seemed some people were making outlandish claims about certain systems, how it has worked wonders for them and it will for who ever is willing to take the time to practice it...not before handing over some cash first.

Growing up where snooker was the main game, I've had hundreds of hours instruction from some very good instructors. Not one had an aiming system. I was told to find the shot line by my self and then they would help me to deliver the cue in a way that would make the CB go along that line. I've spoken with some top snooker players here and none have said I pivot, twist, slide, hop skip and jump like this and you'll be on the shot line. Its more of recognising what fractional overlap the shot requires and making the balls overlap. That is an aiming system I know, but no one in snooker is going to charge you to show you.

I myself use several systems, not to find the shot line, I believe 90% can see the shot line but a lower percentage can actually deliver the CB along it. I use systems more as a pre shot routine. To help me address the CB the same, shot after shot. If more systems threw that into their marketing I'd be more willing to test them out, but it seems "this system WILL get you to a CENTRE POCKET pot" gets more people handing their money over.

So you use several systems as a pre shot routine? Wouldn't just one system make you more consistent?