I have been aiming wrong for so long

[Shannon.spronk]

So today I had a little extra time and I decided to head to the pool hall and try a few new things. One of the things that I wanted to try was never looking at the cue ball when I shoot. I mean never looking at it. Not ever. I get behind my shot looking at the object ball the entire time already knowing what I want to do with the cue ball and where I want it to be for my next shot. I get in position and still avoid looking at the cue ball. I was still using top, bottom, side and I never even miscued. I could see the cue ball in my peripheral, but I made a conscious effort to never look at it. I can honestly say that I am not sure if I have ever played that well before in my life. It made a world of difference. I feel like I just jumped two skill levels. Shots that used to rattle went dead center in the pocket.

Now I thought that before today I always looked at object ball last, but now I am not so sure. Given the way that I played today I feel like I was just staring at the wall before when I was trying to shoot. I need to put in much more time with this and see how it all turns out, but for now I am a big fan.

SIDE NOTE: When breaking I was still looking at the cue ball and I look at it last when I am breaking.

 

[real bartram]

So today I had a little extra time and I decided to head to the pool hall and try a few new things. One of the things that I wanted to try was never looking at the cue ball when I shoot. I mean never looking at it. Not ever. I get behind my shot looking at the object ball the entire time already knowing what I want to do with the cue ball and where I want it to be for my next shot. I get in position and still avoid looking at the cue ball. I was still using top, bottom, side and I never even miscued. I could see the cue ball in my peripheral, but I made a conscious effort to never look at it. I can honestly say that I am not sure if I have ever played that well before in my life. It made a world of difference. I feel like I just jumped two skill levels. Shots that used to rattle went dead center in the pocket.

Now I thought that before today I always looked at object ball last, but now I am not so sure. Given the way that I played today I feel like I was just staring at the wall before when I was trying to shoot. I need to put in much more time with this and see how it all turns out, but for now I am a big fan.

SIDE NOTE: When breaking I was still looking at the cue ball and I look at it last when I am breaking.

You got it right .
Look at object ball last when you shoot
A pause is good to get more time to look at the object ball
I look at cue ball last when I break or shoot over a ball

 

[thekaiserman]

This is amazing. I had the same experience 2 days ago. Not sure yet if it will last

 

[naji]

So today I had a little extra time and I decided to head to the pool hall and try a few new things. One of the things that I wanted to try was never looking at the cue ball when I shoot. I mean never looking at it. Not ever. I get behind my shot looking at the object ball the entire time already knowing what I want to do with the cue ball and where I want it to be for my next shot. I get in position and still avoid looking at the cue ball. I was still using top, bottom, side and I never even miscued. I could see the cue ball in my peripheral, but I made a conscious effort to never look at it. I can honestly say that I am not sure if I have ever played that well before in my life. It made a world of difference. I feel like I just jumped two skill levels. Shots that used to rattle went dead center in the pocket.

Now I thought that before today I always looked at object ball last, but now I am not so sure. Given the way that I played today I feel like I was just staring at the wall before when I was trying to shoot. I need to put in much more time with this and see how it all turns out, but for now I am a big fan.

SIDE NOTE: When breaking I was still looking at the cue ball and I look at it last when I am breaking.

Pool is fascinating to those that do not know what exactly happening! truthfully it is not where you look at all, because once you are down on the shot your shot line is 99% defined; what happened that day hope it could be consistent for you, is you went down accurate on the shot, your eyes position were in the right spot, your stroke was good (could be your butt fingers got out of the way the right way), and many other factors..

 

[cleary]

I've tried and tried and tried to look at the object ball last and I just can't do it. I gotta look at the cueball.

 

[naji]

I've tried and tried and tried to look at the object ball last and I just can't do it. I gotta look at the cueball.

Cleary, if you use the tip of your cue as the cross hair (like many snooker players), in another words, say for half ball cut your tip will split the OB outer diameter if you are shooting center ball hit, in this case if you look at that edge when you shoot you will make the OB, but the problem is more than half ball cut, tip cross hair falls outside the OB and a bit hard to pin point, also when you use english it becomes a bit harder (or easier as in TOI system). Therefore, using the CB as cross hair is recommended, then it does not matter where you look; sure break shot, and power draw, it helps to look at the CB exact pin point tip placement.

 

[bdorman]

I came to the same conclusion about 6-8 months ago. For my first two years playing pool I'd been a CB-last shooter due to arthritis in my neck (hard to get my head up enough to see the OB). Then I decided to crouch down to where I could see the OB. Made a big difference. Now I focus pinpoint on the contact point (i.e. the OB covers a big area - 2-1/4" - the contact point is 1mm).

I think a previous poster is correct that focusing on the OB means you'll line up and get down on the shot line more accurately. But even after you're down, your forearm can get out of line if you're not focused on the contact point. The arm/hand are going to go where the eyes go.

 

[alstl]

So today I had a little extra time and I decided to head to the pool hall and try a few new things. One of the things that I wanted to try was never looking at the cue ball when I shoot. I mean never looking at it. Not ever. I get behind my shot looking at the object ball the entire time already knowing what I want to do with the cue ball and where I want it to be for my next shot. I get in position and still avoid looking at the cue ball. I was still using top, bottom, side and I never even miscued. I could see the cue ball in my peripheral, but I made a conscious effort to never look at it. I can honestly say that I am not sure if I have ever played that well before in my life. It made a world of difference. I feel like I just jumped two skill levels. Shots that used to rattle went dead center in the pocket.

Now I thought that before today I always looked at object ball last, but now I am not so sure. Given the way that I played today I feel like I was just staring at the wall before when I was trying to shoot. I need to put in much more time with this and see how it all turns out, but for now I am a big fan.

SIDE NOTE: When breaking I was still looking at the cue ball and I look at it last when I am breaking.

How long did you play looking at the cue ball prior to this?

 

[Shannon.spronk]

How long did you play looking at the cue ball prior to this?

Oh for the last 5-6 years. I honestly thought I was looking at OB last. It was only through really focusing on making sure that I do that I realized that I most certainly was not. I really feel like I jumped up a couple skill levels just like that.

 

[naji]

I came to the same conclusion about 6-8 months ago. For my first two years playing pool I'd been a CB-last shooter due to arthritis in my neck (hard to get my head up enough to see the OB). Then I decided to crouch down to where I could see the OB. Made a big difference. Now I focus pinpoint on the contact point (i.e. the OB covers a big area - 2-1/4" - the contact point is 1mm).

I think a previous poster is correct that focusing on the OB means you'll line up and get down on the shot line more accurately. But even after you're down, your forearm can get out of line if you're not focused on the contact point. The arm/hand are going to go where the eyes go.

Sorry, you are wrong, The arm/hand are going to go where the eyes go you would hope they would!

I wish that was true, then everyone would have a straight stroke, the correct statement is your final delivery stroke will be in same direction as your final warm up stroke, of which if its is in the correct line of aim, you will make the shot. The other problem, is mastering the back swing is also a challenge.

 

[alstl]

Oh for the last 5-6 years. I honestly thought I was looking at OB last. It was only through really focusing on making sure that I do that I realized that I most certainly was not. I really feel like I jumped up a couple skill levels just like that.

I don't doubt you jumped a couple levels if you started looking at the object ball last.

 

[nine_ball6970]

You got it right .
Look at object ball last when you shoot
A pause is good to get more time to look at the object ball
I look at cue ball last when I break or shoot over a ball

Thanks for posting Chris. Lots of people value your opinion. Sounds like you already do what several studies have shown top players do when compared to amateurs. Would be interesting to hear your views on some of the threads in the aiming forum. LOL

 

[bdorman]

Sorry, you are wrong, The arm/hand are going to go where the eyes go you would hope they would!

I wish that was true, then everyone would have a straight stroke, the correct statement is your final delivery stroke will be in same direction as your final warm up stroke, of which if its is in the correct line of aim, you will make the shot. The other problem, is mastering the back swing is also a challenge.

Try doing your warm up strokes, backswing and final stroke while looking one foot to the side of the OB. Your stroke will be off because your arm/hands will follow your eyes. It's a chicken-and-egg paradox, I just assumed we're working with the OP's straightest stroke.

 

[ronscuba]

Question for those who focus on the OB contact point.

On cut shots, do you ever run into problems unintentionally steering the cue stick ?

For example on a cut shot to the left, the cue stick is not pointing at the OB contact point. It points parallel to the right of the OB contact point. When I tried focusing on OB contact point, I sometimes unintentionally steer the cue stick towards the contact point which results in a missed undercut shot.

 

[peter_gunn]

You got it right .
Look at object ball last when you shoot
A pause is good to get more time to look at the object ball
I look at cue ball last when I break or shoot over a ball

... and CB last when kick, jump or masse right? :thumbup:

 

[Eagleshot]

Practice does not make perfect.

Perfect practice makes perfect!

This thread is a great example as to why quality instruction is so valuable.
Having a knowledgable instructor work with you can shave years of reinforcing bad habits off of your game.

The first comment my first instructor told me ( after 20 yrs of play ) was to quiet my eyes. They were darting back and forth from cb to ob up to 10 or 15 times Pre shot.

He told me to do this drill, never look at the cb, to demonstrate to my subconscious that the shot is made above the ball and only executed down in stance.

 

[BeiberLvr]

Question for those who focus on the OB contact point.

On cut shots, do you ever run into problems unintentionally steering the cue stick ?

For example on a cut shot to the left, the cue stick is not pointing at the OB contact point. It points parallel to the right of the OB contact point. When I tried focusing on OB contact point, I sometimes unintentionally steer the cue stick towards the contact point which results in a missed undercut shot.

Focus on hitting the OB with the CB. Not the tip of your cue.

 

[stan shuffett]

Thanks for posting Chris. Lots of people value your opinion. Sounds like you already do what several studies have shown top players do when compared to amateurs. Would be interesting to hear your views on some of the threads in the aiming forum. LOL

Chris asked me personally to work on aiming with his girlfriend. And I did so. Chris and and I discussed the difficulty in teaching how to convey what occurs in aiming.
So, LOL, I do not think Chris is going to be poking fun at CTE....or anything else in the aiming forum.
Stan Shuffett

 

[alstl]

Question for those who focus on the OB contact point.

On cut shots, do you ever run into problems unintentionally steering the cue stick ?

For example on a cut shot to the left, the cue stick is not pointing at the OB contact point. It points parallel to the right of the OB contact point. When I tried focusing on OB contact point, I sometimes unintentionally steer the cue stick towards the contact point which results in a missed undercut shot.

Are you sure it isn't deflection which caused the missed shot? I always focus on the contact point and all I can say is if you always do it and spend enough time at the table your brain will adjust.

 

[nine_ball6970]

Chris asked me personally to work on aiming with his girlfriend. And I did so. Chris and and I discussed the difficulty in teaching how to convey what occurs in aiming.
So, LOL, I do not think Chris is going to be poking fun at CTE....or anything else in the aiming forum.
Stan Shuffett

Keep trolling Stan. Why do you have to try and make every single thread about CTE? The topic of this thread is looking at cue ball vs object ball last. Why not expand on your view of why people should look at the cue ball last?