Peripheral Vision & Path Perception

Colin Colenso

Colin Colenso

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I'm curious about others' experiences with distortions in alignment or aim perceptions during the process of coming into the shot line and changing focus between CB and OB.

I've noticed that I can't trust my peripheral vision. It may have something to do with peripheral vision being provided by the rods in the eye, while our focused vision utilizes our cones, which allow color perception.

If I lock into a perceived path from my stance and then focus on this line to CCB and slide into that, if I take notice of my peripheral perception of the OB during the approach to CCB, it looks like I'm heading left of the path line. This makes me want to push the aim line to the right, which has long been bad tendency of mine.

If I ignore the OB peripheral perception and slide to CCB, the peripheral vision of path to OB looks way left, but once bridge is locked in, if I actually lift my focus upward and to the OB, the path perception is more to the right that what my peripheral vision had suggested, and I'm usually pretty close to the path I'd perceived from back in my stance.

Conversely, if I focus on the OB during the slide to bridge, I have problems perceiving CCB. I need to then glance back and forth, which sets up the peripheral perception error of wanting to twist my aim to the right.

Anyone else noticed similar distortions?
 
If you are looking down your cue when you are down on the shot............ I don't understand how peripheral vision can come into play.......... and if it does, why the hell are you looking there???

Km
 
whammo57 said:
If you are looking down your cue when you are down on the shot............ I don't understand how peripheral vision can come into play.......... and if it does, why the hell are you looking there???

Km
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I was talking about the process of getting into the shot / bridge position.

Peripheral vision from down on the shot is another issue. e.g. We often take peripheral notice of the tip's alignment to the CB while focusing on the OB.
 
One possibility is that the rods in my right eye (I'm left eye dominant), come into my peripheral perception more strongly than they do with my focused perception.
 
Hi Colin,

I had a small eye accident 20+ years ago that caused an astigmatism in my right 'shooting' eye. I never could play with glasses & Lasik Surgery could not fix astigmatisms. So I've been playing as I sometimes say on memory since the balls are always just a bit blurry.

I've always played with a very low head position, not chin on cue but very low.

After nearly 47 yrs. of playing with 20+ of them after the astigmatism issue, I just learned of a similar issue to yours, I think.

From my contact with Gene Albrecht & his Perfect Aim, Gene should me, beyond dispute, that for play pool, I am left eye dominant & not right eyed as I had always 'known' & still am for shooting a rifle or seeing a straight line straight out from my vision.

So...while standing tall with the balls below head height, I see the straight line from the CB to the shot portion of the OB with my left eye.

For nearly 48 years I would go down on a shot with no real focus but more so in kind of a blank stare at the CB & then get the specific shot line once down & that would basically be with my 'dominant' right eye.

Now, with my newly found knowledge, I need to focus on the OB while going down to keep my right eye from getting involved. When done correctly all looks well. But, if I let my focus stray to the CB as I near the shooting position the picture can look bad more times than good.

Sometimes it has been like seeing the line from out of my body because the cue line looks so wrong. I've shot some of these shots anyway & have pocket them to my amazement. I've also tweaked them & have made them too.

I guess that my subconscious is learning to recognise which line is correct regardless on what eye has chosen the line.

I've found that Gene's manual method works best & keeps my, for pool, dominant left eye in the picture until I'm down on the shot. That said I've also found that I am starting to shoot with a bit higher head position.

I'd recommend that anyone serious about their game get Perfect Aim & then give Gene the complimentary phone call before they even watch it. Fro some it may only be a confirmation that all is well but some, Gene says about 50% it will be a real eye opener, as it was for me.

I don't know if this is anything of the like of which you were asking but I find it interesting & can't believe I've shot as well as I did for so long with this unknown eye issue involved.

Best 2 You & All,
Rick
 
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ENGLISH! said:
Hi Colin,

I had a small eye accident 20+ years ago that caused an astigmatism in my right 'shooting' eye. I never could play with glasses & Lasik Surgery could not fix astigmatisms. So I've been playing as I sometimes say on memory since the balls are always just a bit blurry.

I've always played with a very low head position, not chin on cue but very low.

After nearly 47 yrs. of playing with 20+ of them after the astigmatism issue, I just learned of a similar issue to yours, I think.

From my contact with Gene Albrecht & his Perfect Aim, Gene should me, beyond dispute, that for play pool, I am left eye dominant & not right eyed as I had always 'known' & still am for shooting a rifle or seeing a straight line straight out from my vision.

So...while standing tall with the balls below head height, I see the straight line from the CB to the shot portion of the OB with my left eye.

For nearly 48 years I would go down on a shot with no real focus but more so in kind of a blank stare at the CB & then get the specific shot line once down & that would basically be with my 'dominant' right eye.

Now, with my newly found knowledge, I need to focus on the OB while going down to keep my right eye from getting involved. When done correctly all looks well. But, if I let my focus stray to the CB as I near the shooting position the picture can look bad more times than good.

Sometimes it has been like seeing the line from out of my body because the cue line looks so wrong. I've shot some of these shots anyway & have pocket them to my amazement. I've also tweaked them & have made them too.

I guess that my subconscious is learning to recognise which line is correct regardless on what eye has chosen the line.

I've found that Gene's manual method works best & keeps my, for pool, dominant left eye in the picture until I'm down on the shot. That said I've also found that I am starting to shoot with a bit higher head position.

I'd recommend that anyone serious about their game get Perfect Aim & then give Gene the complimentary phone call before they even watch it.

I don't know if this is anything of the like of which you were asking but I find it interesting & can't believe I've shot as well as I did for so long with this unknown eye issue involved.

Best 2 You & All,
Rick
Click to expand...
Perhaps it is Rick.

Maybe you could try paying attention to the peripheral vision you are getting on the CB as you're coming into the shot with your focus on the OB. You may need to lower your focus a little, but don't actually focus on the CB.

This peripheral perception may be right dominant, in which case, it would look like your cue is pointing left of aim.

FWIW: When I select the aim path, I do so while staring at the OB, and after I set my bridge, I look focus back on the OB to see if I need any adjustment. If I do, I shift my bridge a little as required and lock the bridge tight. After that, I often turn focus back onto the CB for the hit. It really doesn't matter where I look once my bridge and stroke has been decided.
 
Colin Colenso said:
Perhaps it is Rick.

Maybe you could try paying attention to the peripheral vision you are getting on the CB as you're coming into the shot with your focus on the OB. You may need to lower your focus a little, but don't actually focus on the CB.

This peripheral perception may be right dominant, in which case, it would look like your cue is pointing left of aim.

FWIW: When I select the aim path, I do so while staring at the OB, and after I set my bridge, I look focus back on the OB to see if I need any adjustment. If I do, I shift my bridge a little as required and lock the bridge tight. After that, I often turn focus back onto the CB for the hit. It really doesn't matter where I look once my bridge and stroke has been decided.
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Yeah Colin,

I am now establishing a definitive line using my left eye while standing & then getting down while maintaining my focus on the OB until down with JUST a peripheral vision of the OB. Once down I might take a quick focused look at the CB to fine tune tip placement depth or to establish english or TOI.

The thing is IF I take a focused look at the CB while going down, I am more likely to be off line once down.

I'm shooting much quicker with less fine tuning than I have since I was rather young & before the eye accident. I am much much more often 'perfect' once down & am just pulling the trigger.

I have now started to notice when my focus takes that quick look at the CB too soon & I can quickly just sort of bob up & back down while staying focused on the OB.

I've just rather recently learned of my cross dominant eye issue so I am a work in process, but I like it & am sure I am headed in the right direction & will gradually work out the quirks.

Best 2 Ya,
Rick
 
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ENGLISH! said:
I've just rather recently learned of my cross dominant eye issue so I am a work in process, but I like it & am sure I am headed in the right direction & will gradually work out the quirks.

Best 2 Ya,
Rick
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Those quirks have been driving players nutty for a long time. After a break, it might take me 30 mins to warm my eyes up and they get tired 30 mins after that. It seems only highly focused practice over long periods can iron out these quirks for a while, for most of us.

Colin
 
Colin Colenso said:
Those quirks have been driving players nutty for a long time. After a break, it might take me 30 mins to warm my eyes up and they get tired 30 mins after that. It seems only highly focused practice over long periods can iron out these quirks for a while, for most of us.

Colin
Click to expand...

Colin,

I'm not inclined to travel since I rupture the L5S1 disc in my back a few years ago but if you just cursed me, I'm coming to Australia with a duffle bag full of ill will.:wink:

Later,
Rick
 
If my right eye isn't directly over the center of the shaft, I get out of line without realizing it. While standing, I often put my cue on the selected aim line and drop down without moving the cue laterally, except to lift it with my bridge hand.

A good shooter, A. Scott, would close the non dominant eye while stroking to keep focused on the correct shot line, and another good shooter, M. Ozawa, is blind in one eye.

One has to find what works the best for themselves...visually.

Just saying.:wink:
 
ENGLISH! said:
Colin,

I'm not inclined to travel since I rupture the L5S1 disc in my back a few years ago but if you just cursed me, I'm coming to Australia with a duffle bag full of ill will.:wink:

Later,
Rick
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You should be all right Rick!

I realized when I pointed the bone I used right eye perception, so I probably missed you by a 100 miles or so. :D

Colin
 
LAMas said:
If my right eye isn't directly over the center of the shaft, I get out of line without realizing it. While standing, I often put my cue on the selected aim line and drop down without moving the cue laterally, except to lift it with my bridge hand.

A good shooter, A. Scott, would close the non dominant eye while stroking to keep focused on the correct shot line, and another good shooter, M. Ozawa, is blind in one eye.

One has to find what works the best for themselves...visually.

Just saying.:wink:
Click to expand...
I've been experimenting with the cue thing too LAMas. I get the path visual standing statically about half way down to shot, with bridge hand on the table but cue out to the left. When I get locked in on the visual and look to the CB, I bring the cue onto that line above CCB from that position of perspective.

This helps me to stay on that line as I slide down into the bridge. Not sure if I'll stick with that, but it can help in staying on the line of the perceived path while training oneself to stay on line between the back visual and moving into the bridge.

Colin
 
Colin Colenso said:
You should be all right Rick!

I realized when I pointed the bone I used right eye perception, so I probably missed you by a 100 miles or so. :D

Colin
Click to expand...

Thanks for the chuckle, but we have some pretty good VooDoo vibe feelers in New Orleans.

Some VooDoo Queen of New Orleans may have received your wayward Bone Throw & may forward it over to me.

If so, I hope she brings it over in person along with a Bowl of Turtle Soup & some Alligator Sauce Picon. If I'm going to be cursed, I at least want to eat well.

Best,
Rick
 
ENGLISH! said:
Thanks for the chuckle, but we have some pretty good VooDoo vibe feelers in New Orleans.

Some VooDoo Queen of New Orleans may have received your wayward Bone Throw & may forward it over to me.

If so, I hope she brings it over in person along with a Bowl of Turtle Soup & some Alligator Sauce Picon. If I'm going to be cursed, I at least want to eat well.

Best,
Rick
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LOL!

btw: I'm off now for a weekend tournament. May not get back here until Sunday or Monday. Have a good weekend all!

Colin
 
Kranicki talks about this in his excellent book on aiming deficiencies and corrections, Answers To A Pool Player's Prayers. The contact point along the equator of the object ball, for one example, gives a different visual "read" standing erect that it does when the head is hunkered down in the pool stance. So most players hurt their aim a bit by staring down the contact point or angle or edge or whatever aiming reference all the way from standing up to assess the shot to the full stance.

A little glance away or to another part of the ball--a relaxed gaze--helps. Players who really have problems with this I ask to look completely away from the ball when getting into the stance between standing up and bridge hand touching the cloth.
 
BilliardsAbout said:
Kranicki talks about this in his excellent book on aiming deficiencies and corrections, Answers To A Pool Player's Prayers. The contact point along the equator of the object ball, for one example, gives a different visual "read" standing erect that it does when the head is hunkered down in the pool stance. So most players hurt their aim a bit by staring down the contact point or angle or edge or whatever aiming reference all the way from standing up to assess the shot to the full stance.

A little glance away or to another part of the ball--a relaxed gaze--helps. Players who really have problems with this I ask to look completely away from the ball when getting into the stance between standing up and bridge hand touching the cloth.
Click to expand...

While standing "back" one can visualize the contact point on the OB that will send it to the pocket/target. It helps to look at that point as a fractional point along the equator of the OB in proportion to the sphere/disk. If for example, it looks like 1/4 of the diameter (in from the edge), then it will also be the same 1/4 when down on the shot.- this may be obvious.

While standing, on can more easily see the pocket and it's relation to the OB in establishing the contact point, whereas, when down on the shot, the pocket may be obscured by the OB or other balls - this should be obvious..

:)
 
LAMas said:
While standing "back" one can visualize the contact point on the OB that will send it to the pocket/target. It helps to look at that point as a fractional point along the equator of the OB in proportion to the sphere/disk. If for example, it looks like 1/4 of the diameter (in from the edge), then it will also be the same 1/4 when down on the shot.- this may be obvious.

While standing, on can more easily see the pocket and it's relation to the OB in establishing the contact point, whereas, when down on the shot, the pocket may be obscured by the OB or other balls - this should be obvious..

:)
Click to expand...

You're using the cue ball edge to the contact point?

Best,
Mike
 
Mikjary said:
You're using the cue ball edge to the contact point?

Best,
Mike
Click to expand...

Hi Mike,
Only on a 90 degree cut angle where the edge of the CB is it's contact point and os aimed at the contact point on the OB that is also it's edge at 3:00 or 9:00 o'clock.

For other cut angles, use the same fraction described in my original post with reference to the contact point on the OB for the cut shot at hand, but apply that fraction (from the edge or center) to the side of the CB that is closest to the contact point on the OB. Aim the contact point (CP) on the CB to the CP on the OB (CPtoCP)...should makes sense.

Converging parallel lines that are a component of perspective must be understood, or not, when applying the fractional relationship of the CP on the OB to the CP on the CB because the OB appears smaller than the CB.

The hard part is stroking parallel to the CPtoCP line of aim with the tip of the cue aimed to contact the center of the CB - before applying English - back or front or.... if required.

Be well.
 
Kranicki discusses where the apparent equator moves in vision between standing erect and bent into the stance. If you play cue ball to contact point, staring down the point all the way from standing to shooting can cause alignment issues. Kranicki gives details on how to refresh sighting so you can hit where you aim. Mosconi worked with Kranicki a little before he passed away and said Kranicki had some great concepts. It's a very interesting book.
 
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